Galactic Empire (Star Wars)

TheGalactic Empire,also known simply asthe Empire,is a fictionalautocracyfeatured in theStar Warsfranchise. Introduced in the 1977 filmStar Wars,it is the main antagonistic faction ofthe original trilogy,which also includesThe Empire Strikes Back(1980) andReturn of the Jedi(1983). An oppressivedictatorshipwith a complicated bureaucracy, the Galactic Empire seeks the rule andsocial controlof every planet and civilization within thegalaxy,based onanthropocentrism,nationalisation,state terrorism,power projection,and threat of lethal force.

Galactic Empire
Emblem of the Galactic Empire
Universe	Star Wars
In-universe information
Type	Fascistabsolute monarchy
Founded	19BBYfrom theGalactic Republic
Defunct	4 ABY: fractured into the Imperial remnants during theBattle of Endor 5 ABY: dissolved after theBattle of Jakku,succeeded by theNew Republic By 21 ABY: partly reorganized (29 ABY: publicly formed) into theFirst Order
Location	Star Wars galaxy
Leader	Galactic Emperor: Sheev Palpatine/Darth Sidious(19 BBY–4 ABY) Leader of the Contingency: Mas Amedda(4–5 ABY) (Emperorde jure) Gallius Rax(5 ABY) (Counselor to the Empire) Rae Sloane(5 ABY) Legislative: Imperial Senate (19–0 BBY) Executive: Imperial Ruling Council (19 BBY–4 ABY) Imperial High Command (19 BBY–4 ABY) Council of Moffs (14 BBY–4 ABY) Imperial Future Council (4 ABY) Shadow Council (5 ABY, 9 ABY)
Key people	Emperor Palpatine Commander-in-Chief Darth Vader Grand Vizier Mas Amedda Grand Moff Tarkin Grand Admiral Thrawn The Grand Inquisitor Moff Gideon
Affiliations	Sith Order Sith Empire (precursor) Stormtroopers
Enemies	Jedi Order Rebel Alliance Grysk
Currency	Galactic Standard Credit (Imperial Dataries)
Capital	Coruscant(Senate District, Imperial Center)
Official language	Imperial Basic

The Galactic Empire's rise was not a violent takeover by force, but rather a calculated dismantling of the Galaxy's most powerful institutions by rewriting constitutional foundations, controlling the Jedi Council, weakening the Senate and the appointment ofloyal Governors.At its peak, the Galactic Empire sprawls over much of the knownStar Warsgalaxy, which consists of millions of star systems and billions more fringe colonies, shipyards, fortress worlds, and outer territories. The Empire's origins are depicted in the prequel filmStar Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith(2005), where it replaces theGalactic Republicat the end of theClone Warsorchestrated by the Republic's Supreme Chancellor,Palpatine.Palpatine is also secretly theSith LordDarth Sidious, who masterminds the war to destroy theJediand restore the Sith to power.

Palpatine falsely accuses the Jedi of causing thesecessionistClone Wars to weaken the Republic and gain power. He manipulates theGalactic Senateinto usingclone trooperscreated during the conflict to purge the Jedi. After engineering these threats, Palpatine reorganizes the Republic into a state meant to "ensure the security and continuing stability, and a safe and secure society": the Galactic Empire, with himself as Emperor. The Senate overwhelmingly supports this decision and lauds his apparent resolve, bravery, and selflessness.

With Emperor Palpatine keeping mostly to the shadows, his Sith apprentice,Darth Vadermaintains a more public presence and leads the Imperial forces, acting as a personification of the Galactic Empire's power. By the time ofEpisode IV – A New Hope,the faction has transformed into a fullyautocraticregime, though it is opposed by the insurgentRebel Alliance.The completion of theDeath Star,a planet-destroying battle station, allows Emperor Palpatine to instigate aself-coup,dissolving the Imperial Senate and transferring power toPraetor-officers called Imperial Moffs, such asGrand Moff Tarkin.

The Galactic Empire collapses after the events ofReturn of the Jedi.Its remnants form theFirst Orderinthe sequel trilogy,set 30 years later.

Appearances in chronological order

• Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith(2005)
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars(2008–2020) (Briefly)
• Star Wars: The Bad Batch(2021–2024)
• Solo: A Star Wars Story(2018)
• Obi-Wan Kenobi(2022)
• Andor(2022–present)
• Star Wars Rebels(2014–2018)
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story(2016)
• Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope(1977) (First appearance)
• Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back(1980)
• Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi(1983)
• The Mandalorian(2019–present) (Mentioned only)
• Ahsoka(2023) (Mentioned only)
• Star Wars Resistance(2018-2020) (Mentioned only)
• Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens(2015) (Mentioned only)
• Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi(2017) (Mentioned only)
• Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker(2019) (Mentioned only)

Themes

See also:Star Wars sources and analogues

Star WarscreatorGeorge Lucassought to make the First Galactic Empire aesthetically and thematically similar toNazi Germanyand to appear to befascist.Similar to Nazi Germany, the Galactic Empire is a dictatorship based on rigid control of society that dissolved a previous democracy and is led by an all-powerful supreme ruler.The Empire, like the Nazis, desires the creation oftotalitarianorderand utilizesexcessive forceand violence to achieve their ends.The title of the Empire's main soldiers, thestormtroopers,is somewhat similar to the name given toAdolf Hitler'sSturmabteilung(SA, "storm department" )paramilitarybodyguards.

The visual appearance ofDarth Vaderin his all-black uniform combined with his fanatical obedience to Palpatine has allusion to the black-uniformed NaziSchutzstaffel(SS).According to a Lucasfilm-authorized source, Darth Vader's relationship with Palpatine is akin to SS leaderHeinrich Himmler's relationship with Hitler.The uniforms of Imperial military officers also bear resemblance to uniforms used in Nazi Germany, as well as 19th century Polishulans(mounted lancers)—who wore tunics, riding breeches, and boots like the Empire's officers wear—as well as the Imperial officers' cap resembling the field caps historically worn by German and Austrian troops.

In addition to Nazi Germany, there was also at least one portion of the Galactic Empire that was based on theSoviet Union,which is the various military personnel andTIE Fightersthat are flying in formation as Palpatine arrives on the second Death Star inReturn of the Jedi.According to Lucas, the ceremony for the Emperor's arrival was inspired byOctober Revolution Daymilitary parades in the Soviet Union.

Lucas has also indicated that the Galactic Empire's struggle against a smallerguerilla forcewas inspired by the United States' involvement in theVietnam Warand his surprise at how relatively few people spoke up against the war.

Palpatine's rise to power has been related topolitical strongmanofAugustus Caesar,Napoleon Bonaparte,andAdolf Hitler.Palpatine's consolidation of power and declaring himself emperor is like the Roman political figure Augustus Caesar, in that Augustus manipulated the Roman Senate as Palpatine did with the Galactic Senate; he legitimized authoritarian rule by saying that corruption in the Senate was hampering the powers of the head of state; he pressured the Roman Senate to give him extraordinary powers as Consul of the Republic to deal with a crisis and he falsely claimed that he would rescind those powers once the crisis was over; and, as with the transition of theRoman Republicinto theRoman Empire,Augustus, like Palpatine, relied on his strong control over military force.

Many Imperial officers speak with theReceived Pronunciationaccent (known in-universe asCoruscanti), andIrvin Kershner"deliberately cast British actors as the high-rank imperials forThe Empire Strikes Backto mirror the composition of theAmerican revolution,with the rebels mostly Americans ".

Depiction

Augustus in the robes and cloak of his position asPontifex Maximus,served as inspiration in the creation of the character Palpatine.

Origins

Note:All dates in this article are in the BBY/ABY format. This is a fictional in-universe dating system centred on theBattle of YavininEpisode IV: A New Hopein which the first Death Star is destroyed. BBY is Before theBattle of Yavin;ABY is After the Battle of Yavin.

The Twilight of the Republic

The Galactic Empire is born out of the collapsingGalactic Republic;the rise of the empire wasn't sudden but instead unfolded gradually, step by step with one power grab after the next. However, its seeds ofdecadenceare planted and nurtured by the Sith over a period of centuries, that bore fruit during theClone Wars,the epic war between the Republic and the separatist Confederacy of Independent Systems (CIS) depicted inEpisode II: Attack of the ClonesandEpisode III: Revenge of the Sith.Palpatine's ascension came with the final layer of poison instilled into a governmental system on the brink of collapse. Because of the hubristic Jedi, the corrupt senate and a civil war, Palatine was seen by many as a savior and is easily able to take near-complete control of the Republic.

InEpisode I: The Phantom Menace,amid a trade dispute and invasion of his homeworld ofNaboo,Senator Palpatine convinces QueenPadmé Amidalato call for avote of no confidencein Supreme Chancellor of the RepublicFinis Valorum.Palpatine is elected Supreme Chancellor in Valorum's place.

The Clone Wars

Main article:Clone Wars

As the Seperatists Crisis fighting intensifies inEpisode II,theGalactic Senate,thelegislatureof the Republic, grants Palpatineemergency powersto deal with the crisis.Palpatine promise safety at the cost of individual freedoms, all while tightening his own control over every facset of society; promises to relinquish his powers once peace and order is restored. His first executive order is to create a massive army ofclone troopers.His second executive order was to conscript the Jedi as commissioned officers of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) armed forces; by seizing influence over the Jedi Council, Palatine indirectly has complete Command over the GAR. His third executive order is to nationalize the military-industrial and financial sectors to finance the war effort. He intentionally prolonged and exploits the Clone Wars to amass unprecedented political power, using his apprenticeDarth Tyranus,Head of State of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, as a pawn to keep everyone distracted and focused on ending the war.

By the time ofEpisode III,he is effectively adictatorwho overstayed his term limits; he exploits the people's fears, systematically rewrites constitutional laws and crushes the institutions that threaten his goals. He orchestrated his own kidnapping by the Separatists by leaking classified information, and thereby bringing the war to the Capitol,Coruscant,to further spread terror. TheJediare overstretched across the galaxy trying the end the war; they distrust Palpatine's motives, fearing he has come under the influence of aDark Lord of the Sithnamed Darth Sidious. Their concerns are shared by several loyalist senators trying to preserve democracy, who suspect Palpatine may not return his emergency powers once the war ends. These senators set into motion plans that will eventually lead to the creation ofthe Rebellion.The film eventually reveals that Palpatine and Sidious are one and the same, and Palpatine engineered the conflicts as afalse flag.

