Tarsus Valorum

"To champion democracy is no brave thing. For eons, politicians have done so as naturally as they draw breath. To suggest there is a point beyond which democracy collapses on itself, yielding stagnation and eventually ruin? That demands a degree of political courage so rare as to border on the theoretical."

―Tarsus Valorum, Official Record of the Ruusan Deliberations^[3]

Tarsus Valorum was a Human male politician and diplomat, a consequential Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic, and a champion of democracy who implemented the Ruusan Reformations to restore peace and stability in the aftermath of the New Sith Wars. Born around 1050 BBY on Coruscant into the influential House Valorum, he rose to political prominence during the final days of the New Sith Wars between the Jedi Army of Light and the Sith Brotherhood of Darkness. Elected as the first non-Jedi Supreme Chancellor in over four centuries, Valorum took office amid widespread war fatigue. The reforms he championed were a sweeping overhaul of the Republic designed to decentralize authority, limit Jedi militarization, and restore effective representative to the Galactic Senate. A staunch believer in democracy, Valorum warned that unchecked systems could stagnate without bold reforms, and he challenged entrenched power in pursuit of a stronger, more inclusive government.

Under Valorum's leadership, the Senate was restructured from millions of sectors to just over one thousand, with representation extended to cultural groups and functional constituencies like corporations. The Jedi Order was placed under judicial oversight, ending its direct military role in galactic affairs for the next millennium. Though credited with reuniting the galaxy after a thousand years of war, Valorum's reforms later enabled unchecked bureaucratic gridlock and corporate influence, foreshadowing the future instability that would ultimately be exploited to end the Republic. Still, his efforts healed many of the declining aspects of the Old Republic and ushered in a thousand years of relative peace. Valorum himself was elected to two terms as Supreme Chancellor.

Valorum remained an active diplomat after leaving office, personally leading missions to reintegrate worlds that had seceded from the Republic. He became the target of a kidnapping attempt instigated by the Order of the Sith Lords, operating in secret after the Republic and Jedi believed the Sith had been destroyed, but their efforts were thwarted. One of Valorum's lasting legacies, at the request of his friend and Jedi Knight Johun Othone, was securing Senate approval to construct the Valley of the Jedi on the planet Ruusan to memorialize the Jedi who sacrificed themselves to end the New Sith Wars during the Seventh Battle of Ruusan. Remembered as a modest yet formidable reformer, Valorum believed that leadership meant earning trust directly—not through spectacle, but through conviction and action.

Biography[]

Early life[]

FarfallaHS — Valorum was elected Supreme Chancellor after Jedi Master Valenthyne Farfalla chose to fight in the Ruusan campaign rather than stand for election.

Tarsus Valorum, a Human male,^[1] was born around 1050 BBY^[2] into the politically influential House Valorum on Coruscant, the central system in the Galactic Republic.^[4] During the New Sith Wars, a millennium-long conflict between the Jedi Army of Light and the Sith Brotherhood of Darkness, Valorum became active in the politics of the Republic.^[1]

Near the war's end, Valorum stood as a candidate for the office of Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. Although Jedi Master Valenthyne Farfalla was in line to take the position, the Jedi Master declined it in order to fight with the Army of Light during the Ruusan campaign, in what would become the last battles of the war. With Farfalla out of the running, Valorum was elected as the first chancellor not from the Jedi Order in over four hundred years. Seeing the cost of the conflict on a war-weary Republic during this period, Valorum began formulating ideas for the decentralization of the Republic's government.^[1]

Supreme Chancellor[]

Proposed reformation of the Republic[]

"The Republic is crumbling. For the past thousand years it has slowly been decaying and rotting away. A rebirth is the only way to reverse this process."

―Tarsus Valorum, in defense of the Ruusan Reformations^[1]

The Ruusan campaign brought an end to the New Sith Wars, and with it the destruction of the Brotherhood of Darkness—and nearly all of the Sith, save for one—during the Seventh Battle of Ruusan in 1000 BBY. Although the battle was a victory for the Republic, the end of the Sith threat posed new threats to the integrity of the Republic. With the ranks of the Jedi diminished due to their losses during the war, and without their police-like presence throughout the galaxy, over two dozen self-contained kingdoms declared that they would be withdrawing from the Republic, citing the example of the Hapes Consortium two thousand years earlier.^[5]

With threats of secession on the horizon and a citizenry, along with their representatives in the Galactic Senate, eager to put the war behind them, Valorum believed that radical steps were necessary to preserve the Republic. He proclaimed that the Republic as it once was no longer existed^[5] and, expanding his ideas for decentralization, proposed a series of reforms that he called the Ruusan Reformations, named for the planet Ruusan where the New Sith Wars had come to an end. The reforms were a sweeping reorganization of the Republic, with particular emphasis placed on representation within the Galactic Senate and the militarization of the Jedi Order.^[1]

Battleofruusan — Valorum's proposed reforms included disbanding the Army of Light and placing the Jedi Council under the supervision of the Republic's Judicial Department.

