View source for Palpatine/Legends

{{Top|ffa|sprot|mprot|canon=Darth Sidious}}
{{Multiple issues|tone|cleanup|citation}}
{{Character
|type=Sith
|image=[[File:Emperor_Sidious.png]]
|name=Palpatine<br />Darth Sidious
|homeworld=[[Naboo/Legends|Naboo]]<ref name="Darth Plagueis">[[Darth Plagueis (novel)|''Darth Plagueis'']]</ref>
|birth=[[82 BBY/Legends|82 BBY]] {{C|47:8:11 [[Great ReSynchronization|BrS]]}}<ref name="Holocron">{{Blog|holocron|13/comments|Major Character Birth Years|Keeper of the Holocron's Blog|Leland Chee|archivedate=20090119212402}}, last accessed April 7, 2007</ref> Naboo<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />
|death=*[[4 ABY/Legends|4 ABY]] {{C|39:3 GrS}}, [[Death Star II/Legends|Death Star II]] (original body)<ref name="Episode VI">{{Film|VI}}</ref>
*[[10 ABY/Legends|10 ABY]] {{C|45 GrS}}, [[Byss/Legends|Byss]]<ref name="Dark Empire 5">[[Dark Empire 5|''Dark Empire'' 5]]</ref>
*10 [[Galactic Basic Standard/Legends|ABY]] {{C|45 GrS}}, [[Eclipse (Eclipse-class)|''Eclipse'']] above [[Da Soocha V]]<ref name="Dark Empire 6">[[Dark Empire 6|''Dark Empire'' 6]]</ref>
*[[11 ABY/Legends|11 ABY]] {{C|46 GrS}}, [[Onderon/Legends|Onderon]]<ref name="Empire's End 2">[[Empire's End 2|''Empire's End'' 2]]</ref>
|species=[[Human/Legends|Human]] {{C|[[Naboo (people)/Legends|Naboo]]}}<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />
|gender=[[Gender/Legends|Male]]
|height=1.73<ref name="Palpatine Encyclopedia">{{SWE|characters|palpatine|Palpatine}}</ref> / 1.78 [[Imperial standard meter|meters]]<ref name="Sidious Encyclopedia">{{SWE|characters|darthsidious|Darth Sidious}}</ref>
|mass=75 [[Kilogram/Legends|kilograms]]<ref name="Head to Head Tag">''[[Star Wars: Head-to-Head Tag Teams]]''</ref>
|hair=Red,<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> later gray and white<ref name="Episode III">{{Film|III}}</ref>
|eyes=Blue;<ref name="Episode I">{{Film|I}}</ref> yellow<ref name="Episode VI" />/red<ref name="Handbook 3">''[[Star Wars Handbook 3: Dark Empire]]''</ref> ([[Dark side of the Force/Legends|dark side]])<ref name="Episode III" />
|skin=Fair, later pale<ref name="Episode III" />
|cyber=
|affiliation=*[[Imperial family|House Palpatine]]<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />
*[[Damask Holdings/Legends|Damask Holdings]]<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />
*[[Royal House of Naboo/Legends|Royal House of Naboo]]<ref name="Episode I" />
*[[Order of the Sith Lords]]<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />
*[[Naboo Diplomatic Corps]]<ref name="SoN">''[[Secrets of Naboo]]''</ref>
*[[Galactic Republic/Legends|Galactic Republic]]<ref name="Episode I" />
**[[Galactic Senate/Legends|Galactic Senate]]<ref name="Episode I" />
*[[Trade Federation of Planets|Trade Federation]]<ref name="Episode I" />
*[[Confederacy of Independent Systems/Legends|Confederacy of Independent Systems]]<ref name="Episode II">{{Film|II}}</ref>
*[[Galactic Empire/Legends|Galactic Empire]]<ref name="Episode III" />
*[[Dark Empire]]<ref name="Dark Empire 2">[[Dark Empire 2|''Dark Empire'' 2]]</ref>
**[[Dark Side Elite]]<ref name="Dark Empire 2" />
|masters=[[Darth Plagueis/Legends|Darth Plagueis]]<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />
|apprentices=*[[Darth Maul/Legends|Darth Maul]]<ref name="Episode I" />
*A [[Unidentified Nikto dark side adept|Nikto]]<ref name="Book of Sith">''[[Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side]]''</ref>
*[[Vergere]]<ref name="Betrayal">''[[Legacy of the Force: Betrayal]]''</ref>
*[[Dooku/Legends|Darth Tyranus]]<ref name="Episode II" />
*[[Garth Ezzar]]<ref name="Destruction">[[Destruction (Living Force adventure)|''Destruction'']]</ref>
*[[Anakin Skywalker/Legends|Darth Vader]]<ref name="Episode III" />
*[[Galen Marek]] {{C|Indirect}}<ref name="TFUcpg114">[[Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (comic)|''Star Wars: The Force Unleashed'' comic]]; pg. 114</ref>
*[[Ferus Olin]] {{C|informal}}<ref name="Last: Secret Weapon">''[[The Last of the Jedi: Secret Weapon]]''</ref>
*[[Mara Jade Skywalker|Mara Jade]]<ref name="NEGC">''[[The New Essential Guide to Characters]]''</ref>
*[[Cronal]]<ref name="TEP">{{GamerCite|5|The Emperor's Pawns}}</ref>
*[[Ennix Devian]] {{C|Assassin}}
*[[Lumiya]]<ref name="Jedi vs. Sith">[[Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force (real-life book)|''Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force'']]</ref>
*[[Luke Skywalker/Legends|Luke Skywalker]] {{C|briefly}}<ref name="Dark Empire 5" />
*[[Sedriss QL]] {{C|[[Dark Jedi/Legends|Dark Jedi]]}}
}}<!---Please do not change this quote without consulting the talk page.-->
{{Quote|Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.|Palpatine|audio=AsIHaveForeseen-ROTJ.ogg|<ref name="Episode VI" />}}
'''Palpatine''', known also by his [[Sith/Legends|Sith]] name '''Darth Sidious''' or simply as '''the Emperor''', was a [[Force-sensitive/Legends|Force-sensitive]] [[Human/Legends|Human]] [[Gender/Legends|male]] who served as the last [[Supreme Chancellor/Legends|Supreme Chancellor]] of the [[Galactic Republic/Legends|Galactic Republic]] and the first [[Galactic Emperor/Legends|Emperor]] of the [[Galactic Empire/Legends|Galactic Empire]]. A [[Dark Lord of the Sith/Legends|Dark Lord of the Sith]] in the [[Order of the Sith Lords]], recorded by history as the most successful who had ever lived, his deeds resulted in overthrow the ancient Republic and the noble [[Jedi Order/Legends|Jedi Order]] from within. Noted for his sadistic and self-serving intentions just as well as his ability to conceal them, Palpatine impacted the galaxy perhaps more than any other single individual, and it is likely that his impact on history, for good or ill, was immeasurable.

[[Reproduction/Legends|Born]] in [[82 BBY/Legends|82 BBY]] on the [[Planet/Legends|planet]] [[Naboo/Legends|Naboo]] to the aristocratic [[Imperial family|House Palpatine]], Palpatine discovered the Sith at a young age as a collector of [[Dark side of the Force/Legends|dark side]] artifacts. In [[65 BBY/Legends|65 BBY]], he met Hego Damask, a [[Muun/Legends|Muun]] businessman who was in reality the [[Sith Lord/Legends|Sith Lord]] [[Darth Plagueis/Legends|Darth Plagueis]]. Under Plagueis's manipulation, Palpatine [[Death/Legends|killed]] his [[Cosinga Palpatine|father]] and pledged himself to his new [[Darth Plagueis/Legends|Master]]'s [[Dark side of the Force/Legends|dark side]] teachings as Darth Sidious. Palpatine lived a double life for many years, serving an untarnished career as Naboo's [[Ambassador/Legends|ambassador]] in the [[Galactic Senate/Legends|Galactic Senate]] while learning from his master and training a young [[Zabrak/Legends|Zabrak]] as the [[Sith assassin/Legends|Sith assassin]] [[Darth Maul/Legends|Darth Maul]]. Plagueis and Sidious, both exceptionally skilled and powerful in the Force, were able to [[Force stealth|conceal]] their identities from the [[Jedi/Legends|Jedi]] for decades. As Plagueis privately searched for the key to eternal life, Sidious manipulated galactic [[Politics/Legends|politics]], culminating in the [[Invasion of Naboo/Legends|blockade]] of Naboo by the [[Trade Federation of Planets|Trade Federation]]. In the wake of the political crisis, the Galactic Senate voted to elect him as Supreme Chancellor, and around the same time, in accordance with Bane's [[Rule of Two/Legends|Rule of Two]], Sidious betrayed and murdered Plagueis, and then subsequently usurped the role of [[Sith Master/Legends|Sith Master]].

As Chancellor of the Republic and Dark Lord of the Sith, Palpatine orchestrated the outbreak of the devastating [[Clone Wars/Legends|Clone Wars]] [[22 BBY/Legends|ten years]] after the Naboo Crisis. He himself headed both the Galactic Republic and, secretly, the [[Confederacy of Independent Systems/Legends|Confederacy of Independent Systems]]. The public leader of this splinter faction was former [[Jedi Master/Legends|Jedi Master]] [[Count/Legends|Count]] [[Dooku/Legends|Dooku]], Sidious's second [[Sith apprentice/Legends|apprentice]] as Darth Tyranus in the wake of Maul's presumed [[Battle of Naboo/Legends|death]] on Naboo. As billions perished in the war, the vast majority of Republic citizens rallied behind Chancellor Palpatine, giving him enough support to amend the [[Galactic Constitution/Legends|Galactic Constitution]] in the name of security and transfer most of the Senate's [[Office of the Supreme Chancellor|executive]] authority to his own office. In [[19 BBY/Legends|19 BBY]], following Tyranus's [[Battle of Coruscant/Legends|demise]], Palpatine revealed his identity as Darth Sidious to the [[Jedi Knight/Legends|Jedi Knight]] [[Anakin Skywalker/Legends|Anakin Skywalker]], telling that the dark side teachings that Plagueis had pursued could help Skywalker to save his [[Padmé Amidala/Legends|wife]], whom Skywalker had foreseen dying untimely. A failed attempt by the [[Jedi High Council/Legends|Jedi High Council]] to [[Showdown on Coruscant|arrest]] Palpatine ensued, and Skywalker pledged himself to Sidious' teachings as Darth Vader. All members of the Jedi Order were accused of [[Treason/Legends|treason]] and [[Order 66/Legends|betrayed]] by their clone troopers to the point of virtual [[Great Jedi Purge/Legends|extermination]]. Without the Jedi to oppose him, Sidious declared himself Emperor of the first Galactic Empire, bringing an end to the Republic that had stood for over 25,000 years.

As Emperor, Sidious effectively wielded absolute control over the entire galaxy and virtually everyone who lived within it. During his tenure, he built one of the most powerful [[Imperial Military/Legends|military forces]] the galaxy had ever seen and ruled unopposed for nearly two decades. Although Sidious suffered a near death experience when he was infected by a deadly virus in a plot orchestrated by Headmaster [[Gentis]] who saw that Emperor Palpatine was needlessly wasting the lives of young Imperial [[Officer/Legends|officers]], he orchestrated a [[Ghost Prison incident|coup]], seeking to gain control of the Empire in order to end such warmongering the coup failed and Gentis was killed by Sidious. Sidious progressively abandoned his facade of being an enlightened leader and began to rule through [[Tarkin Doctrine/Legends|terror]] symbolized by the [[DS-1 Orbital Battle Station/Legends|Death Star]], a [[Superweapon/Legends|superweapon]] that could annihilate entire planets. However, he later discovered that Vader was training [[Galen Marek]], an exceptionally powerful Force adept as a secret apprentice "Starkiller." When Sidious discovered Starkiller's existence in [[3 BBY/Legends|3 BBY]], he ordered Vader to fake Starkiller's death and then request that Starkiller assemble the most influential traitors in the Empire in a rebellion in order to highlight and destroy them all. Sidious's plan backfired when Starkiller, healed from his near-fatal injuries and espousing the teachings of the [[Light side of the Force/Legends|light side]], vowed revenge against Sidious and [[Battle on Death Star I|confronted]] him on the Death Star, ultimately sacrificing himself in an act that inspired the dissident [[Senator/Legends|senators]] to create the [[Alliance to Restore the Republic/Legends|Alliance to Restore the Republic]]. As the [[Galactic Civil War/Legends|Galactic Civil War]] broke out, Emperor Palpatine ironically fought against a rebellion that he started in secret. After the Empire suffered a devastating [[Battle of Yavin/Legends|defeat]] in [[0 BBY/Legends|0 BBY]], in which the Alliance destroyed the Death Star, the Emperor steadily began to lose his absolute control over the galaxy.

In [[4 ABY/Legends|4 ABY]], Sidious gambled his chances in order to annihilate the Rebel Alliance once and for all, allowing Rebel spies to learn of the existence of a [[Death Star II/Legends|second Death Star]] and its secret location near [[Endor/Legends|Endor]]. As expected, the Alliance fell for the bait and dispatched its [[Fleet/Legends|fleet]] to destroy the Emperor, Vader, and the incomplete Death Star. With the Alliance soon falling for his [[Battle of Endor/Legends|trap]], Sidious brought [[Luke Skywalker/Legends|Luke Skywalker]], the son of Darth Vader, before him in order to turn him over to the dark side and replace Vader with an apprentice who was younger and more powerful. After goading Skywalker to give into his frustrations with thoughts of the Alliance's defeat and the death of his friends, the Dark Lord eagerly watched as [[Parent/Legends|father]] and son fought one another. Following Skywalkers' victory, Sidious betrayed Vader by ordering Skywalker to kill and replace him. However, Skywalker refused to submit to the dark side and spared his father, prompting Sidious to unleash all of his rage and hatred on Skywalker. Unwilling to stand by and watch his son die from the agonizing effects of Sidious' [[Force lightning/Legends|Force lightning]], Anakin Skywalker finally redeemed himself, throwing his astonished Master down the Death Star's shaft, a sacrifice that fulfilled the prophecy of the [[Chosen One/Legends|Chosen One]] and brought about the end of the [[Order of the Sith Lords]].

Throughout the rest of the Galactic Civil War, the remnants of the Empire experienced a sharp decline while the Alliance reformed itself into the New Republic. However, Sidious did not stay dead, and eventually used a rare and ancient Force [[Transfer essence|technique]] to transfer his [[Force ghost|spirit]] into one of many [[Cloning/Legends|clone]] bodies stored on the [[Deep Core/Legends|Deep Core]] world of [[Byss/Legends|Byss]]. In [[10 ABY/Legends|10 ABY]], Darth Sidious resurfaced in the galaxy in a bid to rebuild his Empire, temporarily converting Luke Skywalker to the dark side and installing him as his apprentice. Sidious's efforts to live forever, however, were undermined by subversives within his own inner circle, including his [[Emperor's Royal Guard/Legends|Royal Guard]] [[Carnor Jax]]. With the last supplies of healthy clone bodies sabotaged and their genetic source material contaminated by his allies, Sidious desperately tried to take over the body of Darth Vader's youngest grandchild, the infant [[Anakin Solo]], in [[11 ABY/Legends|11 ABY]]. Sidious's spirit, however, was intercepted by the dying Jedi Knight [[Empatojayos Brand]], who dragged the Dark Lord down into the depths of the Force forever, though his legacy lived for countless years.

==Biography==
===Early life===
{{Quote|I haven't rejected the dynasty I was born into. I've rejected the name I was given.|Palpatine to Hego Damask|<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />}}
Palpatine was [[Reproduction/Legends|born]] on [[Naboo/Legends|Naboo]], the eldest son of [[Imperial family|House Palpatine's]] patriarch [[Cosinga Palpatine|Cosinga]] and his [[Palpatine's mother|wife]]. He was raised in his family's ancestral home, [[Convergence/Legends|Convergence]], situated in Naboo's [[Lake Country/Legends|Lake Country]], and had at least [[Palpatine's first brother|two]] [[Palpatine's second brother|brothers]] and [[Palpatine's first sister|two]] [[Palpatine's second sister|sisters]].<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

From an early age, Palpatine identified himself as different from his peers and siblings, recognizing a great [[The Force/Legends|power]] within himself, and believing that he was born to lead, which led to an uneasy relationship with his family. His [[Parent/Legends|father]] also perceived his eldest son as different, and would later claim to have divined his murderous nature from the time the latter was an infant. At some point early in Palpatine's life, Cosinga had his son tested to make certain that they were related. Until the end of his life, however, Palpatine's true nature remained a mystery to his father.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

Intelligent and highly ambitious, Palpatine desired his family to take on a more active role in Naboo's politics, both to increase their own wealth and power, and also to help their [[Homeworld/Legends|homeworld]] make the transition into the modern [[The galaxy/Legends|galaxy]]. He was soon disappointed to learn that he was alone in this ambition, and that his father not only lacked the ability to improve his family's standing, but also arrogantly believed he had all the power there was to be gained. Cosinga's political ambitions never exceeded provincial Naboo&mdash;father and son attended two coronations in the [[Capital/Legends|capital]] [[City/Legends|city]] of [[Theed/Legends|Theed]], and for years to come Palpatine would remember Cosinga's envy for the power the [[Monarch of Naboo/Legends|monarch]] wielded. Although Palpatine longed to [[Death/Legends|kill]] his father, he grudgingly concealed his patricidal desires for years, hiding his true feelings under a mask of simple reactionary rebelliousness. Disgusted by his father's incompetence, and infuriated by his mother's willingness to tolerate the situation of their family, it was not long before Palpatine discontinued the use of his given name as an act of spite. From then on, he demanded to be referred to exclusively by the name of his aristocratic family.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

[[File:Lake_retreat.png|thumb|left|300px|Palpatine was raised in Naboo's Lake Country.]]
Palpatine recorded, in his preface to the ''[[Book of Sith]]'' (c [[19 BBY/Legends|19 BBY]]), that he took a vested interest in forbidden [[Sith/Legends|Sith]] lore as a child. Employing his family's vast wealth, the youth took to the black market, resolving to collect as many inscrutable runes and ancient texts as possible. Enraptured by the secrets revealed with each tome, Palpatine at once recognized the key to realizing his ''true'' ambition: the acquisition of absolute power. All that remained was opportunity.<ref name="Book of Sith" />

====Education====
{{Quote|The Naboo might expect more of the eldest son of House Palpatine.''"<br />"''I ignore the expectations of others.|Hego Damask and Palpatine|<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />}}
Throughout his education Palpatine attended some of the most prestigious and exclusive academies in the galaxy, but never remained for long, soon expelled for some petty misdemeanor. Palpatine's list of offenses, while usually minor, was extensive enough that&mdash;were he anyone other than a nobleman's heir&mdash;he would have been imprisoned in a correctional facility. Sure enough, whatever his son's crime, Cosinga was there, ready and willing to use his influence and [[Galactic Credit Standard|credits]] to make it "disappear." Having been raised to believe that money could solve anything, Palpatine quickly dispensed with traditional notions of morality, instead forging a unique code of ethics for himself; a pedestal on which he placed himself, to be raised above all others.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

Although he despised his father, more than any other member of his family, the two were not without their similarities. Aside from an inherited violent streak, both father and son shared an insatiable passion for [[Speeder/Legends|speeder]] [[racing]]. Palpatine once fondly recounted an occasion from his youth when his father had bought him a state-of-the-art, prototype speeder, more as a bribe than a gift, but one he accepted, nonetheless. Indeed, the only time Palpatine thought well of the man who raised him was when they shared a cockpit together. This was not to last, however, as Palpatine soon crashed the machine, tragically killing two pedestrians in the process. As always, Cosinga bought his son a reprieve, and Palpatine himself never showed the slightest bit of remorse for the incident. Quite the opposite, in fact, if anything, the lack of punishment from the law only served to reinforce the boy's belief in his own invulnerability, and Palpatine insensitively chose this moment to announce his desire to become a professional racer. Cosinga initially banned his son from riding again, but even this feeble attempt at punishment did not last long. After many tantrums, Palpatine wore his father down, who eventually relented, and Palpatine went on to race competitively, and successfully. Despite this success, Palpatine's ambitions were hardly satisfied and indeed were merely just beginning.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

===Darth Plagueis and Darth Sidious===
{{Quote|Tell me what you regard as your greatest strength, so I will know how best to undermine you; tell me of your greatest fear, so I will know which I must force you to face; tell me what you cherish most, so I will know what to take from you; and tell me what you crave, so that I might deny you&hellip;|Darth Plagueis|<ref name="DLRDV">''[[Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader]]''</ref>}}
In [[67 BBY]], the [[Sith Lord/Legends|Sith Lord]] [[Darth Plagueis/Legends|Darth Plagueis]] murdered his [[Sith Master/Legends|Master]], [[Darth Tenebrous/Legends|Darth Tenebrous]], on [[Bal'demnic]]. Tenebrous's disembodied consciousness accessed his [[Sith apprentice/Legends|apprentice's]] body and Force senses through the [[maxi-chlorian]] [[Retrovirus/Legends|retrovirus]] and saw a vision of the future, in which Plagueis's apprentice killed him before he had the chance to complete his life's work, which Tenebrous believed was the creation of the [[Chosen One/Legends|Chosen One]]. The [[Dark Lord of the Sith/Legends|Dark Lord]] panicked and abandoned Plagueis's body. The mysterious apprentice in Tenebrous's vision was invisible to his Force sense, and he only perceived him as ''the shadow''.<ref name="The Tenebrous Way">{{InsiderCite|130|The Tenebrous Way}}</ref> On Naboo, the young Palpatine was waiting for a chance to join the Sith,<ref name="Book of Sith" /> and this turn of events was the first step towards bringing Plagueis to Naboo,<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> and, 35 years later, realizing Tenebrous's vision.<ref name="The Tenebrous Way" />

====Initiation====
[[File:PlagueisCover.jpg|thumb|250px|A young Darth Sidious kneels before his Sith Master, Darth Plagueis.]]
Cosinga Palpatine eventually learned of his eldest son's friendship with Hego Damask. Due to his estrangement with the younger Palpatine, as well as Damask's support for Tapalo's bid for the throne, Cosinga immediately attempted to thwart any further contact between his son and the head of Damask Holdings. After Cosinga failed to coerce Damask with veiled threats, the Muun contacted Palpatine, who had been away on [[Chandrila/Legends|Chandrila]] with his class at the time. Palpatine, enraged by the revelation of his father's attempt to interfere in his affairs, desperately implored Damask for advice. Recognizing the potential that emanated within his young protégé, Damask took advantage of Palpatine's fear and hatred for his family, and thus insinuated that he had to do whatever it took to become emancipated from his father's control.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

Palpatine's defining moment came when his father personally journeyed to Chandrila with the entire family in tow to retrieve his heir. Once [[Palpatine family starship|the family]] [[Yacht/Legends|yacht]] had left [[Hanna City/Legends|Hanna City]] [[Hanna City Spaceport|Spaceport]], Cosinga and his son clashed. In order to keep him away from Naboo during the elections and out of Damask's reach, Cosinga planned to send his son to [[Chommell Minor/Legends|Chommell Minor]], where he would stay with the [[Greejatus family]] and complete the Legislative Youth Program locally with [[Janus Greejatus/Legends|Janus Greejatus]]. Palpatine did not accept the arrangement, and verbally attacked Cosinga. The altercation brought out their long-standing yet barely concealed hatred for each other, until Cosinga revealed to his son that he had wanted to kill him from the start. Overcome by years of repressed anger and frustration, Palpatine instinctively drew upon the power of the dark side and slaughtered his entire family and their security guards. When the deed was done, he contacted Damask and was assured by his mentor that none would ever learn of his role in the slaughter of House Palpatine. Damask arranged for all evidence of the crime to be purged, and for Palpatine to return to Chandrila. In addition, Palpatine later sold Convergence and moved to a [[Palpatine's Theed apartment|modest apartment]] in Theed. One standard week later, they met in a luxury cabin aboard the ''[[Quantum Collosus]]''.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

Having judged the young Palpatine worthy of joining the Sith after he murdered his family, Darth Plagueis formally initiated him into the cult.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> From the time of Darth Bane onward, it was common for Sith names to begin with the forename [[Darth/Legends|''Darth'']], a moniker that was as much a title as it was a name.<ref name="Outbound Flight">[[Outbound Flight (novel)|''Outbound Flight'']]</ref> Many factors went into deciding on the second name. At least one, based on observed ceremonies, is that Sith masters would enter a kind of communion with the dark side of the Force, question it, and within it find inspiration, an answer.<ref name="ROTS novel">[[Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith (novelization)|''Star Wars'': Episode III ''Revenge of the Sith'' novelization]]</ref> In Palpatine, Plagueis saw a being completely lacking in empathy, ambitious, arrogant, and insidious. Palpatine genuflected before his master, pledged his undying allegiance to the Sith Order, and the Dark Lord of the Sith proclaimed him his new apprentice under the name ''Darth Sidious''.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

====Apprenticeship====
{{Quote|My mentor taught me everything about the Force, even the nature of the dark side.|Palpatine to Anakin Skywalker|<ref name="Episode III" />}}
[[File:Palpatineyouth.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Darth Plagueis oversees the training of his young apprentice.]]
The [[Sith training|training]] of Darth Sidious was focused on the honing of his [[Force power/Legends|Force abilities]] and [[Lightsaber combat/Legends|combat skills]], as well as his natural talents as a politician. In the first decade of his role as an apprentice, Sidious accompanied his Master to [[Mygeeto/Legends|Mygeeto]], where he was subjected to intense cold and nearly froze to death. Darth Plagueis, unaffected by the planet's freezing temperature, forced Sidious to relate the slaughter of his family in exacting detail, as he did many times, with the goal of extinguishing any lingering feeling of personal connection. The Sith Lord's overall goal was to use his disciple's hate, anger and desperation for survival as a tool to destroy any vestiges of Palpatine the young noble from Naboo, and in his place create Darth Sidious, a true Sith. Were Palpatine to give up, he would prove himself unworthy of the mantle; the young Human endured, asking only when the trials would be over. Plagueis also demonstrated a use of the [[Mind trick/Legends#Force illusion|mind-clouding technique]] by having his apprentice struggle to reach him, only to discover he had been a [[dopplegänger]], and also subjected Palpatine to deprivation of food, water and sleep.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

In regard to the history of the Sith, Plagueis was more than aware of the fact that Sidious' desire to kill him would grow in time; only a true Sith Lord wanted to seize the mantle of Master by slaying his own mentor. But like many of his Sith predecessors, Plagueis was appalled by Darth Bane's [[Rule of Two/Legends|Rule of Two]], more specifically its tenet that commanded each Master to train his or her own eventual killer. Plagueis had no intention of dying by his apprentice's hand, or anyone else's for that matter. Instead, he intended to break the cycle started by Bane and [[Darth Zannah/Legends|Zannah]] a millennium ago. In order to do so, Plagueis wished for no secrets or feelings of jealousy and mistrust to exist between Sidious and himself. In the long run of the Sith [[Grand Plan/Legends|Grand Plan]], Plagueis envisioned himself as the "power behind the throne" while Sidious&mdash;in his public guise as Palpatine&mdash;carried out the Sith's interests in the political domain.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

Sidious, ever the academic with a desire for knowledge, yearned to learn more of the Sith lore. However, his Master carefully concealed much information from his apprentice, and only intended to share his full knowledge at a gradual pace, depending on how much Sidious progressed as a Sith Lord. Among Plagueis' artifacts were [[Holocron/Legends|holocrons]] that contained much of what Sidious desired to know.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> The [[Jedi/Legends|Jedi]] mistakenly believed that these holocrons sat in the Archives room in their Temple, but those were actually clever forgeries, a form of Sith disinformation.<ref name="DLRDV" />

====The beginning of Palpatine's political career====
Owing to Plagueis and Palpatine's manipulations, [[Bon Tapalo/Legends|Bon Tapalo]] became [[Monarch of Naboo/Legends|King of Naboo]], and negotiated a deal to sell the planet's plasma through the [[Trade Federation of Planets|Trade Federation]].<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> Around this time, Palpatine began his political career, carefully hiding his true persona of Darth Sidious. His double identity would allow him to deceive the Jedi, Republic and Senate. On Naboo, public service was mandatory from the ages of twelve to twenty, and he began his political career in this fashion (presumably [[70 BBY|70]]&ndash;[[62 BBY/Legends|62 BBY]]). Unlike most of the [[Naboo (people)/Legends|Naboo]], however, he elected to stay in public service beyond the normally accepted age and entered local Naboo politics (62&ndash;[[52 BBY/Legends|52 BBY]]), working his way upward.<ref name="NEGC" />

After a five-year stint in the [[Apprentice Legislator/Legends|Apprentice Legislator]] [[Apprentice Legislature/Legends|program]], he was appointed [[Ambassador/Legends|Ambassador]] in the reelected Senator Vidar Kim's retinue. Kim was a vocal critic of Tapalo's policy towards the Trade Federation, pointing out that the Trade Federation would sell Naboo's plasma on for ten or even twenty times what it paid for it.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

Palpatine lost more elections than he won in his early political career, missing out on a string of political appointments.<ref name="SWCVDpg146">''[[Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary]]''</ref> He elected to keep a low profile so as to not undermine his Sith master, and to allow him to discreetly disappear from the radar in order to focus on his Sith training on such worlds as Mygeeto, [[Hypori/Legends|Hypori]], [[Buoyant]] and [[Kursid]], and rendezvous with Plagueis on remote planets where they did not have to risk being seen together by beings from the political sphere.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

===The training of Darth Maul===
{{Quote|Do you feel the hate? &hellip; It is the source of your strength. You still hate me. No matter. Today you have delivered yourself into my hands. I have the power of life and death over you, Maul. Someday, you will hold that power over another. It is the honor of the Sith. You will devote yourself to the idea of domination.|Darth Sidious|<ref name="Star Wars Episode I Journal: Darth Maul">''[[Star Wars Episode I Journal: Darth Maul]]''</ref>}}
[[File:YoungSid1.jpg|thumb|175px|Darth Sidious at the time he met Darth Maul]]
During his apprenticeship under Plagueis, Sidious was given an [[Darth Maul/Legends|infant]] [[Zabrak/Legends|Zabrak]]<ref name="NEC">''[[The New Essential Chronology]]''</ref> by the child's Nightsister mother on [[Dathomir/Legends|Dathomir]]<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> and trained him as a Sith assassin. It was not without precedent that Sidious should have chosen a Zabrak for his apprentice. In ancient times, the Sith, taking notice of the martial prowess of the Zabrak, made lucrative contacts on Iridonia, and spent exorbitant sums to hire Iridonian Zabrak as mercenaries. Long after the Sith culture died out, the influence of the Sith remained a part of Zabrak culture.<ref name="NEGAS">''[[The New Essential Guide to Alien Species]]''</ref> Zabraks were known to endure extreme amounts of pain, but nothing could have prepared young Maul for the brutality of Sidious' training. Despite Sidious' harshness, Maul held the utmost respect for the man, and was fanatically loyal.

[[File:Maultraining.jpg|thumb|left|120px|Darth Sidious oversees Maul's training.]]
When Darth Maul was very young&mdash;so young that he had few memories prior to this&mdash;Darth Sidious took him to the Jedi Temple, both of them disguised as tourists. Sidious' command of the dark side was sufficient to keep both himself and Maul from being sensed by the Jedi, as long as they did not enter the Temple itself. As the building was not open to tourists, there was very little risk of discovery. For the better part of a day, they stood there, and Sidious pointed out to Maul the various faces of individual Jedi as they entered and left the Temple, whispering into his apprentice's ear of the Jedi Order's ultimate destruction. Maul would long remember the thrill of seeing his foes, standing in their presence, hearing about their downfall, as they walked past, not one of them aware of the fate that ultimately awaited them.<ref name="DMSH">''[[Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter]]''</ref>

In [[37 BBY/Legends|37 BBY]], the time came for Maul's final test. Sidious sent him out to [[Hypori/Legends|Hypori]], where he was hunted by assassin droids for a month. At the end of the month, Maul found Sidious waiting at the mouth of a cave. He had not eaten for days, and was exhausted. Regardless, Sidious challenged Maul to a duel, in which he easily evaded each of Maul's attacks. He stood over the broken teenager, and told him that he had been preparing another apprentice, should Maul fail as he had. Enraged, Maul gathered all the dark side could offer within him and flew at Sidious with murderous intent. Sidious was caught off guard, but had managed to struggle through the onslaught before disarming Maul. Even without a weapon, Maul continued to attack, even going so far as to bite Sidious' hand before being ultimately defeated. Pleased, Sidious announced that Maul's training was complete, and that he was now a Sith Lord.<ref name="Star Wars Episode I Journal: Darth Maul" /><ref name="Wrath">''[[The Wrath of Darth Maul]]''</ref>

===The rise of Senator Palpatine (52&ndash;32 BBY)===
====The Death of Vidar Kim====
{{Quote|This Palpatine was a Rodian in Ewok's clothing!|Mon Mothma|<ref name="X-Wing: The Official Strategy Guide">''[[X-Wing: The Official Strategy Guide]]''</ref>}}
Around the year 52 BBY, as [[Seating new planets vote of 52 BBY|a critical vote]] on seating several "client worlds" of the Trade Federation approached, Darth Plagueis and Palpatine decided during a Gathering on Sojourn that the galaxy was ripe for more direct forms of manipulation. The stage of decadence required by the Grand Plan had been reached&mdash;disaffected with political corruption, both the citizens of the Republic and the beings of the lawless Rim yearned for strong central leadership; for tyranny. So, in order to place Palpatine in the Galactic Senate, Plagueis ordered his apprentice to arrange the assassination of Senator Vidar Kim. To this end, Palpatine availed himself to the services of a professional assassin named [[Sate Pestage/Legends|Sate Pestage]], a man who would later become one of his most trusted agents. Palpatine's only stipulation regarding Kim's assassination was that it be an obvious and publicly witnessed murder.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

When Senator Vidar Kim was assassinated by [[Unidentified female Maladian assassin|a never-identified]] [[Maladian]] gunman on a passing airspeeder in 52 BBY, the thirty-year-old Palpatine stood for election to succeed him. However, the assassination had nearly been a disaster thanks to the presence of Vidar Kim's son, Jedi Knight [[Ronhar Kim]]. The Maladian had attempted, for reasons unknown, to kill both Kims, and while she had succeeded in killing Vidar, Ronhar had escaped her attack and captured her. Fortunately for Palpatine, the assassin committed suicide before she could be interrogated by the Jedi Knight, and Palpatine's role in the affair was never revealed. The people of Naboo elected him as their sectorial Senator, to represent Naboo and the thirty-five other affiliated worlds of the [[Chommell sector/Legends|Chommell sector]].<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /><ref name="SWR64">[[Republic 64|''Republic'' 64]]</ref><ref name="SWR64" />

When Palpatine first came to [[Coruscant/Legends|Coruscant]] to begin his service in the Senate, a number of his personal effects came with him from Naboo, accompanied by a manifest. The manifest was submitted to [[Galactic Republic/Legends|Republic]] officials as part of a standard security scan. This procedure was mandatory for all equipment and furniture to enter the Senate building.<ref name="ROTS novel" /> One of these items was an abstract sculpture of [[Sistros]], one of the [[Four Sages of Dwartii/Legends|Four Sages of Dwartii]] (these were controversial philosopher-lawgivers who lived during the early days of the Republic&mdash;the others were [[Faya]], [[Yanjon]], and [[Braata]]).<ref name="Star Wars: Complete Locations">[[Star Wars: Complete Locations (2005)|''Star Wars: Complete Locations'']]</ref>

Palpatine's manifest clearly stated that this sculpture was a single piece of solid-forged [[Neuranium/Legends|neuranium]] with a [[Bronzium/Legends|bronzium]] finish. But the sculpture was not solid; it contained a small cylindrical cavity, in which rested one of his Sith lightsabers, sealed within the sculpture at the time of its forging. The security scan did not detect this cavity; neuranium was so dense that any piece more than a millimeter in thickness was impervious to sensors, and since nothing unusual was found in the scan, no one questioned it further. An advanced gravimetric detector would have revealed that one small section of the sculpture massed slightly less than it should have, but no one thought to use one at the time. The sculpture was admitted and placed in Palpatine's Senate offices (the floor had to be specially reinforced to bear its weight), and when Palpatine was elected Chancellor it was moved into the anteroom of his Suite in the Executive Office Building. Only after thirty-three years would Palpatine extract the blade within.<ref name="ROTS novel" /> In addition, he also gave his interior decorating the color crimson. He also used his family status as a convenient excuse for utilizing that as the color of choice (as his family prominently used crimson for their seal).<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

====The senator's first "friendship"====
{{Quote|Through me, you might have a voice in the shaping of the Republic. Through you, I better understand the Jedi and their ways.|Palpatine to Ronhar Kim|<ref name="SWR64" />}}
[[File:Palpy30.jpg|thumb|125px|Palpatine, at the time of his election as Senator of Naboo]]
The new representative of Chommell sector wasted no time in forming relationships that could help him in the future. The first was the son of the man whose death ensured his own election. Ronhar Kim, who had been with his father at the time of the assassination, had attended the funeral despite both having hardly known Vidar and having had little interest in forming a relationship with him. Palpatine approached the younger Kim even as he stood before his father's body, and under his mask of sorrow and condolence, he studied Kim carefully.<ref name="SWR64" /> But he said little; instead, he demonstrated an art that would serve him well, and give him access to the powerful: his ability to listen, to serve as a confidant for others.<ref name="Cloak of Deception">''[[Cloak of Deception]]''</ref>

During their conversation, it quickly became clear that, rather than finding whoever struck down the father he had barely known, Kim was more concerned about himself and his own choices in life. In fact, Ronhar appeared to be more preoccupied by his personal failure to detect and thwart the assassin than he was with the fact that his father was now dead. Vidar Kim, lacking any other living family, had wanted his son to honor his bloodline by following him into politics. With Ronhar apparently giving the matter some serious thought, Palpatine quickly suggested that for a Jedi to become a politician would be a waste. Instead, perhaps the best course would be an alliance ''between'' a Jedi ''and'' a politician.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /><ref name="SWR64" />

Kim agreed, and struck up a "friendship" that would last some three decades.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /><ref name="SWR64" /> Ronhar Kim would be the first of Palpatine's "alliances" with individual Jedi, but this particular alliance would be of great use. Kim would eventually be used as a pawn in a scheme that resulted in the creation of the feared [[Red Guard]]s ([[32 BBY/Legends|32 BBY]]), and his eventual death in battle on [[Merson]] ([[21 BBY/Legends|21 BBY]]) would be used as propaganda fuel to further Palpatine's war aims.<ref name="SWR64" />

====Palpatine in the Senate====
By the time Palpatine stepped onto the Senate floor for the first time in 52 BBY, he already knew that the prominent power-brokers in the Senate looked down their noses at the more provincial delegates, expecting little to nothing of importance from them. He knew that he, too, was lumped in with the other hopefuls from Rimward worlds, those who, having never ventured far from their homeworlds before, would in short order be overwhelmed by Coruscanti politics.<ref name="NEGC" />

Rather than do anything to prove the elites wrong, Palpatine encouraged them to keep thinking this way. Again, he failed to take advantage of opportunities that could have landed him on important advisory boards and powerful committees, and unless pressed, he never shared his observations with his colleagues.<ref name="ISB">''[[Imperial Sourcebook]]''</ref> Instead, he purposely sought to keep his advancement slow, knowing that the more he did so, the more harmless he seemed to potential rivals. The performance evidently worked; the powerful Senators, wrapped up in their own petty power struggles, initially laughed at the small and quiet provincial, and otherwise paid him no mind.<ref name="RPGCoreRB">''[[Star Wars Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook]]''</ref>

Palpatine surprised everyone as he became increasingly popular. He wrote extensively, his notes on power became popular texts among political and military science students. Soon, his theories became well known enough for them to be taught at leading universities throughout the galaxy. Despite this growing influence, Palpatine remained unassuming, and would spend many hours alone reflecting in his modest, yet well-appointed quarters. People remarked on how he remained a private man, rarely attending social functions, devoting all his time to his work. In fact, he spent much of his time in the training of Darth Maul and the furthering of his private Sith agendas;<ref name="NEGC" /> it was left to his senatorial aides and to droids, such as [[TC-4/Legends|TC-4]]<ref name="SWCP">''[[Star Wars Chronicles: The Prequels]]''</ref> to do much of the day-to-day work and maintain his guise as the mild-mannered representative of Naboo.<ref name="NEGC" />

After a little more than two standard months on Coruscant, the Senate convened to [[Seating new planets vote of 52 BBY|vote]] on whether or not to seat [[Felucia/Legends|Felucia]], [[Murkhana/Legends|Murkhana]] and half a dozen other planets. The vote was highly controversial as the planets in question were considered by many to be client worlds of the Trade Federation. Approaching the [[Senate Building]] on the day of the vote, Palpatine had a brief conversation with Senator [[Pax Teem]] of the [[Gran Protectorate/Legends|Gran Protectorate]], who eagerly anticipated the Trade Federation losing the vote and expected Palpatine to vote against the motion. Shortly afterwards, Palpatine met Plagueis (in his public guise as Hego Damask) and Ronhar Kim, who introduced him to [[Jedi Master/Legends|Jedi Masters]] [[Dooku/Legends|Dooku]] and [[Sifo-Dyas/Legends|Sifo-Dyas]]. As they spoke they were spotted by Teem, who realized Palpatine and Plagueis were working together: Teem had hated Plagueis for nearly ten years after the Sith Lord had supported [[Gardulla Besadii the Elder/Legends|Gardulla]] the [[Hutt/Legends|Hutt's]] plan for [[Boonta Eve Classic/Legends|a new podrace course]] on [[Tatooine/Legends|Tatooine]] and had financed the exploitation of Naboo's plasma reserves, both of which threatened to seriously affect [[Malastare/Legends|Malastare's]] finances.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

During the debate, Palpatine followed instructions from both King [[Bon Tapalo/Legends|Bon Tapalo]] and Darth Plagueis: Tapalo wished to placate domestic critics of Naboo's agreements with the Trade Federation, which many saw as corrupt and exploitative. Plagueis, meanwhile, wanted the new member-worlds to be caught in between a Republic that heavily taxed them and a Trade Federation that exploited them, in order to foment discontent and pave the way for a [[Separatist Crisis/Legends|future secession crisis]] that would destroy the Republic. Palpatine's speech addressed the issue of the Trade Federation gaining too much influence in the Senate, and the criticisms of Naboo's agreements with the Federation. He then implied that the Trade Federation may have been responsible for the death of Senator Kim, a vocal critic of Naboo's trade agreement, and concluded by declaring that in protest of the way the investigation into Kim's death had been handled, King Tapalo had instructed him to abstain from the vote.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

====Attempted abduction====
Palpatine's speech and abstention tipped the Trade Federation towards victory and the client worlds were subsequently seated in the Senate, where they indeed proved to be aligned with the Federation's interests. The speech was regarded as career-making by many: [[Supreme Chancellor/Legends|Supreme Chancellor]] [[Thoris Darus]] even sent Palpatine a personal message stating that he had instructed the [[Judiciary Committee/Legends|Judiciary Committee]] to use its wide-ranging powers to investigate the Kim assassination.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

In retribution, Pax Teem arranged with [[Santhe Security]] and a group of disgruntled [[Royal House of Naboo/Legends|Naboo nobles]] to organize the kidnap of Palpatine. Under the guise of a meeting with a lobbyist from [[Silvestri Trace Power]], Palpatine was lured to [[the Shimmersilk]] [[Restaurant/Legends|restaurant]] in [[the POTU]] before being escorted to the abandoned [[LiMerge Building|LiMerge Power Building]] in [[Sector 943|the Works]]. There Teem addressed him by [[Hologram/Legends|hologram]], declaring that he was aware of Palpatine's role in Bon Tapalo's election, the death of Vidar Kim, and of his relationship with Hego Damask. Before he could carry out his threat to kill Palpatine, however, the building was raided by Plagueis' [[Echani/Legends|Echani]] [[Sun Guard]]s: Plagueis had learned of the plan from [[Ars Veruna/Legends|Ars Veruna]] and had used his agents to encourage the kidnap so he could arrange Teem's death, as well as to give Palpatine another trial.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

However, Plagueis had been so focused on preventing his apprentice's kidnap that he had neglected his own safety: during the induction of [[Larsh Hill]] into the [[Order of the Canted Circle]] at the [[Fobosi District|Fobosi]] [[Lodge of the Order of the Canted Circle|Lodge]], the ceremony was [[Attack on the Lodge of the Canted Circle|attacked]] by [[Maladian]] assassins. [[Sate Pestage/Legends|Sate Pestage]] had learned of the operation from the commander of the team that had assassinated Vidar Kim, who was embarrassed at the complications that had surrounded Kim's death and wished to make amends. Pestage immediately informed Palpatine, who had in turn felt Plagueis' pain and anger in the Force. The two arrived at the Fobosi Lodge as Plagueis, gravely injured and barely holding himself conscious, was lashing out with the dark side against his attackers. All the others, including the Muuns who made up Damask Holdings, had been killed. Larsh Hill was the first victim of the attack, his head sliced from his neck.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

With the Sun Guard distracted following Teem's fake signal to the [[Panoply Orbital Facility]], Palpatine followed Pestage's information to the [[Gran Protectorate Embassy]], where Teem and his allies were celebrating the Sith Lords' assumed deaths. Palpatine proceeded to [[Massacre at the Gran Protectorate Embassy|slaughter]] every being present, saving Teem to last: using the Force, he [[Pyrokinesis|ignited]] the room's curtains and collapsed them on to the [[Gran/Legends|Gran]], burning Pax Teem to death.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

====Friends and allies====
[[File:Brazilian_Darth_Plagueis_Art.png|thumb|left|350px|Plagueis and Sidious, master and apprentice]]
Plagueis withdrew into seclusion in the aftermath of the attack, leaving Palpatine to be the main executor of the [[Grand Plan/Legends|Grand Plan]].<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> With his star rising on Coruscant, Senator Palpatine wasted no time in establishing relationships with respected public figures in key positions of government. As it grew, the list of friends included Senators both weak and powerful, military officers, members of the great organs of commerce, and even members of the Jedi Order. Many of those with whom he formed friendships would eventually have prominent positions in the Empire, the most loyal of whom were rewarded with power, prestige and gifts such as [[worldcraft]]s, personal artificial planetoids.<ref name="CS">''[[The Crystal Star]]''</ref> Others would meet radically different fates.

Palpatine served as part of a Republic task force sent to monitor the demilitarization of [[Ando/Legends|Ando]], where the two native species had resumed a long-standing feud over mining rights. It was here that he met [[Jorus C'baoth]], a Jedi who was also a member of the expedition. Palpatine took advantage of the encounter to establish what would become a long-standing "friendship" with C'baoth. Upon returning to Coruscant, they often met to discuss politics, philosophy, and the state of the Republic. Eventually, at Palpatine's request, the Jedi [[Council of Reassignment/Legends|Reassignment Council]] sent C'baoth to act as his [[Jedi Ambassador|personal advisor]], and C'baoth became part of his staff. One thing they discussed during their time together held promise for the future: they spoke of the [[Extragalactic Society|ExGal Society]], a small, dedicated group of [[Scientist/Legends|scientists]] studying the possibilities of life outside the galaxy, and the idea of an excursion beyond the [[Galactic Rim]]. It would be conversations like this that would result in the ill-fated ''Outbound Flight'' project.<ref name="Revised Core Rulebook">''[[Star Wars Roleplaying Game Revised Core Rulebook]]''</ref>

[[Janus Greejatus/Legends|Janus Greejatus]], then a politician on [[Chommell Minor/Legends|Chommell Minor]], had established himself as an isolationist&mdash;in fact his political language concealed a virulent anti-alien prejudice that stemmed from his earliest formative years&mdash;with a significant popular following on his homeworld. The [[Greejatus family]] had had friendly relations with House Palpatine of Naboo, and Cosinga Palpatine, based on the rapport he perceived between his son and Janus Greejatus, had decided to send Palpatine to stay with the Greejatuses in 65 BBY. Years later, Palpatine became senator, and Greejatus came to his attention as a result of his political achievements on Chommell Minor. Palpatine did not echo Greejatus's more divisive statements, understanding that they would only do harm to his own long-term plans, but he did see a use for Greejatus and took him under his wing.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> Palpatine's own feelings are a mystery, but Greejatus labored under the impression that theirs was a firm friendship. That friendship, if such it was, would endure for more than three decades.<ref name="Databank Greejatus">{{DB|character|janusgreejatus|Greejatus, Janus|archivedate=20100727084208}}</ref>

[[Commander/Legends|Commander]] [[Terrinald Screed/Legends|Terrinald Screed]], then a young officer in the Republic [[Judicial Department/Legends|Judicial Department]], was contacted by Palpatine, and found that his own ideas easily meshed with those of the Senator.<ref name="NEGC" /> With the coming of the New Order, Screed, now an Admiral, would become one of the highest-placed officers in the new Imperial Navy.<ref name="Databank Screed">{{DB|character|admiralscreed|Screed, Admiral|archivedate=20100210020053}}</ref>

Lieutenant Governor [[Wilhuff Tarkin/Legends|Wilhuff Tarkin]], a government official on Eriadu who was descended from a ruthless and ambitious family, was contacted by Darth Sidious, who convinced Tarkin that they actually shared many of the same sentiments on government. It is not known for certain if Tarkin ever was aware that Palpatine and Sidious were the same person, but he served both faithfully and long.<ref name="NEGC" /> Even as the New Order was inaugurated, Tarkin was placed in charge of the construction of Palpatine's most secret weapons projects.

Lord [[Crueya Vandron]], the head of a noble house in the [[Senex sector/Legends|Senex sector]], also secretly joined Palpatine's camp.<ref name="Cloak of Deception" /> After the Empire was inaugurated, Vandron would become an advisor and the head of [[Commission for the Preservation of the New Order/Legends|COMPNOR]].<ref name="ISB" />

In addition, Senator Palpatine brought his own loyal aides with him from Naboo and elsewhere. They served him in legitimate political and legal roles, but they also worked his will in darker and more secretive ways. It would be these functionaries who earned the greatest rewards (with the exception of Palpatine's Sith accomplices) that could be bestowed in the New Order. [[Sate Pestage/Legends|Sate Pestage]] was one of Palpatine's most useful assets, and perhaps his longest-serving ally. Initially, he was contracted by Sidious as an assassin, a profession that he apparently excelled at. After Pestage arranged the murder of Senator Vidar Kim on Palpatine's orders, Palpatine took him on as an aide, and Pestage would retain this dual function throughout Palpatine's rise to power. He typically performed the day-to-day duties of a senatorial aide, but he also was fully aware of Palpatine's secret identity of Darth Sidious and willingly served Sidious as a covert operative. Palpatine treated Pestage's colleague, [[Kinman Doriana]], in a similar fashion. Doriana had something of an unspoken wish to be a spy, and Sidious indulged this by assigning him to perform covert work, but unlike Pestage, Doriana was not informed of the secret connection between Sidious and Palpatine.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> As far as Doriana was aware, they were separate people, and he performed tasks for both without realizing the truth. [[Ars Dangor/Legends|Ars Dangor]] was also an aide to Senator Palpatine at this time.

