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Click here for Wookieepedia's article on the Canon version of this subject.  This article covers the Legends version of this subject. 
For other uses, see Empire (disambiguation).
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"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 for ten thousand years!"
―Palpatine[9]

The Galactic Empire, also known as the First Galactic Empire, Palpatine's New Order, the Imperium or simply the Empire and later the Old Empire, was the galactic government established by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine to replace the Galactic Republic in 19 BBY and bring Sith rule to the galaxy.

The Republic, which had lasted for at least 25,034 years, ended following a period of intense political turmoil and the subsequent devastation of the Clone Wars. After the death of Count Dooku above Coruscant, the death of General Grievous on Utapau and finally the massacre of the leaders of the Confederacy of Independent Systems on Mustafar, Chancellor Palpatine (by then ruling with near-absolute power) began a purge of the Jedi Order, and then proclaimed himself Emperor of the galaxy and reorganized the Galactic Republic into "the first Galactic Empire" on the galactic capital, Coruscant.

The Galactic Empire existed as a separate entity in one form or another for 157 years, until in 138 ABY, when it was absorbed by a new organization.

History[]

Origin[]

"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."
Emperor Palpatine, in his Imperial Inaugural Address[9]

The Empire can be said to have begun with the scheming aspiration of the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, known as his alter ego Senator Palpatine of Naboo. He was inspired by the Resurrected Sith Empire, which dominated the galaxy over three millennia earlier. In 32 BBY, he began manipulating pivotal events, such as instigating the Naboo crisis, in which he used the Trade Federation, led by Viceroy Nute Gunray as a pawn, to lead Queen Amidala into calling for a "Vote of No Confidence" in Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum, effectively replacing him and eventually winning the Battle of Naboo with assistance from the Gungans. When his first apprentice, Darth Maul, was defeated by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Sidious took on the former Jedi Count Dooku as his new apprentice. In 24 BBY, Dooku then helped found the Confederacy of Independent Systems with the formation of the Separatist Council, led again by Nute Gunray, on Raxus Prime, igniting the Separatist Crisis. Palpatine, at the end of his second term, was allowed to stay in power until the crisis was resolved. This eventually led to the Clone Wars, which started with the First Battle of Geonosis in 22 BBY.

At the beginning of the Clone Wars, Palpatine was an efficient and effective leader who quickly brought to an end the corruption in the Senate; his authority was greatly increased even more so than at the start of the Separatist Crisis, via Acting Senator Jar Jar Binks, while the Senate willingly furnished as they gave more and more emergency powers to him. Eventually, the Senate lost most of its power and became little more than a formality that Palpatine had to go through to pass his laws. Yet the Senate retained some symbolic power; Chancellor Palpatine still hid behind the pomp and circumstance of appealing to the Senate, but his power existed in his control over thousands of Senators that he had brought into his own web of corruption.

84PalpatineSpeechFinal

Emperor Palpatine announces the beginning of the New Order

However, after the death of Count Dooku onboard the Invisible Hand above Coruscant and the death of General Grievous on Utapau, Anakin Skywalker discovered that Palpatine was a Sith Lord, and after informing Jedi Master Mace Windu of his discovery, a Jedi task force led by Windu himself attempted to arrest him. After a brief duel, Palpatine appeared to be defeated. Skywalker arrived and demanded the Sith Lord's life be spared, that he might stand trial. Deeply troubled, Skywalker nonetheless helped Palpatine kill Windu, prompting him to be held under Palpatine's sway as his new apprentice and enforcer, Darth Vader. Palpatine then proceeded to carry out the Great Jedi Purge, including the massacre of the Jedi Temple itself, which eliminated almost all of the Jedi, while simultaneously wiping out the leaders of the Confederacy on Mustafar, including the Separatist Council representative Nute Gunray, who was Anakin's last victim. The Separatists were reduced to a shadow of their former selves, thus bringing an end to the Clone Wars. Secure in his power and position, Palpatine used the so-called Jedi rebellion to issue the Declaration of a New Order and declared himself Emperor of the galaxy in 19 BBY, replacing the Galactic Republic with the Galactic Empire. Likewise, Palpatine vowed that the newly-formed Empire would reign with ten thousand years of peace.

Many people under the new Empire enthusiastically supported the vision outlined in the Declaration of a New Order, largely due to the violence that had plagued the galaxy for so long. Many Senators wholeheartedly supported the new government while a number of more cautious senators chose to watch and wait to see how the new government would handle the affairs of state. It promised to trade frailty for strength, chaos for order, and uncertainty for decisiveness. In retrospect, the foundation of the Empire had already been set down during Palpatine's chancellorship and all potential threats eliminated; therefore, the transition from Republic to Empire was relatively smooth.

It is important to note that not all of the Senators liked what they saw. Shortly before the start of the Clone Wars in 22 BBY, the Loyalist Committee was formed by more democratic senators. By the eve of the empire, near the end of the Clone Wars in 19 BBY, the Loyalist Committee was reorganised into the Petition of 2000, who sought to bring the worries of these Senators to Palpatine. This petition was led by Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, and Padmé Amidala. Palpatine's dismissal of their concerns was one factor that led Organa and Mothma to help found the Alliance to Restore the Republic.

Imperialization[]

"I have brought peace, freedom, justice, and security to my new Empire!"
Darth Vader[5]
EmpireOnBackwaterPlanet-EGTW

Imperial stormtroopers set up defensive weapons on a backwater planet

With the rise of the Empire, all the institutions of the old Republic found themselves either dismantled or modified beyond recognition. There was a riot of renaming all things "Imperial" to glorify the new Emperor: overnight, the Coruscant sector was renamed the Imperial Sector, Coruscant itself was renamed Imperial Center, and Galactic City was renamed Imperial City. The Galactic Senate became the Imperial Senate, the Grand Army of the Republic became the Imperial Army with the clone troopers, which made up the majority of the GAR, reorganized into the Stormtrooper Corps, and the Republic Navy became the Imperial Navy. The four decrepit intelligence agencies of the Republic were merged into Imperial Intelligence, with former Senate Bureau of Intelligence (SBI) director Armand Isard at its head. The Palace of the Republic was rebuilt and expanded, becoming the Imperial Palace, eclipsing all other buildings on Imperial Center. The former Commission for the Protection of the Republic (COMPOR) was renamed the Commission for the Preservation of the New Order (COMPNOR). Within days, there were few names left to remind the people that there had ever been a Galactic Republic.

Palpatine consolidated his power by launching Purges against his opponents, most notably the Old Republic officers, whom he had not been able to seduce to his side. Any officers who held anti-Imperial sentiments were arrested and executed by Admiral Mulleen, under Palpatine's orders. Palpatine's first purge of the Imperial Navy occurred within just two weeks into the Empire's rule.

In addition, many former Separatist worlds had their assets confiscated by Finance Minister Gahg under Palpatine's orders.[10]

During the first few years of the Empire, the galaxy saw the single largest military buildup in history. A permanent class of Moffs and regional governors was established to more efficiently govern individual sectors and regions of the Empire. Popular support for the policies of Palpatine's administration was high. In addition, the Empire also pursued a reconquest of the Middle and Outer Rims of the Galaxy, which included getting rid of any and all remaining Separatist influence.[11] During the time of the Battle of Kelrodo-Ai during the Western Reaches Operation in 17 BBY, the Empire restored order and rule of law in eight sectors, and liberated 95 worlds.[12] For many this was a period of celebration: the Separatists had at last been defeated and order and the rule of law had been returned to sectors that had long been given over to piracy and crime. Citizens who had become disillusioned with their senators found a new voice through organizations like COMPNOR, and the Outer Rim was reconciled to Imperial rule through conciliatory gestures like the pardoning and early release of certain Separatist prisoners.[11]

Nonetheless, many members of the Imperial Military were unhappy about Palpatine's plans for imperialization: One Imperial officer, in particular, the headmaster of the Imperial Academy Gentis, who lost all but one of his sons to Palpatine's warmongering ways during the imperialization effort, formed a military coup against Palpatine and poisoned him with Aorth-6 as a means to bring peace to the Empire, something he realized that Palpatine would never pursue. The coup, while initially successful, ultimately failed.[13]

The Dark Times[]

"We must move quickly. The Jedi are relentless. If they are not all destroyed, it will be civil war without end."
―Palpatine[5]
SidEmp

Emperor Palpatine, ruler of the galaxy.

As this process unfolded, the Emperor saw the respected Caamasi as a threat to his New Order, so he ordered the devastation of their home planet Caamas. A group of Bothan infiltrators were responsible for sabotaging Caamas's shield generators, leaving the planet vulnerable to Imperial orbital bombardment. The once beautiful world was devastated during this attack, turned into a poisoned wasteland. The peaceful Caamasi were dispersed throughout the galaxy. In 18 BBY, the Emperor constructed the huge, asteroid-shaped superweapon Eye of Palpatine in order to use it to destroy a Jedi enclave on Belsavis. However, the deadly superweapon was sabotaged by two Jedi Knights and the Jedi on Belsavis managed to escape.

Around the same time, a group of beings were protesting the tyranny of the Galactic Empire on the planet Ghorman in the Sern sector. Wilhuff Tarkin's flagship was blocked by peaceful protesters who stood on the ship's landing pad and refused to move. With implied permission from Palpatine, Tarkin landed the ship anyway, right on the protesters, injuring and killing many. This came to be known as the Ghorman Massacre. The Alliance to Restore the Republic was founded in its wake.

Many Jedi also rebelled against Palpatine's regime. Olee Starstone and a group of Order 66 Jedi survivors along with Roan Shryne attempted to re-establish the Jedi Council but were unsuccessful. The group fled to Kashyyyk to find out if any Jedi survived there, but the Empire launched a massive takeover of the planet. Darth Vader killed Roan Shryne and some of the Jedi, with Starstone barely escaping with her life. A Wookiee among them, named Chewbacca, fled the city to find his family. Meanwhile, Ferus Olin along with his friends including Jedi Master Solace caused much havoc on Imperial-controlled planets including a rebellion on the planet of Bellassa, the two Jedi break-ins of the destroyed Jedi Temple on Coruscant, and the destruction of an Imperial Garrison and Weapon Munitions Center on Naboo. Also on Kessel, a group of Jedi including Master Tsui Choi and Jedi Knight Bultar Swan planned to draw Darth Vader into a trap and kill him. Due to exceptionally bad planning and tactics, every one of them was killed, though Vader's suit was slightly damaged.

In 1 BBY, the Emperor and Vader were the targets of an attempted coup by a group of treacherous Imperial officers led by Grand Moff Trachta. Trachta saw the Sith as foolish and archaic, and believed that the Empire should not be ruled by a two-man cult. They planned to use a batch of altered stormtroopers loyal only to them to destroy the two Sith Lords. However, their plot failed in part because of internal fighting between the co-conspirators.

Resistance to Imperial rule[]

"Listen, I can't get involved. I've got work to do. It's not that I like the Empire; I hate it! But there's nothing I can do about it right now. It's such a long way from here."
Luke Skywalker to Obi-Wan Kenobi[14]
GalacticEmpireBanner-SWG

Galactic Empire banner, circa 0 ABY.

In 2 BBY, after the true nature of the Empire became clear, three of the most influential senators, Bail Organa of Alderaan, Garm Bel Iblis of Corellia, and Mon Mothma of Chandrila, along with others, were on the brink of starting a great rebellion against the Empire. To lure the dissidents out of hiding, the Emperor and Darth Vader had Galen Marek, Vader's secret Sith apprentice, rally the Rebels. Brought together by him, they met in secret on Corellia and signed the Corellian Treaty. This officially formed the Alliance to Restore the Republic, more commonly referred to as the Rebel Alliance. They were arrested on the spot, and taken to be executed by Palpatine himself on board the Death Star but Marek turned to the light side of the Force and freed them, sacrificing his own life. On Kashyyyk, the Alliance commemorated Marek's death and used his family crest as the new organization's symbol. Just weeks later, a full scale war broke out between the Imperials and the Rebels, which was an armed military conflict that would consume the galaxy for many years to come.

However, the threat of rebellion allowed Palpatine to endorse the Tarkin Doctrine of rule by fear of force rather than force itself. If anything, Palpatine welcomed the formation of the fledgling Rebel Alliance as a legitimate excuse to remove the last vestiges of the Republic and tighten his grip on the galaxy. To test the Death Star's power, Tarkin ordered the Destruction of Despayre, the planet which the space station was built over which took three waves and likely consumed its only moon Haroon in the process.

In 0 BBY, the Imperial Senate was dissolved and taking what was left of the Old Republic with it, which only strengthened the Rebellion. Almost immediately afterwards, Tarkin ordered the Destruction of Alderaan, which took a single fire and was completely obliterated, despite their captive Leia's protest, who was eventually rescued by the Millennium Falcon crew.

A key instrument in the enforcement of the doctrine was intended to be the Death Star, a moon-sized space station with sufficient firepower to easily destroy a planet with a single discharge of its powerful superlaser. Whereas many planets could afford planetary deflector shields capable of warding off virtually any conventional attack, none could defend against the power of that weapon. The weapon was destroyed in the Battle of Yavin, which marked the first major space-based victory for the Rebel Alliance. At this point, Palpatine and the rest of the Empire realized that the Rebellion was a major threat to them and one that should be taken seriously, for the destruction of the Death Star was a massive blow to the Empire.

After the superweapon's destruction, the Rebels had finally found their footing. They began consistent strikes on Imperial-held territories, inciting continuing resentment against the Empire and taking them under the Rebels' banner. This included the Anti-Imperial propaganda for destroying Alderaan, which set thousands of worlds in the galaxy to protest against the empire's brutality, even in the Core Worlds. The Alliance had also cultivated renowned leaders and heroes as distinctive as Han Solo, Lando Calrissian and the Jedi-to-be Luke Skywalker. Although the Empire gained the upper hand in most campaigns against the Alliance (such as the Battle of Hoth and the construction of the second Death Star), they could not prevent the unstoppable juggernaut that the Rebels unleashed upon them and felt their grip in the galaxy slowly weakening. Thus, in the climax of the Galactic Civil War that was the Battle of Endor, where Anakin Skywalker would also aid the Rebels in fulfilling an ancient Jedi prophecy, the Empire was finally unseated from its control over the galaxy.

Fracturing and warlord era[]

The Empire, however, was too large, to be destroyed in one blow; for the next fifteen years, the Rebels (soon renamed the Alliance of Free Planets and then the New Republic) fought to free the galaxy from former Imperials styling themselves as independent warlords as well as Imperial loyalists, such as Thrawn and Ysanne Isard.

Even prior to the fall of Emperor Palpatine in 4 ABY, the signs of fragmentation began to slowly reveal themselves as early as 0 ABY with the rebel's propaganda of the then-recent Destruction of Alderaan. In just a matter of days after the Battle of Endor, the Empire was thrown into a power struggle and would meanwhile resume their conflict with the New Republic in a two-front war. The first incursion was that of Moff Kalast, followed by the more serious situation involving the free-selling arms dealer Admiral Harkov, and finally culminating in the major Imperial infighting with Grand Admiral Demetrius Zaarin. The situation became serious when Zaarin attempted a coup d'état on Emperor Palpatine, managing to miraculously capture the Sith Lord by abducting him from his flagship, in a plot later thwarted by Admiral Thrawn.

Immediately following the Imperial defeat at the Battle of Endor, Grand Vizier Sate Pestage seized control of the Empire. However, he lacked the charisma, Force powers, and terrifying presence that both Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader used to keep the Empire together. Admiral Blitzer Harrsk was the first Imperial to declare himself a warlord and set up his own mini-Empire, but he would not be the last. Others included Admiral Treuten Teradoc, Admiral Zsinj, and General Sander Delvardus, to name a few.

Sate Pestage only managed to hold the throne for a scant six months before he was deposed by the Imperial Ruling Council composed of three Tribunes. The Ruling Council was acting on the manipulations of Imperial Intelligence Director Ysanne Isard though, and the Ruling Council's leadership of the Empire ended under brutal conditions executed by Isard.

In 6 ABY the New Republic would liberate Coruscant from the local Imperial faction and thus making an official return to democracy. However, Ysanne Isard managed to hold the Empire together and stem off aggressive warlords, as well as Trioculus and the false Kadann, who also claimed the throne, for nearly two years before losing control of Imperial Center. When Ysanne Isard started to lose her grasp over the Empire, she had her scientists develop a biological virus targeting only non-humans that she later let loose in Coruscant. So when Coruscant fell under the Rebel's attack, led by Rogue Squadron, they inherited Isard's disease that caused havoc for the starting government. With the loss of Coruscant, the Empire dissolved further and, soon, Warlord Zsinj was seen as the single largest Imperial threat in the galaxy. Isard managed to evade death and escaped to her own little kingdom.

The remnants of the Empire found themselves for the first time on the same side of the table as the New Republic. Both governments viewed Warlord Zsinj as their biggest threat. Zsinj came under the pressure of both governments, but it was not until Admiral Teren Rogriss teamed up with General Solo that they managed to bring Zsinj down.

The temporary alliance was over and new fighting erupted between the Empire and the New Republic over the scraps of Zsinj's domain. However, the New Republic dealt blow after blow to the Empire, winning most of the engagements and further humiliating the Empire by pushing them off of the monstrous ship producing world of Kuat.

X1 had been drawing out plans for a new Galactic Empire, with himself as Emperor. However, his attempts were ultimately thwarted by his own brother, X2.

Imperial resurgence[]

Main articles: Thrawn campaign, Pre–Shadow Hand campaign
GAThrawn-SWI66

Grand Admiral Thrawn.

The remnants of the Galactic Empire by 8 ABY continued to lose ground until the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn, a military genius, the only nonhuman to climb the ranks of the Imperial Navy, and the last remaining Grand Admiral. Thrawn's campaign recaptured nearly half of the galaxy in the name of the fallen Empire; however, it came to a sudden end when Thrawn was assassinated by his own bodyguard. Captain Pellaeon, Thrawn's second-in-command, knew that he could not continue Thrawn's inspired campaign and ordered a retreat.

The New Republic immediately took advantage of the Imperial power vacuum and moved to cut off future Imperial threats in the form of the remaining warlords. Using the pretext of pursuing Imperials who had committed various crimes the New Republic began their push against Prince-Admiral Delak Krennel. Despite Krennel's new ally in a clone of Ysanne Isard and the real Isard's machinations to steal back her Super Star Destroyer the Republic emerged victorious and began pressing their advantage even more, leaving the Core worlds with minimal protection.

In 10 ABY, the surviving members of the Imperial Ruling Council, under Ars Dangor's leadership, gathered several belligerent Imperial warlords to organize a military campaign into the Galactic Core. The warlords were emboldened by the late Grand Admiral Thrawn's triumphs and accomplishments against the New Republic, which was still recovering from the devastating Thrawn campaign. The New Republic was powerless to repel the military might of the Dark Empire, which swiftly conquered much of the economically, politically and strategically vital Core Worlds within weeks. Chandrila, Esseles, Ralltiir, as well as the Metellos and Kaikielius systems, were seized by the Empire, while Caprioril was besieged by the Imperial Navy and the Borderland Regions were devastated. The offensive culminated in the decisive Second Battle of Coruscant, in which the New Republic abandoned the planet and the Empire retook the galactic capital. Having assumed total control over the Core Worlds, the Empire had been restored to its former glory, while the New Republic leadership relocated its headquarters to the Outer Rim Territories.

Monument Plaza Mutiny

The Imperial Civil War on Coruscant.

After Coruscant had been retaken, the Imperial Ruling Council invited important political and military leaders to the Senate Building to elect the next Galactic Emperor and re-establish the disbanded Imperial Senate. However, the Moffs, Grand Moffs, Army, Navy, COMPNOR, Intelligence, Security Bureau and Inquisitorius, as well as various governors, noblemen and bureaucrats, craved absolute power over the Imperial state. The Empire plunged into anarchy and chaos: the Imperial Intelligence and Security Bureau orchestrated the assassinations of their political enemies, while COMPNOR purists attempted to take control of the regime in order to prevent any changes to the New Order.

Soon, an armed conflict broke out amongst the various political and military factions, each trying to dominate the Empire. The disarrayed Imperial Military was responsible for committing atrocities, massacring civilians and destroying entire worlds. Above Coruscant, the orbit became littered with space debris and the Star Destroyers conducted orbital bombardments, transforming the surface of the planet into a decaying urban wasteland. On the surface, stormtroopers, walkers and tanks fought on the streets of the planet-wide ecumenopolis. Much of the galactic capital was laid to waste, and millions of native Coruscanti perished during the Imperial infighting. The New Republic took advantage of the chaos, performing raids on Imperial territories through the use of captured Imperial vessels. The civil war ended only several months following the retaking of Coruscant.

