View source for Galactic Empire (Star Wars)

{{short description|Fictional state in the Star Wars franchise}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Galactic Empire (''Star Wars'')}}
{{Infobox fictional organisation
| name         = Galactic Empire
| image        = [[File:Emblem of the First Galactic Empire.svg|200px]] [[File:Flag of the First Galactic Empire.svg|200px]]
| image_size   = 
| alt          = Emblem of the Galactic Empire
| caption      = Emblem and Flag of the Galactic Empire
| first        = 
| last         = 
| universe     = ''[[Universe of Star Wars|Star Wars]]''
| type = {{plainlist|
* 19–0 BBY: Unitary [[authoritarian]] state [[dictatorship]]
* From 0 ABY: [[Totalitarian]] [[military junta]] under an absolute [[dictatorship]]
}}<ref>{{cite book |last=Brooker |first=Will |date=2009 |title=Star Wars |location=London |publisher=British Film Institute |pages=54–56 |isbn=9781844571845 |quote=Palpatine’s rise to power reflects Adolf Hitler’s transformation from chancellor to Führer. The Empire, in its bureaucratic efficiency, fascist imagery, and centralized authority, represents the ultimate fascist state.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Kapell |first1=Matthew Wilhelm |last2=Lawrence |first2=John Shelton |date=2006 |title=Finding the Force of the Star Wars Franchise: Fans, Merchandise, and Critics |location=New York |publisher=Peter Lang Publishing |pages=33–41 |isbn=9780820463335 |quote=The Galactic Empire exhibits the core features of totalitarian regimes: hierarchical power, propaganda, suppression of dissent, and the deification of its leader.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Luceno |first=James |date=2014 |title=Tarkin |location=New York |publisher=Del Rey |pages=112–120 |isbn=9780345511522 |quote=Palpatine believed order could only be imposed by centralized authority... The Empire must present a face of power, not compromise. Fear will keep the systems in line.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Bray |first1=Adam |last2=Hidalgo |first2=Pablo |last3=Reynolds |first3=Tricia |date=2017 |title=Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia |location=New York |publisher=DK Publishing |pages=78–81 |isbn=9781465459626 |quote=The Galactic Empire operated as an authoritarian regime, using military force, fear, and propaganda to ensure control over the galaxy.}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |people=George Lucas |date=2004 |title=Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416716/ |publisher=20th Century Fox Home Entertainment |type=Documentary |location=USA |access-date=2025-05-29 |quote=It’s a dictatorship. It works on fear. People are afraid to speak out against it... The Empire is like Nazi Germany. Everything is very efficient and very controlled.}}</ref><br>
(''[[de facto]]'' 19 BBY to 0 BBY // ''[[de jure]]'' 0 BBY to 4 ABY) 
| founded                  = 19 [[Yavin|BBY]] from the [[Galactic Republic]]
| defunct                  = {{plainlist|
*4 ABY: fractured into the Imperial remnants during the [[Battle of Endor]]
*5 ABY: dissolved after the [[Battle of Jakku]], succeeded by the [[Galactic Republic#New Republic|New Republic]]
*By 21 ABY: partly reorganized (29 ABY: publicly formed) into the [[First Order (Star Wars)|First Order]]}}
| location                 = [[List of Star Wars planets and moons|Galaxy]]
| leader                   = 
Galactic Emperor:
* [[Palpatine|Emperor Palpatine]] aka Darth Sidious (19 BBY–4 ABY){{efn|The following, (disputed) commissionary heads of the Galactic Empire, Mas Amedda (4 ABY–5 ABY), Rae Sloane (5 ABY) and Gallius Rax (5 ABY), were not called Emperors and did not hold full powers. Max Amedda was officially the Empire's Leader in name, but lacked any power}}
Leader of the Contingency:{{efn|Which later becomes the [[First Order (Star Wars)|First Order]].}}
* [[Mas Amedda]] (4–5 ABY) (Emperor ''de jure'') 
* [[Gallius Rax]] (5 ABY) (''Counselor to the Empire'') 
* [[Rae Sloane]] (5 ABY)
Legislative:
* Imperial Senate (19–0 BBY)
Judicial:
* Imperial Supreme Tribunal (19–4 ABY)
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               = {{plainlist|
*[[Palpatine|Sheev Palpatine]] 
*[[Darth Vader]]
*[[Mas Amedda]]
*[[Grand Moff Tarkin]]
*[[Orson Krennic]]
*[[Grand Admiral Thrawn]]
*[[Grand Inquisitor (Star Wars)|The Grand Inquisitor]]
*[[Moff Gideon]]
}}
| affiliations             = {{plainlist|
*[[Sith|Sith Order]]
**Sith Empire (precursor)
*[[Stormtrooper (Star Wars)|Stormtroopers]]
}}
| enemies                  = {{plainlist|
*[[Jedi|Jedi Order]]
*[[Rebel Alliance]]
*[[List of Star Wars species (U–Z)#Yuuzhan Vong / Grysk|Grysk]]
}}
| other_label1             = Currency
| other1                   = Galactic Standard Credit (Imperial Dataries)
| other_label2             = Capital
| other2                   = [[Coruscant]] (Senate District, Imperial Center)
| other_label3             = Official language
| other3                   = [[Basic (Star Wars)|Imperial Basic]]
}}

The '''Galactic Empire''', also known simply as '''the Empire''', is a fictional [[autocracy]] featured in the ''[[Star Wars]]'' franchise. Introduced in the 1977 film ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]],'' it is the main antagonistic faction of the [[Star Wars original trilogy|original trilogy]], which also includes ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'' (1980) and ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'' (1983). An oppressive [[dictatorship]] with a complicated [[bureaucracy]], the Galactic Empire seeks the rule and [[social control]] of every planet and [[civilization]] within the [[Universe of Star Wars|galaxy]], based on [[anthropocentrism]], [[nationalisation]], [[state terrorism]], [[power projection]], and threat of lethal force.<ref name="Sansweet224">{{cite book |title=Star Wars Encyclopedia |date=1998 |publisher=[[Del Rey Books]] |isbn=0-345-40227-8 |editor-last=Sansweet |editor-first=Steve |editor-link=Steve Sansweet |location=New York City |page=224 |chapter=Palpatine, Emperor}}</ref>