====Destabilization====
{{Quote|Are you still with me, Plagueis? Yes, I detect that you are&mdash;though barely [&hellip;] I actually thought you would die on Sojourn&mdash;and you would have if the Hutt hadn't tipped you off to Veruna's scheme. And yet that also turned out for the best [&hellip;] If it's any consolation, I'm being honest when I say that I could not have succeeded without you. But now [&hellip;] I've no need for [you]. [&hellip;] I have Maul to do what the risk of discovery might not allow me to do, while I execute the rest of the Grand Plan: growing an army, fomenting rebellion and fabricating intergalactic war, corralling the Jedi and catching them unawares &hellip; Rest easy in your grave, Plagueis. In the end, I will be proclaimed Emperor. The Sith will have had their revenge, and I will rule the galaxy.|Darth Sidious to Darth Plagueis|<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />}}
In [[33 BBY/Legends|33 BBY]], Sidious's shadow ally, Lieutenant Governor Wilhuff Tarkin, helped Sidious to engineer the murder of the [[Trade Federation Directorate]], which were on Tarkin's homeworld of [[Eriadu/Legends|Eriadu]] for a [[Eriadu Trade Summit|trade summit]]. The pirate raids on the Trade Federation that had led to the summit had also been orchestrated by Palpatine, as was [[Nute Gunray/Legends|Nute Gunray's]] rise to power as [[Trade Federation Viceroy|Viceroy]].<ref name="Cloak of Deception" />

Shortly afterward, Palpatine secretly arranged to have several billion credits, believed to have been stolen by the criminal organization [[Nebula Front/Legends|Nebula Front]], funneled through the [[Bank of Aargau/Legends|Bank of Aargau]] and into the accounts of [[House Valorum/Legends|House Valorum]]. Sate Pestage ensured that the exchange was uncovered by Valorum's political enemy, Senator Orn Free Taa, who revealed it to the [[Internal Activities Committee/Legends|Internal Activities Committee]]. This action served to critically weaken Chancellor Finis Valorum's already tenuous hold on power.<ref name="Cloak of Deception" />

During this time, Sidious also made his first attempt on his master's life. Sidious, as Palpatine, contacted [[Ars Veruna/Legends|King Veruna]] of Naboo and manipulated him into allying with [[Black Sun/Legends|Black Sun]] and the [[Bando Gora/Legends|Bando Gora]] terrorist cult, which ultimately culminated with these groups [[Bombing of Sojourn|annihilating]] Damask's personal residence on [[Sojourn]] with a [[Nuclear bomb|nuclear weapon]]. However, Sidious had not anticipated that Plagueis had an ally in the form of the Hutt gangster [[Jabba Desilijic Tiure/Legends|Jabba Desilijic Tiure]], who warned him of Veruna's plans and enabled him to escape. He managed to cover up his involvement before Plagueis, and only revealed his role in the assassination plot a year later when he made a second, successful attempt on the life of his old master.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

Around the same time as the doomed trade summit, Palpatine and Plagueis arranged for Veruna to abdicate the Naboo throne, as a means to ensure the already irate Neimoidians would become even more enraged at the circumstances, and as revenge for his role in Plagueis' near death. Palpatine initially intended to send Maul to kill him, but Plagueis decided instead to personally ensure [[Ars Veruna#Dark Side death|his death]]. Due to this turn of events, Palpatine also was responsible for the [[Coronation of Padmé Amidala|coronation]] of Padmé Naberrie/Amidala.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

In 32 BBY, Sidious convinced the [[Neimoidian/Legends|Neimoidian]] leaders of the Trade Federation to blockade the planet Naboo, in protest of Senate resolution BR-0371,<ref name="Essential Chronology">[[The Essential Chronology (real-world book)|''The Essential Chronology'']]</ref> a measure that levied a tax on the major Rim trade routes. Sidious kept his identity of Palpatine unknown to the Neimoidians, although he revealed that he was a Sith Lord and made it quite clear that he held some power in the Senate.<ref name="Cloak of Deception" />

===Final preparations===
Before the first overt moves of the Grand plan could be initiated, Palpatine and Plagueis first had to deal with a variety of rogue dark side practitioners and organizations. The [[Sun Guard]]<ref name="END">{{Hyperspace|url=hyperspace/member/insideronline/88/indexp2.html|text=''Evil Never Dies: The Sith Dynasties''|int=Evil Never Dies: The Sith Dynasties|newurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604035610/http://www.starwars.com/hyperspace/member/insideronline/88/indexp2.html|newhost=Archive.org}}</ref> and the [[Dark Force]] practitioners were all brought into line, and under Palpatine's direct control. The Dark Force adherents, who were led by former Jedi Master [[Kadann]], would later be reorganized by Palpatine as the [[Prophets of the Dark Side]].<ref name="END" />

===The Naboo crisis (32 BBY)===

====The election of Palpatine====
When the Senate convened the following day to vote on the No Confidence motion, the outcome was a foregone conclusion. Valorum had few friends left, and the Senate so wanted him gone that they did not hesitate. Finis Valorum was swiftly voted out in a humiliating defeat. His political career in ruins, he spent years in seclusion, waiting for the public's distaste for him to wear off. When he finally realized just what role his removal had played in Palpatine's grander scheme, Valorum made one last small but brave attempt to hold back the avalanche, but by then it was too little, too late. Future generations, however, would look more kindly on him.

In his absence, the Senate voted for a successor. As Palpatine had hoped, Senator Taa nominated him as a third candidate alongside Antilles and Teem. Probably, neither Antilles nor Teem could garner enough votes to achieve an effective majority, especially when the recent murder of certain delegates had removed some decisive votes from the equation.<ref name="END" /> Rather than face a voting deadlock, the Senate eagerly embraced the third option. Antilles's supporters could take heart that Palpatine had seemingly kept his distance from the corrupt Senators during his tenure. Teem's supporters were encouraged by his apparent docility. Almost every faction in the Senate had become convinced that while he was incorruptible, he would work nonetheless to further ''their'' specific interests.

But the ultimate deciding factor, as Palpatine intended, was the groundswell of sympathy for the representative of besieged Naboo. Palpatine could rightfully claim that Valorum had promised to do all he could for Naboo in a time of crisis, and failed. Perhaps it was proper, many believed, that Palpatine himself should be given the chance to make things right. With such political weight behind him, Palpatine received the most votes by far,<ref name="CCW">''[[Coruscant and the Core Worlds]]''</ref> becoming Chancellor&mdash;the last being ever to hold the title&mdash;by an overwhelming margin. He promised to reunite the disaffected among the people and restore the remembered glories of the Republic.<ref name="EP4NOVEL">[[Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (novel)|''Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope'' novelization]]</ref>

===The Republic under Palpatine (32&ndash;24 BBY)===
Despite the outpouring of sympathy that had led to his election, Palpatine faced violent reactions to his appointment as Supreme Chancellor almost immediately after taking office. Shortly after his election, a strike force of revolutionaries broke into the Grand Convocation Chamber, ready to murder the new Chancellor. However, the Senate Guard managed to thwart the attack before Palpatine came to harm.<ref name="Power of the Jedi">{{HasbroCite|set=Star Wars: Power of the Jedi|pack=Coruscant Guard|altlink=https://www.rebelscum.com/potjcoruscantgrd.asp|archiveurl=https://archive.is/cHZYE}}</ref> During the eight years of his legitimate tenure, the new Chancellor kept himself busy. Much of this work was an intrigue that would eventually cause catastrophic bloodshed, the [[Clone Wars/Legends|Clone Wars]]. Besides that, he had other, small scale projects that further undermined the Jedi and the Republic they served, such as the [[Outbound Flight Project|''Outbound Flight'' Project]]. These plots were designed to whittle away the Jedi ranks, a few at a time, to make his task easier when the time came to [[Order 66/Legends|purge them entirely]].

====Palpatine and Mas Amedda====
One of Palpatine's first decisions as Chancellor was to maintain [[Mas Amedda/Legends|Mas Amedda]] as his vice chair and Speaker of the Senate. Amedda had gone to great lengths to persuade Senator Taa's clique to nominate Palpatine in the first place,<ref name="Cloak of Deception" /> and the Chagrian had performed exactly as expected. Amedda had been Valorum's friend, but he was loyal to his ideal of the Republic first, and to the Republic's laws and regulations. That strict adherence to the law had hamstrung Valorum as Palpatine had expected, and Palpatine saw that Amedda had the potential to remain useful in the long run. Amedda, like so many others, mistook Palpatine's mild temperament for malleability, and saw a unique opportunity to manipulate Palpatine into bringing the Republic back to what he had envisioned it had been, and Palpatine encouraged this naïveté: in his first years in office the new Chancellor made himself appear open to suggestion, enacting some legislation that Amedda brought to his desk.

But while he kept his mask on in Amedda's presence, Palpatine was also gathering information on the [[Chagrian/Legends|Chagrian]] to use as leverage. Shortly after the destruction of ''Outbound Flight'' in [[27 BBY/Legends|27 BBY]], a project for which Amedda had passionately lobbied, Palpatine revealed to Amedda that he had ordered the mission's destruction and, furthermore, that he was actually a Sith Lord, Darth Sidious, sworn enemy of the Republic and the Jedi Order. At this point it was far too late for Amedda to tell anyone; Palpatine had enough incriminating material on him to keep him muzzled for life. Palpatine explained that he had known all along that Amedda and others had tried to manipulate him, but in truth, he had manipulated them, pitting them against each other. With little choice, Amedda became a willing member of the conspiracy.<ref name="Star Wars Insider 96">[[Star Wars Insider 96|''Star Wars Insider'' 96]]</ref> With the coming of the New Order, he would continue to serve Palpatine and keep his secrets, not paying too much heed to the thought that, eventually, his knowledge would make him more a liability than an asset.<ref name="NEGAS" />

====Palpatine and Janus Greejatus====
Palpatine's ascension to the position of Chancellor left a small problem; someone had to assume the now-vacant position of representative for Chommell sector in the Senate. He used his influence to promote the election of [[Janus Greejatus/Legends|Janus Greejatus]] from Chommell Minor, one of his political allies. Greejatus had long since demonstrated that he had a keen political mind, and though Palpatine could not be seen embracing it openly, Greejatus's anti-alien isolationism can be presumed to have served Palpatine's purposes. Still, the election did not long stand; his isolationism was at odds with Naboo's newfound multicultural stance, and prominent political voices on Naboo cleared their proverbial throats almost immediately. Eventually, Greejatus was replaced in about [[30 BBY/Legends|30 BBY]] by [[Horace Vancil/Legends|Horace Vancil]] of Naboo, but Palpatine continued to keep him close, making Greejatus one of his advisors.<ref name="Databank Greejatus" />

====The offices of the new chancellor====
[[File:Palpatine-ROTS.jpg|thumb|230px|Chancellor Palpatine and his art of choice, used as hiding places for his dark artifacts]]
Palpatine maintained his private senatorial apartment at ''500 Republica'' as his main residence, but according to custom he also moved into the Chancellor's Suite in the [[Republic Executive Building]]. Exercising the traditional prerogative to decorate the office as he saw fit, he purged all traces of Finis Valorum from it and made it practically a mirror image of his apartment. Within weeks, no one who had spent any time in the Suite during the Valorum government would have recognized it. Yet again he hid his Sith nature in plain sight; the color red now dominated the decor, and priceless ''objects d'art''&mdash;many of them Sith heirlooms too obscure to be recognized as such&mdash;were moved in.<ref name="Star Wars: Complete Locations" />

Two of these additions to the decor were of particular importance. The first was a new Chair of Office, black, throne-like, armored with ultra-dense [[Lanthanide/Legends|lanthanide]] alloy. This chair, with certain modifications, would be his seat of power for more than four decades, and copies of it would be installed in every ship, outpost, and facility Palpatine was likely to visit. The second, and even more important piece, was a [[Neuranium/Legends|neuranium]] sculpture of [[Sistros]], concealing one of his Sith lightsabers, sealed within the sculpture at the time of its forging. This he placed in the anteroom. Other reserve blades, and his black cloak and hood, he concealed in other art objects or in shielded compartments throughout the Suite, until the time when he would at last put them to use.

====The coming of the Red Guard====
[[File:Ronhar_and_the_Assassin.jpg|thumb|left|100px|Ronhar Kim foils a false assassination attempt on Chancellor Palpatine.]]
It was around this time the controversial and crimson-robed Chancellor's Guard, or simply [[Red Guard]], first appeared. The impetus for the Guard originated with a [[Captain/Legends|Captain]] [[Prid Shan]] of the [[Senate Guard/Legends|Senate Guard]]. As potential threats to the Chancellor's person increased, Shan began demanding that the Senate provide additional funding to upgrade the equipment and training of the Guards, and assign a Guard detachment strictly to the protection of the Chancellor.<ref name="SWG10">{{GamerCite|10|Galactic Power Brokers}}</ref> Publicly, Palpatine feigned embarrassment at the notion of trained soldiers specifically protecting his person. In truth, however, he wanted just such a bodyguard unit, but could not afford to be seen as directly advocating one. A personal guard for a chief of state was seen as a violation of the Republic's principles, and some in the Senate objected. The solution was to create a situation where one could be ''forced'' on him, so he devised a means to validate Shan's claims.

Palpatine decided to use his "friend," the Jedi Ronhar Kim&mdash;son of his late predecessor as Naboo's representative, as the catalyst for his plan. He arranged for Kim to be present during a terrified warning from Senator [[Viento]] that Palpatine's proposed reforms had angered some enough to want him dead. At that moment, the Senate Guards flanking him raised their rifles. As Palpatine expected, Kim quickly neutralized them, but they killed themselves with a fast-acting poison before they could be properly questioned. The Senate Guard was seen to have failed at a crucial moment, and Captain Shan's words, backed by the voices of Viento and other Senators, now had enough weight to carry the argument forward.

The Red Guards&mdash;later to be known as the feared Emperor's Royal Guards&mdash;were quickly formed and placed under Palpatine's personal authority. Throughout the years both leading up to and during the New Order, he was rarely seen outside their company. As he would do many times, he saw to it that their design inspired fear in any who saw them. Their distinctive crimson robes and armor were based not only on those of the Senate Guard, but on two other, far more ferocious units: the [[Death Watch/Legends|Death Watch]] of the [[Mandalore system/Legends|Mandalore system]] and the Thyrsus Sun Guards he had long ago consolidated under his own authority. In fact, by the time Palpatine was inaugurated as Emperor, more than a few of the fanatical Sun Guards&mdash;those that he had not by then eliminated&mdash;had found their way into the ranks of the Red Guards.<ref name="END" /> As expected, there was some criticism, but the gradual passage of new security laws and the rise of the Separatist threat kept that criticism to a minimum.

====The clone army====
Many years before Palpatine ascended to the Chancellorship, he and Darth Plagueis had conceived of starting a civil war to bring down the Jedi and the Republic. Initially, Plagueis's plan was to use a cloned army of [[Yinchorri]] to fight against the Jedi in this manufactured war, as the Yinchorri had a natural resistance to Force-based telepathy and their natural behavior tended towards extreme savagery. However, the [[Kaminoan/Legends|Kaminoans]] who were to create the army informed Plagueis that a Yinchorri subject would not make for a suitable template; their brains were not evolutionarily sophisticated enough to accommodate the behavioral modifications that Plagueis desired for his soldiers. Taking one of Palpatine's suggestions in mind, Plagueis scrapped the idea to use a Yinchorri template and instead implemented a plan to clone a human army to fight ''alongside'' the Jedi, rather than against them. However, Plagueis knew that he could not be the one to commission such an army. If the Jedi or the Republic were to discover that a corporate power-broker like his alter ego, Hego Damask, had commissioned an army, it could lead to questions that might expose the Sith. He would have to find a proxy to act through, preferably a Jedi in order to give the project an additional smokescreen. That proxy would ultimately present itself in the form of Jedi Master [[Sifo-Dyas/Legends|Sifo-Dyas]].

Sifo-Dyas and Plagueis had met seemingly by chance at a negotiation on Serenno. Plagueis had learned that Jedi Master Dooku would be acting as arbiter between the two opposing parties, and had gone to Serenno to evaluate Dooku's potential usefulness to the Sith. While analyzing Dooku, he took note of the fact that Sifo-Dyas, who had accompanied Dooku, was extremely concerned about the political climate of the galaxy at large. Citing the dangerous levels of civil unrest of the Outer Rim systems, Plagueis initiated a conversation with Sifo-Dyas about the fact that the Republic was completely unprepared to go to war if it became necessary. He saw that Sifo-Dyas was just as aware of the Senate's corruption as Dooku, but was far more afraid for the Republic's future than Dooku was. Plagueis realized that he could use Sifo-Dyas's fear to manipulate the Jedi Master into helping create the army the Sith required. However, before he could snare Sifo-Dyas, he was interrupted by the arrival of Jedi Master [[Jocasta Nu/Legends|Jocasta Nu]], and let the matter drop.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

Years later, in 32 BBY, a gathering was hosted by Supreme Chancellor [[Finis Valorum/Legends|Finis Valorum]] on Coruscant in which Sifo-Dyas happened to be in attendance alongside fellow Jedi [[Yoda/Legends|Yoda]], [[Mace Windu/Legends|Mace Windu]], [[Adi Gallia/Legends|Adi Gallia]], and [[Jorus C'baoth]]. With the galaxy seemingly on the brink of civil war, Sifo-Dyas's concerns had become all the more urgent, and the Jedi Council was apparently no more willing to take action than it had been when last he met Plagueis. Once again, Plagueis approached Sifo-Dyas, and began a discussion with him concerning the fact that many of the disenfranchised Outer Rim systems were a hair's breadth away from declaring independence. To make matters worse, Plagueis "revealed" that many of his wealthy clients were pushing to further militarize their corporate enterprises in order to capitalize on the situation. Plagueis argued that, in light of this increasing instability and corruption, a military capable of defending the Republic needed to be created now, while there was still a chance. Sifo-Dyas agreed with Plagueis's analysis, but believed that there existed no practically available course of action by which to either create or secure a military. However, Plagueis informed him that there existed a group of cloners on [[Kamino/Legends|Kamino]] who would be able to grow an army and hold it in reserve until it was needed. He proposed that, if Sifo-Dyas was willing to place the order for the army in his name, Plagueis, as Hego Damask, would provide the funds necessary for the creation and training of said army. He also made it clear to Sifo-Dyas that, due to the continued existence of the [[Ruusan Reformation]]s, neither the Senate nor the Jedi Council could be informed of the order lest the project be terminated. The Jedi Master was at first skeptical, but promised to give the proposal serious consideration.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

At some point shortly after Dooku's resignation from the Jedi Order, Sifo-Dyas approached the Kaminoans and requested that they create a clone army for the Republic. With the funds provided by [[Damask Holdings/Legends|Damask Holdings]] despite the fact that Plagueis had recently died, Sifo-Dyas paid the Kaminoans. However, to make absolutely sure that the existence of the clone army never came to the attention of the Jedi or the Republic, Sifo-Dyas had to die, a task that would fall to Dooku. Dooku carried out the murder, killing his old friend and cementing his allegiance to the dark side. By betraying and killing Sifo-Dyas, he had also fulfilled the ancient covenant that prescribed the murder of one who was close as a measure of commitment to the Sith cause. In the wake of Sifo-Dyas's death, Dooku gained full control of the cloning project for the Sith, using Sifo-Dyas's name as a cover.<ref name="Jedi vs. Sith" />

Seeing that Dooku had embraced the dark side, Sidious awarded him the Sith name and title of Darth Tyranus.<ref name="LOE" /> But the cloning project still stood, so Tyranus carried on where Sifo-Dyas left off. Until he had been silenced, Sifo-Dyas had kept the project a secret. To ensure that it ''stayed'' one, Dooku erased all records of the planet Kamino from the [[Jedi Archives/Legends|Jedi Archives]], along with thirty-seven additional systems, including [[Dagobah/Legends|Dagobah]] and [[Dromund]], that Sidious had judged to be of potential value to the Sith. Interestingly, he accomplished this task ''after'' his official resignation from the Jedi Order.<ref name="Revenge of the Sith: Incredible Cross-Sections">''[[Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Incredible Cross-Sections]]''</ref>

Tyranus's second task was to find a source of DNA for this clone army. To ensure that the clones could challenge the Sith's enemies when the time was right, their template had to have exceptional combat instincts, supplemented by superb training and experience. Sidious ordered his new apprentice to find someone who fit this criteria. After much consideration and a brutal trial, Tyranus determined that [[Jango Fett/Legends|Jango Fett]], the last survivor of the old Mandalorian shock troopers, would be the perfect candidate. Tyranus offered Fett a generous payment for serving as the Kaminoans' prime clone. Fett accepted, on the condition that, in addition to the credits, he received an unaltered clone of himself, whom he would make his own [[Boba Fett/Legends|son]] and apprentice. Tyranus agreed, and the foundation was laid for Palpatine's legions of stormtroopers, the force that would help Palpatine build an Empire out of a tattered Republic.

====The Separatist Crisis====
{{Quote|I will not let this Republic that has stood for a thousand years be split in two. My negotiations will not fail.''"<br />"''If they do, you must realize there aren't enough Jedi to protect the Republic. We're keepers of the peace, not soldiers.|Palpatine and Mace Windu|<ref name="Episode II" />}}
[[File:Reassuring_Smile.jpg|thumb|150px|Palpatine's reassuring smile gave hope to the citizens of the Republic during the Clone Wars.]]
Palpatine had now completed his two four-year terms as Chancellor, and his clone army was nearly at the ready. The time was ripe for the commencement of the penultimate stroke of the Grand Plan. Throughout Palpatine's career as a Sith Lord, he, Plagueis, and Dooku had thrown the galaxy into chaos. Through careful manipulation of the Senate, various intragalactic criminal organizations, and the Republic's commercial and financial institutions, many systems of the Outer and Mid Rims were festering with hatred and resentment of the decadent Core Worlds and the corrupt Senate. Disenfranchised, poor, exploited and lawless, many of these worlds began to sound the rallying cry that they should break from the Republic. With a civil war virtually inevitable, Palpatine rushed to make sure he was in complete control of the impending conflict. Ultimately, he intended to use it to cement his hold on power and eliminate the Jedi Order.

====The rise of the Separatist movement====
{{Quote|Master Yoda, do you think it will really come to war?''"<br />"''The dark side clouds everything. Impossible to see, the future is.|Palpatine and Yoda|<ref name="Episode II" />}}
Under Palpatine's direction, Count Dooku united several commercial organizations&mdash;foremost among them the Trade Federation that had been Sidious's tool for seizing the Chancellorship&mdash;into the Confederacy of Independent Systems, forging the Separatist movement in 24 BBY. These organizations pledged the massive armies they had used to protect their profits to Dooku, thus making the Confederacy capable of overthrowing the Republic, and a threat in the eyes of the Senate.

Palpatine arranged for Dooku to construct the revolutionary government at the end of his term limit as Chancellor. Due to this, the oblivious Senate granted him an indefinite extra term in office&mdash;canceling the 24 BBY Galactic Republic Chancery election&mdash;to settle the Separatist Crisis. But the movement continued to strengthen, despite Palpatine's "attempts" at peaceful negotiations, including the formation of the [[Loyalist Committee/Legends|Loyalist Committee]], an organization of Senators that wanted to keep the Republic together and preserve its principles.

====The false "peace initiative"====
{{Quote|There are many on both sides of this grand debate eager to turn this dispute into war. It needn't degenerate into so wasteful an outcome. Together, we have the intelligence and the reason to find an alternative solution.|Palpatine on the HoloNet, addressing the Separatists|HoloNet News Vol. 531 48}}
[[File:Palpatine_to_Separatists_-_Let's_Talk.png|thumb|left|250px|Chancellor Palpatine appears on the HoloNet, offering an open invitation to Count Dooku to parley.]]
As the crisis expanded, Palpatine staged yet another "public relations" drama in which he could perform his favored role of the hurt innocent, offering from a position of strength the hand of peace. In 13:3:21, trillions upon trillions of HoloNet viewers across the galaxy found their regular programming interrupted by a signal that overrode all government channels and 90% of the private feeds. In a brief twelve-minute address, Palpatine offered an open invitation to Dooku to parley.

As he spoke, he did everything he could to keep up the appearance of the wronged party, assuming the moral high ground by forgiving his enemy. Even at this late hour, he said, he was willing to discuss a diplomatic solution. Little plays like this would be useful later; when the time for war came, he could say that he had done his best to prevent it, putting his own credibility as Chancellor at risk for it.

At the end of the address, he proposed [[Bothawui/Legends|Bothawui]], a neutral world, as a potential site for a conference. For "security reasons," he named no date, but announced that all avenues of communication to his office were open to Dooku. It did not matter; Sidious and Tyranus had planned in advance that there should be no response, and that, as a result, the Separatists would be seen as implacable, unreasonable. And the next time any violence was blamed on the Separatists, the militarists in the Senate could rightly claim that negotiation with such radicals was impossible, and the call for an army would become louder still.<ref name="HNN">[[HoloNet News/Legends|''HoloNet News'']]</ref>

===Clone Wars (22&ndash;19 BBY)===
{{Quote|The Force is with us, Master Sidious.''"<br />"''Welcome home, Lord Tyranus. You have done well.''"<br />"''I have good news for you, my lord&hellip; the war has begun.''"<br />"''Excellent! Everything is going as planned.|Darth Tyranus reporting to Sidious|<ref name="Episode II" />}}
[[File:Sith_lair_The_Works.png|thumb|250px|Darth Sidious and Darth Tyranus meet on Coruscant just after the outbreak of the Clone Wars.]]
In the aftermath of the [[First Battle of Geonosis/Legends|Republic victory]] against the Separatists on [[Geonosis/Legends|Geonosis]], Darth Tyranus escaped from the planet and eluded the Republic forces until reaching the last place anyone would think to look for him&mdash;Coruscant. Upon reaching the secret lair of Darth Sidious, Tyranus assured his Sith master that their long-awaited plot was finally in motion with the beginning of the war. Sidious expressed satisfaction and congratulated his apprentice, noting that all was proceeding according to his plan for the future. To that end, Tyranus also left the [[Death Star plans/Legends|secret schematics]] for the [[DS-1 Orbital Battle Station/Legends|ultimate weapon]] in the hands of his master to better ensure that they would not be discovered by the Jedi Order.<ref name="Episode II" />

The great project that took more than ten years in the making&mdash;the first full-scale conflict in a thousand years, and one of the most destructive in history&mdash;began on the right foot for Darth Sidious, the mastermind behind all of it. In his guise as Chancellor Palpatine, Sidious had at his command a force of well-trained, well-equipped soldiers answerable ultimately to him, and sweeping discretionary powers to use as he saw fit, which undermined the Constitution to an unprecedented degree. With an army of unquestioningly loyal soldiers in one hand, and extraordinary political powers in the other, Sidious put both of his greatest assets to work in the long and bloody conflict that history remembered as the Clone Wars. On the surface, it was seen as the Republic's effort to suppress the militant Separatist movement. In actuality, it was a war waged against the Republic itself by its own head of state.<ref name="Episode II" />

[[File:Parade.png|thumb|left|250px|Chancellor Palpatine watches with several senators as his new army marches before him.]]
The Separatist threat to the Galactic Republic, a danger that no one had ever truly had to fear for over a thousand years, caused the vast majority of the Republic citizenry to rally around their leader, Chancellor Palpatine, in support of protecting and preserving the Republic as the single and most dominant force in the galaxy. The Chancellor's public support increased to high levels as the war escalated with the Separatists. [[Sub-Adult Group/Legends|SAGroup]], a Republic youth organization and a sub-branch of the [[Commission for the Protection of the Republic/Legends|Commission for the Protection of the Republic]], was composed of adolescent loyalists who strongly supported and admired Palpatine, which they often displayed by holding public rallies to express pride in the Republic.<ref name="RepublicHoloNet">''[[Republic HoloNet News Core Edition 14:9:04]]''</ref>

A short time after the start of war Palpatine was informed by Quarsh Panaka about the secret wedding between Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala. He kept this information in secret to him-self, intending to use it in the future to carry Anakin to the Dark Side.<ref name="ROTS VD">''[[Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary]]''</ref>

====From diplomat to despot====
Throughout the Clone Wars, Palpatine continued to consolidate his power, stripping the Senate of an ever-increasing amount of its authority. More and more amendments were made to the Constitution in the name of security, all of them transferring more and more power to Palpatine, including Statute 312b, which gave more weight to votes cast by Senators from Core and Inner Rim worlds, those whose support of Palpatine was more dependable, than those from Rim worlds.

[[File:70RepublicYouthSpeechFinal.jpg|thumb|250px|Public support for Chancellor Palpatine stood at an all time high because of his leadership during the Clone Wars.]]
At the onset of the Clone Wars, Chancellor Palpatine gradually secured his dictatorial hold over the Republic while simultaneously maintaining his façade as a defender of democracy and an ally of the Jedi Order. At the same time, he continued to control the Confederacy from behind the scenes as Darth Sidious, mainly through his apprentice, Darth Tyranus, who also hid behind his own public disguise as Count Dooku.

Together, the two Sith Lords plotted an [[First Battle of Kamino|assault on Kamino]]. Although the Separatists hoped to gain an early advantage in the war by destroying the Republic's main supply of clone soldiers, the true purpose of the battle was to hinder the advantages of both the Republic and the Confederacy. While relatively intact, the cloning facilities suffered damage during the battle. As for the Confederacy, their advance strike team was lost along with many of their top commanders. Ultimately, both sides were weakened by the losses sustained in the Battle of Kamino, thus ensuring the galaxy would be locked in conflict for years. As a countermeasure to the Republic's Jedi Order, Dooku also started training a cadre of [[Dark Acolyte/Legends|Dark Acolytes]] to help with the war effort and the Sith reemergence.

Palpatine used his considerable skills at manipulation and subterfuge to play the Jedi and the Confederacy against one another. On one notable occasion, he issued secret orders to both [[Ki-Adi-Mundi/Legends|Ki-Adi-Mundi]] and [[Aayla Secura/Legends|Aayla Secura]], and as Sidious, to Dooku, for each to complete a mission on the planet [[Hitaka]]. Each mission's success depended on that of the other, with the end result being that Secura and Ki-Adi-Mundi were kept distracted by their mission long enough for Dooku to complete his own assignment.<ref name="CoC">{{CWACite|10|Chain of Command (comic)|Chain of Command}}</ref>

====The "Reflex Amendment"====
One notable wartime constitutional amendment that gave particular teeth to Palpatine's emergency powers was [[Reflex Amendment/Legends|Emergency Amendment 121b]], dubbed the "Reflex Amendment" by both supporters and critics because it was claimed by those in favor that the amendment would decrease the Republic's response time when dealing with Separatist attacks. The public justification was that 121b was necessary to compensate for the problem of overlapping jurisdictions in engagements where the battle spread across more than one system and thereby involved more than one local defense force. As usual, his supporter, Ask Aak, did the oratorical legwork by thundering in the Senate about the amendment's virtues. In truth, 121b was simply a ploy to begin the process of giving Palpatine and his handpicked officials control over sector- and system-based defense forces. With its passage, officials appointed by Palpatine's military council were moved in to replace the commanding officers of several key loyalist forces. The opposition had hoped in vain for a solution that would have allowed for equal cooperation between local forces and the Army of the Republic; what they failed to realize was that cooperation had nothing to do with it. Amendment 121b was a crucial step toward the eventual absorption of all local defense forces into the GAR (20 BBY), without which the awesome [[Imperial Military/Legends|Imperial armed forces]] could not have been possible.<ref name="14:10:03">''[[Republic HoloNet News Core Edition 14:10:03]]''</ref>

====The disappearance of Seti Ashgad====
{{Quote|Senator Seti Ashgad has disappeared, days after he protested the installation of the Senate's new cam droids. Palpatine's office says the timing is merely a coincidence.|Republic HoloNet News|<ref name="NEGD" />}}
As Palpatine called for even more extensive security measures, more and more Senators began to balk. One of these was [[Seti Ashgad/Legends|Seti Ashgad]], a former hyperdrive engineer who had designed the first [[Z-95 Headhunter/Legends|Z-95 Headhunter]] starfighter and then used his fame to get elected to the Senate. Ashgad, often called the "Golden Tempter," was charismatic, charming, easygoing, and skilled in marshaling support. Had Palpatine not made his own move to oust Valorum and become Chancellor, Ashgad might have done so himself.<ref name="POT">''[[Planet of Twilight]]''</ref> For this reason alone, Palpatine had him closely watched; the playboy courtier [[Sarcev Quest]], actually Palpatine's spy and close confidant, kept a close eye on Ashgad.<ref name="SWG5">''[[Star Wars Gamer 5]]''</ref> And when Ashgad argued (21 BBY) against the installation of new surveillance cam droids in the Senate building, Palpatine acted. Ashgad was abducted by Sidious's agents and secretly exiled to [[Nam Chorios/Legends|Nam Chorios]], the site of a former penal colony.

Thus the public was told of the Golden Tempter's unexpected departure. By all rights, a dispute over holocams was hardly cause to make him disappear. After all, others like [[Bail Prestor Organa/Legends|Bail Organa]] had opposed the measure also. But Ashgad was a cut above. More than Organa, Fang Zar, or [[Mon Mothma/Legends|Mon Mothma]], Ashgad's case demanded a stronger answer than the strictly political measures Palpatine was employing against the others. The Golden Tempter could easily persuade others to support him. Perhaps, given time and room to maneuver, Ashgad might have even gained enough support to propose a [[Vote of No Confidence/Legends|Vote of No Confidence]] against Palpatine. Evidently, Sidious, with his uncanny gift to see potential futures, decided to pinch off this particular future at the very beginning. Thus, Ashgad was left to rot on a desolate planet, under a sky in perpetual twilight.<ref name="POT" />

====The assassination attempt on Bail Organa====
Palpatine had plans for Bail Organa as well. Organa was less dangerous&mdash;for the present&mdash;than Ashgad had been, but he too was a prominent Senator who had been stymieing Palpatine's attempts to consolidate his power. As with Ashgad, Palpatine judged that it was better to weed out such potential threats early rather than late. The opposition had recently managed to table discussion (21 BBY) on the [[Enhanced Security and Enforcement Act]], a bill which, if passed, would centralize even greater power in his hands. An "incident" that claimed the life of a public figure such as Organa might serve to rouse the Senate and get the bill passed (not to mention removing another obstacle from Palpatine's path).

Organa and his entourage were traveling back to the capital following an emergency personal visit to his homeworld of Alderaan. Sidious made arrangements for pirates to attack Organa's cruiser while en route. The marauders succeeded in boarding the vessel and were but a corridor away from reaching Organa himself, but the unexpected intervention of a pair of Jedi fighter squadrons forced the pirates to withdraw. Many of them were conveniently destroyed before they could escape, or be captured and forced to talk. It was enough to pave the way for Palpatine to reintroduce the Security and Enforcement Act. Indeed, the Senate was so offended by the attack that they "insisted" it be reintroduced.

====The re-emergence of Finis Valorum====
[[File:Palpatine_NEGTC.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Palpatine during the later years of his Chancellorship]]
At this point, Palpatine's predecessor, Finis Valorum, suddenly reappeared. Valorum had observed Palpatine's activities, both public and private, from a distance, and had taken particular note of how the Chancellor's opponents, like Ashgad, had a habit of disappearing. Possibly the Enforcement Act had been the last straw, and forced Valorum to action. But Palpatine had ears everywhere, even in the simple custodial droids working in Bail Organa's residence at [[Cantham House/Legends|Cantham House]]. As such, when Valorum came to visit Organa there, it was not long before tirades from him reached the Chancellor's desk.

The next morning Organa appeared at the Chancellor's Suite to insist that under no circumstances would he support the Enforcement Act, and that in fact he would ''oppose'' Palpatine on it. The Chancellor said nothing about it, but he did see fit to tip just enough of his hand concerning Valorum to put Organa on edge.

Lord Sidious decided on Valorum's death; his reputation was tarnished, but much had changed in the eleven years since Valorum's downfall. Having seen what Palpatine's election had ultimately led to, some Senators would be far more sympathetic to Valorum, more willing to listen. The simple solution was to silence him now, while he was still seen as an embittered political has-been who no one would truly care about. However, his disposal could be put to useful ends.

====The ''Star of Iskin'' terrorist incident====
The events behind the explosion in 21 BBY that destroyed the freighter ''[[Star of Iskin]]'' and killed everyone aboard, including Finis Valorum, were not known until a Jedi investigation uncovered the details. The actual bombing was carried out by [[Sajé Tasha]], an [[Anzat (species)|Anzati]] assassin based on Coruscant who frequently performed high-end political murders. Either by himself or through his apprentice Darth Tyranus, Sidious instructed [[Sora Bulq/Legends|Sora Bulq]], one of Tyranus's acolytes, to work with the corrupt Senator [[Viento]] to hire Tasha.

Once Valorum boarded the ship, Tasha drew him off to a place of privacy. As an Anzati, it was not enough to kill him; she had to drink his "soup" as well. But the wounds left by Anzati proboscises were distinctive, and it wouldn't do for his body to be discovered with such marks in his [[Sinuses|sinus cavities]]. Such a clue could lead to Tasha, and ultimately to Sidious. Placing a powerful explosive in a sensitive area of the ship solved the matter. In fact, considering how Palpatine exploited the incident, it is likely that Tasha was ''ordered'' to destroy the ship; he ''needed'' an incident to justify passage of the Enforcement Act. Since the pirate attack on Organa's cruiser had failed, a terrorist incident in the capital city itself would do a better job.

As ''Star of Iskin'' climbed away from the docks and into the Coruscanti sky, Tasha's bomb detonated, and the freighter faltered and dropped. It finally came to rest with such violence that it buried itself into the pavement of [[Jrade Plaza]]. And with it, in addition to the thousands of dead, was buried a specific corpse that was so charred that no traces of Anzati proboscises would be found on it, if the body could be picked out of the wreckage at all.

====The Enhanced Security and Enforcement Act====
[[File:Palpatine-TCW.jpg|thumb|180px|Chancellor Palpatine during the Clone Wars]]
The effects of the tragedy were everything Palpatine could have wished; the day after the incident, Senator [[Ask Aak/Legends|Ask Aak]] took the floor and harangued the assembly in support of the resolution. Aak insisted that the role of any government is to protect its citizens, and a government incapable of doing so should be provided with the necessary tools. Aak yielded the floor to thunderous applause. It remained only for Palpatine to call for silence and, as ever, modestly accept what they were more than willing to give him.

Bail Organa chose this moment to have his voice heard. Palpatine had expected that Organa would try to block him, and decided in advance to just let the man have his say. To muzzle him now would only lend his cause credibility. So when Mas Amedda attempted to put the matter to rest by claiming that Organa was not officially registered to speak, Palpatine held him back, then stood there, composed, as Organa shouted down the many accusations of treason and tried valiantly to stop him.

Thus Organa had declared himself as an open enemy. The Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of the resolution, and the Enhanced Security and Enforcement Act became the law of the Republic. But Palpatine still maintained the appearance of the mild-mannered politician who was magnanimous to his opponents, in victory or defeat. After the Senate had adjourned, he approached Organa and Mon Mothma and offered his good-natured congratulations. He could not be faulted if the Red Guards flanking him, their masked faces fixed on Organa, gave his kind words the flavor of a threat.

Palpatine left them behind, his guards in tow. Behind him, he knew, they would be discussing their next move against him, but he was unconcerned. After the conspicuous losses of Ashgad and Valorum, one upon the other, it would be too obvious if he arranged for Organa and Mothma to disappear as well, but he had well-tried political weapons at his disposal. And he would need them; Organa had committed himself to blocking Palpatine at every juncture. It was not yet a fight requiring arms and soldiers; Organa too used his natural weapons, his political and oratorical skills. Though he had lost his respect for Palpatine, it would be a long time before he could be made to consider armed insurrection.

====The trap on Vjun====
At around this time, Sidious and Tyranus arranged a trap for Master Yoda. Dooku sent a message to Yoda, stating that he had gone too far and that Yoda should come to meet him on [[Vjun/Legends|Vjun]] to discuss peace. In reality, Dooku simply intended to kill Yoda. To reinforce the plan, Palpatine sent Skywalker and Kenobi to Vjun, as well.<ref name="YDR">''[[Yoda: Dark Rendezvous]]''</ref>

In Dooku's headquarters at [[Château Malreaux]], Yoda attempted to convince Dooku to renounce Sidious. Just as Dooku appeared to consider the offer, he was informed that Skywalker and Kenobi had arrived: Palpatine's backup plan should Dooku appear to be swayed. Accusing Yoda of betrayal, Dooku escaped, remaining staunchly on Sidious' side.<ref name="YDR" />

====Sith plottings====
Palpatine worked his double roles as Supreme Chancellor of the Republic and Darth Sidious, Dark Lord of the Sith, throughout the war. This allowed him to control the ar on both sides, and deceive both sides. He organized at least one large-scale terrorist attack against Coruscant, which ended up severely injuring Obi-Wan Kenobi, and used the ensuing mayhem and destruction to take Bail Organa and Padmé Amidala on a personal tour of the wreckage. In his endless endeavors to drive would-be apprentice Anakin Skywalker to the dark side, Palpatine had hoped to either kill Kenobi earlier in the day, or perhaps drive Organa and Amidala close enough to one another to induce extra-marital affairs. Although neither option proved feasible, Palpatine was able to use scare tactics and the horrific images of the day to send the Senators into support of a proposed law to grant himself the ability to spy on members of the Republic for security reasons, bringing him one step closer to his ideal goal of Emperor. Not totally satiated by this new grasp of power, Palpatine organized the leak of information about the Sith to reach Organa, sending him and Kenobi on a mission to the dark side planet [[Zigoola]] in hopes of getting them killed. Despite all of the Supreme Chancellor's forethought and planning, both men were able to escape the mission alive with the destruction of the [[Zigoola Sith temple]] as a solid Jedi victory. Palpatine was thrown not only by the loss but by his inability to foresee the outcome of the mission and prevent its success. Nonetheless, he continued on with his outward politician's face and continued his inward struggle of plotting the downfall of the Republic.<ref name="Wild Space">''[[The Clone Wars: Wild Space]]''</ref>

====Hutt negotiations====
{{Quote|Soon, the Jedi will not only be at war with you, Count, but with the Hutt clan as well.|Darth Sidious, to Darth Tyranus and Asajj Ventress|audio=WithTheHuttClanAsWell-TCWf.ogg|<ref name="Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film)">[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film)|''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' film]]</ref>}}
A few months after Anakin Skywalker's [[Knighting ceremony/Legends|knighthood]], Palpatine helped engineer a Separatist plot to turn Jabba the Hutt against the Republic by kidnapping his son [[Rotta/Legends|Rotta]] and framing the Jedi for it. Padmé came to him and learned that Anakin was being framed by the Hutts and though Palpatine advised against it, she left to contact [[Ziro Desilijic Tiure/Legends|Ziro]], Jabba's uncle. Padmé learned that Ziro conspired with Dooku and explained the situation to Jabba. The plan failed as a result, but the outcome also suited Sidious' ends, since Jabba placed Hutt hyperspace routes at the Republic's disposal.<ref name="TCW novel">[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (novelization)|''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' novelization]]</ref>

After the [[Battle of the Kaliida Nebula/Legends|Battle of the Kaliida Nebula]] in 21 BBY,<ref name="Annual">''[[Star Wars Annual 2011]]''</ref> Palpatine became familiar with the resourceful clone trooper [[Breakout Squad]], which was led by the Chiss Padawan [[Nuru Kungurama]]. He asked them to go to the [[Chiss Ascendancy/Legends|Chiss Ascendancy]] to meet with [[Aristocra/Legends|Aristocra]] [[Sev'eere'nuruodo]] to discuss an alliance between the Chiss and the Republic. After the mission went awry, Breakout Squad was able to escape.<ref name="SM2">''[[The Clone Wars: Secret Missions 2: Curse of the Black Hole Pirates]]''</ref> the Chancellor then called upon their services again to escort [[Kynachi]]'s [[Commissioner/Legends|Commissioner]], [[Langu Sommilor]], and suggested the [[Mission to Vaced|meet on]] [[Vaced/Legends|Vaced]].<ref name="SM3">''[[The Clone Wars: Secret Missions 3: Duel at Shattered Rock]]''</ref> When they finally arrived on Coruscant, Palpatine was on hand to meet them at the Senate Building. The Chancellor later had a secret meeting with the Aristocra, which ended with the Aristocra leaving, having declined to secure an alliance and sharing her concerns that there was a conspiracy to overthrow the Republic.<ref name="SM4">''[[The Clone Wars: Secret Missions 4: Guardians of the Chiss Key]]''</ref> Palpatine later asked Grand Master Yoda to assign Breakout Squad the mission to escort [[Noggox]] the Hutt's [[Freighter/Legends|freighter]], which was carrying vital cargo. Palpatine later congratulated the mission's participants for their service but at the time, Kungurama was unavailable.<ref name="Strange Allies">''[[The Clone Wars: Strange Allies]]''</ref>

====Gunray's capture====
{{Quote|Ventress? You are putting a great deal of faith in an operative who has ''failed'' us in the past.''"<br />"''She is a gifted assassin. You have my word she will complete her mission to the letter.''"<br />"''Very well. You may proceed.|Darth Sidious and Count Dooku|<ref name="Cloak of Darkness">{{TCW|Cloak of Darkness}}</ref>}}
[[File:Palpatine_contacts_Rodia.png|thumb|left|250px|Chancellor Palpatine praises Senator Amidala for capturing Viceroy Gunray.]]
In a stunning turn of events, [[Viceroy/Legends|Viceroy]] Nute Gunray was captured by Senator Amidala and Representative Binks during the duo's mission to Rodia. When Commander [[CC-1004/Legends|Gree]] and his clone troopers arrived to take custody over the valuable prisoner, Chancellor Palpatine conferred with Senator Amidala via holographic transmission. Outwardly, he was very pleased to see that not only was Rodia secured once more in the Republic's fold, but also that the Republic finally had a member of the [[Separatist Council]] under arrest. Inwardly, Palpatine was furious with the setback and immediately plotted to counter the unexpected development before it could pose a threat to him or his plans.<ref name="Bombad Jedi">{{TCW|Bombad Jedi}}</ref>

While Gunray was in the process of being transported back to Coruscant, Darth Sidious discussed the potentially dangerous situation with Count Dooku via hologram. The Dark Lord was well aware that the weak-willed Neimoidian would be no challenge for the Jedi to break under interrogation. Thus, he felt threatened by Gunray's status as the Jedi's prisoner due to all of the secrets that they could learn from the Viceroy. Dooku informed his master that he was already prepared with a counter plan; the [[Dark Jedi/Legends|Dark Jedi]] [[Asajj Ventress/Legends|Asajj Ventress]] would infiltrate the [[Tranquility/Legends|''Tranquility'']] where Gunray was held. Her objective would be to retrieve the Neimoidian alive if possible, or to silence him if necessary. Sidious was initially less than enthusiastic about his apprentice's strategy. He found it odd that Dooku placed so much faith in an assassin who had a record of failing the Sith Lords on numerous occasions.<ref name="Cloak of Darkness" />

The count assured his master with his very word that Ventress would be sufficient in completing the crucial objective. Despite his lack of confidence in Ventress's abilities, the Dark Lord ultimately authorized the count to proceed with the plan. After Sidious disconnected his holographic transmission, Ventress entered the bridge of [[Count Dooku's frigate/Legends|the count's ship]]. Unwilling to risk incurring Darth Sidious' anger, Dooku strongly emphasized to Ventress the importance of breaking her track record of failures by succeeding in her latest assignment. The young assassin eagerly anticipated the success of her mission and saw it as the perfect opportunity to redeem herself in the eyes of both Sith Lords.<ref name="Cloak of Darkness" />

[[File:Sidious_Dooku_Talk_2.png|thumb|250px|Darth Sidious confers with Count Dooku on Viceroy Gunray's capture.]]
Meanwhile on the ''Tranquility'', Gunray was in the process of being interrogated by Jedi Master [[Luminara Unduli/Legends|Luminara Unduli]] and [[Ahsoka Tano/Legends|Ahsoka Tano]], the young Padawan of Anakin Skywalker. While under the pressure of Unduli's mind probing and Tano's threats, the viceroy hinted at his connection to Darth Sidious, referring to himself as an innocent pawn in a much larger scheme. Yet his fear of the Dark Lord far outweighed his fear of the Jedi, thus causing Gunray to withhold any further information from his interrogators.<ref name="Cloak of Darkness" />

In spite of all her previous failures in the past, Ventress ironically executed Count Dooku's plan to perfection. Her infiltration of the Republic [[Venator-class Star Destroyer/Legends|Star Destroyer]] with a small force of Separatist battle droids caught the Jedi and clones completely by surprise. After an intense, fiery battle with the two Jedi and their clone troopers, Ventress succeeded in retrieving Viceroy Gunray with the aid of Captain [[Faro Argyus/Legends|Faro Argyus]], an officer of an [[Senate Commando/Legends|elite force]] within the Senate Guard and a traitor to the Republic. By releasing Gunray from captivity, Ventress deprived the Jedi of their greatest asset at uncovering more facts regarding the otherwise mysterious Darth Sidious, thus maintaining the Dark Lord's advantage over the [[Jedi Order/Legends|Jedi Order]].<ref name="Cloak of Darkness" />

====Force children====
{{Quote|I foresee an army of Force talented spies in my service. Trained in the Dark Side to peer into every corner of the galaxy from afar. And my enemies will be helpless against such vision.|Darth Sidious|<ref name="Children of the Force">{{TCW|Children of the Force}}</ref>}}
[[File:Bane_and_Sidious.png|thumb|left|250px|Darth Sidious and Cad Bane discuss the Dark Lord's plan to abduct Force-sensitive children.]]
Darth Sidious's next plot involved the valuable [[Kyber memory crystal/Legends|kyber memory crystal]], held by the Jedi [[Bolla Ropal/Legends|Bolla Ropal]]. The crystal held the names of every Force-sensitive child in the galaxy&mdash;the future younglings of the Jedi Order. Sidious intended to rob the Jedi Order of its future by kidnapping the children and molding them into his personal spies, trained in the dark side, to watch over his enemies from afar. To accomplish this scheme, Sidious needed a holocron from the vaults of the Jedi Temple in order to access the crystal's information. He hired the galaxy's deadliest bounty hunter, [[Cad Bane/Legends|Cad Bane]], to infiltrate the Temple and steal a holocron, contacting him via hologram at his Coruscant hideout. Bane was at first reluctant, as even he knew that the Temple was almost impossible to break in to undetected. Sidious suggested that Bane's legendary reputation may have been exaggerated to goad the hunter.<ref name="Holocron Heist">{{TCW|Holocron Heist}}</ref>

His attack on Bane's pride had the desired effect, though Bane demanded an [[Xanadu Blood/Legends|elite starfighter]] and three times his usual price. Not concerned with the hunter's heightened request, Sidious also provided Bane with detailed schematics of the Temple's security infrastructure. With assistance from [[Cato Parasitti/Legends|Cato Parasitti]] and [[Todo 360/Legends|Todo 360]], Bane successfully stole a holocron and slipped away before the Jedi could apprehend him.<ref name="Holocron Heist" />

