Begeren

"A thousand years ago, this world belonged to us. You are the intruders here."

- Teneb Kel to the Republic Governor of Begeren

Begeren was a planet in the Sith Worlds region of the Outer Rim Territories. It was originally part of the Sith Empire, which constructed enormous monuments dedicated to notable Sith on the planet's surface&mdash;a project that cost the lives of an estimated hundred thousand slaves. Following the Empire's defeat in the Great Hyperspace War, Begeren was claimed by the Galactic Republic. The Republic allowed the construction of a gemstone quarry at the expense of the Sith statues, which fell into ruin. In 3,678 BBY, the planet was seized by a revived Sith Empire. During the Galactic Civil War, Begeren was the site of a battle between the Alliance to Restore the Republic and the Galactic Empire.

Description
The planet of Begeren was located in the Begeren system of the Sith Worlds region&mdash;technically part of the Esstran sector&mdash;of the Outer Rim Territories. It was one of the end points of the Kamat Aegit hyperlane that ran across the Sith Worlds region to connect with Khar Delba.

At least part of the planet was covered in rocky desert, dotted with large, light blue constellations of gemstones. Tall cliffs loomed over the landscape, some of which had been sculpted into enormous statues of notable Sith. Under the Galactic Republic, some of these monuments were destroyed to make room for a gemstone quarry. The Republic also operated at least one settlement on the planet.

Politically, the planet was initially controlled by the Sith Empire, based on nearby Korriban. Begeren was later claimed by the Galactic Republic, which installed a governor to oversee the planet. The world was seized by a resurgent Sith Empire during the Great Galactic War. Begeren would later fall under the hegemony of organizations such as the Brotherhood of Darkness, Zsinj's Empire, and Darth Krayt's Galactic Empire.

Sith world
Begeren was seized by the Sith Empire some time prior to approximately 5,000 BBY. The Empire set about constructing massive monuments of noteworthy Sith alchemists, warriors, and philosophers. Slave labor was used to build the statues, and an estimated hundred thousand slaves died before the work was completed.

In the years following the Sith Empire's defeat in the Great Hyperspace War, Begeren was claimed by the Galactic Republic. A governor was installed to oversee the world. At least one gemstone quarry was constructed to exploit Begeren's precious natural resources. This mining industry came at the expense of the Sith monuments, which fell into disrepair.

The world remained under Republic supervision until the year 3,678 BBY, when it was invaded by the resurgent Sith Empire as part of the Great Galactic War. Despite suffering losses, the Imperial Army&mdash;aided by the Sith Teneb Kel&mdash;defeated the Republic and killed its governor.

Galactic Civil War
In the early stages of the Galactic Civil War, the planet was the site of a battle between the Alliance to Restore the Republic and the Galactic Empire. When the Alliance won, news of the victory spread as far as Klatooine, giving hope to the native Klatooinians that they too might achieve freedom from their Hutt oppressors.

Inhabitants
Under the Sith Empire, an estimated hundred thousand slaves died while working on Begeren's monuments. One of the Republic's governors was of the Advozse species, while at least some of its soldiers were Humans.

Behind the scenes
Begeren was first introduced in a throwaway mention in Galaxy Guide 12: Aliens — Enemies and Allies (1995), a sourcebook for the Star Wars Roleplaying Game published by West End Games. The planet's location was pinpointed in The Essential Atlas (2009) through a listing for the Begeren system. It was not until the webcomic Star Wars: The Old Republic, Blood of the Empire Act 1: Shades of the Sith (2010) that the planet was extensively featured in a Star Wars product.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: The Old Republic, Blood of the Empire Act 1: Shades of the Sith