Wilhuff Tarkin was a Human male governor and one of the first Grand Moffs of the Galactic Empire.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Wilhuff Tarkin was born on Eriadu thirty-two years before the Invasion of Naboo to the wealthy Tarkin family. During his childhood, he was taught survival and hunting skills by his great-uncle Jova. He and his brother Gideon later enlisted in the Outland Regions Security Force, an impromptu navy that had been assembled by Tarkin's older cousin Ranulph to defend the Greater Seswenna region. When Tarkin was eighteen, he successfully predicted the movements of the pirate Q'anah, leading to her arrest and execution.[1]
While training to enlist in the Judicial Forces, Tarkin met Senator Palpatine of Naboo and established a cordial relationship with the senator.[1] In 39 BBY, he became friends with the accomplished engineer Raith Sienar.[2]
Governor of Eriadu[]
Acting on Palpatine's suggestion, Tarkin eventually left military service to pursue a political career, eventually coming to serve as governor of Eriadu by 33 BBY.[1] In that year, a trade summit was held on Eriadu in which the radical group Nebula Front attempted to assassinate Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum. While the attempt on the Chancellor's life failed, they did succeed in eliminating the leadership of the Trade Federation, allowing Viceroy Nute Gunray to take full control. The events at the summit resulted in the Senate passing legislation to tax the Free Trade Routes, prompting the Trade Federation to form a blockade around Naboo.[3]
Following the Invasion of Naboo, Chancellor Valorum had been voted out of office and replaced by Senator Palpatine himself.[4] Becoming a close ally of Palpatine, Tarkin's commission with the Republic was reactivated and he served as a spy for the new Chancellor, monitoring the Jedi Order and their activities.[2]
In 29 BBY, Tarkin was sent on a mission to find the mysterious planet Zonama Sekot and obtain either one of its starships or, if possible, control of the planet itself. Along with Raith Sienar, Tarkin secretly followed the Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, who had been sent on their own mission to Zonama Sekot, and located the mysterious planet. When Sienar turned against him, Tarkin sent a Republic task force to Zonama Sekot to take control of the planet. Ultimately, his efforts were foiled when Zonama Sekot, to his shock, jumped to hyperspace. Upon returning to Coruscant, Tarkin presented Chancellor Palpatine with Sienar's designs for a theoretical battlestation—claiming sole credit for the designs—and Palpatine forgave him for his failure to secure Zonama Sekot.[2]
The Clone Wars[]
The crisis that had started at Naboo eventually spiraled into the Separatist Crisis as systems began to secede from the Republic and form the Confederacy of Independent Systems. During this time, Count Dooku approached Governor Tarkin and tried to goad him into siding with the Confederacy, only for Tarkin to reaffirm his loyalty to Chancellor Palpatine and the Republic.[1]
By 22 BBY, the Clone Wars had broken out between the Republic and the Separatists. At some point during the conflict, Tarkin discovered Omwat, homeworld of the Omwati, and chose to keep its existence a secret in the hopes of exploiting the species' intellect in the future.[5] He later learned that Sienar's plans for a battlestation had since been repurposed for a weapon classified as the Death Star. While Tarkin was frustrated to learn that he had been left out of the initial development process,[6] he eagerly took up a supervising role as the station began construction over Geonosis.[7]
Towards the end of the Clone Wars, Chancellor Palpatine implemented the Sector Governance Decree and resurrected the ancient title of Moff, which was granted to Tarkin. Placed in command of the 18th Sector Army, Tarkin oversaw the Greater Seswenna region and deployed forces to besieged Separatist worlds such as Sluis Van and Xagobah.[8] During the Battle of Xagobah, Tarkin was summoned to Coruscant to meet with the captured bounty hunter Boba Fett, who claimed to have vital information. While Tarkin met with members of the Senate prior to meeting with Fett, the young bounty hunter broke free and attempted to kill Jedi Master Mace Windu. His attempt failed and the incident was covered up by Palpatine, who paid Fett to keep silent.[9]
Imperial service[]
In 19 BBY, the Clone Wars came to a close and the Republic was reformed into the Galactic Empire, with Palpatine declaring himself Emperor.[10] His rank as Moff granted him special purview over the Death Star's construction and he was entrusted with certain aspects of its future development.[11]
Behind the scenes[]
The page for the Destiny-continuity version of Wilhuff Tarkin was created largely to merge Tarkin's backstory in James Luceno's 2014 novel Tarkin with his Legends background.
Appearances[]
- Cloak of Deception
- Rogue Planet
- Boba Fett: Pursuit
- Episode III Revenge of the Sith
- Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
- Tarkin
- Death Star
- Episode IV A New Hope (First appearance)
- The New Republic (Mentioned only)