The next part of his assignment required the bounty hunter to seek out Master Ropal on planet [[Devaron/Legends|Devaron]]. Sidious gave Bane command of the droid ground forces, allowing him to overwhelm the Rodian Jedi's clone forces before taking him prisoner. Acting upon a direct order from the Dark Lord, Viceroy Gunray dispatched a Separatist fleet to assist Bane in his departure from the planet. Just as they were about to leave Devaron, Republic assault ships commanded by Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano came to block their escape. The Jedi pair's arrival worked to Bane's advantage, however, since only a Jedi could activate a holocron; Master Ropal was accidentally killed when Bane tried to coerce his compliance through torture. Due to Tano's recklessness, Bane was able to use her to convince Skywalker to access the holocron. After Tano's master complied, Bane inserted the crystal into the holocron, and thus received the list of all known Force-sensitive infants and their locations throughout the galaxy.<ref name="Cargo of Doom">{{TCW|Cargo of Doom}}</ref>

[[File:SidiousMustafarForceChildren.png|thumb|250px|Darth Sidious overseeing his Mustafar facility via hologram]]
After fleeing from the doomed Separatist ship, Bane retreated to his hideout, [[Black Stall Station/Legends|Black Stall Station]]. Contacting the Darth Sidious through a holographic transmission, Bane reported his success and inquired about the details of his next assignment. Sidious revealed that the purpose of stealing the crystal and holocron was that he needed test subjects for an experiment.<ref name="Children of the Force" />

Thus, he instructed Bane to use the list and acquire four children who were strong in the Force. Due to the level of secrecy surrounding the project, Sidious told Bane to bring the children to the Dark Lord's [[Damask Holdings Mustafar accounting facility|secret facility]] on [[Mustafar/Legends|Mustafar]]. Disguising himself as a Jedi, Bane successfully kidnapped two out of the four required children, [[Zinn Toa/Legends|Zinn Toa]] of [[Glee Anselm/Legends|Glee Anselm]], and [[Wee Dunn/Legends|Wee Dunn]] of [[Rodia/Legends|Rodia]].<ref name="Children of the Force" />

In possession of two of his four test subjects, Sidious waited while Bane hunted down two more infants. At the same time, he used his alter ego as Chancellor Palpatine to keep an eye on the Jedi's efforts to stop Bane. As Palpatine, he learned from the Jedi that Bane was captured on Naboo. Skywalker and Tano returned to Coruscant to provide an update on their activities to Chancellor, who insisted on speaking with Skywalker alone while Tano waited outside of the Chancellor's office. The young Jedi confided in Palpatine about how he suspected that a far more powerful individual than either Cad Bane or Count Dooku was orchestrating the abduction of Force-sensitive infants. When Palpatine asked if the Jedi had any suspects to vindicate such suspicions, Skywalker explained that the true culprit's identity remained a complete mystery. Satisfied that the Jedi were no closer to discovering his Sith persona, Palpatine merely encouraged Skywalker to have patience.<ref name="Children of the Force" />

[[File:CreepyNannySidious-CotF.jpg|thumb|left|230px|Darth Sidious foresaw a future where an army of Darksiders serve as his spies and assassins.]]
Afterward, Darth Sidious observed the two captured children on Mustafar via hologram with great enthusiasm. Believing that their the Jedi would simply waste the infants' talents, Sidious took it upon himself to mold them into [[Dark Side Adept|agents]] of the dark side&mdash;a vanguard of the Dark Lord's [[Emperor's Hand/Legends|cadre of Force-sensitive spies and assassins]]. In his vision of the future, Sidious foresaw an army of [[Darksider]]s who would act as his eyes and ears throughout the galaxy, utilizing the dark side to enforce his will. Hence, he commanded [[RO-Z67/Legends|RO-Z67]] and another [[Nanny droid/Legends|nanny droid]] to surgically operate on the children in order to make them better suited to his purposes for them. The droid informed him that such young subjects rarely survived the procedure. Sidious merely saw the matter as a trial run to see how successful the procedure would be at an early stage. Sidious said the risk was necessary Even if the procedure failed, Sidious knew that he could simply start over by kidnapping more Force-sensitive children that he could experiment on until the procedure was perfected. Overall, he stood with nothing to lose and everything to gain.<ref name="Children of the Force" />

As the Dark Lord watched over the surgery about to be performed, RO-Z67 informed him that a starship was approaching, and that it did not belong to Cad Bane. Skywalker and Tano discovered that Bane had visited Mustafar by examining his ship's records, and had thus taken it upon themselves to rescue the children. Sidious was genuinely surprised by the turn of events as he neither anticipated nor foresaw their discovery of the children's location on Mustafar. To protect his project and secret identity, Sidious ordered the droids to remove the children to an alternate site and to destroy the facility, thus erasing any evidence of his activities on Mustafar. Despite the droids' efforts, Skywalker and Tano managed to rescue the children while the facility was in the process of falling into the planet's molten lava surface.<ref name="Children of the Force" />

====The Zillo Beast incident====
{{Quote|Doctor, a word if you please. Your new orders.''"<br />"''What is this? You want me to clone the beast?|Chancellor Palpatine and Sionver Boll, shortly after the death of the Zillo Beast|<ref name="The Zillo Beast Strikes Back">{{TCW|The Zillo Beast Strikes Back}}</ref>}}
[[File:PalpatineDrBollZilloBeast.png|thumb|250px|Palpatine and Sionver Boll overlook a hologram of the Zillo Beast.]]
Chancellor Palpatine played an integral part during the events of the [[Battle of Malastare/Legends|Battle of Malastare]], closely advising Jedi Master Mace Windu, Anakin Skywalker, and [[Doctor/Legends|Doctor]] [[Sionver Boll/Legends|Sionver Boll]] in aiding the [[Dug/Legends|Dugs]] against a Separatist attack. Although the Republic was committed to preventing the Dugs' homeworld from falling to the Separatists, their true motive was to secure a treaty that would grant the Republic use of [[Malastare/Legends|Malastare's]] fuel to support the war effort. The battle on Malastare was also a convenient test site for the Chancellor's new weapon, an electro-proton bomb, developed by Dr. Boll. The primary advantage of the bomb was its ability to completely decimate an entire droid army; everything electronic would be shut down if caught within the blast radius. Thus, its effects would be devastating to the Separatists' droid armies, but harmless to the Republic's Jedi and clone forces.<ref name="The Zillo Beast">{{TCW|The Zillo Beast}}</ref>

After activating the bomb, the weapon proved to be as effective as the Chancellor anticipated. All Separatist droids were deactivated, and although the Republic's military arsenals and vehicles were shut down as well, their clone operatives were unharmed as expected. Due to the effects of the bomb, however, Palpatine's holographic communication with Malastare was cut off, and thus he did not witness the side-effect of the blast&mdash;a massive crater was opened at the site where the bomb was activated.<ref name="The Zillo Beast" />

Chancellor Palpatine's next communication with the group was an urgent message from Windu, Skywalker and Boll, stating that the blast had woken the [[Zillo Beast/Legends|Zillo Beast]], an ancient creature from Dug history that was long thought to be extinct. The revelation of the Zillo Beast, possibly the last of its kind, presented a diplomatic dilemma for the Republic and the Jedi. The Dugs adamantly refused to sign the treaty unless the beast was dead, the Jedi way would not allow Windu to condone the killing of an innocent life form, and Chancellor Palpatine wanted the treaty signed while simultaneously securing the Zillo Beast alive. With Dr. Boll's assurance that the study of the Zillo Beast could greatly aid the Republic war effort, the Chancellor sanctioned Skywalker's plan to incapacitate the creature, which would also fool the Dugs into believing that it was dead. The next phase of the plan would be to transport the beast to a safe location where it could continue to live under the supervision of Dr. Boll.<ref name="The Zillo Beast" />

Through painstaking efforts and the stun rays of the Republic's [[RX-200 Falchion-class assault tank/Legends|RX-200 Falchion-class assault tanks]], the Jedi succeeded in sending the Zillo Beast into a deep coma. Convinced that the creature was truly dead, the Dugs honored their promise to sign the treaty, thus bringing Malastare onto the side of the Republic in the Clone Wars. Before the beast was transported off of the planet, however, Palpatine altered his orders and instructed the Jedi to return to Coruscant with the Zillo Beast for study. Mace Windu was especially shocked by the order, but was forced to grudgingly comply despite his reservations of transporting the creature to the Galactic Capital.<ref name="The Zillo Beast" />

[[File:Zillo_Beast_snacks.png|thumb|left|250px|The Zillo Beast spots Palpatine and his escape shuttle's pilot.]]
The Supreme Chancellor oversaw the Zillo Beast's transportation to Coruscant, and personally greeted the Dr. Boll and the Jedi as they returned with the sedated creature in tow. Although Windu once again voiced his concern and objection to the Chancellor's course of action, Palpatine half-heartedly assured the Jedi Master that it was a difficult decision that would be well worth the risk if the creature's secrets increased the Republic's chances of defeating the Separatists.<ref name="The Zillo Beast Strikes Back" />

Shortly afterward, Dr. Boll reported to Chancellor Palpatine that the preliminary testing was slow and lacked results due to the severe pain that the Zillo Beast would endure under experimentation. Unconcerned with its well-being, the Chancellor merely ordered the doctor to kill the creature to continue her study without further complications. The Zillo Beast glared hatefully at the Chancellor, especially when he referred to it as a "simple animal." He also inadvertently exposed his Sith nature to the Zillo Beast. Although Dr. Boll was appalled at the thought of killing the last of a possibly sentient race, she professed her loyalty to the Chancellor and complied with his order to use the Malastarian fuel as a poison to kill the beast.<ref name="The Zillo Beast Strikes Back" />

Later, in his [[Chancellor's Suite|office]], Palpatine was confronted by Senator Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker. Though initially annoyed at the lack of secrecy over the Zillo Beast project, he indulged the senator's concerns by debating the merit and pitfalls of destroying the beast. While entertaining Amidala's arguments, however, he ordered Dr. Boll to commence with the creature's termination as soon as possible. He justified his actions to Senator Amidala, who believed that it was immoral to kill the creature, by pointing out that it was also immoral to not take every advantage that was needed to bring an end to a war that saw a rising casualty rate amongst the citizens that the Chancellor was charged to protect. He argued that the life of one animal was a small price to pay if the rewards saved countless lives in the long run. The Chancellor was also clearly pleased to see that Skywalker shared his opinion on the matter, much to the surprise and annoyance of Amidala.<ref name="The Zillo Beast Strikes Back" />

When Dr. Boll attempted to complete her orders, she soon discovered that the amount of toxins she utilized was not sufficient to kill the creature. Nevertheless, the Zillo Beast endured a great deal of pain. To the scientist's surprise, however, the beast channeled its pain into a source of strength and rage, thus allowing it to break free of its restraints. The clone security forces proved to be utterly inadequate at containing the creature, which then went on a rampage through Coruscant in a hunt for the man who ordered its liquidation. It soon found its target at the [[Republic Executive Building]]. Unable to rely on his own powers without revealing his true self to Skywalker and Amidala, Palpatine decided on fleeing from the beast before it could put a premature end to his plans for the future.<ref name="The Zillo Beast Strikes Back" />

[[File:ForceBarrier-ZBSB.png|thumb|250px|The Jedi saved Palpatine's life during the Zillo Beast incident on Coruscant.]]
Palpatine then led Skywalker and Amidala, as well as their droids [[R2-D2/Legends|R2-D2]] and C-3PO, to his personal [[H-2 executive shuttle/Legends|executive shuttle]] piloted by a [[Unidentified Senate Commando (Zillo Beast incident)/Legends|commando]] of the Senate Guard. Just as they took off, however, the shuttle was caught in the beast's grip. Skywalker then used his lightsaber to cut the shuttle in half in order to escape. Although he, Amidala and the droids succeeded in exiting the shuttle without injury, Palpatine and his pilot were still trapped by the beast until [[Grand Master/Legends|Grand Master]] Yoda and [[Aayla Secura/Legends|Aayla Secura]] provided a sufficient distraction to allow the Chancellor to escape from his damaged shuttle. At the Senate Commando's insistence, the Chancellor used R2-D2 to flee from the Zillo Beast just before the commando was killed in its path. As it pursued its target, Palpatine ordered the [[Low Altitude Assault Transport/Legends|gunships]] to use the gas bombs. Dr. Boll's massive increase in the amount of toxins proved effective and the Zillo Beast was rendered utterly helpless as the clones mercilessly unleashed one volley of gas bombs after another upon the creature. As the gas cloud began to spread, Skywalker, Yoda and Secura used the Force to protect themselves, Palpatine and Amidala from the harmful effects of the Malastarian gas. As the Jedi looked on in regret, the Zillo Beast, confused, in pain and dying, succumbed to the toxin and fell from the Executive Building to its death below.<ref name="The Zillo Beast Strikes Back" />

The next day, the Zillo Beast's lifeless body was in the process of being carted away. Even Skywalker, who was initially in favor of terminating the beast, came to lament its tragic death because of the Republic's mistakes. The Chancellor, escorted by a group of Senate Guards, assured the Jedi and Senator Amidala that the beast's death would not be in vain. As he departed ways with them, however, he presented Dr. Boll with a new order to [[Cloning/Legends|clone]] the Zillo Beast for further scientific purposes.<ref name="The Zillo Beast Strikes Back" />

====The Death Watch====
{{Quote|Sadly, Deputy Minister Jerec perished this morning in a Death Watch bombing on Kalevala. Let us ensure that his death was not in vain. Let us commit our military might to defending the Mandalorian people.|Chancellor Palpatine, addressing the Galactic Senate|<ref name="DoM">{{TCW|Duchess of Mandalore}}</ref>}}
[[File:PalpandMas-DoM.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Palpatine and Mas Amedda push for Republic intervention on Mandalore in the Galactic Senate.]]
When [[Duke/Legends|Duchess]] [[Satine Kryze/Legends|Satine Kryze]] of [[Mandalore/Legends|Mandalore]] made a voyage to Coruscant to plead that the Death Watch remain a matter of internal [[Mandalorian/Legends|Mandalorian]] affair, Chancellor Palpatine spearheaded the movement in the Senate that called for military intervention against the radical organization. Their platform was based on the increasing acts of violence conducted by the Death Watch, as well as Mandalore's unreliability at resolving a crisis on their own. While the Senate was in session, Duchess Kryze implored the senators to allow the Mandalorians to maintain their policy of neutrality in the Clone Wars and to handle the Death Watch situation without Republic assistance. The Chancellor defended his position by pointing out Kryze's inability to curb the escalating threat of Death Watch.<ref name="DoM" />

Palpatine then revealed a holographic recording of [[Deputy Minister/Legends|Deputy Minister]] [[Jerec (Deputy Minister)|Jerec]], who accused Kryze of acting out of pride by rejecting Republic aid and that Death Watch was far too out of control for the Mandalorians to handle alone. The hologram effectively discredited Kryze's entire argument, thus securing an early victory for Palpatine's position of Republic occupation on Mandalore. The Senate concluded its session after the Chancellor announced that the vote would be conducted in the next session.<ref name="DoM" />

Shortly after the Senate concluded its session, Dutchess Kryze met with Chancellor Palpatine and [[Vice Chair/Legends|Vice Chair]] [[Mas Amedda/Legends|Mas Amedda]] at the [[Republic Executive Building]] where she informed them of an attempt on her life. Despite asserting that someone was trying to assassinate her, the Chancellor refused to conduct an investigation due to the lack of evidence to support her claim. In truth, Palpatine merely distracted her in his [[Chancellor's Suite|office]] while the occupation vote was passed in the [[Grand Convocation Chamber]]. Due to the attempt on Duchess Kryze's life, many in the Senate believed that the Death Watch was responsible, thus motivating them to vote on the matter ahead of schedule. Much to the Duchess's dismay, the vote was passed with an overwhelming majority support for Republic military assistance.<ref name="DoM" />

But when Duchess Satine Kryze, with the aid of the Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, discovered that the recording of Jerec was an altered version of his last speech before the [[Bombing on Kalevala/Legends|Bombing on Kalevala]], Senator [[Padmé Amidala/Legends|Padmé Amidala]] agreed to present the true recording to the Senate before the [[Grand Army of the Republic/Legends|Grand Army]] could be dispatched to Mandalore. While addressing the Senate on their Mandalorian agenda, Chancellor Palpatine was interrupted by Senator Amidala, who then displayed the full recording of Deputy Minister Jerec. The Senate was shocked to learn that it had been fooled by a tampered version of Jerec's speech, whose true position was the same as Duchess Kryze. Palpatine was visibly caught off guard for moment, but then smiled as though he approved of the unexpected revelation. As a result, the Grand Army's mission to Mandalore was called off when the Senate repealed its vote in an emergency session.<ref name="DoM" />

Back in the Chancellor's office, Palpatine thanked Amidala for the new information that eliminated the need for Mandalore's occupation. The senator deferred credit to Duchess Satine Kryze, whose actions ultimately allowed the Mandalorians to continue their neutral policy. Palpatine apologized to the duchess for the recent series of events and praised her for her loyalty to the Galactic Republic. Shortly afterward, the Chancellor oversaw the execution of the Senate's decision with Vice Chair Amedda and Senator Amidala.<ref name="DoM" />

====Senate hostage crisis====
{{Quote|You were foolish to think you could get away with this, bounty hunter! Now, lay down your arms and come quietly.''"<br />"''No, Chancellor. I'm afraid it is you who has been foolish&hellip;with your senators' lives. One false move, and the East Wing of the Senate Building goes up in smoke.|Chancellor Palpatine and Cad Bane|audio=SenateHostageCrisisPartingGift.ogg|<ref name="Hostage Crisis">{{TCW|Hostage Crisis}}</ref>}}
[[File:BaneGreetsChancellor-HC.png|thumb|250px|Chancellor Palpatine and Senator Orn Free Taa speak to Cad Bane during the hostage crisis.]]
During the [[Senate hostage crisis/Legends|Senate hostage crisis]], Chancellor Palpatine was in his [[Chancellor's Suite|office]] when a group of [[Bounty hunter/Legends|bounty hunters]] infiltrated the [[Republic Executive Building]]. Led by a notorious mercenary known as Cad Bane, the group killed a squad of Senate Commandos under the command of Captain [[Jayfon/Legends|Jayfon]] and took a group of senators hostage, including Padmé Amidala and Bail Organa. When Senator [[Orn Free Taa/Legends|Orn Free Taa]] informed the Chancellor of the mercenaries' intrusion, Cad Bane contacted Palpatine via hologram and threatened to execute the senators unless the prisoner [[Ziro Desilijic Tiure/Legends|Ziro Desilijic Tiure]] was released from the [[Republic Judiciary Central Detention Center/Legends|Central Detention Center]]. When Palpatine refused to be strong-armed into freeing the Hutt criminal, Bane had the Executive Building's power shut down. Due to the resulting emergency lockdown, Palpatine and Taa were trapped in the office with their external communications disabled.<ref name="Hostage Crisis" />

While trapped inside of his office, the Chancellor received a secret transmission from the [[Jedi Knight/Legends|Jedi Knight]] Anakin Skywalker, who had been in the building at the same time when the crisis broke out. Palpatine informed Skywalker of the situation, and the young Jedi attempted to resolve the situation before Palpatine was forced to release Ziro. But due to Skywalker's failure and capture, Palpatine agreed to provide a [[Pardon disc/Legends|pardon disc]], which he then gave to a reluctant Senator Taa along with the task of overseeing the end of Ziro's incarceration. On Taa's orders, however, a unit of [[Coruscant Guard/Legends|Coruscant Guard]] [[Clone trooper/Legends|troopers]] broke through the [[Transparisteel/Legends|transparisteel]] [[Window/Legends|window]] of Palpatine's office and secured the Chancellor. Outside on a landing platform, a pair of [[Low Altitude Assault Transport/infantry/Legends|LAAT/i gunships]] arrived at the prison compound, and Coruscant Guard troopers led by [[Clone trooper commander|Commander]] [[CC-1010/Legends|Fox]] piled out and cornered the bounty hunters.<ref name="Hostage Crisis" />

Palpatine contacted Bane and ordered him to surrender, but the bounty hunter revealed the still-trapped senators, and in order to keep them safe, Palpatine reluctantly relinquished his attempts to apprehend Bane. Commander Fox ordered his clone forces to stand down, allowing Bane and his team to leave with Ziro. Back in the [[Senate East Wing/Legends|East Wing]] of the Executive Building, Skywalker succeeded in saving the senators before Bane's [[Thermal detonator/Legends|thermal detonator]] could kill them. By then, however, it was too late for Palpatine to prevent the bounty hunters' escape from Coruscant.<ref name="Hostage Crisis" />

====Eliminating Ventress====
{{Quote|I would hate to think that you are training your own Sith apprentice to destroy me.''"<br />"''Never! I am loyal to you and you alone!''"<br />"''Then you must prove it&hellip; ''Eliminate her''.|Darth Sidious and Darth Tyranus|<ref name="Nightsisters">{{TCW|Nightsisters (episode)|Nightsisters}}</ref>}}
[[File:LordSidiousCommands-Nightsisters.png|thumb|left|250px|Sidious orders Tyranus to eliminate Ventress.]]
As the Clone Wars progressed according to Darth Sidious's design, [[Asajj Ventress/Legends|Asajj Ventress]] steadily grew in strength through her increasing connection to the dark side of the Force. Despite her constant failures, Darth Tyranus considered her as one of his most dependable assassins. But through the Force, Sidious had learned of Ventress's improved skills and began to suspect his apprentice of violating the [[Rule of Two/Legends|Rule of Two]]. Through a holographic transmission, Sidious accused Tyranus of harboring ambitions to overthrow the reigning Dark Lord of the Sith by secretly training Ventress as a Sith apprentice. Tyranus appeared shocked and vehemently denied the accusation, swearing that his loyalty was unquestionably to his Master and their cause. Unmoved by his apprentice's apparent display of subservience, the Dark Lord commanded Tyranus to prove his allegiance by severing all connections to her, mainly by ensuring her death. When Tyranus tried to vouch for his assassin by stressing her importance to the Sith, Sidious became enraged and simply reiterated his command. With his Master's mind clearly made up, Tyranus could do nothing other than obey Sidious's command.<ref name="Nightsisters" />

Shortly after receiving his new orders, Tyranus was contacted by Ventress, who sought assistance in her fight against Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. By then, however, Tyranus had already recalled Ventress's reinforcements. He declared that her latest failure would be the last one as she was no longer his apprentice. After the destruction of the [[Providence-class carrier/destroyer|''Providence''-class destroyer]] that Ventress was trapped on, Tyranus assumed that his former disciple was dead. Believing her to be dead, Tyranus contacted Darth Sidious to inform him of his apparent success. With a tone of amused satisfaction in his voice, Sidious commended his apprentice for once again proving his loyalty to the Dark Lord.<ref name="Nightsisters" />

====A brief revelation====
{{Quote|Join me and together we will destroy this emperor you see in your visions and we shall end war, corruption and suffering throughout the galaxy.''"<br />"''Will we bring peace?''"<br />"''Of course.|The Son and Anakin Skywalker|<ref name="Ghosts of Mortis">{{TCW|Ghosts of Mortis|Ghosts of Mortis}}</ref>}}
When Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka Tano were transported to a mysterious world known as Mortis, they encountered three sentient beings&mdash;The [[Father (Mortis)/Legends|Father]]; the physical manifestation of the [[Unifying Force]]; the [[Son/Legends|Son]]; the living incarnation of the dark side of the Force; and the [[Daughter/Legends|Daughter]]; the embodiment of the [[Light side of the Force/Legends|light side]]. Since the Son was a physical representation of the dark side, he shared many similar personality traits with Darth Sidious, and could even mimic the Dark Lord's voice.<ref name="Ghosts of Mortis" />

After discovering that Anakin Skywalker was truly the legendary Chosen One, the Son became as determined as Sidious to corrupt the young Jedi Knight at any cost. To achieve this goal, he utilized the same tactic that Darth Sidious later employed to turn Skywalker&mdash;temptation; the promise of gaining the power to prevent a catastrophic future. With his foreknowledge of the future, the Son forced Skywalker to bare witness to who he was destined to become. Among the images that Skywalker saw were [[Operation: Knightfall|younglings slain]] by his lightsaber, the death of his wife by his own hand, his [[Duel on Mustafar/Legends|failed attempt]] to murder Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the [[Destruction of Alderaan|destruction of]] [[Alderaan/Legends|Alderaan]]. To his utter shock and horror, he also saw that his fall to the dark side would be engineered by the man whom he idolized as a mentor&mdash;Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. Through the Son, Skywalker saw Palpatine's ''true'' face, pale and twisted by the dark side; he saw the Chancellor's future self as the [[Galactic Emperor/Legends|Emperor of the Galaxy]], a merciless tyrant who's reign would culminate in the [[Galactic Civil War/Legends|deaths of trillions]] and the [[Great Jedi Purge/Legends|destruction]] of the Jedi Order. Before breaking down in total despair, Skywalker saw the "face" of his own future self; a broken shell of a man who was condemned to being trapped in a [[Darth Vader's armor|life-sustaining suit of armor]] for the rest of his natural life.<ref name="Ghosts of Mortis" />

[[File:AnakinVaderVision-GOM.png|thumb|250px|Anakin Skywalker despaired over his future as the apprentice and slave of the Sith Lord Darth Sidious.]]
The revelation of his dark future, as well as the fact that Palpatine and Darth Sidious were one and the same, left Anakin Skywalker in a state of utter shock and fear over the atrocities he would eventually commit as a Sith Lord. The Son capitalized on his opportunity and assured the Jedi Knight that the visions did not have to come to pass. With the knowledge of things that had not happened yet, they could change the course of history by preventing Darth Sidious from ever becoming Emperor. But to do so, the Son implored, Skywalker had to submit himself to the dark side in order to gain the power he needed to destroy Sidious and save the Galaxy from its apocalyptic future. With the last of his resistance broken by his desire to save the ones he loved, Skywalker willingly pledged himself to the teachings of the Son and through him, the dark side of the Force.<ref name="Ghosts of Mortis" />

But before Skywalker could ever return to Coruscant and act upon the knowledge he had gained by slaying Sidious, the Father erased the young Jedi's memories of the visions that the Son had shown him. The Father had no intention of allowing the Son to alter the future through Skywalker. Without the information of what was to come, Skywalker swiftly reverted to his previous state and awoke with absolutely no memory of his future. Thus, he continued to view the Chancellor as a good man whom he could confide in. Until the end of the Clone Wars, Skywalker operated under the belief that Chancellor Palpatine and Darth Sidious were two separate individuals.<ref name="Ghosts of Mortis" />

====Failed abduction plot====
{{Quote|One shudders to think where the galaxy would be without the Jedi.|Palpatine, shortly after his second rescue|<ref name="CrisisOnNaboo">{{TCW|Crisis on Naboo|Crisis on Naboo}}</ref>}}
[[File:Epguide418.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Skywalker fights Dooku while trying to prevent Palpatine's abduction.]]
Shortly before Chancellor Palpatine's scheduled visit to Naboo, the Jedi Order discovered that Count Dooku was planning to abduct the Republic [[Head of State/Legends|head of state]]. Although [[Moralo Eval/Legends|Moralo Eval]]&mdash;the criminal mastermind behind the plot&mdash;was incarcerated on Coruscant, the Jedi High Council felt that there was insufficient time for interrogation, especially since Palpatine decided to proceed with his planned arrival on Naboo despite the Council's warnings. To ensure the Chancellor's safety, the Council dispatched Obi-Wan Kenobi to infiltrate the [[Republic Judiciary Central Detention Center/Legends|Republic Judiciary Central Detention Center]]; his main objective to uncover the plot before it could be executed. After staging his own death, Kenobi entered the prison as [[Rako Hardeen/Legends|Rako Hardeen]], the mercenary who had been hired to kill him. With the exception of the Council members, the plan was kept a secret from everyone, including Palpatine and Anakin Skywalker.<ref name="TCWDeception">{{TCW|Deception|Deception}}</ref>

Kenobi was forced to alter his plan after an unexpected prison riot broke out, allowing him to escape Coruscant with Eval and Cad Bane.<ref name="TCWDeception" /> Skywalker was livid that the Jedi Council did not move to recapture "Hardeen," whom he believed to be the killer of his former Master. With Palpatine's encouragement, the Jedi Knight and his apprentice, Ahsoka Tano, left the capital to track the escaped inmates without the Council's knowledge.<ref name="FriendsAndEnemies">{{TCW|Friends and Enemies|Friends and Enemies}}</ref>

Later, the Chancellor arrived on Naboo to host the [[Festival of Light/Legends|Festival of Light]], although he was also accompanied by a large force of clone troopers, including several Jedi such as Skywalker, Tano and Mace Windu. Dooku's mercenaries, including Kenobi&mdash;still disguised as Rako Hardeen&mdash;were also on Naboo, preparing to kidnap the Chancellor. The plot was ultimately undermined by Kenobi, who prevented the bounty hunters from taking Palpatine off of Naboo.<ref name="CrisisOnNaboo" />

After his rescue, Palpatine dismissed most of the military units that had accompanied him to Naboo since the plot had apparently been foiled. Later, however, he and Anakin Skywalker were ambushed by Count Dooku and several [[IG-100 MagnaGuard/Legends|IG-100 MagnaGuards]]. Skywalker destroyed a few of the droids and dueled with Dooku while Palpatine watched with satisfaction as the young Jedi gave in to his anger, thus drawing him closer to the dark side of the Force. Skywalker's attacks nearly overwhelmed Dooku, but the Sith Lord temporarily subdued him with Force lightning. Kenobi arrived and prevented the Chancellor's abduction for a second time, forcing Dooku to retreat in a shuttle as Senator Padmé Amidala arrived with a squad of [[Royal Naboo Security Forces/Legends|Naboo guards]].<ref name="CrisisOnNaboo" />

====Resurfacing of Darth Maul====
{{Quote|Remember, the first and only reality of the Sith: there can only be ''two''. And ''you'' are no longer my apprentice. You have been ''replaced''.|Darth Sidious taunting Darth Maul|<ref name="The Lawless">{{TCW|The Lawless}}</ref>}}
[[File:InSidiousSmile-Revival.jpg|thumb|270px|Palpatine smiles at the news of Darth Maul's survival.]]
Shortly after his murder of Darth Plagueis on the eve of his election as Supreme Chancellor, Sidious had been led to believe that his Sith apprentice, Darth Maul, had been slain. He eventually discovered Maul's survival after Anakin Skywalker mentioned the Zabrak's name, which at first startled Palpatine.<ref name="Sith Hunters">''[[The Clone Wars: The Sith Hunters]]''</ref> Later, he heard a report of a [[Skirmish on Florrum/Legends|skirmish]] on [[Florrum/Legends|Florrum]] between Maul, his brother [[Savage Opress/Legends|Savage Opress]], as well as Jedi Masters Obi-Wan Kenobi and [[Adi Gallia/Legends|Adi Gallia]], and a band of [[Weequay/Legends|Weequay]] [[Pirate/Legends|pirates]] on the [[Planet/Legends|planet]]. Upon being briefed of the skirmish in the aftermath, Palpatine advised Obi-Wan to ignore the Sith brothers, as they were ultimately unimportant in the greater crisis. Palpatine continued and said that he was of no direct threat to the Republic, and that he should focus on defeating Count Dooku and the Separatists. Kenobi persisted that they would pose great threats, but Palpatine dismissed this and dismissed the Jedi from his office. Yoda reluctantly agreed with Palpatine, as he feared that Obi-Wan was taking the matter too personally. As the Jedi left, however, the Chancellor smirked, indicating that he had plans for Maul and Opress in the future.<ref name="Revival">{{TCW|Revival (episode)|Revival}}</ref>

[[File:PalpatineSensesMaul-TL.png|thumb|left|Sidious senses Maul on Mandalore.]]
Later, as Palpatine meditated in his office, he sensed the increasing power of Maul and Opress on the planet Mandalore. While he was at first content with Maul inconveniencing the Jedi, Maul's conquest of Mandalore and his possessing a Sith apprentice made Sidious realize that Maul had grown too dangerous to be allowed to continue his reign of terror and decided to personally deal with the brothers. When Mas Amedda entered the room at his request, he simply requested that Amedda prepare his [[Darth Sidious' Eta-class shuttle|shuttle]] for immediate takeoff. Palpatine then took the shuttle to the Sith brothers' new headquarters on Mandalore, in order to confront them as Darth Sidious.<ref name="SW:TCW:DM:SC">''[[The Clone Wars: Darth Maul: Shadow Conspiracy]]''</ref><ref name="The Lawless" />

Upon disembarking from his ship, Sidious [[Telekinesis/Legends|Force-choked]] two members of the [[Shadow Collective/Legends|Shadow Collective]], the criminal organization founded by Maul and Opress. He then rode a [[Hover taxi/Legends|speeder]] to the [[Sundari Royal Palace/Legends|Royal Palace]] of [[Sundari/Legends|Sundari]], and proceeded to [[Battle of Sundari|confront]] the Dathomirian brothers in the throne room. Maul sensed his former master just before two of his guards were lifted into the air and Force-choked to death, and then master and apprentice found themselves face to face after twelve years. Sidious exchanged a few brief words with his former student, declaring Maul a rival Sith&mdash;as he had taken his own apprentice and was attempting to carve out his own galactic territory. Sidious then pushed the brothers into a wall using the Force.<ref name="SW:TCW:DM:SC" /><ref name="The Lawless" />

[[File:ManILoveMyJob-TL.png|thumb|270px|Sidious, dueling Maul and Savage Opress]]
After he released the brothers from his telekinetic grip, Sidious summoned two of his lightsabers to combat them. Sidious proved himself to be a match for their combined strength and even though they briefly got the better of him by having Opress throw him off the balcony, Sidious soon returned the favor by force pulling them as well. Gaining the upper hand, Sidious drove his opponents back, and the duel ended in the [[Sundari Royal Palace plaza/Legends|plaza]] outside the palace. After using the Force to temporarily incapacitate Maul, Sidious then toyed with Opress, dodging all of his blows without having his lightsabers ignited, before he started to duel Opress. Completely outclassing him, he impaled the larger Zabrak in the chest with his two lightsabers within just a minute, fatally wounding him. After Maul witnessed the death of his brother, Sidious explained to him that there could only be two Sith at one time, and that Maul had been replaced.<ref name="SW:TCW:DM:SC" /><ref name="The Lawless" />

Maul angrily ignited both his lightsaber and Pre Vizsla's Darksaber, and charged at Sidious. Sidious found Maul to be a far more ferocious and capable opponent than Opress, and he soon found himself being pressured in a bladelock. But via all his Force augmentation, he turned the tides against his former apprentice and forced his blades down Maul's sabers before forcing them apart and away, disarming Maul. Then Sidious brutally battered him against the floor and walls with telekinesis. Defeated, a frightened Maul begged for a merciful death, but Sidious deviously replied that "there ''is'' no mercy" and launched a barrage of his Force lightning at Maul. Nonetheless, Sidious stated to Maul that he had no plans to deprive him of his life, indicating that he still had some use for the Dathomirian.<ref name="SW:TCW:DM:SC" /><ref name="The Lawless" />

====Trial of Ahsoka Tano====
After the Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano was arrested for allegedly killing [[Letta Turmond/Legends|a suspect]] in the [[Bombing of the Jedi Temple Hangar]] and being the conspirator in the bombing, Palpatine presided over the trial for Tano. He was about to pronounce her guilty when Skywalker intervened, unveiling the actual culprit: [[Barriss Offee/Legends|Barriss Offee]].

====Hitches in the Grand Plan====
During the late stages of the Clone Wars, Palpatine, or rather, Sidious had several endangering obstacles occur in regards to his Grand Plan. In [[20 BBY/Legends|20 BBY]], his secret [[Order 66/Legends|contingency plan]] for Jedi rebellions was nearly exposed due to a malfunction in one of the clone trooper's inhibitor chis, resulting in an incident during one of the Republic's battles where the clone trooper, [[CT-5385/Legends|Tup]], ended up betraying and shooting a Jedi commander while in a trance-like state. He alongside Dooku attempted to have Tup abducted by Separatists while he was sent to Kamino to silence the clone trooper. The abduction failed, and it resulted in the ARC trooper [[CT-5555/Legends|Fives]] learning of the conspiracy when trying to save his friend's life. Palpatine eventually learned of this when Shaak Ti, unaware of Palpatine's connection to the conspiracy, informed the Supreme Chancellor of Five's discovery and demanded a meeting. After making the meeting private, Palpatine informed Fives of his involvement with the chips and then framed Fives for attempting to assassinate him, in order to issue a manhunt against Fives. Fives eventually ended up killed shortly thereafter after a failed attempt at warning Rex and Anakin Skywalker, ensuring the conspiracy was kept secret.

Later, Sifo-Dyas' vessel was uncovered on Felucia. As the vessel potentially contained evidence to Palpatine and Dooku's involvement in Sifo-Dyas' murder, Sidious ordered Dooku and the Separatists to "clean up" the site.

====The Sector Governance Decree====
Throughout the war, Palpatine appointed governors answerable to him every time a Separatist world was freed. A few instances speak for many others. After a local uprising liberated [[Esseles/Legends|Esseles]], Palpatine appointed [[Griff Takel]] to serve as governor (21 BBY) instead of restoring Senator [[Gabrial Atanna]]. That same month, he did the same on [[Brentaal IV/Legends|Brentaal IV]], which had languished under the provisional authority of [[Jerrod Maclain]] since its liberation the year before. Rather than restore Senator [[Arcel Mosbree]], Palpatine arrested Mosbree for his role in allowing the Separatists to take Brentaal in the first place, and Maclain became the permanent governor. Even then, his critics speculated that it was only a matter of time before he did so everywhere. In the closing days of the war (19 BBY), Palpatine issued the [[Sector Governance Decree/Legends|Sector Governance Decree]], which installed governors on ''all'' Republic member worlds, claiming Republic governors were only intended to keep their systems safer and ensure cooperation between neighoring systems. He assured they would not interfere with the Senate.

That was the reason he gave to his critics, and most felt it was the right approach. Increased coordination at the system and sector level seemed a sensible move in wartime. Palpatine now controlled those systems directly. With the rubber-stamp approval of his Senate supermajority in his hand, he wasted no time in sending his handpicked governors to their respective systems. They arrived practically before the ink had even dried on the decree. And to ensure that the planetary populations would accept the governors without too much complaint, he sent with each of them a full regiment of clones&mdash;''security forces'', he called them&mdash;more than enough to keep the locals quiet.

====The search for Darth Sidious====
{{Quote|Sidious. I know the name&hellip;|Palpatine's reaction to Mace Windu's revelation that the Jedi are attempting to expose Darth Sidious|<ref name="LOE" />}}
[[File:Corruptor.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Palpatine during the Battle of Coruscant]]
Because of the clouded post-war future, the Jedi Council started to suspect somebody from his [[Imperial Ruling Council/Legends|Inner Circle]], most notably Sate Pestage, to be the "Darth Sidious" that Count Dooku had revealed to Master Kenobi on Geonosis. They started to suspect this after the [[Battle of Cato Neimoidia/Legends|Battle of Cato Neimoidia]] in 19 BBY, three years into the war. Republic forces under Captain [[Jan Dodonna/Legends|Jan Dodonna]] captured Viceroy Gunray's [[Mechno-chair/Legends|mechno-chair]], which led them to Sidious' hideout, the [[LiMerge Building|LiMerge Power building]], in the Works on Coruscant, in turn leading to Palpatine and his advisor's apartment at 500 Republica. Facts became invaluable. This suspicion was later fueled further when Mace Windu admitted to the Supreme Chancellor that he was searching for Darth Sidious, when Palpatine reacted with some recognition to the name.<ref name="LOE" />

Palpatine knew that the end was near, and assigned the majority of the galactic capital defense fleet to take down what he dubbed the "[[Triad of Evil/Legends|Triad of Evil]]." At the same time, his alter-ego commanded the cyborg [[General/Legends|General]] [[Grievous/Legends|Grievous]] to use a secret [[hyperlane]] through the [[Deep Core/Legends|Deep Core]] to attack Coruscant itself. The endgame for his decades-long plan had begun.<ref name="LOE" />

===="Kidnapped"====
{{Quote|All the players are now in place. It is time to initiate the end moves. The plan of many long years shall bear fruit at last!|Darth Sidious|Star Wars: Republic: Siege of Saleucami}}
[[File:Palpstaken.jpg|thumb|250px|Palpatine is taken by Grievous.]]
Palpatine then gave his state of the union address to the public after secretly commanding General Grievous to commence the attack during this ceremony. During the address, he also supplied medals to X1 and X2 for their heroism during the Invasion of Tatooine, although he also mixed up the two, and also hinted that something other than the time of their births separated them.<ref name="LOE" />

During the chaos of the [[Battle of Coruscant/Legends|battle]], he also arranged for an ambush by Geonosians just outside his apartment under his alter ego of Darth Sidious for Valiant and Dyne, having anticipated that they were very close to discovering his true identity in their investigation. Dyne ultimately deduced in his last breath that Palpatine and Sidious were the same person after getting a brief glimpse of the Sith Lord, although Palpatine figured it was inconsequential, as the clone trooper had a few seconds left of life anyway. Afterwards, using his public persona, Palpatine was spirited away to his bunker with General Grievous, the [[Supreme Commander of the Droid Armies]], in close pursuit, killing many of his bodyguards and Jedi on the way.<ref name="LOE" /> However, thanks to his own planning, he was "abducted." Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker were ordered to Coruscant from the ruined world of [[Tythe/Legends|Tythe]] where their hunt for Count Dooku had led them to rescue the Chancellor. They eventually found Palpatine, bound to a chair in the [[General's quarters]] of Grievous's [[Flagship/Legends|flagship]], [[Invisible Hand/Legends|''Invisible Hand'']]. Before they could rescue him, however, Tyranus appeared and the three of them dueled. In reality, this was merely a test of Anakin's vulnerability to the dark side in a confrontation with Darth Tyranus.<ref name="Episode III" />

Tyranus was aware that this duel was meant to lead Anakin to the dark side, but he was unaware that he would be sacrificed to achieve this. Sidious led him to believe that after he let Anakin subdue him, he and Sidious would together convince Skywalker to switch to the dark side. Tyranus would then surrender, pretend to having been unaware of the atrocities committed by General Grievous, and then emerge as the venerable leader of a new [[Fist of the Empire (group)|Sith army]] and the right hand of Sidious.<ref name="ROTS novel" />

However, Tyranus had forgotten Darth Bane's dictum&mdash;there could be only two.<ref name="ROTS novel" /> As they dueled, Palpatine silently rooted for Anakin. Obi-Wan was rendered unconscious while battling Tyranus, but Anakin continued to fight. Anakin sliced off the Sith Lord's hands and had him down on his knees with both Tyranus' lightsaber and his own crossed at his neck. Palpatine was ecstatic and broke his silence, urging the young Jedi to kill Tyranus, thus betraying Dooku.<ref name="Episode III" /> The Count realized he had been nothing more than a pawn in Sidious's schemes,<ref name="ROTS novel" /> while Anakin argued that he should not murder a defenseless prisoner in cold blood. Palpatine continued to goad Anakin to finish Tyranus off, and he finally gave into his hatred of his nemesis and sliced off the Count's head, his body falling lifelessly to the floor.<ref name="Episode III" /> This was another victory for Sidious. The only event he had not expected was that Dooku failed to kill Kenobi and that Anakin refused to leave him behind.<ref name="ROTS novel" /> It was of little concern, however. By defeating Tyranus in combat, Anakin had proven that he was now powerful enough to take his place at Sidious's side, something that the Sith Lord felt he would have little trouble in orchestrating. Palpatine nearly ended up killed when the ''Invisible Hand'' sunk into the atmosphere of Coruscant, with only Anakin's quick and improvised piloting skills of the doomed vessel saving him.<ref name="Episode III" />

Shortly after the battle, Palpatine, as Sidious, contacted Grievous informing him that the Separatist council needs to be relocated to Mustafar, and informed him that the war's conclusion drew closer. When Grievous protested that the loss of Count Dooku would mean the end of the Separatists, Sidious informed him that his loss was necessary to cement a new apprentice who was both "far younger and more powerful."<ref name="Episode III" />

The day after the Battle of Coruscant, the [[Security Act amendment]] was passed by the Galactic Senate by a wide margin. The amendment was personally written by Palpatine but given to a loyal senator to introduce, in order to maintain the facade of the Senate forcing power on him against his will. It nominally transferred command of the [[Jedi High Council/Legends|Jedi High Council]] from the Senate directly to the Chancellor, thus providing him with the Constitutional authority to disband the Jedi Order. It also removed Jedi and Senatorial oversight of the Republic's military, placing the Chancellor in direct command and naming him [[Supreme Commander (Republic)|Supreme Commander]] of the [[Republic Military/Legends|Republic Military]].<ref name="ROTS novel" />

===Endgame (19 BBY)===
====Jedi suspicion====
{{Quote|The Chancellor is not a bad man, Obi-Wan. He befriended me. He's watched out for me ever since I arrived here.''"<br />"''That is why you must help us, Anakin. Our allegiance is to the Senate, not to its leader&hellip;who has managed to stay in office long after his term has expired.''"<br />"''The Senate ''demanded'' that he stay longer.''"<br />"''Yes, but use your feelings, Anakin. Something is out of place.''"<br />"''You're asking me to do something against the Jedi Code. Against the Republic. Against a mentor&hellip;and a friend. ''That's'' what's out of place here. Why are you asking this of me?''"<br />"''The Council is asking you.|Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi|<ref name="Episode III" />}}
[[File:Palp_trustme.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Palpatine reveals his Sith identity to Anakin Skywalker, predicting Padmé's certain death.]]
Over time, though, the Jedi grew distrustful of Palpatine, fearing what his near-despotic hold over the Republic would mean for the galaxy, especially in the aftermath of the passing of the amendment to the Security Act, which all but eliminated the Jedi Order's autonomy. The fact that Palpatine was willing to accept powers that essentially gave him ultimate authority over the Jedi Order was deeply unsettling to many Jedi.

Already closer to Anakin than he was to any other Jedi in the Order, Palpatine strengthened his relationship with the young Jedi even further when he decided to appoint Anakin as his personal representative on the Jedi High Council. The Jedi were further unsettled by this action, as they saw it as an attempt by the Chancellor to infringe on their authority. Though the Jedi allowed Anakin a seat on the Council, they refused to grant him the rank of Jedi Master, which greatly insulted Anakin, as he believed that a seat on the High Council automatically warranted a promotion to Master. This eventually lead to Anakin becoming distrustful of the Jedi.

Anakin's trust in the Order was further eroded when Obi-Wan Kenobi reluctantly informed him that the only reason the High Council approved his appointment was because they wanted him to report on all of the Chancellor's activities - essentially, they wanted Anakin to spy on him. Anakin was quite shocked by this assignment, as he believed that it was an act of treason that went against the Jedi Code. He further argued that all of Palpatine's intentions were for the greater good, and that the only reason that he had accepted all the extra powers in the first place was because the Senate had demanded it. However, Obi-Wan was less certain and tried to convince Anakin that ''something'' had to be out of place for the Chancellor to accumulate so much power and for him to remain in office far longer than was usually allowed. But Anakin would hear none of it and flatly refused the assignment outright.<ref name="Episode III" />

Mace Windu, in particular, became especially wary of the relationship between Anakin and Palpatine, as evidenced by his refusal to grant Anakin the rank of Master. Windu went so far as to say that he didn't trust Anakin and that it was "dangerous" seeing him and Palpatine together, and also implied that part of the reason why the High Council planned for Anakin to spy on the Chancellor aside from trying to find the scope of his intentions was also so they could sabotage their friendship and thus have Anakin remain in the Order.<ref name="ROTS novel" /> Even in the last days of the war, Windu claimed to sense the dark side of the Force around the Chancellor, and suspected that he may be involved in a plot to destroy the Jedi, which ultimately proved to be true, though Windu didn't realize the scope of Palpatine's involvement until it was far too late.<ref name="Episode III" />

Palpatine continued to manipulate Anakin into trusting him further when, during a private meeting with the young Jedi, he revealed that he was aware that the Council had asked him to spy on him, and also told him that he believed that the Jedi were conspiring to take control of the Republic. Eventually he convinced Anakin that the Jedi were purposely holding him back because they knew he was too powerful for them to control.

When Anakin began having nightmares of his wife Padmé Amidala dying in childbirth, he went to Master Yoda, and, though he was careful to not expose his secret marriage to the Senator (as it would have surely resulted in his expulsion from the Order due to their edict forbidding emotional attachments), asked if there was a solution to prevent the death of "someone he knew". Yoda encouraged Anakin to let go of anything he feared to lose, but Anakin knew that could never be an option. In yet another private meeting with the Chancellor, Palpatine convinced Anakin that - since the Jedi could not (or ''would'' not) help him - he needed to open his mind to the Sith knowledge of sustaining or creating life, which&mdash;as he claimed&mdash;was the only way for him to prevent Padmé's death (he had known of Padmé and Anakin's marriage after the head of the [[Royal Naboo Security Forces/Legends|Royal Naboo Security Forces]], Captain [[Quarsh Panaka/Legends|Quarsh Panaka]], informed him).