The Purge

Main article:Great Jedi Purge

Palpatine reveals himself as a Sith Lord to Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, promising to save Padmé, Skywalker's secret wife, from dying in childbirth as Anakin has foreseen. Skywalker reports Palpatine's true identity to the Jedi. However, when Jedi MasterMace Winduconfronts Palpatine, Anakin comes to Palpatine's aid and helps him kill Windu. Desperate to save Padmé, Anakin pledges himself to thedark side of the Forceand becomes Palpatine's third apprentice,Darth Vader.Palpatine declares the Jedi to be traitors, providing "irrefutable evidence" that they were the masterminds behind the Clone Wars, and all butexterminates the Jedi Orderin a galaxy-wide slaughter, while sending Vader to kill everyone in theJedi Templeand assassinate the Separatist leaders. Vader then immediately ends the Clone War by transmitting deactivation codes to all Seperatist droids in galaxy.

Two remaining Jedi,Obi-Wan KenobiandYoda,mount a counterattack. Obi-Wan defeats Vader and leaves him for dead, but Yoda's duel with Palpatine ends in a stalemate; both Jedi are forced to go into exile. Grievously wounded, Vader is rescued by Palpatine and fitted with cybernetics and a black suit of armor with a life support system. After Padmé dies giving birth to twins, Yoda and Obi-Wan decide to separate the children –LukeandLeia– in order to hide them from the Sith. Luke goes to Vader's stepfamily onTatooine,while Leia is adopted by SenatorBail OrganaofAlderaan.

The New Order

Having "won" the war, with GAR liberators occupying every known Star system, Palpatine orders them to permanently annex planets, suppress the sectors and subjugate the people. Secured in his power and position, with no one left stop him, Palpatine reorganizes the Republic into the Galactic Empire, with himself as Emperor for life.He moves on to his final political opposition, the Senate; rather than dismantling it outright, he reduces it to a powerless symbol that exists only as an illusion of representation. Senators with no dedication to Public Service were easily bribed or coerced into being an assembly line that rubberstamped Palpatine's policy; the remaining Senators who actually cared about the people, were spied upon, arrested, extorted, assassinated, or otherwise made to disappear. Instead Palpatine appointed Governors to oversee all Star systems in the Republic; these Governors, later known as Imperial Moffs, report directly to Palpatine and were appointed without a vote or approval from any Senators. This effectively sidelines the Senate leaving it unable to influence how the Galaxy is actually governed.

The Old Republic symbolisms were discarded on favor of the Imperial crest; an emblem which itself comes from the vendu galactic roundel symbol. Originally this was a symbol of unity and non-confrontation; Palpatine would pervert this peaceful symbol by removing two spokes from the wheel; similar to how Hitler took theswastikafrom ancient Eastern religions likeHinduismandBuddhism.

Government

Legislature

The Senate, now known as the Imperial Senate, nominally continues to exist, though it is virtually powerless. Palpatine dissolves the Senate (off-camera) inA New Hopeafter discovering that several members of the Senate are founding members of theRebel Alliance,aguerrillaarmy dedicated to overthrowing the Empire and restoring the Republic.

Executive

With the end of the Clone Wars, the purge of the Jedi Order and the formation of the First Galactic Empire, Palpatine rules with absolute power as Emperor. Between the events ofRevenge of the SithandA New Hope,Palpatine rules the galaxy from the confines of his heavily guarded Imperial Palace onCoruscant.Coruscant was introduced inTimothy Zahn's then-canonnovelHeir to the Empire.It made its film debut in the special edition ofReturn of the Jedi.Inspiration for the world-spanning city came from 1940s science fiction works, especiallyIsaac Asimov'sTrantor.Visually, it resembles theArt Decoskyscrapers ofManhattan.

Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)depicts Palpatine as intentionally having no clear line of succession, desiring either immortality or the destruction of the Empire.

Imperial Ruling Council

Unwilling to embroil himself in the day-to-day running of the Galactic Empire, the Emperor leaves the mundane work to the Imperial Ruling Council (IRC), an advisory body with whom he confers on vital affairs of state. The group is made up of Imperial Advisors, "yes-men" who serve as ministers and counselors. The spokesman of the Imperial Ruling Council is the Grand Vizier Mas Amedda, who attends most of the Imperial Senate's sessions. Amedda functions as an intermediary for Palpatine, managing his schedule, screening his calls and contacting other Imperial dignitaries and officers on his behalf. The Imperial Ruling Council also keeps tabs on the progress of the Imperial Military and delivers news from Imperial High Command to the Emperor.

Imperial High Command

The Emperor leaves the actual martial management to Imperial High Command (IHC), a central command structure that notably coordinates the Galactic Empire's war effort. The cabinet enjoys much power within the government's hierarchy, being responsible for: sanctioning weapons programs (such as the TIE Defender project), supervising the armed forces, forming strategies and organizing expansionary or pacification campaigns. Despite this, Imperial High Command was unable to take any serious action against Rebel sympathizers with allies in the Imperial Senate. The group works closely with the Council of Moffs and notifies the Imperial Ruling Council on important developments. Imperial High Command's overseer isDarth Vader- also a Sith Lord - who relentlessly pursues the fledging Rebel Alliance, in addition to quelling insurgencies and purging the last of the Jedi Order. As Emperor Palpatine's second-in-command, Vader is treated with almost the same deference as his master and has his personal battalion and armada- the 501st Legion and "Death Squadron", respectively - at his beck and call.