The Galactic Empire's rise was not a violent takeover by force, but rather a consolidating unprecedented and [[Checks and balances|unchecked power]] in the [[Chancellor]] via a calculated ''[[Gleichschaltung]]''-like dismantling of the galaxy's most powerful institutions by undermining the public's faith in these institutions, rewriting constitutional foundations, controlling the Jedi Council, weakening the Galactic Senate, court packing the Supreme Court and the appointment of [[Cronyism|loyal Governors]]. At its peak, the Galactic Empire sprawls over much of the known ''Star Wars'' galaxy, which consists of millions of habitable star systems and billions more fringe [[colonies]], [[shipyard]]s, [[fortress]] worlds, and outer territories. The Empire's origins are depicted in the prequel film ''[[Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith|Revenge of the Sith]]'' (2005), where it replaces the [[Galactic Republic]] at the end of the [[Clone Wars]] orchestrated by the Republic's Supreme Chancellor, [[Palpatine]]. Palpatine is also secretly the [[Sith|Sith Lord]] [[Darth Sidious]], who masterminds the war to destroy the [[Jedi]] and restore the Sith to power.

Palpatine falsely accuses the Jedi of causing the [[secessionism|secessionist]] [[Clone Wars]] to weaken the Republic and gain political power. He manipulates the [[Galactic Senate]] into using [[clone trooper]]s created 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 ''ad infinitum''. 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, commander-in-chief [[Darth Vader]] maintains a more public presence and leads the Imperial forces, acting as a [[national personification]] of the Galactic Empire's power. By the time of ''Episode IV – A New Hope'', the faction has transformed into a fully [[autocratic]] regime, though it is opposed by the insurgent [[Rebel Alliance|Alliance to Restore the Republic]]. The completion of the [[Death Star]], a planet-destroying battle station, allows Emperor Palpatine to instigate a [[self-coup]], dissolving the Imperial Senate and transferring power to ''[[Praetor]]''-officers called Imperial Moffs, such as [[Grand Moff Tarkin]].

The Galactic Empire collapses after the events of ''Return of the Jedi.'' Its remnants form the [[First Order (Star Wars)|First Order]] in [[Star Wars sequel trilogy|the sequel trilogy]], set 30 years later.
{{TOC limit|3}}

==Appearances in chronological order==
*''[[Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith]]'' (2005)
*''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)|Star Wars: The Clone Wars]]'' (2008–2020) (Briefly)
*''[[Star Wars: The Bad Batch]]'' (2021–2024)
*''[[Star Wars Tales (TV anthology)|Tales of the Empire]]'' (2024)
*''[[Solo: A Star Wars Story]]'' (2018)
*''[[Obi-Wan Kenobi (miniseries)|Obi-Wan Kenobi]]'' (2022)
*''[[Andor (TV series)|Andor]]'' (2022–2025)
*''[[Star Wars Rebels]]'' (2014–2018)
*''[[Rogue One|''Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'']]'' (2016)
*''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope]]'' (1977) (First appearance) 
*''[[The Empire Strikes Back|Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back]]'' (1980)
*''[[Return of the Jedi|Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi]]'' (1983)
*''[[The Mandalorian]]'' (2019–2023) (Remnants)
*''[[Star Wars: Ahsoka|Ahsoka]]'' (2023) (Mentioned only)
*''[[Star Wars Resistance]]'' (2018–2020) (Mentioned only)
*''[[Star Wars: The Force Awakens|Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens]]'' (2015) (Mentioned only)
*''[[Star Wars: The Last Jedi|Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi]]'' (2017) (Mentioned only)
*''[[Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker|Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker]]'' (2019) (Mentioned only)

==Themes==
{{see also|Star Wars sources and analogues}}

''Star Wars'' creator [[George Lucas]] sought to make the First Galactic Empire aesthetically and thematically similar to [[Nazi Germany]] and to appear to be [[Fascism|fascist]].<ref name="MaryHenderson1997-184">{{cite book|first=Mary S.|last=Henderson|title=Star Wars: The Magic of Myth|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5wROWR2Wbv8C&pg=PA184|year=1997|publisher=[[Bantam Books]]|location=New York City|isbn=978-0-553-37810-8|page=184|access-date=2017-10-08|archive-date=2024-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519011606/https://books.google.com/books?id=5wROWR2Wbv8C&pg=PA184#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Mary Henderson 1997. Pp. 146">Henderson (1997), p. 146</ref> The Empire, like the Nazis, desires the creation of [[totalitarian]] order<ref name="Mary Henderson 1997. Pp. 153">Henderson (1997), p. 153</ref> and utilizes [[excessive force]] and violence to achieve their ends.<ref name="Mary Henderson 1997. Pp. 153"/> The title of the Empire's main soldiers, the [[Stormtrooper (Star Wars)|stormtroopers]], is somewhat similar to the name given to [[Adolf Hitler]]'s {{lang|de|[[Sturmabteilung]]}} (SA, "storm department") [[paramilitary]] bodyguards.<ref name="Mary Henderson 1997. Pp. 146"/>

The visual appearance of [[Darth Vader]] in his all-black uniform combined with his fanatical obedience to Palpatine has allusion to the black-uniformed Nazi {{lang|de|[[Schutzstaffel]]}} (SS).<ref name="Mary Henderson 1997. Pp. 146"/> According to a Lucasfilm-authorized source, Darth Vader's relationship with Palpatine is akin to SS leader [[Heinrich Himmler]]'s relationship with Hitler.<ref name="Star Wars and History"/> The uniforms of Imperial military officers also bear resemblance to uniforms used in Nazi Germany, as well as 19th century Polish ''[[Uhlan|ulans]]'' (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.<ref name="MaryHenderson1997-184"/>

