We are an Empire ruled by the majority! An Empire ruled by a new Constitution! An Empire of laws, not of politicians! An Empire devoted to the preservation of a just society. Of a safe and secure society! We are an Empire that will stand for ten thousand years!
—Emperor Palpatine addressing the Imperial public
The Galactic Empire, also known as Palpatine's New Order, the Imperium, or more commonly as the Empire, was the galactic government that was established in 19 BBY at the end of the Clone Wars that succeeded the Galactic Republic and absorbed the member worlds of both the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems following the end of the war. Founded by the last Supreme Chancellor, Sheeve Palpatine, the Empire was stated to be a new government to restore the freedom and democracy that was stolen by the "tyrants" of the Jedi Order and bring peace to the galaxy after the devestating Clone Wars which left the galaxy in ruins.
After the Galactic Republic had gone through a period of intense economic, social, and political turmoil during the Separatist Crisis, the Republic saw thousands of its worlds leave to join the Separatist Alliance and eventually fought the Confederacy throughout the Clone Wars, the war was used by Darth Sidious to usurp power within the Republic and take over the galaxy by having the Separatist leadership wiped out and its droid armies deactivated while also having the Jedi Order destroyed in Order 66 and the Republic reorganized into the "First Galactic Empire" as he declared it in front of the Galactic Senate. The Empire however, was really a plot to restore Sith control over the galaxy.
History[]
Origins and Foundation[]
The origins of the Galactic Empire date back to the early years of Darth Sidious prior to his rise as Galactic Emperor. After usurping his former master's position as the new Dark Lord of the Sith, Sidious sought to restore Sith rule over the galaxy by means of establishing a new empire based around the one from the Old Republic era. To accomplish such an ambitious goal, Sidious hid under an alter-ego known as Sheeve Palpatine and became a Senator of Naboo and represented the planet in the Galactic Senate. Sidious then secretly orchestrated the Naboo Crisis and rose to power in an emergency election and replaced Finis Valorum was Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. Following the death of Qui-Gon Jin and Dooku's fall to the Dark Side, he became the apprentice of Sidious and was used to form the Confederacy of Independent Systems to start the Separatist Crisis in 32 BBY and later the Clone Wars in 22 BBY.
Throughout the war, Sidious manipulated both the Separatists and the Republic during the three year conflict with the intent on leaving the galaxy in a weakened state to pave the way for a quick and easy rise of his new empire. Finally in 19 BBY, Palpatine's plans went into motion with himself having been given near-absolute powers by the senate, the Republic on the verge of victory against the Separatists, and the Jedi Order now being wiped out and the Separatist Council executed, Palpatine stood before the senate to declare the formation of the "First Galactic Empire" before the senate's members and became its first emperor. His plan was met with roaring applause and the Galactic Empire quickly took over all territories of the now defunct Galactic Republic.
Early Expansion[]
After its establishment, the Galactic Empire quickly absorbed all of the planets and territories of the Republic as well as its occupied worlds. Most Republic military officials and planetary leaders sided with Palpatine and the empire began expanding at an alarming rate. All that was left to deal with was the survivng remnants of the Separatist Alliance which managed to survive due to the Separatist Parliament being active and many droid armies were either still active or reactivated by various Separatist military leaders. With the quick formation and rise of the government, the Empire was quick to organize its newly formed military and sent them out to the remaining Separatist worlds spread out across the Outer Rim and had contacted the remaining Separatist leaders to pressure them into surrendering. The Separatists, now being lead by Dirtimi Bakvi, refused to surrender and the Empire sent their forces after them into the remaining Separatist worlds.