Because Valorum saw the creation of the Army of Light as a reaction to the Brotherhood of Darkness, he felt that the presumed destruction of the Sith meant neither the Army of Light nor any other Jedi military would be necessary. He proposed that the army be disbanded and that the Jedi High Council operate under the supervision of the Republic's Judicial Department. At their core, the reforms proposed to the relationship between the Jedi and the Republic were meant to unify the galaxy and end the cycle of wars that had faced the Republic for centuries.^[1]

Outside of Jedi affairs, Valorum also proposed a drastic reduction in the centralized power of the Republic. He proposed disbanding the Republic Military and reducing the size of the Galactic Senate itself. Up until that time, there were millions of galactic sectors with Senatorial representation. Valorum proposed that the number of sectors be reduced to just 1,024, each with only one senator^[3]—although political necessity^[6] forced Valorum to carve out an exception for some of the ancient worlds that founded the Republic, as well as powerful worlds in the Core Worlds and the Colonies. The reforms also contained a loophole that extended representation to "functional constituencies," which came to include entities such as corporations.^[3]

Passing the reforms and re-election[]

"Never trust a promise made in front of a holoprojector. If you want to get anything done, you need to meet behind closed doors and look a person right in the eye."

―Tarsus Valorum^[1]

While the Senate was responsible for passing Valorum's proposed reforms into law, Chancellor Valorum knew that he would need the support of the Jedi Order to secure their passage. He believed that the backing of the Jedi High Council would show that the Jedi were committed to peace, making it easier to pass the reforms aimed at the Republic's relationship with the Jedi. Valorum chose Master Farfalla as his first olive branch in the hopes of securing Jedi support.^[1] Initially, Farfalla felt that the Jedi Order should remain independent of the Republic, but Valorum believed that the Jedi had become a cause for war in the galaxy.^[7] Following a closed-door meeting between Valorum, Farfalla, and Farfalla's apprentice, Johun Othone, Farfalla ultimately agreed to secure the support of the Jedi Order in passing the reforms.^[1]

Relying on ambassadors and treaties to help push his agenda, Valorum successfully convinced the Galactic Senate to pass the Ruusan Reformations^[1]—including the Reformation Act, aimed at Republic demilitarization^[8]—and implemented them during his term in office, leading to the largest^[1] unprecedented and voluntary^[6] dismantling of central authority the Republic had ever seen.^[1] The standing military was reorganized into the Judicial Forces, a smaller, rapid-response body intended to patrol the frontier and manage crises, with the Senate retaining the authority to requisition additional forces as needed. To curb regional rivalries and prevent the rise of independent war machines, Valorum imposed strict limits on fleet sizes, ship armament, and navigational capabilities, placing enforcement power over Planetary Security Forces in the hands of Judicial Inspectors.^[6]

Valorum's efforts made him known as the man who reunited the galaxy,^[7] and he was elected to a second term as Supreme Chancellor. During his second term, Padawan Othone was promoted to the rank of Jedi Knight and served as a member of Valorum's protective detail, the Chancellor's Guard.^[1]

Post-chancellorship[]

Diplomatic efforts[]

"To win a world, you must win the hearts and minds of its people."

―Valorum, to Johun Othone^[1]

Valorum's second term ended in 992 BBY, after eight years in office.^[9] His successor pledged that she would continue the work that Valorum had started with the Ruusan Reformation, securing his legacy after his time in office. As Valorum began his post-chancellor career, he continued to utilize Othone's skills as a Jedi advisor and brought Othone on numerous diplomatic missions. Valorum refused to have an honor guard accompany him, as he felt that he was no threat to anyone nor was he important enough anymore for anyone to attempt to assassinate.^[1]

Valorum conducted nearly fifty diplomatic missions in the years after his term ended, including a continued presence in legislation: he proposed a series of legal guidelines and recommendations, the Unification Policies, aimed at galactic reunification, which were successfully passed through the Senate. These policies allowed the Senate to enforce membership guidelines on its constituent worlds. With the Unification Policies and his diplomatic efforts, Valorum remained an advocate for the Republic and its values throughout the galaxy. These missions were seen as crucial to the continued peace of the Republic, as they involved attempts at bringing worlds into the government for the first time or convincing previously-seceded planets to rejoin the Republic.^[1]

Attempted kidnapping on Serenno[]

"You saved my life. I can never repay you for what you have done, but if there is ever anything you want of me you need only ask."
"There is one thing. Hire yourself a kriffing security team."

