Trade Federation

"Supreme Chancellor, delegates of the Senate, a tragedy has occurred, which started right here with the taxation of trade routes, and has now engulfed our entire planet in the oppression of the Trade Federation!"

- Palpatine

The Trade Federation was an interstellar shipping and trade conglomerate during the waning days of the Galactic Republic, one so powerful that it had its own representative in the Galactic Senate. In response to the taxation of trade routes to outlying star systems, and while under the manipulation of the Sith, the Trade Federation invaded Naboo; the invasion was a pretext for Naboo's Senator, Palpatine&mdash;secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious&mdash;to be elected Supreme Chancellor.

A decade after the war on Naboo, the Trade Federation pledged support to the Confederacy of Independent Systems, becoming its military benefactor during the Clone Wars. Publicly, however, the Federation denied all links to the Separatist Alliance, while maintaining a seat in the Republic Senate. The Federation leaders were killed by Darth Vader at the end of the war.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith