Kashyyyk/Legends

Kashyyyk (pronounced /kʌ'ʃiːk/ or, more rarely, /'kæʃɪk/ or /kə'zuːk/), also known as Wookiee Planet C, was the lush, tree-filled home planet of the Wookiees. It was a mid-rim world, which was a member of the Old Republic and later, the New Republic.

Landforms
Kashyyyk had four continents, which were mostly covered in lush, tree-filled forests, although it the planet did have a small amount of desert region in the rain shadow of its small mountain ranges. Its prevalent ecology could be politely described as a "layered deathtrap," as the planet's surface was covered with wroshyr trees several kilometers high, and the dangers presented by local wildlife increased as one descended toward the forest floor.

Forests
According to Wookiee culture, this vertical environment consisted of seven levels. The bulk of Wookiee civilization was located on the uppermost seventh level, and even the bravest Wookiees rarely ventured below the fourth level. The ground level was known as the Shadowlands and, sometimes, the "neterworld."

Species
Besides the primary sentient Wookiees, Kashyyyk was home to a host of other animal species including can-cells, flame beetles, gorryl slugs, katarns, kinraths, kkekkrrg rros, kroyies, mykals, netcasters, sureggi, tach, webweavers, and various species of banthas.

Early days
In the millennia before the rise of the Galactic Republic, Kashyyyk was a member world of the Infinite Empire. Its surface was terraformed by the Rakata for agricultural purposes, but the collapse of their empire left the machines unattended, resulting in the abnormally large foliage.

Czerka Corporation and slavery
Later, it was discovered by Czerka Corporation, which termed the planet first G5-623 and then, after a poll of stockholders, Edean. 3,991 BBY Guun Han Saresh died on the planet fighting a terentatek. Czerka's control of 'Edean' was disrupted when, in 3,956 BBY, the enslaved Wookiee populace overthrew the local corporate headquarters and drove all outsiders off the planet.

Old Republic
It was presumably some time after this that Kashyyyk decided to join the Old Republic. The Wookiees reverse-engineered hyperdrive from a Trandoshan vessel. The Wookiees were welcomed into the Republic through dealings with the Corellians, Verpine, and Alderaanians. Eventually, Kashyyyk was represented in the Galactic Senate, with Senator Yarua being the last Kashyyyk representative prior to the outbreak of the Clone Wars. The Wookiees colonized both the major moons of Kashyyyk, as well as other worlds in the system such as Alaris Prime.

The Clone Wars
During the Clone Wars, the Confederacy of Independent Systems invaded Kashyyyk. Conquering the planet would prove an asset since it would enable the Separatists to control hyperspace route planning and use the Wookiee's secret routes to disrupt galactic trade and communication. In response, the Republic dispatched a task force led by Master Yoda to defend Kashyyyk. There, a combined force of Clone troopers and Wookiees fought against the Separatist droid invaders at the Battle of Kashyyyk, a battle that, despite the overwhelming Separatist forces, saw the combined Republic/Wookiee force emerge victorious.

Galactic empire and slavery
However, victory was short-lived. With the rise of the Galactic Empire, the Jedi were branded enemies of the Republic. The Clone troopers then took over the planet and placed it under martial law. In response, the Wookiees rebelled against their new oppressors.

At the advice of the Trandoshans (and possibly influenced by Yoda's escape and subsequent battle with Emperor Palpatine) the Empire enslaved the Wookiees for their strength. Wookiee captives were used for countless Imperial projects including the Maw Installation and the Death Stars. However, because of their devotion to their homeworld, many Wookiees would evade the Imperial garrison to revisit their beloved forests for important Wookiee holidays such as Life Day. The Wookiees were frequently plagued by slavers from neighboring Trandosha and Mytaranor.

The New Republic
After the Battle of Endor, the Wookiees were liberated from slavery by the Alliance of Free Planets. The Nagai also attempted to enslave the species though they were repulsed by the New Republic. Sadly, the peace was short-lived. The Empire, having licked its wounds, quickly reestablished a presence on Kashyyyk and enslaved the Wookiees once more. Around 5 ABY Han Solo and Chewbacca assisted in inciting a revolution among the populace, helped in part by Lando Calrissian, Rogue Squadron, Admiral Ackbar who took on Grand Admiral Peccati Syn in a pitched fleet-battle in the nearby Sumitra Sector.

Kashyyyk was represented in the New Republic Senate by Kerrithrarr and the planet became key signatory and member world of the Inner Council. The planet also welcomed trade and its city of Thikkiiana became a major exporter of computer technology. However, this made it the target of the agents of the Second Imperium in 23 ABY. A task force under Zekk raided Thikkiiana's computer stores for use by the Second Imperium in its war against the New Republic.

During the Yuuzhan Vong War, Kashyyyk would be an important member world of the New Republic and its successor government the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances. After the liberation of Coruscant, celebrations took place on the planet

Behind the scenes
The original drafts of Return of the Jedi called for the Death Star II to be built in orbit around Kashyyyk by Wookiee slave labor. It wasn't until later drafts that the setting and characters were changed to the Forest Moon of Endor and Ewoks.

The planet was introduced in live-action in 1978 in The Star Wars Holiday Special, and was finally reallized on the big-screen in 2005 in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

Appearances

 * Shadows and Light
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars: Republic Commando
 * Star Wars: Battlefront
 * Star Wars: Battlefront II
 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
 * Star Wars Galaxies (Rage of the Wookiees expansion)
 * Rebel Dawn
 * The Star Wars Holiday Special
 * Marvel Star Wars 91: Wookiee World
 * Star Wars Visionaries
 * ''Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
 * The Kashyyyk Depths
 * A Forest Apart
 * Heir to the Empire
 * Way of the Wookiee
 * The Wookiee Storybook
 * Young Jedi Knights series
 * The Unifying Force