This statement alone caused Anakin to correctly deduce that Palpatine was Darth Sidious, the Sith Master for which they had been searching for thirteen years. Palpatine openly admitted that this was true and encouraged Anakin to renounce the Jedi and embrace the ways of the Sith. Anakin nearly killed Palpatine on the spot, and Palpatine further tempered the young Jedi's emotions by claiming that his anger only made him stronger. However, Anakin stayed his hand - for the moment - and instead informed Palpatine that he would turn him over to the Jedi Council, but Palpatine continued to put doubt into Anakin's mind by reminding him that he did not know the full extent of what the Jedi's plans were and urged him to "know the power of the Dark Side, the power to save Padmé". Anakin immediately went to Master Windu to inform him of his discovery of Palpatine's true identity.<ref name="Episode III" />

====Confrontation in the Chancellor's Suite====
{{Quote|In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic, you are under arrest, Chancellor. ''"<br />"''Are you threatening me, Master Jedi?''"<br />"''The Senate will decide your fate.''"<br />"''I ''am'' the Senate!''"<br .>''"Not yet!''"<br />"''It's treason, then.|Mace Windu and Palpatine|<ref name="Episode III" />}}
[[File:Coruscant_Duel.png|thumb|250px|Sidious battles with Mace Windu in the Chancellor's Office.]]
Aware that Anakin's confrontation with the Dark Lord of the Sith had turned him into a ticking time bomb, Windu ordered him to remain in the High Council chamber to try and calm his raging emotions, while he went with Masters [[Saesee Tiin/Legends|Saesee Tiin]], [[Agen Kolar/Legends|Agen Kolar]] and [[Kit Fisto/Legends|Kit Fisto]], went to arrest the Chancellor. Sidious greeted the Masters cordially, as though nothing had changed, though he knew that the endgame had begun. The four Masters boldly ignited their lightsabers with Windu declaring Palpatine was under arrest and that the Senate would decide his fate. "I ''am'' the Senate," Sidious proclaimed with Windu staunchly replying "Not yet". Declaring treason, Sidious pulled out an [[Electrum/Legends|electrum]] saber of his own design hidden in his sleeve. A crimson blade ignited and within seconds the Jedi Masters realized they had been tricked, that they were pawns that had been manipulated for the last thirteen years. Shrieking a [[Force scream|bestial Sith war cry]], Darth Sidious [[Force speed|lunged forward]] and killed Masters Kolar and Tiin before they could defend themselves. Master Fisto held against Sidious few seconds before he was slain by the Sith Lord's blade. Left alone with Windu, the Dark Lord fought him in a ferocious [[Showdown on Coruscant|one-on-one]] lightsaber duel. After several minutes of intense dueling, Windu overpowered and disarmed Sidious, then held him at blade point. Anakin then arrived and Sidious "pleaded" with him, convincing the young Jedi that Windu was trying to assassinate him instead of arresting him.<ref name="Episode III" />

When Windu declared that the threat of the Sith would never return and that Sidious had lost, the Sith Lord angrily fired torrents of [[Force lightning/Legends|Force lightning]] at the Jedi Master. However, Windu deflected it with his lightsaber in desperation, and while he barely held out, the lightning was shot back at Sidious, disfiguring his face and injuring him.<ref name="Interview with Ian McDiarmid">{{Cite_web|url=http://outnow.ch/Specials/2005/StarWars-Episode3/Interview-McDiarmid.E|title=Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith - Interview with Ian McDiarmid|archivedate=20131212124900}}</ref><ref name="Ian McDiarmid on Playing">{{Cite_web|url=http://movies.about.com/od/starwars3/a/starwars101205_2.htm|title=About.com: Hollywood Movies » Ian McDiarmid on Playing the Most Evil "Star Wars" Character of the Franchise|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924114700/movies.about.com/od/starwars3/a/starwars101205.htm}}</ref><ref name="TEW">{{InsiderCite|82|The Evil Within}}</ref> Palpatine would later define this event as an assassination attempt of the Jedi to the Senate, in order to gain sympathy from the senators. His face began to sag and turn pale, his eyes, fingernails and teeth turned yellow as his voice grew ragged and deep. He pleaded with Anakin, convincing him that Windu had attacked him first, and that he was too weak to hold off the attacks any longer. Windu proclaimed that he would put an end to Sidious, but Anakin argued that it was not the Jedi way and that he must stand trial. Windu deemed Sidious too dangerous to be left alive, as he had complete control over both the Senate and the Courts and would not be sent to prison, but Skywalker had decided that only Sidious could save his wife from the death he had seen in his visions. He had to choose between the Jedi that appeared to abuse their power and the seemingly helpless and weak old man. Just as Windu's guard began to fall, Sidious ceased his attack, feigning helplessness. At once, Windu felt doubt at Anakin's loyalty to Sidious, but gave it no mind; as he raised his lightsaber to deliver the killing blow, the young Jedi Knight chose Sidious, betraying Windu by severing his sword arm. Sidious, smiling with the knowledge that he had now Skywalker in his power, sprang back to life; with a horrible screeching sound erupting from his throat, he assaulted Windu with a devastating blast of Force lightning and hurled the Jedi Master from the building to his death far below.<ref name="Episode III" />

====The birth of Darth Vader====
{{Quote|To cheat death is the power only one has achieved, but if we work together, I know we can discover the secret.|Darth Sidious|<ref name="Episode III" />}}
[[File:Mace's_Death.png|thumb|left|250px|Sidious murders Windu as Anakin looks on.|alt=]]
With Windu eliminated, Sidious regarded Skywalker. At last the boy was where the Sith Lord needed him to be; isolated and unable ever to go back to the Jedi Order now that he was an accomplice&mdash;no matter how unwittingly&mdash;in the revered Master Windu's murder. Desperate to save his wife's life, Skywalker had effectively sacrificed an ally and compatriot, perfectly fulfilling the Sith covenant that commanded the slaughter of one who was close. With no other place to turn, he finally yielded to Sidious's temptations, asking only that a way be found for Padmé to live. To smooth the transition, Sidious soothed his fears and his conscience.<ref name="Episode III" />

So for the second time he openly promised Skywalker that Padmé could be saved from death. This was strictly deception meant to turn Skywalker away from the Jedi fold.<ref name="DLRDV" /> In the end whether or not there truly was hope to save Amidala was unimportant. Anakin Skywalker betrayed the Jedi by going down on bended knee before Sidious and pledging himself to the Sith. Sidious gave his new apprentice the Sith name Darth Vader.<ref name="Episode III" />

====The fall of the Jedi Temple====
{{Quote|First, I want you to go to the Jedi Temple. We will catch them off balance&hellip; Do what must be done, Lord Vader. Do not hesitate; show no mercy.|Darth Sidious|<ref name="Episode III" />}}
Like Maul and Tyranus, Vader had to demonstrate his allegiance through decisive action. Sidious had already convinced him that the Jedi were conspiring to take power, so it was easy to nudge him into the right frame of mind, reminding him that the Jedi would not stop until Sidious was dead, and if ''he'' were gone, what hope did Padmé have? For her sake, the Jedi had to die to the last being. He ordered, "Do what must be done, Lord Vader. Do not hesitate. Show no mercy. Only then will you be strong enough with the dark side to save Padmé." To this end, he placed under Vader's command the [[501st Legion/Legends|501st Legion]], a special clone trooper unit he had long ago set aside for just such tasks, and sent them off to the Temple. [[Operation: Knightfall]] succeeded, and left the Temple ablaze.<ref name="Episode III" />

In cutting down the most vulnerable members of the Order to whom he had once sworn allegiance, Vader tied himself firmly to the Sith cause. The slight chance that he could try to return to his old life vanished. It especially severed Skywalker's ties to his wife; no matter how much she loved him, Amidala would never understand, much less forgive, his actions. She might even lose the will to live, and could then be dealt with effortlessly at a time of his choosing.<ref name="ROTS novel" />

[[File:Insidious_Smile.png|thumb|250px|Darth Sidious savors his victory over the Jedi.]]
Sidious' new apprentice performed splendidly; through the night and into the early morning Vader led his troops through the Temple corridors in an orgy of carnage.<ref name="Episode III" /> Before leaving the Temple on his futile charge to the Senate Office Building, Master Windu had instructed one of the few Council members present, [[Shaak Ti/Legends|Shaak Ti]], to prepare the Temple for a possible counterattack, but her best efforts were hardly enough to repel an entire legion of his handpicked troops. So many Jedi were away that only a token force remained behind to defend the younglings. Almost unopposed, Vader's blade and the clones butchered the Temple's younglings and their masters.<ref name="Episode III" />

When Vader and the 501st&mdash;which would soon earn the name of "Vader's Fist"&mdash;completed their errand, the Jedi Temple, repository of twenty-five thousand years of the Order's history, was but a smoking ruin.<ref name="Episode III" /> Originally, the building was to be destroyed; however, for some reason, Palpatine decided not to raze the old edifice to the ground. Some rumors hinted that he would be converting it into his new official residence, but the monument of self-glorification that was the [[Imperial Palace/Legends|Imperial Palace]] would be erected elsewhere. Perhaps he simply wanted to be able to gloat over the ruin, to let it remain as a permanent reminder of the arrogance of the Jedi Order, and of just how far, through his cunning, it had fallen.

====Order 66====
{{Quote|What about the other Jedi spread across the galaxy?''"<br />"''Their betrayal will be dealt with.|Darth Vader and Darth Sidious|<ref name="Episode III" />}}
While Vader "sterilized" the Temple, Sidious saw to the other Jedi. After a thousand years of planning, the time for revenge had come. His instrument was, of course, his Grand Army.<ref name="Episode III" /> The clones had been issued a list of orders on actions to take during specific emergency situations. One of these was [[Order 66/Legends|Order 66]]: should the Jedi become involved in sedition against the Republic, the clones were to deal with them.<ref name="Republic Commando: True Colors">''[[Republic Commando: True Colors]]''</ref> Order 66 was hardwired into the clones by the Kaminoans. The "rebellion" allowed this order to be given plausibly. The Jedi would not see it coming; they had forged a bond with their troops, but the Jedi forgot that the clones served the Republic, not them. He&mdash;not the Council&mdash;was the supreme commander of the Grand Army, and its troops had been made to follow his orders without question, even if they were ordered to kill their own field commanders.

[[File:Execute_Order_66.png|thumb|left|250px|Palpatine issues Order 66 to Commander Cody.]]
Returning to the sanctity of his private office, Sidious reached out to key a special frequency into his holocomm. He contacted the various clone commanders to issue a single command: Execute Order 66.<ref name="Episode III" /> With each repetition of the order, his satisfaction grew. He could sense what was happening&mdash;not in detail, but he felt the dark side growing stronger with each Jedi death.<ref name="Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (junior novelization)">[[Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (junior novelization)|''Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith'' junior novelization]]</ref>

On a thousand fronts, spread over some two hundred worlds, Jedi commanders suddenly found themselves being betrayed and gunned down by their own Clone Troopers. Almost to a man, the clones performed spectacularly; an official estimate indicated that out of nearly ten thousand Jedi, fewer than one hundred survived the initial wave&mdash;99% of the Order had been eliminated at a stroke.<ref name="DAJ">{{InsiderCite|87|Order 66: Destroy All Jedi}}</ref> Only in one known instance, on [[Murkhana/Legends|Murkhana]], did troops refuse out of conscience to carry out his order and allow their targets to flee&mdash;obviously their service alongside Jedi had contaminated them. The Emperor later sent Lord Vader to make a proper example of them, and for the rest of their genetically accelerated lives, no other clone trooper made the fatal mistake of forgetting who their master was.<ref name="DLRDV" />

Aside from that singular surprising incident, Sidious had expected that a few dozen Jedi would have survived the slaughter, either by eluding or overpowering their assassins. But that was immaterial; they too would be erased eventually.<ref name="DLRDV" /> He would have done better to have been more concerned about those few humbled survivors than he was, for it was through the combined efforts of four of them&mdash;none other than High Council members Yoda and Kenobi, general [[Rahm Kota]] and retired Padawan Ahsoka Tano&mdash;that he would finally be defeated.

So enthused was Sidious by this long-anticipated victory that after issuing Order 66, he went to the Temple site himself, to see the fruit of his labors in person. Indeed, he had no choice ''but'' to go, so long had he worked and waited for this moment. In the [[Room of a Thousand Fountains/Legends|Room of a Thousand Fountains]], he found Vader finishing off a small group of younglings and their protector, [[Cin Drallig/Legends|Cin Drallig]]. Vader knelt in obedience, and Sidious praised him. "You have done well, my new apprentice," Sidious told Vader. "Your skills are unmatched by any Sith before you. Now, Lord Vader, go and bring peace to the Empire." They separated again, leaving Vader to see to his second task. For there were still a few remaining loose ends: the leaders of the Separatist Council.<ref name="Episode III" /><ref name="ROTS novel" />

====The fall of the CIS====
{{Quote|After you have killed all the Jedi in the Temple, go to the Mustafar system. Wipe out Viceroy Gunray and the other Separatist leaders. Once more the Sith will rule the galaxy, and we shall have peace&hellip;|Darth Sidious to his new apprentice, Darth Vader|audio=Sidious-we-shall-have-peace.ogg|<ref name="Episode III" />}}
Following their withdrawal from [[Utapau/Legends|Utapau]], the Separatist leaders and their aides had holed themselves up in their heavily defended redoubt on Mustafar and waited for further instructions from Sidious. To pacify them until the blade fell, Sidious offered soothing words and the implication of a handsome reward. But as always, they needed further reinforcement. In his Senate holding office on Coruscant, he noted an incoming message from Mustafar. Initially he wondered if something had gone wrong; he had not expected a transmission from there yet. When he pressed the response button, and an image of Nute Gunray, with the rest of the Separatist Council behind him, appeared on the projector built into his desk, Sidious realized that Vader simply had not reached them yet.<ref name="Episode III" />

[[File:Sep_council_sidious.png|thumb|250px|Sidious listening to Nute Gunray's last report]]
Sidious endured Gunray making yet another report&mdash;the last, he hoped&mdash;about how the plan was proceeding. Sidious answered almost by rote, congratulating the Viceroy, and promising his new apprentice would "take care of them," hiding the euphemism in his words. Sidious was pleased by the ambiguity in his words. Vader would not exactly be presenting them with cases filled with credits; he had a better reward in mind. Sidious had reached for the controls to end the transmission, but thought better of it and surreptitiously kept the channel to Mustafar open, to observe the carnage as it happened. Vader soon arrived. Equipped with the installation's deactivation codes by Sidious, his fighter landed without its automated defenses even noticing.<ref name="Episode III" /><ref name="ROTS novel" />

From his desk, Sidious was excited to see the Council members turn to face Vader as he arrived, offering him a fawning welcome. Vader was outside the range of the hologram pickup, but the expressions of the Separatists, changing from surprise to bewilderment and finally to fear, were clearly visible. Then, Vader's blue blade flashed through the pickup field, and parts of [[Poggle the Lesser/Legends|Poggle the Lesser]] were sent aloft. He saw the rest of the Council rouse themselves and desperately try to run, screaming, until the transmission cut off from their end.<ref name="Episode III" /><ref name="Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (junior novelization)" />

There was a reason for his satisfaction; thirteen years before, Sidious had remarked to Darth Maul how happy a day it would be when he no longer needed the Neimoidians and their ilk.<ref name="Star Wars Episode I Journal: Darth Maul" /> One by one, Vader killed the Council members, until only Viceroy Nute Gunray was left alive. Pleading with the Sith Lord, Gunray tried to convince him that the war was over and all that they wanted was peace, but like all the others, the Viceroy was slain by Vader's blade.<ref name="Episode III" />

Sidious gave new instructions to Vader, telling him to deactivate the droid armies. Vader did as instructed, and a coded signal was sent out over every HoloNet repeater in the galaxy. When received, every battle droid simply turned itself off. The manufactured threat of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, having served its purpose, was deactivated, and the Clone Wars, the most destructive conflict in the last thousand years, had ended.<ref name="Episode III" />

====The inauguration of the Galactic Empire====
{{Quote|So this is how liberty dies&mdash;with thunderous applause.|Padmé Amidala|audio=HowLibertyDies-ROTS.ogg|<ref name="Episode III" />}}
[[File:Declaration.png|thumb|left|250px|Palpatine declares the formation of his New Order.]]
It remained only for Palpatine to win the Senate's support, so he called for a special session to inform them of the "Jedi rebellion." For the sake of his audience, he covered the damage to his face. He could have appeared in his usual black robes and hood, but for this triumphant day, something more eye-catching was needed. He chose a robe of burgundy material, with a matching velvet mantle and hood in the Sith style. As a coronation robe, it sufficed. He also donned it despite it containing several Sith symbols as he knew full well that none in the rotunda would ever recognize them.

The Senate saw his face twisted and distorted, his blue eyes, penetrating but friendly, replaced by harsh yellow ones, far more penetrating and anything but friendly. For the rest of his life that face would be seen, appropriately enough, only in shadow, shrouded by a hood, those piercing yellow eyes its most visible feature. The galaxy eventually reconciled itself to this new face; portraits and statues of him incorporated it without shame. As he intended, that countenance was seen as a mark of pride, a wound suffered in the service of the people.

The Senators were informed of the Jedi plan not just to kill him, but to overthrow the Senate as well. As evidence, they heard recordings from his private office, and the voice of the late Master Windu accusing the Chancellor, in whom the galaxy had placed its trust, of being a Sith. And while the emphasis was always on the "treacherous plot against the Republic," never did Palpatine deny the accusation. Instead, he blamed the Jedi Order for everything ''he'' had done for the past three decades: ''they'' had manipulated the galaxy. Through their "puppet" Senators (conveniently, all members of the opposition), they were blamed for fostering corruption in the government to undermine the Republic. Through Dooku, they were blamed for manufacturing the Separatist movement to push the Republic into war. Through Sifo-Dyas, they were blamed for commissioning the clone army. Between these two proxies and the armies they commanded, he insisted, the Jedi had presided over a sham war, all to weaken the Republic so that the Council could take power openly.<ref name="Inaugural Edition">''{{InsiderCite|79|Republic HoloNet News Special Inaugural Edition 16:5:241}}''</ref>

Thus he played on the long-accumulating mistrust and resentment of the Jedi, much of which he had fostered, to confirm what for some had become a firm conviction: that the war was nothing more than a Jedi plot. In the face of anti-Jedi biases, it was easy for Palpatine to depict Order 66 as a just and necessary measure.

Those who knew the Jedi in a better and clearer light and could have defended them, including much of the Senate opposition, were in no position to argue; the mood in the hall was clearly against them. In any case, they could see armed [[Clone shock trooper|shock troopers]] stationed throughout the chamber, allegedly for the Chancellor's "protection."

[[File:Declaration2.png|thumb|250px|Palpatine becomes Emperor of the galaxy.]]
Here the opposition held its collective breath. It had been assumed that with the end of the war, and with the destruction of the alleged "hidden powers" behind the war, Palpatine would keep his promise to relinquish his emergency powers, step down from office and go into retirement on Naboo. But he had other plans, and when he announced them, the opposition was sent reeling.

So he had confirmed their worst fears&mdash;there ''would'' be more changes to the Constitution, if that document was not to be scrapped entirely. It soon became frightfully clear that there would be more direction ''to'' the Senate, than ruling ''by'' the Senate. Many just did not care; they knew where the power lay, and their support would gain them influence later. Those who did care remembered that there were blasters in the room. Palpatine continued, skillfully evoking the glories of empires past for a galaxy tired of disorder.

The next 25 years would see the violent suppression of all opposition, including intimidation, arrests, executions, the destruction of cities, even the destruction of entire planets. He would have gone further, and destroyed entire star systems, had his rule remained unchallenged. But the [[Alliance to Restore the Republic/Legends|Rebel Alliance]] was years in the future. For the present, its future founders, Bail Organa and Mon Mothma, had no choice but to feign support for their new Emperor; they could do more good alive than dead. Seduced by promises of safety, security, justice and peace, or perhaps just intimidated into silence, the Senate unanimously voted "yes." The Galactic Empire was an established fact.<ref name="Star Wars Insider 84">[[Star Wars Insider 84|''Star Wars Insider'' 84]]</ref>

====The last stand of the Jedi Order====
{{Quote|I have waited a long time for this moment, my little green friend. At last, the Jedi are no more.''"<br />"''Not if anything to say about it, I have.|Palpatine and Yoda|audio=LittleGreenFriend-ROTS.ogg|<ref name="Episode III" />}}
[[File:Sidious_vs_Yoda.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Sidious duels with Yoda in the Senate.]]
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda eventually caught up with the betrayal and deceit, realizing that Anakin, now Vader, and his troops had slain everyone in the Jedi Temple, Masters, Knights, Padawans and younglings alike. Obi-Wan begged the old master not to send him to battle his former Padawan and friend, but there was no choice; Yoda knew the new Emperor would be far too powerful for Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan was sent to confront Anakin on Mustafar, while Yoda met with Sidious in the Senate Building on Coruscant. There, the Dark Lord of the Sith and the Grand Master of the Jedi Order [[Skirmish in the Senate|dueled]] in a battle that destroyed a good portion of the [[Grand Convocation Chamber]]. Sidious also expressed his confidence that his apprentice, Darth Vader, "will become more powerful than either [Yoda or Sidious]," although Yoda retorted that his faith would eventually become misplaced like his faith in the dark side of the Force.<ref name="Episode III" />

The two combatants demonstrated amazing strength and skill in the Force, as well as incredible lightsaber prowess. They were at first evenly matched, incapable of finding a weak point in each other's attacks, but Yoda had slowly began to outclass Sidious. The [[Chancellor's Podium]] at which they duelled each other, provided the perfect area for Yoda to utlize his smaller stature as he leaped across the podium and attacked Sdious from every concievable angle, while Sidious was trapped in the centre, defending himself from Yoda's fast offensive. For each cross with the lightsabers, Sidious became increasingly frustrated as he was surprised by his Light Side counterpart's strength and sheer determination to defeat the Sith, incapable of matching the Jedi Master's nigh-unrivalled swordsmanship for long. Now the Grand Master of the Jedi focus was as sharp as his skills with the blade. Eventually, the battle progressed to greater levels when the Emperor was deprived of his lightsaber and forced to use the Force to keep Yoda away. The Emperor tried to crush Yoda with Senate platforms, but Yoda quickly overcame these offensive moves. Yoda eventually returned a Senate platform to him and Sidious jumped to another. Blasting Yoda's lightsaber away with his Force lightning, the two embodiments of the Sith and Jedi struggled in a fountain of lightning as Yoda used [[Tutaminis]] to deflect the electricity. Though the powerful blasts from Sidious nearly overwhelmed Yoda, the small Jedi sharpened his mind and stared Sidious dead in the eye as the newly self-proclaimed Emperor felt his own powers redirecting onto him as Windu had done in his office, giving the Jedi master the upper hand. The battle eventually ended in a draw after Palpatine's Force lightning was returned to him in a blast so powerful that it pushed the two masters apart. Sidious managed to grab onto a Senate pod, but Yoda fell several stories. Yoda had realized during the duel that he could not defeat Sidious, and decided that re-engaging him would only result in failure.<ref name="ROTS novel" /> Meeting his equal, Yoda fled.<ref name="CSWE">''[[The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia]]''</ref> "Into exile, I must go. Failed, I have," he remarked to Bail Organa, who hurried him away in [[XJ-2 airspeeder|his speeder]]. Emperor Palpatine waited for a time while shock troopers searched for Yoda's body, but when they learned that Yoda was still alive, Sidious gave it little more thought. He commanded them to double the search, and gave them permission to blow up the Senate Building, but took no further action himself, as he [[Force sense/Legends|sensed]] that Vader may have fallen into mortal danger and demanded that his shuttle be dispatched immediately. It was a mistake that would eventually destroy him.<ref name="Episode III" />

====The transformation of Vader====
{{Quote|Rise, Lord Vader.|Palpatine|<ref name="Episode III" />}}
The battle between Kenobi and Vader had ended much differently. Kenobi had succeeded in grievously wounding his former apprentice, leaving him for dead. Hurrying to Mustafar with speed only the Emperor of the galaxy could afford (and with vigor that surprised even himself), Sidious found his apprentice badly burned but alive.<ref name="Episode III" />

[[File:Recoveringvader.png|thumb|250px|Sidious found Vader's body scorched by lava after losing to Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar.]]
Even as he made his way to the body, Sidious wrestled with anger and indecision. Part of him wanted to leave what was left of Vader to burn to ashes in the rising lava for his failure. As he walked, however, he reasoned that, after having spent almost twenty years in preparation for turning Vader, to let him die would be a waste. So Sidious kept walking and, finally reaching his apprentice, placed a hand on Vader's forehead, using the dark side to keep him stable, while his shock troopers prepared a medical capsule for the return to Coruscant.<ref name="Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (junior novelization)" />

In the [[Theta-class T-2c shuttle/Legends|shuttle's]] rear compartment, Vader lay in his capsule as if in state, flanked by Red Guards.<ref name="Revenge of the Sith: Incredible Cross-Sections" /> Sidious sat before him, using all his powers, every potion and device his medkit contained, to keep Vader stabilized, and wrestled with his own feelings. ''What if Anakin should die?'' he thought. Though he had nearly left Vader to die back on Mustafar, Sidious held, perhaps, the merest sliver of affection for him that he had never held for Maul or Tyranus. The reason for this may have lain in Vader's one-of-a-kind potential. To find another being even half as powerful could take many years, and even then it would probably never happen. Sidious would have to really discover a way to bend the midi-chlorians to his will, to conceive a being as powerful as Skywalker had been, and that too promised to be impossible. It would be miracle enough if Vader was restored to life, which was far removed from actually returning someone from death.<ref name="DLRDV" /> Another potential reason for this may have been due to his role in creating Vader in the [[Grand Experiment]] years ago.<ref name="Jedi vs. Sith" />

[[File:Arrival_at_the_MedCenter.png|thumb|left|250px|Darth Sidious arrives at the Emperor Palpatine Surgical Reconstruction Center with a barely living Darth Vader.]]
Back in the capital, at the [[Emperor Palpatine Surgical Reconstruction Center]], Palpatine commanded that Vader be rebuilt using [[Cybernetics/Legends|prosthetic replacements]], a long and painful process that Palpatine made sure Vader would be kept conscious for, in order to make him stronger through pain. Upon being completely rebuilt and outfitted in a life-supporting suit of armor, Vader asked his master what had become of Padmé. How much of the story Palpatine knew is unknown, but he apparently believed Vader himself had killed his wife in his anger, which worked to his own advantage by breaking Anakin Skywalker's spirit once and for all; Anakin's transformation to Vader was now fully complete. Vader fell into a rage and destroyed the operating theater,<ref name="Episode III" /> and even attempted to reach out and kill Sidious. However, he proved unable to do so; his injuries had reduced his power in the Force as they had his physical capabilities, and it would need to be similarly rebuilt. His knee-jerk reaction failing to destroy Palpatine, Vader quickly ceased his efforts, realizing that Palpatine was all he had left, the only one who would accept him. Palpatine was pleased: one of the most powerful Sith Lords of all time was born in pain and suffering, and it was his apprentice.<ref name="ROTS novel" />

Meanwhile, Yoda and Obi-Wan fled into exile. Anakin's offspring were also separated; [[Leia Organa Solo|Leia]] went with Bail Organa to Alderaan, while [[Luke Skywalker/Legends|Luke]] was taken by Obi-Wan to Anakin's stepbrother [[Owen Lars/Legends|Owen Lars]] on Tatooine, their existence hidden from Palpatine.<ref name="Episode III" />

===The Emperor's reign (19 BBY&ndash;4 ABY)===
====Imperialization====
{{Quote|Once more, the Sith will rule the galaxy! And&hellip; we shall have&hellip; peace.|Palpatine|<ref name="Episode III" />}}
[[File:Darktimesbegin.png|thumb|222px|Palpatine grins deviously as he witnesses his apprentice's anger.]]
With the rise of the Empire, all the institutions of the old Republic were either dismantled or changed beyond recognition through the process of [[Imperialization/Legends|Imperialization]]. There was a riot of renaming all things "Imperial" to glorify the new Emperor: overnight, the [[Coruscant sector]] was renamed the Imperial sector, Coruscant itself was renamed Imperial Center, and [[Galactic City]] was renamed Imperial City. The Galactic Senate became the [[Imperial Senate/Legends|Imperial Senate]]. The Republic's clone troopers had already been rechristened the Imperial stormtroopers and formed into the Stormtrooper Corps; now the remaining surface-based and [[Republic Navy|space-based]] forces of the Grand Army of the Republic became the [[Imperial Army/Legends|Imperial Army]] and the [[Imperial Navy/Legends|Imperial Navy]], respectively, with the [[Republic Starfighter Corps/Legends|Republic Starfighter Corps]] being merged with the latter organization (and to a [[Ground support wing|lesser extent]], the Army). The four decrepit intelligence agencies of the Republic were merged into [[Imperial Intelligence/Legends|Imperial Intelligence]], with former SBI director [[Armand Isard/Legends|Armand Isard]] at its head. The old Palace of the Republic, or Presidential Palace, was rebuilt and expanded, becoming the Imperial Palace, eclipsing all other buildings on Imperial Center. The former Commission for the Protection of the Republic (COMPOR) was renamed the Commission for the Preservation of the New Order (COMPNOR).<ref name="Inaugural Edition" /> Within days, there were few names left to remind the people that there had ever been a Republic. In the first months of Imperial rule, a series of spectacles designed to showcase the military might of the Empire and unify its citizens were arranged.<ref name="GP">''[[Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison]]''</ref>

Under the leadership of Palpatine's advisors, [[Crueya Vandron]] and [[Ishin-Il-Raz]], COMPNOR gained a powerful hold over the Empire, and its organs insinuated themselves into every corner of society. The [[Imperial Security Bureau/Legends|Imperial Security Bureau]] (ISB) was established as a branch of COMPNOR to act as a counterweight to Imperial Intelligence, and it became the Emperor's all-pervasive secret police organization. The [[Coalition for Progress/Legends|Coalition for Progress]] established monitoring agencies to keep track of all aspects of life. The fleet would prove somewhat insubordinate, and a tension between the Coruscant government and the fleet admirals existed throughout this period, creating the need for the ISB to install political officers throughout the military as minders.

Palpatine's authoritarian regime was continually strengthening in its first years. Examples of its broad scope include an Imperially promoted aesthetic style of military-inspired simplicity, in contrast to the opulence and ornamentation Galactic Republic-era. Non-Humans and women were excluded from much of this New Order, and atrocities committed by powerful regional governors were common. Palpatine's first [[Emperor's purge|purge]] of the Imperial Navy occurred within just two weeks into the Empire's rule.<ref name="RepLoyalt">[[Republic 78|''Republic'' 78]]</ref> He had placed Admiral [[Mulleen]] to the task of carrying out the deaths of all officers suspected of holding anti-Imperial sentiments, and also promoted [[Gahg]] to [[Finance Minister]] and ordered for him to completely annex the holdings of defeated Separatist worlds for Imperial usage.

=====Great Jedi Purge actions=====
{{Quote|Of course he knew what we would do&hellip; What we ''must'' do&hellip; and he laughed. I have never seen such skill, such speed. He gave us hope, then took it away.|Beyghor Sahdett|<ref name="SWDTSR3">''[[Dark Times—A Spark Remains 3]]''</ref>}}
[[File:3_Jedi_Survivors_With_One_Strike.png|thumb|left|250px|The Emperor kills three Jedi survivors.]]
In addition to his actions of solidifying his power base, Palpatine also orchestrated the Great Jedi Purge, an extended campaign of trying to eliminate Jedi.

At some point after the declaration of the Empire, Emperor Palpatine ordered five captured Jedi to be brought before him. Though exhausted after severe beatings and starvation, and surrounded by Red Guards and stormtroopers, the Jedi were not bound. Palpatine in fact handed each of them a lightsaber, and told them that the survivor would win their freedom. Instead of turning on each other, four of the Jedi attacked him; he cut three of them down simultaneously, leaving only [[Unidentified Human female Jedi|a female Human]] and the [[Verpine/Legends|Verpine]] [[Beyghor Sahdett]]. The latter chose to turn against the former in order to save his own life, and, in awe of Palpatine's unparalleled mastery of the Force, became the Emperor's servant. Sahdett was employed as a spy to entrap other Jedi survivors.<ref name="SWDTSR3" />

In the first month of Imperial rule, Vader, against Palpatine's orders, went to attack a [[Conclave on Kessel|Conclave]] of Order 66 survivors. Still recovering and rebuilding his skill set, Vader only narrowly defeated the Jedi with the help of the 501st legion. Nonetheless, despite Sidious' disappointment in his apprentice for letting his emotions get the better of him, the Emperor nonetheless viewed Vader's actions as useful in the long run: he anonymously passed a rumor that Vader tracked down and destroyed the conclave. In order to ensure his false rumor kept fear running in the galaxy, he also greatly exaggerated the event, claiming the conclave was composed of fifty Jedi and that Vader had single-handedly killed them, when only eight were involved and Vader struggled with them alongside the 501st legion.<ref name="Purge">''[[Star Wars: Purge]]''</ref>

Palpatine soon began his tests for Vader's gradual descent to becoming a true Sith. He enlisted historian [[Fane Peturri]] to secretly assist Vader in learning more of Sith history.<ref name="Book of Sith" />

Days after the Conclave, the Emperor also ordered for a brigade within the 501st Legion to be deployed to [[New Plympto/Legends|New Plympto]] to [[Cleansing of New Plympto|deal with]] an uprising on the planet. He also had earlier promised the [[Pho Ph'eahian]] senator [[Braxis]] with dealing with a local political dispute on the planet, but backed away from the promise by citing that the Imperial throne will not deal with local politics. In addition, he also was informed by Pestage and Amedda the results of the purge he had earlier assigned Mulleen to, and the report from Gahg on near complete status of the annexation a short period later.<ref name="Dark Times 1">[[Dark Times 1|''Dark Times'' 1]]</ref> After the fighting on New Plympto was concluded with the near extermination of the fighting force on the planet, Palpatine redirected the 501st Legion brigade led by Commander [[Vill]] to transport captured [[Nosaurian/Legends|Nosaurian]] women and children to a [[Slavery/Legends|slave market]] on [[Orvax IV]], without Vader's consent.<ref name="Dark Times 2">[[Dark Times 2|''Dark Times'' 2]]</ref>

Per Sith tradition, Sidious was fully aware of Vader's desire for an apprentice to help him overthrow the current regime.<ref name="Dark Times 12">[[Dark Times 12|''Dark Times'' 12]]</ref> Although the Emperor was left unaware of Vader's failure at [[First duel on unidentified desert moon|retrieving]] the [[Muur Talisman]], he nonetheless arranged for Vader to be sent to [[Bandomeer/Legends|Bandomeer]] to crush a rebellion on the mining planet. The Emperor, sometime after his making Vader his apprentice, secretly issued a [[Contingency Orders for the Grand Army of the Republic: Order Initiation, Orders 1 Through 150|contingency order]] to the stormtroopers, according to which, should he give the order, they would turn their blasters on Vader. About three months and three weeks of Imperial rule, during the [[Battle of Bandomeer]], Lord Vader asked Commander [[Vill]] of the 501st whether such an order had been issued. Receiving no reply, Vader killed the Commander.<ref name="Blue Harvest (Dark Times)">''[[Star Wars: Dark Times: Blue Harvest]]''</ref>

[[File:PalpVaderIntoTheWilderness.jpg|thumb|300px|The Emperor instructs Lord Vader to locate Falco Sang.]]
In the fourth month of Imperial rule, Darth Vader was preoccupied by his personal Jedi hunt, despite his Master's warnings to ignore the Jedi survivors. Having turned his attention on fugitive Jedi Master [[Dass Jennir]], Vader visited [[Imperial Prison ISO-L8]] with the goal of interrogating [[Janks]], one of Jennir's fellow crewmen aboard the ''[[Uhumele]]''. Before the Dark Lord could get to him, however, Janks was assassinated by [[Falco Sang]], a bounty hunter also on Jennir's trail,<ref name="OotW1">''[[Dark Times—Out of the Wilderness 1]]''</ref> who was working for the family of [[Dezono Qua]], a cannibal Jennir had killed on [[Esseles/Legends|Esseles]]. The Emperor, though frustrated by Vader's monomania over Jedi survivors, tasked his apprentice with finding the assassin.<ref name="OotW2">''[[Dark Times—Out of the Wilderness 2]]''</ref> Darth Vader followed Sang to Prine, where he captured the bounty hunter for interrogation.<ref name="OotW3">''[[Dark Times—Out of the Wilderness 5]]''</ref>

As he had promised in his Declaration of a New Order, the Emperor intended to bring the entire galaxy under his rule, and in the first year of the Empire the military focused on the series of campaigns in the Mid and [[Outer Rim Territories/Legends|Outer Rims]] that came to be called the [[Reconquest of the Rim]].<ref name="EGW">''[[The Essential Guide to Warfare]]''</ref> Palpatine was directly involved in one of these campaigns, the [[Atoan insurgency]]; deducing that Moff Wilhuff Tarkin needed motivation to become a more efficient officer, the Emperor ordered Darth Vader to go to [[Atoa]] in the [[Ghost Nebula]] and rescue the Moff's son, [[Admiral/Legends|Admiral]] [[Garoche Tarkin]]. The Emperor later secretly ordered Vader to kill the younger Tarkin, since he already knew he had defected to the [[Atoan]]s. After Vader killed the younger Tarkin and his wife Saro in an attempted suicide to atone for his sins as Vader, Palpatine dug him out, and also fed a falsehood to Wilhuff Tarkin that implicated the Atoans with his son's death, leading Tarkin to commit genocide against the Atoans as revenge.<ref name="DV&TLC">''[[Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Lost Command]]''</ref> He also approved Tarkin's Death Star project, and had personally overseen the beginning stages of the construction of the battlestation.<ref name="Episode III" />

Palpatine had also authorized the deployment of [[FG36]] [[nanovirus]] [[Devastation of Gibad|on]] [[Gibad]] for resisting Imperial authority. The origins of FG36 link back [[Confederacy of Independent Systems/Legends|Separatist]] [[Doctor/Legends|Doctor]] [[Ovolot Qail Uthan]], she created it specifically to target the [[Jango Fett/Legends|Clone]] DNA. However, her plot was foiled by [[Omega Squad]], who later gave several samples of the nanovirus to [[Supreme Chancellor/Legends|Supreme Chancellor]] Palpatine.<ref name="Imperial Commando">''[[Imperial Commando: 501st]]''</ref>

Apart from his public role as Emperor, Darth Sidious also took time to conduct Sith business. Shortly after the declaration of the Empire, he initiated large-scale construction works in the Deep Core planet Byss to turn it into a secret throne world. To do this, he utilized thousands of alien workers from countless conquered worlds including [[Utapau/Legends|Utapau]], [[Gamorr/Legends|Gamorr]], and [[Toydaria/Legends|Toydaria]]. Byss was a dark side conduit, able to invigorate practitioners of the dark side by flooding them with Force energy. Along with the power of Byss, Palpatine slowly fed on the life energy of his workers in order to lengthen his own life.<ref name="ea:r">''[[Evasive Action: Recruitment]]''</ref><ref name="TEA">''[[The Essential Atlas]]''</ref> In addition, Sidious secretly intended to replace the Galactic Empire with his shadow government known as the [[Dark Empire]], a magocracy that had Force-sensitives, more specifically those aligned with the dark side, running the Empire, as well as doing so without any need of superweapons.

He and Darth Vader also brought a number of captured [[Agricultural Corps/Legends|Agricultural Corps]] survivors and other Padawans to the planet in order to train them into powerful servants. Vader was ordered to select worthy pupils, and dispose of the rest. He initially selected four of the best pupils including an Agricultural Corps member named [[Antinnis Tremayne|Tremayne]].<ref name="ea:r" />

At some point between 19 BBY and [[18 BBY/Legends|18 BBY]], Sidious uncovered vital Sith documents in their original form, mainly from the Archives of the ruined Jedi Archives, and from them assembled a compendium of dark side knowledge he called the Book of Sith. In his preface, he recorded that he had hoped to accomplish an Empire with limitless scope. He would later lament in a footnote that he would still rely on others to do his bidding, especially when those who carried out his orders were "foolish, flawed, and disappointing."<ref name="Book of Sith" />

=====The Gentis coup=====
Although the scope of the Imperialization plans were pan-galactic and their implementation exceptionally aggressive, many Imperial officers resented his warmongering ways and longed for peace after the years of fighting the Separatists. A few months after the Declaration of a New Order, the first graduating class of Imperial cadets arrived on Imperial Center from the [[Imperial Academy/Legends|Imperial Academies]] of [[Academy of Carida|Carida]], [[Corulag Academy|Corulag]], [[Raithal Academy/Legends|Raithal]], [[Vensenor Flight Academy/Legends|Arkanis]] and [[Imperial Naval Academy|Prefsbelt IV]], and were presented to the Emperor by [[Headmaster/Legends|Headmaster]] [[Gentis]]. That same night, during the celebration gala, Gentis led many of his graduates in [[Ghost Prison incident|a coup]] against Palpatine.<ref name="GP" />

[[File:Sick_Palpatine.png|thumb|left|300px|Palpatine infected with Aorth-6 after surviving the attempted coup]]
Hundreds of explosives placed by the cadets destroyed 72 Imperial targets, killing hundreds. Fighting broke out in the [[Imperial Plaza (Imperial Palace)|Imperial Plaza]] between the putschists and loyal Imperial forces, including Lord Vader. Gentis himself, under the pretext of presenting his "future Moffs," the most decorated graduates, penetrated into the throne room, released the [[Aorth-6]] [[virus]], and detonated the explosives inside the Palace. The only survivors were the Emperor himself, who was infected but kept himself alive with the Force, and [[Moff/Legends|Moff]] [[Trachta]], whose prosthesis protected him from the poisoned air. When Vader arrived with Raithal class valedictorian [[Lieutenant/Legends|Lieutenant]] [[Laurita Tohm]], one of the few graduates who did not join the coup, Trachta and Palpatine proposed that the latter should hide until cured.<ref name="GP" />

Meanwhile, Gentis assumed control of Imperial Center awaiting Grand Moff Tarkin's arrival. After scouring the Jedi Archives for a cure, Vader, Trachta and Tohm set out to find [[the Prism]], hoping that the ancient fortress contained a cure for the Emperor. Vader, Trachta, Tohm, and the Emperor eventually arrived at the fortress, and Palpatine's condition was stabilized, although he still needed time to regain his strength and recover. Vader and Tohm used the opportunity to recruit the inmates in the Prism for their counterattack against Gentis.<ref name="GP" />

Eventually making a recovery, Sidious returned to Coruscant, and managed to exact revenge on Gentis for his coup by attacking him with Force lightning at such an intensity that it rendered both him and his recently deceased son, Caul, charred corpses. Afterwards, Palpatine had the surviving members of the coup executed, and he later promoted Tohm to Admiral as a reward for his loyalty. Though Tohm was not Force sensitive, Palpatine also implied a desire for Tohm to take Vader's place as his second in command should the latter die. This, however, resulted in Vader killing Tohm.<ref name="GP" /> As a direct result of the near-assassination attempt, Palpatine attempted to hasten the completion of the Imperial Palace.<ref name="SW:DT23:FC1">''[[Dark Times—Fire Carrier 1]]''</ref>

Palpatine also secretly supplied Vader with information relating to Jedi, including the location of [[Dass Jennir]] at [[Kestavel]], via [[Lieutenant/Legends|Lieutenant]] [[Gregg]], while also telling him to keep their communication anonymous. The latter intel was later revealed to be a [[Ambush at Kestavel|trap]] meant for the Sith apprentice. Sahdett also ended up discovered and killed as a result.<ref name="SWDTSR3" />

====The dark times====
{{Quote|Power! Unlimited power!|Sidious while killing Mace Windu|audio=PowahUnlimitedPowah-ROTS.ogg|<ref name="Episode III" />}}
[[File:Palpatine_TFU.jpg|thumb|250px|Emperor Palpatine aboard the under-construction Death Star]]
At some point during the [[Great Jedi Purge/Legends|Great Jedi Purge]], Emperor Palpatine stole a Jedi Holocron from Jedi Master [[Ashka Boda]], which also contained a prophecy that eventually led to his second death [[10 ABY/Legends|years later]].

In 18 BBY, Sidious invited former Jedi [[Ferus Olin]] to Coruscant,<ref name="tlotj4">''[[The Last of the Jedi: Death on Naboo]]''</ref> to ask him a favor: find the saboteur of the computer system of the planet [[Samaria]]. Olin refused at first, but when Sidious told him about the arrest of two of Olin's friends, he had to accept. As Olin later found out, Sidious had been using the crisis as a way to gain complete control of the planet. Darth Vader also thought that the Emperor wanted Olin to turn to the dark side of the Force.<ref name="tlotj5">''[[The Last of the Jedi: A Tangled Web]]''</ref> Sidious would later taunt Olin with the same thing he had used to turn Anakin to the dark side: the ability to create and save lives, soon after Vader had killed Olin's friend.<ref name="Last: Secret Weapon" /> He also promoted Olin in the Empire and provided him with a [[Sith holocron/Legends|Sith holocron]] that would tempt him and urge him to use the dark side.<ref name="tlotj8">''[[The Last of the Jedi: Against the Empire]]''</ref><ref name="tlotj9">''[[The Last of the Jedi: Master of Deception]]''</ref><ref name="tlotj10">''[[The Last of the Jedi: Reckoning]]''</ref>

In 18.5 BBY, Palpatine suffered [[Heinsnake plot|a second assassination attempt]] when his throne was rigged with a bomb underneath, an attempt only foiled by Vader Force-pushing the Emperor out of the way and then Force-pushing the throne out before the bomb detonated. This time, the ones responsible were the [[Heinsnake Cult]], a cult of sorcerers who had been believed to have been long deceased. Palpatine, quickly realizing the threat posed by them to his rule, as well as to the Sith, dispatched Vader to locate the cult and wipe them out. In actuality, he had framed the Heinsnake Cult for the attack as a test for Vader.<ref name="DV&NA">''[[Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin]]''</ref>

[[File:Swdvna2p2.jpg|thumb|left|Darth Vader saves Palpatine from an assassination attempt in an unorthodox manner.]]
The same year, Palpatine, having learned of a enclave called the [[Children of the Jedi]] on the [[Plawal Rift]] of [[Belsavis/Legends|Belsavis]], ordered for the construction of a [[dreadnaught]] [[Superweapon/Legends|superweapon]] with enough firepower to destroy the enclave. One of his specific requests for the dreadnought's development was to implement a hull that was virtually identical to a meteor, down to impact craters, as a form of camouflage. The Emperor publicly maintained that the hull choice was to deceive and/or baffle sensor scans from enemy vessels and worlds, although later historians speculated that the true reason for the camouflage was to ensure its development was kept secret from the Imperial Senate until he had consolidated enough power to not need the governmental body, due to his plans involving the knowing massacre of children. In order to further ensure its development and mission was kept a secret, he also had the dreadnought, christened ''[[Eye of Palpatine]]'', pick up Stormtroopers stationed in various parts of the Outer and Mid Rim for the occasion. However, the Empire never got a chance to use the dreadnought as planned thanks to sabotage implemented by Jedi Knights Callista Ming and Geith Eris. Palpatine, upon discovering this, was infuriated and had the people responsible for losing the ''Eye'' imprisoned, with the ''Eye'' itself being forgotten for years.<ref name="DSOTM">''[[Death Star Owner's Technical Manual]]''</ref><ref name="Children of the Jedi">[[Children of the Jedi (novel)|''Children of the Jedi'']]</ref>

Sometime during the same year, as part of the ongoing Jedi Purge, the Emperor sent Vader to Kashyyyk to [[Battle of Kashyyyk (c. 18 BBY)|find and destroy]] [[Kento Marek]], a Jedi survivor of Order 66. Vader's mission, however, became complicated by his unexpected discovery of the Jedi fugitive's son, [[Galen Marek]]. Vader was taken aback by the child's exceptional potential in the Force&mdash;a potential that rivaled the Emperor's power. After a moment of hesitation, Vader killed Kento and took Galen into his care, deciding not to waste the boy's potential by killing him. Hence, Vader began raising Galen as his secret apprentice in violation of what was technically the [[Rule of Two/Legends|Rule of Two]].<ref name="TFUg">[[Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (video game)|''Star Wars: The Force Unleashed'' video game]]</ref> His brutal training regimen caused the boy to suppress the memories of his childhood until he had completely forgotten his Jedi past and heritage, including his birth name. Known only by the codename ''Starkiller'', the apprentice was promised by his master that they would eventually combine their strengths to kill Emperor Palpatine in order to take control of the Galactic Empire.<ref name="TFUn">[[The Force Unleashed (novel)|''The Force Unleashed'' novel]]</ref>

Also during the same year, Palpatine had ordered for the devastation of [[Caamas/Legends|Caamas]]. The Emperor saw the respected [[Caamasi]] as a threat to his New Order. A group of [[Bothan/Legends|Bothan]] infiltrators were responsible for sabotaging Caamas's shield generators, leaving the planet vulnerable to Imperial orbital bombardment. The once beautiful world was devastated during this attack, turned into a poisoned wasteland. The peaceful Caamasi were dispersed throughout the galaxy.<ref name="Specter of the Past">''[[Specter of the Past]]''</ref>

In [[17 BBY/Legends|17 BBY]], after the Empire discovered a Separatist Holdout on the Outer Rim planet of Ostar, Palpatine had Imperial forces led by Vader dispatched to take control of the planet and drive out the Separatists. The resulting military operation, the [[Shrouded Offensive]], turned out to be, at the time, one of the Empire's worst military disasters. After Palpatine learned of the operation's disastrous end, he, alongside Tarkin, Imperial Intelligence director Armand Isard, and Imperial Advisor [[Janus Greejatus/Legends|Janus Greejatus]], had Vader and the clone stormtrooper [[CT-5539|Hock Malsuum]] brought to his throne room and questioned about the failure. Upon being debriefed, Palpatine ordered Vader for a more hands-on and direct approach to the battle.<ref name="SW:DV&CoS3">[[Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows 3|''Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows'' 3]]</ref>

At some point during his rule, he had a mercenary, [[Sedriss QL|Qaga Lok]], brought before him instead of executed for murdering several Imperial officers. He then challenged Lok to a duel: If Lok could defeat him, he's free to kill him, but if Lok himself was overpowered by the Emperor, Lok will have to swear fealty to him. Lok then accepted the terms, but Sidious then proceeded to effortlessly overpower him via the Force, tormenting the mercenary despite the latter's pleas that he will honor the code, until the man begged for mercy. He then had Lok trained extensively in the dark side, even having Lok choose a Sith name, of which Sedriss was ultimately chosen.<ref name="DSSB">''[[The Dark Side Sourcebook]]''</ref>

On a number of occasions, Emperor Palpatine visited the ancient Sith graveyard world [[Korriban]] for advice from long dead Sith Lords. He also unlocked secrets of the Force from a captured Jedi holocron. His knowledge of the dark side was recorded in his monumental and unfinished ''[[Dark Side Compendium]]'', a study of the nature of the dark side; he finished two books while in power, and began a third which was never completed.

===Galactic Civil War===
====The secret apprentice====
{{Quote|You have forgotten your place, Lord Vader. By taking this boy as your apprentice, you have betrayed me. Now you will kill him, or I will destroy you both.|Palpatine ordering Vader to "kill" Starkiller|<ref name="TFUg" />}}
[[File:VaderStabsMarek.jpg|thumb|250px|Sidious staged a loyalty test with Darth Vader to deceive Starkiller into their designs.]]
In time, the Emperor became aware of Vader's training of Galen Marek as his secret apprentice. While initially angry at Vader for this, he used it to his advantage - in both uncovering the treacherous members of the Imperial Senate rumored to be trying to start rebellion against the Empire and as an opportunity to finally dispose of Vader. Ever since the setback on Mustafar, Sidious was disappointed to see his apprentice wither away into a broken shell of the man he once was. He had spent years engineering Anakin Skywalker's fall to the dark side, only to see his life's work all but destroyed because of Vader's carelessness. But with Starkiller now in his plans, he sent his spies to follow him on his missions for Vader. With the reports he received, he was thrilled with the prospect of taking the young Sith hopeful as his own apprentice.