Imperial High Command maintained a number of subdivisions, each charged with directing the naval, ground and intelligence assets of the Imperial Military. The most important of these were the Joint Chiefs, an executive group of senior officers who advised both the Emperor and the Commander-in-Chief on all martial-related matters. Other members included the Grand Admirals, a cadre of the 12 highest-ranking naval officers that helmed large Imperial fleets and policed Imperial Space;Grand Admiral Thrawn,the commander of the 7th Fleet, is the most famous of their number.

Council of Moffs

Aside from the Imperial Ruling Council and Imperial High Command, power resides in the hands of "Praetorianadministrators "(planetarygovernors) that form the Council of Moffs. The cabinet is composed of 20 Moffs (sectorgovernors) and their superiors, the "Grand Moffs" (oversector governors), all of whom answer directly to the Emperor. The Moffs are senior officials who held the governorship over Administrators of minor provinces and commanded a Sector Fleet-size imperial armed forces at the sector level.The Grand Moffs are among the Galactic Empire's top figures, being on equal-footing with the Grand Vizier and the Commander-in-Chief and having been similarly appointed by the Emperor himself. The Council of Moffs works closely with Imperial High Command and is therefore able to dispose of the Imperial Military's assets to enforce the Emperor's authority in its "provinces". GovernorWilhuff Tarkinis the most prominent Grand Moff, having suggested the creation of the roleand thus holds the distinction of being the first.

Judiciary

In the seriesAndor,the Galactic Empire is depicted as arbitrary and cruel in its rule over ordinary people, particularly when it comes to certain agencies such as the Imperial Security Bureau (ISB), which acts as asecret policeforce. In the latter part of the series, the autocracy takes to retroactively extending the sentences of prisoners, moving prisoners around to different facilities after they are due to be released,euthanizinglabor camp prisoners when they become too ill to work, not permitting defendants in criminal cases to present a defense, and committing mass murder when its officers feel they are losing control of a situation. It also engages intortureof subjects of interest and carries out arbitrary executions for political purposes. ISB agents are assigned to spy on political dissidents in the Imperial Senate, such as SenatorMon Mothma.

Imperial Security Bureau

The Imperial Security Bureau (ISB) is the politically aligned and indoctrinated civilian intelligence branch of the Galactic Empire that is charged with matters of internal state security and law enforcement, being analogous to theGestapoor theSchutzstaffel,as well as theKGB.The ISB was not a national agency, but a part ofCOMPOR(Commission for the Preservation of the New Order); Palpatine's own political party. Because the ISB is so directly connected and fanatically loyal to Palpatine, there are no checks and balances to their power as they did whatever Palatine wanted them to do.

Consisting of several supervisors overseeing multiple sectors, they are charged with matters of counter-terrorism, criminal investigation,internal affairs,state security, state-sponsored propaganda and ensuring the political loyalty of citizens to the Galactic Empire. Each supervisor had at least one ISB attendant assigned to them that helped them do their duties. Veteran Colonel Wullf Yularen acts as ISB's main figurehead and spokesman, answering to the likes of Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader and Amedda.

Towards the end of the Galactic Empire's reign after the death of Emperor Palpatine, ISB officers were entrusted with carrying outOperation Cinder.When that operation fails and the empire collapses, some former ISB officers, such asMoff Gideon,become warlords and part of the Imperial remnants.

Inquisitorius

Main article:Sith

Outside the formalchain of command,the Galactic Empire's reins arede factoheld by the Sith, a cult of Force-wielders - called Sith Lords - that call on the dark side in their plot to dominate the galaxy and destroy the Jedi. Both Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader are part of this cult, although this is known to or guessed by only a very few figures in the regime's upper echelons, such as Governor Tarkin. The Imperial Inquisition, or Inquisitorius, acts as an extension of the Sith Order and its Force-attuned operatives, the Inquisitors, are routinely given control of Imperial Military assets to hunt down the Jedi Knights that survived the initial purge. The Inquisitors' lack of proper rank within the armed forces, as well as their reliance on "occult" ways, earn the ire of the standard officers. The Inquisitorius was founded by the Emperor and is governed by the Commander-in-Chief, but the agency is virtually led by a Grand Inquisitor who defers to both.

Military

Notable officers

• Darth Vader- Dark Lord of the Sith, thus Palpatine's second-in-command, until his death in theBattle of Endor.
• Mas Amedda– Grand Vizier of the Imperial Ruling Council and Vice-Chair of the Imperial Senate, later installed by Gallius Rax as puppet leader following Palpatine's death inAftermath: Life Debt.Amedda formally surrenders the Galactic Empire to the New Republic inAftermath: Empire's End.
• Wilhuff Tarkin– Grand Moff of the Oversector Outer and commander of the Death Star, until his death in theBattle of Yavin.
• Thrawn– Grand Admiral of the 7th Fleet of the Imperial Navy, until being MIA upon his defeat in the liberation of Lothal.
• Orson Krennic– Head of Imperial Weapons Divisionand director of the Death Star, until his death in theBattle of Scarif.Krennic was also the Head of Advanced Weapons research.