―Tarsus Valorum and Johun Othone, shortly after the kidnapping attempt^[1]

In 990 BBY,^[10] Valorum and Othone traveled to the planet Serenno to conduct a diplomatic outreach mission. Since the passage of the Unification Policies, anti-Republic factions had arisen on the planet. This included the Anti-Republic Liberation Front, which viewed Valorum's reforms as a form of bullying. The former chancellor hoped to convince the planet's six most powerful families to persuade other ruling families to cut off funding to the planet's anti-Republic factions. The Order of the Sith Lords, established in secret by Darth Bane to ensure the hidden survival of just two Sith following the Seventh Battle of Ruusan, became aware of these anti-Republic sentiments. Bane sent his apprentice, Darth Zannah, to Serenno to aid the anti-Republic efforts from the shadows.^[1]

When Valorum and Othone arrived on Serenno, the Anti-Republic Liberation Front attempted to kidnap the former chancellor. The sect set off an explosion that destroyed the former chancellor's shuttle, the New Dawn. Valorum was nearly thrown from the side of the landing pad by the explosion, but Othone was able to catch his fall while the would-be kidnappers moved in to attack. Othone fought each of the attackers off, striking most of them down and forcing others on the run. Grateful, Valorum promised that he would do whatever Othone asked in order to repay the Jedi Knight for saving his life, but Othone's only request was simple: hire a security detail.^[1]

BaneZannah-DoE — Darth Bane and Darth Zannah were the architects of the plot to kidnap former Chancellor Valorum.

The attempted kidnapping unintentionally accomplished Valorum's goal of turning the planet's leaders against the separatist groups. The ruling families promised swift action to deal with the threats and offered a reward for any information on the assailants. This was an outcome Darth Bane had foreseen; he exploited Valorum's mission as a means to divert the attention of the Republic and the Jedi Order away from the Sith and toward the separatists, ensuring the continued survival of the Sith from the shadows as they pursued their ultimately goal of destroying the Republic and the Jedi Order over time.^[1]

A few months after Valorum's attempted kidnapping, the Republic held the Armistice Celebrations on the anniversary of the Ruusan Reformations. The celebrations were held across multiple Republic worlds, honoring the end of the New Sith Wars and Chancellor Valorum's efforts to reform the Republic.^[1]

The Valley of the Jedi[]

"Symbols give power to ideas, they speak to the hearts and minds of the average person, they help transform abstract values and beliefs into reality. This monument glorifies the victory on Ruusan: a victory that came not through the strength of our army, but through the courage, conviction, and sacrifice of Hoth and those who perished with him. It will serve as a shining example to guide the citizens of the Republic in their thoughts and actions."

―Johun Othone, on why the Valley of the Jedi was important^[1]

After the thwarted kidnapping, Othone had a request of the former chancellor: petition the Senate for funds to create a memorial to Jedi Master Hoth, his master before Master Farfalla, and the other Jedi who died defeating the Brotherhood of Darkness on Ruusan. The Jedi Council did not approve of the construction, believing it to be a sign of vanity. Valorum, however, agreed with Othone and proposed it to the Senate. The Republic media and the Senate were shocked by the Jedi Council's reluctance, and the Senate approved the request for funding.^[1]

Valley of the Jedi TCGKaD — Valorum's efforts helped secure funding to build the Valley of the Jedi on Ruusan.

Thanks to Valorum's efforts to secure the needed funding for the project, Othone began constructing the memorial on Ruusan. The memorial became known as the Valley of the Jedi. Othone, however, would not live to see it, as he was killed by Darth Bane and Darth Zannah on the world Tython shortly after construction began. The Valley of the Jedi was nonetheless completed, becoming a shrine to honor the fallen Jedi from the Seventh Battle of Ruusan and inspire the Republic to remember the sacrifices made by the Army of Light.^[1]

Legacy[]

"This will be the beginning of a new era for the Republic. We will enter a new age of prosperity and peace."

