Imperial Era

"For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times. Before the Empire."

- Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi

The Imperial Era (stylized as Imperial-era), also known as the Old Empire era, the Age of the Empire, or simply the Dark Times, was a period of time that began with the Proclamation of the New Order&mdash;the event that marked the reorganization of the democratic Galactic Republic into the autocratic Galactic Empire&mdash;at the end of the Clone Wars in 19 BBY. Within a generation, however, it ended with the Empire's dissolution through the signing of the Galactic Concordance in 5 ABY, approximately one year after the death of Galactic Emperor Sheev Palpatine at the Battle of Endor.

History
"In order to ensure the security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire! For a safe and secure society!"

- Sheev Palpatine, to the Galactic Senate

The Imperial Era was characterized by the implementation of the Emperor's political program, referred to as the New Order. Although the Emperor did bring peace to the galaxy as he had promised, that result was achieved through brutal repression. As a result, the Age of the Empire also saw the birth of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, whose members sought to overthrow the Emperor and restore democracy to the galaxy. The Rebel Alliance formally came into existence when former Senator Mon Mothma issued the Declaration of Rebellion after the Ghorman Massacre in 2 BBY. The Alliance was formed through a merger of several extant rebel cells including Mon Mothma's rebel cell, the Phoenix Cell, Spectres, and the Massassi Group.

The period of time during the Galactic Civil War (0 BBY-5 ABY) was also referred to as the Galactic Civil War-era, as the Rebellion-era, or as the era of Rebellion. The combination of the Emperor's death and the Empire's final defeat at the Battle of Jakku ultimately marked the end of both the Galactic Civil War and the Imperial Era, resulting in the dawn of a new age under the New Republic.

Legacy
However, an Imperial remnant sought to overthrow the newly established Republic and reorganized into the First Order, a military-controlled state similar to the Empire. It eventually attacked the New Republic and started a war with the Resistance, an opposing military force created by Rebellion leader Leia Organa.