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Supreme Commander, also referred to as Supreme Commander of the Imperial Forces, Supreme Commander of the Imperial Fleet, Supreme Fleet Commander, Supreme Commander of the Imperial Military or simply Commander of the Imperial Fleet was a title held by a dignitary or senior officer who exercised supreme control over the Imperial Military. Within the Galactic Empire's power structure, the title designated the second-highest official, but the position would later be held by the heads of state of Thrawn's confederation and the Imperial Remnant.

Darth Vader was the first to hold the office of Supreme Commander under the Galactic Empire, and held authority over the entirety of the Imperial Military scattered in Imperial Space. The position continued to occupy a prominent place in the post-Endor Empire, being notably assumed by Thrawn and later Gilad Pellaeon, who also held the duties and responsibilities of head of state of their territories. During the Imperial Civil War, several warlords claimed the mantle of Supreme Commander.

History[]

Before Endor[]

Sometime following the Galactic Empire's ascension in the Clone Wars' aftermath, Emperor Palpatine appointed his handpicked right-hand, Darth Vader, to the office of Supreme Commander,[2] charging him with maintaining order throughout Imperial Space and leading the Imperial Military in its major operations,[1] such as the Reconquest of the Rim and the Great Jedi Purge.[3] As such, the Dark Lord of the Sith personally supervised a number of early Imperial campaigns, including two pacifications of Kashyyyk,[4][5], the quelling of the Vaklin insurgency,[6] the disastrous Shrouded Offensive,[7] and the Battle of Callos.[8] Throughout his tenure, the cyborg retained direct command of the 501st Legion, whose actions at his behest earned them the nickname of "Vader's Fist".[9] Lord Vader's position also allowed him to select the very best Imperial officers and crew to serve aboard his first flagships,[10] the Imperial-class Star Destroyers Exactor and Devastator respectively.

As part of expanding his and Palpatine's dominions, Darth Vader also brought the Noghri, a formidable warrior people, into the Empire's service as the elite Noghri Death Commandos.[11] He also oversaw the training and operations of the Inquisitorius, as well as their hunt for the last Jedi Knights.[12]

His duties and powers were not limited to command on the field, however. As part of the Emperor's purge,[13] Lord Vader played a key role in vanquishing traitors within the Empire's own ranks, which included preventing mutinies such as General Gentis' coup.[14] He also owned the Empirical,[15] a modified cruiser which housed a mobile laboratory used to conduct experiments and studies on prisoners and unique alien species, which he briefly entrusted to Lieutenant Rom Mohc for the Dark Trooper Project.[16] The vessel was rumored to be part of a fleet of such vessels under the Supreme Commander's command.[15] Circa 1 BBY, Lord Vader commissioned the Imperial Biological Weapons Division to secretly re-create a dangerous viral agent as Imperial bioweapons Project I71A aboard the Imperial I-class Star Destroyer Vector. The Supreme Commander had hoped to weaponize the pathogen and use it to eradicate the growing number of insurgents and freedom-fighters, but things eventually went awry and the program failed.[17]

Despite his involvement as an overseer in the Death Star project since early on,[18] the cyborg's position was of no relevance within the battle station's own chain-of-command, with Governor Wilhuff Tarkin - Grand Moff of the Oversector Outer - serving as commander,[19] while Lord Vader stood by him as Emperor Palpatine's envoy.

VaderKaida

As Supreme Commander, Darth Vader was the ranking leader of the Imperial Military.

As the Empire retaliated against the Rebellion in the aftermath of the Battle of Yavin, Emperor Palpatine consolidated Lord Vader's powers as Supreme Commander, formally conferring the latter military, political and administrative authority second only to that of his master; the changes to office were subsequently announced in a communique by Lord Ars Dangor.[20] Following the Imperial Advisor's holomessage, the Emperor's lieutenant assembled the armada known as Death Squadron to strike back at the Rebel Alliance for the Yavin debacle. For his pursuit of the elusive Rebel Fleet, Lord Vader selected the Executor, the first Executor-class Star Dreadnought and the largest war vessel in the galaxy, to be his flagship.[21]

For the next three years and more, Lord Vader hunted down the Rebels—and in particular, his son Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker—all across the known galaxy, leading the Executor and her attached armada of Star Destroyers through the battles of Derra IV and Hoth as well as other campaigns, which saw him scoring notable victories and hounding his quarry wherever they hid.

On the Emperor's behalf, the Supreme Commander also sanctioned progress on several programs that impressed him, believing they could potentially change the course of the ongoing conflict in the Empire's favor. As such, Lord Vader personally authorized continued progress on General Rom Mohc's Dark Troopers[22] and inspecting Grand Admiral Demetrius Zaarin's TIE/D Defender.[23] In addition, the Sith Lord was tasked with keeping tabs on the development of the Death Star II above Endor.