Tarkin Doctrine

InStar Wars,the Tarkin Doctrine was the plan presented by Tarkin himself to Palpatine in 18 BBY that outlined the Empire's goal and structure: bringing order to the galaxy and restoringrule of lawto sectors overtaken by piracy andorganized crime,ending destructive conflicts throughgrand strategyandmilitary doctrine,a plan for maximizing social control andpropaganda,maintaining economic order and increasing security in the Galactic Empire. Tarkin believed the chief factor that contributed most to the demise of the Republic was not, in fact,the war,but rampant self-interest, which left the body politic feckless and corrupt.

Consider the self-interest of the Core Worlds,unwavering in their exploitationof the Outer Systems for their resources; the Outer Systems themselves, undermined, by their permissive disregard of smuggling and slavery; those ambitious members of the Senate who sought only status and opportunity. By partitioning the galaxy into regions, we, The Empire, actually achieve a unity previously absent; where once our loyalties and allegiances were divided, they now serve one being, with one goal: a cohesive galaxy in which everyone prospers. For the first time in one thousand generations our sector governors will not be working solely to enrich Coruscant and the Core Worlds, but to advance thequality of lifein the star systems that make up each sector — keeping thespaceways safe,maintaining open and accessiblecommunications,assuring thattax revenuesare properly levied and allocated to improving theinfrastructure.

— Grand Moff Tarkin, inStar Wars: Tarkin

The plan which Palpatine ultimately had implemented in its entirety contained three main principles: territorial consolidation, rapid communication, andcoercive diplomacy.Tarkin's concept was that rule could be established and maintained "through fear of force rather than force itself", and he believed grand displays of power—when combined with oppressive means of terrorizing communities—could suppress dissent and crush any would-be rebellion. This Doctrine became the Empire's core military doctrine ofpeacekeeping,internal security,counter-insurgency,andstate terrorism-philosophy. The instrument of this power is the military, which includes the Imperial stormtroopers, a massive fleet of about 1,000Star Destroyers,a couple of Super Star Destroyers, and theDeath Star,amoon-sizedsuperweaponcapable of destroying entire planets.

Plans for the Death Star first appear (inuniversechronology) inAttack of the Clonesand construction begins at the end ofRevenge of the Sith.Summarized measures set forth by the Tarkin Doctrine:

• Establish "Oversectors" which contain tumultuous systems; to monitor and react to rebellious activities within those systems. Oversectors would be formed without regard for the borders of standard sectors and would receive more forces than other regions of the Empire. This Imperial presence would be designed to stop small rebel factions before they could become a larger established threat. An average of three Sector Groups would be deployed in an Oversector.
• Assign command of each Oversector to a single individual who reports directly to the Emperor, in order to eliminate any delays created by political opportunism by Imperial advisors.
• Improve communication resources and Imperial response time by placing modified HoloNet transceivers (cannibalized from existing HoloNet transceivers) aboard each flagship of every Sector Group within an Oversector command. Place similar facilities aboard the Emperor's flagship and in Imperial City on Imperial Centre (formally Coruscant).
• Control unruly portions of the Galaxy through a fear of force rather than force itself. Through the combination of superior coordination of multiple Oversector groups and the control of information (news media) an impression of overwhelming force will be installed within the citizenry, thereby instilling the idea that resistance is futile.
• Continue to research and develop new and more powerful starships and weapons designed to inspire fear in the resistant systems. Present the citizen with a weapon so powerful, so immense as to defy all conceivable attack against it, a weapon invulnerable and invincible in battle, that shall become a symbol for the Empire. This weapon must possess a power great enough to dispatch an entire system. Only a handful or one of these weapons would be required to accomplish this task.

Imperial Navy

Further information:Star Destroyer

The Imperial Naval Command (INC), also referred to as the Imperial Starfleet, is the foremost military arm of the Galactic Empire in charge of maintaining security, peace and order in the galaxy. Led by Darth Vader, it absorbed the military forces of the Galactic Republic after Emperor Palpatine's declaration of the New Order.

At its peak, the Imperial Navy fields millions of warships, including an estimated 25,000 Star Destroyers, fulfilling the Emperor's will throughout the galaxy. The Empire's central warship cadre is well structured and uniformed, but the Imperial Navy suffers against strike craft, largely due to the inadequacies of its own starfighters and point defense. The Empire's focus on size, firepower, and terror comes at the expense of a well-balanced fleet. After its defeat at the Battle of Endor, the Galactic Empire splits up into warring factions, and the Imperial Starfleet along with it. While much of the remnants of the Imperial Navy are later reunited under impressive Imperial commanders, the military organization ceases to exist shortly after the death of the Emperor.

Specific responsibilities of the Imperial Navy include defending Imperial citizens from space-based threats (such as pirates, smugglers and rebel contingents), enforcing Imperial will, and overseeing commerce through customs and blockade operations. The Imperial Navy also performs orbital bombardments and transports major ground force deployments, supporting them with space, orbital, and aerial support. Imperial Navy officers wear the same standard uniform that their Army counterparts use but is colored grey, and both services use colored chest plaques to denote rank.

