Slavery/Legends

"Any attempt to escape&hellip; and they blow you up!"

- Anakin Skywalker on being a slave

Slavery was the practice wherein sentient beings were treated as property to be bought and sold, enforced by violence or other forms of coercion. It was typical for the owner of a slave to implant him with a device that would kill him if an escape attempt was made. In the more lawful portions of the galaxy where slavery was allowed, if a slave was killed or injured—in a manner that devalues the slave or prevented him from performing his job—by a third party, the owner was entitled to compensation from that third party for the depreciated value or the loss of the slave.

Slavery was used by civilizations as disparate as the Infinite Empire of the Rakata, Xim the Despot's empire, the Hutts, the Galactic Empire, the Yuuzhan Vong, and the Ssi-ruuvi Imperium. To chronicle the use of slavery by various civilizations over the history of the Galaxy is considered by many to be a futile task.



Slavery was made illegal by the Galactic Republic under the Rights of Sentience clause, but continued to exist, particularly in regions not under Republic control, primarily the Outer Rim and Senex Sector. However, after the rise of the Galactic Empire, slavery was once again given a degree of legitimacy with the issuance of Imperial Decree A-SL-4557.607.232. Non-Humans were rounded up and enslaved en-masse. Wookiees, Yuzzem, and Talz were exploited for their strength while the Mon Calamari were used for their famous ship-building skills. Twi'lek girls were enslaved for their beauty. Many Human critics of the New Order were enslaved as well. Technically the clone troopers used by the Republic and the Empire were slaves although there was no apparent prejudice against Mandalorians.

When the New Republic became the dominant galactic power, slavery was once again made illegal. However, slavery still continued in remote areas of the galaxy particularly in the Outer Rim and on certain Imperial fortress worlds like Byss. The former Imperial Procurator of Justice Hethrir was a major figure in the slave trade and sold undesirable captives into slavery at Crseih Station in the remote Crseih system. With his death, the slave trade suffered a major blow.

Slaving was often handled by experienced slaving guilds; three of the most notable were the Thalassian Slavers, the Zygerrian Slavers Guild, and the Karazak Slavers Guild.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * The Apprentice
 * Cloak of Deception
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * The Truce at Bakura
 * The Crystal Star
 * Young Jedi Knights: Diversity Alliance
 * Young Jedi Knights: Delusions of Grandeur
 * Young Jedi Knights: Jedi Bounty
 * Young Jedi Knights: The Emperor's Plague
 * New Jedi Order series
 * New Jedi Order series