Return of Palpatine[]

Emperorreborn

Palpatine's return.

In 10 ABY, when it seemed the Galactic Empire would never recover, that hopes were lost, and that the New Republic was finally close to victory, an enigmatic figure took the title of Emperor. However, this person was no new Emperor, for Palpatine had returned. Returning in fresh clone bodies imbued with the dead despot's spirit, he proceeded for six years to rebuild and finally regained the strength to again challenge the New Republic. While most of the rank and file troops returned to loyal service, few of the warlords did, while most fled for their lives. Palpatine regrouped the fragmented Empire's many warlords and loyal forces to fight along side his Dark Empire, a revived Sith regime based on secret throne world of Byss in the Deep Core. Determined to crush the weakened New Republic and once again subjugate the galaxy under his dark rule, the Galactic Emperor initiated a military campaign known as Operation Shadow Hand. Eventually, Palpatine intended to transform the Galactic Empire into a magocracy in which he ruled the galaxy forever with his loyal Dark Side Adepts.

The Emperor turned Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker to the dark side of the Force to serve as the new Supreme Commander of the Imperial Forces, but Skywalker defected back to the New Republic and the astromech droid R2-D2 programmed the Emperor's awe-inspiring superweapons, the World Devastators, to destroy each other during the First Battle of Mon Calamari. In the Battle of Pinnacle Base, Palpatine summoned a Force storm to obliterate a New Republic fleet orbiting Da Soocha V. However, Skywalker and his sister Leia Organa Solo used the Force, causing the storm to annihilate Palpatine and his flagship, the Eclipse-class dreadnought Eclipse.

While Palpatine was presumably dead, the Shadow Hand Strategy was taken over by the Emperor's most powerful darksider, Military Executor Sedriss QL. Sedriss suffered heavy casualties in attempting to occupy the factory world of Balmorra and perished in the Battle of Ossus. However, the Emperor returned once again to spearhead his galactic conquest and commissioned his newest superweapon, the Galaxy Gun. The superweapon destroyed Da Soocha V, the Space City, Krinemonen and Hirsi, forcing numerous Inner Rim and Mid Rim worlds into accepting Imperial rule. The Empire had succeeded in conquering most of the galaxy and becoming the leading galactic superpower, while the New Republic was on the brink of downfall.

However, a group of Imperial politicians and officers, led by Carnor Jax and Sarcev Quest, sabotaged the Emperor's clone bodies in order to assassinate Palpatine and take control of the Imperial state. In the skirmish on Onderon, Emperor Palpatine's final clone body was killed and mortally wounded Jedi Knight Empatojayos Brand took the Galactic Emperor's spirit to the Netherworld of the Force. Following the Emperor's final demise, the Star Dreadnought Eclipse II was programmed to collide with the Galaxy Gun, destroying both superweapons. The Galaxy Gun accidentally launched a particle disintegrator warhead on Byss, destroying the planet and killing its inhabitants.

In these cataclysmic events, the Empire lost the Galactic Emperor, two superweapons, the Imperial Fleet orbiting Byss, and most of Palpatine's loyal advisors, officers, soldiers and Dark Side Adepts. The last major action of a Sith-led Empire, Operation Shadow Hand resulted in the final destruction of Palpatine's Empire, as the Destruction of Byss effectively terminated all political and military structures that upheld the Imperial state. Without the leadership and guidance of the late Emperor Palpatine, the Galactic Empire had practically ceased to exist. In the midst of chaos, rival warlords fled to their pocket empires, disorganized Imperial forces abandoned the Core Worlds, and the New Republic retook Coruscant. As a result, the resurrected Empire fell to its knees and self-destructed.

Death throes and collapse[]

Following Palpatine's final death, Carnor Jax seized the Imperial throne. However, the Imperial fleet was left rudderless without orders from their Emperor. They retreated from the Core Worlds, and the Empire quickly crumbled. Many fleet commanders refused to follow Jax and his Interim Ruling Council, and they broke away to form various warlord holdings. Jax's Crimson Empire thus held a small territory, limited to a narrow band of space that stretched from the Outer Rim to the Colonies.[6] It was the only territory still answerable to centralized Imperial control.[1]

Not long after the New Republic had reclaimed Coruscant from the Dark Empire, after its fall, the New Jedi Order was created by Luke Skywalker in the Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4, where he became the order's first Grand Master. This had undone Palpatine's extermination of the Jedi Order, that had began with the formation of the empire in 19 BBY.

When Jax was killed by his fellow former Guardsman Kir Kanos,[15] the aristocrat Burr Nolyds took control of the Ruling Council.[16] He was soon killed by Nom Anor, an ally of Councilor Xandel Carivus who was aiding Carivus's plans to become the new head of the council.[17] Anor was secretly an advance agent of the extra-galactic Yuuzhan Vong species, and, unknown to even Carivus, he was targeting the council in order to hasten the Empire's collapse in advance of a massive Yuuzhan Vong invasion of the galaxy.[18] Carivus was elected the new head of the council,[19] but he soon disbanded the council and declared himself the new Emperor.[20] When the New Republic attacked his powerbase on Ord Cantrell and he was killed by Kanos,[21] utter collapse of Imperial authority followed, and the Empire ceased to exist.[1]

Legacy[]

"The whole galaxy's the front line now. We're not waging a full-scale war here, we're hitting the Republic anywhere we can."
―An Imperial officer at the Cairn Installation[22]
Grand Admiral Pellaeon

Gilad Pellaeon, the "Old Man of the Empire."

In the Deep Core, the warlords divided into several pocket empires, waging aggressive warfare against their rivals and building heavily fortified planets known as the "fortress worlds". The warlords were known for spending entire fortunes to build war matériel and adopting pompous titles like "Omnipotent Battle Leader." The two most powerful factions in the fragmented Empire were the Zero Command, led by "Supreme Warlord" Blitzer Harrsk, and the Greater Maldrood, led by "High Admiral" Treutlen Teradoc. Harrsk controlled the largest territory, while Teradoc had the largest military. Harris's attempt to take control of the Atravis sector in the Outer Rim Territories was opposed by Teradoc, and the mutual hatred between the Zero Command and the Greater Maldrood developed into full-scale warfare. Another notable Imperial warlord was "Superior General" Sander Delvardus who constructed the Executor-class Star Dreadnought Night Hammer as his personal command ship.

While the warlords struggled in the Deep Core, Ambassador Furgan of Carida caused Admiral Ackbar's temporal retirement and poisoned Chief of State Mon Mothma to cripple the New Republic, which was recovering from Operation Shadow Hand. However, Carida and its prestigious Caridan Military Academy were destroyed by the Sun Crusher superweapon, piloted by rogue Jedi Kyp Durron, and Furgan himself perished during the Battle of Anoth, in which he attempted to kidnap Anakin Solo and brainwash the baby into a Force-sensitive Emperor. Meanwhile, the fleet under Admiral Natasi Daala's command was discovered in the Maw Cluster. Daala launched her guerilla campaign to overthrow the New Republic, attacking Dantooine and Mon Calamari. She also attempted to crash an Imperial Star Destroyer on Coruscant, but the plan was foiled by Durron and the Sun Crusher. Eventually, the Maw Installation, the Death Star prototype and the Sun Crusher were destroyed in the Battle of the Maw Installation, and Daala was believed to be dead.

Following the Battle of the Maw Installation, Daala fled to the Deep Core and made contact with Supreme Warlord Harrsk. She allied with Grand Admiral Thrawn's second-in-command Captain Pellaeon, who now served High Admiral Teradoc, and together they gathered Harrsk, Teradoc, Delvardus, Yuz and the nine other warlords to an Imperial communications relay station on Tsoss Beacon. Daala's scheme to end the Imperial Civil War failed as the warlords refused to collaborate and organize a joint military campaign against the New Republic. Daala and Pellaeon assassinated the thirteen most powerful warlords with nerve gas, bringing their military forces together under the banner of the Empire.

Imperial Remnant[]

The Imperial Reunification in 12 ABY, gave birth to the United Warlord Fleets, ending the Imperial Civil War and unified the feuding imperial factions into the Imperial Remnant. Under Daala's leadership, the fleets rebuilt the weakened Imperial Military by manufacturing countless walkers, starfighters and Star Destroyers, and even women and non-humans were allowed to work for the military. After Colonel Ivan Cronus, former second-in-command to Superior General Delvardus, joined the fleets, Daala seized the Night Hammer and renamed it the Knight Hammer. While Cronus committed lightning raids to Khomm, Porus Vida and the Chardaan Shipyards, Daala and Pellaeon attacked Luke Skywalker's Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4, knowing that the New Jedi Order was the most dangerous menace against the Empire. However, the Battle of Yavin 4 was a military disaster for the fleets, as Pellaeon's fleet was pushed by Jedi Knight Dorsk 81 to the edge of the Yavin system, Cronus perished with his command ship, and the Knight Hammer fell into Yavin Prime. After the battle, Daala turned command over to Vice Admiral Pellaeon. Pellaeon, now Supreme Commander of the Imperial Navy, relocated the Imperial Remnant to the Outer Rim and annexed the Pentastar Alignment. The fortress world of Bastion, formerly known as Sartinaynian, became the capital of the new Imperial Remnant, and the Council of Moffs was established to succeed the Diet of Imperial Planetary Governors.

Several more defeats occurred over the ensuing years, forcing the Imperial Remnant into eight backwater sectors in the Outer Rim Territories. Seeing that defeat was imminent, Pellaeon finally admitted the need to sue for peace. In 19 ABY, after a peace accord was signed on board the Chimaera with the New Republic's representative Ponc Gavrisom, the Remnant than settled into a period of stability and had finally ended the Galactic Civil War. This ended the Galactic Empire's regime over the galaxy, after thirty-eight years of Humanocentric dictatorship, as opposed to Palpatine's promising ten thousand year rule.

JaggedFel-ERC

Jagged Fel, the first Fel Emperor.

In the years following the Galactic Civil War, the Imperial Remnant would ally itself with the New Republic's successor the Galactic Alliance in the Yuuzhan Vong War and the Swarm War, but were a grey area in the Second Galactic Civil War, between the Imperial Remnant, Confederation and the Galactic Alliance.

