Confederacy of Independent Systems

The Confederacy of Independent Systems, also known as the Separatist Alliance and simply as the Separatists, was a galactic government and separatist movement that stood opposed to the Galactic Republic. Rebellious activities began in outlying Republic star systems that no longer supported the Republic, sentiments which were seized by the Sith Lord Count Dooku. The Separatists were also secretly led by Palpatine, the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic and the Dark Lord of the Sith, allowing Palpatine to manipulate the major events of the Clone Wars. The war itself was the end result of tension between the Separatists and the Republic.

By the war's end, the Separatist Alliance had been defeated by the Republic, just as Palpatine had intended; the war with the Separatists was a pretext to amassing complete central authority over the Republic, so it could be transformed into the Galactic Empire. The Separatist leadership was killed by Darth Vader, officially ending the Separatist cause. As the Empire expanded, it used the memory of the Separatist Alliance to maintain order, telling the galaxy that it was the rebellious Confederacy that caused the destructive Clone Wars.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars film
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV series
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith