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"In order to ensure the security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire! For a safe and secure society!"
―Palpatine — (audio) Listen (file info)[2]

The Declaration of a New Order was a proclamation made by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine in 19 BBY, first as an address to an Extraordinary Session of the Galactic Senate and then to the general populace. In it, he proclaimed himself Emperor of the galaxy, legalized the extermination of the Jedi Order, and outlined his vision of transforming the thenceforth-abolished Galactic Republic into his new Galactic Empire.

The anniversary of the Declaration of a New Order was celebrated as Empire Day.

Full text[]

Source: Republic HoloNet News Special Inaugural Edition 16:5:241Attribution: Daniel Wallace, Pablo Hidalgo

Citizens of the civilized galaxy, on this day we mark a transition. For a thousand years, the Republic stood as the crowning achievement of civilized beings. But there were those who would set us against one another, and we took up arms to defend our way of life against the Separatists. In so doing, we never suspected that the greatest threat came from within.

The Jedi, and some within our own Senate, had conspired to create the shadow of Separatism using one of their own as the enemy's leader. They had hoped to grind the Republic into ruin. But the hatred in their hearts could not be hidden forever. At last, there came a day when our enemies showed their true natures.

The Jedi hoped to unleash their destructive power against the Republic by assassinating the head of government and usurping control of the clone army. But the aims of would-be tyrants were valiantly opposed by those without elitist, dangerous powers. Our loyal clone troopers contained the insurrection within the Jedi Temple and quelled uprisings on a thousand worlds.

The remaining Jedi will be hunted down and defeated! Any collaborators will suffer the same fate. These have been trying times, but we have passed the test. The attempt on my life has left me scarred and deformed, but I assure you my resolve has never been stronger. The war is over. The Separatists have been defeated, and the Jedi rebellion has been foiled. We stand on the threshold of a new beginning. In order to ensure our security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire, for a safe and secure society, which I assure you will last for ten thousand years. An Empire that will continue to be ruled by this august body and a sovereign ruler chosen for life. An Empire ruled by the majority, ruled by a new constitution!

By bringing the entire galaxy under one law, one language, and the enlightened guidance of one individual, the corruption that plagued the Republic in its later years will never take root. Regional governors will eliminate the bureaucracy that allowed the Separatist movement to grow unchecked. A strong and growing military will ensure the rule of law.

Under the Empire's New Order, our most cherished beliefs will be safeguarded. We will defend our ideals by force of arms. We will give no ground to our enemies and will stand together against attacks from within or without. Let the enemies of the Empire take heed: those who challenge Imperial resolve will be crushed.

We have taken on a task that will be difficult, but the people of the Empire are ready for the challenge. Because of our efforts, the galaxy has traded war for peace and anarchy for stability. Billions of beings now look forward to a secure future. The Empire will grow as more planets feel the call, from the Rim to the wilds of unknown space.

Imperial citizens must do their part. Join our grand star fleet. Become the eyes of the Empire by reporting suspected insurrectionists. Travel to the corners of the galaxy to spread the principles of the New Order to barbarians. Build monuments and technical wonders that will speak of our glory for generations to come.

The clone troopers, now proudly wearing the name of Imperial stormtroopers, have tackled the dangerous work of fighting our enemies on the front lines. Many have died in their devotion to the Empire. Imperial citizens would do well to remember their example.

The New Order of peace has triumphed over the shadowy secrecy of shameful magicians. The direction of our course is clear. I will lead the Empire to glories beyond imagining.

We have been tested, but we have emerged stronger. We move forward as one people: the Imperial citizens of the first Galactic Empire. We will prevail. Ten thousand years of peace begins today.
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Reactions to the speech[]

"So this is how liberty dies... with thunderous applause."
Padmé Amidala — (audio) Listen (file info)[2]

Although the speech received unanimous signatures in support of transitioning the Galactic Republic into the Galactic Empire, the speech itself had mixed reception. Several of the senators were in support of it because it meant a chance at a time of peace after three years of the Clone Wars and the carnage that occurred. Several of these senators also felt it would solidify their power base. Others, notably the senators who signed the Delegation of 2000, personally disagreed with the speech, but felt the need to support it for their own safety, because of armed men inside the room who would shoot if they dared speak out. During the speech, the Naboo senator representing the Chommell sector, Padmé Amidala, mused that "to thunderous applause" was "how liberty dies".[2] Mon Mothma, the Chandrilan senator and later one of the top leaders of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, also reflected later on that she never believed a word of Palpatine's speech, especially his remarks about the Jedi trying to commit treason against him, and also expressed disgust at the fellow senators applauding Palpatine's "silver lies."[3] The full text of the speech was eventually printed out during the Republic HoloNet News Special Inaugural Edition 16:5:241, which was ultimately the last HoloNews broadcast.[1] The speech was also frequently excerpted within the official field guide for the Imperial Military, the Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide, released nineteen years after the Declaration. Palpatine, in his introduction to the Imperial Handbook, likewise admitted that the Declaration of a New Order and likewise the resulting shift from the Republic to the Empire was an unprecedented shift of power in galactic history, but also mentioned the people had been desperate and that the Republic could not continue on its current course, and also implied that he acted on the people's behalf when he made the decision for the Senate.[3]