In [[3 BBY/Legends|3 BBY]], as Starkiller's training was on the verge of completion, Darth Vader dispatched his young apprentice on a final series of tests to determine the level of his strength before they could confront the Emperor. Starkiller pursued his objectives with great anticipation at the thought of fulfilling his primary purpose in life, from defeating Jedi fugitives to training in the ruins of the [[Jedi Temple]]. Due to the secret nature of his existence, Vader commanded Starkiller to execute anyone who saw him, with the exception of the [[PROXY droid|holodroid]] [[PROXY]] and Captain [[Juno Eclipse]], so as to not alert Palpatine of their plans to assassinate him. As such, his targets included Imperials who had the unfortunate accident of crossing his path.<ref name="TFUg" />

After completing his [[Mission to Felucia (Great Jedi Purge)|final mission]] by killing [[Shaak Ti/Legends|Shaak Ti]] of the former Jedi Council on [[Felucia/Legends|Felucia]], Starkiller returned to his master's flagship, the [[Executor/Legends|''Executor'']] where he believed they would assassinate the Emperor together. Unknown to Starkiller, however, Palpatine's spies had been tracking him since his [[First mission to Raxus Prime|victory]] over the exiled [[Aleena/Legends|Aleena]] Jedi Master, [[Kazdan Paratus]], on [[Raxus Prime/Legends|Raxus Prime]]. When Starkiller arrived on the incomplete Executor, the Emperor utilized a holodroid to project an image of himself to reprimand Vader, just in case Vader decided to go through with his plan. With the element of surprise lost to them, Vader was forced to "betray" his apprentice after the Emperor threatened to destroy them both unless Vader complied. As Starkiller stared at his master in shock, the Emperor angrily commanded Vader to kill the secret apprentice. Though he hesitated for a brief moment, Vader used the Force to assault Starkiller before launching him out of the bridge's observation window. Palpatine, likewise, expressed sadistic amusement at Vader's assault, even laughing to himself in private after the deed was done.<ref name="TFUg" />

When Starkiller awoke on the ''[[Empirical]]'' six months later, he learned that he had never truly died; Darth Vader staged the apprentice's execution and then nursed him back to full health aboard his secret medical starship. Vader convinced Starkiller that it was not too late to take revenge on the Emperor. But since Palpatine's spies tracked Vader's every move, a distraction was required to divert his attention elsewhere. Thus, Starkiller was ordered to organize an alliance of rebels and dissidents. With Palpatine distracted by a full-scale rebellion, Vader assured Starkiller that they would capitalize on their second chance to kill Palpatine as soon as the rebels served their purpose.<ref name="TFUg" />

But Starkiller was deceived once more. Emperor Palpatine was fully aware of the apprentice's survival and even ordered Vader to continue the charade by manipulating the young man into believing that the Rebel Alliance was part of their assassination plot. In truth, however, the real goal was to gather all of the Empire's enemies to one location where they could be rounded up and summarily executed in one swift stroke. When Starkiller completed his task to perfection, the Emperor dispatched Darth Vader and a large Imperial force to [[Corellian Treaty|capture]] the Rebel leaders on [[Corellia/Legends|Corellia]].<ref name="TFUg" />

Thanks to Starkiller's efforts, the Emperor's greatest political enemies, Senators Bail Organa, [[Mon Mothma/Legends|Mon Mothma]] and [[Garm Bel Iblis/Legends|Garm Bel Iblis]] were brought to the [[DS-1 Orbital Battle Station/Legends|incomplete Death Star]] by Vader. Palpatine took satisfaction in describing how they would all be interrogated, tortured and executed as traitors to the Empire. Before he could carry out his threats, Vader's former apprentice revealed that not only had he survived his master's second betrayal on Corellia, but that he had also infiltrated the [[battlestation]] with the intention of rescuing the Rebel leaders.<ref name="TFUg" /> After rediscovering his birth name and certain memories of his past, Galen Marek dropped his codename and abandoned his Sith identity in favor of the Jedi and the Rebellion.<ref name="TFUn" />

Emperor Palpatine ordered Darth Vader to eliminate Marek once and for all, but much to his surprise, the former apprentice emerged victorious in a [[Battle on Death Star I|duel]] that left Vader in a severely damaged state. However, Palpatine was actually delighted to witness Vader's defeat. Enthralled by Starkiller's power, Palpatine's goal to replace Vader with Starkiller was now within his reach. Thus, the Emperor seized the chance to rid himself of his hobbled disciple's dead weight by joyfully encouraging Marek to slay the cyborg Sith. He promised Marek that the reward would be great; Vader's death would allow the young man to finally become a true apprentice at the Emperor's side.<ref name="TFUg" />

[[File:PalpatineGalenduel.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Sidious confronts Galen Marek on the incomplete Death Star.]]
But when the Jedi [[Rahm Kota]], who had also been taken prisoner along with the senators, sensed Palpatine's intentions, he used the Force to snatch the Emperor's lightsaber. He then charged at Palpatine with the goal of striking the Dark Lord down with his own weapon. In a rage, Palpatine unleashed a barrage of Force lightning on the [[Jedi General/Legends|Jedi General]]. Caught off-guard for a few moments, Marek could only stand and watch as Kota was tortured by Palpatine's deadly lightning, unresponsive to Senator Organa desperately pleading that he help him. Marek was torn between aiding his Jedi mentor and taking his revenge on Vader. In the end, he drove away the dark thoughts of vengeance and chose the path of a Jedi by coming to the defense of his allies by standing against the Emperor.<ref name="TFUg" />

Through the Force, Marek hurled bits of broken transparisteel and debris at the Emperor, who was forced to break off his attack on Kota to defend himself. As they dueled with both the Force and their lightsabers, apparently being equally matched, Marek came to the conclusion that Palpatine was behind Vader's every move ever since his discovery on Kashyyyk. Palpatine confirmed this, telling Marek that Vader never plotted alone.<ref name="TFUcpg114">[[Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (comic)|''Star Wars: The Force Unleashed'' comic]]; pg. 114</ref> This infuriated Marek to the point that he swiftly gained the upper hand by using the Force to pummel the Emperor around the throne room before apparently subduing him. Cackling, Palpatine abruptly dropped to his knees and goaded Marek into striking a death blow. With Kota's urging, however, Marek resisted the seduction back to the Sith way and spared the Emperor's life.<ref name="TFUg" />

Palpatine's failure to secure Marek as his new apprentice or even to turn him back to the dark side caused him to lose all control of his anger. As Marek turned to leave, Palpatine rose to his feet in an uncontrollable rage and unleashed his Force lightning on Kota once again, declaring that he would never allow the Jedi to have someone as powerful as Galen Marek. But the reformed Jedi used his own body to block the Emperor's attack to provide Kota and the Rebel leaders with enough time to escape. While his allies made their way to the ''[[Rogue Shadow]]'' piloted by Eclipse, the full strength of the Emperor's power pushed Marek to the brink of desperation. In comparison to his years of suffering under Vader's tutelage, nothing that Vader ever did to Marek was as excruciating as the pain that he felt from Palpatine's lightning. Before succumbing to oblivion, Marek compared the pain to an imploding star within his chest. Despite his desire to live, Marek knew that there was no escape or hope for survival. As such, he used all of his energy to create a massive Force explosion that all but destroyed the throne room, as well as nearly killing both Sith Lords.<ref name="TFUn" /> Marek's sacrifice had cost him his own life, but had also turned him into a martyr. His actions also enabled the Rebel leaders to escape from the Death Star, thus ensuring the survival of the fledgling Rebel Alliance. As Vader regained his senses and limped towards the fallen corpse of Galen Marek, the Emperor also recovered and inspected the dead apprentice with a look of shock and disappointment on his face.<ref name="TFUg" />

[[File:Starkiller_dead.jpg|thumb|230px|Sidious and Vader confirmed the death of Galen Marek shortly after the escape of the Rebel leaders.]]
Palpatine took no joy in the death of Galen Marek. He had envisioned a far different future for the boy, as he once had with Anakin Skywalker. Marek was meant to root out the rebels so that they could all be revealed and destroyed, yet Palpatine bitterly admitted that Marek's sacrifice would only inspire them to fight a full-scale war against the Galactic Empire. On a more personal note, the Emperor lost what was supposed to be Vader's successor; a new apprentice who was worthy to stand at the Emperor's side. The loss of someone of Marek's caliber was a major setback in his plans. But the fact that he still had to make due with an imperfect apprentice like Vader was also frustrating to Palpatine. Overall, the death of Galen Marek and the survival of the Rebel leaders brought Palpatine to a wise conclusion; all of the rebels had to be exterminated or the two Sith Lords would suffer the bitter irony of being destroyed by the very rebellion that they created.<ref name="TFUg" />

The Emperor, left with no alternative at the moment after Marek's death, was forced to keep Darth Vader as his slave for the time being. The loss of Marek did not stop him from seeking out other candidates as he fully intended to cast Vader aside one day, just as he had done so with Darth Tyranus years ago. The incident with Galen Marek also served to drive Palpatine and Vader even further apart than they already were. Like Tyranus before him, Vader had been betrayed by his master in favor of an apprentice far younger and more powerful.<ref name="TFUg" /> With the Emperor's treacherous intentions finally revealed, Vader truly committed himself to overthrowing his master before it was too late. But to do so, he needed someone of Marek's potential to aid him in such a daunting task.<ref name="TFU2vg">''[[Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II]]''</ref>

Marek's untimely death, however, forced Vader to take a desperate course of action. He preserved his fallen apprentice's corpse on Kamino where he used it as a [[Prime clone|template]] in the hopes of creating a more powerful and obedient version of Marek. The cloning project was initially flawed, resulting in [[Aberrant clone|various genetic failures]] in the early trials of the experiment, including a [[Subject 1138|renegade clone]] who escaped from the Kaminoan homeworld.<ref name="TFU2vg" /> Despite the constant rate of failures and disappointments, the project ultimately produced a [[Dark Apprentice|single perfect clone]] who emerged as Darth Vader's new apprentice.<ref name="Distant Thunder">[[Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II#Distant Thunder|''Distant Thunder'']]</ref>

====Dark Side Adepts and Trachta's insurrection====
{{Expandsect}}
[[File:Palpy_Betrayal.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Emperor Palpatine at the time of Trachta's coup]]
At some point during his reign, Palpatine communicated with the [[Shreeftut]] of the distant [[Ssi-ruuvi Imperium]] through the use of the dark side. He appeared in the Shreeftut's dreams and claimed that he was the ruler of an Empire in the [[Core Worlds/Legends|Galactic Core]]. Palpatine traded with the Shreeftut for some battle drones in exchange that a large number of "subjects" be present for entechment by the Imperium. This would result in the [[Ssi-ruu]]vi invasion of [[Bakura/Legends|Bakura]] in [[4 ABY/Legends|4 ABY]].

Sidious also employed a large number of Force-sensitive agents. These people, the Dark Side Adepts, were outside the Empire's official organization, but reported directly to the Emperor or&mdash;when necessary&mdash;Lord Vader. Sidious intended to replace key officials with the Adepts, though their number was too limited.

In [[1 BBY/Legends|1 BBY]], Palpatine and Vader were the targets of a group of treacherous Imperial officers led by Grand Moff Trachta. Trachta saw the Sith as foolish and archaic, and believed that the Empire should not be ruled by a two-man cult. They planned to use a batch of altered stormtroopers loyal only to them to destroy the two Sith Lords.

Palpatine at that time was to depart to oversee the finalizations of the then-nearly finished Death Star, with his own shuttle being prepped for launch. Skosef, alongside a contingent of Trachta clone stormtroopers, snuck a bomb aboard the shuttle. Sidious, however, discovered the threat via the Force and ordered for the procession to his shuttle to halt, moments before detonation. Although he himself survived, several stormtroopers as well as half of his own royal guardsmen were killed in the blast, which Trachta had intended, offering his stormtrooper squad to replace the ones lost, knowing full well that they were programmed to kill Palpatine when the opportunity presented itself.

However, their plot failed in part because of internal fighting between the co-conspirators. The sole remaining conspirator, Moff [[Kadir (Moff)|Kadir]], then brashly led his contingent of clones to attack Palpatine, also killing several of the Imperial officers in the process. However, Sidious had anticipated their arrival and attack, and had his guardsmen attack the guards before he personally disposed of the surviving men with Force lighting. He then let Kadir long enough to witness the full failure of the attempted coup, after denying him the chance to become his apprentice due to his lack of Force-sensitivity as well as Vader surviving the coup, before electrocuting him to death.<ref name="Betrayal2">''[[Star Wars: Empire: Betrayal]]''</ref>

====Moff Kalast's defection and the subjection of Bothawui====
[[File:Bringyourbothanststheslaughter.jpg|thumb|250px|Sidious kills treacherous Bothans.]]
In [[0 BBY/Legends|0 BBY]], Moff [[Kalast]] aided the Rebel Alliance in secret by supplying secret information about the recently completed Death Star. After the identity of the traitor was discovered, the Emperor dispatched Darth Vader to hunt down Kalast's flagship, the Star Destroyer [[Avenger/Legends|''Avenger'']]. Vader's forces [[Assault on Thyferra|clashed]] with Kalast's on [[Thyferra/Legends|Thyferra]] [[Arrest over Atzerri|and]] [[Atzerri/Legends|Atzerri]], until eventually defeating Kalast and [[Capture of Kalast|capturing]] the ''Avenger'' as it was preparing to jump to lightspeed. Kalast was interrogated, revealing that [[Bothan/Legends|Bothan]] members of the [[Bothan Spynet/Legends|Spynet]] had supplied him with the top-secret information concerning the Death Star. The Emperor considered this treason on the part of the entire Bothan species, and decided to deal with the situation himself. He traveled to Bothawui in [[Emperor Palpatine's shuttle/Legends|his personal shuttle]], accompanied by two of his Royal Guards, and personally [[Mission to Bothawui|slaughtered]] hundreds of Bothans. He gathered information that [[Tantive IV/Legends|''Tantive IV'']] was headed to Tatooine, and informed Lord Vader, who had already learned the same thing in [[Raid on Polis Massa|a separate mission]].<ref name="EaW">''[[Star Wars: Empire at War]]''</ref>

====The New Order in practice (0 BBY)====
{{Quote|We were establishing a new era: an era of order and peace.|Entry from the [[501st Journal]]|<ref name="Battlefront II">''[[Star Wars: Battlefront II]]''</ref>}}
At some point in 0 BBY, the Imperial Military at Palpatine's order published the ''[[Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide]]'' military manual for servitude in the Imperial Military. The Emperor himself signed the opening and ending sections of the book and wrote the respective speeches inside, giving a brief history and explanation for the New Order that recruits were to serve under as well as telling them that the completed lesson is just the smallest lesson of being an effective Imperial officer.<ref name="Imperial Handbook">''[[Star Wars: Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide]]''</ref>

=====The dissolution of the Senate=====
{{Quote|The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us. I have just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away. ''"<br />"''That's impossible! How will the Emperor maintain control without the bureaucracy?''"<br />"''The regional governors now have direct control over their territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this battle station.|Wilhuff Tarkin and Cassio Tagge, on the dissolution of the Senate|<ref name="Episode 4">{{Film|IV}}</ref>}}
[[File:SidiousVaderPromo-DVSWE.png|thumb|left|250px|Sidious and Vader]]
From the beginning, Palpatine sought to [[Dissolution of the Imperial Senate/Legends|remove the Senate]]. The first reason was symbolic: he could not leave a reminder of the Republic lying about. The second was political: some Senators still opposed him. His obedient majority tried keeping them in check; they understood they were only there to prop up the illusion of democracy. He dealt with the outspoken ones when they appeared, but others sprouted in their place. Worse, some of them, he suspected, were providing the Rebels with funds, information, and resources.<ref name="RESB">''[[Rebellion Era Sourcebook]]''</ref>

He had waited until the time was right, all the while sapping their power. Finally, in the third month of the year 35 after the [[Great ReSynchronization]],<ref name="TEA" /> with the governmental infrastructure in place (the governors, Moffs, and Grand Moffs), with the military, as always, obeying him without question, and with the Death Star, the [[Tarkin Doctrine/Legends|Tarkin Doctrine's]] ultimate tool, finally complete and tested, he was ready.

Warrants were issued for the arrest of all suspected Rebels. Stormtroopers burst into the Senate, and hundreds were detained. Some&mdash;those learned to have had Rebel affiliations&mdash;were never seen again.<ref name="H&R">''[[Heroes & Rogues]]''</ref> The following morning, the remaining Senators, unaware of what had happened, came to work only to find themselves locked out of their offices and chambers. Some tried to appeal to Palpatine directly, but were told that their diplomatic access to the Palace had been suspended "for the duration of the emergency."<ref name="SWAJ3">[[Star Wars Adventure Journal 3|''Star Wars Adventure Journal'' 3]]</ref>

Many of them had been present when the Senate gave power to him. They too were arrested and interrogated. Many who were released left Coruscant for their homeworlds, and a peaceful&mdash;and isolated&mdash;retirement. The small number of Senators that remained, the ones who had most voraciously upheld the party line, were generously rewarded with their lives and new positions. Many of them donned ornate jeweled robes and joined the swelling ranks of Imperial advisors.

Palpatine had killed what was left of the Constitution. A new pyramidal structure was imposed, with himself at its summit, then the Grand Moffs who ruled Oversectors, then the Moffs who ruled sectors, then the governors of individual worlds. All of them owed their careers to the Emperor and gave him their allegiance. But even here, he had extra guarantees. He had long since inserted COMPNOR into every level of the bureaucracy, to insure that each one followed his dictates. For all the power of the Moffs and Grand Moffs, COMPNOR stood behind them, more powerful still.<ref name="ISB" /> And behind them all stood the [[DS-1 Orbital Battle Station/Legends|Death Star]], enforcing his will at gunpoint.

=====An example is made=====
{{Quote|These people have lost a homeworld through no fault of their own. Offering them a new homeworld is the least I can do to compensate them for their loss.|Palpatine|<ref name="SWAJ3" />}}
Palpatine was equally thorough in dealing with Senators who were off Coruscant at the time, or had escaped. One was Senator [[Canna Omonda]], Mon Mothma's successor as representative from [[Chandrila/Legends|Chandrila]]. Many Senators had hoped Omonda would intercede for them. But Omonda, seeing no point, did not try to gain an audience, instead becoming one of the few Senators, perhaps the only one, to leave Coruscant before the noose tightened. But she made a parting shot in her remarks to the press as she boarded a transport bound for Chandrila:

Omonda left the capital; just in time, as her colleagues were arrested. But Palpatine could not let her remain at large; he dispatched an "honor escort" of three Imperial Star Destroyers to Chandrila, to bring her back to Coruscant for a "short interview" with High Inquisitor [[Halmere]]. The Chandrilans took the hint that the "escort" would devastate Chandrila if they refused to release her; Omonda was turned over to the Inquisitorius. Omonda soon confessed to acts of treason, giving her interrogators the names of people she had passed classified information to. The night of the confession, in his before-dinner remarks at the Palace, Palpatine again donned his well-worn mask of firm benevolence for the sake of the press.

Omonda's public execution was scheduled as part of the traditional New Year Fete Week celebrations within the next year ([[1 ABY/Legends|1 ABY]]), but this was canceled in light of "security concerns." No specific reason was given, but the government likely feared that Rebels or their sympathizers might disrupt the event. Even without the executions, the awesome power of the New Order was displayed to full effect. The traditional parade passed before the Palatial Balcony, where Palpatine occasionally appeared, flanked by Vader and numerous lieutenants. Since Palpatine was not on the balcony throughout the entire parade, it is possible that he went to visit her before her death&mdash;or to watch her die.<ref name="SWAJ5">[[Star Wars Adventure Journal 5|''Star Wars Adventure Journal'' 5]]</ref> Palpatine was also heard remarking that if sending up two traitors in a row was how Chandrila rewarded him for his favor, it might benefit from more direct supervision.<ref name="SWAJ4">[[Star Wars Adventure Journal 4|''Star Wars Adventure Journal'' 4]]</ref> Chandrila duly received its direct supervision, and its legal government soon vanished. In its place, [[Grandon Holleck]] was installed as governor.<ref name="SWAJ7">[[Star Wars Adventure Journal 7|''Star Wars Adventure Journal'' 7]]</ref>

At some point, with the growing rebellion, Palpatine had one of his ranking advisors, Ars Dangor, issue two versions of a speech regarding dealing with the Rebel Alliance: One, where the Rebel Alliance was treated as if they were the latest incarnation of the Separatists from the Clone Wars, was released to the general public of the Empire. The other, intended to be issued specifically to the various Moffs and governors, making clear that they should adopt a policy of terror.<ref name="ISB" /> The latter speech ended up leaked by Rebel sympathizers.<ref name="SWAJ4" />

====Death Star rising====
The exemplar and symbol of the New Order was no longer to be the stormtrooper, or the fleet, or even, to an extent, Palpatine himself. It was to be an armored space station he and his lieutenants had spent some two decades in the building, enduring a seeming eternity of research and development, accident, sabotage, great leaps forward and disappointing steps backward. He did not know, or did not care, that in the end, it would make the Rebellion even more emboldened than before.

=====The destruction of Alderaan=====
{{Quote|Since you are reluctant to provide us with the location of the Rebel base, I have chosen to test this station's destructive power on your home planet of Alderaan.|Wilhuff Tarkin, to Leia Organa|<ref name="Episode 4" />}}
In the absence of the Senate, Palpatine had established an environment where even his subordinates were capable of terrible atrocities against sentients. From the very beginning of its design, it was intended that the Death Star be capable of destroying entire planets. But most Imperial strategists were certain that the threat alone would be enough to keep most worlds in line. Tarkin felt differently; as he saw it, the Rebels were growing bolder, and only a very public demonstration of the battlestation's power against a Rebel target would succeed in giving them pause. His argument convinced Palpatine.

So Palpatine approved in advance the destruction of a planet&mdash;and thereby the mass murder of its entire population. He knew it would be used on an inhabited world. But he did not know in advance that it was to be Alderaan. Tarkin alone made this decision, facing down even Vader to do so. If Palpatine knew about Tarkin's intent from that point onward, it would only be because Vader made a report to him after the decision was made, but before the station entered the Alderaan system and carried out its mission, an act that, by current estimates, caused the deaths of 1,999,940,000 sentient beings.<ref name="CCW" />

Palpatine's private feelings on the tragedy were a mystery, but publicly he adopted his benevolent persona, announcing that he was saddened by the loss of such a noble world, and adding that had Alderaan entrusted itself to Imperial protection, it would still be thriving. In other words, the [[destruction of Alderaan]] might not have been necessary had Bail Organa simply bowed under as he was supposed to. But he made a "magnanimous" offer to resettle the sixty thousand remaining Alderaanians, those who were away when their homeworld was destroyed, on his "private resort world."

It was later announced by Palpatine's proxies that he himself had ordered the destruction of Alderaan after the Empire had obtained "irrefutable evidence" that this planet of pacifists, which had not even possessed a standing armed force, had supposedly been creating bioweapons. The possibility that some of these bioweapons had been taken off-world to Rebel cells was dangled in front of the compliant press, to keep the terrified Core Worlds in line and justify a permanent state of emergency. As a result, the Empire put more time and resources than ever before into crushing the Rebellion, flushing out Rebel strongholds throughout the galaxy and conquering worlds that had allied themselves with the Alliance.

Tarkin, with his Doctrine, had promulgated a fear-driven principle of governance. But shortly after the destruction of Alderaan, the Death Star itself was destroyed by the Rebel Alliance in the [[Battle of Yavin/Legends|Battle of Yavin]]. Palpatine ordered the creation of a second Death Star at Endor, an order he ironically gave shortly before Luke Skywalker had destroyed the first Death Star.<ref name="EGW" /> Grand Moff Tarkin, who was aboard the battle station at the time and refused to evacuate, was killed in the station's destruction.<ref name="NEC" /> But while this was a great loss for the Empire, Palpatine nonetheless found ways to turn the situation to his advantage. Even so, he punished Darth Vader for this failure by severing his already-mechanical right hand. Likewise, Palpatine later had [[Coh Veshiv]] relocated in anger after the latter had inadvertently uncovered information relating to illegally diverted funds by one of the Grand Admirals for a secret starfighter project that was ordered by Palpatine himself. Afterwards, Palpatine later ordered Grand Admiral [[Osvald Teshik]] to rescue Coh Veshiv from Esseles with the threat of death should he fail. Teshik failed to rescue Veshiv or kill the one responsible, Captain [[Dhas Fenoep Vedij]], and thus Palpatine made good of his threat by arranging him to be sent to the [[Andalia system]] on a [[Battle of Andalia|suicide battle]] to fight the [[Hapes Consortium/Legends|Hapes Consortium]] fleet with insufficient materiel or manpower as a demonstration of how even the Grand Admirals are not beyond reproach, also sending a [[snoopship]] to survey the battle. After Teshik was revealed to have survived the battle, Palpatine then had 3/4ths of Teshik's body replaced with cybernetics, and then had him resume command. He also suspected that Vader was searching for the force-sensitive pilot in order to betray him. The Emperor deduced the name of the pilot and dropped a hint to Vader about the pilot's identity to indicate his knowledge of his apprentice's intentions.<ref name="VQ">''[[Vader's Quest]]''</ref> In various points of the war, Palpatine was briefed by Darth Vader on the progress of their fights against the Rebellion. In particular, Palpatine expressed some disappointment at the [[Attack on Yavin 4|setback]] to the [[Yavin blockade|Blockade of Yavin]], although Vader assured him that it was only temporary. Shortly thereafter, Palpatine also ordered for an attack on Ralltiir after it became apparent that the scientists on the planet were creating weapons for the rebellion. In spite of one of his Imperial officers, [[Tycho Celchu]]'s [[Mission to Dantooine|defection]] to the Rebel Alliance, and thus potentially supplied them with valuable information, Palpatine was not concerned about this, as he was fully confident that Ralltiir being fully blockaded by the Imperial Navy would be more than enough to prevent the Rebel Alliance from [[Defense of Ralltiir|saving]] the scientists.<ref name="Rebel Strike">''[[Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike]]''</ref>

In addition, he also had Vader punished for the destruction of the Death Star. In addition to having Vader's hand cut off immediately after the Death Star's destruction, he later had Vader demoted and reassigned to observe the construction of the Death Star II, with [[Kell Bircher]] replacing him, also nearly driving an acting Moff, [[Birra Seah]], to nearly commit suicide after heavily insulting her and having her detained. Ironically, Palpatine's replacement for Vader actually worsened Imperial efforts against the Rebels due to Bircher secretly being a spy for the Rebels as well as a direct relative of Mon Mothma. He later had Vader placed under house arrest and thus forced him to not directly participate in the bombardment of Arrochar largely due to his recent actions.

Others would have to answer for their incompetence, most notably the Death Star's principal engineer, [[Bevel Lemelisk]]. Upon hearing of the Yavin fiasco, Lemelisk, correctly fearing for his life, went into hiding. It did not take long for Imperial Intelligence to track the engineer to his remote retreat on [[Hefi]], and "summon" him to an audience with his Emperor.<ref name="GG5">''[[Galaxy Guide 5: Return of the Jedi]]''</ref> When he entered Palpatine's audience chamber, he made the tragic mistake of trying to bluff his way through, believing that Palpatine did not know what had really happened. The Emperor set him straight at once. Palpatine used the Force to trap Lemelisk within a wire-mesh cage, and then released into the cage a swarm of winged insects, [[Piranha beetle/Legends|piranha beetles]] he had long ago "rescued" from Yavin 4. Palpatine was greatly amused as the insects made shreds of his engineer. But he still needed Lemelisk, so he used the Jedi Holocron taken from the late [[Ashka Boda]], [[Transfer essence|transferring]] Lemelisk's unwitting essence to a clone body. The exercise properly expressed his disappointment to Lemelisk, but it made for a trial run of the process he himself might yet have to endure, should his own body at last fail him.<ref name="Darksaber">[[Darksaber (novel)|''Darksaber'']]</ref>

Inevitably, as Lemelisk sought to rectify the failures of the Death Star's design, Palpatine ''did'' have to conceive even more excruciating deaths for every subsequent failure, seven executions in all, ranging from the horrid to the whimsical, each time reviving him and letting the lesson of his latest execution press him onward. In one such execution, the engineer was launched out of an airlock, with his organs being destroyed by the pressure and cold. In another execution, he was locked in a vault filled with thickening acid mist that ate into him with even bloodier vigor than the piranha beetles had. A notable execution of Lemelisk was when he was slowly lowered into a vat of molten [[Copper/Legends|copper]] which burned his body away a centimeter at a time. When, a month later, Lemelisk felt bold enough to ask why ''copper'', Palpatine simply told him that that was what the smelter had used that day. These were not mere acts of sadism; they had an underlying purpose, employing pain to encourage progress.<ref name="Darksaber" />

Some time after Yavin's evacuation, Palpatine received a hologrammic communication from Darth Vader, who had just departed [[Ord Mantell/Legends|Ord Mantell]] after meeting there with Boba Fett. Vader informed his master that the Imperial starfleet had just started to search for the [[Echo Base/Legends|new Rebel base]]. During the conversation, Palpatine suspected that Vader had made other arrangements, and the [[Armor/Legends|armored]] Sith Lord admitted to have sicced Boba Fett and other [[Bounty hunter/Legends|bounty hunters]] on [[Han Solo/Legends|Han Solo]], in hopes that they may also find Luke Skywalker. The Emperor was pleased with Vader's decisions, and encouraged him in his quest for Skywalker, telling him that "sometimes, the remote path leads to the goal first."<ref name="Showdown">''[[Showdown]]''</ref> Shortly thereafter, the Emperor recontacted Vader, asking him whether his deal with the bounty hunters had borne fruit. His apprentice told him that he had changed his plans, and now intended to capture Luke Skywalker on [[Verdanth]], using a seemingly crashed Rebel [[Shuttle/Legends|shuttle]] as bait. That scheme was thwarted when Skywalker was rescued by [[R2-D2/Legends|R2-D2]] and Han Solo.<ref name="The Final Trap">''[[The Final Trap]]''</ref>

Sidious also had Lyn locate and train Force-sensitive students in the art of [[Teräs Käsi/Legends|Teräs Käsi]], in order to hunt down and kill the [[Heroes of Yavin/Legends|Heroes of Yavin]] as retaliation for their destruction of the Death Star.<ref name="Masters">''[[Star Wars: Masters of Teräs Käsi]]''</ref> However, he eventually learned from Jade that Lyn had an ulterior motive of trying to instigate a coup, although he wasn't able to punish her for her treachery due to her and her three students going into hiding.<ref name="Barely Tolerable 2">*{{SW|url=news/barely-tolerable-alien-henchmen-of-the-empire-part-2|text=Barely Tolerable: Alien Henchmen of the Empire, Part 2|int=Barely Tolerable: Alien Henchmen of the Empire}}</ref>

{{Unlicensedstart}}
After discovering that Vader had gained a second secret apprentice, Tao, Sidious managed to abduct the boy just as Vader released the boy from his apprenticeship, and forced Vader to mortally wound the boy. This act caused Vader a great amount of grief.
{{Unlicensedend}}

At some point between 1 ABY and [[2 ABY/Legends|2 ABY]], Palpatine went over to [[Emperor's Retreat/Legends|his private retreat]] on Naboo, and met with several of his staff there. To deal with the increasing amount of Rebel activity on Naboo, and especially near his retreat, Palpatine decided to make a point by hiring mercenaries to act as Rebel saboteurs to attack the then-reigning monarch of Naboo, Queen Kylantha, who was suspected to have Rebel sympathies. When Kylantha went to the Emperor to address the situation, he then had the "rebels" executed as a demonstration of what happens if the Empire is attacked, and had the message delivered to Naboo's Parliament. Later, after Kylantha was suspected to be housing a Rebel general, Palpatine had an investigation into the matter, and eventually confirmed it. He then subtly threatened Kylantha into having the Rebel general, Jacen Nire, turned in to the Empire. In addition, Palpatine was also threatened with a Rebel infiltration into his retreat, which was caused by a mole in the form of Major Barret Herand, which resulted in both Herand and his Rebel Handlers' deaths.<ref name="SWG">{{SWG|An Empire Divided}}</ref>

===Plotting against Luke Skywalker (3&ndash;4 ABY)===
{{Quote|We have a new enemy. The young Rebel who destroyed the Death Star. I have no doubt this boy is the offspring of Anakin Skywalker.|Palpatine|<ref name="TESB">{{Film|V}}</ref>}}
Despite his unintended role in creating the Rebellion five years earlier, and telling Vader to be ruthless in his attempts to crush the rebellion and kill them all, Palpatine was unconcerned about the Rebellion. For the present, it was useful, to accustom his subjects to a state of permanent martial law. He could accept some interference from the Rebels if it helped him in the long run. Without the Force on their side, they could never truly hurt him. Palpatine also believed that the Rebels were not fully aware of the scope of his [[Death Star II plans|plans]] [[Battle of Endor/Legends|to ultimately defeat them]], due to the Rebel defector, [[Sarkli]]'s resourcefulness, especially in regards to the latter [[Raid at Bakura|successfully retrieving]] scientists that the Rebels were attempting to rescue at [[Bakura/Legends|Bakura]].<ref name="Rebel Strike" />

Following a [[Battle of Hoth/Legends|major victory]] in capturing a [[Echo Base/Legends|Rebel base]] on [[Hoth/Legends|Hoth]] ([[3 ABY/Legends|3 ABY]]), Palpatine demanded to the de jure head of [[Death Squadron/Legends|Death Squadron]], [[Admiral/Legends|Admiral]] [[Firmus Piett/Legends|Firmus Piett]], to tell Vader to make contact with him. After getting out of Hoth's asteroid field, Sidious, after delaying his communicating with Vader due to a foul mood, then told his apprentice that Luke Skywalker was becoming a grave threat to the Sith due to his growing Force potential and training, and that he must not become a Jedi, also informing him that he was Vader's son. Vader convinced the Dark Lord that it would be beneficial for both of them if Luke was converted to the dark side.<ref name="TESB" /> In actuality, Vader already knew by that point that Skywalker was Force-sensitive as well as alive, and had been actively searching for him, secretly planning to use Luke to help him overthrow his master. Palpatine of course knew that Vader was planning to use Luke against him as he had with Galan Marek years earlier and was merely toying with Vader. Nevertheless, Palpatine fully intended to have Skywalker convert to the dark side so he could at last be rid of Vader, or barring that option, kill Luke to eliminate him as a threat.

[[File:Threatofskywalker.png|thumb|250px|Sidious and Vader discuss the threat of Skywalker.]]
Shortly after the duel at Bespin, Sidious chastised Vader's failure to convert Luke to the dark side, and also implied suspicions of Vader not even wanting to turn Luke, although Vader replied that he did nonetheless manage to sow the seeds of ambition into him, and reminded him that turning Luke to the dark side was Vader's idea. The Emperor also sent Vader over to escort supplies shipped by Prince Xizor's merchant fleet to the second Death Star. In actuality, the escort mission was a miser's bargain to distract him while he arranged for Prince Xizor to assassinate Luke Skywalker. However, this plan failed when Xizor and his Skyhook were destroyed by Darth Vader.<ref name="Shadows of the Empire">''[[Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire]]''</ref> In addition, he also had Vader supply him with Luke's severed hand and lightsaber for one of his storehouses at Wayland. At some point later, he eventually learned that the Imperial officer stationed at Cloud City, Captain [[Hugo Treece]], had secretly been embezzling from Cloud City shortly after [[Ugnaught rebellion|a rebellion]] was quelled there due to the funds appearing in Darth Vader's account (which had been anonymously arranged by Lando Calrissian via Lobot), and proceeded to have Treece summarily executed.<ref name="Hello, Bespin, Goodbye">[[Star Wars (1977) 57|''Star Wars'' (1977) 57]]</ref><ref name="Bespin: Action Tidings">''[[Bespin: Action Tidings]]''</ref>

Sometime afterwards, around the same time Vader and then-Vice Admiral Thrawn tracked down and [[Battle of the Rebel stronghold|destroyed]] a [[Rebel stronghold]] near [[Unidentified planet (Rebel stronghold)|a planet]] in the Outer Rim, Palpatine ordered for virtually all of the Imperial Naval forces (and presumably the other Imperial Military branches) to head to the Imperial Center for his announcement on the progress of the war. From his [[Imperial Palace Audience Chamber|Audience Chamber]] at the Imperial Palace, he announced that the war was nearly over with the Galactic Empire soon to experience final victory over the Rebel forces, citing Vader's attacks on Rebel strongholds as testament to this.<ref name="TIE Fighter">''[[Star Wars: TIE Fighter]]''</ref>

Around the same time, Sidious dispatched his Hand, [[Mara Jade Skywalker|Mara Jade]], to Tatooine, certain that, at some point, Skywalker would go there to rescue his friend, Han Solo. When he did, she was ordered to kill him. At the same time, he ordered Vader to [[Endor/Legends|Endor]], to oversee the construction of the new Death Star. His apprentice would be useful in speeding up the workers, but it also put him well out of the way. By the time he joined Vader at Endor, he would have heard the comforting mind-touch of Jade, assuring him that Skywalker was dead. Let Vader suspect all he wanted; even if he did learn the truth, it would only encourage him to remember where his loyalties lay.

But when Jade's mind-touch was heard, he was distressed to learn that she had failed him, a rare event indeed. Skywalker had eluded her by sheer chance, and by Jabba's personal strength of will. The Hutt had refused to let her on the barge that was to take Skywalker to his death, and so she could not be there to make sure he died. And there was little hope that Jabba's thugs could accomplish it themselves.<ref name="TFJP">''[[Tales from Jabba's Palace]]''</ref> Killing Skywalker was not an option now; converting him to the dark side was the last hope Sidious had. It could be done; Skywalker had learned of his father's true identity, and would risk it all to try to steal him back from Sidious's grasp. The Dark Lord counted on this to lure the boy into his trap. First, he would destroy Skywalker's friends and loved ones. Then, he would force him to kill his father, the man he loved as much as he hated.<ref name="GG5" /> Like his father before him, it would be slow, and perhaps harder this time around. But at the end, Skywalker would accept the dark side of the Force. Around this time, he also reflected on the path that led him to where he was in the present.<ref name="POTF comic">[[Star Wars: The Power of the Force (comic)|''Star Wars: The Power of the Force'']]</ref>

With the approval of Emperor Palpatine, the [[Scientist/Legends|scientist]] Doctor [[Raygar]] went to Endor aboard a ship commanded by Admiral [[Kazz]] to seize the powerful artifact called the "[[Sunstar/Legends|Sunstar]]" from the native [[Ewok/Legends|Ewoks]]. His mission was successful; meanwhile, Palpatine traveled to the system to retrieve the Sunstar. But when Raygar analyzed the gem and recognized the power it held, he decided to use it to kill Palpatine upon arrival and make himself the new Emperor. Raygar constructed a powerful weapon to use against Palpatine's shuttle, but as he prepared to test the weapon, Raygar was attacked by the Ewok [[Wicket Wystri Warrick/Legends|Wicket Wystri Warrick]] who had infiltrated the ship. As Palpatine's shuttle approached, the scuffle between Warrick and Raygar resulted in the misfiring of the weapon; it hit the starboard wing of Palpatine's shuttle, forcing a retreat until all was clear. The Ewoks reclaimed their Sunstar, while Raygar was accused with fabricating the gem's existence. He was charged with high treason, and Palpatine personally saw to Raygar's punishment.<ref name="Battle for the Sunstar">{{Ewoks|Battle for the Sunstar}}</ref>

During this time, Palpatine also had extensive involvement with [[Xizor/Legends|Xizor]], the leader of the [[Black Sun/Legends|Black Sun]] crime cartel. Xizor saw himself as a rival to Darth Vader and worked hard to ingratiate himself to Palpatine and alienate Vader from his master. According to Xizor, Palpatine seemed to enjoy goading the two rivals, ordering Vader to express gratitude after Xizor revealed the location of a Rebel shipyard.<ref name="Shadows of the Empire" /> Palpatine also approved a plan of Xizor's to eliminate the [[Bounty Hunters' Guild/Legends|Bounty Hunters' Guild]], again over Vader's objections.<ref name="Essential Chronology" /> While Vader desired to capture Luke Skywalker, Xizor made repeated attempts to kill the aspiring Jedi. Palpatine observed this power struggle and planted the Second Death Star plans on a freighter of Xizor's&mdash;which was intercepted and captured by the Rebels. However, when Vader destroyed Xizor's skyhook and fleet, Palpatine showed little concern over the loss. To him, Xizor was merely another in a long line of expendable servants.<ref name="Shadows of the Empire" />

[[File:Palpatine_NEGTC_2.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Palpatine with two Emperor's Royal Guards]]
The ambitious Imperial officer [[Grand Admiral/Legends|Grand Admiral]] [[Demetrius Zaarin]], dissatisfied with his status, led a ''coup d'état'' against Palpatine while the Emperor was aboard his ship, the [[Imperial I-class Star Destroyer/Legends|''Imperial''-class Star Destroyer]] [[Majestic (Imperial-class)|''Majestic'']]. Zaarin's forces boarded the ship and, with the aid of treacherous ex-Emperor's Hand Arden Lyn and her [[Teräs Käsi/Legends|Teräs Käsi]] students, the [[Gamorrean/Legends|Gamorrean]] [[Thok (Gamorrean guard)|Thok]] and [[Nial Declann]]'s offspring, [[Stormtrooper Corps/Legends|Stormtrooper Corps]] member [[17786]], captured the Emperor by overpowering his Force abilities,<ref name="Barely Tolerable 2" /> putting him on a transport to be delivered to Zaarin himself aboard the ''Imperial''-class Star Destroyer [[Glory (Imperial-class)|''Glory'']]. Refusing to make the mistake of the Republic in 19 BBY, the Imperial forces, led by Darth Vader, [[Admiral/Legends|Admiral]] Thrawn, and [[Maarek Stele/Legends|Maarek Stele]] rushed quickly to the scene and battled Zaarin's forces. Vader and Stele fought their way through Zaarin's forces in their [[TIE/D Defender]]s to reach and "rescue" Palpatine much in the same way that Vader had, as Skywalker, done almost twenty five years ago at the Battle of Coruscant. Zaarin escaped Coruscant, however; Thrawn, having been secretly promoted to Grand Admiral by Palpatine in person, was tasked with hunting him down. After his rescue, Palpatine awarded the [[Emperor's Will (medal)/Legends|Emperor's Will medal]] to Stele for his heroic efforts in rescuing the Emperor.<ref name="TIE Fighter" />

Because of Stele's Force-capabilities, Palpatine also took interest in the lad, and released his father from imprisonment in exchange for his devotion to the Emperor. Upon learning from Vader that any possible chance of the trap being exposed by the Rebel Alliance has been [[Prelude to Endor|removed]], Palpatine decided to head over to Endor personally. He initially took his personal [[C-3 passenger liner]], the ''[[Excalibur]]'', to enter hyperspace and rendezvous with his Super Star Destroyer to take him the rest of the way, although an ambush from two [[Alpha-class Xg-1 Star Wing/Legends|''Alpha''-class Xg-1 Star Wings]] and the [[CR92a Assassin-class corvette|''Assassin''-class corvette]] [[Ram (Assassin-class)|''Ram'']], which Stele quelled, forced him to return to Coruscant. In addition, it became clear that Zaarin had his forces deep within the Imperial hierarchy when Imperial Intelligence confirmed that the two Assault Gunboats that ambushed the ''Excalibur'' were formerly part of the Emperor's special reserve forces. He then met with Thrawn in private and demanded that he bring the hunt for Zaarin to its conclusion, with Thrawn informing him that he has devised a plan that is guaranteed success in stopping Zaarin for good. This plan revealed itself when Thrawn ensured that Zaarin stole the cloaking device and tried to escape, knowing that it would explode when attempting to use it in conjunction with entering hyperspace.<ref name="TIE Fighter" />

As Palpatine made the last preparations for his trap over Endor, he received his [[Supreme Prophet]], the diminutive Kadann. For decades he had consulted the Prophets nearly as often as he looked into the dark side himself, to be sure nothing happened that he hadn't foreseen. But this time, Kadann saw the return of balance to the Force, and the end of the Empire. Palpatine laughed at him; ''he'' hadn't seen this in ''his'' meditations. But Kadann trusted his visions, so he gathered the Prophets and left Coruscant.<ref name="DSSB" /> Only [[Cronal]] remained. They were the first of Sidious's paladins to desert him and strike out on their own. He could not let their defection go unanswered, so he sent his Inquisitors to Dromund Kaas to "reeducate" them. To escape his wrath, they fled to a more secure temple on [[Bosthirda/Legends|Bosthirda]], where they could watch events unfold in safety.

===The downfall of the Galactic Empire (4 ABY)===
====The trap at Endor====
{{Quote|Everything that has transpired has done so, according to ''my'' design. Your friends, out there on the sanctuary moon, are walking into a trap, as is your Rebel fleet. It was ''I'' who allowed the Alliance to know the location of the shield generator - it is ''quite'' safe from your pitiful little band. An entire ''legion'' of my best troops awaits them. Oh, I'm afraid the deflector shield will be ''quite'' operational when your friends arrive.|Palpatine to Luke|<ref name="Episode VI" />}}
Hoping to put an end to the Galactic Civil War and solidify his rule once and for all, Palpatine crafted an intricate plan to lure the entirety of the Rebel Alliance into an inescapable death trap. A [[Death Star II/Legends|second, more powerful Death Star]] was being built over Endor, a forest moon orbiting a [[Endor (planet)/Legends|gas giant of the same name]], protected by a shield generator on the moon's surface.<ref name="Episode VI" /> During this time, he also orchestrated various Rebel victories to get them to become overconfident enough to walk into his trap when the time is right, including an [[Fondor shipyard assault|assault]] on the [[Fondor Shipyards/Legends|Fondor Shipyards]] that resulted in the destruction of a [[Unidentified Executor-class Star Dreadnought|prototype Super Star Destroyer with cloaking abilities]].<ref name="Rebel Strike" />

In 4 ABY, Palpatine undertook a pilgrimage to the Sith tomb world of [[Korriban]], accompanied by a large number of stormtroopers. Although he sensed the presence of the Rebel [[Renegade Squadron/Legends|Renegade Squadron]] on Korriban, he dismissed them as an insignificant threat and allowed his stormtroopers to [[Battle of Korriban (Galactic Civil War)|deal]] with them. However, after the squadron not only captured a Sith tomb close to the Emperor's shuttle but also began destroying valuable Sith artifacts and a large statue, the enraged Palpatine entered the chamber and began slaughtering the members of Renegade Squadron. The squadron managed to flee, and as they left, they blew explosives that closed all three of the tomb's entrances, trapping Palpatine inside the tomb. While he was trapped, Renegade Squadron stole his personal datapad from his shuttle and learned he would be on the Death Star at the time of their attack.

[[File:Crimson-guard.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Emperor Palpatine with his Royal Guards and Vader on the second Death Star]]
Palpatine turned this temporary setback to his advantage and allowed other Rebel spies to learn of the Death Star's location while planting disinformation which suggested the [[Superweapon/Legends|superweapon]] was not yet operational. In reality, the station's prime weapon was complete and fully functional, and an enormous contingent of the Imperial Navy was there to protect it. Darth Vader and later Palpatine himself went on board the battle station, believing that if the Rebels thought they had a chance to destroy the Empire's new superweapon and kill the Emperor in the process, they wouldn't pass up an opportunity to launch an all-out attack, and they were correct. In addition, as he was completely confident of the Empire's victory against the Rebel Alliance, he also dismissed [[Battle of Sullust (4 ABY)|reports of the Rebel Fleet massing near]] [[Sullust/Legends|Sullust]] as being of no concern when Vader inquired if he was to respond to that information. He also anticipated the possibility that the Rebel Alliance would send [[Endor strike team/Legends|a strike team]] to the forest moon to take down the Death Star II's shield, and made sure that both the main entrance and back-door bunker for the shield generator were under close guard, also having the forces near the generator be guarded by [[Tempest Force|an entire legion of his best troops]] belonging to the various primary branches of the Imperial Military specifically to ensure the strike team failed to destroy the generator before the Rebel fleet arrived. Despite this, however, he failed to sense Luke Skywalker on board the shuttle [[Tydirium/Legends|''Tydirium'']]. When Darth Vader, disobeying his prior orders to remain on the ''Executor'', returned to the Death Star in order to tell him about Luke being on the vessel&mdash;although he was aware of ''Tydirium'' managing to land on Endor&mdash;he was genuinely surprised that Vader sensed Luke on the vessel whereas he himself had not. However, when making sure Vader's thoughts were clear on the matter, Sidious assigned him to capture Skywalker, stating that he would come to Vader.

[[File:Palpatine_saber_clash.png|thumb|left|250px|Sidious watches as Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker battle.]]
Subsequently, Luke Skywalker, who was convinced that his father could be turned back to the light side, allowed himself to be captured and brought to the Death Star&mdash;just as Palpatine had foreseen. Upon meeting Luke, Palpatine learned about Yoda's recent death from probing Luke's mind, and proceeded to mock the late Jedi master.<ref name="ROTJ novel">[[Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (novel)|''Return of the Jedi'']] novelization</ref> In addition, as a demonstration of his power, he also removed Luke's binders by barely lifting his finger, citing that he no longer needed them, before dismissing his royal guard, before making it clear that he intends to make Luke his Sith apprentice. When Luke insinuated the imminent death of all on board the Death Star, Sidious revealed how he was well aware of the Alliance's plans, both to Luke's surprise and his own amusement. The Emperor further taunted the Jedi aspirant with the revelation that he had manipulated the Rebels into a trap of his own design; the Rebels had been allowed to discover the location of the new battlestation, and thus Palpatine anticipated their infiltration of Endor. Palpatine had also ordered Fleet Admiral Firmus Piett to not have the Star Destroyer fleet attack the [[Alliance Fleet]] when they arrive, as he intended to unveil a surprise for the Rebels, and only wanted the Star Destroyers to prevent them from escaping. When the Alliance Fleet arrived, Palpatine unveiled his surprise: the Death Star's superlaser was operational, contrary to what the Rebels had expected. As Luke's frustration grew with the Alliance's desperate situation, the Dark Lord manipulated him into a duel with Darth Vader. Palpatine also ordered for Jerjerrod to blow up Endor if the shield was taken down by the rebels, regardless of who got caught in the crossfire.<ref name="ROTJ novel" />

Luke initially restrained himself at first, until Vader probed his mind and learned that Leia was his own daughter. With this knowledge, Vader speculated that he could corrupt her instead, but the threat enraged the young Jedi and drove him to attack Vader in a frenzy. Although he nearly killed Vader and cut off his mechanical right hand, Luke controlled his anger at the last minute; realizing that he was dangerously close to suffering his father's fate, he discarded his lightsaber and turned to face the Emperor, stating that he was a Jedi, like his father before him.

Enraged, but still using a portion of his powers to monitor the battle,<ref name="HTTE">''[[Heir to the Empire]]''</ref> he was aware that the Rebel fleet, though bloodied, was now holding its own against his most powerful armada, and that, worse still, the Rebels on Endor had somehow cut off the shields protecting the Death Star; the station was now vulnerable to attack. None of these problems were insurmountable: He already had a contingency plan of blowing up Endor issued in case the Rebels did such an action,<ref name="ROTJ novel" /> and regardless, as long as he had Skywalker in his grasp and/or turned Luke to the Dark Side in any way, he felt he'd ultimately succeed.<ref name="GG5" /> However, as with Galen Marek,<ref name="TFUg" /> he had failed once again.<ref name="Episode VI" />

====The balance of the Force====
{{Quote|So be it&hellip;Jedi. If you will not be turned, you will be ''destroyed''! Young fool. Only now, at the end, do you understand. Your feeble skills are no match for the power of the dark side. You have paid the price for your lack of vision! Now, young Skywalker&hellip;you will die.|Palpatine to Luke Skywalker|<ref name="Episode VI" />}}
[[File:TorturePalpatine2321.png|thumb|250px|Palpatine during his torture of Luke Skywalker]]
Sidious had one concern left: the venting of his awesome rage. He knew that it would not be enough to simply kill Skywalker; he had to suffer for his defiance. Raising his arms, Sidious released a withering barrage of Force lightning that tore through the boy and brought him to his knees. Skywalker had never been trained to repel such an assault, nor could he call on his saber to block it. In addition, although Skywalker attempted to deflect his barrages with [[Tutaminis|his hands]] via the Force, the intensity of the lightning, combined with his aforementioned lack on training on repelling it, left him overwhelmed.<ref name="ROTJ novel" /> Sidious taunted the Jedi without pause, calling him a weak, feeble fool. Although the first barrage was intensely painful, it was not lethal, and the Emperor gradually increased its intensity.

