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Galactic Empire (Star Wars)
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<p>The Galactic Empire, also known simply as the Empire, is a fictional <a href="/facts/Autocracy/WpzSRcND">autocracy</a> featured in the <i><a href="/facts/Star_Wars/9Y5j3IPP">Star Wars</a></i> franchise. Introduced in the 1977 film <i><a href="/facts/Star_Wars_(film)/J4eECtTN">Star Wars</a>,</i> it is the main antagonistic faction of <a href="/facts/Star_Wars_original_trilogy/PT7MaVNE">the original trilogy</a>, which also includes <i><a href="/facts/The_Empire_Strikes_Back/adwNrWTT">The Empire Strikes Back</a></i> (1980) and <i><a href="/facts/Return_of_the_Jedi/DgH4n192">Return of the Jedi</a></i> (1983). An oppressive <a href="/facts/Dictatorship/vEL0Nk45">dictatorship</a> with a complicated <a href="/facts/Bureaucracy/V9oFPCuG">bureaucracy</a>, the Galactic Empire seeks the rule and <a href="/facts/Social_control/TaKTLlr9">social control</a> of every planet and <a href="/facts/Civilization/xvGpjDPj">civilization</a> within the <a href="/facts/Star_Wars_galaxy/sgyTWkgz">galaxy</a>, based on <a href="/facts/Anthropocentrism/P9uozsxS">anthropocentrism</a>, <a href="/facts/Nationalisation/cQcRubNU">nationalisation</a>, <a href="/facts/State_terrorism/lyK1BrFm">state terrorism</a>, <a href="/facts/Power_projection/kW3ypzUF">power projection</a>, and threat of lethal force. </p><p>The Galactic Empire's rise was not a violent takeover by force, but rather a calculated dismantling of the Galaxy's most powerful institutions by rewriting constitutional foundations, controlling the Jedi Council, weakening the Senate and the appointment of <a href="/facts/Cronyism/jb1mN3YW">loyal Governors</a>. At its peak, the Galactic Empire sprawls over much of the known <i>Star Wars</i> galaxy, which consists of millions of star systems and billions more fringe <a href="/facts/Colonies/6ku13Po7">colonies</a>, <a href="/facts/Shipyard/hxUHLNN6">shipyards</a>, <a href="/facts/Fortress/pyH0FXhH">fortress</a> worlds, and outer territories. The Empire's origins are depicted in the prequel film <i><a href="/facts/Star_Wars%3a_Episode_III_%25E2%2580%2593_Revenge_of_the_Sith/bKJfL3z4">Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith</a></i> (2005), where it replaces the <a href="/facts/Galactic_Republic/QhJQAJYW">Galactic Republic</a> at the end of the <a href="/facts/Clone_Wars/9FclsGGC">Clone Wars</a> orchestrated by the Republic's Supreme Chancellor, <a href="/facts/Palpatine/e3dcp17H">Palpatine</a>. Palpatine is also secretly the <a href="/facts/Sith_Lord/TQwnNkfN">Sith Lord</a> Darth Sidious, who masterminds the war to destroy the <a href="/facts/Jedi/lUXfoKVb">Jedi</a> and restore the Sith to power. </p><p>Palpatine falsely accuses the Jedi of causing the <a href="/facts/Secessionism/GLRUtM8m">secessionist</a> Clone Wars to weaken the Republic and gain power. He manipulates the <a href="/facts/Galactic_Senate/QhJQAJYW">Galactic Senate</a> into using <a href="/facts/Clone_trooper/YzsraTHV">clone troopers</a> 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. The Senate overwhelmingly supports this decision and lauds his apparent resolve, bravery, and selflessness. </p><p>With Emperor Palpatine keeping mostly to the shadows, his Sith apprentice, <a href="/facts/Darth_Vader/gy1XBNa9">Darth Vader</a> maintains a more public presence and leads the Imperial forces, acting as a personification of the Galactic Empire's power. By the time of <i>Episode IV – A New Hope</i>, the faction has transformed into a fully <a href="/facts/Autocratic/WpzSRcND">autocratic</a> regime, though it is opposed by the insurgent <a href="/facts/Rebel_Alliance/5BdPkS0v">Rebel Alliance</a>. The completion of the <a href="/facts/Death_Star/AFjT2jNd">Death Star</a>, a planet-destroying battle station, allows Emperor Palpatine to instigate a <a href="/facts/Self-coup/Hb6uVgMa">self-coup</a>, dissolving the Imperial Senate and transferring power to <i><a href="/facts/Praetor/or3Q9946">Praetor</a></i>-officers called Imperial Moffs, such as <a href="/facts/Grand_Moff_Tarkin/Nu5jTvrG">Grand Moff Tarkin</a>. </p><p>The Galactic Empire collapses after the events of <i>Return of the Jedi.</i> Its remnants form the <a href="/facts/First_Order_(Star_Wars)/9XUt1jvr">First Order</a> in <a href="/facts/Star_Wars_sequel_trilogy/H8jQPXux">the sequel trilogy</a>, set 30 years later. </p>