Reformation[]

The Imperial Remnant's shift toward democracy did not last indefinitely. In 44 ABY, in the aftermath of the Lost Tribe War, the Remnant ceased to exist after its reorganization into a Fel Empire, ruled by a hereditary monarchy, possibly by merging with the Confederation. Jagged Fel, the former Head of State who had attempted to reform the Remnant into a republican style of government in the first place, was crowned as the first Emperor since Palpatine. In just over a month, the Cold War between the Galactic Alliance and the newly revived Galactic Empire had begun, which would last for several decades. Shortly after the outbreak of the Cold War, Jagged Fel created the Imperial Knights on Bastion, for the newly formed Fel Empire, who were the successors of the Imperial Royal Guards, but unlike the Imperial Royal Guards, who were a form of diehard loyalists to Emperor Palpatine and included the occasional Dark Jedi, the Imperial Knights were a form of Gray Jedi who abandoned the Sith's philosophy.

And that was just how the galaxy was for about eighty years, two superpowers divided over territory and control. It wasn't until 126 ABY, that things started to change, four years into the Ossus Project, with the Yuuzhan Vong and the Galactic Alliance, attempted to restore the worlds devastated by the Yuuzhan Vong War, the One Sith, who had been hiding for nearly a century sabotaged the project and framed the species for it. The Jedi knew that they weren't responsible but were unable to prove it, while thousands of systems showed their support for the Fel Empire. In 127 ABY, the situation worsened, when the truce between the two superpowers was broken, the One Sith came out of hiding, sided with the Fel Empire and together they declared war with the Galactic Alliance, where the Fel Empire's influence had increased significantly. In 130 ABY, the war had ended with an imperial victory and reduced the Galactic Alliance to the Galactic Alliance Remnant. However, when Fel's "allies" within One Sith, led by Darth Krayt, operated a coup to betray the Imperials and forced the emperor into exile, the Fel Empire was ruined and replaced with Darth Krayt's Galactic Empire, which was ruled by the leader of the One Sith with an iron fist. With Coruscant secured, Darth Krayt usurped the Imperial throne and declared himself emperor of the New Galactic Empire, who began the Third Jedi Purge. This new Empire, however, would later fall to ruin as well after Krayt's death under the hands of Cade Skywalker.

MarasiahFel

Marasiah Fel, the new leader of the Fel Empire.

Krayt's rule collapsed due to the Second Imperial Civil War, alongside his opponent, the Fel Empire in exile, after the death of the exiled Emperor Roan Fel in 138 ABY. Even though the Fel dynasty was restored later, it was later merged into the Galactic Federation Triumvirate, alongside the Galactic Alliance Remnant and the fragmented New Jedi Order and thus was no longer the sole administration of the known universe anymore. Fel's daughter, Princess Marasiah Fel, became the new ruler of the empire. While Emperor Palpatine had promised the senate 10,000 years of Imperial rule over the galaxy, it could be argued to have ultimately lasted for a grand total of only 157 years. All that remained of the First Galactic Empire was the order and benevolence running through the Fel Empire's veins.

The Sith who created the Empire in the first place were defeated in 139 ABY. Not long after the One Sith's last stand, Marasiah Fel turned the Imperial Knights to the Light Side of the Force and presumably rounded up the remaining Sith members, which ultimately resulted in the (wrongly) presumed permanent extinction of the Sith religion itself. The last known galactic conflict, however, did not end until the secular supporters of the One Sith were defeated themselves in 140 ABY.[23][24]After the end of all these conflicts, the galaxy had entered an era of unity and peace and was, after 172 years of Emperor Palpatine's influence, finally free of the old Emperor's evil.

[]

The primary symbol of the Galactic Empire, owing to it being a restructured version of the Galactic Republic, was a modified version of the Galactic Roundel from the Bendu religion, or Insignia of Unity that acted as the emblem for the Old Republic. The main differences between the two logos is the removal of two spokes in the center, adding in a dark area between the edges and the center spokes, and the addition of lines between the outer segments. An earlier version of this symbol was used during the Clone Wars. The symbol has also been used in various factions of the Empire after its collapse, including the Restored Empire (which was colored crimson, and had the spokes separated from the center circle, the latter of which also had an additional circle within the center), Ante-Endor Association (which had a graphic resembling a Torpedo Sphere attached to the logo), the Dark Side Elite (Colored cyan and black, and had the spokes enlarged), and also the Fel Empire, and by extension, the Empire-in-exile and Darth Krayt's Galactic Empire (which was overall similar to the original, although the colors were inverted).

The Empire also had various banners dedicated to it. One banner, which was in use by the time of the Battle of Yavin, was primarily dark gray in color with a black quarter circle for each corner, two white lines and a black line between the two lines running down the center of the banner, and had the Imperial crest in the center. These were prominently displayed during meetings within the Imperial military. The banners also at times appear to be dark blue due to the lighting. Another banner, implied to be exclusive to the Emperor's Royal Guard, was primarily black with red linings, with the Imperial crest in the center, colored red as well. This banner could be found at the Emperor's Retreat on Naboo.

The Empire also utilized three colors: Republic Red, Sith Black, and gray/Star Destroyer White. They represented it ostensibly adhering to republican traditions, victory/sense of dread, and might, respectively.

Government and politics[]

"Yeah, he says the Empire is the worst thing that ever happened to the galaxy. Dismantling every vestige of democracy, seizing assets, killing whole populations. He thinks I'm joining the bad guys."
Biggs Darklighter to Luke Skywalker, speaking of Huff Darklighter[25]
ImperialFigureheads

Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader and the common stormtrooper, three faces of the Galactic Empire

The Empire was ruled with absolute power by Emperor Palpatine, with Sate Pestage as Grand Vizier, and Darth Vader as Supreme Commander of all Imperial Forces. Imperial rule was authoritarian. There was little to no freedom of speech and dissidents were punished harshly. According to the introduction to the official field manual for the Empire's military forces, this was because the Empire aimed and celebrated one ruler, code of law, common tongue, and education in social progress, and wanted to ensure unity.[26]

The Galactic Empire was actually more decentralized than the Galactic Republic. Systems were grouped in sectors and sectors in turn into oversectors. These were controlled by the Moffs and Grand Moffs, who exercised power in the disparate regions of the galaxy. This was in contrast to the structure of the Galactic Republic, which placed senators in control of their respective sectors. The planets of the Empire were no longer given a say in the government, but were now kept in line through fear of force.

Rulers of the Empire[]

After being named Galactic Emperor in 19 BBY, Palpatine turned the sclerotic remains of the Galactic Republic into an empire and thus introduced authoritarian rule over the entire galaxy. Whereas before leaders had served for fixed terms until being succeeded by duly elected successors, now the thorny issue of Imperial succession complicated matters.

For his part, Palpatine showed little real interest in the matter of who would succeed him. In fact, he apparently intended from the start to live and reign forever, even developing his own Sith doctrine to replace Bane's Rule of Two,[27] although he did have the Dark Empire at least run on autopilot in the event that he ended up killed temporarily.[1] However, his final death permanently put an end to his plans.

Unsuccessful claimants[]

For the most part, Palpatine's reign was secure, though there were others who attempted to seize the throne:

Executive branch[]

Crimson-guard

Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader, along with several of the Emperor's Royal Guards standing at attention aboard the second Death Star.

"The Empire is the only chance the galaxy has to regain order. The Death Stars were the ultimate expression of that order. No longer would the Empire's citizens be forced to live in fear of cowardly terrorists striking from their hidden lairs. No longer would lawlessness and chaos touch the lives of law-abiding innocents. Palpatine took a stand: Disrupt order and the Empire would restore it…by any means necessary."
―Imperial High Inquisitor Antinnis Tremayne[39]

While Palpatine was Emperor, the executive branch consisted of the Imperial Ruling Council, a group of Imperial Advisors, who ran both the day-to-day activities and the will of Palpatine for the Empire. The real power below the Emperor and his Advisors was in the hands of the Grand Moffs, Moffs, and other regional governors who were eventually granted direct control of their regions. There was also the Office of the Emperor, of which its approval was required regarding the use of the Death Star's superlaser.

This exercise of power was backed up by the use of state terrorism in the form of the Tarkin Doctrine, named for Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin. The doctrine threatened force rather than the use of force to control dissent; the Ghorman Massacre was an example. The justification for the Tarkin Doctrine was the excessive cost and impracticality of the use of pure terror in the form of billions upon billions of troops and warships to maintain order.

The instrument of enforcing the doctrine was the Imperial Military, which included the stormtroopers and large fleets of intimidating capital ships like the Star Destroyers of the Imperial Navy and the All Terrain Armored Transports of the Imperial Army, all of which were intended in part to spread fear as well as destroy the enemy. This policy reached its zenith with the construction of the world-destroying Death Star.

Because of Palpatine's status as the Empire's Commander-in-Chief, the Imperial Military honored Palpatine's arrival with hundreds of soldiers as well as a parade of TIE fighters.[40]

Other governmental ministries and agencies were placed under direct control of the Grand Vizier and Imperial Advisors (Imperial Ruling Council), while under constant surveillance from both COMPNOR and the ISB.

Legislative branch[]

After the formation of the Galactic Empire, the Galactic Senate was reorganized into the Imperial Senate. But unlike its predecessor, which had held both legislative and executive power, the Imperial Senate held only legislative power (and even much of that authority was radically marginalized) by orders of the Senate Constitution. The Senate could still enact laws as well as advise the Emperor; it also had nominal oversight of the Imperial bureaucracy, and could work on the Imperial budget. However, the Emperor could issue Imperial decrees, without debates or Senatorial overrides, and could both call and dismiss the Senate at will. The Senate was practically powerless and eventually was dissolved by Emperor Palpatine to remove the last constitutional limit to his power. After its suspension, the vacancy left behind was filled by COMPNOR's Select Committee.

It was succeeded as the Imperial legislature by various councils, most composed of Moffs: the Central Committee of Grand Moffs, the Interim Ruling Council, and finally, the Council of Moffs.

Judicial branch[]

Due to the centralization of government power into the executive branch under the Galactic Empire, it seems likely that the Supreme Court and other Regional Courts were disbanded at some point, presumably before the Senate's dissolution in 0 BBY. Instead, the Imperial criminal justice system was headed by a Procurator of Justice. The Procurator of Justice was charged with prosecuting political prisoners and administering sentences on entire worlds.