Palpatine intended that Vader also pay for seeking to use Skywalker against him; Vader would be forced to carry his son's dead body to the core shaft and throw it into the chasm.<ref name="Return of the Jedi (radio)">[[Return of the Jedi (radio)|''Return of the Jedi'' radio drama]]</ref> If Palpatine had any doubts, they were answered when he saw Vader dragging himself to his feet and resuming his place at his master's side. However, Sidious had long forgotten what had first enabled him to convert Anakin Skywalker&mdash;his desperate need to keep those he cared for from dying&mdash;and he had never expected that Vader would refuse to watch his son die, much less act to prevent it.<ref name="ROTJ novel" />

[[File:First_Death_2.png|thumb|left|250px|Darth Sidious's first death at the hands of Anakin Skywalker on the second Death Star]]
Without warning, Anakin grabbed Palpatine from behind, pinning his upper arms to his torso. The Dark Lord struggled against Anakin's grip, his hands forced high into the air, shooting bolts in all directions, electrocuting himself and damaging Anakin's life-support systems beyond repair. Sidious also screamed upon being lifted up, both out of shock at Anakin's sudden action, and out of pain for being hit by his own bolts due to no longer being completely in control as a consequence. Anakin carried him to the edge of the shaft, lifted him high over his head, and, with the last of his strength, hurled the Emperor into the abyss. He plummeted kilometers down the shaft,<ref name="Star Wars: Complete Locations" /> and even as he fell, he refused to admit defeat.<ref name="HTTESB">''[[Heir to the Empire Sourcebook]]''</ref> Shortly after hitting the reactor, still discharging his force lightning, Palpatine then [[Dark side burst|exploded]] into dark side energy, with it encompassing the throne room before eventually falling back down the shaft.<ref name="Episode VI" />

Emperor Palpatine, Darth Sidious, was dead. Minutes later, his former apprentice Anakin Skywalker also died. With them ended the lineage of Sith Lords that had existed unchanged since the time of Darth Bane. It was this that brought about the long-awaited restoration of balance to the Force. But the Rebel Alliance&mdash;and later the New Republic it established&mdash;still had much work to do on its own before the era of peace foretold by the ancient Jedi prophets came to pass. The Empire would not surrender its holdings without pitched struggle, and the Emperor himself was loathe to cast off his power, or his life.

====Palpatine's Battle Meditation====
{{Quote|You must have wondered how a few dozen Rebel ships could possibly rout an Imperial force that outgunned it by at least ten to one&hellip; The Rebels did indeed fight better, but not because of any special abilities or training. They fought better than the fleet because the Emperor was dead&hellip; you must have noticed it. The sudden loss of coordination between crew members and ships; the loss of efficiency and discipline. The loss, in short, of that elusive quality we call fighting spirit&hellip; You had no real fighting spirit of your own anymore&mdash;none of you in the Imperial fleet did. It was the Emperor's will that drove you; the Emperor's mind that provided you with strength and resolve and efficiency. You were as dependent on that presence as if you were all borg-implanted into a combat computer.|Thrawn to Pellaeon|<ref name="HTTE" />}}
In Palpatine's absence, the Battle of Endor continued for several hours, but despite its best efforts, his fleet was losing. His death, it was later commented, seemed to trigger a significant demoralization in the Imperial forces. This has caused some to ask if his death played an even more significant role in the Empire's defeat at Endor than has been assumed.

Though four of Palpatine's Grand Admirals&mdash;[[Nial Declann]], Makati, Takel, and Teshik&mdash;were present at Endor, the one who was, perhaps, his greatest, Grand Admiral Thrawn, was not&mdash;he was still on [[Nirauan/Legends|Nirauan]], overseeing the pacification of the Unknown Regions. But by the time he returned to the Empire proper nearly five years later, his suspicions&mdash;aroused by his insider's knowledge of the Emperor's methods&mdash;had crystallized into a working theory, which he related to one of Endor's most pivotal participants, Captain [[Gilad Pellaeon/Legends|Gilad Pellaeon]], the man who had ultimately sounded the Imperial retreat:

Thrawn was speculating that the Emperor's forces were all guided by Palpatine's own indomitable will. While essentially correct, Thrawn was wrong on the part of Palpatine using [[battle meditation]] at Endor. During the battle, Palpatine was quite busy trying to turn Luke Skywalker over to the Dark Side, which included trying to goad Luke into killing him. It was actually Thrawn's colleague, Grand Admiral Declann, who was improving the coordination and efficiency of the fleet. (Declann had been trained by Palpatine himself in the use of dark side battle meditation just for such occasions where Palpatine cannot do it in person or to support him.)

It was within Palpatine's power to use the dark side to control his forces, even across great distances. And then, without warning, that control was cut off. The fleet was scattered, and the Rebels were able to lead a successful assault against the Death Star, which was finally destroyed in a risky attack on the station's reactor core. Without its leader and its ultimate weapon, the fragile foundation of the Empire crumbled, bringing all above it crashing down at a stroke. The Empire itself soon fell apart, plagued by [[Warlord/Legends|warlordism]] and eventually shrinking to the small and insignificant [[Imperial Remnant]].

====Post-first death====
Ultimately, the Empire was devastated with the death of their leader, which ultimately resulted in the splintering of the Empire into several factions. This was largely because Palpatine, having intended to rule the galaxy for all eternity, had not left a formal line of succession of Galactic Emperor. The Empire also was even less believing that Darth Vader was responsible for the Emperor's death, believing that he had died trying to protect the Emperor.

The Galactic Empire's attempts of covering up Palpatine's death from the general public were also foiled by the various pro-Rebel groups, who transmitted the footage of the second Death Star's destruction (and thus Palpatine's death) to every personal and official holoprojector throughout the galaxy. This led to various uprisings against the Empire at [[Liberation of Bespin|Bespin]], [[Rebellion on Tatooine|Tatooine]], [[Uprising on Naboo|Naboo]], and even [[Coruscant Uprising|Imperial Center]], which experienced at least initial success.<ref name="Episode VI" /><ref name="Rogue Leader">''[[Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader]]''</ref> However, in the cases of Naboo<ref name="SWI82">[[Star Wars Insider 82|''Star Wars Insider'' 82]]</ref><ref name="TEA" /> and Imperial Center,<ref name="Mara Jade">''[[Star Wars: Mara Jade – By the Emperor's Hand]]''</ref> the victories were short-lived as the Empire managed to suppress the insurrections, the latter at the behest of the Director of Imperial Intelligence, [[Ysanne Isard]].<ref name="Iron Fist">''[[X-Wing: Iron Fist]]''</ref>

Sometime prior to [[6 ABY/Legends|6 ABY]], Lord Cronal, also known as Blackhole, had created an adaptation of the Duel on Death Star II with a pro-Imperial slant near its ending. Its depiction of Palpatine was as a tragic figure who was manipulated by Darth Vader, and then killed mercilessly by Vader before Skywalker killed Vader to avenge the fallen Emperor. Skywalker expressed disgust for the holothriller in question, ''[[Luke Skywalker and the Jedi's Revenge]]''.<ref name="Shadows of Mindor">''[[Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor]]''</ref>

In addition, the [[Galactic Museum]], due to Imperial influence at the time, tried to portray [[Sacrifice at Endor|an alternate version]] of the Battle of Endor since at least [[7 ABY/Legends|7 ABY]], claiming the Death Star II was actually a Rebel Alliance weapon, and had Palpatine and Vader sacrificing themselves to destroy the weapon. Wedge Antilles, during a mission at the museum, remarked that the story is as compelling as the true history, despite the obvious propaganda.<ref name="Wedge's Gambit">''[[X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble]]''</ref>

===Palpatine reborn (4&ndash;11 ABY)===
{{Quote|Flesh does not easily support this great power.|Palpatine|Dark Empire}}
[[File:Emperorreborn.jpg|thumb|220px|Darth Sidious reborn]]
But even death was not the end for Palpatine. Unlike his Sith predecessors, Palpatine had never intended to be replaced by an apprentice, expecting his Empire to rule the galaxy eternally, with only himself as its true leader. Unable to fully master his former Master's secret, Palpatine had to find a different way to cheat death.<ref name="Beware the Sith">''[[Star Wars: Beware the Sith]]''</ref> During the Clone Wars he tasked Jedi [[Arligan Zey]] to capture rogue Kaminoan Chief Scientist [[Ko Sai/Legends|Ko Sai]] following her defection to the Separatists a year and a half into the war. Palpatine hoped Ko Sai would be able to engineer him a longer life span. However, he was denied the chance when Ko Sai showed up dead in 21 BBY.<ref name="Republic Commando: True Colors" />

At an unknown time prior to his death at the Battle of Endor, Palpatine had found a different way to cheat death by preserving his spirit after the death of his body, by the method of spirit transference. He arranged for a series of clones of himself to be created for his spirit to possess, in the event that he perished. His primary supply of clones was kept on Byss, guarded by loyal Dark Jedi and immense [[Imperial Sentinel|genetically altered guards]] and maintained by a trusted [[Emperor's physician|private physician]]. Unfortunately, the clones were heavily ravaged by the dark side and not sustained by the Force. Each body he took would age and deteriorate more quickly than the last. But the Dark Lord was not concerned; he had an endless supply of clones which he could use to rule the Empire.

After the destruction of the second Death Star, Palpatine's spirit was forced to journey in the maddening, bodiless existence of the void, with both Sate Pestage and various deceased Sith spirits aiding him in his journey back to the living plane of existence,<ref name="Empire's End 2" /> eventually taking possession of the body of Emperor's Hand [[Jeng Droga]]. Palpatine called out to Sate Pestage, who rescued the broken body from [[Kaal/Legends|Kaal]] and returned it to Byss. Though Droga went mad in the process, he was able to journey to Byss, where Palpatine was able to take possession of a clone of himself. There, on Byss, he would remain for years and would rebuild his strength and Empire. Resurrected, Palpatine accelerated his plan to replace the Galactic Empire with a "Dark Empire," a universe-spanning magocracy ruled through the dark side of the Force alone, without the need for regional governors or technological domination. Around [[5 ABY/Legends|5 ABY]], shortly after his revival, Palpatine had Sate Pestage leak the existence of one of the few remaining pieces of the then recently deceased Darth Vader's armor&mdash;the [[Glove of Darth Vader]]&mdash;to the false Kadann, real name [[Rajah Ubooki]], with the intention of using it to restore his weakened Force powers quickly, although the false prophet desired to keep it as part of his own collection. The resulting leak resulted in the [[Trioculus affair|Trioculus crisis]], a minor conflict between the [[New Republic/Legends|New Republic]] and one of the factions of the fragmented Galactic Empire, [[Trioculus' Empire]] led by Palpatine's "son," [[Trioculus]].<ref name="SPIN Declassified">{{SW|url=news/the-star-wars-spy-game-spin-declassified|text=The ''Star Wars'' Spy Game: SPIN Declassified|int=The Star Wars Spy Game: SPIN Declassified}}</ref>

Following Palpatine's death, a year-long period of mourning was instituted throughout the Empire.<ref name="XWRS">''[[X-Wing: Rogue Squadron]]''</ref>

Palpatine's rule was so absolute that his apparent death at the Battle of Endor fragmented the Galactic Empire. Without an heir, opportunistic Moffs and other officers turned into [[Warlord/Legends|warlords]] and set out to carve their own kingdoms wherever they could. This worked to the advantage of the New Republic, which succeeded in reclaiming much of the galaxy. Palpatine himself also exploited the various infighting between various Imperial officers to call in various forces with the title of [[Omnipotent Battle Leader]], which also ensured his revival remained a secret to the New Republic.<ref name="Despoilers">''[[The Imperial Warlords: Despoilers of an Empire]]''</ref>

While Palpatine was still recovering in his Deep Core stronghold, his former advisors received word ([[8 ABY/Legends|8 ABY]]) of the arrival, from deep in the Unknown Regions, of the last surviving Grand Admiral. This was the Chiss strategic mastermind Grand Admiral Thrawn, who was armed with a plan he outlined to them that would defeat the New Republic. Heartened by the possibility of wresting back their power from the Rebels, they managed to set aside their differences and grant him overall command of their forces, with an eye toward making him their figurehead emperor once they had a throne back to give him.<ref name="DESB">''[[Dark Empire Sourcebook]]''</ref> When Palpatine learned of his death, he was genuinely devastated. He had liked Thrawn, as much as he was capable of liking anyone. He had entrusted much to Thrawn's genius, even as he had used that genius for his own ends.<ref name="DESB" />

Palpatine's reaction may have to do with whatever role he was planning for Thrawn in his own upcoming offensive, Operation Shadow Hand. If anyone knew all there was to know about Thrawn's activities in the Unknown Regions, Palpatine knew. He had to have known what resources Thrawn commanded. Possibly he was only waiting for the right moment to reveal himself to Thrawn and offer him a place in his revived Empire, as he would soon do with many others, but never did. Instead, he let Thrawn make his bid to defeat the New Republic and, in secret, made every attempt to undermine that campaign.<ref name="DESB" /> This terrible example of Palpatine's pettiness may have cost him everything. A combined offensive, consisting of his own forces launched from Byss, and Thrawn's launched from Nirauan, could have meant the quick and painful death of the New Republic.

===The Empire in resurgence (10&ndash;11 ABY)===
{{Quote|You've grown very strong in the Force since we last met&hellip; But then, so have I!|Palpatine to Luke Skywalker|Dark Empire}}
[[File:EmperorReborn-PTP2.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Emperor Palpatine with the ''Eclipse'' and his new Imperial Navy]]
Thrawn's cunning tactics and unerring strategies brought the Empire to the brink of victory in [[10 ABY/Legends|10 ABY]], and he might have had complete victory had it not been for betrayal by his [[Noghri/Legends|Noghri]] bodyguard [[Rukh/Legends|Rukh]]. Encouraged by Thrawn's successes, the remaining Inner Circle of Imperial warlords staged a devastating attack on the galactic capital Coruscant. Much of Imperial City was laid to waste as a result, and the [[New Republic/Legends|New Republic]] was forced to evacuate. Once on the surface, the Imperials splintered again, and skirmishes dragged on in the devastated cityscape. Sidious himself stayed his hand in quelling the ensuing mutiny when it started, being motivated by revenge and referring to the carnage as "culling the weak."<ref name="TEA" />

It was then that the resurrected Emperor struck. Using his dark powers to create a powerful [[Force storm (wormhole)|Force storm]], he swept Luke Skywalker to Byss. There, he revealed himself to Luke, and revealed the power of the dark side. Faced with an immortal foe, Skywalker did the unthinkable&mdash;in order to defeat the dark side from within, he knelt before Sidious, and submitted himself as the Emperor's new Sith apprentice.<ref name="DE">''[[Star Wars: Dark Empire]]''</ref>

====Skywalker's subterfuge====
{{Quote|I expected to take some damage from him. Any worthy opponent is going to inflict injury. If he doesn't, he's not worth troubling with. Let a few Devastators be destroyed. Let Skywalker think he's getting the best of me. As long as he believes he's succeeding, I have him in my grasp. And as long as I hold him, the more vulnerable he becomes to the unfathomable power of the dark side. Think what he'll do when he is fully mine, when he is working for the Empire, working to help us win!|Palpatine regarding Luke Skywalker|Dark Empire}}
[[File:Palps_Reborn-TEA.jpg|thumb|230px|Palpatine in a clone body]]
Unfortunately for the Empire, Skywalker stubbornly clung to his old loyalties. Immediately after being appointed Supreme Commander of the Imperial forces, Skywalker accessed the top-secret codes that remotely controlled the World Devastators, and transmitted improper signals. It was this abuse of his new authority that enabled Skywalker to scuttle the Devastator ''[[Silencer-7]]'', for instance, and in other ways, both large and small, sabotage Sidious's work.<ref name="DE" />

Skywalker's treachery obviously could not go unnoticed for long. From the beginning, the Emperor and his most trusted officers were aware of it. Behind the scenes they began expressing their concerns to him about Skywalker's actions. Palpatine reassured them, at the same time reminding them that military considerations were not the only considerations. Quietly, Sidious countered Skywalker's moves, maximizing his gains and cutting his losses. Ultimately, victory or defeat in a single battle, or even an entire campaign, was less important than acquiring an apprentice as powerful as Skywalker promised to be. It was not without precedent; during the Clone Wars he had planned entire campaigns in such a way as to ensnare Anakin Skywalker.<ref name="DE" />

When Leia Organa Solo arrived on Byss attempting to rescue Luke, she only succeeded in getting herself captured, along with her husband, Han Solo. The Sith Lord quickly attempted to turn her to the dark side, tempting her with the Jedi holocron he had stolen long ago from Jedi Master Ashka Boda, and stirring her anger by revealing that he planned to transfer his mind into the body of her unborn child once he was born. Unfortunately for him, his attempt backfired and she flipped over the bed he was lying on and fled. Initially Sidious was pleased, but his glee quickly turned to rage when he discovered she had stolen Boda's Holocron in the process. Luke Skywalker aided her and Han's escape before attempting to rebel against the Emperor.<ref name="DE" />

In the end, Skywalker was too enmeshed in the dark side to successfully rebel against his new master, despite marching into the cloning lab and smashing all of Sidious's cloning tanks. Before he could finish the job, Sidious transferred his spirit into one of the last clones. Luke then attempted to subdue Palpatine, citing that his time as the Sith Lord's apprentice had given him knowledge of Sidious' weaknesses. Sidious scoffed at this and seized one of the lightsabers he kept in the lab. He then engaged Luke in a [[Duel on Byss|spectacular lightsaber duel]]. However, even Luke's skills with Djem So were not enough, and he fell before Sidious's brutally intense swordplay.<ref name="DE" /> After defeating Luke, Sidious then inserted himself into Luke's mind and proceeded to break Luke's spirit to the extent that the latter even disavowed his own name.<ref name="DEradio">[[Dark Empire: The Collector's Edition|''Star Wars: Dark Empire'']] radio drama.</ref> It was only from his sister, Leia Organa Solo, that he gained the strength that he needed to fight back.<ref name="DE" />

[[File:PalpcloneLukeSkywalker-Hasbro.jpg|thumb|left|240px|The revived Darth Sidious, with Luke Skywalker as his Sith apprentice]]
Appearing in his [[Eclipse-class dreadnought|''Eclipse''-class dreadnought]] [[Eclipse (Eclipse-class)|''Eclipse'']] above [[Pinnacle Base]], Sidious demanded the return of his stolen holocron and the presence of Leia, who complied, in exchange for a possible truce with the New Republic. When Leia arrived aboard ''Eclipse'', she implored Luke for help&mdash;as foretold by [[Bodo Baas's Master]] a thousand years earlier. Skywalker managed to cast off the veil of the dark side that cloaked his mind and turned on Sidious. Enraged at this latest development, Sidious brandished a blue-bladed lightsaber and struck at Luke. Despite Sidious's viciousness, Luke managed to defeat the Dark Lord in a brief but intense lightsaber duel, slicing off his hand.<ref name="DE" />

Sidious was hardly finished, summoning a Force storm against the New Republic fleet. However, the siblings banded together and, with the aid of the unborn [[Anakin Solo]], were able to use the light side of the Force to temporarily sever Sidious's connection to the Force. The Force storm, no longer under Sidious's control, destroyed ''Eclipse'', killing Sidious again while the pair fled, ending the [[Battle of Pinnacle Base]].<ref name="DE" /> His spirit survived and found its way into another clone body.<ref name="DEII">''[[Star Wars: Dark Empire II]]''</ref>

====The last clone====
After the [[Battle of Balmorra]], two Dark Side Adepts [[Nefta]] and [[Sa-Di]] began to slaughter the secret auxiliary clones Skywalker did not kill. Executor [[Sedriss QL|Sedriss]] [[Second Duel on Byss|killed them for their defiance]], as the last clone of Sidious emerged, planning to resume conquest of [[The galaxy/Legends|the galaxy]].

Having returned in yet another clone, Sidious continued his scourge against the New Republic. Armed with the deadly superweapons, the [[Galaxy Gun]], and his second ''Eclipse''-class [[Star Dreadnought/Legends|Star Dreadnought]], ''[[Eclipse II]]'', Sidious forced many New Republic worlds to submit to Imperial rule. But, despite his growing Empire, Sidious was again deteriorating and becoming frail and weak. Upon learning that one of the missiles fired from the Galaxy Gun towards the New Republic high command's [[Space City|location]] at [[Nespis VIII]] turned out to be a dud, which ultimately bought high command enough time to fully evacuate from the base before it was [[Destruction of the Nespis VIII spaceport|successfully destroyed]], he had the chief engineer for the Galaxy Gun, [[Umak Leth]], brought before him. Already in agonizing pain due to his clone body deteriorating, Sidious, outraged at the failure, threatened Leth with his destruction if the latter failed correct the flaws in the Galaxy Gun within three standard days.

Even worse, the Emperor began to succumb to genetic tampering done to his clones by the treacherous [[Imperial Sovereign Protector]] [[Carnor Jax]], both due to the latter's own ambitions and because several of the Imperial officers hired him to do so due to growing disturbed by the Emperor's erratic use of the Galaxy Gun. He tried to clone other bodies so that he could resurrect himself, but Jax had succeeded in tainting even the genetic source material. With his body wasting away rapidly, he went to the Sith world [[Korriban]] to consult the ancient spirits of his forebears in the [[Great Temple (Korriban)|Great Temple]]. The spirits initially wondered whether Sidious was going to take Vader's place on his tomb, as he was not placed there, but Sidious declined and instead demanded to be healed.<ref name="Empire's End 2" /> They advised that he use Leia's newborn son, Anakin Solo to house his spirit. The Dark Side Adepts escorting him vowed to be his watchmen until his new body would grow up. Sidious, though he deeply distrusted his tools, especially after Nefta and Sa-Di's betrayal, had no other choice; he ordered ''Eclipse II'' to make course for the [[Japrael system/Legends|Onderon system]], where the [[House of Solo|Solos]] had relocated their children.

While the New Republic engaged the Imperials, a team of Jedi, led by Luke, sought out the Emperor. They did not find him aboard his ship since he had slipped down to [[Onderon/Legends|Onderon]] to find Leia. During the battle, [[Lando Calrissian/Legends|Lando Calrissian]] and [[R2-D2/Legends|R2-D2]] had infiltrated the flagship. R2-D2 then sabotaged the vehicle's automated [[Hyperdrive/Legends|hyperdrive]] engines and set the coordinates to match the location of the Galaxy Gun, which was over Byss. The flagship fled into [[Hyperspace/Legends|hyperspace]], despite the efforts of the crew to regain control of the vessel. There above Byss, both superweapons collided with each other. The Galaxy Gun's final missile was pulled into the planet's gravity and exploded, destroying the reborn Emperor's throne world.

====Palpatine's final death====
[[File:Last_Clone_Body.jpg|thumb|250px|Palpatine's spirit departs the last clone body he occupied.]]
Meanwhile, the Emperor faced Leia and demanded that her newest child be his to possess. She fought back, but was no match for the Emperor. Before he could complete his plot, Luke Skywalker and two other Jedi, [[Rayf Ysanna]] and [[Empatojayos Brand]], arrived. Palpatine killed Ysanna instantly and fatally wounded Brand, and was shot in the back by an enraged Han Solo during the conflict. But this was what the Dark Lord of the Sith wanted.

With his last body destroyed, Sidious' cackling spirit flew toward young Anakin Solo, but was intercepted by the dying Brand, who threw himself in the way. The Jedi Knight bound the Emperor's soul to his own departing life force, taking it with him as he became one with the Force. Railing and cursing against the [[Skywalker family/Legends|Skywalker family]], Sidious's spirit was dragged into the depths of the Force, where every deceased Jedi would ensure his dark essence would never again return to wreak havoc upon the galaxy. There he would experience disembodiment in darkness, perpetual madness as if to always live with an open wound; terror without respite.

With Brand's ultimate sacrifice, Darth Sidious was finally, and permanently, dead.

===Legacy===
{{Quote|After all, you are full of life, and I&hellip; well, because the Holocron is now in your hands, I must assume that I am but a whisper from the past.|Darth Sidious, a gatekeeper of the Telos Holocron|<ref name="Jedi vs. Sith" />}}
Even though Sidious's final death prevented his spirit from returning to the mortal plane, his legacy would endure long after his ultimate defeat. His entire reign as the Dark Lord of the Sith led to the galaxy's ruin and the deaths of trillions. The loss of the Emperor did not stop the remnants of the Empire from continuing the Galactic Civil War for almost another decade with many dark side users and warlords trying to take over the position of emperor such as [[Jerec (Inquisitor)|Jerec]], [[Desann]], [[Galak Fyyar]], [[Hethrir|Lord Hethrir]], and so on. Also, the Sith continued to persevere through several incarnations that were separate from Bane's Order. The New Order also managed to survive despite the Empire's defeat, even though it was largely amended to exclude many of Palpatine's tyrannical policies. There were even people who craved for yet another one of his returns.

====The Second Imperium scam (23&ndash;24 ABY)====
[[File:Palp_2nd_Imperium.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Leader of the Second Imperium]]
Some [[23 ABY/Legends|nineteen years]] after the Battle of Endor, and more than a decade after the last of the clone bodies of Darth Sidious were destroyed, it seemed that he had arisen in another and become head of a coalition seeking to reestablish the Empire. The Great Leader of the [[Second Imperium]] was supposedly the Emperor reborn yet again. The Emperor's image was transmitted regularly to the [[Shadow Academy]]. Although the academy leader, [[Brakiss]], found it difficult to imagine how the Emperor had survived, he knew that with the Force, many things were possible.

The Great Leader was transported to the Shadow Academy sealed within a room-sized containment unit. Brakiss eventually discovered that the Great Leader was not Palpatine after all, but a series of recordings and props used by [[Four unidentified Imperial Royal Guards|four Emperor's Royal Guards]] to trick the galaxy into thinking that the Emperor had returned to rule the Second Imperium.

====Book of Sith's rediscovery (24 ABY)====
At some point prior to his final death, Sidious had placed the Book of Sith, which he had updated to include his manifesto, ''[[Absolute Power]]'', into one of his storehouses on [[Mount Tantiss/Legends|Mount Tantiss]] at [[Wayland]]. The book survived the destruction of the storehouses, and was later discovered by Skywalker in [[24 ABY/Legends|24 ABY]] after he stumbled upon a chamber that had not been known before then. Skywalker proceeded to investigate the book to make sure its knowledge wasn't dangerous upon its discovery before supplying it to the [[Historical Council]], with only his wife and sister being aware of its existence.<ref name="Book of Sith" />

====Telos Holocron====
{{Quote|Although these insights from the mind of Darth Sidious are nearly priceless in their historical value, it is important to point out the fact that Palpatine's numerous clones were indeed just that&mdash;clones. The possibility remains that the former Emperor's clones only believed themselves to be the real Palpatine.|Tionne Solusar|<ref name="Jedi vs. Sith" />}}
[[File:Telosholocron.jpg|thumb|150px|The Telos Holocron, a reservoir of the knowledge and experience of many Sith Lords, including Darth Sidious]]
Sometime between his first death and his final death, Palpatine compiled his knowledge into the [[Telos Holocron]], acting as one of the Holocron's gatekeepers and offering his knowledge to future aspiring Sith. He detailed the importance of an apprentice, his rise to power, the cloning techniques he used to cheat death, and more about the Sith in general. [[Tionne Solusar]] did not know how or when Palpatine came upon the Telos Holocron. The Jedi eventually obtained the Holocron in [[40 ABY]], preventing its dark knowledge from corrupting curious Jedi. As the researcher of the Telos Holocron, Master Solusar studied and included many of its teachings in her written study of the Jedi and the Sith.<ref name="Jedi vs. Sith" />

Although Palpatine's spirit had in fact managed to stave off damnation by inhabiting the bodies of his clones one by one, there was still some skepticism regarding his achievement. Master Solusar was not necessarily convinced that Palpatine's spirit was able to persist in this way. Her speculation led her to believe that the fallen Emperor's clones merely believed themselves to be the ''real'' Palpatine, but were ultimately just clones that possessed the memories and Force potential of the Emperor. As such, Solusar viewed the clones as not only separate individuals from each other, but also from their [[Prime clone|genetic template]] as well.<ref name="Jedi vs. Sith" />

Ironically, Solusar appreciated the historical value of Palpatine's mindset as recorded by the Telos Holocron, but could not dismiss the chance that many of the recordings were made by the Dark Lord's clones rather than the true Palpatine himself.<ref name="Jedi vs. Sith" /> While Solusar's belief was shared by the Jedi Master Mara Jade Skywalker,<ref name="NEGC" /> it was not shared by Grand Master Luke Skywalker, who personally served the reborn Emperor for a brief time after his resurgence.<ref name="Jedi vs. Sith" />

====Lumiya's Sith====
{{Quote|You're&hellip; as vile as he was.''"<br />"''Who?''"<br />"''Palpatine.|Mara Jade Skywalker and Jacen Solo|<ref name="Sacrifice">''[[Legacy of the Force: Sacrifice]]''</ref>}}
[[File:C-GA_War.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Darth Caedus, arguably the first active Sith Lord since the time of Darth Sidious and Darth Vader]]
Despite Anakin Skywalker's ultimate sacrifice and the final death of Emperor Palpatine, Darth Bane's Sith Order was preserved by [[Lumiya]], a Force-sensitive Human female who received some training under the instruction of Darth Vader and the Emperor. Due to the untimely deaths of both Sith Lords, the mantle defaulted to her and she took it upon herself to ensure the survival of the Sith and its traditions, including the Rule of Two. Thus, she formed her own [[Lumiya's Sith|Sith Order]] that closely resembled the Order of Bane.<ref name="Lumiya">{{GalaxyCite|3|Lumiya: Dark Star of the Empire}}</ref> After a few failed apprentices, Lumiya all but disappeared from the galactic stage, until resurfacing in 40 ABY with the intention of seducing Darth Vader's grandson, [[Darth Caedus|Jacen Solo]] to the dark side of the Force.<ref name="Betrayal" />

Though she was once fiercely loyal to Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader, Lumiya developed a strong sense of disdain for Palpatine and viewed Vader with pity. Regarding Palpatine, she informed her future apprentice, Jacen Solo, that Palpatine/Darth Sidious was "a psychopath consumed with power," and that Vader had been "a sad man....whose one anchor to the world of the living was, yes, a galaxy-conquering madman." Like Tionne Solusar, Lumiya was skeptical about considering the Emperor's clones as the ''true'' Emperor himself. She even resented the clones and was not entirely convinced that they could be counted amongst the Sith. In her eyes, the clones never earned the knowledge and power of the Sith through struggle and sacrifice; they simply inherited the Sith legacy through the memory imprints of their progenitor. Thus, Lumiya believed that the last true Sith were destroyed when the Emperor and Solo's grandfather died at the Battle of Endor.<ref name="Betrayal" />

As Lumiya'a apprentice, Jacen Solo gradually embraced his destiny as a Sith Lord by freeing himself from his former persona and life as a Jedi. He justified his transformation by convincing himself that his preoccupation was different from those of Sidious and Vader. Unlike Sidious, he was not motivated by self-serving ambitions or an insatiable lust for power; he did not fall to the dark side for selfish reasons like Vader. Solo genuinely sought to bring about an everlasting age of peace and order to the galaxy.<ref name="Betrayal" /> After sacrificing his aunt Mara Jade Skywalker to fulfill his training, Jacen Solo renamed himself as Darth Caedus,<ref name="Sacrifice" /> thus fulfilling Lumiya's dream of creating the first true Sith Lord since the deaths of Darth Sidious and Darth Vader.<ref name="Betrayal" /> Just prior to Mara Jade's death, however, she compared her nephew to Palpatine in terms of sheer vileness. When Lumiya sacrificed her life in a final confrontation with Luke Skywalker,<ref name="Sacrifice TCW">{{TCW|Sacrifice (episode)}}</ref> Lord Caedus eventually anointed the Jedi [[Tahiri Veila]] as his apprentice, thus continuing the Sith legacy in accordance with Darth Bane's Rule of Two.<ref name="Revelation">''[[Legacy of the Force: Revelation]]''</ref> Shortly before the end of the [[Second Galactic Civil War]], however, Veila severed her ties to Caedus and surrendered to the Jedi. Combined with her former Master's demise, Veila's rejection of the Sith legacy brought an end to the Rule of Two.<ref name="Invincible">''[[Legacy of the Force: Invincible]]''</ref>

====Palpatine's groundwork====
In [[123 ABY]], the Jedi Knight [[Kol Skywalker]], surprised at how very few in either the New Jedi Order or the Galactic Alliance were able to comprehend the complexity of Sidious' plot to destroy the Jedi and the Old Republic, wrote in his journal the explanation on how he managed to pull it off.<ref name="EGW" />

====One Sith====
Over a century after Sidious's fall, a new Sith Order known as the [[One Sith]] had been founded by one of the few survivors of his Jedi Purge, [[Darth Krayt]], the former Jedi Master A'Sharad Hett. With thousands of Sith servants at his disposal, Krayt swore that they would never repeat Sidious's mistakes such as letting scattered Jedi live. However, unlike Sidious, Krayt did not adhere to the Rule of Two at all, which caused the architect and founder of the Order of the Sith Lords, Darth Bane, and even ancient Sith Lords predating Bane and his dictum, such as [[Darth Andeddu]] and [[Darth Nihilus]] (all via their respective holocrons), to consider him a heretic and pretender. Darth Krayt devised the [[Rule of One]], a concept entirely different from Sidious's Rule of One. Whereas for Sidious the One was his own self, who would rule the universe forever, for Krayt the One was the Sith Order itself, united under his leadership in order to bring order to the galaxy. The One Sith ultimately ended up wiped out with Krayt's permanent destruction, with the Sith as a whole later by [[Darth Wredd]], with Wredd himself dying shortly afterwards.

==Personality and traits==
{{Quote|You're heartless, ambitious, arrogant, insidious, and without shame or empathy. More, you're a murderer.|Darth Plagueis to Palpatine|<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />}}
[[File:Palpatine.jpg|thumb|200px|Palpatine, Galactic Emperor]]
Through his own nature, Palpatine, alias Darth Sidious, seemed to be evil incarnate.<ref name="SWE">''[[Star Wars Encyclopedia]]''</ref> He insistently made clear to Anakin Skywalker,<ref name="ROTS novel" /> however, that he did not believe himself to be evil,<ref name="ROTS VD" /> but simply beyond common morality, calling evil "a label we all put on those who threaten us."<ref name="ROTS novel" /> Aside from his opinion on morality, he believed himself to be the embodiment of darkness and the living incarnation of the dark side of the Force, and, after the death of his body, he saw himself as pure energy, or simply the dark side itself.<ref name="DE" /> He was instinctively treacherous, betraying and orchestrating the deaths of numerous beings who trusted him, such as Vidar Kim, Darth Plagueis<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> , Dooku, the Separatist Council, and and nearly Darth Vader (twice).<ref name="Episode VI" /> He even betrayed his first apprentice, Maul. Since his youth, Palpatine's main goal had always been nothing less than the acquisition of absolute power. In this personal quest, he showed that he was patient, arrogant, vastly intelligent, and an incredible actor. Despite his innate nature, he was able to play the part of a good and honest politician for decades; even the Jedi Council was taken in by his facade. His skill at subterfuge was sufficient to even convince Darth Plagueis, upon the latter's revelation that he was a Sith, that he knew little of that Order,<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> when he in fact had sought to join the Sith long before he met the Dark Lord.<ref name="Book of Sith" /> As both Senator of Naboo and Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic, he appeared as an unassuming, [[Tea/Legends|tea]]-drinking<ref name="CW23">{{CW|23}}</ref> old man, almost grandfatherly, with elegant robes. With his cheery demeanor, trademark smile, and a reputation for being a kind and modest man from Naboo, he won the hearts of billions during the Clone Wars, promising to bring justice to a government mired in corruption and chaos. This served to hide his true motives behind a perfect disguise in order to gain acceptance from his new Empire.<ref name="ROTS VD" /> Even after the Clone Wars, and during the Battle of Endor, the Emperor's popularity was such that Vader, before killing Palpatine to save Skywalker, even pondered the possibility that the Empire would be horrified at the Emperor's impending death,<ref name="ROTJn">[[Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (novel)|''Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi'' novelization]]</ref> with several citizens of the Empire even considering him to be a demigod.<ref name="CCW" />

Although he was from the Mid Rim instead of the Core Worlds, Palpatine primarily spoke [[Galactic Basic Standard/Legends|Galactic Basic Standard]] with a Coruscanti accent during his time as Senator representing Naboo<ref name="Episode I" /> and as Supreme Chancellor.<ref name="Episode II" /> He also spoke with a Coruscanti accent while assuming the identity of Darth Sidious, and later while acting as the Galactic Emperor,<ref name="Episode III" /> although his voice differed slightly in that it uttered a guttural, slightly rasping element.<ref name="Episode VI" />

After Mace Windu's attack on him, he created a new image of himself, that of a pitiful victim of a random act of violence. He had been left after the attack with the appearance of a gnarled, ancient man with pale skin, and searing, sickly yellow eyes. He wore a heavy dark cloak, which gave him the appearance of being a simple individual to hide his Force abilities, and carried a [[Emperor's cane|glossy black cane]], leaning heavily on it to create an illusion of weakness.<ref name="SW VD">''[[Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary]]''</ref>

His acts as a loving politician and later a helpless victim served only to bolster his true persona, that of Sidious. The Dark Lord was a highly manipulative, Machiavellian, exploitative and seductive megalomaniac, easily bending others to his will in his quest for Sith supremacy and ultimate power.<ref name="Episode II" /><ref name="DE" /> As a megalomaniac and egotist, Sidious identified his own essence with the very blackness of space,<ref name="ROTJn" /> even going so far as to declare himself the ultimate personification of the dark side.<ref name="DE" /> His desire for absolute power was such that he even had [[Extra-galactic]] aims regarding his rule, seeking to dominate the entire universe, and very possibly having the means to do so if he had turned all the Skywalkers to his service, after his first resurrection.<ref name="DSSB" /> Sidious also displayed traits of [[psychopathy]], including extreme sadism and cruelty, taking considerable pleasure in the suffering and deaths of others. One of his more prominent demonstrations of this trait was when he ordered Vader to execute Galen Marek, breaking into a fit of hysterical laughter as Marek was telekinetically pummeled by Vader, and continuing to chuckle quietly for several moments after Vader apparently killed Marek.<ref name="TFUg" /> In fact, he was known to cultivate life-forms for the sole purpose of eventually killing them.<ref name="Jedi vs. Sith" /> His sadism was such that, when murdering his Master, Darth Plagueis in his sleep, he paused occasionally to mock Plagueis for being manipulated by him and revel in Plagueis's pain before continuing.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> He later demonstrated similar behavior immediately before his death at the hands of Vader while torturing Luke Skywalker, smiling at the young Jedi as he prepared to kill him.<ref name="Episode VI" /> His sadistic inclinations may have had roots from his father, Cosinga Palpatine&mdash;a penchant for violence was one of the few things the two men had in common.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> Regarding his views on failure, he was once noted by Darth Vader to be "not as forgiving as [Vader was]" when telling Moff [[Tiaan Jerjerrod/Legends|Tiaan Jerjerrod]] that Palpatine was arriving at the Second Death Star to inspect it; the implied warning was that Jerjerrod might be executed by the Emperor due to the project being behind schedule.<ref name="Episode VI" /> He once claimed himself to be the "King of Beasts" to his father, after the latter accused Palpatine of having murder on his mind, if he even needed permission to do so.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> Likewise, he also had absolutely no qualms with destroying his own forces in order to defeat his enemies. This trait was especially evident during the Battle of Endor, where he ordered Moff Jerjerrod to fire the Death Star's superlaser at Endor in the event that the Endor Task Force somehow managed to capture or destroy the shield generator, making it very clear that he did not care how many of his own troops were killed as a result.<ref name="ROTJ novel" /> Vader also mentioned on one occasion, while comparing himself to the Emperor, that while he himself killed only when necessary, Sidious killed for amusement.<ref name="ToD">{{Shortstory|story=Payback: The Tale of Dengar|book=Tales of the Bounty Hunters}}</ref> Enough of his psychopathic nature had been unveiled to the subjects of the Empire that several members of the Imperial hierarchy viewed him as having delusions of grandeur.<ref name="EP4NOVEL" /> Some of his officers, such as Stormtrooper Corps Commander [[Nahdonnis Praji]], dismissed these claims as figures of speech, although in Praji's case, he reassessed his original views on the matter when meeting the reborn Emperor face-to-face in 10 ABY.<ref name="TTSP">{{Hyperspace|url=hyperspace/source/praji/20090205.html|text=Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Praji|int=Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Praji}}</ref> Some also believed him to have been simply installed as a puppet ruler.<ref name="EP4NOVEL" />

[[File:Palpatinesign.png|thumb|left|200px|Palpatine's Sith signature and seal]]
Even as a child, Palpatine was demonstrated to be manipulative, rebellious, and self-centered. This is especially evident by his frequent breaking of various rules and social norms, knowing full well that his father, whom he hated, would simply pay off the authorities to make the problem disappear. When he accidentally killed two pedestrians whilst recklessly driving a speeder, Palpatine was more concerned with the matter of becoming a professional racer rather than the accident he caused. It is unclear how much of Palpatine's personality he inherited from his father, who himself was said to be cruel, power-hungry, and exceptionally arrogant.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

By the time of his first death in 4 ABY, Sidious' features had extensively deteriorated, due to his extensive usage of the dark side, enough to push himself beyond his natural age limit.<ref name="SW VD" />

Although possessed of an insatiable hunger for power, he honestly believed a Sith government would be best for the galaxy, and in time came to regard himself as something of a savior.<ref name="ROTS VD" /> On that note, when dispatching Vader on his [[Operation: Knightfall|first assignment]] as a Sith apprentice, he implied that only when the Sith had control over the galaxy can there be any peace at all.<ref name="Episode III" /> He viewed all sentient beings bereft of the Force as inferiors, likening them to children floundering about aimlessly, ignorant of their own shortcomings and incapable of fulfilling their aspirations. As articulated in ''[[The Weakness of Inferiors]]'', Sidious considered the wise and powerful&mdash;specifically Force-sensitives&mdash;as responsible for providing guidance for such lesser entities in order to allow for a thriving civilization. Seeing no one wiser nor more powerful than himself save for possibly Vader, he deemed ''only'' himself as worthy of realizing this philosophy, and thus endeavored to control the galaxy forever.<ref name="Jedi vs. Sith" />

Despite his megalomaniacal nature, Sidious was capable of acknowledging his mistakes: shortly after he was revived from his first death, he stated in his entry of the Telos Holocron that Anakin's redemption and turning against him, resulting in his first death, was largely his own fault rather than Vader's. In addition, his entry in the Telos Holocron also indicated that he took into account the possibility that he might fail in his quest for immortality and made provisions for this event.<ref name="Jedi vs. Sith" />

Although he desired immortality and to rule the galaxy for all time, he nonetheless anticipated the possibility that he would die, and in some cases, was even willing to risk his own life if it meant ensuring someone would turn to the dark side as a result of their killing him or testing someone's loyalty. This willingness to be killed was especially evident in his interactions with Anakin Skywalker,<ref name="Episode III" /> Luke Skywalker,<ref name="Episode VI" /> and Galen Marek<ref name="TFUg" /><ref name="TFUn" /> (the first when openly revealing his true identity as Darth Sidious, the second when [[Dun Möch/Legends|taunting]] him about the Rebel Alliance's impending failure at Endor, and the last after being "beaten"). In the case of Marek, when Rahm Kota proceeded to convince him to spare Sidious to avoid "being back where he started," Sidious proceeded to attack Kota in a rage due to interfering with his attempt at corrupting Marek.<ref name="TFUg" /><ref name="TFUn" /> He also demonstrated similar behavior when Leia managed to topple the bed he was on in apparent rage after his revelation that he may have intended to transfer himself into Anakin Solo once he was born, feeling satisfaction that he made her angry,<ref name="DE" /> and in addition, he deliberately allowed the Heinsnake Cult to make an assassination attempt specifically to test Vader's loyalty, putting himself at grave risk for such a gamble. This behavior had been demonstrated as early as shortly before he massacred his own family, where he, upon getting confirmation from his father that the latter hated him to such an extent that he wished to kill the former from the start, told Cosinga that the latter "had better start [killing him] now."<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

Palpatine was a prolific author; his notes on political and military sciences became popular texts, and his theories on these subjects were taught at universities throughout the galaxy. One of his texts in particular, ''[[The Paths to Power]]'', was noted in the last Republic Holonet News Edition as one of the new Emperor's notable achievements,<ref name="Inaugural Edition" /> while another, the ''[[Principles of Power]]'', was mandatory reading for Imperial Moffs at the height of the Empire.<ref name="ShieldofLies">''[[Shield of Lies]]''</ref> After his ascension to Emperor,<ref name="Book of Sith" /> Sidious, largely free from the work of governance due to the system of governorship he had set up during the war, began devoting some effort towards writing what he intended to be the seminal work on the dark side of the Force&mdash;the ''Dark Side Compendium'', which comprised volumes one, two, and three, entitled ''[[The Book of Anger]]'', ''The Weakness of Inferiors'', and ''[[The Creation of Monsters]]'' respectively. However, he had left the work unfinished when he died above Endor, and he failed to finish the third volume after his resurrection, leaving the work incomplete in [[11 ABY/Legends|11 ABY]]. Besides the ''Compendium'', Sidious also wrote two manifestos, ''[[The False War]]'', detailing the Clone Wars' role in fulfilling Darth Bane's Grand Plan, and ''[[The Useful Bureaucrats]]'', detailing his manipulation of various important people and events to ensure his rise to power. The three volumes of the ''Compendium'', ''The False War'', and ''The Useful Bureaucrats'' were likewise placed in a manifesto known as ''[[Absolute Power]]''. He also edited the ''Book of Sith''.<ref name="Book of Sith" /> Although he never wrote the ''Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide'' himself, he nonetheless added in two speeches for the introduction and conclusion sections and signed his name in them, and excerpts from his Declaration of a New Order speech were also included in the field guide.<ref name="Imperial Handbook" />

Palpatine was a known patron of the arts, attending the opera whenever able and surrounding himself with unique statuary and decorative antiques.<ref name="Episode III" /> Many of these statues served as convenient hiding places to stash Sidious' various Sith artifacts and lightsabers.<ref name="ROTS VD" /> Much of his spare time was spent at his private retreat on Naboo, a luxuriously decorated estate where he went for relaxation, meditation, or to hold meetings with his most trusted staff. He had also developed a taste for [[Chocolate/Legends|chocolate]], with [[Gracious Government Mix]] being said to be his personal favorite.<ref name="SWG" />

Palpatine was a skilled manipulator and strategist, having orchestrated countless events in the galaxy, including the Naboo, Separatist Crises, as well as the Clone Wars, in order to secure a position of power which largely went according to plan. In the process, he managed to deceive the Jedi and Confederacy. In the rare times that something occurred during those events that he did not initially plan for, he usually took the setback into account and reworked his plan to succeed regardless. This trait of improvisation was especially evident with Queen Amidala's successful arrival on Coruscant during the Naboo crisis, which forced him to rework his plan from using Amidala as a martyr and drawing out the crisis long enough to consolidate power to instead having Amidala act as a witness to the events of the Trade Federation occupation to dethrone then Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /><ref name="Episode I" /><ref name="Episode II" />

Upon his ascension to Galactic Emperor, he modified his transmissions via [[Hologram projection pod|hologram]] to appear several times bigger than himself, to the extent that the only part of him that actually appeared in his transmissions was his head. This was done for two reasons: The first was to intimidate his subordinates, and the second was as a means to easily hide aspects occurring in the room from subordinates that he did not wish for them to know. The latter reason was especially evident in the aftermath of Occupation of Bespin, where his modified use of his hologram all but ensured that Vader did not see that Prince Xizor was in the same room as Palpatine. Prior to his ascension and reorganization of the Galactic Empire, however, Palpatine utilized holographic communications the standard way, both in his public persona and as Sidious.

Despite his exceptional skills in lightsaber combat and his mastery of the dark side, Sidious was no less susceptible to fear, one of the primary emotions of the dark side, than any other Sith. In an effort to gain Anakin Skywalker's sympathy, Palpatine appeared to cower before Mace Windu, which may have been out of both practicality and desperation due to such a calculated risk. Nevertheless, he only attacked Windu after the Jedi Master had been disarmed and rendered helpless by Skywalker; in fact, his cowering was just a trick to get Skywalker into striking at Windu.<ref name="ROTS novel" />

[[File:EmperorPalpatine-PoV.jpg|thumb|200px|The Emperor's hologram towers over his apprentice.]]
After his ascension to Emperor, Sidious displayed visible fear after being attacked by a powerful Force push from Yoda. He attempted to flee rather than fight, and only confronted Yoda when he appeared to have no other choice in the matter. Despite this brief instance of fear, however, he regained enough of his composure as to brag that Yoda would still fail due to his apprentice, Darth Vader, being projected to surpass the two of them in raw power.<ref name="Episode III" /> During the battle over Coruscant, General Grievous considered Palpatine a coward when deducing that the Chancellor was hiding under the consoles while Grievous's battle droids fought Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi on the ''Invisible Hand''. However, Grievous did not know that Palpatine was actually Darth Sidious.<ref name="ROTS novel" />

Since Palpatine was in no position to reveal his Sith identity until the right time, he was forced to refrain from using his Force powers to protect himself while in an extremely dangerous situation that presented considerable risk to his life. Before his death, Mace Windu incorrectly sensed fear in Sidious (it was actually Anakin Skywalker's fear that he sensed) and believed that it was the cause of the Sith Lord's defeat.<ref name="ROTS novel" /> Many years later, Luke Skywalker also detected the same traces of fear that resided with Sidious, as it did inside all who adhered to the dark side of the Force. Fear ultimately proved to be the Emperor's Achilles heel as it caused him to constantly plot and devise schemes against his enemies, which ultimately led to the creation of the Rebel Alliance and the eventual downfall of his Empire.