Following the formation of the Empire, Clone soldiers were stationed and spread thin across the Outer Rim, including major Separatist strongholds like Mygeeto and Felucia which became the first worlds to fall in the Imperial expansionist campaign. Mygeeto, the longest battle of the Clone Wars, finally came to an end after Imperial forces mopped up the remaining Separatist forces and the planet was put under immediate military occupation. Felucia had fallen soon after with the remaining Separatist forces, primarily organic fighters, having surrendered after they exhausted all of their available resources and were unable to continue their guerilla war, which would be replicated in the following years. Soon after, the Imperial forces pushed forward deeper and deeper into the Outer Rim until an Imperial fleet finally arrived at Raxus Secundus, the capital of the Confederacy and invaded the planet. The battle was costly, but the Imperials won and the last of the Separatist leadership surrendered, thus ending the Clone Wars in 18 BBY. Following the end of the war, Bakvi signed the Raxus Accords proprosed by Grand Vizar Mas Amedda which saw the Separatist Parliament surrender to the Empire and would merge with them in a new administrative government meant to oversee former Separatist worlds in the Outer and Mid Rims.
Territorial Gains[]
Despite the collapse and surrender of the remaining Separatist leaders, surviving remnants of the Confederacy had refused to surrender and instead fled into the Unknown Regions, deeper into the Outer Rim, or even Wild Space in a desperate attempt to escape the Empire. The remnants would eventually be known as the Separatist Holdouts and they would become thorns in the Empire's side on many occuasions in the future, but were dismissed in 18 BBY as not being a big enough threat. Instead, the Empire's efforts went to setting up new administrative governments in the newly conquered territories to maintain their new empire which quickly conquered most of the known galaxy.
The Outer Rim was soon divided into various regions called sectors each overseen by an administrative government lead by a Moff, an Imperial governor of the respective region, and were made up of former Republic government officials, local politicians, and even former Separatist officials such as parliament members and representatives who took part in the plan as part of the Raxus Accords. Despite the last remnants of the Separatist leadership surrendering to the Galactic Empire and took part in their regime as military governors of the newly annexed territories in the Outer Rim, many factions of the Confederacy Military refused to surrender and scattered deep into the Outer Rim, Wild Space, and even the Unknown Regions which lead to the creation of the Separatist Holdouts which would wage various guerilla wars and insurgencies against the empire in the following years.
Remnants of the Republic[]
In the months following the end of the Clone Wars, the Galactic Empire made quick gains in annexing the Republic Armed Forces and successfully reformed the military into the Armed Forces of the Galactic Empire. The vast majority of the Old Republic's military generals and officers enlsited in the Imperial Military, but many rebellions members did not and they instead escaped from Imperial space and went to worlds within the outskirts of the empire's territories and occupied them and maintained their control. They brought news back of what had happened and formed the Provisional Government of the Republic by 18 BBY in response to the Galactic Empire and its expansion across the galaxy as well as its authoritarian rule and occupation of the countless worlds under its control. At first, the Empire wasn't aware of the Provisional Republic's existance, but discovered them in 12 BBY after they began making major moves against the Empire in the Outer and Mid Rim territories by supplying rebel cells in the regions on various worlds.
Government and Politics[]
According to official public documents, the Galactic Empire was a constitutional monarchy where the Galactic Emperor is the head of state and serves as a primarily symbolic figurehead while his closest advisor, the Grand Vizar, is the head of government and exercises most of the powers of the central government as pointed out in the Imperial Charter. The legislative body was the Imperial Senate and it officially handeled the various politics and issues that were prevelant among the general public. The Galactic Emperor and Grand Vizar are assisted by the Imperial Ruling Council which is comprised of various ministers and government officials that handel the internal politics and structure of the Imperial Government. This however, was nothing more but a ruse as Palpatine himself has absolute power within the Empire and almost nothing restricts his authority beyond personal needs and desires.
