Wookiee/Legends

The Wookiees were a species of furred bipeds that were native to the planet Kashyyyk. One of the most noteworthy members of the species was Chewbacca, Han Solo's friend and co-pilot.

The Wookiees' natural habitat was the dense forests of the planet Kashyyyk (though some sources do contend that they were immigrants to this planet). Kashyyyk was covered with massive Wroshyr trees, in which the Wookiees constructed their homes and cities. Reportedly, Wookiees were descended from tree-climbing mammalians.

Description
Adult Wookiees were tall, in excess of two meters in height, and were covered with a uniform, mid-length coat of thick hair. Young Wookiees (pups) were large at birth (averaging slightly less than one meter). Wookiees possessed vicious-looking retractable claws, but a cultural code of honor prohibited using them for anything but climbing trees. Wookiees who used their claws in a fight were exiled from Kashyyyk and Wookiee society. Female Wookiees had six breasts and gave birth to live-born young, with their gestation period nearly a year long. Reportedly, Wookiees had a strong bond with the Force. The average lifespan of Wookiees was around 600 years. Although Wookiees were sometimes taken to be little more than hairy, savage beasts, Wookiees were intelligent, had a varied culture, and were starfaring. Wookiees possessed great strength and exceptional skill in droid repair.

Wookiees were often short-tempered. When Chewbacca complained about a move in a game of dejarik that R2-D2 had made during their initial trip to Alderaan, Han Solo told C-3PO that it was not a good idea to upset a Wookiee - because an upset Wookiee would tear a person's arms out of their sockets (though Han and Chewbacca might have been teasing the droid). Despite their temper, Wookiees were usually gentle and affectionate with their friends and family.

Culture
One of the most well-known Wookiee traditions was the life-debt. When a Wookiee's life was saved by someone else, even a non-Wookiee, they would frequently devote themselves to a lifetime of service to their savior and their family. Chewbacca's life-debt to Han Solo, later extended to his family and his close friends, is one of the most famous examples of a Wookiee life-debt.

The most common Wookiee language was Shyriiwook. While they were capable of understanding Basic, they were incapable of speaking it due to their unique vocal structure. One of the few Wookiees who was able to speak Basic was Ralrracheen. Ironically, this was only due to a rare speech impediment he suffered from.

Wookiees possessed a fierce style of fighting, typically eschewing standard blasters and grenades for bladed weapons and powerful bowcasters&mdash;weapons physically weaker species could not use effectively.

Under the Wookiee code of honor, claws were never to be used in combat. A Wookiee who used his or her claws for combat would be labeled a "madclaw" and exiled.

At the age of twelve, young Wookiees underwent the coming-of-age Hrrtayyk ceremony.

History
The Wookiees originated on the planet Kashyyyk, part of the Kashyyyk system. 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.

Later, Kashyyyk was discovered by Czerka Corporation, which enslaved the native Wookiees. They named the planet first "G5-623" and then, after a poll of stockholders, "Edean". Czerka control of "Edean" was disrupted when, in 3,956 BBY, the enslaved Wookiee populace overthrew the local corporate headquarters with the help of Revan and drove all outsiders off the planet. It was presumably some time after this before Kashyyyk decided to join the Old Republic. The Wookiees were welcomed into the Republic through dealings with the Corellians and Alderaanians. Eventually, Kashyyyk was even represented in the Galactic Senate. During the last decades of the Republic, Senator Yarua was the last Kashyyyk representative and also represented Trandosha, home of the reptilian Trandoshans. However, the Trandoshans resented their Wookiee neighbours and attempted to assassinate Yarua in 32 BBY. In 23 BBY, a Wookiee vessel was attacked over a moon of Trandosha, resulting in a Wookiee blockade of Trandosha. Peace talks to resolve the issue were conducted 22 BBY, under the mediation of Jedi Master Oppo Rancisis, but failed when it was revealed that the Trandoshans were pushing for Senatorial representation with Trade Federation backing. During the Clone Wars, the Wookiees remained loyal to the Republic while the Trandoshans aligned themselves with the Confederacy of Independent Systems.

Later during the Clone Wars, the Confederacy 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 repulsed the Separatist droid invaders and their Trandoshan allies at the Battle of Kashyyyk.

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 Kashyyyk 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.

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, and Admiral Ackbar who took on Grand Admiral Peccati Syn in a pitched fleet-battle in the nearby Sumitra Sector.

The Wookiees were represented by Kerrithrarrin the New Republic Senate and Kashyyyk 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, the Wookiees would still continue to serve the New Republic and its successor government the Galactic Alliance. After the liberation of Coruscant, celebrations took place on the planet.

Behind the scenes
Wookiees were present in the Star Wars saga from George Lucas' earliest drafts. In many early versions of the story which eventually became A New Hope, a crucial battle takes place on a planet full of Wookiees. This idea resurfaced in early versions of Return of the Jedi, though Ewoks would be used instead. (Note that the name Ewok is Wookiee with the syllables reversed.) In Revenge of the Sith, the long-awaited Wookiee army finally appeared on screen.

The word Wookiee has taken on a new meaning lately in informal discussions of the law, due to an episode of the animated television series South Park. In that episode, real-life attorney Johnnie Cochran successfully wins two trials by confusing the jury with ramblings about Chewbacca that distract them from the actual issues of the case. Fans later dubbed this strategy the Chewbacca Defense, and an otherwise unexplained reference to a Wookiee in a legal discussion is likely to mean something that is being used as a red herring, as Chewbacca was used in the episode.

George Lucas has decreed that there can be no more Wookiee Jedi in the Expanded Universe.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * The Star Wars Holiday Special
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi