Galactic Empire

The Galactic Empire, also known simply as the Empire, is an empire in the fictional Star Wars universe. It was founded by Darth Sidious and built from the foundations of the Galactic Republic.

Foundation

For many years, Sheev Palpatine, the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic, planned to transform the Republic into an Empire where he had total control. In secret, he was *Darth Sidious*, a member of the Sith.

Palpatine's plan for the Republic was executed in Revenge of the Sith when he ordered the Republic's clone army to carry out Order 66, a secret command that activated an implanted chip in the brains of every clone soldier, to kill all of the Jedi. With most of the Jedi massacred and the Jedi Order left in ruin, Palpatine took the opportunity to use the scars he had sustained in a battle against Mace Windu to convince the public that the Jedi had turned evil and attempted to take over. Palpatine then announced that the Galactic Republic would be reformed into the Galactic Empire, and named himself emperor.

Following the announcement, Palpatine, with his new apprentice Darth Vader at his side, would spend time funding the construction of large weapons to enact his rule over the galaxy, and hunt down any surviving Jedi.

Opposition

Despite having total rule over the galaxy as the supreme authority, the Galactic Empire faced resistance immediately after declaring its rise. Small groups of rebels across the galaxy defied its rule and culminated 17 years later with the unification of the Rebel Alliance, caused by the resignation of Mon Mothma, her declaration of rebellion and her condemning of Emperor Palpatine.

Fall of the Galactic Empire

The structural downfall of the Galactic Empire began when in A New Hope, Luke Skywalker and fellow Rebel Alliance fighters destroyed the Empire's weapon of mass destruction, the Death Star. Key Empire leaders such as Moff Tarkin were killed in the explosion, and it marked the first major success the Rebel Alliance had against the Empire.

The Galactic Empire fell when in Return of the Jedi, onboard the second Death Star, Darth Vader overthrew Palpatine in an act to save his son, Luke Skywalker, from being killed by the emperor. After Vader died, Luke escaped from the space station before it exploded.

One year later, in the aftermath of the Battle of Jakku, remnants of the Galactic Empire had a last stand with the newly formed New Republic, led by Imperial Councilor Gallius Rax. The Galactic Empire were swiftly defeated, and the Galactic Concordance was signed, ending the Galactic Civil War and the Empire entirely.

Legacy

Remaining loyalists to the Empire would later form the First Order, a spiritual successor to the Galactic Empire.