Other Imperial organizations[]

To strengthen his hold on power, Palpatine created various organizations that were loyal to him. Foremost, among those organizations were COMPNOR, Imperial Security Bureau, Imperial Intelligence, the Inquisitorius, and the Dark Side Adepts. Palpatine also had the Emperor's Hands, special assassins that did his bidding. One notable Emperor's Hand was Mara Jade, who, ironically, after the death of Palpatine, would go on to fall in love with and marry Luke Skywalker and would become a member of the Jedi High Council.

Palpatine allowed these organizations and their leaders to build up power bases of their own. Palpatine encouraged this system, often giving overlapping responsibilities. This made administration of the Empire less efficient, but benefited Palpatine by ensuring that he continued to be the source of all political power in the Empire.

Economy[]

"The Emperor seldom had only one of anything produced."
Qwi Xux[41]>

The Galactic Empire had a very complex and diverse economy. Following the Clone Wars, the Empire started a process of stabilization and expansion of the economy. While the Imperial Period saw some increases in state control and centralization of economic procedures, it had little effect on the galactic economy, as witnessed in the virtual non-existence of inflation. The Empire did nationalize some corporate entities, though such actions were mainly reserved for those companies that were part of or supported the Confederacy of Independent Systems, and later those who favored and aided the Rebellion. The Empire did assume direct control over some of the spoils of war from the Separatists, but most of the assets were given over to loyalist companies such as Kuat Drive Yards, Sienar Systems, TaggeCo., and Merr-Sonn.[42][43] Unless acting in opposition to its interests, the Empire largely left loyal companies alone and even expanded the Corporate Sector to encompass 30,000 star systems.[44] In return for the support given to the Corporate Sector Authority, the Empire would collect a yearly stipend of 3% of the total gross product, 9% of all material, and 20% of all strategic rare elements coming out of the Corporate Sector.[44] These actions, namely allowing for transparent mercantilism to continue in the Corporate Sector Authority without interference to allow for corporate competition, and making sure companies to some extent contribute to the greater good, were also part of the reason for economic stability.[26]

However, at least according to critics of the Empire, Imperial control of the economy appeared to be dramatically expanding by the Rebellion era. By the time of 0 BBY, the Empire was taking over all commerce in the central systems of the galaxy, and Biggs Darklighter considered that the Empire would soon seize control of land and work in the outer regions, notably Tatooine reducing people to "tenants slaving for the...Empire".[45]

The Empire also dedicated its vast economic resources and quintillions of credits to expand the Imperial Military and to fund new scientific developments in a wide variety of fields.[46] This military buildup would eventually result in the Imperial Navy fielding millions of starships, the Imperial Army being comprised of tens of trillions of soldiers, and the creation of a vast force of stormtroopers.[47]

The Imperialization of the Trade Federation by the Galactic Empire created a void filled by smugglers to address strong demand for shipping created by the Imperial controls. Smugglers flourished in the Imperial era as independent operators or as part of larger organizations like those of Jorj Car'das, Quelev Tapper, Talon Karrde, or Booster Terrik.

After the fracturing of the Empire at the Battle of Endor, many different currencies came into existence, and exchange rates fluctuated wildly. At that time, the credit was backed by the immense wealth of the planet Muunilinst.

Society and culture[]

The culture of the Galactic Empire was ascetic and minimalist. These aesthetics were encouraged throughout the galaxy by the Coalition for Progress, an arm of COMPNOR.

Slavery[]

The Galactic Empire formally outlawed slavery throughout the galaxy when it was formed. However, at the same time, it was legalized under limited circumstances via Imperial Decree A-SL-4557.607.232, which mandated enslavement as a judicial punishment for "crimes against the civil order".[48][1] As a result, many critics of the Empire were subject to enslavement for several weapon projects, including the creation of the Death Star superweapons. In addition, any enemies of the Empire that had been defeated, particularly the females and children, were often sent to Orvax IV to be processed into the slave market, especially if they served no purpose to the Empire otherwise. Palpatine himself, however, inferred that the slavery practiced by the Empire was different from the slavery used for his apprentice, Darth Vader, namely it was a way for the defeated prisoners to pay for their crimes.[49]

Arts and media[]

The role of art and media in the Galactic Empire was primarily didactic; cultural expression served as an instrument for inculcating New Order ideology. During its short existence, the Empire was not particularly brutal in the suppression of artistic culture, as it was primarily interested in military and political dominance. However, pressures from the New Order left their mark on the art of the Imperial period. Several anti-Imperial artists were executed for sympathizing the Rebel Alliance, such as Borna, a young musician who composed dark and moody symphonies as a protest against the Empire.

The policy of distributing Imperial propaganda was maintained by the Imperial Ministry of Propaganda, the Imperial Propaganda Bureau and the Propaganda Dissemination Section. Imperial HoloVision, the successor of HoloNet News and a leading galactic provider of news and entertainment, adopted a pro-Imperial stance and thus, was the Empire's most powerful propaganda tool. All Imperial media was verified, reviewed and censored by the Imperial Board of Culture, as well as the Ministry of Culture.

Holodrama was another venue for politics. Many Imperial holofilms glorified the New Order and were blatantly propagandistic, such as Win or Die, depicting the heroism of a boy who ardently supported the New Order in spite of his parents' opposition, or Sacrifice at Endor, in which Emperor Palpatine was portrayed as a benevolent savior and the hero of the Battle of Endor.

One of the most notable pro-Imperial music bands was The Emperor's New Clothes, favored by the Imperial Board of Culture. The band was opposed by anti-Imperial Red Shift Limit, of which all albums were banned by Imperial authorities. The premier orchestra of the Empire was the Imperial Symphony Orchestra.

The official sport of the Empire was wegsphere, a competitive game invented by SAGRecreation (SAGRec), that could be considered one of their greatest successes. While wegsphere was originally introduced as a sporting activity for COMPNOR members, it became surprisingly popular through the galaxy, spreading to thousands of worlds. The official Imperial shockball team was, presumably, the Royal Shockball Team. Another sporting event that took place yearly throughout the Empire was the Imperial Games.

Religion[]

Under the Galactic Empire, Anti-Jediism was a government policy, which meant that people were discouraged to believe in the Force, but it was not just the Jedi that suffered. All Force-sensitives who weren't using their abilities according to the Emperor's wishes were targeted. Despite the established anti-Jediism of the New Order, many in the Imperial government were aware that Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader were Force users, but only a few knew that they were Sith Lords. This sentiment also led to an attempted coup on Palpatine and Vader, with the official reason being their Force-sensitive nature. Besides Palpatine and Vader, there were some Imperial officers, such as Colonel Dyer who were at the very least Force-attuned, and even some, such as Grand Admiral Nial Declann, were secretly trained in harnessing the Force for a specific purpose for Palpatine. Overall, according to the Imperial Handbook, the Empire tolerated Force-sensitivity so long as it was within full cooperation of the Emperor's wishes.

Any other religion, as long as it did not directly interfere with Imperial rule, was permitted to be practiced. It is said that millions of religions existed within the Galactic Empire. On a similar note, Tarkin implied in his log that Palpatine was barely tolerant of people who openly deny the existence of the Force.[50]

Xenophobia[]

"When have I ever shown myself to be intolerant of species indifferences? Yes, our army is human, I am human, and most of my advisers and military officers are human. But that is merely the result of circumstance."
―Palpatine[51]

The Empire's New Order emphasized Human and, to a lesser extent, humanoid supremacy, with other alien species were designated as "Non-huMans". The Empire practiced the policy of "Human High Culture," based on Humanocentric beliefs of Humans being inherently superior to other species. Many non-human species like Wookiees, Mon Calamari, Talz, and Lurrians were subjected to slavery. The Rights of Sentience, one of the most well-known anti-speciest clauses of the Galactic Constitution, as well as other important anti-slavery laws that were ratified during the reign of the Galactic Republic, were removed from the Imperial Charter and legislation legalizing the persecution of alien species was passed. The Empire essentially legalized slavery in Imperial Decree A-SL-4557.607.232.

The Empire was known to commit atrocities and xenocidal campaigns against Non-huMan species, such as the Caamas Incident to wipe out the peaceful Caamasi, and commissioning Imperial extermination ships to eradicate entire species through the Outer Rim Territories. One of the members of the Imperial Inner Circle known as Janus Greejatus established the Imperial Department of Redesign to suppress and exterminate Non-huMan species. On Imperial Center, all Non-humans were forced to move into an "ethnic neighborhood" designated as the Alien Protection Zone, keeping them under poor living conditions. As a result, the vast majority of the government officials were composed of Humans, with only rare exceptions like Grand Admiral Thrawn climbing in the ranks of the military. However, the cases of Ampotem Za, Stafuv Rahz and Bentilais san Sk'ar indicate that the Empire tolerated Non-huMans if they were willing to pledge loyalty to the Emperor. Similarly, some alien species managed to be law-abiding workers, such as the Ugnaughts.[52]

The Imperial propaganda machine issued fabricated Humanocentric documents to highlight and exaggerate Human involvement in galactic history and culture, ignoring countless accomplishments and contributions of numerous Non-human species in the founding of galactic civilization and the Republic. Under the New Order, pro-Human propagandists argued that the most advanced and wealthiest member planets of the Galactic Republic in the Core Worlds and other regions of the galaxy were universally ruled and inhabited by Humans. Notably, the pro-Imperial sentientologist Obo Rin was sponsored by Darth Vader and Lieutenant Pandur to write the Catalog of Intelligent Life in the Galaxy, a falsified piece of work stating that the Mon Calamari and Columi, longstanding members of the Old Republic, had recently been discovered by the Empire. On the other hand, the Iyra Professor Tem Eliss was forced to go into hiding from COMPNOR agents for his pro-alien book The University of Sanbra Guide to Intelligent Life. The Empire's Humanocentric policies spurred anti-Human bigotry and led into the foundation of the anti-Imperial Alien Combine on Imperial Center in 3 ABY, although the organization was ultimately wiped out by the Imperial security forces. Ironically, the successor organization of the Combine, the terrorist group Diversity Alliance, attempted to commit anti-Human xenocide in the years following the Bastion Accords by using a Human-killing pathogen developed by the Empire.