―Tarsus Valorum^[1]

Valorum's legacy was that of the man who reunited the galaxy^[1] and brought about an era of peace and prosperity,^[6] but the results of the Ruusan Reformation were mixed in the millennium after he lived^[11]—as Valorum himself said, systems were prone to stagnation without bold reforms.^[1] His reforms and orders to reduce militarization also introduced key exemptions. Notably, starship manufacturers were permitted to build prototype and experimental warships, a policy intended to spur innovation and encourage local shipbuilding. Over time, this led to the emergency of "demonstration fleets" effectively leased to wealthy sectors, contributing to a resurgence in heavily-armed regional forces despite Valorum's original intent. Whether the Republic should again re-militarize became a hotly debated subject in the Republic in general.^[6]

In the Senate, where the reforms were designed to give each member a powerful voice, the legislature found itself faced with gridlock and greed. The bureaucratic system became a source of contention, including the functional constituencies: this enabled guilds and mega corporations, such as the Mining Guild, the Bureau of Ships and Services, and the Trade Federation, to be represented by their own senators. Beginning in 124 BBY, the Federation used its power to buy votes from poorer sectors, and became so powerful that,^[3] in 32 BBY,^[5] it launched the Invasion of Naboo with little pushback from the Senate. The conflict was orchestrated by Senator Palpatine of Naboo, secretly a Dark Lord of the Sith. Palpatine, also known as Darth Sidious, manipulated these levers of power for his own ends, exploiting weaknesses^[11] and debates—such as re-militarization^[8]—that had grown in the centuries after the Ruusan Reformations.^[11]

ZodKneelsBeforeAmidala-TPMHD — Finis Valorum, a descendent of Tarsus, was deposed as Supreme Chancellor in 32 BBY, after he was unable to control the special interests that had gripped the Republic.

In the centuries after Valorum's time as Supreme Chancellor, other members of House Valorum rose to political prominence as well. Tullius Valorum and Laeca Valorum became important politicians in their time,^[4] while Eixes Valorum^[12] and Finis Valorum followed in their ancestor's footsteps and became Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. Chancellor Finis Valorum served during the Invasion of Naboo and was unable to control the sprawling special interests that had taken hold within the Republic. This was exploited by Senator Palpatine, who used the invasion of his planet as a pretext to have Finis Valorum removed from office. Palpatine rose to power in his place^[11] and subsequently manipulated the galaxy into the Clone Wars,^[13] the first galactic conflict since the New Sith Wars and Tarsus Valorum's Ruusan Reformations.^[3] The Clone Wars ended with Palpatine's declaration that the Republic would be reformed into the Galactic Empire,^[14] ending the democracy that Tarsus Valorum had fought to preserve until a New Republic arose in the Empire's place.^[3]

Valorum's reforms were recounted in The New Essential Chronology, a history chronicle published in 36 ABY. In its analysis, the chronicle stated that while the Ruusan Reformations saved the Republic, the powerful voice Valorum gave to every senator nonetheless invited gridlock and greed to the point that frustration continued to grow amongst the Republic's populace in the centuries following Valorum's tenure as Supreme Chancellor.^[5]

Personality and traits[]

"Corruption thrives where power is wielded in darkness."

―Tarus Valorum^[1]

Taurus Valorum was a Human male^[1] with dark brown hair, bright blue eyes, light skin, and a square chin,^[3] with a face seen as being honest and determined. When Valorum was in his early fifties in standard years, Johun Othone noted that Valorum looked at least ten years younger than he actually was.^[1]

Valorum was regarded as a principled and reform-driven statesman,^[1] motivated by a deep belief in the Republic's potential and the need for bold action to preserve it.^[3] He viewed the Galactic Republic as an institution in decline, believing that a rebirth through reformation was the only way to reverse the rot that had taken hold within it. This conviction fueled his pursuit of the Ruusan Reformations and his efforts to dismantle centralized power in favor of a more balanced and representative government.^[1]

Valorum was known for his skepticism of political theatrics and public grandstanding. He distrusted promises made for show, remarking that promises made in front of a holoprojector were less trustworthy than those made through direct dialogue behind closed doors. He favored direct, personal diplomacy and believed that lasting influence came from winning trust on an individual and planetary level. This belief was reflected in his approach to diplomacy and governance, relying on ambassadors, treaties, and relationship-building rather than force.^[1]

