Palpatine
Emperor Palpatine was the supreme ruler of the most powerful tyrannical regime the galaxy had ever witnessed, yet his roots were extremely humble, traced back to the peaceful world of Naboo. Before his rise to power, Palpatine was an unassuming yet ambitious senator in the Old Republic. Palpatine saw the Republic crumbling about him, torn apart by partisan bickering and corruption. All too common were those unscrupulous senators taking advantage of the system, growing fat and wealthy on a bureaucracy too slow to catch them.
However, Palpatine was also, secretly, a Dark Lord of the Sith named Darth Sidious. As Sidious, he long plotted the destruction of the Jedi and conquest of the galaxy. To carry this out, as Sidious, he contacted the Trade Federation and manipulated them into blockading Naboo in protest of government measures.
As Senator, Palpatine's moment of opportunity came as a result of the trade embargo. Naboo's planetary leader, Queen Amidala, rushed to Coruscant for Palpatine's aid. Together, the two pleaded to the Senate for intervention, only to see their request stalemated by Trade Federation filibustering courtesy of Lott Dod. Frustrated by the government's inability to do anything, Queen Amidala acted upon Palpatine's suggestion, and called for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum.
Valorum was voted out of office, and Palpatine was soon nominated to succeed him. The crisis on Naboo created a strong sympathy vote, and Palpatine became Chancellor. He promised to reunite the disaffected, and bring order and justice to the government.
At the same time, he dispatched Darth Maul to destroy two Jedi (Qui-Gon Jinn, and Obi-Wan Kenobi), but Maul was killed. In the ensuing years, Palpatine seduced Count Dooku to the Dark Side, making Dooku his new apprentice, and manipulating him into later creating a civil war that would ensure Palpatine's power would continue to grow. He also took an interest in Kenobi's Padawan, Anakin Skywalker.
During his tenure as Chancellor, the Republic continued to be mired in strife and chaos. A decade after his nomination, Palpatine's chancellery was faced with the challenge of a popular Separatist movement led by Count Dooku. Many in the galaxy feared that the conflict would escalate to full-scale warfare, but Palpatine was adamant that the crisis could be resolved by negotiation.
The Separatists didn't agree. Upon the discovery of a secret army of droids, it became apparent that the Separatists were on the verge of declaring war against the Republic. To counter this, the Republic needed a military, and Palpatine required the authority to activate the Republic's newly forged army of clones. To that end, Senators loyal to Palpatine motioned that the Chancellor be given emergency powers to deal with the Separatist threat.
With spoken regrets, Palpatine accepted the new mantle of power. He promised to return his absolute authority to the Senate after the emergency subsided. What no one realized was that the galaxy would undergo further upheaval, and that a state of crisis would ensure Palpatine's authority for decades. Palpatine instituted a military build-up unprecedented in galactic history.
At the climax of the Clone Wars, Palpatine was taken hostage by General Grievous and was rescued by Obi-Wan and Anakin. In the battle, at Palpatine's insistence, Anakin killed a defeated Dooku. The Senate voted to continue the war, allowing Palpatine to stay in office even further past his term's end, and he continued to use the Senate and the Courts to grant himself more power. The Jedi grew cautious of Palpatine's intentions, especially when Palpatine insisted Anakin be his personal representative on the Jedi Council.
The Council then ordered Anakin to spy on Palpatine, much to Anakin's objections. However, Palpatine knew this, and began to plant ideas in Anakin's head that the Jedi were out to overthrow both him and the Senate. He then told him an ancient Sith legend of a Sith Lord named Darth Plagueis who could create life and save those he cared about from dying, playing on Anakin's fear of Padme dying. Later, he revealed himself to Anakin as a Dark Lord of the Sith.
Anakin reported back to Mace Windu that Palpatine was a Sith, and Mace took three Jedi to arrest Palpatine. Palpatine slew the three Jedi, but Anakin arrived (despite being ordered to remain at the temple) as Mace was about to slay Palpatine. At first, Anakin tried to convince Mace to spare Palpatine (while Palpatine's face was being deformed by his own dark energies being deflected back at him), but Mace swung his lightsaber. Anakin sliced off Mace's hand, and Palpatine destroyed him with Force Lightning.
Palpatine then played on Anakin's new fear of the Jedi, saying that the Jedi would kill them if they did not act fast- that they would seize control of the Republic and destroy democracy and liberty. Anakin agreed to become his new apprentice, and was dubbed Darth Vader. Palpatine sent Vader to the Jedi Temple with a small army of Clone Troopers to kill all the Jedi there, while Palpatine activated Order 66, ordering all Clone Troopers to kill any Jedi they were serving in the conflict with.
After the Jedi massacre, Palpatine sent Vader to Mustafar to kill the Separtist leaders (having had them gather there as Darth Sidious). Before the Senate, he declared the Jedi traitors, vowing they would be hunted down and defeated. To further safeguard peace and security, Palpatine declared the Republic the first Galactic Empire.
Yoda later confronted Palpatine and the two battled in the Senate Chambers, but Yoda was unable to defeat the Sith Lord and fled. Palpatine, sensing Vader was in danger, flew to Mustafar to recover his new apprentice after Vader had been defeated in battle by Obi-Wan. Having lost his arms and legs, and burnt beyond recognition, Vader was quickly brought by Palpatine back to Coruscant. Vader was outfitted with artificial limbs, and a black armored life support system and breathing mask. Upon coming to, Vader asked for Padme, only for Palpatine to inform him that in his rage, Vader killed her. Resigned to his loss, Vader served Palpatine faithfully from that point forward.
During the Galactic Civil War, Palpatine ruled with an iron fist. He disbanded the Imperial Senate, and passed control down to the regional governors and the military, authorizing the construction of the first deadly Death Star, placing it under the command of his loyal supporter Grand Moff Tarkin. Much to the Emperor's consternation, the vast weapon ship was destroyed and Tarkin with it by the forces of the Rebel Alliance, the biggest thorns in his side.
During the Hoth campaign, Palpatine expressed to Vader his concerns over Luke Skywalker, a young Rebel powerful in the Force. Vader suggested that the two convert the youth to the Dark Side, an idea the Emperor seconded after giving it careful thought.
The Emperor was a crafty individual, planning events far in the future, using the Force to foresee the results. Palpatine allowed Rebel spies to learn of the location of the second Death Star being constructed at Endor, and foresaw their strike team and fleet assault. Palpatine crafted an elaborate trap that was to be the end of the Rebellion. He also concentrated on converting Luke Skywalker to the Dark Side of the Force, even at the expense of sacrificing Vader. In the Death Star, high above the Battle of Endor, Luke refused the Emperor's newfound Dark Side power, and so Palpatine used his deadly force lightning to attack the young Jedi.
Luke almost died in the assault, but his father, Darth Vader, returned to the Light Side of the Force, and hurled the Emperor into the Death Star's reactor core, killing him.
Expanded Universe
Palpatine appears in several chapters of Star Wars: Clone Wars, an animated series set between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith that aired on Cartoon Network from 2003 to 2005. Palpatine and Darth Sidious were voiced by Nick Jameson. In the series, Palpatine is busy on Coruscant running the government and Darth Sidious appears as a hologram giving orders to Count Dooku, General Grievous and other Separatist leaders.
Palpatine in the Star Wars: Clone Wars miniseriesIn the first chapter, Yoda, Anakin Skywalker, and Obi-Wan Kenobi are seated in Palpatine's office. Obi-Wan informs Palpatine that the Jedi have discovered that the InterGalactic Banking Clan has established battle droid factories on the planet Muunilinst. Palpatine agrees to send a strike force that includes Obi-Wan and Anakin, but Palpatine suggests that Anakin be given "special command" of Obi-Wan's fighters. Yoda and Obi-Wan initially speak against it, but reluctantly concede to the Chancellor. In another chapter, Darth Sidious appears to Count Dooku as a holographic image shortly after Dooku recruits Dark Jedi Asajj Ventress. Sidious orders her to track down and kill Anakin Skywalker. He remarks to Count Dooku Sidious that her failure is certain, but the point of her mission is to test Anakin.
Chapter 22 features the training of General Grievous by Count Dooku. Darth Sidious appears as a hologram and orders Grievous to begin the "special mission". The Separatist invasion of Coruscant begins in the next episode and Palpatine watches from his Senate office window. He is protected by Jedi Shaak Ti, Roron Corobb, and Foul Moudama. Grievous breaks through the Chancellor's window and kidnaps him. Roron and Foul are killed by Grievous as Palpatine is taken to the Invisible Hand, Grievous's flagship. Star Wars Expanded Universe literature elaborates on Palpatine's role in Star Wars fiction prior to and after the events of the Star Wars films. Novels and comics published before 1999 focus on Palpatine's role as Galactic Emperor. With the release of The Phantom Menace, authors detailed Palpatine's role as politician and Sith Lord prior to the original trilogy.
The first mention of Palpatine in Expanded Universe literature was in George Lucas's novelization of his script in Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker (1976).[3] Palpatine's first major appearance in the Expanded Universe came in 1991 and 1992 with the Dark Empire series of comic books written by Tom Veitch and illustrated by Cam Kennedy. In the series, set six years after Return of the Jedi, Palpatine resurrects as the Emperor Reborn or Palpatine the Undying. His spirit returns from the netherworld of the Force with the aid of Sith Lord ghosts on Korriban and possesses the body of the Emperor's Hand Jeng Droga. He flees to a secret Imperial base on the planet of Byss, the Emperor's advisor Sate Pestage exorcises Palpatine's spirit and channels it into a one of many clones created by Palpatine before his death. Palpatine attempts to resume control of the galaxy, and believes that he has converted Luke Skywalker to the dark side. Luke, however, is working against Palpatine and sabotages his plans. Luke manages to destroy most of Palpatine's cloning tanks, jeopardizing his immortality. Palpatine's last clone defeats Luke in a lightsaber duel, but in a final confrontation Palpatine is destroyed by Luke and Princess Leia.[4]
The comic Dark Empire by Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy, featuring the resurrected Palpatine.The fate of Palpatine is further chronicled in the Dark Empire II and Empire's End series of comics. The Dark Empire II series, published from 1994 to 1995, details how the Emperor is once again reborn on Byss and inhabits a clone body. Palpatine tries to rebuild the Empire as the Rebel Alliance grows impotent.[5] In Empire's End (1995), a traitorous Imperial guard named Carnor Jax allies with the Emperor's Hand Sarcev Quest and bribes Palpatine's cloning supervisor to tamper with the Emperor's stored DNA samples. This causes the clones to deteriorate at a rapid rate. Palpatine returns to Korriban to consult with the ghosts of the Sith Lords. The Sith inform Palpatine that his spirit must possess the body of Anakin Solo, the infant son of Han Solo and Princess Leia, before the clone body dies. The Emperor follows the Solos to the planet Onderon where he is confronted by Luke Skywalker and other Jedi knights. Palpatine is killed by a blaster shot fired by Han. Palpatine's spirit is captured by a wounded Jedi named Empatojayos Brand who uses his remaining strength to prevent Palpatine's spirit from escaping. When Brand dies, he takes Palpatine's spirit to the netherworld with him. Palpatine is finally dead and unable to return.[6]
Palpatine appears in the 1996 interquel novel by Steve Perry, Shadows of the Empire, set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The wealthy Falleen crime lord Prince Xizor plots to replace Darth Vader as Emperor Palpatine's second in command. Xizor believes that killing Luke Skywalker will win Palpatine's favor, but the Emperor sends Darth Vader to capture Luke alive. Palpatine encourages the rivalry between Xizor and Vader that ends with Xizor's death. Palpatine uses the crime lord to make Vader stronger.[7] Palpatine's relationship with Prince Xizor is elaborated on in a series of novels by K. W. Jeter called the Bounty Hunter Wars. In The Mandalorian Armor (1998), Xizor convinces the Emperor to support a plan to have bounty hunter Boba Fett join the Bounty Hunter's Guild to destroy it. Without the guild, Palpatine believes that the galaxy's bounty hunters will become greedy and ruthless: "We will have our choice of them—each savage and driven by their unchecked appetites." They can be hired to uncover the Rebel Alliance's leaders and agents.[8]
