 |  |
Clone troopers of the 501st on Coruscant during the Raid on the Jedi Temple.
- "Within months, the 501st gained a well deserved reputation as "Vader's Fist"."
- ―Anonymous 501st stormtrooper
The 501st Legion, also known as "Vader's Fist" during the Galactic Civil War, was a legion of elite clone troopers created by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine during the Clone Wars.
Members of the 501st also constructed a journal of some of the battles they fought in.
History
Clone Wars
- "It's been said that the 501st got the best of the war. We also got the worst."
- ―Anonymous 501st clone trooper
501st troopers on Mygeeto.
About a year after the Battle of Geonosis, a group of clone troopers were taken from Kamino and were brought to Coruscant, along with a few Kaminoan technicians. Raised and trained on Coruscant, these clones became the elite shock troopers and the 501st Legion.
Soon after the Battle of Jabiim, the 501st were based at the capital planet of Coruscant.
In the final days of the war, the 501st were always on the move, heading from battlefield to battlefield, often split up into special mission groups to supplement other clone missions.
Operating outside of the usual command structure, detachments of the 501st served at Mygeeto, Felucia, Utapau, and Kashyyyk, along with fighting in the defense of Coruscant. There were even some individual troopers who would be reassigned to other battalions, which they supposedly joined. In reality, all members of the 501st were kept track of, to one day return to Coruscant.
Great Jedi Purge
- "What I remember about the rise of the Empire is… is how quiet it was. During the waning hours of the Clone Wars, the 501st Legion was discreetly transferred back to Coruscant. It was a silent trip. We all knew what was about to happen, what we were about to do. Did we have any doubts? Any private traitorous thoughts? Perhaps, but no one said a word. Not on the flight back to Coruscant, not when Order 66 came down, and not when we marched into the Jedi Temple. Not a word."
- ―Anonymous 501st clone trooper
Members of the 501st Legion wipe out the Jedi in the Jedi Temple.
At the end of the Clone Wars, the 501st Legion, led by Darth Sidious's new apprentice Darth Vader—formerly Anakin Skywalker—marched to the Jedi Temple to execute Order 66—the beginning of the Great Jedi Purge.
The 501st Legion helped Darth Vader take down the Jedi Conclave on Kessel during the Battle of Kessel. Commander Appo was the commanding officer of the 501st, until his death at the hands of Roan Shryne on Kashyyyk.
Galactic Civil War
- "We were establishing a new era, an era of order and peace."
- ―Anonymous 501st stormtrooper
A member of the 501st Legion in standard armor.
After the rise of the Empire, the members of the legion left behind the name of clone trooper and took the designation stormtrooper. Due to their early work with Vader, the legion became known as "Vader's Fist".
On one mission early in the Galactic Civil War, the 501st was sent to flush out the fugitive Geonosian leader Gizor Dellso from his hiding place on Mustafar and destroy his droid armies. Another mission took them to Naboo to eliminate Queen Apailana who had been harboring Jedi fugitives. This mission was the 501st's first time to bring "Imperial justice" to a planet's government, though certainly not the last. Later, a special detachment was sent to Kamino to eliminate a batch of clone troopers that were to be used against the Empire by a rogue Kaminoan group. They enlisted the help of Boba Fett, due to his knowledge of the inner workings of Tipoca City and the cloning centers. Soon, the mere mention of the "Fighting 501st" put fear into the hearts of all who defied the Empire, especially those targeted by the Emperor.
Following a brief prisoner riot on the Death Star, the 501st completed a series of missions to try and locate the stolen plans for the battlestation, culminating in the capture of Princess Leia Organa aboard Tantive IV. The Legion was among the stormtroopers squads stationed onboard the Death Star, though many troops were transferred off to assist in the search for the missing Death Star plans. The 501st lost nearly two thirds of their original number in the station's destruction. In response, the remnants of the 501st joined the blockade of Yavin IV and stormed the Rebel base on the moon's surface. The unit would later be transferred to Vader's Death Squadron, where along with Blizzard Force they would take part in the Battle of Hoth—what they considered their finest hour. Other members of the unit also participated in the Battle of Endor.
Post-Galactic Civil War
Even after the fall of the Empire, the 501st continued operation, and were resurrected by the Empire of the Hand, a group of ex-Imperials still loyal to the deceased Grand Admiral Thrawn. The 501st Unit Aurek-Seven was commanded by Baron Soontir Fel's son, Chak Fel. They accompanied Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade Skywalker on a mission to the remains of Outbound Flight.
Notable members
- "You're the bravest soldiers I have ever seen."
- ―Aayla Secura
Battles fought
Galactic Republic
- Battle of Mygeeto
- Second Battle of Coruscant
- Battle of Felucia
- Battle of Kashyyyk
- Battle of Utapau
Galactic Empire
- Raid on the Jedi Temple
- Conclave on Kessel
- Battle of Kashyyyk
- Battle of Naboo
- Battle of Mustafar
- Battle of Kamino
- Death Star Uprising
- Battle of Polis Massa
- Attack on Tantive IV
- Battle of Yavin
- Skirmishes of Yavin IV
- Battle of Massassi Temple
- Battle of Hoth
- Battle of Endor
Empire of the Hand
Appearances
- Star Wars: Battlefront II
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Star Wars: Purge
- Star Wars Republic: The Hidden Enemy
- Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (First appearance) (Retcon)
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (Retcon)
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (Retcon)
- Fool's Bargain
- Survivor's Quest (First identified as 501st Legion)
Sources
501st Legion in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link (organization/501st/index.html) not verified!)
See also
- Journal of the 501st
- 501st Legion (organization)