Star Wars Fanon
Star Wars Fanon
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The Dark Synod was the governing ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Church of the Dark Side, the official religious body of the Galactic Empire, and was recognized as a sovereign entity by Emperor Palpatine. Formed in 17 BBY in order to further spread the new official Imperial religion, the Dark Synod was given sovereignty status by the Emperor in order to give the Dark Side Adepts in it more independence. While the Church's main body was firmly managed by Commission for the Preservation of the New Order, the Dark Synod acted independently of Imperial control in order to better spread the religion's influence throughout the galaxy.

Following the death of the Emperor at the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY and subsequent splintering of the Empire, the Dark Synod worked to keep the Imperial remnants together and was credited with "encouraging" many warlords to return to the Imperial banner. It was declared a cult by the New Republic, which refused to recognize its sovereign status and considered it an Imperial puppet government. It fell apart after the death of the Supreme Prophet in 5 ABY and its survivors made it to the Unknown Regions, joining the First Order.

The state was also referred to as "the Catelexis", named after its capital of Catelexis City.

History[]

Government and politics[]

State Secretariat[]

Military[]

The Dark Synod maintained no standing military, although it did have a security force known as the Prophetical Dark Guard, which provided protection to Catelexis City and served as the Prophets' enforcers. The Dark Synod essentially relied on the Empire for its full security and closely cooperated with the Imperial Military, which provided training to members of the Prophetical Guard.

Foreign relations[]

The Dark Synod maintained diplomatic relations with different governments and other independent entities throughout the galaxy as part of both its attempt to appear as a legitimate state and its mission to expand the Dark Side Church's influence.

Entity/state Formal relations began Notes
Galactic Empire 17 BBY

The Galactic Empire was the first state to recognize the Dark See and de facto granted it sovereign status. As a result of this, the two states had a special relationship. The Empire maintained an embassy in Catelexis City while the Dark See had an apostolic embaissada (embassy) in Imperial Center's Federal District. The Dark See was essentially reliant on the Empire for its security and the Prophets were able to call upon the Imperial Military for support.

Hutt Clan 12 BBY

The Dark See hired mercenaries from the Hutt Clan and converted citizens of Hutt Space in exchange for recognizing the Clan's dominant position in that region, and, unofficially, in the galactic underworld. It maintained an apostolic embaissada on Nal Hutta, while the Hutts maintained an embassy in Catelexis City.

Territory[]

The capital of the Dark See was Catelexis City, a walled settlement located on Coruscant, not far from the Imperial Palace. It consisted of several buildings, including a state secretariat office, the prophetical palace, some shady research centers, a barracks, and a diplomatic wing for embassies of other governments. That was the only territory the Dark See officially possessed, other than its apostolic nunciatures (diplomatic missions) throughout the galaxy.

Behind the scenes[]

The faction is based on the real world Holy See, the governing body of the Catholic Church, as well as the Vatican City State.

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