Despite his high office, Valorum maintained a modest demeanor. Even after serving two terms as Supreme Chancellor, he declined personal security details and extravagant vessels—preferring the small comforts of ships like the New Dawn, rather than more ornate ones that ambassadors typically used—feeling he was neither important enough to be targeted for assassination nor a threat to anyone. He continued serving the Republic through dozens of post-chancellorship missions aimed at bringing worlds back into the Republic. Valorum demonstrated gratitude and loyalty, particularly toward Johun Othone, who saved his life during the attempted kidnapping on Serenno—an act he repaid by securing funding from the Senate for the Valley of the Jedi, at Othone's request.^[1]

Skills and abilities[]

"The Senate will never refuse Valorum anything."

―Valenthyne Farfalla^[1]

Valorum was an accomplished political reformer and skilled diplomat. He used his political skill to successfully propose and advance the Ruusan Reformations, a complex and far-reaching set of legislative reforms that restructured the Republic's government and its relationship with the Jedi Order. He demonstrated a command of political strategy, recognizing the necessity of Jedi support when he worked directly with Jedi Master Valenthyne Farfalla to secure the support of the Jedi High Council for the reforms. Chancellor Valorum proved effective in navigating the legislative process of the Senate, convincing the senators to pass reforms even about representation in the Senate itself. His ability to rely on ambassadors and treaties to push his reforms reflected an ability for coalition-building and negotiation.^[1]

Following his chancellorship, his political and diplomatic skills continued to be of service to the Republic. The Senate trusted him to conduct nearly fifty ambassadorial missions after his second term ended, where he demonstrated an ability to bring seceded or unaffiliated worlds into the Republic in pursuit of galactic unity. The Senate was also seen as a body that would do whatever Valorum requested of it, an opinion Master Farfalla expressed after Valorum petitioned for funds for the Valley of the Jedi, despite the Jedi Council's objections.^[1]

Equipment[]

"Shall we disembark, Your Excellency?"

―Johun Othone, prior to disembarking from the New Dawn on Serenno^[1]

Valorum, who carried the title "Your Excellency" both during and after his terms as Supreme Chancellor, wore formal attire that included a high-collared, light gray inner tunic adorned with decorative buttons and gold trim, layered beneath a blue outer cloak. Following his tenure in office, Valorum traveled on diplomatic missions aboard the New Dawn, an Emissary-class shuttle. Though modest by the standards of former heads of state, Valorum considered the vessel more than adequate for his needs despite Othone's belief that Valorum could have secured a more extravagant ship through Senate funding. The New Dawn was destroyed in 990 BBY during the attempt to kidnap Valorum on Serenno.^[1]

Behind the scenes[]

RuleofTwo-Legends — Valorum's first narrative appearance was in *Darth Bane: Rule of Two*, a 2007 novel by Drew Karpyshyn.

Tarsus Valorum was first referenced indirectly in the 1999 reference book Star Wars: Episode I The Visual Dictionary, written by David West Reynolds.^[15] The character was formally established by author Daniel Wallace in the 2002 reference book The New Essential Guide to Characters.^[4] Valorum made his first narrative appearance^[1] in the second entry in Drew Karpyshyn's Star Wars: Darth Bane novel trilogy,^[16] 2007's Darth Bane: Rule of Two,^[1] while his physical depiction was subsequently provided in the 2009 reference book The Essential Atlas, written by Wallace and Jason Fry.^[3]

An essay by Nancy Reagin and Janice Liedl in the 2012 reference book Star Wars and History draws a parallel between Valorum and Solon, the Athenian lawmaker who laid the groundwork for Athenian democracy. As the authors noted, Solon freed poor farmers and landless men from being debt-slaves, reformed trade and food production in order to benefit society rather than profits, and broke down ancient tribal affiliations, which was a critical step toward democracy. These steps were compared to Chancellor Valorum's reformation of the Republic's government, including dismantling the Republic Military, decentralizing government authority, and bringing Jedi under the authority of the Republic—all of which, despite saving the Republic at the time, paved the way for the corruption and bureaucracy that ultimately doomed it a millennium later. Like future chancellors after Valorum, later tyrants in Athens grappled with the ramifications of Solon's decisions, where political rivalries ultimately doomed the constitutional system he developed there. Solon was also referred to, by ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, as "the savior of his country and the ideal lawgiver," much like Valorum became known as the man who reunited the galaxy.^[17]