Imperial Starfighter Corps

Further information:TIE fighter

The Imperial Starfighter Corps (ISC) was the starfighter pilot branch of the Galactic Empire. Although the Corps was a component of the Navy,most pilots were assigned to ground operations with the Imperial Army.Imperial starfighters include TIE (Twin Ion Engine) fighters, TIE interceptors, TIE Defenders, TIE Brutes, TIE strikers, and TIE bombers. The Corps were scattered after the Battle of Endor (4 ABY).

Imperial Army

The Imperial Army was the ground based force. Imperial Army enlisted soldiers wore gray uniforms with a mandarin collar and four pockets along with chest pieces similar to Stormtroopers but in black. Corporals displayed their rank on one of their shoulder pauldrons with a single white diagonal stripe. They also wore a gray Imperial kepi or Imperial Combat Helmet

Imperial Stormtrooper Corps

Further information:Stormtrooper (Star Wars)

Imperial Stormtrooper Corps (ISC) are elite corps of rapid response all-environmentshock troops—organized like theU.S. Marine Corpswith their own separate divisions. The Stormtroopers operate in conjunction with the Army Ground Troopers and Navy Marine Troopers—who were used as garrison forces—to reinforce and hold defensive positions until the regular military arrived. When not in their signature white armor, stormtrooper officers wear black uniforms.

Galactic Civil War

After the formation of the Empire and the purge of the Jedi, Palpatine declaresmartial lawthroughout the galaxy. Those in hiding, or attempting to either flee from or oppose the New Imperial Order, are subject to persecution or death. This is the start of the bloody decades-long Galactic Civil War fought between the Empire and theRebel Alliance.

As portrayed in the live-action seriesAndor,one single moment in Galactic history completely changed the Empire's policy towards its citizens and therefore changed its relationship with its citizens. In 5 BBY, on the relatively unremarkable planet of Aldhani, a small Rebel team managed to infiltrate the local Imperial depository, stealing a decent portion of the sector payroll. This created a massive Imperial overreaction, increasing their security spending and draconian law enforcement policies, making all future rebellious activity even more costly and difficult, which is exactly what the mastermind of this heistLuthen Raelwanted.

As portrayed in the animated seriesStar Wars RebelsandThe Bad Batch,the Empire explores ways to weaponize Force-sensitivekyber crystals,which are sacred to the Jedi and are at the core of everylightsaber.They mine for kyber crystals across worlds, but are thwarted twice in securing massive crystals by theGhostcrewandSaw Gerrera.OnJedha,however, the Empire uncovers a surplus of kyber, with which they power the Death Star.

The Death Star, a moon-sized battle station with sufficient firepower to destroy an entire planet, is designed to be the ultimate weapon of the Empire's power. Tarkin, the station's commander, demonstrates that power inA New Hopewhen he destroysAlderaanas a show of force.In thefilm's climactic scene,however, the station is attacked by Rebel starfighters who have come into possession of the station's blueprints. The battle ends with the Death Star's destruction at the hands ofLuke Skywalker,which is the Rebel Alliance's first major military success against the Empire.Politically, Alderann's destruction was a watershed moment for most Imperial Loyalists, many whom would later defect to the Alliance; it revealed the Empire's willingness to kill loyalists on Alderaan, along with millions of innocents, just to prove a point to a rebellious Senator. Tarkin's Doctine, meant to perpetually "tighten the noose" and instill fear of being killed for engaging in Rebellion, eventually get overridden by people realizing that no one was actually safe.

After theBattle of Yavin,Vader's special powers as Commander-in-Chief are increased by Palpatine, granting him full command over all other officials and officers to ease his campaign against the Rebellion. InThe Empire Strikes Back,Vader becomes obsessed with finding theForce-sensitive Lukeand leads hisstormtroopersto attack on the Rebel base onHoth,but the Rebels escape. Vader would continue to systematically and ruthlessly dismantle Alliance assets, and to hunt for Luke in the process, forcing Alliance survivors to abandon all static bases and regroup withAlliance HQand remain nomadic.

InReturn of the Jedi,after four years of conflict and near constant harassments by Vader's forces, the Alliance achieves a decisive victory over the Empire during theBattle of Endor.In the film's climactic battle, the Rebellion destroys the second Death Star and a number of capital ships that contain a great portion of the Imperial Navy's highest-ranking officers. During this battle, Vader redeems himself by sacrificing his life to kill Palpatine in order to save his son, Luke Skywalker.

The dual loss of the Emperor and his right-hand, the Commander-in-Chief, creates a power vacuum of chaos and instability. By design, the Empire had no clear line of succession; and there was no next-in-line after Palpatine and Vader. Revolts, infighting,fiefdomsandwarlordismgradually fracture the Empire apart more effectively than any damage capable of being inflicted by the Rebel Alliance, as the Moffs and Grand Moffs maneuver to grab power for themselves amidst civil unrest.