A high degree of male chauvinism was also seen in the Empire's government and military. Combining the rampant misogyny with the alien persecution, the Empire was often referred to as having "Non-huMan policies". Notable exceptions to acknowledged male chauvinism included Director Ysanne Isard of the Imperial Intelligence, Major General Tessala Corvae of the Imperial Army and several navy officers like Admiral Natasi Daala, Admiral Betl Oxtroe, Captain Juno Eclipse, and Captain Plikk. The sexist policies that plagued the Empire encouraged Major General Corvae to establish the Firebird Society to prove that females were effective and capable soldiers for the Imperial Military.

Under the New Order, the droids often met harsh treatment, because they were not considered to be full citizens by the Imperial law. Many Imperial institutions preferred the Wookiees and other enslaved sapient beings for complicated and challenging construction projects such as the first Death Star, even though the droids were economically cheaper laborers and provided more effective and sophisticated performance capacity than organic slaves. Curiously, an IG-series assassin droid called 4-8C ascended to the rank of Grand Moff and was involved with the activities of the Imperial Department of Redesign. The cyborgs were shunned and detested by the Imperial citizens, and even Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik was ostracized for his extensive cybernetic prosthetics. The most notable exception in the prevalent anti-cyborg sentiment was the second most powerful man of the Empire, Supreme Commander Darth Vader, whose cybernetic life support system sustained his grievous injuries and struck terror in the hearts of the enemies of the Empire.

While the Empire was unquestionably xenophobic, there is little to suggest that the Emperor himself was. The Sith Order was in no way xenophobic, with much of its foundations in the humanoid race of Sith, and many of the greatest Sith Lords were either alien or half-breed, with Sidious' own Sith Master, Darth Plagueis, being a Muun, and his first Sith apprentice, Darth Maul, being a Dathomirian[53] Zabrak[54]. In fact, it is believed that the privy councilors and advisors that filled Palpatine's court and ran the Empire on a day-to-day basis were the xenophobes, and applied Human High Culture on their own accord. In addition, Palpatine denied the accusations of his being intolerant of species indifferences, citing that the Empire's Human population being the majority as simply being the result of circumstance.[51] He also denied being xenophobic in his entry to the Book of Sith.[27] Numerous high-ranking Imperial bureaucrats and military personnel such as Lord Crueya Vandron, Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, Grand Admiral Ishin-Il-Raz, Grand Admiral Danetta Pitta, and many others were known for their Humanocentric attitude. The most prominent Imperial xenophobe was Grand Vizier Sate Pestage who considered all Non-HuMans to be nothing more than worthless "animal waste". It seems likely, given the presence of Prince Xizor of the Black Sun, Grand Admiral Thrawn, and other notable aliens in the Imperial Court that Palpatine simply used xenophobia to cull loyalty from his fellow Humans, while using everyone else, regardless of species, in general. Indeed, many of the Emperor's loyal Dark Side Adepts, like Hethrir, Ja'ce Yiaso and Gwellib Ap-Llewff, were not Human. Likewise, Leia when recounting the Liberation of Coruscant and the Rebel partisans' lynching of various staff within the Imperial Palace implied that at least some of the minor servants working in the palace at the time were alien species themselves.[55] In addition, while the Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide did explicitly view aliens as being primitive, it also made clear that they should not ignore them as a safeguard against being forced to put down unexpected alien uprisings, and also implied that they would need obedient alien populations for the Imperial Engineering Corps as laborers.[26]

Military[]

ImperialMilitary-BF

Personnel and vehicles of the Imperial Military

"The scale of the Imperial war machine is unprecedented. Never before in the history of the galaxy has such a fighting force been assembled. Never in such numbers, never with so much variety, and never on so many worlds. There is little in the galaxy that is not under the Empire's control, and it is but a trivial act for the Empire to annex a new world when the Emperor wills it."
Admiral Wullf Yularen, Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide[26]

The Imperial Military was the primary armed forces of the Galactic Empire. Consisting of predominantly the Imperial Army, Imperial Navy, and the Stormtrooper Corps, they were respectively tasked with enforcing order, ending rebellious worlds, carrying out military operations, and maintaining galactic-wide peace. The Imperial Security Bureau (ISB) was a law enforcement and internal intelligence organization that often held a tight presence in the Imperial Military, keeping an eye out for any signs of treasonous acts. Imperial Intelligence (I.I.) was an agency dedicated to collecting data and military intelligence. It comprised of several divisions, and provided military intelligence to Imperial commanders.

Infamous symbols of the Imperial Military like the Imperial-class Star Destroyer, All Terrain Armored Transport, and TIE/LN starfighter show the valued principles of military dominance over the galaxy. Stormtroopers, elite, white-armored shock troops served as the common Imperial soldier. During the Imperial Period, many stormtroopers were former clone troopers who fought in the Clone Wars. Chiss Grand Admiral Thrawn would later use clone stormtroopers in his army, adding vast numbers to the depleting Empire after the failure at Endor.

Science and technology[]

Superweapons[]

"The Empire's weapons research division manages numerous top-secret projects that have resulted in astounding new warships, armaments, and battle stations."
Admiral Wullf Yularen, Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide[26]
DeathStar2

The Death Stars were the greatest technological weapons ever constructed by the Galactic Empire.

Numerous superweapons were constructed by the Galactic Empire, like the Superlaser Star Destroyer, a modified capital ship that had an attached superlaser array on it; the Omega Frost, a weapon that uses two conductor towers that projects an energy field across thousands of kilometers, which instantly freeze anything in its path; World Devastator, battlewagons that use powerful tractor beams to tear apart entire worlds, allowing the internal factories to produce war material; Metal-Crystal Phase Shifter, a device that projects an energy field that weakens the molecular bonds of it's target; the Torpedo Sphere, an orbital siege platform that bombards entire planets with volleys of proton torpedoes; Visual electromagnetic intensifier, a network of satellites that emit amplified electro-magnetic radiation, causing increased temperatures, catastrophic flooding, droughts, and firestorms; Orbital nightcloak, a deployment of satellites that intercept electro-magnetic radiation, causing decreased temperature, catastrophic ice buildup, mass agricultural die-off, and planetary famine;[26] the Two-wave gravshock, which manipulated gravity on a planet scale, causing earthquakes; the Hyperspace pulsemass generator, which created tiny spheres of hyperenergy and scattered it across realspace, this would destroy the deflector shields of a starship traveling near that vector.[56] The Eye of Palpatine was an asteroid based dreadnought and battlemoon that acted as a mobile weapons platform that could bypass through star systems undetected by enemy starships. It held enough firepower to eclipse a Torpedo Sphere.[57] The gravitic polarization beam was a molecular weapon that disrupted matter at an atomic level, causing anything to be torn apart.[58] Baradium fission devices were nuclear bombs that were capable of destroying entire planets, the Empire had at least several of these bombs.[59] The Ionic Ring was a starship designed by Professor Renn Volz. It was originally designed to alter the destructive storms of certain planets and change them into "paradises", however, the Empire instead used the ship to destroy planets harboring rebel cells.[60] Worldcraft, were mobile artificial planetoids that could be adapted into a battlestation or a repair station for Imperial battlegroups.[61] They were also used as "gifts" to loyal officials, with the Emperor giving a worldcraft to Procurator of Justice Lord Hethrir.[62] Two more were suppose to be given to Grand Moff Ardus Kaine and Admiral Ennix Devian. However, after Endor, Devain stole both of them that were in construction above orbit in Coruscant.[61]

The Tarkin was a superlaser testbed for the Eclipse-class dreadnoughts and Sovereign-class Super Star Destroyers. At least two Eclipse-classes were in construction, the Eclipse was being constructed at Kuat Drive Yards, while the Eclipse II was undergoing construction at Byss, a fortress world located in the Deep Core.[2] None of the Sovereign-class ships ever finished their final construction stages, by Emperor Palpatine envisioned a fleet of over fifteen thousand Sovereign-classes.[63] The Galaxy Gun, designed by Master of Imperial Projects Umak Leth, fired particle disintegrator warheads that could wipe out entire star systems, even planets.[64] Composite Beam Superlaser[65] fired proton beams that could destroy a planet's core. It was also a prototype weapon for the DS-1 Orbital Battle Station, before being developed into the Concave Dish Composite Beam Superlaser, the primary weapon for the Death Stars. Other proposed weapons for the Death Star included: the Interplanetary Ion Cannon, which targeted planets at interstellar ranges, and fired its ion beams that could vaporize a terrestrial planet's atmosphere; or the Resonance Torpedo Launcher, which fired resonance torpedoes, plasma warheads that ignited a star's core.[65] A prototype variant of the Death Star was secretly constructed in at the Maw Installation, a superweapons research facility. Also at the Maw, the Sun Crusher, a weapon that fired resonance torpedoes in a star or nova, was constructed.[66] After the destruction of the first Death Star, a second Death Star was constructed at Endor, under supervision of Moff Tiaan Jerjerrod.[67]

Trooper research[]

General Rom Mohc's Dark Trooper Project was an attempt to create advanced battle droids for the Imperial Military. The earliest known units made by the program where the Phase Zero dark trooper, and the Purge trooper. After Yavin, Mohc gained the approval to push forward the project. Using the Arc Hammer, a factory ship, Mohc manufactured various models, like Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III. However, rebel agent Kyle Katarn infiltrated the Arc Hammer, and destroyed the ship, while killing Mohc in the process. After this event, the Emperor shutdown the project. However, Imperial governors were able to keep various different models in their planetary garrisons.[68]

Project Phlutdroid oversaw the creation of the IG-series assassin droids, a powerful combat/assassin droid. But, the project resulted in a massacre of the Holowan scientists. As a result, the Empire had bounties placed on the rogue assassin droids.[69]

Darth Vader oversaw a experimental programs that created new trooper variations of the stormtrooper, which was at Timara City, located on Kamino. The Terror Trooper were created as cyborg experiments that specialized in direct combat with sharpened, durasteel talons on their hands and feet. The cybernetic limbs gave them enhanced strength, speed, and agility. Other variants included Terror Droids, Terror Biodroids, and Terror Walkers. Other projects on Kamino included the Saber Program, which oversaw the training of the Imperial Saber Guard, or the Acolyte Program, which oversaw the Imperial Sith Acolytes.[70] Other Imperial attempts to create Force-using soldiers included: in 11 ABY, when the Dark Empire created "darktroopers,"[71] an elite group of stormtroopers infused with the Force.[72] Or in 12 ABY, an Imperial splinter faction known as "Empire Reborn" experimented with artusian crystals, which were powered by the Force. Admiral Galak Fyyar infused these crystals to create a stormtrooper-Dark Jedi hybrids called "shadowtroopers".[22]

