First Galactic Empire
The Galactic Empire was the monarchy that replaced the Galactic Republic at the end of the Clone Wars. Though the Empire rose to power by promising to bring order to the galaxy, it oversaw a period of harsh military rule and aggressive expansion. The subsequent Imperial Era would last only two decades, for it was eventually overthrown by the Alliance to Restore the Republic in the Galactic Civil War, but not before the sovereign star systems of the galaxy had been largely conquered and oppressed by the Empire's forces.
The First Galactic Empire traced its origins to a Sith conspiracy to destroy the Jedi Order and regain control over the galaxy. The Empire was secretly controlled by the Sith, for the Galactic Emperor was, in fact, the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, whose reign was enforced by his apprentice, Darth Vader, who acted as Commander-in-Chief. Rising to power on a groundswell of populist support, and capitalizing on anti-Jedi and anti-droid sentiment and human-ethnocentrism manufactured by the destructive Clone Wars, Darth Sidious appointed himself Emperor at the end of the conflict by promising security and stability to the war-torn Republic. Gaining the overwhelming approval of the Galactic Senate, Darth Sidious staged a coup by the Jedi and oversaw their subsequent purge from the galaxy, assisted by his right hand, Darth Vader.
The Empire stood virtually unchallenged during its rise to power, with the backing of the Imperial Senate, the spreading of its massive technological military force across the galaxy, and began a major expansion and encroaching into the unexplored regions. At first, the Galactic Empire was a constitutional monarchy in basic theory, however, it gradually evolved into a stratocracy as the power of the Imperial Senate waned. However, numerous insurgent cells sprang up against the Empire and gradually united to initiate a growing rebellion, winning its first major victory over Mustafar in 4 BBY. These rebel groups eventually formed the Rebel Alliance in 2 BBY and achieved its first major victory with the theft of the Death Star plans on Scarif, which, in turn, led to the destruction of The Death Star at the Battle of Yavin in 0 BBY.
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
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Alternative Names
Galactic Empire; Empire
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Founders
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Head of Government
Government System
Stratocracy
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Controlled Territories
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