Palpatine left posthumous orders. Upon verification of his death, messenger droids are sent to select Imperial officers to relay his last orders: to beginOperation: Cinder,ascorched earth policytasking hardline Imperials to destroy entire planets so the Rebellion cannot claim them.The fallen Emperor does not desire the Empire to continue without his presence; if he cannot live forever as the galaxy's Emperor, he would rather see it destroyed.

A year after the Battle of Endor, the bolstered Rebelliondefeatsthe weakened Empire during theBattle of Jakkuand formally establishes theNew Republic.

New Republic Era

By the time ofThe Mandalorian,set five years after the Battle of Endor, the Galactic Empire no longer exists as an official government or a major power and is essentially afailed state.Its former leaders who are nowwarlordsthat represent several differentrump states,arecompeting with each other,as well asthe New Republic over thepower vacuumleft behind. One Imperial remnant established a base on the planet Nevarro, whereMandalorianbounty hunterDin Djarinwas hired to acquire an asset, later revealed to be a Force-sensitive infant namedGrogu.Djarin abandoned his job and decided to protect the child, making him an enemy of the Imperial warlordMoff Gideonand his army of mercenary stormtroopers.

Djarin later returned to Nevarro, reuniting with his alliesGreef KargaandCara Dune,as well as an unnamed Mythrol, to take down an Imperial facility to eradicate the Empire's presence on the planet. The group soon discovered that it was housing Imperial experiments, using blood rich inmidichloriansobtained from Grogu. The group succeeded in taking down the base. Gideon was informed of the developments while overseeing a unit of enhanced droids known as darktroopers, who would later help him capture Grogu. Djarin led a mission to rescue Grogu, assisted by several allies including Dune,Boba Fett,Fennec Shand,and Mandalorian warriorBo-Katan Kryze.The group boarded Gideon's command ship and subdued him. Djarin turned Grogu over to Luke Skywalker, who took down the Moff's darktroopers.

Successor

Further information:First Order (Star Wars)

The most successful remnants of the Empire reformed as theFirst Order,led bySupreme Leader Snokeand former Imperial officers. They become a major faction in the galaxy inThe Force Awakensand face a reformed Rebel Alliance called the Resistance. The First Order rises to power through the use of Starkiller Base, a planet-converted superweapon that later destroys the Hosnian system, the location of the New Republic's capital. Starkiller Base is destroyed by the Resistance inThe Force Awakens.In the sequelThe Last Jedi,however, First Order forces draw the Resistance out of hiding and wipe out a majority of their fleet. During the battle, Snoke is killed by his apprenticeKylo Ren,who assumes the title of Supreme Leader.

InThe Rise of Skywalker,the final film inthe sequel trilogy,the First Order allies itself with theSith Eternal,a cult led by Palpatine, who had transferred his essence into a cloned body and formerly positioned himself to control the First Order over Snoke, apuppet ruler.The cult is stationed on the isolated Sith planet of Exegol. Palpatine offers Ren, who had tracked him to the planet, control of the Sith Eternal's fleet, the Final Order, in exchange for killing the young JediRey,Palpatine's own granddaughter. Ren initially accepts the assignment, but later forsakes the dark side after a duel with Rey in the wreckage of the second Death Star. With Ren's defection, Palpatine turns command over to Allegiant GeneralEnric Pryde,previously an Imperial officer.

With help from the spirit of Luke Skywalker, Rey eventually makes her way to Exegol, guiding the Resistance away to the planet to take down the Sith Eternal forces, including the Sith fleet. With help from a redeemed Ren and the spirits of Jedi past, she resists Palpatine's promises of power and turns his ownForce lightningagainst him, destroying the Sith Lord once and for all. The Resistance, with help from their allies across the galaxy, destroys the remaining Sith forces and prevents an establishment of a new Sith Empire. Without reinforcements of the Sith, people across the galaxy rises up against the First Order.

Legends

Further information:Star Wars Legends

With the 2012 acquisition ofLucasfilmbyThe Walt Disney Company,most of the licensedStar WarsExpanded Universe material was rebranded asStar Wars Legendsand declarednon-canon to the franchiseon April 25, 2014.

Thrawntrilogy

InTimothy Zahn's "Thrawn trilogy"of novels –Heir to the Empire(1991),Dark Force Rising(1992), andThe Last Command(1993) – an army of former Imperials, led byGrand Admiral Thrawn,attempt to overthrow the New Republic and install a dictatorship known as the Empire of the Hand. The backstory of the series explains that following their defeat at the Battle of Endor, the galactic sectors that are still under Imperial control are now governed by several differentmilitary juntasthatfight each otherin a conflict known as the Imperial Civil War, all the whileresumingthe Galactic Civil War with the Rebellion's successor, the New Republic, for control of the galaxy for years until mostly uniting under Grand Admiral Thrawn. By the time ofThe Last Command,Thrawn has nearly defeated the New Republic, but they claim victory in a last-ditch effort, and Thrawn is killed by his bodyguard, shattering the Empire's unity.

Agent of the Empire

Agent of the Empireis a 10-issue comic book series published byDark Horse Comicsfrom 2011 to 2013. It was written byJohn Ostranderand illustrated byStephane Roux,and is set three years before the originalStar Warsfilm. Two five-issue story arcs follow an Imperialsecret agent,and feature characters such asHan Solo,Princess LeiaandBoba Fett.Both arcs were collected intrade paperbackvolumes.