Behind the scenes[]

84PalpatineSpeechFinal

Palpatine announcing the birth of the New Order.

Some elements of this text contradict the text found in the novelization of the 2005 film Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, such as the "Safety, security, justice and peace!" chant. The author of the Insider article admitted that he had forgotten to check the novelization before writing his article. In addition, some parts of the text were switched around from the film (for example, in the article, the phrase "And the Jedi rebellion has been foiled." took place after "The remaining Jedi will be hunted down and defeated." In the film, it was in reverse order).

It should be noted, however, that the novelization text differs from what is seen in the film. The segment seen in the novel goes as follows:

Source: Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (novel)Attribution: Matthew Stover
These Jedi murderers left me scarred, left me deformed, but they could not scar my integrity! They could not deform my resolve! The remaining traitors will be hunted down, rooted out wherever they may hide, and brought to justice, dead or alive! All collaborators will suffer the same fate. Those who protect the enemy are the enemy! Now is the time! Now we will strike back! Now we will destroy the destroyers! Death to the enemies of the democracy!

This has been the most trying of times, but we have passed the test. The war is over!

The Separatists have been utterly defeated, and the Republic will stand. United! United and free!

The Jedi Rebellion was our final test—it was the last gasp of the forces of darkness! Now we have left that darkness behind us forever, and a new day has begun! It is morning in the Republic!

Never again will we be divided! Never again will sector turn against sector, planet turn against planet, sibling turn against sibling. We are one nation, indivisible!

To ensure that we will always stand together, that we will always speak with a single voice and act with a single hand, the Republic must change. We must evolve. We must grow. We have become an empire in fact; let us become an Empire in name as well! We are the first Galactic Empire!

We are an Empire that will continue to be ruled by this august body! We are an Empire that will never return to the political manoeuvring and corruption that have wounded us so deeply; we are an Empire that will be directed by a single sovereign, chosen for life!

We are an Empire ruled by the majority! An Empire ruled by a new Constitution! An Empire of laws, not of politicians! An Empire devoted to the preservation of a just society. Of a safe and secure society! We are an Empire that will stand ten thousand years!

We will celebrate the anniversary of this day as Empire Day. For the sake of our children. For our children's children! For the next ten thousand years! Safety! Security! Justice and peace!

Say it with me! Safety, Security, Justice, and Peace! Safety, Security, Justice, and Peace!
This work is copyrighted. The individual who uploaded this work asserts that this qualifies as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.

The film version of this text goes as follows:

Source: Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the SithAttribution: George Lucas

And the Jedi rebellion has been foiled.

The remaining Jedi will be hunted down and defeated.

[…]

The attempt on my life has left me scarred and deformed. But, I assure you, my resolve has never been stronger.

[…]

In order to ensure our security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire for a safe and secure society.
This work is copyrighted. The individual who uploaded this work asserts that this qualifies as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.

In the DVD commentary of Revenge of the Sith, George Lucas stated that the interwoven scenes of the Declaration of a New Order and the Mission to Mustafar was an homage to the christening and assassination sequence of the 1972 classic film The Godfather, directed by his friend Francis Ford Coppola.[4]

According to Lucas, the declaration, as well as Padmé Amidala's comment about liberty dying being "from thunderous applause", was intended to reference the rise of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler in Germany. Similarly, Palpatine's line in both the novelization and the full speech included in Star Wars Insider about his new Empire lasting 10,000 years was similar to Hitler's vow of a "Thousand-year Reich", while in the end, both the Galactic Empire and the Third Reich were relatively short-lived (though the Galactic Empire actually lasted longer than the Third Reich).

In the novelization, during his speech, Palpatine stated that it's "Morning in the Republic", which was similar to president Ronald Reagan's 1984 campaign ad "Morning in America."

Appearances[]

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Notes and references[]

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