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Imperial Ruling Council

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"Due to the nature of the find, ISB wasted no time in bringing the matter to the attention of the Ruling Council, as well as to our counterparts in Military Intelligence."
―Harus Ison[1]

The Imperial Ruling Council, also referred to as the Imperial Advisory Council or the Imperial Council, was a collective body of bureaucrats composed of Emperor Sheev Palpatine's closest advisors including, Grand Vizier Mas Amedda, Sate Pestage, Janus Greejatus, Ars Dangor, Kren Blista-Vanee, Verge, as well as other high ranking officials and members of the Imperial Court, who oversaw the daily affairs of the Galactic Empire, and wielded considerable powers.

The council was headquartered on Coruscant, the capital world of the Empire. Members of the Ruling Council were noted for wearing loose-fitting robes of riotous colors and flamboyant hats.

Organization[]

The Imperial Ruling Council was the highest-ranking authority of the Galactic Empire's administrative branch. It was led by the Grand Vizier of the Galactic Empire[7] and included both advisors to the Galactic Emperor[1] and Imperial Military leaders.[8] Its authority extended beyond the local, sector and oversector governors who directly reported to its members. The Ruling Council also administered the various ministries and bureaus that comprised the vast Imperial bureaucracy, carefully managing the various issues that arised from them to ensure that only the most critical requests would be forwarded to the Emperor.[7]

History[]

Governing the Empire[]

Mass Amedda was one of the first members to join the Ruling Council.[9] By 14 BBY[10] the Council also included advisers Ars Dangor, Janus Greejatus, Kren Blista-Vanee and Sate Pestage as well as Administrator Sly Moore.[1] Other members during the early Imperial era included Prelate Verge,[11] Imperial Agriculture Ministry official Sim Aloo,[12] and another member.[13]

At some point, the Council proposed Senate procedural rule Article 17-252,[14] which was in use by 2 BBY[15] and allowed a Senior Senator to yield their time on the Imperial Senate floor freely to another Senate Senator during an emergency situation.[14]

Galactic Civil War[]

"[…] and with Lord Vader's personal guarantee that he will confine himself to using words to win arguments in future, as befits a ranking member of the Imperial Council, and save acts of out-and-out violence for members of the Rebel Alliance."
―Admiral Motti expresses his thoughts on Darth Vader[8]

In 0 BBY, Chief of the Imperial Navy Conan Antonio Motti submitted an incident report to Imperial High Command criticizing[8] the Sith Lord and the Empire's de facto Commander-in-Chief,[16] Darth Vader, shortly after he was Force-choked by the Dark Lord[8] for his insolence.[17] In Motti's report, the admiral identified Vader as a ranking member of the Imperial Council and expressed a belief that Vader's actions were not befitting someone of such a station.[8]

Governor Everi Chalis served as an emissary to the Imperial Ruling Council during the Galactic Civil War. At some point, she was demoted to a position on Haidoral Prime and eventually defected to the Rebellion.[11]

In 4 ABY, six members of the Imperial Ruling Council, including advisors Sim Aloo and Janus Greejatus, accompanied Emperor Palpatine to the second Death Star, where he was greeted by Lord Vader and scores of Imperial officers and troops. However, all six dignitaries died when the station was destroyed by the Rebel Alliance during the Battle of Endor.[5]

Fall of the Empire[]

"The death of Palpatine at the Battle of Endor threw the Galactic Empire into tumult, as the autocracy did not have instructions of succession in the event of such a disaster. Ambitious members of the Imperial Council attempted to grab onto their fiefdoms of power, while distant governors and Imperial military leaders seized what territories they could."
―Janyor of Bith[13]

Following the Battle of Endor, ambitious members of the Imperial Council attempted to carve their own territories out of the Empire.[13] Due to their inability to successfully run the Empire after the deaths of Emperor Palpatine and Lord Vader, Fleet Admiral Gallius Rax proposed the creation of a more covert and militaristic body known as the "Shadow Council" to replace them, comprised of various advisors and admirals, with Grand Admiral Rae Sloane as the group's de facto leader.[2] Grand Vizier Mas Amedda was thus reduced to a mere figurehead, puppeteered by Counselor Rax to broadcast propaganda speeches.[2]

Legacy[]

Main article: Shadow Council (Imperial Remnants)
"Captain Pellaeon, you always speak with much authority, and yet, I see, once again, that Grand Admiral Thrawn is missing from your delegation. Any word on when he will be able to participate in the Shadow Council?"
"With respect, our one hope for success relies upon the secrecy of his return."
―Moff Gideon and Captain Pellaeon in a Shadow Council meeting — 20?cb=20250116042720 ▶️ (file info)[18]
PellaeonWarlord2-TheSpies

Captain Pellaeon represented Grand Admiral Thrawn's faction in the Shadow Council.

The Shadow Council came to replace the failed Imperial Ruling Council as a covert ruling body.[2]

During the New Republic Era, the members of the council were responsible for their own sectors and maintained an illusion of working as unorganized remnant warlords to conceal their strength as they awaited Grand Admiral Thrawn return.[18]

Powers[]

Some observers saw the councilors as mere "yes men" to the Emperor. But in fact, it was the Imperial Ruling Council that managed the daily affairs of the Empire, and the officials within its ranks wielded considerable powers.[1] They had direct access to the Emperor and acted as his deputies,[19] with all moffs, generals, admirals and other upper-level figures reporting to them in turn. Some members of the cabinet were charged with overseeing martial aspects,[20] and notified the sovereign on new developments within the Imperial Military. In spite of their authority, the councilors were not always privy to the details known to the Imperial Intelligence, as information was closely guarded on Coruscant.[1]

Appearances[]

Sources[]

Notes and references[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Tarkin
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Aftermath: Life Debt
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Star Wars: Timelines
  4. ↑ Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Star Wars Helmet Collection: Emperor's Royal Guard Weapons & Uniforms: Imperial Dignitaries
  6. ↑ Aftermath
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 "An Incident Report" — From a Certain Point of View
  9. ↑ 2015 Topps Star Wars Chrome Perspectives – Jedi Temple Archives Card: Mas Amedda (backup link)
  10. ↑ Star Wars: Timelines dates the events of Tarkin to 14 BBY.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Battlefront: Twilight Company
  12. ↑ "Kernels and Husks" — From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Star Wars Propaganda: A History of Persuasive Art in the Galaxy
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Star Wars: Andor — "Welcome to the Rebellion"
  15. ↑ StarWars.com Behind the Seams: The Costumes of Andor Season 2 - Updated on StarWars.com (backup link) dates "Welcome to the Rebellion" to 2 BBY.
  16. ↑ Star Wars Bust Collection: Imperial Royal Guard Star Wars Universe: The Emperor's Inner Circle
  17. ↑ Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Star Wars: The Mandalorian — "Chapter 23: The Spies"
  19. ↑ Lando 1
  20. ↑ Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back
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