The Imperial Ruling Council is comrpised of his closes advisors who all aid Palpatine and assist in his reign over the galaxy and help in preserving his regime. The Grand Vizar also aids Palpatine and heads the council while personally reporting to the Emperor on various issues regarding the state of the Galactic Empire. The Imperial Senate is nothing more but a rubber stamp and its members almost always side with Palpatine with dissident members being demonized as unpatriotic by the media, but are allowed to speak to give off the illusion of democracy to the general public. The Imperial Armed Forces is overseen by the Imperial Defense Committee and is comrpised of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and are all headed by the Chairman who also keeps the Supreme Commander in check, mainly Darth Vader. Imperial rule itself is authoritarian and signs of dissent and rebellion are crushed immediately to ensure the unity of the empire as a whole. To ensure the unity of the Imperial people, all domestic policies focus on the collectivisation of the entire population through education, media, propaganda, and other methods to make sure that any sens of individuality is nonexistant or at least hidden by the Imperial people.
Surprisingly enough, the Galactic Empire itself is more decentralized that the Galactic Republic was, especially during its last days. The Empire has millions of worlds under its control and are subjected to Imperial law and authority, but there exist millions of other worlds that remained free from the Empire's territories, but were still within its sphere of influence. Many worlds were protectorates and these planets were typically those that had vital resources, but were in limited supply and only offered strategic and/or economic advantages, hence they would be granted a form of independence, but would be protected by the Imperial Military and would enforce the planet's laws, many of which followed Imperial law in return for their protection. Vassal worlds also exist and these were mainly planets that weren't protectorates, but were controlled by either puppet governments or political operatives instead and finally, there are colonies which are largely dead worlds with rich natural resources that are colonized with Imperial citizens to maintain the Humancentric policies and ideology of the Empire.
Military and Defense[]
Main Article: Imperial Armed Forces
Our military is the best the galaxy has to offer. Our armies are endless, our fleets without limit. Anyone who dares stand in the way of the Empire will pay the consequences and will know why we are in control.
—Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin
The Imperial Armed Forces were the military wing of the Galactic Empire and was used to expand and maintain the Empire's influence all across the galaxy and to suppress any sign of dissent and rebellion against the Imperial regime. The Imperial Military was made up of five known branches; the Imperial Army, the Imperial Navy, the Imperial Starfighter Corps, the Imperial Marine Corps and the Stormtrooper Corps. It was responsible for carrying out military operations all across the galaxy in the name of the Empire and is tasked at home with defending all member worlds, colonial holdings, protectorates and vassal systems of the Galactic Empire from any domestic native-based opposition from simple dissent to full-fledged guerrilla warfare and terrorism from various partisans and rebel factions. The Imperial Military, much like their Republic predecessors, are the largest and most powerful military in all of galactic history and reinforce the wills of the Empire by any means necessary.
Due to the Galactic Empire being formed by fear and control, the Imperial Military and its personnel reflected the militaristic and authoritarian ideology of the Empire through their actions. Stormtroopers were put on patrol on many worlds and colonies throughout the Imperial territories and are vital in maintaining the Empire as they'll use lethal force to suppress any opposition to the Imperial regime making them a vital part of the entire Empire as a whole. The Imperial Military is overseen by the Defense Committee and is lead by two powerful figures, the Chairman of the Imperial Defense Committee and the Supreme Commander, who appear in many missions, primarily the most vital ones. Military officials often acted as governors for certain territories and provinces within the Empire and hold high-ranking positions within the Imperial Military as well. These officials were called Moffs and they are all selected by the Defense Committee and are promoted for their actions.
Among the ranks and branches of the Imperial Military, the Stormtrooper Corps and Marine Corps were unique in their role and positions within the Imperial military hierarchy and position. Both organizations are seperate independent branches that operate within their own command structure and are given their own seperate resources, personnel, and training facilities like the other branches of the Imperial Military. The Stormtrooper Corps operates alongside the Imperial Army and is comprised of elite soldiers of the Imperial Army and refered to as the best of the best of the Empire's military. The Imperial Marine Corps shares a similiar role in that it's an independent branch of the armed forces, but operates alongside the Imperial Navy and serves as the infantry division of the Imperial Navy. Despite carrying out similar operations and having the same weaponry and gear as Imperial soldiers and Stormtroopers do, the Imperial Marines were naval infantry and were sent on missions meant specifically for the benefits of the Navy.