Moff Jesco Comark believed that the Empire couldn't rely on bounty hunters for its 'dirty work'. Thus, Comark began Operation Death-Hunter, a program designed to create skilled hunters. The project ended when Comark's base was destroyed by the Rebel Alliance.[73]

Starfighter research[]

Starfighter development projects weren't uncommon in the Empire, examples of these include: Director Lenzer's TIE Experimental Project which oversaw innovative, new remote-piloted starfighters based upon TIE technology. Grand Admiral Demetrius Zaarin was the creator of the TIE/ad starfighter and TIE/D Defender, respectively. Admiral Mitth'raw'nuruodo engineered the Missile Boat, a hybrid of a scout fighter, long-range bomber, and a space superiority starfighter.[74]

Cloaking technology[]

Imperial engineers were successful in experimenting with cloaking technology, and they notably used it in special projects. Like when Grand Admiral Martio Batch created the TIE/ph phantom, a TIE line starfighter equipped with a cloaking device. Emperor Palpatine had a protoype dreadnought equipped with a cloaking device undergoing at Fondor shipyards, it was destroyed by Rogue Squadron[75]. The Executor-class Star Dreadnought Terror was modified with cloaking technology, under Grand Admiral Batch's orders.[76] Cloaking technology proved useful when Grand Admiral Thrawn returned to take command of the Empire. Thrawn was able to fine a fully-working cloaking device on Wayland, located in Mount Tantiss.[77] Thrawn was able equipped several of his ships with the technology, while also creating new tactical strategies in taking on the New Republic. One tactic he did was when he captured Ukio, Thrawn had cloaked cruisers slip past the planetary shield, when the Imperial II-class Star Destroyer Chimaera opened fired on the shield, the cloaked cruisers would open fire on the planet as well, this tricked the natives into believing the Empire developed a new superweapon, however, it was just a ruse to fool them. Another example was when Thrawn had twenty two asteroids installed with cloaking technology deployed in orbit over Coruscant, in return, it made it appear that there was over three hundred asteroids in orbit, which forced the New Republic to keep their planetary shield up.[78] In 19 ABY, the innovation for cloaking technology resulted in the Imperial Remnant installing the Computerized Combat Predictor aboard the Chimaera under Admiral Gilad Pellaeon's supervision. It analyzed the data of starfighter movements, predicting the attack vector course, and how to handle the situation.[79]

Biowarfare[]

Various biological agents were created, and deployed by the Empire. The early known use was in 19 ABY, when the Emperor authorized the deployment of FG36 nanovirus on Gibad for resisting Imperial authority. The origins of FG36 link back Separatist Doctor Ovolot Qail Uthan, she created it specifically to target the Clone DNA. However, her plot was foiled by Omega Squad, who later gave several samples of the nanovirus to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine.[80]

In 7 BBY, Darth Vader ordered an orbital bombardment on Falleen after flesh-eating bacteria broke out from an Imperial research outpost. An estimated two hundred thousand Falleen perished.[81]

General Evir Derricote developed the Emperor's Plague, a deadly virus that the Emperor himself feared, he would later keep it in a asteroid storehouse located in the Deep Core. Derricote would later develop the Krytos virus underneath the orders of Director Ysanne Isard who unleashed the virus in an effort to cripple the New Republic.[82]

Crix Madine's storm commandos deployed the Candorian plague on the rebellious world of Dentaal. This event would later see the defection of Crix Madine to the Alliance to Restore the Republic.[83]

Imperial research also employed weaponized gases, notably the cryseefa gas was an acidic poison that proved to be lethal to oxygen-using species and corrosive.[84]

Project Starscream oversaw the attempts to create super-soldiers by reanimating the dead. Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine personally oversaw the project. Doctor Cornelius Evazan was hired by the Empire, with his expertise lying in reanimation.[85]

Imperial bioweapons Project I71A code named "Project Blackwing" was a infectious viral agent being developed on the Imperial Star Destroyer Vector.[86]

In 11 ABY, Imperial scientists at Carida successfully created nano-destroyers, artificial viruses keyed to a target's genetic makeup that were not only incurable but also completely undetectable by conventional medical means.[66]

Decades later, the Imperial Remnant began experimenting with nanoviruses. They made one to specifically target Boba Fett, preventing him from returning to Mandalore.[87]

Astrography[]

"The Empire reaches far and wide, and is made up of countless individuals who all strive for the same overall goal: stability."
Imperial Advisor Ars Dangor[39]

The Galactic Empire's territory at its peak consisted of some one and a half million member and conquered worlds, as well as sixty-nine million colonies, protectorates and puppet states spread throughout the entire galaxy, stretching from the borders of the Deep Core to at least Wild Space.[1] Emperor Palpatine sent Grand Admiral Thrawn on a mission to bring the rule of the Empire to the Unknown Regions. The Grand Admiral set up a command post at a fortress on Nirauan and from there brought the rule of the Empire to the uncharted regions of the galaxy, creating the Empire of the Hand. Grand Moff Tarkin right before destroying Alderaan also implied that the Empire spanned over millions of worlds during that time.[88] Although not directly under the Empire's control, they also had access to at least five of the seven satellite galaxies via Intergalactic Passports.[89]

The original name of the Empire's capital world was Coruscant; however, it was renamed Imperial Center by the Empire. Few outside the Empire's government used this name, and upon the capture of the planet by the New Republic, the name "Coruscant" was readopted.

After the Battle of Endor, large sections of the galaxy threw off Imperial occupation and became Republic members, and by 6.5 ABY the Empire ruled barely 50% of its former territory. Imperial warlords comprised most of the lost territory, with the Republic still relatively in its infancy. By the fall of Coruscant, Warlord Zsinj alone had control of almost one third of the Empire's former territory.

By 9 ABY, the Empire had consolidated its hold of a quarter of the Galaxy, while the war effort progressed under Grand Admiral Thrawn. Under the Chiss Grand Admiral, the Empire's territory nearly doubled in less than a year, nearly seeing the death of the Republic.[6] After Thrawn's death, the Empire had little time to consolidate these holdings and the Empire lost many of them to a resurgent Republic.

During Operation Shadow Hand, the Emperor would unite the warlords and the mainstream forces and consume well over half of the Galaxy. After the Emperor's death, the Republic took back their holdings with surprising speed, and the remaining Imperial forces fled into the Deep Core. The Republic remained weakened by the efforts of Thrawn and the reborn Emperor, and the warlords and Moffs consolidated fortress worlds across a third of the galaxy.

After the Reunification by Daala, and the establishment of the Imperial Remnant, the Imperial fleet took over the remnants of the Pentastar Alignment, a breakaway warlord fiefdom. They then pushed coreward against the Republic. Later, Daala would lead a second offensive against the Core worlds themselves from the Deep Core. Eventually, the Empire under Admiral Gilad Pellaeon held only eight sectors by 19 ABY.

Behind the scenes[]

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The Galactic Empire was already introduced in The Star Wars: Story Synopsis, finished by George Lucas in May 1973, simply as "an empire". In the revised The Star Wars: Rough Draft, the galaxy-wide totalitarian government was known as the "New Empire", ruled by the ruthless Emperor Cos Dashit with his power-hungry minions, Darth Vader and Crispin Hoedaack. In the later drafts, Governor Hoedaack became Grand Moff Tarkin and Cos Dashit was replaced by Emperor Palpatine. The rough draft was followed by The Star Wars: First Draft, where the Empire was called "New Galactic Kingdom". The empire was finally named "Galactic Empire" in Adventures of the Starkiller, Episode I: The Star Wars, which was followed by the first Star Wars film, Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. In the present, the huge success of the Star Wars franchise has turned the Empire into the best-known example of a "galactic empire" theme in science fiction.

Inspirations[]

According to George Lucas, the empire from Star Wars was largely based on the Galactic Empire in Isaac Asimov's Foundation series, although Asimov's empire was depicted as a benign, if collapsing government. In addition, Coruscant was based on the planet Trantor, the capital of Asimov's empire. The Galactic Empire has been also influenced by Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany[90]; for example, the Imperial stormtroopers share a similar name to the German stormtroopers, and red, black and white, the most recognized colors of the Empire, are also the colors of the Nazi Blutfahne. Palpatine's promise of an Empire that would last for ten thousand years, and the Empire falling far short of that goal, also echoes Adolf Hitler's promise of a "Thousand Year Reich". The Moffs/Grand Moffs were also mentioned to be regional governors, with Tarkin mentioning that would have direct control over the sectors once the Imperial Senate was dissolved at one point in A New Hope, which mirrored that of the gauleiters, which were Hitler-appointed regional governors who had direct control of various segments of Nazi Germany.[source?]