In addition to Nazi Germany, there was also at least one portion of the Galactic Empire that was based on the [[Soviet Union]], which is the various military personnel and [[TIE Fighter]]s that are flying in formation as Palpatine arrives on the second Death Star in ''[[Return of the Jedi]]''. According to Lucas, the ceremony for the Emperor's arrival was inspired by [[October Revolution Day]] military parades in the Soviet Union.<ref>George Lucas, commentary, ''Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi'', Special Edition (DVD, 20th Century Fox, 2004), disc 1.</ref>

Lucas has also indicated that the Galactic Empire's struggle against a smaller [[Guerrilla warfare|guerrilla force]] was inspired by the United States' involvement in the [[Vietnam War]] and his surprise at how relatively few people spoke up against the war.<ref name="How Star Wars Conquered the Universe 2015. Pp. 87-88">{{cite book|first=Chris|last=Taylor|title=How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise|publisher=[[Basic Books]]|location=New York City|date=2015|pages=87–88|quote=Lucas was fascinated by the notion of how a tiny nation could overcome the largest military power on Earth, and this was baked into ''The Star Wars'' right from its earliest notes in 1973}}</ref><ref name="The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film">{{cite book|first=Michael|last=Ondaatje|author-link=Michael Ondaatje|title=The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film|publisher=[[Knopf Doubleday]]|location=New York City|date=2004|page=70|isbn=978-0375709821|quote=The message boiled down to the ability of a small group of people to defeat a gigantic power simply by the force of their convictions. [...] The rebel group were the North Vietnamese, and the Empire was the United States. And if you have 'the force,' no matter how small you are, you can defeat the overwhelmingly big power.}}</ref>

Palpatine's rise to power has been related to [[political strongman|political strongmen]] such as [[Augustus Caesar]], [[Napoleon Bonaparte]], and [[Adolf Hitler]].<ref name="Star Wars and History">{{cite book|editor1-last=Reagin| editor1-first=Nancy R.|editor2-last=Liedl|editor2-first=Janice|title=[[Star Wars and History]]|year=2012|publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]]|location=Baltimore, Maryland}}{{page needed|date=January 2019}}</ref> 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 the [[Roman Republic]] into the [[Roman Empire]], Augustus, like Palpatine, relied on his strong control over military force.<ref name="Star Wars and History"/>

Many Imperial officers speak with the [[Received Pronunciation]] accent (known [[Universe of Star Wars|in-universe]] as [[Coruscant]]i), and [[Irvin Kershner]] "deliberately cast British actors as the high-rank imperials for ''The Empire Strikes Back'' to mirror the composition of the [[American Revolution|American revolution]], with the rebels mostly Americans".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Holmes |first=Jonathan |title=Why are there so many posh British accents in Star Wars? |url=https://www.wired.com/story/solo-a-star-wars-story-posh-british-accents-sci-fi/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028 |archive-date=2024-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320122119/https://www.wired.com/story/solo-a-star-wars-story-posh-british-accents-sci-fi/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-15 |title='Star Wars': Why do The Empire speak in posh British accents? |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/star-wars-why-the-empire-speak-posh-british-accents/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=faroutmagazine.co.uk |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320122119/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/star-wars-why-the-empire-speak-posh-british-accents/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Depiction==
[[File:August Labicana Massimo Inv56230.jpg|thumb|upright|Augustus in the robes and cloak of his position as ''[[Pontifex 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 the [[Battle of Yavin]] in [[Star Wars (film)|''Episode IV: A New Hope'']] in which the first Death Star is destroyed. BBY is Before the [[Battle of Yavin]]; ABY is After the Battle of Yavin.<ref>{{Cite web |title=26 years ago, Star Wars fans invented their own calendar system — 'Andor' finally makes it canon |url=https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/5-bby-andor-meaning-star-wars-timeline |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Inverse |date=21 September 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

====The Twilight of the High Republic====
The Galactic Empire is born out of the [[Declinism|declining]] [[Galactic Republic|High 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 of [[decadence]] are planted and nurtured by the Sith over a period of centuries, that bore fruit during the [[Clone Wars]], the epic war between the Republic and the separatist Confederacy of Independent Systems (CIS) depicted in ''[[Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones|Episode II: Attack of the Clones]]'' and ''[[Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith|Episode III: Revenge of the Sith]]''. The [[Jedi|Jedi Council]], sitting atop Coruscant in their ivory tower, pride themselves in having [[genocide|permanently eradicated]] the Sith-menace, and are romanticized as guardians that ushered an unprecedented 1000-year era of peace and justice, yet beneath their solemn chants and stoic meditation lies arrogance masked as wisdom, complacency mistaken for serenity. 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, Palpatine was seen by many as a savior and is easily able to take near-complete control of the Republic.

In ''[[Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace|Episode I: The Phantom Menace]]'', amid a trade dispute and invasion of his homeworld of [[Naboo]],<ref name="A Long Time Ago">{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/movies/star-wars-timeline/?slide=2448029#2448029|title='A long time ago': A Star Wars timeline|last1=Smith|first1=Alyssa|last2=Romano|first2=Nick|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=December 6, 2019|access-date=February 10, 2020|archive-date=August 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801060613/https://ew.com/movies/star-wars-timeline/?slide=2448029#2448029|url-status=live}}</ref> Senator Palpatine convinces Queen [[Padmé Amidala]] to call for a [[vote of no confidence]] in Supreme Chancellor of the Republic [[Finis Valorum]]. Palpatine is elected Supreme Chancellor in Valorum's place.<ref name="A Long Time Ago"/> For the Jedi, clairvoyant beings who sat calmly as corruption festered in the heart of the Republic, Chancellor Palpatine, a ''Sith Lord'', the greatest galactic threat the Jedi swore to oppose, rose right under their noses.