Culture and Society []
As one mind, one spirit, one purpose, and one goal, we are the Empire
—Motto from an Imperial propaganda poster
The Galactic Empire was a very strict, authoritarian, and collectivized society due to the strict laws imposed by the Imperial regime. The people of the Empire were told that they are one single society and must reflect that in terms of behavior, politics, culture, and other aspects of society that must be the same to eliminate any sense of individuality. Individuals who break away from the collectivist mentality of the Imperial population were singled out by supporters of the Empire and Imperial officials themselves and were ridiculed by the general public at best and were called traitors, but are arrested, publicly humiliated, and even executed on multiple occasions at worst to keep the population in line and reinforce the one-entity mentality that dictates all aspects of Imperial culture and society. Citizens are often encouraged to purchase the same products and eat the same food to reinforce the one-entity mentality and all human citizens are given identical uniforms in school and at work as well to promote the ideology.
Humancentrism[]
Humancentrism was the core ideological and philosophical belief of all policies relating to social issues within the Empire. The Empire adhered to such a belief, the belief that humans are inherently superior to all nonhuman alien species due to their contributions to the galaxy, and showcases this through laws and social policies. Socially, humans are held to a high standard and are given special prvilages such as access to higher education, easy access to luxury and high-quality products, housing laws and organizations granting the highest living quarters to humans granting them de-facto access to all upper levels of Coruscant, and many more. Because of the humanocentric laws, alien citizens are easily isolated and are often heavily discriminated against. All lower levels of Coruscant were reserved for alien inhabitants and Imperial authorities make great strives to quietly but quickly force all alien citizens on the upper levels down towards the lower ones. In the Core Worlds, the upper classes are comprised of humans with only a few exceptions, mainly being the Nemoidians for their businesses and banking skills among a few others, and are granted complete power over many of the Core Worlds and other worlds in surrounding regions.
Non-humans were looked down upon by the Imperial authorities with Imperial police and military patrols often monitoring alien communities far more than human ones and such laws intensify outside of the Core Worlds. In the Outer Rim Territories where aliens made up a majority of the local populations, the Empire put humanoids in charge of the planets or Imperial military governors and has the planets placed under constant martial law and military occupation. Planets like Geonosis and others, whose native populations were entirely alien, were subjected to colonization by the Empire and will have the land developed into new colonial settlements for humans to live on and the natives are often forced from their homes are "pacified" in Imperial military operations. Due to the general hostility towards alien species and the clear favortism towards humans, the Imperial authorities use this to have alien populations and even entire species enslaved and forced into labor camps knowing that the human population won't mind or care since they've been taught to despise nonhuman beings.
Aliens and Humanoids[]
Aliens were generally looked down upon and are demonized by the Imperial regime on a daily basis. Despite worlds such as Coruscant being heavily populated with aliens, they were forced out of the upper levels and deeper and deeper into the planet far away from the eyes of those on the sprawling and luxurious surface and other upper levels. Most alien species were vilified and oppressed by the Galactic Empire, but some species are exempt from such laws such as Nemoidians and Muuns due to their financial ties, skills and influence over the Galactic Economy and are permitted into Imperial upper classes and inner circles regardless of their species, mainly near-human species. Twi'leks were also exempt to some degree as female Twi'leks were easily forced into jobs such as prostitution and other acts of pure satisfaction for Imperial soldiers and civilains and ere often seen acting as waitresses, dancers, and other tasks meant to appease people in sexual ways. Male Twi'leks on the other hand were treated poorly like other species and forced into mandatory labor.