Jedi Prince

In theJedi Princenovel series, a group of impostors calling themselves the Prophets of the Dark Side install a three-eyedmutantnamedTrioculusas Emperor by claiming that he is Palpatine's son, reforming the Empire (as Trioculus's Empire). By the end of the series, Palpatine's true son, Triclops, helps the New Republic defeat this new enemy.

Dark Empire

In theDark Empirecomic book series, Palpatine is reborn in aclonebody and unites most of the scattered remnants of the Empire (forming the Dark Empire), hoping to retake control of the galaxy. By the sequel,Empire's End,he is defeated and destroyed once and for all. Following the final death of Palpatine, Luke Skywalker, influenced by the force ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi, starts the New Jedi Order in an ancient temple onYavin 4,which had undone the Emperor's purge of the Old Jedi Order 28 years earlier at the rise of the Galactic Empire.

Jedi Academytrilogy

In theJedi Academytrilogy,an Imperial admiral namedDaalacommandeers the remainder of the Imperial Navy (the Crimson Empire) and mounts a ferocious assault on the New Republic. She nearly succeeds in taking over the galaxy, but is foiled by New Republic pilotsWedge AntillesandLando Calrissianin the final entry,Champions of the Force.A year later she would arrange the assassination of the rival Imperial warlords to unify the feuding Imperial factions into the Imperial Remnant and bring an end to the Imperial Civil War.

Darksaber

In the 1995 novelDarksaber,Daala, frustrated with the Imperial warlords in the Core fighting and bickering amongst themselves, orchestrates the warlords' deaths and unites and becomes the leader of the remaining Imperial forces. After being defeated in battle once again by the New Republic, she resigns and selectsGilad Pellaeon(originally in theThrawntrilogy) as the new leader, where he becomes Grand Admiral Pellaeon. At the end of the novel, he signs apeace treatywith the New Republic representative Ponc Gavrisom and finally ends the Galactic Civil War.

New Jedi Order

By the time of theNew Jedi Orderseries, the remaining Imperial military factions sign a truce with the New Republic, becoming the Imperial Remnant. The former enemies then become allies against the invadingYuuzhan Vong.A few years later, the Remnant help the Galactic Alliance fight an assimilating insect species known as the Killiks, which become a third party in the Second Galactic Civil War. Eventually, they make peace with the Alliance and Confederation. All three of these are represented by former Imperial commanders.

Legacy

TheStar Wars: Legacycomic book series, set 127 years after the originalStar Warsfilm, explains that, during acivil war,the New Galactic Empire known as the Fel Empire declares war on the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances (Galactic Alliance), the successor state of the New Republic, after 83 years of acold warthat began in 44 ABY. This conflict begins the Sith-Imperial War, which after three years leads to the eventual defeat of the Galactic Alliance and the Galactic Empire asserting its domination over the galaxy once again in 130 ABY. A few months later, the Sithoverthrowsthe Fel Empire. The Sith LordDarth Krayt,the leader of the One Sith, usurps the throne and forces Emperor Roan Fel to take refuge in the fortress planet of Bastion.

In 138 ABY, the Galactic Alliance Remnant led by Admiral Gar Stazi, Fel's forces known as the Empire-in-exile led by Empress Marasiah Fel, and the New Jedi Order led by Jedi Master K'Krukk unite against Krayt's empire and eventually destroy it in the Battle of Coruscant, after a grand total of 157 years of its existence. The three united factions form a new galactic government called the Galactic Federation Triumvirate.

The One Sith, led by Darth Wredd, remains at large and wages a war against the GFT. One year later, the former Empire-in-exile works with the other two factions, killing Wredd, rounding up all surviving members including their new leader Darth Nihl, and permanently dissolving the One Sith and the Sith religion itself for good. The next year, the GFT defeats the secular alliances of the One Sith and in the aftermath of that conflict, the galaxy after 172 years of Palpatine's influence, enters an era of peace and unity for the first time since before the Clone Wars.

See also

• Isaac Asimov's Galactic Empire
• Imperium of Mankind
• List ofStar Warscharacters
• Utopian and dystopian fiction
• State terrorism

Further reading

• Vision of the Future,1st paperback printing 1999, Timothy Zahn,ISBN0-553-57879-0
• Star Wars Battlefront II: Inferno Squad,published 2017,Christie Golden

External links

• Galactic Empirein theStarWars.comDatabank
• Galactic EmpireonWookieepedia,aStar Warswiki
• DomusPublica.net(No longer active, this archive as of September 27, 2005 has at least some of the essays intact)
• The Case for the Empire,The Weekly Standard
• Web.Archive.org,"No Case for the Empire"
• GalacticEmpireDatabank.comArchived2022-08-12 at theWayback Machine
• Why did The Galactic Empire Hate Aliens?
• Tarkin in theStar WarsDatabank

Fan societies

• The Empire Reborn- Roleplaying and gaming society (PC Games)
• The Galactic Empire- Roleplaying game with strong emphasis on political and military training.
• The Emperor's Hammer Strike Fleet- PC Gaming club for allStar Warsgames and Star Conflict.