Lord Vader also helped handle the coup headed by the treacherous Admiral Zaarin,[24] and was also left as interim power and protector of the Imperial Centre in the occasional absence of Palpatine in the months that encompassed the preparations for the Battle of Endor.[25] Although Lord Vader did not command directly at Endor, it appears that the Imperial Fleet believed that he was in charge, and it was his second-in-command, Admiral Firmus Piett, who directed the naval aspect of the confrontation with the Rebellion from the bridge of Executor.

After Endor[]

"My father's destiny is my own."
―Luke Skywalker submits to serving the reborn Palpatine, taking Vader's title as the Empire's new Supreme Commander — (audio) Listen (file info)[26]

Vader's death, along with that of Palpatine, threw the Empire into turmoil. After Endor, it is unclear whether any new Supreme Commander was appointed by any of the factions claiming to rule the Empire, and no obvious leader emerged until Grand Admiral Thrawn returned from the Unknown Regions[27]. Thrawn was endorsed by the advisors and the Moffs and Grand Moffs, although with the rank of Grand Admiral and the title of warlord, he was already de jure the senior officer in the attrited military, and by virtue of the legatine powers these ranks conferred, de facto commander-in-chief. If Thrawn was not formally constituted as Supreme Commander—and he may have been—he certainly exercised the powers of the office in all but name.[source?]

PalpcloneLukeSkywalker-Hasbro

Luke Skywalker served the reborn Emperor Palpatine as Supreme Commander

After Thrawn's death at Bilbringi, the military hoped to appoint a new Grand Admiral, but the struggle for power between Imperial factions precipitated a civil war, out of which emerged the "reborn" Palpatine in a series of clone bodies, ruling from the Deep Core world of Byss. Against this background, Rebel hero Luke Skywalker took up his father's old post of Supreme Commander, part of a remarkable battle of wills between Palpatine and the Jedi Master. Palpatine knew that Luke was attempting to bring down the Empire from the inside, and Luke knew that Palpatine was hoping to seduce him to the dark side of the Force. As Supreme Commander, Luke deliberately fought a wasteful and destructive campaign designed to cripple the Imperial war machine, and ensured the destruction of the World Devastators; although it seemed for a time that Palpatine's machinations had nevertheless eclipsed the good man that he was, threatening to plunge the galaxy into a new dark age. Utlimately, the son of Anakin Skywalker returned to the light, and joined with his sister Leia Organa Solo and his unborn nephew Anakin Solo to destroy the tyrant.[28]

The demise of Palpatine's clone and Skywalker's return to the New Republic did not, however, prompt a crisis to compare with that which had ensued after Endor; command passed smoothly to Sedriss QL[29], a Force-adept Imperial, as well as a distant descendant of the Sith Lord Ulic Qel-Droma,[30] with the rank of Military Executor.[31] It is possible that, as in other aspects of Imperial government, Palpatine deliberately created overlapping spheres of responsibility, with the Executor being formally a proxy of the crown and the Supreme Commander the official head of the military chain of command; alternatively, it may be that "Military Executor" and "Supreme Commander of the Imperial Forces" were in fact two styles for the same position—perhaps Palpatine, confident that Luke was now his creature, had removed him from military command to further mold him to his will, and placed Sedriss in his stead as Supreme Commander.[source?]

Be that as it may, Executor Sedriss took over Supreme Commander Skywalker's role in charge of the galaxywide campaign code-named Operation Shadow Hand, and continued in this capacity when another, final clone of Palpatine awoke on Byss[29]. After Sedriss's death, another Dark Jedi, Xecr Nist, was appointed his successor[32], but was defeated by Skywalker and Kam Solusar.[33] After that, he became a prisoner of war, and died in captivity following the destruction of Palpatine's final clone.[34]

Reorganization after the final death of Palpatine[]

The final death of Palpatine, and the subsequent implosion of the Interim Ruling Council removed any illusion of order from the remnants of the Imperial government and military; during 11 ABY, it seemed that the Empire had ceased to exist, but by 12 ABY, legitimate authority rested with an enfeebled Council of Moffs on a secret capital code-named Bastion, while most of the Empire's military resources were in the hands of warlords who recognized no authority but their own. It is not known whether the Moff Council appointed a Supreme Commander immediately, but an attempt by the Ancient Houses and the major Imperial-aligned corporations to forge a new focus of legitimate authority around Palpatine's putative son Irek Ismaren seems to have enjoyed tacit support from Admiral Blitzer Harrsk, the most powerful of the warlords: given his status, Harrsk may have been offered overall military command by the new regime, but in the end, this scheme proved unsuccessful.[source?]