Humanoid species were the most complex and controversial issue as due to their nature, some humanoid species such as Duros and Chiss were granted similar rights and privileges as humans are with some humanoids, such as Thrawn, achieving high-ranking positions within the Imperial Military and others, mainly Nemoidians, were able to make it into the ranks of the upper class and Imperial elite. Ironically enough, Palpatine held no prejiduce towards alien species and races and simply lacked any adherence or belief in humanocentrism, but promoted the ideology as a means of maintaining his power and had been doing it since the days of the Galactic Republic, where the belief itself was prevelant despite the Republic's tolerant policy towards nonhuman species. Unsurprisingly, the anti-alien laws lead many alien citizens into joining rebel cells and conducted acts of terrorism against the Galactic Empire in response to their oppression of their respective kinds, though humanoids aren't seen doing such acts in comparison to alien species with little to no simularities with humans.
Arts and Technology[]
Unlike the previous years of the former Galactic Republic, the Galactic Empire was far more restrictive and controlling over the arts and cinema within its territories. Knowing that art and other forms of entertainment and media can be used to spread anti-imperial messages, the Empire had all forms of media under its control. News broadcasts were controlled by the Imperial regime and reporters were both approved and removed based on the wills and decisions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and their Media and Broadcast Division. Cinema was also heavily regulated by the Empire as many films were pure Imperial propaganda disguised as movies and were often seen portraying the Jedi as murderous monsters and religious zealots. This was done to reinforce the Anti-Jedi mentality and policy that the Empire had and it was used to discourage all citizens from having any belief in the force. Technology was highly advanced and Imperial authorities promoted the idea of citizens contributing to technological advancements similar to that of the Old Republic.
Military technology was highly favored by the Empire and young recruits and scientists with knowledge within certain fields were often selected to get involved in the development of military technology. Such prodigies ere often sought by and discovered by undercover operatives of the Ministry of Defense via agents from the Imperial Security Bureau. New starfighters, tanks, blasters, and other forms of military technology were what the Empire wanted and needed and promised heavy rewards of wealth, fame, and a high position within Imperial society to all who participated and contributed in military technological development. Due to a heavy emphasis on the military, technology for civilian usage became a secondary thought and even then it was usually reserved for the upper class and human citizens in general. Poor citizens and aliens were often given leftover scraps of technology and were bared from having advanced technology out of fear of it being used to spark uprisings and rebellion or spread dissent against the regime.
Religion and Spirituality[]
According to the Imperial Charter, all citizens of the Galactic Empire were granted freedom of religion and were garunteed the right to practice or not practice any religion they wanted. In practice, the results varied as millions of religions existed within the Empire's vast territory and sphere of influence and as such, the Imperial regime often times did enforce such laws. Cooperative worlds in the Mid Rim and Outer Rim were granted religious freedom and Imperial citizens within the Core Worlds or "ideal" systems were also granted complete religious freedom without state interference. Despite this however, Anti-Jediism was a core value in Imperial religious policy and all citizens were forbidden to posses any Jedi text, artifact, or icon. Religious activity was monitored by the watchful eyes of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and their Religious Policy Division. Religious temples were constructed when they were approved by the ministry and pilgrimages to religious cities and sites by certain religious groups was also approved and supported by the Culture Ministry.
All non-force based religions were acceptable in the eyes of the Empire, but all citizens were forbidden from having a belief in the force at all and public display of force-based faiths was outlawed and anyone caught doing so was punished by Imperial authorities. All historic documents relating to the Jedi Order had been seized by the state and public knowledge of the Jedi was based around an anti-Jedi perspective making sure that all future generations looked at the Jedi in a negative light. Despite antagonism towards the force, the Empire was lead by the Sith and the Sith Order itself was functionally the de-facto state religion of the Empire. Knowledge of such realities was reserved to a select few, even within the upper echelons of the Imperial government and military. When such knowledge was revealed to certain members of the Imperial Defense Committee, they went rogue and formed the Imperial Liberation Committee in response and sought to overthrow Palpatine believing that the Empire had been compromised.