Imperial Sentinel

Imperial Sentinels were large bodyguards of Emperor Palpatine and his Sith Acolytes during the years of the Galactic Empire.

Overview
The origin of the Sentinels is a mystery even among the upper class of the Empire, though it was revealed by Palpatine that they were clones who were mutated using chemicals modified by Dark Side energies. The early Sentinels had more of a free mind, which the acolytes deemed dangerous, so later batches were made with a lack of free will or intelligence.

Rarely seen and few in number, Sentinels were stationed at the Emperor's Citadel on Byss, the Mount Tantiss storehouse on Wayland, the Imperial Palace on Coruscant, and at the Emperor's Retreat on Naboo. They have also been seen escorting the Emperor's many associates and servants, including Darth Vader, Sith acolytes, Emperor's Hands, and other Dark Side individuals.

They were typically armed with large axes and were much taller than normal humans. At least two were assigned to each of Palpatine's Dark Side servants, to escort them, while many were simply stationed at various installations.

History
It was rumored that Palpatine started cloning them in secret research centers as early as the Clone Wars, under the guise of creating super soldiers for the Grand Army of the Republic to combat the Confederacy of Independent Systems. As Operation: Knightfall and Order 66 commenced, they were seen at the Senate Building with other security units there.

During the Great Jedi Purge, several were known to have aided Vader in hunting down Jedi across the galaxy. They were removed from the Senate Building at the request of the Imperial Senate, who were disturbed by the gargantuan guardians and preferred Imperial Senate Guards. They also helped quell various instances of anti-Empire attacks across the Outer Rim Territories in 4 BBY, and defended a Golan Space Defense Spacegun from a raid by the Ryloth resistance.

When the Galactic Civil War broke out, Sentinels were seen occasionally with Palpatine at public events and rarely engaged Rebel Alliance forces. When the Mount Tantiss complex was raided, several Sentinels there were killed by the bombs that the Rebel strike team planted. After the war ended, the ones on Coruscant were killed by Rebel Army soldiers, though with considerable casualties.

They were not seen until Palpatine returned in a clone body to reconquer the galaxy, and took part in battles against New Republic forces during Operation Shadow Hand. Sentinels escorted Luke Skywalker when he purposely fell to the Dark Side and became Palpatine's apprentice to take the Dark Empire down from within, along with Imperial Dungeoneers. After Palpatine's final death, most were killed when the planet of Byss was destroyed by one of his own superweapons. Only one was known to have survived.

Notable Sentinels

 * Igor, an early clone created in 23 BBY who had more intelligence and free will than average Sentinels. He was the only one that survived the destruction of Byss.