====The Clone Wars====
{{main|Clone Wars}}
As the Separatists Crisis fighting intensifies in ''Episode II'', the [[Galactic Senate]], the [[legislature]] of the Republic, grants Palpatine [[State of emergency|emergency powers]] to deal with the crisis.<ref name="A Long Time Ago"/> Palpatine promises safety at the cost of individual freedoms, all while tightening his own control over every facet of society; he promises to relinquish his powers once peace and order is restored. His first executive order creates a massive army of [[clone trooper]]s. His second executive order conscripts the Jedi as commissioned officers of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) armed forces; by seizing influence over the Jedi Council, Palpatine indirectly takes command of the GAR. His third executive order nationalizes the military-industrial and financial sectors to finance the war effort. He intentionally prolongs and exploits the Clone Wars to amass unprecedented political power, using his apprentice [[Count Dooku|Darth 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 of ''Episode III'', he is effectively a [[dictator]] who overstayed his term limits; he exploits the people's fears, systematically rewrites constitutional laws and crushes the institutions that threaten his goals. He orchestrates his own kidnapping by the Separatists by leaking classified information, and thereby bringing the war to the capital, [[Coruscant]], to further spread terror. The [[Jedi]] are overstretched across the galaxy trying the end the war; they distrust Palpatine's motives, fearing he has come under the influence of a [[Dark Lord of the Sith]] named Darth Sidious. Their concerns are shared by more than 2,000 loyalist, pro-democracy senators 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 of [[Rebel Alliance|the Rebellion]]. The film reveals that Palpatine and Sidious are one and the same, and Palpatine engineered the conflicts as a [[false flag]].

====The Purge====
{{main|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 Council; confirming their worst-case scenario and triggering a [[constitutional crisis]]. Knowing the extent of his crimes and influence, Jedi Council are forced to circumvent bureaucratic procedure to arrest him on the two charges of "instigating a war of aggression" and "high treason" (and if necessary, execute him as they would any Sith, should he resist) without consulting the Senate and without following the [[rule of law]].

However, they fell for Palpatine's trap; when Jedi Master [[Mace Windu]] confronts Palpatine, Anakin comes to Palpatine's aid, and helps him kill Windu. Desperate to save Padmé, Anakin pledges himself to the [[dark side of the Force]] and becomes Palpatine's third apprentice, [[Darth Vader]]. Palpatine declares the Jedi to be traitors, providing "irrefutable evidence" that they were the instigating masterminds behind the Clone Wars, and all but [[Great Jedi Purge|exterminates the Jedi Order]] in a galaxy-wide slaughter, while sending Vader to kill everyone in the [[Jedi Temple]] and assassinate the Separatist leaders. Vader then immediately ends the Clone War by transmitting deactivation codes to all Separatist droids in galaxy.<ref name="A Long Time Ago"/>

Two remaining Jedi, [[Obi-Wan Kenobi]] and [[Yoda]], mount a counterattack. Obi-Wan defeats Vader and leaves him for dead, but Yoda's duel with Palpatine ends in a stalemate; both Jedi flee 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 – [[Luke Skywalker|Luke]] and [[Princess Leia|Leia]] – to hide them from the Sith. Luke goes to Vader's stepfamily on [[Tatooine]], while Leia is adopted by Senator [[Bail Organa]] of [[Alderaan]].

====The New Order====
Having "won" the war, with GAR liberators occupying every known star system, Palpatine orders them to annex planets, suppress the sectors and subjugate the people. The average citizen is oblivious to the effects of the Empire's policies; any repression or brutal behavior on the Empire's part is localized, covered up with propaganda, or just isolated in the outer rim. Secured in his power and position, with no one left to stop him, Palpatine reorganizes the Republic into the Galactic Empire, with himself as Emperor for life.<ref name="A Long Time Ago"/> 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, and as an echo chamber for his rhetoric. Senators with no dedication to public service are bribed or coerced into rubberstamping Palpatine's policy; the remaining pro-democracy senators are spied upon, arrested, extorted, assassinated, or otherwise made to resign and/or disappear. Palpatine appoints governors to oversee all star systems in the Republic; these governors, later known as Imperial Moffs, report directly to Palpatine and are appointed without a vote or approval from any senators. This effectively sidelines the Senate, leaving it unable to influence how the galaxy is governed.

The Old Republic symbolisms are discarded in favor of the Imperial crest, an emblem that comes from the Galactic Roundel symbol of the ancient Bendu monks (predecessors of the Jedi). Originally a symbol of unity and non-confrontation, the wheel is perverted by Palpatine by removing two spokes, echoing Hitler's appropriation of the [[swastika]] from [[Hinduism]] and [[Buddhism]].

===Government===

====Legislature====
The Senate, known as the Imperial Senate, nominally continues to exist following Palpatine's establishment of the Empire, though it is virtually powerless. Palpatine dissolves the Senate (off-camera) in ''A New Hope'' after discovering that several members helped found the [[Rebel Alliance]], a [[guerrilla]] army dedicated to overthrowing the Empire and restoring the Republic.<ref name="A Long Time Ago"/>

====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 of ''Revenge of the Sith'' and ''A New Hope'', Palpatine rules the galaxy from the confines of his heavily guarded Imperial Palace on [[Coruscant]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/10/19/star-wars-the-state-of-the-empire-and-the-jedi-in-rogue-one|title=Star Wars: The State of the Empire and the Jedi in Rogue One|last=Schedeen|first=Jesse|work=[[IGN]]|date=December 14, 2016|access-date=February 10, 2020|archive-date=May 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529152735/https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/10/19/star-wars-the-state-of-the-empire-and-the-jedi-in-rogue-one|url-status=live}}</ref> Coruscant was introduced in [[Timothy Zahn]]'s then-[[Star Wars canon|canon]] novel ''[[Heir to the Empire]]''.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-timothy-zahn-star-wars-ent-0523-20170522-column.html|title=Novelist Timothy Zahn is the man who saved 'Star Wars,' according to fans|last=Borrelli|first=Christopher|work=[[CNN]]|date=May 24, 2017|access-date=February 10, 2020|archive-date=June 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623192154/https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-timothy-zahn-star-wars-ent-0523-20170522-column.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It made its film debut in the special edition of ''Return of the Jedi''.  Inspiration for the world-spanning city came from 1940s science fiction works, especially [[Isaac Asimov]]'s ''[[Trantor]]''. Visually, it resembles the [[Art Deco]] skyscrapers of [[Manhattan]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/style/article/star-wars-architecture-one-square-meter/index.html|title=Building an empire: Exploring the architecture of 'Star Wars'|last=Page|first=Thomas|work=[[CNN]]|date=December 12, 2017|access-date=February 10, 2020|archive-date=December 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229133059/http://www.cnn.com/style/article/star-wars-architecture-one-square-meter/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