Imperial reunification[]

Pellaeon - SWGTCG

Gilad Pellaeon

It was instead Admiral Natasi Daala who next emerged to lead the Imperial war machine. After Imperial authorities decommissioned her crippled flagship, she appointed herself to a roving ambassadorial commission, uniting the rival warlords' forces by assassinating their leaders and combining their fleets under her command, with all the powers of a Supreme Commander or Military Executor and, to an extent, the trappings of an "Empress," such as a cadre of Royal Guards.[35]

Following the debacle at Yavin, Daala surrendered her command to Vice Admiral Gilad Pellaeon, who was soon after found serving the Moff Council as the titular "Supreme Commander of the Imperial Fleet".[35] It was unclear precisely what relationship this title had with previous Supreme Commanders; what was clear is that although he carried a Fleet-specific title, Pellaeon's powers as commander-in-chief extended to all Imperial forces, as evidenced by his use of the term "Supreme Commander of Imperial forces". This makes it clear that his military powers were certainly comparable, if not identical to that of supreme commanders during the height of the New Order. Under the Imperial Remnant, this position also served as a sort of chairman and president of the Moff Council, though Pellaeon was not a Moff himself.[source?]

Pellaeon's evolving powers in this capacity were best demonstrated by his otherwise cautious proposal to the Moff Council in favor of peace with the New Republic in 19 ABY as compared to his far sterner approach to politics during the Yuuzhan Vong War[36], particularly following the fall of Bastion[37]. His place as Imperial hegemon remained firm even after his "official" retirement following the war as he reverted to his previous role at the head of the Empire, though it is unclear whether he ever resigned his Imperial postings during his tenure as Galactic Alliance Supreme Commander.[source?] Even with these consolidated powers, animosity between the military and civil sectors of Imperial politics would remain high, as evidenced by an attempted coup and Pellaeon's eventual assassination, both machinations of Moffs.[36] [38]

Imperial Space after the Pellaeon–Gavrisom Treaty[]

After peace was secured between the New Republic and Imperial Space in the form of the Pellaeon–Gavrisom Treaty[38], the position of Supreme Commander of the Imperial Fleet became one of the most important posts in the Imperial government. Pellaeon was the chief Imperial negotiator and signatory to the peace treaty, and by some means, he came to assume the rank of Grand Admiral and also the chairmanship of the Council of Moffs, thus making him effectively both the commander-in-chief of Imperial forces and Imperial head-of-state.[39] The powers of this position included the ability to override military decisions made by individual Moffs, most especially concerning the use of the Starfleet, and the power to federate the individual Sector fleets. His powers could be checked by the Council, however, including the ability to recall the Supreme Commander from expeditions outside the territory of the Imperial Remnant.[source?]

As Grand Admiral Pellaeon had been the only Imperial Supreme Commander in the post-treaty era, it is unknown whether he wielded his authority as a constitutionally-appointed magistrate, or through personal prestige and precedent. With the Imperial Remnant later a part of the Galactic Alliance, it was also unknown what political powers the Supreme Commander still retained. By 28 ABY, Pellaeon was already known specifically as Grand Admiral of the Imperial Fleet[37], a trend that extended into the new Galactic Empire.[source?]

Ascension to the post[]

The several Supreme Commanders who led the Imperial war machine came to power in a variety of different ways. Vader was apparently made Supreme Commander by a direct appointment from Emperor Palpatine,[source?] as was his son when Palpatine was reborn in a clone body[28] Xecr Nist[32] and probably Sedriss before him were likewise appointed as Executors by Palpatine.[source?] As Grand Admiral, Thrawn was the higest ranking remaining officer in the military, and Daala assumed command by killing off the thirteen most powerful warlords and taking control of their fleets. Daala later relinquished command to Pellaeon[35], but it is unknown how and when he became officially Supreme Fleet Commander.[source?]

Evolution of powers[]

At its inception, the title and position was granted to Darth Vader. It seems that in this capacity, Vader's powers were those of Commander-in-Chief of all Imperial forces, answering only to Emperor Palpatine. When Vader died at the Battle of Endor[40], the position officially seems to have disappeared as a successor or second-in-command was never made apparent. Indeed, the separation of the military from the state's civil government is made most apparent by the fact that those who immediately thereafter claimed the throne seemed to not claim or appoint anyone to this post.