The Galactic Republic's transformation into the Empire is perhaps modeled after the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire; the Roman Republic was transformed because of war, infighting, and two of its leaders, Julius and Augustus Caesar. Other reasons for the transition were based on the transformation of the First French Republic into the French Empire by Napoleon (after a coup), and the Weimar Republic into the Third Reich. Lucas, during the 2005 Cannes film festival, implied that the similarities between these historical elements, and to a lesser extent America's fighting in the 2003 Iraq war, were deliberate as part of Lucas' philosophy that democracies tend to be turned into dictatorships at the people's willing support, a philosophy that he implied had stemmed from American involvement in the Vietnam War.[91][92]

Similar to the Soviet Union under Stalin (specifically the aftermath of Stalin's death), as soon as Palpatine met his first demise on the Battle of Endor, various insurgencies throughout the Empire were attempted before being put down by the Imperials. One insurgency in particular, the Coruscant Uprising, had notable similarities to the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 that commenced shortly after Stalin's death. On a related note, series creator George Lucas cited that Emperor Palpatine's arrival on the Death Star in Return of the Jedi was based on the military parades in "May Day" in what was at the time Soviet Russia.[93] George Lucas, however, indicated in The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film, The Making of Return of the Jedi, the Revenge of the Sith commentary, as well as the Empire of Dreams and the Cannes Festival showing of Revenge of the Sith that the Galactic Empire was primarily based in part on the American forces during the Vietnam War, when citing that the Ewoks and Rebel Alliance were based on the Viet Cong and also claiming his primary inspiration for the Empire's ruler, Palpatine, was then-president Richard Nixon, and also implied in The Making of Star Wars that the Empire was essentially America in 1983 (ten years after he started writing the drafts for Star Wars) where "Nixonian gangsters" assassinated the Emperor and used a rigged election to obtain power as well as exploited various groups to maintain power as well as deliberately letting crime escalate to such an extent that people would welcome a total control police state.[94]

Lucas himself was quoted in an interview conducted in 2005 on Skywalker Ranch that: "It was really about the Vietnam War, and that was the period where Nixon was trying to run for a [second] term, which got me to thinking historically about how do democracies get turned into dictatorships? Because the democracies aren't overthrown; they're given away". He further opined in the interview that "no matter who you look at in history, the story is always the same, that's what's eerie. It was a little eerie that things have developed the way they have."[95] He also had envisioned the Empire as being based on Vietnam War-era America (and by extension, the Rebel Alliance being based on the Viet Cong) as early as when he penned the storyline back in 1973, in part due to Star Wars itself being a continuation of a thematic trilogy decrying American involvement in Vietnam, claiming that his intended story draft when pitching it that the story was about "a technological empire going after a small band of freedom fighters," which had stemmed from his role in the development of the film Apocalypse Now earlier.[96][97][98][99][100][94] In an interview for TIME magazine regarding the then-upcoming Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones regarding the connection of the Empire and the Republic, Lucas also implied that, besides Nixon, another influence on the Empire had been the Kennedy family.[101]

Appearances[]

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This article needs to be provided with more sources and/or appearances to conform to a higher standard of article quality.

Non-canon appearances[]

Sources[]

Non-canon sources[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 The Essential Atlas
  2. 2.0 2.1 The Essential Guide to Warfare
  3. Dark Empire Sourcebook
  4. Star Wars: Empire's End
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
  6. 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 The New Essential Chronology
  7. Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi sets the date of the Battle of Endor as 4 ABY, which is 39 in the Great ReSynchronization calendar per pp. 190–191 of The Essential Atlas.
  8. Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood 6
  9. 9.0 9.1 Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith novelization
  10. Dark Times 1
  11. 11.0 11.1 The Essential Guide to Warfare
  12. SWInsider "The Guns of Kelrodo-Ai" — Star Wars Insider 132
  13. Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison
  14. Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
  15. Crimson Empire 6
  16. Star Wars Handbook 2: Crimson Empire (under "The Imperial Interim Ruling Council")
  17. Star Wars Handbook 2: Crimson Empire (under "Nom Anor")
  18. The New Essential Guide to Characters (under "Nom Anor")
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood 1
  20. Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood 5
  21. 21.0 21.1 Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood 6
  22. 22.0 22.1 Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
  23. Legacy—War 6
  24. Legacy (2013) 18
  25. Empire 8
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 Star Wars: Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide
  27. 27.0 27.1 Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side
  28. 28.0 28.1 28.2 Star Wars Omnibus: X-Wing Rogue Squadron Volume 3
  29. X-Wing Rogue Squadron 34
  30. X-Wing Rogue Squadron 35
  31. The Essential Guide to Warfare, p. 192
  32. The New Essential Guide to Characters (under "Thrawn")
  33. Star Wars Handbook 2: Crimson Empire (under "Burr Nolyds")
  34. Attempted to replace Palpatine with a military coup in 19 BBY
  35. Attempted to replace Palpatine with a coup in 1 BBY
  36. Attempted to replace Palpatine in a coup in 3 ABY
  37. Shot at the Emperor's shuttle and planned to overthrow him with the help of the Sun Star in 3 ABY. His attempt failed and his fate was left unknown.
  38. In 7 ABY
  39. 39.0 39.1 Star Wars Trilogy Sourcebook, Special Edition
  40. Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
  41. The New Jedi Order: Dark Tide II: Ruin
  42. SWInsider "Republic HoloNet News Special Inaugural Edition 16:5:241" — Star Wars Insider 84
  43. The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide
  44. 44.0 44.1 Han Solo and the Corporate Sector Sourcebook
  45. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope novel
  46. Dark Empire Sourcebook
  47. Rebellion Era Campaign Guide
  48. Galaxy Guide 9: Fragments from the Rim
  49. Dark Times 2
  50. Death Star Technical Companion
  51. 51.0 51.1 Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
  52. Star Wars (1977) 56
  53. StarWars Darth Maul in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link)
  54. Darth Plagueis
  55. Children of the Jedi
  56. Imperial Sourcebook
  57. Children of the Jedi
  58. Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron: The Phantom Affair
  59. Millennium Falcon
  60. "The Second Kessel Run"
  61. 61.0 61.1 StarWars The Imperial Warlords: Despoilers of an Empire, Part 2 on StarWars.com (article) (content now obsolete; backup link)
  62. The Crystal Star
  63. Dark Empire Sourcebook
  64. Star Wars Handbook 3: Dark Empire
  65. 65.0 65.1 Death Star Designer
  66. 66.0 66.1 Champions of the Force
  67. Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
  68. Star Wars: Dark Forces
  69. "Therefore I Am: The Tale of IG-88" — Tales of the Bounty Hunters
  70. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
  71. Dark Empire II 2 (First identified as Darktrooper)
  72. Dark Empire II 3
  73. SWAJsmall "Death-Hunter" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 9
  74. Star Wars: TIE Fighter
  75. Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike
  76. Star Wars: Rebel Assault II: The Hidden Empire
  77. Heir to the Empire
  78. The Last Command
  79. Specter of the Past
  80. Imperial Commando: 501st
  81. WEG icon2 "The Lesser Evil" — Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook
  82. X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble
  83. The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
  84. Allegiance
  85. Galaxy of Fear: Planet Plague
  86. Death Troopers
  87. Crucible
  88. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope novelization
  89. Intergalactic Passport
  90. Star Wars: The Magic of Myth
  91. Revenge of the Sith invites Bush Comparisons, page 2 on CBSNews.com: "Lucas said he patterned his story after historical transformations from freedom to fascism, never figuring when he started his prequel trilogy in the late 1990s that current events might parallel his space fantasy. "As you go through history, I didn't think it was going to get quite this close. So it's just one of those recurring things," Lucas said at a Cannes news conference. "I hope this doesn't come true in our country." […] "Maybe the film will waken people to the situation," Lucas joked. […] "When I wrote it, [the 2003 Iraq war] didn't exist," Lucas said, laughing. "We were just funding Saddam Hussein and giving him weapons of mass destruction. We didn't think of him as an enemy at that time. We were going after Iran and using him as our surrogate, just as we were doing in Vietnam. […] The parallels between what we did in Vietnam and what we're doing in Iraq now are unbelievable." The prequel trilogy is based on a back-story outline Lucas created in the mid-1970s for the original three "Star Wars" movies, so the themes percolated out of the Vietnam War and the Nixon-Watergate era, he said. Lucas began researching how democracies can turn into dictatorships with full consent of the electorate. In ancient Rome, "why did the senate after killing Caesar turn around and give the government to his nephew?" Lucas said. "Why did France after they got rid of the king and that whole system turn around and give it to Napoleon? It's the same thing with Germany and Hitler. "You sort of see these recurring themes where a democracy turns itself into a dictatorship, and it always seems to happen kind of in the same way, with the same kinds of issues, and threats from the outside, needing more control. A democratic body, a senate, not being able to function properly because everybody's squabbling, there's corruption."" (archived from the original on February 27, 2021)
  92. Lucas: 'Star Wars' isn't Iraq wars on USATODAY.com (archived from the original on February 27, 2021)
  93. George Lucas, commentary, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Special Edition (DVD, 20th Century Fox, 2004), disc 1.
  94. 94.0 94.1 The Making of Star Wars, pages 7-8; 17
    "I started to work on Star Wars rather than continue on Apocalypse Now. I had worked on Apocalypse Now for about four years and I had very strong feelings about it. I wanted to do it, but could not get it off the ground... A lot of my interest in Apocalypse Now was carried over into Star Wars. I figured I couldn't make that film because it was about the Vietnam War, so I would essentially deal with some of the same interesting concepts that I was going to use and convert them into space fantasy, so you'd have essentially a large technological empire going after a small group of freedom fighters or human beings [...] a small independent country like North Vietnam threatened by a neighbor or provincial rebellion, instigated by gangsters aided by empire. [...] The Empire is like America ten years from now, after Nixonian gangsters assassinated the Emperor and were elevated to power in a rigged election; created civil disorder by instigating race riots aiding rebel groups and allowing the crime rate to rise to the point where a 'total control' police state was welcomed by the people. Then the people were exploited with high taxes, utility and transport costs. Gangsters, a cartel made up of power companies, transport companies & crime organizations. Other companies had to pay bribes to stay in business.
    They increased the crime rate by slowing down the system of justice and punishment."
  95. 'Star Wars' inadvertently hits too close to U.S.'s role on Chicago Tribune (archived from the original on December 2, 2020)
  96. How 'Star Wars' was secretly George Lucas' Vietnam protest by Kyle Smith on New York Post (October 21, 2014) (archived from the original on August 26, 2018)
  97. How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise; Taylor, Chris; Basic Books (2014)
  98. 'Star Wars' is a Metaphor for the Vietcong Kicking American Ass in the Vietnam War? on www.yomyomf.com (December 16, 2015) (archived from the original on June 10, 2016)
  99. The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film. Ondaatje, Michael; Knopf (2005). p.70.
  100. The Making of Star Wars, p.12. "A lot of my [George Lucas's] interest in Apocalypse Now was carried over into Star Wars, I figured that I couldn't make that film because it was about the Vietnam War, so I would essentially deal with some of the same interesting concepts that I was going to use and convert them into space fantasy, so you'd have essentially a large technological empire going after a small group of freedom fighters or human beings."
  101. Dark Victory on Time Magazine: "I'm more on the liberal side of things," [George Lucas] says. "I grew up in San Francisco in the '60s, and my positions are sort of shaped by that … If you look back 30 years ago, there were certain issues with the Kennedys, with Richard Nixon, that focused my interest." Lucas' own geopolitics can sound pretty bleak: "All democracies turn into dictatorships—but not by coup. The people give their democracy to a dictator, whether it's Julius Caesar or Napoleon or Adolf Hitler. Ultimately, the general population goes along with the idea … What kinds of things push people and institutions into this direction?" (archived from the original on April 23, 2002)

External links[]

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