''[[Star Wars Battlefront II (2017 video game)|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 is [[Darth 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 "''[[Praetor]]ian'' administrators" ([[planetary system|planetary]] governors) that form the Council of Moffs. The cabinet is composed of 20 Moffs ([[star cluster|sector]] governors) 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.{{efn|A standard Sector Group was composed of 2,400 military assets, of which 24 were ''Imperial''-class star destroyers; an additional 1,600 were escort and auxiliary warships}} 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". Governor [[Grand Moff Tarkin|Wilhuff Tarkin]] is the most prominent Grand Moff, having suggested the creation of the role{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}<!-- this fact appears to be from the canon novel "Star Wars: Tarkin" but needs confirmation --> and thus holds the distinction of being the first.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4596107/rogue-one-returning-star-wars-characters/|title=A Guide to the Returning Star Wars Characters in Rogue One|last=McCluskey|first=Megan|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=December 12, 2016|access-date=February 10, 2020|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924110719/https://time.com/4596107/rogue-one-returning-star-wars-characters/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Judiciary====
In the series ''Andor'', the Galactic Empire is depicted as foregoing ''[[habeas corpus]]'', ''[[right to counsel]]'', ''[[right to a fair trial]]'' and other fundamental rights. It is authoritarian, arbitrary and cruel in its ''[[presumption of guilt]]'' rule over ordinary people, particularly when it comes to certain agencies such as the Imperial Security Bureau (ISB), which acts as a [[secret police]] force. In the latter part of the series, the Imperial Supreme Tribunal autocracy takes to retroactively extending the sentences of prisoners, moving prisoners around to different facilities after they are due to be released, [[involuntary euthanasia|euthanizing]] labor 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 in [[torture]] of subjects of interest, uses [[agent provocateurs]] to instigate rebellion as justification for genocide, and carries out arbitrary [[Contents hideExtrajudicial killing|extrajudicial executions]] for political purposes. ISB agents are assigned to spy on political dissidents in the Imperial Senate, such as Senator [[Mon Mothma]].

=====Imperial Supreme Tribunal=====
While a body with "Supreme Court" in the name existed, the Imperial Supreme Tribunal served as a rubber stamp for Imperial authority rather than an independent judiciary, its function was drastically altered from its Republic predecessor. The entire Imperial court system was designed to prioritize control and the extraction of labor over traditional justice. Cases, especially politically sensitive ones, often had [[extrajudicial punishment]] and predetermined outcomes in favor of the Empire.  The Imperial Supreme Court was effectively overseen by the ''Select Committee of the Commission for the Preservation of the New Order'' (COMPNOR), an organization dedicated to enforcing the Emperor's will and human-centric policies. The Imperial criminal justice system was headed by the ''Procurator of Justice'', who was in charge of the ''Imperial Department of Justice'' and responsible for prosecuting political prisoners and administering sentences.

=====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 the [[political commissar]], [[Gestapo]], the [[Schutzstaffel]] and the [[KGB]]. The ISB was not a national agency, but a part of '''COMPNOR''' (''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 Palpatine wanted them to do; ISB agents frequently bypassed the bureaucracy and patronage in
the Imperial government, and were empowered to commandeer whatever resources an Admiral or General had if deemed necessary for their mission.

Consisting of several supervisors overseeing multiple sectors, they are charged with matters of dissidents, counter-terrorism, criminal investigation, [[Internal affairs (law enforcement)|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, 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 out '''Operation Cinder'''.{{Efn|As seen in ''[[Star Wars Battlefront II (2017 video game)]]'', and introduced in the 2015 Marvel Comics miniseries ''[[Star Wars: Shattered Empire|Shattered Empire]]''.<ref name="avclub">{{cite web
 | date = 2010-10-04
 | author = Donna Bowman
 | title = How I Met Your Mother "Unfinished"
 | url = https://www.avclub.com/how-i-met-your-mother-unfinished-1798166123
 | work = [[The A.V. Club]]
 | publisher = [[The Onion]]
 | access-date = 2022-11-17
 | archive-date = 2013-01-29
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130129075926/http://www.avclub.com/articles/unfinished,45898/
 | url-status = live
 }}</ref>|name="Cinder"|group=}} When that operation fails and the empire collapses, some former ISB officers, such as [[Moff Gideon]], become warlords and part of the Imperial remnants.<ref name="Saavedra1227">{{cite news |last=Saavedra |first=John |title=Star Wars: The Mandalorian - Who Is Moff Gideon? |work=[[Den of Geek]] |date=December 27, 2019 |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/star-wars/285023/the-mandalorian-moff-gideon |access-date=January 26, 2020 |archive-date=January 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101234116/https://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/star-wars/285023/the-mandalorian-moff-gideon |url-status=live }}</ref>

=====Inquisitorius=====
{{main|Sith}}
Outside the formal [[chain of command]], the Galactic Empire's reins are ''[[de facto]]'' held 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; but are not "true Sith". Its Force-attuned operatives, the Inquisitors, are routinely given control of Imperial Military assets to hunt down the Jedi that survived the initial purge. They are above the law and have complete discretion as to the methods used to accomplish their mission. They exploit Jedi compassion by whatever means necessary, often holding entire population centers hostage. They also hunt and abduct Force-sensitive children to be brainwashed into the Emperor's service. Inquisitorius work either alone or in small groups according to the nature of a particular task. 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.