When Grand Admiral Thrawn began his campaign against the New Republic some five years after the Battle of Endor, it seems likely that he assumed this title as a form of respect for the crumbling military hierarchy, but mostly because he was the highest ranking military officer. Out of necessity, it seems, the title in this capacity seems to have been used hand-in-hand with the de facto powers of the Emperor, though no sources have ever stated Thrawn as having assumed this title. This seems to be the first time anyone using the title Supreme Commander ever used it as a means to legitimatize their rule. It should be noted that Thrawn is never confirmed as actually having assumed the title itself, but that he was the de facto commander in chief of the Imperial military. Following Thrawn's death at the Battle of Bilbringi, the post seems to have once more disappeared.[source?]

The next confirmed usage of the title came in 10 ABY during the reign of Palpatine's clones. This time, though, it was Vader's son, Luke Skywalker, who assumed the title of Supreme Commander of Imperial Forces[28], though unlike Vader, Skywalker seems to not have also held the title of Military Executor[source?]. The fact that the next two subsequent Imperial commanders in chief (Sedriss and Xecr Nist, respectively) were titled Military Executor raises some questions as to the official relationship between the two positions. In this case, it seems that the titles were separated, though held the same powers as they had under its original bearer. Following the death of Xecr Nist, the title Military Executor seems to have disappeared from usage completely.[source?]

By 12 ABY, the Empire was divided into independent, though rival fiefdoms controlled by Imperial breakaway warlords. When Admiral Daala reunified them under her command, she once more took on the powers of commander in chief, though, like Thrawn, also those of head of state, probably out of necessity. The fact her successor's title was Supreme Commander of the Imperial Fleet seems to imply that this was Daala's one title, but her powers were very close to those of an Empress, though her own comments during that time make it quite clear she only desired military command, not governmental command. This fact also seems to point to the likelihood that Daala would have assumed a military title associated with her branch of service rather than one of sovereign control.[source?]

Shortly after assuming the title, Daala relinquished command to her successor, then-Vice Admiral Gilad Pellaeon. It seems likely that without a stable civil government, Pellaeon continued to use the title with those powers of a de facto Emperor, controlling all aspects of the fledgling, though reunified, Empire. It was this military dictatorship which ironically led to the establishment of the civilian government of the Council of Moffs in which the Supreme Commander's powers were greatly reduced from total control to that of chief executive (both head of government and head of state) and commander in chief. This level of power was not as great as the power wielded by Thrawn or Daala, but, at least officially, more than those powers wielded by either Vader or Skywalker. In this situation, the post's military powers were also much more formalized in that control of the military remained, but was stratified so that it was confederated among the remaining Imperial sectors under the command of the respective Moffs. As shown in the Yuuzhan Vong War, powers also included the ability to federate this individual sector fleets, though with the approval and oversight of the Council. The fact that Pellaeon later mutinied against the Council and threatened to defect with the military to assist the New Republic in the war seems to imply that military loyalty still remained heavily invested in the Supreme Commander rather than the civilian government.[source?]

List of known Supreme Commanders[]

DarthVader-NEGTC

Vader, who held the position of Supreme Commander until 4 ABY

Behind the scenes[]

The title and its position and powers within the Imperial government have been an area of controversy and confusion. For the purposes of this article, the various titles are treated as one, but their powers over time have changed.

Appearances[]

Non-canon appearances[]

Sources[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Dark Times—Fire Carrier 1
  2. Kenner-logo Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (Pack: Darth Vader vs. Prince Xizor) (backup link)
  3. Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
  4. The New Essential Guide to Characters
  5. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
  6. Purge – The Tyrant's Fist 2
  7. Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows 3
  8. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed novelization
  9. Star Wars: Battlefront II
  10. The New Essential Guide to Characters
  11. Heir to the Empire
  12. Evasive Action: Recruitment
  13. Republic 78
  14. Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison 1
  15. 15.0 15.1 The Force Unleashed Databank
  16. The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide
  17. Death Troopers
  18. Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
  19. Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
  20. Imperial Sourcebook
  21. Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back
  22. Star Wars: Dark Forces
  23. Star Wars: TIE Fighter
  24. Star Wars: TIE Fighter
  25. Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire novel
  26. Dark Empire 2
  27. Heir to the Empire
  28. 28.0 28.1 28.2 Star Wars: Dark Empire
  29. 29.0 29.1 Dark Empire II 1
  30. The Official Star Wars Fact File 85 (SED 1-4: Exekutor Sedress (German Edition))
  31. The Dark Side Sourcebook
  32. 32.0 32.1 Dark Empire II 4
  33. Empire's End audio drama
  34. The New Essential Guide to Characters
  35. 35.0 35.1 35.2 Darksaber
  36. 36.0 36.1 Specter of the Past
  37. 37.0 37.1 The New Jedi Order: Force Heretic I: Remnant
  38. 38.0 38.1 Vision of the Future
  39. The New Jedi Order: Dark Tide II: Ruin
  40. Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
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