Janus Greejatus/Legends

Janus Greejatus was Human male from Chommell Minor who served alongside Palpatine in both the Republic and the Empire.

Biography
Janus Greejatus was born on Chommell Minor, a prominent world in the Chommell Sector in the Mid Rim. His family had been wealthy, at least before he was born, but competition from non-human laborers steadily whittled away that wealth, so that by the time he was born, the Greejatus fortune was significantly reduced, if not completely gone, and Janus’s father, embittered and ingrained with a hatred of non-humans, taught him never to let non-humans get the better of him in life. Janus would take this advice to heart, and it fueled a virulent anti-alien prejudice that would drive him for the rest of his life.

Greejatus entered local politics, and as he rose in prominence and rank, he established himself as a voice for isolationism, earning himself significant popular support. He couched the anti-alien sentiment in his heart in beguiling political speech which obscured the worst of his prejudices, but his words were still widely regarded as polarizing and controversial.

Greejatus eventually came to the attention of his sector’s representative in the Senate, Palpatine. Senator Palpatine wisely chose not to identify himself too strongly with Greejatus’ more divisive statements in public, understanding that this would undermine his long-term plans, but he did foresee that Greejatus could be of some use to him and cultivated a relationship with him. Greejatus regarded Palpatine as a close friend - what Palpatine himself thought of their relationship remains a mystery. Greejatus constantly sought to demonstrate to Palpatine that he had a keen political mind, and that that mind could - and should - be put to its best possible use.

When Palpatine was elected Supreme Chancellor in a landslide vote (32 BBY), his previous position as representative of Chommell Sector in the Senate became vacant. Greejatus was elected to replace him, presumably with Palpatine’s approval, if not support, but immediately certain influential politicians on Naboo raised their voices in disapproval. The Naboo people’s recent rapprochement with the Gungans had ushered in a new age of inclusion and multiculturalism, and this was far removed from Greejatus’ closed-border ideology. Controversy plagued his term of office, and after only two years he was replaced (ca. 30 BBY) by Horace Vancil from Naboo. For the remainder of the Republic’s history, Naboo alone would represent Chommell Sector at the galactic level. Still, Palpatine found Greejatus useful, and appointed him an advisor in his office.

With the coming of the Galactic Empire (19 BBY), Greejatus was appointed to the Imperial Ruling Council and given new powers and responsibilities. He was one of the select beings who shaped COMPNOR into the all encompassing organization it became. More importantly, he was able to give vent at last to his biases by founding the secretive but very powerful Imperial Department of Redesign, an agency tasked with the subjugation - and sometimes the outright liquidation - of non-human species. His success in this and other ventures drove Greejatus to the realization that he could develop projects without Palpatine’s consent or oversight.

Greejatus’ ambitions grew exponentially, and eventually those ambitions no longer included Palpatine. But these plans ground to a sudden halt when the Death Star battle station was destroyed at Yavin 4 (0 BBY). Greejatus was one of several Imperial officers subsequently found to have goaded Wilhuff Tarkin into possibly considering using the battle station to force Palpatine from power and seize control of the Empire for himself (what Greejatus was to have gained from this change in government is not known, though it can be assumed that he saw an exalted place for himself in Tarkin's hypothetical new regime). This fact came to Palpatine's attention, and the Emperor decided that Greejatus would have to be kept on a short leash. From that point on, he rarely left the Emperor’s sight. It is for this reason that, when Palpatine came to oversee the completion of the second Death Star (4 ABY), Greejatus and a number of other members of the Ruling Council came with him.

It is assumed that Janus Greejatus was present when the Rebels launched their attack on the Death Star, and was killed when the battle station was destroyed.

Behind the scenes
The backstory of Janus Greejatus was developed by Star Wars Hyperspace member Timothy S. Maddocks, a.k.a. "vader_of_bast", through the "What's the Story?" feature on StarWars.com

Appearances

 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Non-canon appearances

 * The Return of Tag & Bink: Special Edition