At some point before ''A New Hope'', the group essentially became defunct, with almost all members either defecting, getting killed by other force users or suffered punishment by Vader himself.

===Military===
====Notable officers====
*[[Darth Vader]] - Dark Lord of the Sith, Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Armed Forces, thus Palpatine's second-in-command apprentice, until his death in the [[Battle 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 in ''[[Aftermath: Life Debt]]''.  Amedda formally surrenders the Galactic Empire to the New Republic in ''[[Aftermath: Empire's End]]''.
*[[Grand Moff Tarkin|Wilhuff Tarkin]] – Grand Moff of the Oversector Outer and commander of the [[Death Star]], until his death in the [[Battle of Yavin]].
*[[Grand Admiral Thrawn|Thrawn]] – Grand Admiral of the 7th Fleet of the Imperial Navy, until being MIA upon his defeat in the liberation of Lothal. Thrawn was stranded on the extragalactic planet of Peridea, where he remained until 9 ABY and escaped with the help of Morgan Elsbeth.
*[[Orson Krennic]] – Head of Imperial Weapons Division<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1600020/who-is-grand-moff-tarkin-and-why-is-he-important-to-star-wars|title=Who is Grand Moff Tarkin and Why is He Important to Star Wars?|date=15 December 2016|access-date=15 March 2020|archive-date=31 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731221113/https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1600020/who-is-grand-moff-tarkin-and-why-is-he-important-to-star-wars|url-status=live}}</ref> and director of the Death Star, until his death in the [[Battle of Scarif]].<ref>''Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'', Disney 2016.</ref> Krennic was also the Director of Advanced Weapons research.

====Tarkin doctrine====
The '''Tarkin doctrine''', named after [[Grand Moff Tarkin]], is a [[military doctrine]] of using fear through overt displays of overwhelming power to keep control over the galaxy. 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 restoring [[rule of law]] to sectors overtaken by piracy and [[organized crime]], ending destructive conflicts through [[grand strategy]], a plan for maximizing social control and [[propaganda]], 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, [[Clone Wars (Star Wars)|the war]], but rampant self-interest, which left the body politic feckless and corrupt.<ref>{{cite book|first=James|last=Luceno<!--|authorlink=James Luceno-->|title=[[Star Wars: Tarkin]]|publisher=[[Penguin Random House]]|location=New York City|date=2015|isbn=9781780893686}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first1=Jason|last1=Fry|first2=Paul|last2=Urquhart|title=Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Warfare|publisher=[[LucasBooks]]|location=New York City|date=2012|isbn=9780345477620}}</ref>

{{blockquote|text=Consider the self-interest of the Core Worlds, [[Colonialism|unwavering in their exploitation]] of 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 the [[quality of life]] in the star systems that make up each sector — keeping the [[Trade route|spaceways safe]], maintaining open and accessible [[communication]]s, assuring that [[tax revenue]]s are properly levied and allocated to improving the [[infrastructure]].|title=''[[Star Wars: Tarkin]]''|character=Grand Moff Tarkin}}

The plan which Palpatine ultimately had implemented in its entirety contained three main principles: territorial consolidation, rapid communication, and [[coercive 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 of [[peacekeeping]], [[internal security]], [[counter-insurgency]], and [[state terrorism]]-philosophy. The instrument of this power is the military, which includes the Imperial stormtroopers, a massive fleet of about 1,000 [[Star Destroyer]]s, a couple of Super Star Destroyers, and the [[Death Star]], a [[moon]]-sized [[superweapon]] capable of destroying entire planets.<ref name=strategy>{{cite book|title=Strategy Strikes Back: How Star Wars Explains Modern Military Conflict|last=Atherton|first=Kelsey D.|publisher=[[Potomac Books]]|location=Sterling, Virginia|year=2018|chapter=Tarkin Doctrine|pages=59–61}}</ref>

Plans for the Death Star first appear (in [[fictional universe|universe]] chronology) in ''Attack of the Clones'' and construction begins at the end of ''Revenge 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|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|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,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0062466828/ |isbn=978-0062466822 |title=Star Wars Propaganda: A History of Persuasive Art in the Galaxy |last1=Hidalgo |first1=Pablo |date=25 October 2016 |publisher=HarperCollins |access-date=30 May 2017 |archive-date=29 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429212658/https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0062466828/ |url-status=live }}</ref> most pilots were assigned to ground operations with the Imperial Army.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://titanmagazines.com/t/star-wars-insider/us/156/|title=Magazines @ Titan Comics|access-date=2017-05-30|archive-date=2016-12-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227084115/http://titanmagazines.com/t/star-wars-insider/us/156/|url-status=live}}</ref> 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|Stormtrooper (Star Wars)}}
Imperial Stormtrooper Corps (ISC) are elite corps of rapid response all-environment [[shock troops]]—organized like the [[U.S. Marine Corps]] with 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 declares [[martial law]] throughout 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 the [[Rebel Alliance]]. Lacking any industrial base at all, the rebels focused on surgical strikes, using whatever ships they were surreptitiously given or whatever they could steal; in contrast the Empire had seemingly endless industrial capacity and manpower, and focused all of it on making mass quantities of fighters and huge weapons of mass destruction to terrorize both the rebels and the galactic citizenry.

As portrayed in the live-action series ''[[Andor (TV series)|Andor]]'', one single moment in Galactic history completely changed the Empire's policy towards its citizens and therefore changed its relationship with them. 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 the heist [[Luthen Rael]] wanted.

====The Two Death Stars====
As portrayed in the animated series ''[[Star Wars Rebels]]'' and ''[[Star Wars: The Bad Batch|The Bad Batch]]'', the Empire explores ways to weaponize Force-sensitive [[kyber crystal]]s, which are sacred to the Jedi and are at the core powersource of every [[lightsaber]].<ref name="A Long Time Ago"/> They mine for kyber crystals across worlds, but are thwarted twice in securing massive crystal reserves by the [[List of Star Wars Rebels characters#Main characters|''Ghost'' crew]] and [[Saw Gerrera]]. On [[Jedha]], 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. The threat of this weapon provoked a desperate suicidal raid, the Battle of Scarif, by the Rebel Alliance. The engagement and loss of the classified Death Star blueprint plans was seen as a complete embarrassment for the Imperial forces along with a loss of two Star Destroyers and the destruction of Scarif base.

Tarkin, the station's commander, demonstrates that power in ''A New Hope'' when he destroys [[Alderaan]] as a show of force.<ref name=strategy/> In the [[Battle of Yavin|film'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 of [[Luke Skywalker]], which is the Rebel Alliance's first major military success against the Empire.<ref name="A Long Time Ago"/> Politically, Alderaan'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 Doctrine, meant to perpetually "tighten the noose" and instill fear of being killed for engaging in rebellion, eventually gets overridden by people realizing that no one was actually safe.

After the ''[[Battle 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. In ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'', Vader becomes obsessed with finding the [[the Force|Force]]-sensitive Luke<ref name="Darth Vader Databank">{{cite web|url=https://www.starwars.com/databank/darth-vader|title=Darth Vader|website=StarWars.com|access-date=September 23, 2016|archive-date=June 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619185209/https://www.starwars.com/databank/darth-vader|url-status=live}}</ref> and leads his [[Imperial stormtrooper|stormtroopers]] to attack on the rebel base on [[Hoth]], 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 with [[Home One|Alliance HQ]] and remain nomadic.

In ''Return 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 the ''[[Battle 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.<ref name="A Long Time Ago"/>

====State Collapse====
The dual loss of the Emperor and his right-hand, the Commander-in-Chief, creates a power vacuum of chaos and instability. Most of the intelligent, competent, and experienced officers who might have succeeded them were killed at the Battle of Endor. By design, Palpatine desired the Empire had no clear line of succession, for he had intended to rule ''ad infinitum''; and there was no next-in-line after Palpatine and Vader.  Revolts, infighting, [[fiefdom]]s and [[warlord]]ism gradually 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 begin ''Operation: Cinder'', a [[scorched earth policy]] tasking hardline Imperials to destroy entire planets so the Rebellion cannot claim them.<ref name="A Long Time Ago"/> 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.<ref>"If an Empire cannot protect its Emperor then that Empire must be deemed a failure. It collapses not only because its central figure is gone, but because it must not be allowed to remain!" ''[[Star Wars: Aftermath: Empire's End|Aftermath: Empire's End]]'', [[Palpatine]]</ref>

A year after the Battle of Endor, the bolstered Rebellion [[Ceasefire|defeats]] the weakened Empire during the [[Battle of Jakku]] and formally establishes the [[Galactic Republic|New Republic]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Star Wars: Galactic Atlas|last=McDonagh|first=Tim|publisher=Disney–Lucasfilm Press|location=New York City|year=2016|pages=13, 44|isbn=978-1368003063}}</ref>

===Post-conflict collapse===
====New Republic Era====

By the time of ''[[The 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 a [[failed state]].<ref>''The Mandalorian''</ref> Its former leaders who are now [[warlord]]s that represent several different [[rump state]]s, are [[Civil war|competing with each other]], [[Two-front war|as well as]] the New Republic over the [[power vacuum]] left behind. One Imperial remnant established a base on the planet Nevarro, where [[Mandalorian]] bounty hunter [[The Mandalorian (character)|Din Djarin]] was hired to acquire an asset, later revealed to be a Force-sensitive infant named [[Grogu]]. Djarin abandoned his job and decided to protect the child, making him an enemy of the Imperial warlord [[Moff Gideon]] and his army of mercenary stormtroopers.

Djarin later returned to Nevarro, reuniting with his allies [[Greef Karga]] and [[Cara 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 in [[midichlorians]] obtained 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 warrior [[Bo-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|First Order (Star Wars)}}

The most successful remnants of the Empire reformed as the [[First Order (Star Wars)|First Order]], led by [[Supreme Leader Snoke]] and former Imperial officers. They become a major faction in the galaxy in ''[[Star Wars: The Force Awakens|The Force Awakens]]'' and 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 and therefore the [[Historic recurrence|empire reclaim authority over the galaxy]]. Starkiller Base is destroyed by the Resistance in ''The Force Awakens''. In the sequel ''[[Star Wars: The Last Jedi|The 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 apprentice [[Kylo Ren]], who assumes the title of Supreme Leader.

In ''[[Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker|The Rise of Skywalker]]'', the final film in [[Star Wars sequel trilogy|the sequel trilogy]], the First Order allies itself with the [[Sith#Sith Eternal|Sith 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, a [[puppet 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 Jedi [[Rey (Star Wars)|Rey]], 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 General [[Enric 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 own [[Force lightning]] against 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|Star Wars Legends}}
With the 2012 acquisition of [[Lucasfilm]] by [[The Walt Disney Company]], most of the licensed ''Star Wars'' Expanded Universe material was rebranded as ''[[Star Wars Legends]]'' and declared [[Star Wars canon|non-canon to the franchise]] on April 25, 2014.<ref name="SW Adult">{{cite web |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/disney-publishing-worldwide-and-random-house-announce-relaunch-of-star-wars-adult-fiction-line |title=Disney and Random House announce relaunch of ''Star Wars'' Adult Fiction line |publisher=StarWars.com |date=April 25, 2014 |access-date=May 26, 2016 |archive-date=May 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514073722/http://www.starwars.com/news/disney-publishing-worldwide-and-random-house-announce-relaunch-of-star-wars-adult-fiction-line |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="THR Legends">{{cite news |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lucasfilm-unveils-new-plans-star-698973 |last=McMilian |first=Graeme |title=Lucasfilm Unveils New Plans for ''Star Wars'' Expanded Universe |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=April 25, 2014 |access-date=May 26, 2016 |archive-date=August 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830203115/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lucasfilm-unveils-new-plans-star-698973 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="SW Legends">{{cite web |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/the-legendary-star-wars-expanded-universe-turns-a-new-page |title=The Legendary ''Star Wars'' Expanded Universe Turns a New Page |publisher=[[StarWars.com]] |date=April 25, 2014 |access-date=May 26, 2016 |archive-date=September 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910044317/http://www.starwars.com/news/the-legendary-star-wars-expanded-universe-turns-a-new-page |url-status=live }}</ref>