Palpatine's family is discussed in the Expanded Universe. Barbara Hambly's novel Children of the Jedi (1995), set eight years after Return of the Jedi, features a woman named Roganda Ismaren who claims that Palpatine fathered her son Irek. Roganda and Irek attempt to reestablish the Empire with Irek as the ruler but are thwarted by Princess Leia.[9] In the Jedi Prince series of novels, an insane three-eyed mutant named Triclops is said to be Palpatine's true son, and the Jedi Prince Ken his grandson. In the series, Triclops is impersonated by another mutant, Trioculus, who intends to use Triclops's paternity as a stepping-stone to the Imperial throne. Trioculus, Triclops, and Ken are all heavily involved in a plot masterminded by a group of con artists to wrest Imperial authority away from Imperial Intelligence Director Ysanne Isard. Following Trioculus's defeat, Triclops and Ken disappear.[10]
Beginning in 1999 with Terry Brooks's novelization of The Phantom Menace, Star Wars writers chronicled the role of Palpatine prior to A New Hope. The comic "Marked" by Rob Williams, printed in Star Wars Tales 24 (2005), contains a series of flashbacks that show how Darth Maul came to serve Sidious and how the Sith Lord gave his apprentice his distinctive tattoos.[11] Michael Reaves's novel Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter (2001) narrates how Darth Sidious orders his apprentice to hunt and kill the Neimoidian Hath Monchar, a Deputy Viceroy of the Trade Federation who has gone into hiding. Sidious is ready to implement his master plan to destroy the Jedi and does not want the missing Neimoidian to reveal the plot.[12] Cloak of Deception (2001) by James Luceno follows Reaves's novel and details how Darth Sidious encourages the Trade Federation to build an army of battle droids in preparation for the invasion of Naboo. Cloak of Deception also focuses on Palpatine's role as a Galactic Senator. It is revealed how he becomes a confidante of Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum and acquainted with Padmé Amidala, newly elected queen of Naboo.[13]
Palpatine's role during the Clone Wars as Supreme Chancellor and Darth Sidious is explained in novels such as Matthew Stover's Shatterpoint (2003), Steven Barnes's The Cestus Deception (2004), Sean Stewart's Yoda: Dark Rendezvous (2004), and Luceno's Labyrinth of Evil (2005). These novels demonstrate how the Jedi are blind to Palpatine's true identity as a Sith Lord. In Shatterpoint, Mace Windu remarks to Yoda, "A shame [Palpatine] can't touch the Force. He might have been a fine Jedi."[14] Labyrinth of Evil focuses on the relationship that develops between Palpatine and Anakin Skywalker and how he places full trust in the Supreme Chancellor. Anakin tells Palpatine, "The Senate should simply follow your lead. Instead, they block you. They tie your hands. It's as if they envy the power they gave you."[15]
The novelization of Revenge of the Sith (2005) by Matthew Stover introduced material about Palpatine that was not included in the films. Before the duel between Anakin Skywalker and Count Dooku, Stover records a brief conversation between Palpatine and Dooku. This is the first instance in Star Wars fiction to confirm that Darth Sidious and Palpatine are the same. Palpatine plans to lure Dooku into a confrontation with Anakin. Dooku believed Anakin was supposed to arrest him and take him back to Coruscant where he would recant the Sith and Separatist movement and join Palpatine's Imperial government. After Dooku is disarmed, however, Palpatine urges Anakin to kill him. Dooku realizes that he is only a pawn. His last thought: "Treachery is the way of the Sith."[16] There are also scenes where Palpatine tests Anakin's thirst for power and additional dialogue in the scene where the Jedi attempt to arrest the Chancellor.
Star Wars literature describes the events in the Star Wars galaxy following Palpatine's creation of the Empire. John Ostrander's Star Wars Republic 78: Loyalties (2005) chronicles how Emperor Palpatine sends Darth Vader to assassinate Sagoro Autem, an Imperial captain who wants nothing to do with the new government and plans to defect.[17] In Luceno's Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (2005), the Emperor sends Darth Vader to the planet Murkhana to discover why clone troopers refused to carry out Order 66 against their Jedi generals. Much of the novel focuses on the internal conflict within Darth Vader between good and evil. Palpatine hopes these early missions will teach Vader what it means to be a Sith and crush any remnants of Anakin Skywalker.[18]
Comments
Many fans have given Palpatine the first name "Cos," but this is not reflected in official material. It came from an earlier script which his name was "Cos Dashit."[[Category:Characters