====''Thrawn'' trilogy====
In [[Timothy Zahn]]'s "[[Thrawn trilogy]]" of novels – ''[[Heir to the Empire]]'' (1991), ''[[Dark Force Rising]]'' (1992), and ''[[The Last Command (novel)|The Last Command]]'' (1993) – an army of former Imperials, led by [[Grand 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 different [[military junta]]s that [[Civil war|fight each other]] in a conflict known as the Imperial Civil War, all the while [[Two-front war|resuming]] the 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 of ''The Last Command'', Thrawn has nearly defeated the New Republic, but they claim victory in a last-ditch effort, and Thrawn is killed by his own bodyguard, shattering the Empire's unity.

====''Agent of the Empire''====

''Agent of the Empire'' is a 10-issue comic book series published by [[Dark Horse Comics]] from 2011 to 2013. It was written by [[John Ostrander]] and illustrated by [[Stéphane Roux (comics)|Stephane Roux]], and is set three years before the original ''Star Wars'' film. Two five-issue story arcs follow an Imperial [[secret agent]], and feature characters such as [[Han Solo]], [[Princess Leia]] and [[Boba Fett]]. Both arcs were collected in [[Trade paperback (comics)|trade paperback]] volumes.

====''Jedi Prince''====
In the ''[[Jedi Prince]]'' novel series, a group of impostors calling themselves the Prophets of the Dark Side install a three-eyed [[mutant (fiction)|mutant]] named [[Trioculus]] as 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 the ''[[Dark Empire]]'' comic book series, Palpatine is reborn in a [[cloning|clone]] body 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 on [[Yavin 4]], which had undone the Emperor's purge of the Old Jedi Order 28 years earlier at the rise of the Galactic Empire.

====''Jedi Academy'' trilogy====
In the [[Jedi Academy trilogy|''Jedi Academy'' trilogy]], an Imperial admiral named [[Admiral Natasi Daala|Daala]] commandeers 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 pilots [[Wedge Antilles]] and [[Lando Calrissian]] in 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 novel ''[[Darksaber (novel)|Darksaber]]'', 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 selects [[Gilad Pellaeon]] (originally in the [[Thrawn trilogy|''Thrawn'' trilogy]]) as the new leader, where he becomes Grand Admiral Pellaeon. At the end of the novel, he signs a [[Ceasefire|peace treaty]] with the New Republic representative Ponc Gavrisom and finally ends the Galactic Civil War.

====''New Jedi Order''====
By the time of the ''[[New Jedi Order]]'' series, the remaining Imperial military factions sign a truce with the New Republic, becoming the Imperial Remnant. The former enemies then become allies against the invading [[Yuuzhan 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''====
The ''[[Star Wars: Legacy]]'' comic book series, set 127 years after the original ''Star Wars'' film, explains that, during a [[civil 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 a [[Cold war (term)|cold war]] that 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 Sith [[Coup d'état|overthrows]] the Fel Empire. The Sith Lord [[Darth 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==
*[[Galactic Empire (Isaac Asimov)|Isaac Asimov's Galactic Empire]]
*[[Imperium (Warhammer 40,000)|Imperium of Mankind]]
*[[List of Star Wars characters|List of ''Star Wars'' characters]]
*[[Utopian and dystopian fiction]]
*[[State terrorism]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin}}
*''[[Vision of the Future]]'', 1st paperback printing 1999, Timothy Zahn, {{ISBN|0-553-57879-0}}
*''[[Star Wars Battlefront II: Inferno Squad]]'', published 2017, [[Christie Golden]]
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Galactic Empire (Star Wars)}}
*{{Star Wars Databank|subject=galactic-empire|text=Galactic Empire}}
*{{Wookieepedia|Galactic Empire}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050927004805/http://www.domuspublica.net/index.php DomusPublica.net] (No longer active, this archive as of September 27, 2005 has at least some of the essays intact)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20020602111322/http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/001/248ipzbt.asp The Case for the Empire], ''[[The Weekly Standard]]''
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041014184015/http://solohq.com/Articles/Lamont/No_Case_for_the_Empire.shtml Web.Archive.org], "No Case for the Empire"
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20220812002728/http://galacticempiredatabank.com/ GalacticEmpireDatabank.com]}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7mLMhIvBgI Why did The Galactic Empire Hate Aliens?]
*[https://www.starwars.com/databank/grand-moff-tarkin Tarkin in the ''Star Wars'' Databank]

===Fan societies===
*[http://www.empirereborn.net/ The Empire Reborn] - Roleplaying and gaming society (PC Games)
*[http://www.galactic-empire.org/ The Galactic Empire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060630151044/http://www.galactic-empire.org/ |date=2006-06-30 }} - Roleplaying game with strong emphasis on political and military training.
*[http://www.emperorshammer.org/ The Emperor's Hammer Strike Fleet] - PC Gaming club for all ''Star Wars'' games and Star Conflict.

{{Star Wars universe|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Sith]]
[[Category:Villains in animated television series]]
[[Category:Fictional elements introduced in 1977]]
[[Category:Fictional totalitarian states]]
[[Category:Galactic empires]]
[[Category:Star Wars governments]]
[[Category:Film supervillains]]
[[Category:Autocracy]]