Palpatine also held some hatred and disgust for the Wookiee holiday [[Life Day/Legends|Life Day]], especially due to the Rebel Alliance being involved. He once had a publicist relay to [[Hol't Deb Orah]] of ''[[Corellia Times]]'' that he would give those celebrating the holiday his official "Bah, humbug!," even though he refused to acknowledge the efforts made by the Rebels.<ref name="Life Day 2008 article">{{SonyCite|url=players/news_archive.vm?id=68147&month=current|text=Holidays: Life Day|nobackup=1}}</ref>

On a lesser note, Sidious did appear to fall short when it came to acquiring a truly worthy apprentice to the Sith mantle. After spending years preparing for Anakin Skywalker's fall to the dark side, and finally having him as his own, Sidious was robbed of his perfect apprentice when Skywalker's power was severely diminished due to his extensive injuries on Mustafar. Both his attempts to replace the hobbled Vader were failures, Galen Marek opting to sacrifice himself to save the Rebel Alliance, and Luke Skywalker devoting his efforts to redeeming Vader rather than killing and replacing him.<ref name="Episode VI" /><ref name="TFU">''[[Star Wars: The Force Unleashed]]''</ref> Sidious ultimately considered any other candidates invalid, as, while powerful in their own right, they simply were not in his league.<ref name="Jedi vs. Sith" /> In addition, regarding his own apprentices, he usually betrayed them and engineered their deaths when they either proved weaker than another candidate or failed him: he considered Maul dead, but tortured him after discovering his survival and subsequently defeating him and his brother Savage Opress on Mandalore.<ref name="The Lawless" /> Later, he had Anakin Skywalker kill Darth Tyranus in order to ensure Skywalker's replacement of him as Sidious' apprentice. The Dark Lord eventually had Skywalker, rechristened Darth Vader,<ref name="Episode III" /> nearly suffer a similar fate at the hands of Galen Marek as well as having him at the very least replaced by his own son, Luke Skywalker. The new Emperor briefly considered leaving Vader to die on Mustafar due to his injuries and failure, but soon thought better of it. In fact, the closest Sidious ever came to actually valuing any of his apprentices was with Vader, having saved him largely because, despite his injuries, he was still powerful, and also because Vader was effectively his creation, and also was genuinely surprised at the invigorated effort to save him during that time. Once, he stated that he would have zealously created Vader again if given the opportunity.<ref name="Jedi vs. Sith" /> On a related note, when about to fight Yoda in the Senate rotunda, Sidious freely acknowledged and expressed some pride that Vader would become stronger than anyone, himself included.<ref name="Episode III" />

After his first death and subsequent revival, Sidious frequently took to utilizing clone bodies to sustain himself. However, he decided to strike at new targets with his [[Galaxy Gun]] instead of fortifying his gains when he returned in a fresh clone body after his defeat at the Battle of Pinnacle Base. According to [[Crix Q5 Baobab]], this alleged lapse in judgment was a result of Palpatine's madness having deepened from his second return.<ref name="TEA" />

Despite his status as pure evil, he did have reservations toward certain actions. According to Mara Jade, the Emperor "would have been ashamed to use such tactics" as illusions calculated to break someone emotionally.<ref name="I, Jedi">''[[I, Jedi]]''</ref> Likewise, although responsible ultimately for its creation, he ordered the [[Emperor's Plague]] to remain sealed inside [[Emperor's plague storehouse|one of his storehouses]] and forbade its usage within its lifetime, and was even stated to be a creation he deeply feared.<ref name="Delusions of Grandeur">''[[Young Jedi Knights: Delusions of Grandeur]]''</ref><ref name="The Emperor's Plague">''[[Young Jedi Knights: The Emperor's Plague]]''</ref>

==Romances and children==
{{Main|Imperial family}}
{{Quote|Married to politics, is that it?''"<br />"''To the work.|An attachée to the Eriaduan consulate on Malastare and Ambassador Palpatine|<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />}}
Since his youth, Darth Sidious was focused only on the acquisition of power, and wore the identity of Palpatine like a mask in order to advance his career and reach a position of power in the Republic. As a young man and ambassador-at-large for Naboo, he evidently found it useful to make it appear that he was in an amorous mood when it suited him, for he was known to the people closest to him, such as Vidar Kim and Kinman Doriana, as a ladies' man. Always focused on the Grand Plan and the takeover of the Republic, Palpatine appeared, in his words, "always eager to make friends," using flirtation as a tool to advance his agenda of gaining political power.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

As Galactic Emperor, Palpatine surrounded himself with concubines at the Imperial Court,<ref name="TEP" /> and at least one of them, [[Roganda Ismaren]], claimed to have been, at the very least, physically involved with him. [[Director of Imperial Intelligence|Director of Intelligence]] [[Ysanne Isard]] also made the same claim; as she once told [[Corran Horn]], she had loved the Emperor, but mostly for his power.<ref name="X-Wing: Isard's Revenge">''[[X-Wing: Isard's Revenge]]''</ref> In fact, most who claimed intimacy with the Emperor did so out of a desire to position themselves as power-brokers. The legal details of a potential Emperor's wedding were specifically included in Imperial law, and in fact specified that the bride would forfeit her rights and become the groom's property&mdash;although that particular law may have been a Church of the Dark Side fabrication.<ref name="Queen">''[[Queen of the Empire]]''</ref>

====Irek Ismaren====
Even more chillingly, some of them, such as the Emperor's Hand Roganda Ismaren, sought to wield power in the name of the children they expected to assume the throne on Palpatine's death. In Ismaren's case, her son [[Irek Ismaren]], sired by a fellow Emperor's Hand, [[Sarcev Quest]], was put forth as the fruit of one of Palpatine's "dalliances" in a plot to gain the vacant throne. The plot failed, but there is a fair chance that it was but one of many such instances.<ref name="Children of the Jedi" />

====Sly Moore====
Rumors persisted that Palpatine had a sexual relationship with [[Sly Moore/Legends|Sly Moore]], and many went so far as to declare her the "Queen of the Empire."<ref name="BT3">{{SW|url=news/barely-tolerable-alien-henchmen-of-the-empire-part-3|text=Barely Tolerable: Alien Henchmen of the Empire, Part 3|int=Barely Tolerable: Alien Henchmen of the Empire}}</ref>

====Triclops====
During the height of the New Order, it was assumed that Palpatine had sired a son, named [[Triclops]], by an alien woman who had three eyes. In fact, the truth of Triclops's parentage is more convoluted. Early in his first term of office as Chancellor, Palpatine commissioned two [[Shi'ido]] scientists, [[Mammon Hoole]] and [[Borborygmus Gog]], to undertake experiments in the spontaneous generation of life, continuing the studies begun under Darth Plagueis.<ref name="Book of Sith" /> Palpatine's aide, Sly Moore, supplied Gog and Hoole with a "volunteer" test subject, a certain [[Niobi]], a gentle and meek female from [[Bordal]]. According to rumor, their first experiment went terribly wrong, resulting in the birth of a three-eyed mutant. Hoole and Gog blamed Niobi for the failure, and the Chancellor's confidant [[Sarcev Quest]] spirited Niobi and Triclops away.<ref name="AitE">''[[Aliens in the Empire]]''</ref>

As Triclops grew, he was trained by the [[Prophets of the Dark Side]] to eventually become an [[Emperor's Eye]], a far-seeing extension of Palpatine's own will,<ref name="END" /> but Triclops began spouting "insane and dangerous" views about peace via disarmament, views that were anathema to the Emperor due to his Sith beliefs mandating that peace can only exist via a militarized order. Palpatine could not permit Triclops to remain free, but he could not kill him either; his subconscious visions of war machines were most inspiring to his weapons manufacturers. As a third option, he banished Triclops to the spice mines of [[Kessel/Legends|Kessel]], to live as a common slave.<ref name="Lost City">''[[The Lost City of the Jedi]]''</ref>

==Powers and abilities==
{{Quote|The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be ''unnatural''.|Palpatine to Anakin Skywalker|<ref name="Episode III" />}}
[[File:Palpy_ANGRY.png|thumb|left|200px|When angered, Sidious was a frightening sight to behold and an overpowering opponent.]]
Trained to perfection by Darth Plagueis, Darth Sidious was considered by many, including Darth Vader<ref name="DEe">[[Dark Empire endnotes|''Dark Empire'' endnotes]]</ref><ref name="V:tUG">''[[Vader: The Ultimate Guide]]''</ref> and Luke Skywalker,<ref name="DEe" /> to be the most powerful Sith Lord in the entire history of the Sith Order&mdash;something he himself firmly believed.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /><ref name="ROTS novel" /> His status as such had also been documented within the [[The New Essential Chronology (in-universe)|the second edition of an important historical chronicle]].<ref name="NEC" /> Additionally, he was the only Sith Lord in a thousand years to achieve the ultimate goal of the Sith: to eradicate the Jedi Order and bring the galaxy under the rule of the Sith.<ref name="ROTS novel" /> He was also considered the one Force user to have successfully tamed the Dark Side of the Force, exceeding even that of [[Ulic Qel-Droma/Legends|Ulic Qel-Droma]].<ref name="DESB" />

===Lightsaber training===
[[File:SidiousSaber-ROTS.png|thumb|180x180px|Darth Sidious, master of all seven forms of lightsaber combat]]
Despite his frail appearance, Darth Sidious was immensely skilled in [[Lightsaber combat/Legends|lightsaber combat]], having mastered every conceivable form by the time of the Clone Wars.<ref name="TCW EG">''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Episode Guide]]''</ref> As a result of his tremendous skill, he effortlessly killed Agen Kolar and Saesee Tiin&mdash;who were considered to be two of the finest lightsaber duelists of their time&mdash;each with a single blow, and while also engaged with Mace Windu, he easily slew the formidable Kit Fisto only moments later. He then went toe-to-toe with Windu, even briefly gaining the upper hand, only being disarmed by the latter when Windu sensed Anakin Skywalker's fear, although he may have feigned weakness to manipulate Skywalker into betraying the Jedi Order. Later, Sidious was able to almost go toe-to-toe with Yoda himself for an extended period of time, but was eventually defeated and disarmed by the Grandmaster, forcing him to rely on the Force for the rest of the confrontation.<ref name="Episode III" /> In addition, shortly after the formation of the Galactic Empire, Sidious effortlessly killed three of the five Jedi prisoners brought before him in a single swift strike.<ref name="SWDTSR3" />

Many years later, Sidious, in one of his clone bodies, engaged and defeated Luke Skywalker in a one-on-one lightsaber duel in his clone labs on Byss,<ref name="DE" /> and barely lost to the latter in their second encounter. It should be noted that Luke's victory was also aided by the fact that he was boosted by Leia's Force Harmony. He was ambidextrous and could change his fighting style at a whim&mdash;keeping his opponents unsure of what his next move would be. Having fully mastered every single form of lightsaber combat and all their techniques and stances and capable of using each form equally effectively ambidextrously, Sidious drew his opponents in, fighting less than his true capability, and then striking the fatal blow when his opponents thought they had the better of him. When fighting at full strength, the Sith Lord was a terrifying opponent. During his assassination of the Gran Protectorate, the speed and ferocity of his technique was so great that it appeared as though his victims were dispatched by a phantom.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

Sidious had an extremely aggressive dueling style and augmented his swordplay by using Force speed, which allowed him to defeat three experienced Jedi Masters at once with very little effort. His style was a combination of brutal aggression and lethal precision making him an almost unstoppable opponent. Sidious' brutal fighting style allowed him to overwhelm Luke Skywalker during their first duel, and Skywalker only barely defeated him during their second altercation. In fact, the only people known to have defeated him in lightsaber combat were Mace Windu, Yoda and Luke Skywalker.<ref name="Episode III" /><ref name="DE" />

Although the full extent of Sidious's mastery of each form of lightsaber combat have not been displayed, he had enough competence with the forms of Juyo, Makashi, Niman and also apparently Shien or Soresu to teach them to his apprentice Darth Maul. At times, Sidious displayed considerable proficiency in applying Force attacks into his lightsaber combat, which can be attributed to his superb skills in Niman. He also used a Form V opening stance when up against Mace Windu and at times has displayed reasonable skills in deflection, apparently due to his mastery of Shien.

Although Sidious usually used only one lightsaber, he was also exceptionally accomplished in Jar'Kai, wielding both of his weapons against Darth Maul and Savage Opress with impeccable profiency. Utilizing a violently ferocious yet flawlessly fluid fighting style, his skill in dual blade combat was great enough that he was able to not only fight on par with both brothers simultaneously, but he was able to gain the upper hand, ultimately separating them from each other. He then proceeded to swiftly kill Opress, despite his immense physical strength and use of a double-bladed lightsaber, all the while simply toying with him. Once he was alone with Maul, who had added another lightsaber to his own, Sidious retained a slight advantage over his former apprentice and while he was briefly pushed back in a blade lock, he was ultimately able to best him, forcing his lightsabers down Maul's own and then ripping them away from the Zabrak's grasp. However, this was not accomplished without visible effort and struggle;<ref name="The Lawless" /> Sidious had nearly been bested by a seventeen-year-old Maul on Hypori, despite the Zabrak being in a weakened state.<ref name="Star Wars Episode I Journal: Darth Maul" /><ref name="Wrath" /><ref name="DSSB" />

While Sidious may have never wielded a saberstaff in combat, viewing them as fit only for "barbarians" within the Sith,<ref name="Book of Sith" /> he nonetheless appeared capable with this variation. He was competent enough to teach Maul on how to use it and was dexterous enough to spin his apprentice's saberstaff with a single hand.<ref name="Star Wars Episode I Journal: Darth Maul" />

Ironically, despite Sidious' masterful dueling skills, he was fairly disdainful of lightsaber combat in general, believing the Sith to have grown beyond the need for lightsabers. They would use these weapons, he once told Darth Vader, "if only to humiliate the Jedi."<ref name="DLRDV" />

===Force powers===
{{Quote|I've played along with your Jedi dueling games long enough! Now you will experience my full potency&hellip; I live as energy&hellip; I ''am'' the dark side!|Darth Sidious|Dark Empire}}
[[File:DunMoch.png|thumb|left|250px|Sidious demonstrates his prowess at telekinesis during his battle with Yoda.]]
In addition to his lightsaber combat skills, Darth Sidious was one of the most powerful Force users of all time, perceived in the Force by his apprentice, Darth Tyranus, as a "black hole of the dark side."<ref name="ROTS novel" /> Both Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, likewise, had viewed Sidious as having become the Dark Side's most powerful expression.<ref name="DEe" /> Sidious' relationship with the dark side was so deep to the point that he became a possession of the dark, and the dark became a possession of his. As an apprentice under Darth Plagueis' tutelage, he learned all the known dark side powers of his predecessors and quickly excelled to the point that he soon came to consider himself the ''Sith'ari''. Sidious' mastery of the Force was so immense, having spent decades immersing himself in the many facets of the Force and researching it, which reportedly granted him full mastery over almost all known Force powers and he also managed to discover and master previously unknown techniques, allowing him to create new powers almost at whim,<ref name="DESB" /> because of this, even he at times wondered if the Force had been so strong in anyone before him, feeling a monster rising from the core of himself, impatient to unleash itself. Shortly after the death of his master, Sidious received a most powerful vision from voices that proclaimed his reign. He himself considered that the simple act of glancing at him was tantamount to glimpsing the dark energy that bound and drove the galaxy. Even prior to his induction into the Sith, his Force potential was powerful enough to block out Darth Plagueis' (while adopting the public identity of Hego Damask) mind reading abilities when they first met, and later able to effortlessly and telekinetically murder his parents, siblings, and their personal guards.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> Even as Sidious continued to age, he was still extremely powerful and skilled in the usage of the Force, with his power allowing him to sustain himself beyond his natural lifespan. At full power, Sidious's Force abilities proved so great that it required a large amount of highly powerful and skilled Force adepts to defeat him, as shown by how he was captured by Zaarin's forces with the aid of Lyn and her students aboard the ''Majestic''<ref name="Barely Tolerable 2" /> and when he was defeated over Pinnacle Base by the combined efforts of Luke Skywalker, Leia Skywalker, and then-unborn Anakin Solo.<ref name="DEe" /> Vader himself, being greatly weakened from his injuries as he was, would not dare challenge Sidious without aid from another powerful Force adept, resulting in him searching for a powerful apprentice.<ref name="V:tUG" /> By his death, Sidious had became a [[Force nexus|nexus of the Dark Side]] of such power he could tear apart the fabric of space.<ref name="DEe" /> Even after his death, Sidious's power proved too great to be contained by Chaos and it required every single deceased Jedi Knight to keep Sidious from escaping Chaos and wreaking havoc on the Galaxy.<ref name="Empire's End">''[[Star Wars: Empire's End]]''</ref> It seems that only Yoda had the Force abilities required to single-handedly duel Sidious to a standstill, although even that was not enough to defeat the Dark Lord. Another single individual who was able to match Sidious was Galen Marek, but only through the Dark Side boosting him was he able to best Sidious. Although Sidious ultimately got overpowered by Marek in their final altercation, he managed to kill off Marek (albeit as a result of Marek holding off Sidious' attempt at attacking Kota, his intended target, with Sidious not being happy about this afterward). In addition, he could also obscure his presence and ties to his public persona and vice versa, as especially evident by how he managed to elude even well-trained Jedi Masters from realizing that Palpatine and Sidious were one and the same. Despite his ability to conceal his own presence with the Force and his ability to sense others with the Force, there are two examples of his Force sense capabilities failing him . The first time was when encountering Anakin Skywalker, where he provided him with a room and didn't even sense Anakin's Force potential, let alone realize he had a very high midi-chlorian count until then-Jedi Master Dooku informed him of such when meeting with him at a diner.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> The second time was regarding Anakin Skywalker's son, Luke, just before the Battle of Endor, where he was unable to sense Luke's presence on the ''Tydirium'' until Vader, breaking protocol, went over to his throne room to notify him of this development personally.<ref name="Episode VI" />

[[File:Palpatine_FandD.png|thumb|250px|Sidious was a master of using Force lightning.]]
Sidious was incredibly skilled in Force lightning and was known to use this both as a lethal attack, and as a way of torturing his enemies.<ref name="Episode VI" /> If used to its full potency, he could instantly reduce one or more people into charred husks.<ref name="GP" /> Although his Force lightning was generally blue in color,<ref name="Episode III" /><ref name="Episode VI" /> it also emerged as purple.<ref name="TFUg" /> Despite his formidable skill in many other aspects of the Force, Force lightning was arguably his trademark ability and one that served him well against extremely dangerous opponents many times either resulting in their defeat or near defeat. When cornered by Mace Windu, Sidious viciously attacked him with lightning that not only nearly overwhelmed Mace Windu but also nearly caused Windu's saber to bend to Sidious's will when locked in combat with the latter's lightning. It turned out that Sidious was deliberately holding back so as to manipulate Anakin Skywalker into joining him; once that was accomplished, he fired the full strength of his lightning at Windu, torturing the Jedi for a few moments before using his lightning to throw Mace out of the window to his death. Sidious's potency with Force lightning was so powerful that he was even able to catch Yoda off guard with it, throwing the Jedi Master into the wall and later on in their duel was able to disarm him of his lightsaber with a powerful blast of it, despite the Grand Master's attempts to ground it, and subsequently nearly overwhelmed Yoda's efforts to absorb it. However, it should be noted that Sidious used his height to his advantage by elevating his body in order to target the lightning above Yoda's [[tutaminis]] defense and Yoda ultimately succeeded in absorbing the attack. The resulting explosion not only overwhelmed and blasted Sidious aside but also separated Yoda from Sidious, allowing the Jedi to flee.<ref name="Episode III" /> If it hadn't been for Darth Vader's shocking intervention and his own hubris, he would have succeeded in using his lightning to torture Luke Skywalker to death, who had demonstrated that despite his natural talent in the Force at the time, even he was utterly powerless against its strength which ended up killing Vader due to the latter's repeated exposure to it.<ref name="Episode VI" /> He could also use this power in conjunction with telekinesis to electrify objects while levitating them before hurling them at his opponents, thus increasing the damage potency of the attack, called lightning grenade.<ref name="TFUg" /> Sidious's mastery of Force Lightning allowed him to also generate a shield made of lightning, which he utilized during his fight with Marek in conjunction with Force Flight to temporarily retreat from the battle in order to have his red guards and senate guards attack Marek, which proved to be impenetrable to Marek with either the Force or his lightsaber.<ref name="TFUg" />

Sidious was also extremely skilled with telekinesis; during his battle with Yoda, he levitated several Senate pods simultaneously, including the one he was standing on, with incredible dexterity and precision.<ref name="Episode III" /> Likewise, he was skilled enough with telekinesis that he was also able to remove Luke Skywalker's restraints while barely even lifting his finger when meeting face to face on the second Death Star.<ref name="Episode VI" /> He could also easily overpower and fling both Maul and Opress to the window of Mandalore's Castle and keep them firmly pinned until he released them. He was incredibly proficient in Force Choke to the point that he can perform it to deadly effect without needing to see the target even when in large distances away, as shown by how he was able to completely subdue Tyranus in a chokehold with a single hand gesture and later levitated and choked two Mandalorians to death even before arriving in their location. After his first death he demonstrated even greater skill with telekinesis—to the point where he could, with just few moments of effort, disintegrate a lightsaber in the hands of Leia Organa Solo without harming her.<ref>[[Dark Empire 4]]</ref> Sidious was a master of Force speed, implementing it into his fighting style and allowing him to move so quickly that his opponents would often find themselves unable to react in time.<ref name="ROTS novel" /> Darth Sidious also had the power of [[Telekinesis/Legends|Force Flight]], able to hover above the ground in standard gravity. as well as being capable of surrounding himself with a miniature storm of malevolent force energy that slowed the movements of, and tortured all caught in it.<ref name="TFUg" /><ref name="Battlefront II" /> After the first decade of his apprenticeship under Darth Plagueis, Sidious possessed an exceedingly feral usage of [[Force rage]], demonstrated when he assassinated the members of the Gran Protectorate that organized his and his master's failed assassination attempt.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />

[[File:Battle_of_Pinnacle_Base.jpg|thumb|left|150px|One of Palpatine's Force storms decimates the New Republic Defense Fleet at the Battle of Pinnacle Base.]]
Sidious was also the only known being capable of producing a Force storm of his own power, a dark side technique which he himself discovered, and that had enough power to kill an entire world.<ref name="The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force (real-life book)">[[The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force (real-life book)|''The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force'']]</ref> Using his anger and his will, he was able to rip the [[space-time continuum]] and create a [[hyperspace wormhole]]. However, even though he claimed to have quickly achieved the mastery needed to conjure a storm simply by willing it, he openly admitted that at the early stages of his discovery and subsequent learning of the power, even he was not able to fully control it but had full confidence he would ultimately acquire the ability to achieve complete control over the storms he created with more practice. By 10 ABY, indeed, the Emperor appeared to have mastered the technique to the level needed to be fully capable of controlling a Force storm, to the point that he was able to send out several storms at whim and a singularly fully powered storm required the combined efforts of Luke, Leia, and the unborn Anakin Solo through the light side to [[Force harmony|turn]] his dark side creation against him.<ref name="DEe" /> He also was proficient in [[pyrokinesis]], as evidenced by how he was able to murder Senator Teem while the latter hid behind a curtain by easily coaxing a gentle flame from a gas powered fireplace into a raging inferno .<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> His proficiency in pyrokinesis was also implied in what turned out to be the first dream Vader had since he became Vader, where Sidious, who was implied to have somehow survived being killed in that dream, conjured a wall of fire separating Vader from his son.<ref name="TRAFODV">''[[The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader]]''</ref>

Another very dangerous and advanced Force technique utilized by the Emperor was the ability to use the Force to [[Transfer essence|transfer his essence]], as well as the essences of others, which he used to survive death on at least two occasions.<ref name="DE" /> He had a supply of clone bodies ready to house his spirit until the last one succumbed to his own corrupting power and the sabotage of his subordinates.<ref name="DEII" /> He also, when taking over a host's body, overwrote the soul and personality of the being to fully dominate over it. He used this power not only as a pathway to immortality, but also as a particularly cruel and sadistic form of torture; it is known that he killed and resurrected Imperial engineer Bevel Lemelisk seven times as punishment for the destruction of the first Death Star.<ref name="NEGC" /> Sidious was also able to transfer his spirit into the bodies of individuals who were biologically unrelated to him. After his first death, his spirit was able to possess the body of [[Jeng Droga]], though Sidious's power drove Droga completely insane for a time. He also intended to possess the body of Anakin Solo after the genetic material for his clone bodies was sabotaged, though he never got the chance to do so.<ref name="TEP" /> He also possessed some knowledge on the [[Midi-chlorian manipulation|manipulation]] of midi-chlorians, having done so with Darth Plagueis in a Grand Experiment taking place in [[42 BBY/Legends|42 BBY]] that indirectly and unwittingly resulted in the birth of the Chosen One, Anakin Skywalker. He was unable to fully master the technique prior to murdering Plagueis, though he claimed to have a level of competence with the technique that would have enabled him to save Plagueis while he was suffocating.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> Additionally, Palpatine was able [[Force healing/Legends|heal]] others through the light side of the Force.<ref name="SagaCore">''[[Star Wars Roleplaying Game Saga Edition Core Rulebook]]''</ref>

Among the Emperor's powers was the ability to channel the collective life essences of billions to [[Force drain/Legends|sustain himself]] and his Dark Side Adepts; his victims would live in a dream-like state while his own power grew. The entire population of Byss lived under this spell until the planet's destruction by the Galaxy Gun.<ref name="TEA" /> It was mentioned by Luke Skywalker that the Emperor's very voice had a [[Mind trick/Legends|hypnotic lull]] to it whenever he was outwardly projecting his dark side Force powers. Darth Sidious was highly adept at [[Force vision/Legends|foreseeing the future]], often utilizing the power to see his plots to fruition, ensuring that all would proceed as he had envisioned.<ref name="Episode VI" /> Furthermore, Sidious was extremely proficient in [[Force stealth]], able to hide his dark nature from the Jedi Order for many years before allowing himself to be discovered. Sidious was so powerful in the dark side that he was able to cloud the Jedi's vision, making it exceedingly difficult to predict future events.<ref name="Episode II" /> This allowed him to bide his time and plot his rise to power while the Jedi were unable to sense him.<ref name="SWCVDpg146" /> Overall, his powers of control and persuasion had been drawn from the very blackest depths of the dark side of the Force.<ref name="SW VD" /><ref name="SWCVDpg146" />

Sidious grew to became a highly accomplished and knowledgeable master of [[Sith alchemy/Legends|Sith alchemy]], an ancient art he was taught by Darth Plagueis, and did extensive research on it.<ref name="Episode III" /><ref name="CSWE" /> He wrote about alchemy in ''[[The Creation of Monsters]]'', the unfinished last part of his ''Dark Side Compendium''. He rediscovered the long-forgotten art of creating [[chrysalide]]s, and used it to alchemically alter [[Rancor/Legends|rancors]] into fearsome chrysalis beasts used as pets at his Citadel on Byss.<ref name="JATM">''[[Jedi Academy Training Manual]]''</ref> He also created [[Shadow Droid]]s, hybrid mechanic/organic starfighters controlled by his own will, used against the Republic after his return in a clone body.<ref name="DEII" /> He may have also used alchemy to hide his true face from the Jedi and the rest of the galaxy as a senator and Chancellor of the Republic.<ref name="Jedi Counseling 71">{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/sw20050804jc71|text=Jedi Counseling 71|int=Jedi Counseling|archivedate=20091015235144}}</ref> The Dark Lord also was knowledgeable and proficient in [[Sith magic]], as he was aware of and able to perform an ancient ritual that casted a powerful and convincing dark illusion capable of fooling even Yoda, and he is also able to use arcane rituals to detect poisons and drugs in food and drink.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> Sidious was also capable of performing a [[Enhance Force Sensitivity|sith magic ritual]] to enhance the Force sensitivity of other people, which he used to enhance his Dark Side Elite's force powers. He also could utter incantations in the [[Balc/Legends|Balc]] language.<ref name="Sacrifice TCW" />

==Works==
===Works written by Palpatine===
====Books====
*''[[The Paths to Power]]'' (30 BBY)<ref name="Inaugural Edition" />
*''[[Absolute Power]]'' (19&ndash;18 BBY<ref name="Book of Sith" />)
**The ''[[Dark Side Compendium]]'' (unfinished)<ref name="DEe" />
***''[[The Book of Anger]]''<ref name="DEe" /><ref name="Book of Sith" />
***''[[The Weakness of Inferiors]]''<ref name="DEe" /><ref name="Book of Sith" />
***[[The Creation of Monsters|''The Manipulation of Life/The Creation of Monsters'']] (unfinished)<ref name="DEe" /><ref name="Book of Sith" />
**''[[The False War]]''<ref name="Book of Sith" />
**''[[The Useful Bureaucrats]]''<ref name="Book of Sith" />
*''[[Book of Sith]]'' (ed.)<ref name="Book of Sith" />
*''[[Principles of Power]]''<ref name="ShieldofLies" />

====Legislation====
*[[Security Act amendment]] (19 BBY)<ref name="ROTS novel" />
*[[Declaration of a New Order]] (19 BBY)

===Works about Palpatine===
====Holofilms====
*[[The Clone Wars (holofilm)|''The Clone Wars'']] (c. [7 ABY)<ref name="Wedge's Gambit" />
*''[[Sacrifice at Endor]]'' (c. 7 ABY) {{C|Propaganda}}<ref name="Wedge's Gambit" />

==Behind the scenes==
{{Quote|He's the great political manipulator of all time. I imagine he's evil from birth, which is a terrible thing to imagine.|Ian McDiarmid, speaking about his character|Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Scrapbook}}
{{OR}}
[[File:MCQ-emperor.jpg|thumb|225px|Concept art of Emperor Palpatine by Ralph McQuarrie]]
From the very beginning of the writing process on ''Star Wars'', George Lucas had in mind a character that would eventually develop into the Emperor as he is currently known. One of the earliest documents&mdash;perhaps ''the'' earliest&mdash;regarding the project is a paper dating to early 1973, a roster of names he compiled to potentially use in the story, many of which were not used. At the very top of this list is the name "Emperor Ford Xerxes XII" (Xerxes was a historical Persian king who was assassinated by his own son), soon after changed to "Alexander Xerxes XII," then "Emperor of Decarte".

Similar to the [[Ewok/Legends|Ewoks]] in ''Return of the Jedi'', Palpatine was never identified by name on-screen in the [[original trilogy]], as he was referred to by his title of leadership (or in the case of Vader, "Master"). His name was supplied in supplementary materials such as the ''Star Wars Visual Dictionary'', the novelization for ''Return of the Jedi'', and the script for the film. It wasn't until ''The Phantom Menace'' that he was named on-screen.

===Political, historical, and mythological allegory===
In the director's commentary for ''Return of the Jedi'', George Lucas cited his inspiration of the scene where Palpatine landed on the Death Star as being the May Day parades within the Soviet Union.<ref name="landing scene inspiration">George Lucas, commentary, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Special Edition (DVD, 20th Century Fox, 2004), disc 1.</ref>

[[Wikipedia:Richard Nixon|Richard Nixon]] was used as the primary political model for Palpatine,<ref name="Revenge of the Jedi Story Conference">''[[The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi]]'', p. 62-69<br />REVENGE OF THE JEDI STORY CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT, JULY 13 to JULY 17, 1981—SUMMARY<br />
Participants: George Lucas, Richard Marquand, Lawrence Kasdan, and Howard Kazanjian<br />
Location: Park Way House<br />
''Note:'' Many of the ideas here are conceptual only and should not be considered as canon in the Star Wars saga.<br />

[...]<br />

THE STORY OF ANAKIN<br />

'''George Lucas:''' Anakin Skywalker starting hanging out with the Emperor, who at this point nobody knew was that bad, because he was an elected official.<br />

'''Lawrence Kasdan:''' Was he a Jedi?<br />

'''Lucas:''' No, he was a politician. Richard M. Nixon was his name. He subverted the senate and finally took over and became an imperial guy and he was really evil. But he pretended to be a really nice guy. He sucked Luke's father into the dark side.</ref> both because his presidency was known as the Imperial [[Wikipedia:President of the United States|Presidency]], plus the constitutional crisis caused by the Watergate Scandal,<ref name="Secret History of Star Wars">''The Secret History of Star Wars''. Kaminski, Michael. Legacy Books Press (2008). ISBN: 978-0-9784652-3-0</ref><ref name="ROTS Director's Commentary">{{Film|III}} Director's Commentary:<br />"When I first started making the film [the first Star Wars], it was during the Vietnam War, and it was during a period when Nixon was going for a third term - or trying to get the Constitution changed to could go for a third term - and it got me to thinking about how democracies turn into dictatorships. Not how they're taken over where there's a coup or anything like that, but how the democracy turns itself over to a tyrant."</ref> and because George Lucas when writing the initial drafts for Star Wars had specifically intended to model the Empire and the Rebel Alliance on America and the Vietcong, respectively, during the Vietnam War as a disguised anti-Vietnam War message,<ref name="New York Post">{{Cite_web|url=https://nypost.com/2014/09/21/how-star-wars-was-secretly-george-lucas-protest-of-vietnam|title=How 'Star Wars' was secretly George Lucas' Vietnam protest|author=Kyle Smith|date=2014-10-21|work=New York Post|archivedate=20180826122931}}</ref><ref name="How Star Wars Conquered the Universe">''How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise''; Taylor, Chris; Basic Books (2014)</ref><ref name="Walter Murch excerpt">{{Cite_web|url=http://www.yomyomf.com/star-wars-is-a-metaphor-for-the-vietcong-kicking-american-ass-in-the-vietnam-war|title="Star Wars" is a Metaphor for the Vietcong Kicking American Ass in the Vietnam War?|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119145914/www.yomyomf.com/star-wars-is-a-metaphor-for-the-vietcong-kicking-american-ass-in-the-vietnam-war}}</ref><ref name="Walter Murch">''The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film''. Ondaatje, Michael; Knopf (2005). p.70.</ref><ref name="Making of Star Wars">''The Making of Star Wars'', p.12. "A lot of my [George Lucas's] interest in Apocalypse Now was carried over into ''Star Wars'', I figured that I couldn't make that film because it was about the Vietnam War, so I would essentially deal with some of the same interesting concepts that I was going to use and convert them into space fantasy, so you'd have essentially a large technological empire going after a small group of freedom fighters or human beings."</ref> and also implied that the Empire was what America would ultimately evolve into should they win Vietnam ten years from the time he wrote the initial draft in 1973.<ref name="Nixonian gangsters">''The Making of Star Wars'', page 17<br />"The empire is like America ten years from now, after Nixonian gangsters assassinated the Emperor and were elevated to power in a rigged election; created civil disorder by instigating race riots aiding rebel groups and allowing the crime rate to rise to the point where a 'total control' police state was welcomed by the people. Then the people were exploited with high taxes, utility and transport costs. Gangsters, a cartel made up of power companies, transport companies & crime organizations. Other companies had to pay bribes to stay in business" The Making of Star Wars: 7-8,17.</ref> Ironically, in the novelization for ''Revenge of the Sith'', recordings were also used to ensure a downfall like with Nixon during the Watergate Scandal, although in this case, it was Palpatine using recordings to ensure the downfall of his enemies rather than the other way around.

Lucas claimed in an interview conducted by Maureen Dowd of the ''New York Times'', regarding Vice President Dick Cheney's comparing himself to Darth Vader, that Cheney was actually closer to Palpatine.<ref>{{Cite_web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/opinion/19dowd.html?ref=opinion|title=The Aura of Arugulance|author=Dowd, Maureen|date=2009-04-19|work=The New York Times|archivedate=20180811172259}}</ref> Even though George Lucas had not specifically envisioned Bush when creating the character, some EU stories nonetheless incorporated some elements of him into Palpatine, in particular Palpatine's reference to a Triad of Evil referred to George Bush's Axis of Evil in his State of the Union. Similarly, the novelization for ''Revenge of the Sith'' had Palpatine, during his Declaration of a New Order, stating that it's "Morning in the Republic", which alluded to the Morning in America campaign ads by Ronald Reagan.

He also had some traits similar to the character Ebeneezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens' ''A Christmas Carol'', such as a hatred for Christmas (or in this particular case, Life Day), as evidenced by an article for the ''Star Wars Galaxies'' website where the editor stated that, "The Emperor could not be reached for comment, but his publicist did have this to say: 'While the Emperor refuses to acknowledge the efforts by the Rebel Alliance, he would like to issue an official "Bah, humbug!" to those participating in the holiday.{{' "}}<ref name="Life Day 2008 article" /> In addition, film critic Roger Ebert and film historian Robin Wood noted that Palpatine's appearance resembled Death from the 1957 Swedish film ''The Seventh Seal''<ref name="Ebert">Roger Ebert, review of ''Return of the Jedi'', Special Edition, in Chicago ''Sun-Times'', March 14, 1997, available [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19970314/REVIEWS/703140303/1023 here] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20180723034423/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/return-of-the-jedi-special-edition-1997 backup link]); last accessed August 17, 2006.</ref> and the wicked queen's witch form in the Disney adaptation of ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarves'',<ref>Robin Wood, ''Hollywood from Vietnam to Reagan...and Beyond: A Revised and Expanded Edition of the Classic Text'' (New York: Columbia University Press, 2003), p. 154, {{ISBN|0-231-12966-1}}.</ref> respectively. The latter of these, coincidentally, gained her disfigurations in a similar manner to Palpatine regarding lightning that she summoned. (In the Queen's case, she summoned it as an ingredient to create her peddler disguise to kill Snow White.)

===Original version===
[[File:Dark_Vilains_SWGTCG_2.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Emperor Palpatine and Vader escorted by several of the Emperor's Royal Guards]]
Palpatine was originally conceived as a much different type of person. He was neither a user of the Force nor a great political strategist; instead, he was a weak-willed dullard with delusions of grandeur who had been elevated, first to President of the Republic and then Emperor, by his plotting ministers (such as Tarkin) who controlled the Republic/Empire by controlling Palpatine, a figurehead controlled by the Imperial bureaucracy.<ref name="EP4NOVEL" />

Although this version of Palpatine appeared (through descriptions and recollections) in the [[Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (novel)|Episode IV novelization]], it is obviously superseded by every other appearance since which revealed Palpatine to be the mastermind of the events of the ''Star Wars'' saga. However, this description was briefly alluded to in the in-universe history article ''[[Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Praji]]'' on Hyperspace by the titular character,<ref name="TTSP" /> as well as in the novel ''[[Cloak of Deception]]'', where several senators are shown discussing support for Palpatine when they believe they can manipulate him for their own ends.

Aside from this, although [[Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back|''Star Wars'': Episode V ''The Empire Strikes Back'']] onward made clear that Palpatine was a Force user, his Sith affiliation was not made clear until the prequel trilogy. Some sources went so far as to indicate Palpatine was not actually a Sith Lord, such as the ''Shadow of the Empire'' sourcebook claiming that Palpatine was a Jedi Master while Vader was a Dark Lord of the Sith. Nonetheless, his connection to the Sith was implied as early as ''[[Star Wars: Empire's End]]'', where he visited a Sith tomb on Korriban and also claimed that he had visited the planet ten years prior.

In the original story treatment for [[Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith|''Star Wars'': Episode III ''Revenge of the Sith'']], Palpatine, or more accurately Darth Sidious was intended to reveal that he created Anakin Skywalker through the midi-chlorians,<ref name="Palpatine is Anakin's father">''[[The Making of Star Wars Revenge of the Sith]]'', page 42<br />"On Coruscant, PALPATINE completes his seduction of ANAKIN, who at first refuses to go over to the dark side-- until the Chancellor makes a startling confession:"<br />
<br />
 DARTH SIDIOUS-- "I have waited all these years for you to fulfill your destiny... I arranged for your conception. I used the power of the Force to will the midichlorians to start the cell divisions that created you."<br />
<br />
 ANAKIN-- "I don't believe you."<br />
<br />
 DARTH SIDIOUS-- "Ahhh, but you know it's true. When you clear your mind, you will sense the truth. you could almost think of me as your father."<br />
<br />
 ANAKIN-- "That's impossible!"<br />
<br />
 DARTH SIDIOUS-- "Nevertheless, you must decide."</ref> although George Lucas ultimately cut this out of the film.<ref name="Palpatine fatherhood cut">''The Making of Star Wars Revenge of the Sith'', page 60</ref> Despite this, however, hints that Palpatine and/or Darth Plagueis were responsible for Anakin's creation were included in the film.
{{Contradict}}

===Portrayal===
[[Ian McDiarmid]] played the elderly Emperor Palpatine of the original trilogy, the younger Palpatine of [[Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace|''The Phantom Menace'']], and the middle-aged Palpatine of [[Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones|''Star Wars'': Episode II ''Attack of the Clones'']].

[[File:Emperor_Palpatine_DVD_Empire_Strikes_Back.jpg|thumb|250px|Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine in the ''The Empire Strikes Back'' DVD]]
For the 2004 DVD release of the original trilogy, the scene in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' was re-shot with Ian McDiarmid replacing [[Marjorie Eaton]] as the Emperor, with new lines recorded for both McDiarmid and [[James Earl Jones]] (the voice of Darth Vader). The re-shoot was shot as part of the ''Revenge of the Sith'' production.

[[File:Emperor_TESB_1980.png|thumb|left|180px|Marjorie Eaton as Emperor Palpatine in the pre-DVD version of ''The Empire Strikes Back'']]
His lightsaber sequences during ''Revenge of the Sith'', especially his fight with Mace Windu, were done by [[Kyle Rowling]] (also the stunt double for [[Christopher Lee]]) and [[Bob Bowles]]. Much like Lee, his face was replaced in postproduction by McDiarmid's. [[Sebastian Dickins]] performed Palpatine's acrobatics, but when the Emperor broke the laws of physics, a digital stunt double was used for his most inhuman and spectacular feats.

[[Nick Jameson]] voiced Palpatine in the ''[[Star Wars: Clone Wars]]'' cartoon series as well as different video games, including ''[[Star Wars: TIE Fighter]]'', ''[[Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds]]'', and ''[[Star Wars: Battlefront II]]'', and in the [[Dark Empire (audio)|''Dark Empire'' audio adaptation]]. Palpatine was voiced by [[Sam Witwer]] for the [[Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (video game)|''Star Wars: The Force Unleashed'' video game]]. In [[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film)|''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' film]] and [[Star Wars: The Clone Wars|TV series]], Palpatine was voiced by [[Ian Abercrombie]] until his death on [[January 26]], [[2012]], with famed British actor [[Tim Curry]] taking over the role.

For ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and ''Return of the Jedi'' National Public Radio dramatizations, Palpatine was voiced by [[Paul Hecht]]. [[Wikipedia:Spain|Spanish]] actor [[Jordi Dauder]] dubbed the voice of Palpatine for the Spanish-language versions of the prequel-trilogy films.<ref>{{Cite_web|url=http://theforce.net/latestnews/story/The_Spanish_Voice_Of_Palpatine_Passes_Away_140620.asp|title=The Spanish Voice Of Palpatine Passes Away|author=Barrick, Mike|date=2011-09-17|publisher=[[TheForce.net|TheForce.Net]]|archiveurl=https://archive.is/t2mNh}}</ref><ref>{{Cite_web|url=http://www.diariodeavisos.com/2011/09/17/actualidad/muere-el-actor-jordi-dauder-la-gran-voz-del-cine-y-el-teatro-catalan|title=Muere el actor Jordi Dauder, la gran voz del cine y el teatro catalán|date=2011-09-17|work=Diario de Avisos|language=[[Wikipedia:Spanish language|Spanish]]|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731013730/www.diariodeavisos.com/2011/09/muere-el-actor-jordi-dauder-la-gran-voz-del-cine-y-el-teatro-catalan}}</ref>

The "Emperor's slugs," also called the "Emperor's black spot," refers to a solid black area on the edge of [[Emperor/Legends|Emperor]] Palpatine's hood in [[Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi|''Return of the Jedi'']]. The dark spot is actually a bit of hand-drawn animation. Although no definitive answer exists, [[Pablo Hidalgo]] learned from someone at [[Lucasfilm Ltd.]] that the spot was likely added because the "particular low angle revealed a rather strange fold in the Emperor's temple that drew attention away from his eyes."<ref name="Pabawan">{{Blog|pablog|79|The Mysterious Animated Shadows of Return of the Jedi|Fragments from the Mind's Eye|Pablo Hidalgo|archivedate=20081008122037}}</ref>

===Palpatine as a cultural figure===
In large part because of his being the central antagonist of the franchise since his debut in ''Return of the Jedi'', Palpatine had entered American popular culture as an iconic villain depicting pure evil. As such he was frequently imitated. One example was BuzzFlash comparing Senator Zell Miller to Palpatine.<ref name="Zell Miller">{{Cite_web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718021748/www.buzzflash.com/analysis/04/09/ana04017.html|title=Is Zell Miller the Evil Emperor from Star Wars?|date=2004-09-02|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718021748/www.buzzflash.com/analysis/04/09/ana04017.html|archivedate=2006-07-18}}</ref> In addition, the villain from ''Resident Evil 5'' Oswell E. Spencer had his mannerisms, vocal style, and to a certain extent appearance modeled after Palpatine, mostly due to his voice actor, Adam D. Clarke, being a massive ''Star Wars'' fan.<ref name="Spencer">{{Cite_web|url=http://www.rehorror.net/v20/rehorror-interview-with-adam-d-clark|title=Interview with Adam D. Clarke|nobackup=1}}</ref>

===Debates and discrepancies===
====Appearance====
{{Quote|Palpatine, who has delved extensively into Sith lore, was using an almost-forgotten technique to hide his true self.|Gary M. Sarli|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603071110/https://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=starwars/article/sw20050804jc71}}
[[File:The_Emperor_and_the_Chancellor.jpg|thumb|right|Two versions of Palpatine]]
During his confrontation with Mace Windu, Palpatine's appearance changed as he was hit with his own Force lightning deflected from Windu's lightsaber.<ref name="ROTS novel" /> Palpatine went from being a handsome middle-aged man to having a deeply lined face with burning yellow eyes, scarred grayed skin, and rotten teeth.<ref name="Episode III" /> What caused this radical change of appearance has been the subject of much debate.

In [[Jedi Counseling]] 71, published in 2005 on the website for the [[Wizards of the Coast]] [[Star Wars Roleplaying Game]], ''Star Wars'' roleplaying game author Gary M. Sarli was asked what exactly happened to Palpatine's face: is he scarred, or is he dropping a disguise? Sarli suggested both ideas had problems, noting that Luke Skywalker was not so affected by Force lightning in ''Return of the Jedi'' and that a and that a constant illusion would be extremely difficult and not always feasible. He also pointed out that an illusion begs the question of why he maintained it during holographic appearances as Sidious.<ref name="Jedi Counseling 71" />

[[File:MakeUpMelt.png|thumb|left|250px|Two phases in Palpatine's transformation]]
Sarli concluded that Palpatine was using Sith alchemy to hide his face under a younger-looking facade. The technique Sarli identified was given the name "[[Mask (Sith Alchemy)|mask]]," which used Sith alchemical techniques to alter the user's features, either to make them appear more horrific or to conceal them with a fairer appearance. According to the roleplaying game stats he presented in response to the question, this was considered different from a mundane disguise (which was temporary) or cosmetic surgery (which needed much more time to use). Instead, this alchemical mask altered the subject at the molecular level, rendering the subject's genuine appearance undetectable by sensors or even by a medical examination. The mask could be dispelled by another dark-side power&mdash;in Palpatine's case, Force lightning&mdash;and should the subject fail to repel the dispelling power, the mask would be dropped and the subject's true face would appear. The sudden transformation would physically distort the subject with dark-side energies, making any future attempt to use the "mask" ability, even to create a mundane disguise, far less successful. According to Sarli, Palpatine may have voluntarily failed the save and dropped the mask when it no longer served his purposes&mdash;he used the damage both to sway Skywalker into intervening on his side, and to convince the Senate and the galaxy at large that the Jedi had attempted to murder him. The consequence of this is that Darth Sidious's true face, whatever it was before this point, was distorted into the ruined countenance that would be seen for the remaining ''Star Wars'' films.<ref name="Jedi Counseling 71" />

[[File:Sidlaugh.png|thumb|right|250px|The frequent use of the dark side took its toll on Palpatine's features.]]
''[[Sithisis]]'' depicts Sidious literally changing his face from pale and wizened into the benevolent countenance of Chancellor Palpatine with a Sith ritual,<ref name="Sithisis">''[[Sithisis]]''</ref> and in [[The New Jedi Order: The Unifying Force|''The Unifying Force'']], Luke Skywalker muses that Palpatine had been "prematurely wizened by years of calling on dark power."<ref name="TUF">''[[The New Jedi Order: The Unifying Force]]''</ref> ''[[Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary]]'' also mentions that his usage of the dark side of the Force had kept him alive well beyond his natural lifespan, and that he was still powerful despite his aged and sickly appearance.<ref name="SW VD" /> Moreover, Sidious's hands (and presumably his entire body) remained unchanged after the disfiguration of his face. The next time he was seen, he had pale, swollen hands with long, black fingernails.<ref name="Episode III" /> Ian McDiarmid also stated in an interview that his healthy-looking appearance was in fact a disguise, and the disfigured visage was his true face.<ref name="Interview with Ian McDiarmid" />

====Name====
There has been a great deal of speculation among fans concerning Palpatine's name. When [[Stephen J. Sansweet]], director of Lucasfilm's content management and a member of the corporation's inner circle, was asked about this issue as part of the "[[StarWars.com#Ask the Jedi Council|Ask the Lucasfilm Jedi Council]]" feature of StarWars.com in 2003, he responded that Palpatine's first name is unknown, and that he may not even have one, citing the example of [[Wikipedia:Indonesia|Indonesia]] as a real country where mononymous people are very common.<ref>{{SWArchive|url=community/askjc/steve/askjc20030701.html|text=Ask the Lucasfilm Jedi Council: What is Palpatine's first name?|archivedate=20030704091512}}</ref> Palpatine's Sith name, Darth Sidious, is believed to be derived from ''insidious'', a word with multiple meanings, such as "treacherous," "cunning," and "seductive."<ref name="WoCBTS2">{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/BtT2|text=Behind the Threat: The Sith, Part 2: The Becoming|int=Behind the Threat: The Sith, Part 2: The Becoming|archivedate=20080706160833}}</ref>

[[File:Darthplagueis-cover.jpg|thumb|left|230px|The fact that Palpatine has no first name was revealed, among other details of his life, in James Luceno's ''Darth Plagueis''.]]
The matter was settled somewhat in [[James Luceno]]'s [[2012]] novel [[Darth Plagueis (novel)|''Darth Plagueis'']], which, though it did not go so far as to actually reveal Palpatine's full name, did reveal that Palpatine had abandoned his given name in order to spite his family, and in particular his father. The novel established that Palpatine was in fact a family name. In keeping with various sources that have described Palpatine as a noble, the book also established House Palpatine, the Emperor's family of origin, as one of many Naboo noble families, and placed it into the context of wider Naboo society.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> An early draft for the novel originally had Darth Plagueis learning Palpatine's first name but never referring to him with it as a means to pay respect to his huge ego, but this was ultimately cut.<ref name="Unbound Worlds 2014">{{Unbound|url=2014/11/interview-with-james-luceno-author-star-wars-tarkin|text=Interview with James Luceno, Author, ''Star Wars: Tarkin''|archivedate=20171116050605}}</ref> After the [[2014]] rebranding of Expanded Universe materials into [[Star Wars Legends|''Star Wars'' Legends]], Luceno did give Palpatine an explicit first name, Sheev, in his novel [[Tarkin (novel)|''Tarkin'']]. Since ''Tarkin'' is a [[canon]] novel, "Sheev Palpatine" is not Palpatine's official name within the Legends continuity.<ref name="Tarkin">[[Tarkin (novel)|''Tarkin'']]</ref> The name "Sheev," however, was reportedly conceived by George Lucas for ''[[Star Wars: Underworld]]'', a proposed live-action ''Star Wars'' television series which ultimately went unrealized.<ref name="Full of Sith">{{Cite_web|url=http://fullofsith.com/archives/1214|title=Episode LXXXIX: Phil Tippett and James Luceno|author=Mike, Tha|date=2014-11-02|publisher=Full of Sith|archivedate=20160506161120}}</ref>

The real-world origin of the name "Palpatine" is not known, but the in-universe origins of the name were revealed to be obscure in Luceno's novel ''Plagueis''&mdash;in Palpatine's own time, it was considered to be either an ancient name of state among noble families of Naboo, in accordance with the previously established Naboo custom of ''noms de règne'' (like "Amidala"), or perhaps borrowed from one of the ancient regions of the planet.<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> The name is not unique in ''Star Wars'' canon: Lieutenant Colonel [[Palpatine Essex Yerac]] of the Rebel Alliance shares it with the Emperor<ref name="Alliance Intelligence Reports">''[[Alliance Intelligence Reports]]''</ref> (as well as the possibly pseudonymous editor and broadcaster for the [[Galactic Weekly NewsStack]] known as "[[Palpatine II]]").<ref name="Galaxy Guide 9">''[[Galaxy Guide 9: Fragments from the Rim]]''</ref>

In his article ''[[Speak Like a Sith]]'', published in [[Star Wars Insider 134|the 134th issue]] of the ''[[Star Wars Insider]]'' magazine, [[Ben Grossblatt]], the creator of the Sith language (of which the Emperor has been established as a master in both speech and writing)<ref name="Revised Core Rulebook" /> for ''[[Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side]]'', remarked that&mdash;assuming that the name "Palpatine" had the same roots as the verb ''palpitare'', meaning "to throb"&mdash;one way it could be translated in Sith (by hypothetical "creative Sith scribes") would be ''Chirikyât'' ("chee-ree-kyatt"), meaning "He Who Causes Them to Throb and Tremble in Fear." In the same article, Grosblatt also established that a native Sith speaker with a heavy accent would be unable to properly pronounce "Palpatine" in its proper form, rendering it as ''Marmûtin'' ("mar-muh-tin") because of the limited phonetic palette of the language, which lacks a "p" sound, an "l" between consonants, and an "ee" sound in a closed syllable.<ref name="SLS">{{InsiderCite|134|Speak Like a Sith}}</ref>

====First death====
In the ''[[Star Wars: Dark Empire]]'' series, Palpatine tells Luke that the Battle of Endor was not his first death, and that he had started transferring his spirit into clone bodies years prior to that, when his original body had degenerated as a result of heavy use of the dark side.<ref name="Dark Empire 2" /> However, Lucasfilm official [[Leland Chee]] has stated that Palpatine was lying to Luke about having died previously, and that Palpatine's demise on the second Death Star was definitely the first time he died.<ref name="DHBoards">{{DHBoards|url=viewtopic.php?p=101353&highlight=#101353|thread=Dark Empire does NOT need a rewrite because of ROTS|user=[[Leland Chee]]|PTtime=[[May 26]], [[2005]], 06:39|archiveurl=https://archive.is/rydh8|quote=None of the versions of Palpatine that you see in the films is a clone.}}</ref>

==Appearances==
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*[[Tales of the Jedi &ndash; The Golden Age of the Sith 0|''Tales of the Jedi &ndash; The Golden Age of the Sith'' 0]] {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|10|The Capture of Imperial Hazard|The Capture of ''Imperial Hazard''}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|7|Mist Encounter}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Reversal of Fortune]]''
*''[[In His Image]]''
*{{InsiderCite|88|Ghosts of the Sith}} {{Mo}}
*'{{InsiderCite|85|A Two-Edged Sword}}
*{{DroidsCite|A Race to the Finish}} {{Mo}}
*{{DroidsCite|The Frozen Citadel}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|4|The Final Exit}} {{Imo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=The Best of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, Issues 1-4|story=The Final Exit}} {{Imo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook|story=The Lesser Evil|stext=''The Lesser Evil''}} {{Imo}}
*{{Tales|11|The Princess Leia Diaries}} {{Mo}}
*{{Tales|15|First Impressions}}
*''[[The Paradise Snare]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{GalaxyCite|7|Dark Vendetta (short story)}} {{Mo}}
*''[[The Hutt Gambit]]'' {{Mo}}
*[[Boba Fett: Enemy of the Empire 4|''Boba Fett: Enemy of the Empire'' 4]] {{Hologram}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook|story=The Business Merger|stext=''The Business Merger''}} {{Imo}}
*''[[Rebel Dawn]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=The Star Wars Sourcebook|story=Ackbar's Rescue}} {{Imo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Star Wars Sourcebook (Second Edition)|text=''Star Wars Sourcebook'', Second Edition|story=Ackbar's Rescue}} {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (video game)|''Star Wars: The Force Unleashed'']]
*''[[Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II]]''
*''[[Domain of Evil]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Classic Adventures: Volume Two|story=Domain of Evil|stext=''Domain of Evil''}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Star Wars: Empire at War]]''
*{{Tales|9|Resurrection}}
*''[[The Weapons Master!]]'' {{Mo}}
*"[[Extinction]]"
*''[[Star Wars: Empire: Betrayal]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Empire: Princess... Warrior]]'' {{Mo}}
*[[Empire 7|''Empire'' 7]] {{Mo}}
*[[Empire 13|''Empire'' 13]] {{Mo}}
*''[[Dread Discovery!]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Perfect Evil]]''
*''[[The Farlander Papers]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|4|Tinian on Trial}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=The Best of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, Issues 1-4|story=Tinian on Trial}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|10|Only Droids Serve the Maker}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Star Wars: Dark Forces]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Interlude at Darkknell]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|3|Changing the Odds: The Adventures of Dannen Lifehold}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|5|A Bitter Winter}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=The Star Wars Sourcebook|story=The Promotion of Lieutenant Veers}} {{Imo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Star Wars Sourcebook (Second Edition)|text=''Star Wars Sourcebook'', Second Edition|story=The Promotion of Lieutenant Veers}} {{Imo}}
*{{Film|IV}} {{Mo}}
*[[Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (novel)|''Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope'' novel]] {{1stm}}
*''[[Star Wars: A Storybook]]'' {{Imo}}
*{{TCWUKCite|volume=7|12|Leia's Trust}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|11|Spare Parts (short story)|Spare Parts}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|3|Galaxywide NewsNets}} {{Mo}}
*[[Star Wars (2013) 1|''Star Wars'' (2013) 1]]
*''[[Star Wars Journal: The Fight for Justice]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|4|Galaxywide NewsNets}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|5|Galaxywide NewsNets}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|6|Galaxywide NewsNets}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|7|Galaxywide NewsNets}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|8|A Certain Point of View (short story)|A Certain Point of View}} {{Imo}}
*{{Journal|8|Galaxywide NewsNets}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|9|Galaxywide NewsNets}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|9|Death-Hunter}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|11|Galaxywide NewsNets}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|3|Droid Trouble}} {{Imo}}
*{{Journal|6|To Fight Another Day}}
*''[[Under a Black Sun]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Debts to Pay]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Beyond the Rim]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[The Jewel of Yavin]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Onslaught at Arda I]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Star Wars Missions 1: Assault on Yavin Four]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Star Wars Missions 2: Escape from Thyferra]]'' {{Hologram}}
*''[[Star Wars Missions 3: Attack on Delrakkin]]'' {{Flash}}
*''[[Star Wars Missions 4: Destroy the Liquidator]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Star Wars Missions 8: Togorian Trap]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Star Wars Missions 14: The Monsters of Dweem]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Star Wars Missions 17: Darth Vader's Return]]''
*''[[Star Wars Missions 18: Rogue Squadron to the Rescue]]''
*''[[Star Wars Missions 19: Bounty on Bonadan]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Star Wars Missions 20: Total Destruction]]''
*[[Star Wars (1977) 18|''Star Wars'' (1977) 18]] {{Imo}}
*''[[Vader's Quest]]''
*''[[Galaxy of Fear: Planet Plague]]'' {{Hologram}}
*''[[Choices of One]]''
*{{Journal|11|Command Decision}} {{Imo}}
*{{Journal|8|Uhl Eharl Khoehng (short story)|Uhl Eharl Khoehng}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Star Wars: Empire: "General" Skywalker]]'' {{Flash}}
*[[Empire 31|''Empire'' 31]] {{Mo}}
*''[[Star Wars: Empire: A Little Piece of Home]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Star Wars: Empire: The Short, Happy Life of Roons Sewell]]'' {{Mo}}
*[[Rebellion 3|''Rebellion'' 3]] {{Vision|Jorin Sol}}
*[[Rebellion 7|''Rebellion'' 7]] {{Imo}}
*[[Rebellion 8|''Rebellion'' 8]] {{Flash}}
*[[Rebellion 10|''Rebellion'' 10]] {{Imo}}
*[[Rebellion 11|''Rebellion'' 11]] {{Imo}}
*[[Rebellion 12|''Rebellion'' 12]] {{Imo}}
*[[Rebellion 13|''Rebellion'' 13]] {{Imo}}
*{{InsiderCite|74|Pearls in the Sand}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Shadows in the Force]]''
*''[[Star Wars: River of Chaos]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Boba Fett: Overkill]]'' {{Imo}}
*{{Tales|4|Sand Blasted}} {{Imo}}
*{{SWG|An Empire Divided}}
*''[[Star Wars Galaxies: The Ruins of Dantooine]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike]]''
*[[Star Wars: Rebellion (video game)|''Star Wars: Rebellion'']]
*[[Star Wars (1977) 21|''Star Wars'' (1977) 21]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 22|''Star Wars'' (1977) 22]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 23|''Star Wars'' (1977) 23]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 25|''Star Wars'' (1977) 25]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 26|''Star Wars'' (1977) 26]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 27|''Star Wars'' (1977) 27]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 30|''Star Wars'' (1977) 30]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 31|''Star Wars'' (1977) 31]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 32|''Star Wars'' (1977) 32]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 34|''Star Wars'' (1977) 34]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 35|''Star Wars'' (1977) 35]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 36|''Star Wars'' (1977) 36]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 37|''Star Wars'' (1977) 37]] {{Imo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game (first edition)|text=''Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game''|story=Regina Cayli (adventure)|stext=Regina Cayli}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|1|Regina Cayli (adventure)|Regina Cayli}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game (first edition)|text=''Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game''|story=Rings of Bright Water}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=The Star Wars Sourcebook|story=Against the Pirate Armada}} {{Imo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Star Wars Sourcebook (Second Edition)|text=''Star Wars Sourcebook'', Second Edition|story=Against the Pirate Armada}} {{Imo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=The Star Wars Sourcebook|story=SoroSuub Corporation Proclamation Number 137d}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Star Wars Sourcebook (Second Edition)|story=SoroSuub Corporation Proclamation Number 137d}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Scavenger Hunt]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Star Wars Gamemaster Screen|story=Envoy to the Queen}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Star Wars Gamemaster Screen|story=Quest for the Dragon's Tomb}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Star Wars Gamemaster Screen|story=Fortress of Terror}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Star Wars Gamemaster Screen|story=The Monster Maker}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Star Wars Gamemaster Screen|story=The Natural}} {{Mo}}
*''[[The Abduction]]'' {{1st}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Classic Adventures|story=The Abduction|stext=The Abduction of Crying Dawn Singer}}
*{{Journal|2|You're in the Army Now!}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|3|The Void Terror}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=The Best of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, Issues 1-4|story=The Void Terror}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|4|Loyalties}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|6|Swoop Gangs}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|11|The Farrimmer Cafe}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Imperial Double-Cross]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|story=Blood Inheritance|book=Tapani Sector Instant Adventures}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|story=The Event of the Season|book=Tapani Sector Instant Adventures}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=The Far Orbit Project|story=The Capture of Coh Veshiv}} {{Mo}}
*{{Tales|21|Walking the Path That's Given}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Gambler's World]]'' {{Imo}}
*''[[Splinter of the Mind's Eye]]'' {{Mo}}
*[[Splinter of the Mind's Eye 2|''Splinter of the Mind's Eye'' 2]] {{Imo}}
*[[Splinter of the Mind's Eye 3|''Splinter of the Mind's Eye'' 3]] {{Imo}}
*''[[Star Wars Adventures: Princess Leia and the Royal Ransom]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|9|Combat Moon (short story)|Combat Moon}} {{Imo}}
*{{Journal|12|Idol Intentions}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|13|The Occupation of Rhamalai}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|12|Small Favors}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|14|Crimson Bounty}} {{Imo}}
*{{Journal|10|Do No Harm}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Showdown]]'' {{Hologram}}
*''[[The Final Trap]]'' {{Hologram}}
*''[[Honor Among Thieves]]'' {{Mo}}
*[[Honor Among Thieves (audiobook)|''Honor Among Thieves'' audiobook]] {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|12|Galaxywide NewsNets}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|13|Galaxywide NewsNets}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|14|Galaxywide NewsNets}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Side Trip]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|15|The Draw}} {{Imo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook|story=In the Emperor's Service|stext=''In the Emperor's Service''}}
*{{Film|V}} {{Hologram}}
*[[Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (novel)|''Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back'' novel]] {{1st}} {{Hologram}}
*''[[The Empire Strikes Back: A Storybook]]'' {{Hologram}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 40|''Star Wars'' (1977) 40]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 42|''Star Wars'' (1977) 42]] {{Hologram}}
*''[[Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook|story=Temporary Reassignment|stext=''Temporary Reassignment''}} {{Imo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook|story=Up the Intelligence Ladder|stext=''Up the Intelligence Ladder''}} {{Imo}}
*''[[Tales of the Bounty Hunters]]''
*{{Tales|4|Moment of Doubt}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Star Wars Adventures: Luke Skywalker and the Treasure of the Dragonsnakes]]'' {{Vision||Luke Skywalker}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 43|''Star Wars'' (1977) 43]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 44|''Star Wars'' (1977) 44]] {{Imo}}
*{{TCWUKCite|volume=7|10|Drone Alone}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook|story=An Old Flame in Need...|stext=''An Old Flame in Need...''}} {{Imo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook|story=A Very Special Meal|stext=''A Very Special Meal''}} {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (Galoob)|''Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire'' Galoob minicomic]]
*[[Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (Ertl)|''Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire'' Ertl minicomic]]
*{{GalaxyCite|11|The Emperor's Trophy}}
*''[[Star Wars: TIE Fighter]]''
*[[Star Wars (1977) 45|''Star Wars'' (1977) 45]] {{Imo}}
*''[[Star Wars Adventures: The Will of Darth Vader]]'' {{Hologram}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 46|''Star Wars'' (1977) 46]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 48|''Star Wars'' (1977) 48]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 49|''Star Wars'' (1977) 49]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 50|''Star Wars'' (1977) 50]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 51|''Star Wars'' (1977) 51]] {{Mo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 53|''Star Wars'' (1977) 53]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 54|''Star Wars'' (1977) 54]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 60|''Star Wars'' (1977) 60]] {{Mo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 61|''Star Wars'' (1977) 61]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 63|''Star Wars'' (1977) 63]] {{Mo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 65|''Star Wars'' (1977) 65]] {{Imo}}
*{{Journal|9|Slaying Dragons}} {{Imo}}
*{{GamerCite|6|Rebel Bass}} {{Po}}
*{{Journal|11|The Longest Fall}} {{Imo}}
*{{Journal|8|Firepower}} {{Mo}}
*{{Ewoks|Battle for the Sunstar}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|14|No Disintegrations, Please}} {{Mo}}
*[[Shadows of the Empire (comics)|''Shadows of the Empire'' comic]]
*[[Shadows of the Empire (novel)|''Shadows of the Empire'' novel]]
*[[Shadows of the Empire (audiobook)|''Shadows of the Empire'' audiobook]]
*[[Shadows of the Empire (junior novelization)|''Shadows of the Empire'' junior novelization]]
*[[Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (video game)|''Shadows of the Empire'' video game]]
*[[Star Wars (1977) 68|''Star Wars'' (1977) 68]] {{Mo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 69|''Star Wars'' (1977) 69]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 76|''Star Wars'' 76]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 77|''Star Wars'' 77]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars Annual (1977) 3|''Star Wars Annual'' (1977) 3]] {{Imo}}
*{{Tales|7|Nerf Herder}} {{Imo}}
*''[[Star Wars: Rebel Assault II: The Hidden Empire]]'' {{Hologram}}
*{{Film|VI}}
*[[Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (novel)|''Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi'' novel]]
*[[Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (junior novelization)|''Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi'' junior novel]]
*''[[The Truce at Bakura]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Tales from Jabba's Palace]]''
*{{Shortstory|story=Sleight of Hand: The Tale of Mara Jade|book=Tales from Jabba's Palace}} {{Vision|Mara Jade}}
*{{Shortstory|story=Taster's Choice: The Tale of Jabba's Chef|book=Tales from Jabba's Palace}} {{Imo}}
*''[[Mara Jade – By the Emperor's Hand 1]]''
*[[Return of the Jedi 2|''Return of the Jedi'' 2]]
*''[[The Mandalorian Armor]]'' {{Flash}}
*''[[Slave Ship]]'' {{Flash}}
*''[[Hard Merchandise]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Mara Jade – By the Emperor's Hand 2]]''
*[[Return of the Jedi 3|''Return of the Jedi'' 3]]
*[[Return of the Jedi 4|''Return of the Jedi'' 4]]
*{{Shortstory|story=One Last Night in the Mos Eisley Cantina: The Tale of the Wolfman and the Lamproid|book=Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi]]''
*[[Star Wars (1977) 81|''Star Wars'' 81]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 82|''Star Wars'' 82]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 84|''Star Wars'' 84]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 85|''Star Wars'' 85]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 90|''Star Wars'' 90]] {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 89|''Star Wars'' 89]] {{Imo}}
*''[[Mara Jade – By the Emperor's Hand 3]]''
*''[[Mara Jade – By the Emperor's Hand 4]]''
*{{Tales|1|Mara Jade: A Night on the Town}} {{Flash}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Star Wars Gamemaster Screen|text=Star Wars Gamemaster Screen|story=Prophet of Doom}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Mos Eisley Adventure Set|story=The Passage From Perdition}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Mos Eisley Adventure Set|story=A Line in the Sand...}} {{Mo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 108|''Star Wars'' 108]] {{Mo}}
*''[[X-Wing: Rogue Leader]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Shadows of the Empire: Evolution]]'' {{Flash}}
*{{Journal|8|Black Curs Blues}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron: Requiem for a Rogue]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[The Ewoks Join the Fight (storybook)|The Ewoks Join the Fight]]''
*''[[Star Wars -Phantasmagoria-]]''
*{{WEGCite|book=Twin Stars of Kira (West End Games)|text=''Twin Stars of Kira''|story=The Package (adventure)|stext=The Package}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Handoff]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{Shortstory|story=Gathering Shadows|book=Tales from the New Republic}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|5|One of a Kind (short story)|One of a Kind}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|9|Easy Credits}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|6|Kella Rand, Reporting...}} {{Mo}}
*''[[The Glove of Darth Vader]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[The Lost City of the Jedi]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Zorba the Hutt's Revenge]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Mission from Mount Yoda]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Queen of the Empire]]'' {{Mo}}
*[[Prophets of the Dark Side (novel)|''Prophets of the Dark Side'']] {{Mo}}
*''[[Dark Forces: Rebel Agent]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Dark Forces: Jedi Knight]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{Hyperspace|url=hyperspace/fiction/feature20081031.html|text=Fists of Ion|int=Fists of Ion|newurl=http://star-wars.suvudu.com/2012/10/star-wars-shorts-fists-of-ion.html|newhost=[[Unbound Worlds|Suvudu]]}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|7|Missed Chance}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|1|A Glimmer of Hope}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=The Best of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, Issues 1-4|story=A Glimmer of Hope}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|3|Mission to Zila}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|4|Shadows of Darkness}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|12|Betrayal by Knight}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|7|The Kaal Connection}} {{Mo}}
*''[[X-Wing: Rogue Squadron]]'' {{Mo}}
*[[X-Wing: Rogue Squadron (unabridged audiobook)|''X-Wing: Rogue Squadron'' unabridged audiobook]] {{Mo}}
*''[[X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[X-Wing: The Krytos Trap]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[X-Wing: The Bacta War]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|13|Conflict of Interest}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|4|Starter's Tale}} {{Flash}}
*{{Journal|6|Kella Rand, Reporting...}} {{Mo}}
*''[[X-Wing: Wraith Squadron]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[X-Wing: Iron Fist]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[X-Wing: Solo Command]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=The Politics of Contraband|story=The Politics of Contraband (adventure)|stext=The Politics of Contraband}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Classic Adventures|story=The Politics of Contraband (adventure)|stext=The Politics of Contraband}} {{Mo}}
*''[[The Courtship of Princess Leia]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[A Forest Apart]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Tatooine Ghost]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Crisis of Faith]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{DarkStryder|Shintel Downtime|The DarkStryder Campaign}} {{Mo}}
*{{DarkStryder|Traitor in our Midst|The DarkStryder Campaign}} {{Mo}}
*{{DarkStryder|Little Empires|The Kathol Outback}} {{Mo}}
*{{DarkStryder|The Masters of Exocron|The Kathol Outback}} {{Mo}}
*{{DarkStryder|The Saga Nears Its End|Endgame}} {{Mo}}
*{{DarkStryder|Endgame (RPG adventure)|Endgame}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|1|First Contact}}
*{{WEGCite|book=The Best of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, Issues 1-4|story=First Contact}}
*''[[Heir to the Empire]]'' {{Vision|Mara Jade}}
*''[[Dark Force Rising]]'' {{Vision|Mara Jade}}
*[[Dark Force Rising (unabridged audiobook)|''Dark Force Rising'' audiobook]] {{Vision|Mara Jade}}
*''[[The Last Command]]'' {{Vision|Mara Jade}}
*[[The Last Command (unabridged audiobook)|''The Last Command'' audiobook]] {{Vision|Mara Jade}}
*{{Journal|6|Rendezvous with Destiny}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|8|Blaze of Glory (short story)|Blaze of Glory}} {{Imo}}
*{{Journal|6|Relic (article)|Relic}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|8|Counterstrike (Adventure Journal)|Counterstrike}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Classic Adventures: Volume Four - The Best of the Journal|story=Counterstrike (Adventure Journal)|stext=Counterstrike}} {{Mo}}
*[[Boba Fett ½]] {{Mo}}
*''[[Boba Fett: Agent of Doom]]'' {{Imo}}
*{{Journal|7|Retreat from Coruscant}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Star Wars: Dark Empire]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Dark Empire II]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Empire's End]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Crimson Empire]]'' {{Flash}}
*{{Shortstory|story=Simple Tricks|book=Tales from the New Republic}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Jedi Search]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|15|Firestorm (short story)|Firestorm}} {{Mo}}
*''[[I, Jedi]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[The Bounty Hunters: Kenix Kil]]'' {{Flash}}
*[[Children of the Jedi (novel)|''Children of the Jedi'']] {{Mo}}
*[[Darksaber (novel)|''Darksaber'']] {{Flash}}
*''[[X-Wing: Starfighters of Adumar]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|14|Murder in Slushtime}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Planet of Twilight]]'' {{Vision|Leia Organa Solo}}
*[[Crimson Empire III: Empire Lost 2|''Crimson Empire III: Empire Lost'' 2]] {{Mo}}
*''[[The Crystal Star]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Before the Storm]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Shield of Lies]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Tyrant's Test]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|15|Two for One}} {{Mo}}
*''[[The New Rebellion]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{Shortstory|story=Jade Solitaire|book=Tales from the New Republic}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Ambush at Corellia]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Assault at Selonia]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Showdown at Centerpoint]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Specter of the Past]]'' {{Mo}} {{Vision|Luke Skywalker}}
*''[[Vision of the Future]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Junior Jedi Knights: The Golden Globe]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Junior Jedi Knights: Promises]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Junior Jedi Knights: Anakin's Quest]]'' {{Vision|Anakin Solo}}
**''[[Junior Jedi Knights: Vader's Fortress]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Fool's Bargain]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Young Jedi Knights: Heirs of the Force]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Young Jedi Knights: Shadow Academy]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Young Jedi Knights: The Lost Ones]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Young Jedi Knights: Lightsabers]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Young Jedi Knights: Darkest Knight]]'' {{Hologram}}
*''[[Young Jedi Knights: Jedi Under Siege]]'' {{Hologram}}
*''[[Young Jedi Knights: Diversity Alliance]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Young Jedi Knights: Delusions of Grandeur]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Young Jedi Knights: Jedi Bounty]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Young Jedi Knights: The Emperor's Plague]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Young Jedi Knights: Crisis at Crystal Reef]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Boba Fett: A Practical Man]]'' {{Mo}}
}}

===Non-canon appearances===
*''[[Star Wars: Yoda Stories]]'' {{Mo}}

==Sources==
{{Scroll_box|content=
<!--1982-->
*[[The Empire Strikes Back Coloring Book (1982)|''The Empire Strikes Back Coloring Book'' (1982)]]
*{{KennerCite|set=Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (toy line)|text=''Star Wars: Return of the Jedi''|pack=The Emperor|link=VINtEmperor.asp|archiveurl=https://archive.is/rkuJm}}
*[[Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Coloring Book (Luke Skywalker)|''Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Coloring Book'' (Luke Skywalker)]]
<!--1984-->
*''[[Star Wars Word Puzzles]]''
*''[[A Guide to the Star Wars Universe]]''
*[[Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Coloring Book (1984)|''Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Coloring Book'' (1984)]]
<!--1987-->
*{{InsiderCite|1|Star Wars: Ten Year Tribute|''Star Wars'': Ten Year Tribute}} {{Imo}}
*[[Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game (first edition)|''Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game'']]
*''[[The Star Wars Sourcebook]]''
<!--1988-->
*''[[Star Wars Campaign Pack]]''
*''[[Lightsaber Dueling Pack]]''
<!--1989-->
*''[[Galaxy Guide 1: A New Hope]]''
*''[[Starfighter Battle Book: X-wing vs TIE Interceptor]]''
*''[[The Star Wars Rules Companion]]''
*''[[Galaxy Guide 2: Yavin and Bespin]]''
*''[[Imperial Sourcebook]]''
*''[[Galaxy Guide 3: The Empire Strikes Back]]''
<!--1990-->
*''[[The Rebel Alliance Sourcebook]]''
*''[[Galaxy Guide 5: Return of the Jedi]]''
<!--1991-->
*''[[Death Star Technical Companion]]''
*[[Cracken's Rebel Field Guide (sourcebook)|''Cracken's Rebel Field Guide'']]
*''[[Heir to the Empire Sourcebook]]''
*[[Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, Second Edition|''Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game'', Second Edition]]
*''[[Dark Force Rising Sourcebook]]''
*''[[George Lucas: The Creative Impulse]]''
<!-- June 1993 -->
*[[Wanted by Cracken (sourcebook)|''Wanted by Cracken'']]
*''[[Galaxy Guide 7: Mos Eisley]]''
*''[[Galaxy Guide 8: Scouts]]''
*''[[Star Wars Gamemaster Handbook]]''
*''[[Galaxy Guide 9: Fragments from the Rim]]''
*''[[Dark Empire Sourcebook]]''
*[[Twin Stars of Kira (West End Games)|''Twin Stars of Kira'']]
*[[Supernova (WEG)|''Supernova'']]
*''[[The Movie Trilogy Sourcebook]]''
<!--Oct 1993-->
*''[[Star Wars Technical Journal of the Planet Tatooine]]''
*''[[Super Empire Strikes Back Official Game Secrets]]''
<!--Nov 1993-->
*[[Death Star Technical Companion (Second Edition)|''Death Star Technical Companion'', Second Edition]]
*''[[Han Solo and the Corporate Sector Sourcebook]]''
<!-- 1994 -->
*''[[Galaxy Guide 10: Bounty Hunters]]''
*''[[The Last Command Sourcebook]]''
*''[[Star Wars Screen Entertainment]]''
*[[The Rebel Alliance Sourcebook (Second Edition)|''The Rebel Alliance Sourcebook'', Second Edition]]
*[[Galaxy Guide 6: Tramp Freighters (Second Edition)|''Galaxy Guide 6: Tramp Freighters'', Second Edition]]
*''[[Cracken's Rebel Operatives]]''
*{{Journal|2|The Free-Trader's Guide to Sevarcos}}
*{{Journal|2|Recon & Report: The Journey to Coruscant}}
*[[Star Wars Sourcebook (Second Edition)|''Star Wars Sourcebook'', Second Edition]]
*[[Imperial Sourcebook (Second Edition)|''Imperial Sourcebook'', Second Edition]]
*''[[Star Wars Miniatures Battles Companion]]''
*''[[TIE Fighter: The Official Strategy Guide]]''
*{{Journal|3|The Pentastar Alignment}}
*{{Journal|3|Blasters for Hire}}
*''[[Galaxy Guide 11: Criminal Organizations]]''
*''[[Star Wars Technical Journal of the Rebel Forces]]''
*''[[The Star Wars Planets Collection]]''
*''[[Classic Campaigns]]''
*''[[Goroth: Slave of the Empire]]''
*''[[Star Wars Technical Journal]]''
<!--1995-->
*{{Journal|5|Smugglers of the Outer Rim}}
*{{Journal|5|Zirtran's Anchor (article)|Zirtran's Anchor}}
*''[[Flashpoint! Brak Sector]]'' {{ID|Palpaltein}}
*{{Journal|6|The Greel Wood Haven}}
*{{Journal|6|Swoop Gangs}}
*{{Journal|6|The Cure}}
*''[[TIE Fighter: Defender of the Empire: Official Secrets & Solutions]]''
*{{Journal|7|The History of R-Series Astromech Droids}}
*{{Journal|7|Into the Core Worlds}}
*[[Galaxy Guide 2: Yavin and Bespin (Second Edition)|''Galaxy Guide 2: Yavin and Bespin'', Second Edition]]
*''[[Galaxy Guide 12: Aliens — Enemies and Allies]]''
*[[Galaxy Guide 1: A New Hope (Second Edition)|''Galaxy Guide 1: A New Hope'', Second Edition]]
*''[[The DarkStryder Campaign]]''
*[[Galaxy Guide 5: Return of the Jedi (Second Edition)|''Galaxy Guide 5: Return of the Jedi'', Second Edition]]
*{{Journal|8|The Yard of Opportunity}}
*''[[The Essential Guide to Characters]]''
*''[[Heroes & Rogues]]''
<!--1996-->
*''[[The Kathol Outback]]''
*''[[The Truce at Bakura Sourcebook]]''
*''[[The Jedi Academy Sourcebook]]''
*{{WEGCite|book=The Best of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, Issues 1-4|story=The Free-Trader's Guide to Sevarcos}}
*{{WEGCite|book=The Best of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, Issues 1-4|story=Recon & Report: The Journey to Coruscant}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Classic Adventures: Volume Four - The Best of the Journal|story=The Pentastar Alignment}}
*''[[TIE Fighter Collector's CD-ROM: The Official Strategy Guide]]''
*{{Journal|10|Cracken's Rebel Operatives (article)|Cracken's Rebel Operatives}}
*{{Journal|10|Galaxywide NewsNets}}
*{{Journal|10|Alliance Intelligence Report: TIE Fighters}}
*{{Journal|10|Wanted by Cracken (Star Wars Adventure Journal)|Wanted by Cracken}}
*''[[The Kathol Rift]]''
*{{GalaxyCite|7|In The Beginning...}} {{Imo}}
*''[[Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook]]''
*''[[Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded]]''
*''[[The Secrets of Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire]]''
*''[[The Thrawn Trilogy Sourcebook]]''
*[[Galaxy Guide 3: The Empire Strikes Back (Second Edition)|''Galaxy Guide 3: The Empire Strikes Back'', Second Edition]]
*''[[Tales of the Jedi Companion]]''
*{{GalaxyCite|8|The Deadly Dozen}}
*{{SOTE|cardname=Xizor is Lurking|link=https://www.rebelscum.com/photo.asp?image=/sote/soteTC001.jpg|archiveurl=https://archive.is/SjRh}}
*{{SOTE|cardname=Xizor Greets Vader|link=https://www.rebelscum.com/photo.asp?image=/sote/soteTC006.jpg|archiveurl=https://archive.is/c7CnY}} {{Imo}}
*{{SOTE|cardname=Xizor Summons Jabba|link=https://www.rebelscum.com/photo.asp?image=/sote/soteTC010.jpg|archiveurl=https://archive.is/5SXF}} {{Imo}}
*{{SOTE|cardname=Vader Grows Wary of Xizor|link=https://www.rebelscum.com/photo.asp?image=/sote/soteTC020.jpg|archiveurl=https://archive.is/Z0d6W}} {{Imo}}
*{{SOTE|cardname=Xizor Wants it All|link=https://www.rebelscum.com/photo.asp?image=/sote/soteTC021.jpg|archiveurl=https://archive.is/ibAh}}
*{{SOTE|cardname=The Emperor Insists|link=https://www.rebelscum.com/photo.asp?image=/sote/soteTC022.jpg|archiveurl=https://archive.is/gZxmo}}
*{{SOTE|cardname=Guri Does Xizor's Dirty Work|link=https://www.rebelscum.com/photo.asp?image=/sote/soteTC030.jpg|archiveurl=https://archive.is/9wiy}} {{Imo}}
*{{SOTE|cardname=Chewbacca in Disguise|link=https://www.rebelscum.com/photo.asp?image=/sote/soteTC039.jpg|archiveurl=https://archive.is/lYDq}} {{Imo}}
*{{SOTE|cardname=Vader Senses His Son|link=https://www.rebelscum.com/photo.asp?image=/sote/soteTC046.jpg|archiveurl=https://archive.is/1LDB}} {{Imo}}
*{{SOTE|cardname=Xizor Sharpens His Claws|link=https://www.rebelscum.com/photo.asp?image=/sote/soteTC052.jpg|archiveurl=https://archive.is/H4oN}} {{Imo}}
*''[[Shadows of the Empire Planets Guide]]'' {{Imo}}
*{{KennerCite|set=Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (toy line)|text=''Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire''|pack=Dash Rendar|link=soteKdash.asp|archiveurl=https://archive.is/jxCYB}} {{Imo}}
*{{KennerCite|set=Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (toy line)|text=''Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire''|pack=Luke Skywalker (In Imperial Guard Disguise)|link=soteKluke.asp|archivedate=20180215114237}} {{Imo}}
*{{KennerCite|set=Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (toy line)|text=''Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire''|pack=Prince Xizor|link=soteKxizor.asp|archivedate=20180221181539}} {{Imo}}
*{{KennerCite|set=Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (toy line)|text=''Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire''|pack=Darth Vader vs. Prince Xizor|link=soteKxizor-vader.asp|archivedate=20180213111100}}
*{{KennerCite|set=Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (toy line)|text-''Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire''|pack=Swoop|link=soteKswoop.asp|archivedate=20180214170538}} {{Imo}}
*{{Galoob|set=Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire Micro Machines|text=''Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire'' Micro Machines|pack=Collection I|link=soteMM1.asp|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010084528/www.rebelscum.com/soteMM1.asp}} {{Imo}}
*{{Galoob|set=Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire Micro Machines|text=''Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire'' Micro Machines|pack=Collection II|link=soteMM2.asp|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010083833/www.rebelscum.com/soteMM2.asp}}
*[[Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire Limited Collector's Edition|''Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire'' Limited Collector's Edition]]
*''[[Live-Action Adventures]]''
*''[[Gamemaster Toolkit: Live-Action Adventures]]''
*''[[Star Wars Gamemaster Screen, Revised]]''
<!--1997-->
*''[[Instant Adventures]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Wretched Hives of Scum & Villainy]]''
*{{Journal|12|Shape-shifters}}
*''[[Introductory Adventure Game]]''
*{{Journal|13|Alien Encounters (article series)|Alien Encounters}}
*''[[Pirates & Privateers]]''
*''[[Cynabar's Fantastic Technology: Droids]]''
*''[[The Black Sands of Socorro]]''
*''[[Rules of Engagement: The Rebel SpecForce Handbook]]''
*''[[Secrets of the Sisar Run]]''
*''[[Cracken's Threat Dossier]]''
*''[[Gundark's Fantastic Technology: Personal Gear]]''
*''[[Lords of the Expanse]]''
*''[[Player's Guide to Tapani]]''
*{{Journal|14|From the Files of Corellia Antilles}}
*{{KennerCite|set=Star Wars: The Power of the Force (1995 toy line)|text=''Star Wars: The Power of the Force'' (1995)|pack=Emperor Palpatine|link=POTF2emperor.asp|archiveurl=https://archive.is/Z7urg}}
*{{KennerCite|set=Star Wars: The Power of the Force (1995 toy line)|text=''Star Wars: The Power of the Force'' (1995)|pack=Final Jedi Duel|link=POTF2finaljediduel.asp|archiveurl=https://archive.is/Rtthm}}
*{{KennerCite|set=Star Wars: The Power of the Force (1995 toy line)|text=''Star Wars: The Power of the Force'' (1995)|pack=Emperor Palpatine (Electronic Power F/X)|link=POTF2fxemperor.asp|archiveurl=https://archive.is/IwI26}}
*{{InsiderCite|35|The Horse's Mouth|Straight from the Horse's Mouth}}
*''[[Star Wars Trilogy Sourcebook, Special Edition]]''
*{{Journal|15|Special Military Unit Intelligence Update}}
*{{Journal|15|Tasariq: The Crystal Planet}}
*''[[The Far Orbit Project]]''
*''[[Alien Encounters]]''
*{{StarWarsKidsCite|3|Star Wars Kids Answer Quest}}
*{{StarWarsKidsCite|6|Star Wars Kids Feature Planet: Endor}}
*{{SOTEEMCC|cardname=ISSUE 1: Xizor's Plan Revealed|link=https://www.rebelscum.com/photo.asp?image=/sote/soteMIcards1bk.jpg|archiveurl=https://archive.is/6kSOD}}
*{{SOTEEMCC|cardname=ISSUE 5: The Trap is Set|link=https://www.rebelscum.com/photo.asp?image=/sote/soteMIcards5bk.jpg|archiveurl=https://archive.is/LFjMJ}} {{Imo}}
*''[[Star Wars: The Art of the Brothers Hildebrandt]]''
<!--1998-->
*{{KennerCite|set=Star Wars: The Power of the Force (1995 toy line)|text=''Star Wars: The Power of the Force'' (1995)|pack=Clone Emperor Palpatine|link=POTF2EUcloneemperor.asp|archiveurl=https://archive.is/ZVYpN}}
*{{KennerCite|set=Star Wars: The Power of the Force (1995 toy line)|text=''Star Wars: The Power of the Force'' (1995)|pack=Emperor Palpatine (with Force Lightning)|link=POTF2emperorfb.asp|archiveurl=https://archive.is/oQDDy}}
*''[[Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Rebellion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Rogue Squadron: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide]]''
<!--1999-->
*''[[Star Wars: The Action Figure Archive]]''
*''[[Star Wars Episode I: I Am a Jedi]]''
*[[Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (reference book)|''Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace'' reference book]]
*[[Star Wars: Episode I (toy line)|''Star Wars: Episode I'' toy line]]
*''[[Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace: Prima's Official Strategy Guide]]''
*''[[Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance: Prima's Official Strategy Guide]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Episode I The Visual Dictionary]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace The Official Souvenir Magazine]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Episode I Insider's Guide]]''
*''[[Star Wars Episode I: The Data File]]''
<!--2000-->
*''[[Star Wars: Power of the Jedi]]''
*[[The Essential Chronology (real-world book)|''The Essential Chronology'']]
*''[[A Guide to the Star Wars Universe]]''
*''[[Star Wars Roleplaying Game]]''
<!--2001-->
*[[The Essential Guide to Alien Species (real-world book)|''The Essential Guide to Alien Species'']]
*''[[Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds: Prima's Official Strategy Guide]]''
*{{GamerCite|5|The Emperor's Pawns}}
*{{WizardsCite|url=starwars/article.asp?x=sw20010726b_grahrk&c=rpg|text=Vilmarh Grahrk: A Devil of a Smuggler|int=Vilmarh Grahrk: A Devil of a Smuggler|archivedate=20090602012830}}
*''[[The Dark Side Sourcebook]]''
*{{WizardsCite|url=starwars/article.asp?x=sw20010920b_ilum&c=rpg|text=Ilum: A Frozen World Hides a Jedi's Secret|int=Ilum: A Frozen World Hides a Jedi's Secret|archivedate=20091015151300}}
*{{WizardsCite|url=starwars/article.asp?x=sw20011115a_slug&c=rpg|text=Rescued Aliens: Swamp Slug and Stone Mite|int=Rescued Aliens: Swamp Slug and Stone Mite|archivedate=20090602012924}}
*''[[Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide]]''
<!--2002-->
*''[[The New Jedi Order Sourcebook]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: The Visual Dictionary]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: The Illustrated Companion]]''
*''[[The New Essential Guide to Characters]]''
*{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/sw20021017web|text=''Arms & Equipment Guide'' Extras!|int=Arms & Equipment Guide Extras!|archivedate=20091016004403}}
<!--2003-->
*{{InsiderCite|65|Who's Who in Star Wars Galaxies}}
*''[[Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided Quick Reference Guide]]''
*{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/sw20030828aargau4|text=Aargau: For All Your Banking Needs Part 4|int=Aargau: For All Your Banking Needs, Part 4: Checks, Balances, and Overdrafts|archivedate=20100118104303}}<!--August 2003-->
*{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/sw20031009malak|text=Darth Malak|int=Darth Malak (article)|archivedate=20090603071915}}
*{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/sw20040226eu|text=Voss Parck|int=Voss Parck (article)|archivedate=20090602014438}}
*{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/sw20040325adv|text=Rough and Tundra|int=Rough and Tundra|archivedate=20100218041522}}
*''[[Inside the Worlds of Star Wars Trilogy]]'' {{C|First explicitly revealed as Darth Sidious}}
*[[Rebel Storm|''Star Wars Miniatures: Rebel Storm'']]
*{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/sw20041111impbackbone|text=The Imperial Backbone|int=The Imperial Backbone|archivedate=20091016025840}} {{Imo}}
*[[Clone Strike|''Star Wars Miniatures: Clone Strike'']]
<!--2005-->
*{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=swminis/article/rotspreview9|text=''Revenge of the Sith'' Preview 9|int=Revenge of the Sith Preview 9|archivedate=20090604050446}}
*''[[Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith: Illustrated Screenplay]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary]]''
*''[[Episode III: Revenge of the Sith: Prima Official Game Guide]]''
*{{SW|url=video/episode-iii-questions-answered|text=Episode III: Questions Answered}}
*{{SW|url=video/becoming-sidious|text=Becoming Sidious}}
*{{InsiderCite|82|The Evil Within}}
*{{FFCite|61}}
*{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/sw20050728a|text=Heroes of ''Revenge of the Sith''|int=Heroes of Revenge of the Sith|archivedate=20091016033515}}
*''[[Vader: The Ultimate Guide]]''
*''[[Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide]]''
*{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=swminis/article/universepreview9|text=''Universe'' Preview 9|int=Universe Preview 9|archivedate=20090604050634}}
*{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=swminis/article/universepreview10|text=''Universe'' Preview 10|int=Universe Preview 10|archivedate=20081228094650}}
*[[Star Wars: Complete Locations (2005)|''Star Wars: Complete Locations'']]
*''[[The New Essential Chronology]]''
<!--2006-->
*{{Hyperspace|url=hyperspace/member/insideronline/88/indexp2.html|text=''Evil Never Dies: The Sith Dynasties''|int=Evil Never Dies: The Sith Dynasties|newurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604035610/http://www.starwars.com/hyperspace/member/insideronline/88/indexp2.html|newhost=Archive.org}}
*''[[The New Essential Guide to Droids]]''
*''[[Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary]]''
*{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/AEPreview4|text=''Alliance and Empire'' Preview 4|int=Alliance and Empire Preview 4|archivedate=20090901074242}}
*''[[Strangers Among Us: The Aliens Who Built the Galactic Empire]]''
*''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Visual Guide]]''
*{{InsiderCite|88|Heritage of the Sith}}
*{{GamerCite|5|The University of Sanbra Guide to Intelligent Life: The Chiss}} {{Mo}}
*{{Hnn|45|news/13228_1.html|Ando, Sy Myrth Secede|https://web.archive.org/web/20130728122404/http://www.holonetnews.com/45/news/13228_1.html}} {{Mo}}
*{{Hnn|46|news/1337_1.html|Palpatine Sets Army Vote Date|https://web.archive.org/web/20130728124227/http://www.holonetnews.com/46/news/1337_1.html}}
*{{Hnn|47|news/13314_1.html|Corellia Closes Borders|https://web.archive.org/web/20130728185456/http://www.holonetnews.com:80/47/news/13314_1.html}}
*{{Hnn|48|regional/13321_4.html|Suspicious Package Closes Sermerian First House|https://web.archive.org/web/20130728123253/http://www.holonetnews.com/48/regional/13321_4.html}} {{Mo}}
*{{Hnn|48|news/13321_1.html|Palpatine to Separatists: Let's Talk|https://web.archive.org/web/20130728125020/http://www.holonetnews.com/48/news/13321_1.html}}
*{{Hnn|49|news/13328_1.html|Palpatine forms Loyalist Committee|https://web.archive.org/web/20130728124856/http://www.holonetnews.com/49/news/13328_1.html}}
*{{Hnn|49|news/13328_4.html|Sluis Sector Secedes; Seswenna Restates Loyalty|https://web.archive.org/web/20050220193909/http://www.holonetnews.com:80/49/news/13328_4.html}}
*{{Hnn|50|news/1344_3.html|Isard Spearheads Republic Intelligence Reform|https://web.archive.org/web/20050221082930/http://www.holonetnews.com:80/50/news/1344_3.html}} {{Mo}}
*{{Hnn|50|news/1344_6.html|Legislative Youth Program Role-Plays Vote|https://web.archive.org/web/20130728113101/http://www.holonetnews.com/50/news/1344_6.html}} {{Mo}}
*{{Hnn|51|news/13411_5.html|Boon Calls Loyalists a Shadow Government|https://web.archive.org/web/20130728123729/http://www.holonetnews.com/54/news/1352_3.html}} {{Mo}}
*{{Hnn|51|news/13411_6.html|Tanjay IV Representative Dead in Crash|https://web.archive.org/web/20130728123312/http://www.holonetnews.com/51/news/13411_6.html}} {{Mo}}
*{{Hnn|52|news/13418_5.html|Palpatine Health Rumors Denied|https://web.archive.org/web/20040704035022/http://www.holonetnews.com:80/52/news/13418_5.html}} {{Mo}}
*{{Hnn|53|news/13425_4.html|RRM Fundraiser a Huge Success|https://web.archive.org/web/20130728113307/http://www.holonetnews.com/53/news/13425_4.html}}
*{{Hnn|53|sports/13425_1.html|Proposed Galaxy Gladiator Federation Falling Apart|https://web.archive.org/web/20041019213126/http://www.holonetnews.com:80/53/sports/13425_1.html}} {{Mo}}
*{{Hnn|53|life/13425_1.html|SPECIAL FEATURE: Sightings by Twang|https://web.archive.org/web/20130908225748/http://www.holonetnews.com:80/53/life/13425_1.html}} {{Mo}}
*{{Hnn|54|news/1352_2.html|Rodian Senator Uncovers Loyalist-Separatist Ties|https://web.archive.org/web/20130728111410/http://www.holonetnews.com/54/news/1352_2.html}} {{Mo}}
*{{Hnn|55|news/1359_4.html|Senator Farr Named to Loyalist Committee|https://web.archive.org/web/20130728125108/http://www.holonetnews.com/55/news/1359_4.html}} {{Mo}}
*{{Hnn|56|news/13516_1.html|BREAKING NEWS: Amidala Alive|https://web.archive.org/web/20130728110527/http://www.holonetnews.com/56/news/13516_1.html}}
*{{Hnn|56|news/13516_3.html|Loyalist Committee Split on Vote|https://web.archive.org/web/20130108034133/http://www.holonetnews.com:80/56/news/13516_3.html}} {{Mo}}
*{{Hnn|56|news/13516_4.html|Palpatine Confident in Negotiations|https://web.archive.org/web/20130831142024/http://www.holonetnews.com:80/56/news/13516_4.html}}
*''[[Star Wars: Empire at War: Prima Official Game Guide]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption Expansion: Prima Official Game Guide]]''
*{{InsiderCite|79|Death in the Catacombs}} {{Mo}}
*{{InsiderCite|66|Republic HoloNet News Core Edition 14:3:22}}
*{{InsiderCite|68|Republic HoloNet News Core Edition 14:7:02}}
*{{InsiderCite|70|Republic HoloNet News Core Edition 14:9:04}}
*{{InsiderCite|71|Republic HoloNet News Core Edition 14:10:03}} {{Mo}}
*{{InsiderCite|75|Republic HoloNet News Core Edition 15:3:02}} {{Mo}}
*{{InsiderCite|76|CIS Shadowfeed Dispatch 15:3:21 Edition}} {{Mo}}
*{{InsiderCite|79|Republic HoloNet News Special Inaugural Edition 16:5:241}}
*{{SideshowCite|set=Militaries of Star Wars|pack=Admiral Piett (Imperial Officer: Executor)|altlink=https://www.rebelscum.com/SSC16Piett.asp|archivedate=20180726002959}}
*{{InsiderCite|102|Classic Moment}}
*{{InsiderCite|103|A Long Time Ago....}}
*{{InsiderCite|106|A Long Time Ago....}}
*{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/sw20040205manaan|text=Manaan: Depths of History|int=Manaan: Depths of History|archivedate=20100430052119}}
*{{SonyCite|url=players/news_archive.vm?id=67382&month=082007|text=Serving the Empire|archivedate=20111124012415}}
*{{SonyCite|url=players/news_archive.vm?id=67761&month=052008|text=Calling on All Artists|archivedate=20111124011515}}
*{{SonyCite|url=players/news_archive.vm?id=67814&month=062008|text=Empire Day|archivedate=20111124011353}}
*''[[Star Wars: The Official Figurine Collection 55]]'' {{C|''Vast Territory: Galactic Regions''}}
*{{HasbroCite|set=Star Wars: 30th Anniversary Collection|pack=Emperor Palpatine and Commander Thire|altlink=https://www.rebelscum.com/tacOrder661.asp}}
*''[[The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide]]''
*''[[Star Wars Fandex Deluxe Edition]]''
*''[[The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia]]''
*{{SWGTCG|set=Champions of the Force (SWGTCG)|text=Champions of the Force|swglink=File:Great_hyperspace_war_bas_relief.png|cardname=Great Hyperspace War Bas-Relief}}
*{{SWGTCG|set=Squadrons Over Corellia|cardname=Dark Lightning}} {{Po}}
*{{SWGTCG|set=Squadrons Over Corellia|cardname=Emperor Palpatine}}
*{{SWGTCG|set=Galactic Hunters|cardname=Palpatine's Personal Shuttle}}
*{{SWGTCG|set=Agents of Deception|cardname=Order 66}} {{Po}}
*{{SWGTCG|set=The Shadow Syndicate|cardname=Sith Apprentice}}
*{{SWGTCG|set=The Nightsister's Revenge|cardname=Emperor Palpatine}}
*{{SWGTCG|set=Threat of the Conqueror|cardname=Dark Villains}} {{Po}}
*''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Heroes and Villains Flip Book]]'' <!--Flip Book 2009-->
*{{Hyperspace|url=hyperspace/source/praji/20090205.html|text=Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Praji|int=Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Praji}}
*''[[Fate of the Jedi: Dramatis Personae]]''
*''[[Rebellion Era Campaign Guide]]''
*''[[The Essential Atlas]]''
*{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/NewRepublicStatPack|text=New Republic Stat Pack|int=New Republic Stat Pack|nobackup=1}} {{Imo}}
*''[[The Unknown Regions]]''
*{{Hyperspace|url=fans/hyperspace/source/nagai11202009/index.html|text=The Forgotten War: The Nagai and the Tofs|int=The Forgotten War: The Nagai and the Tofs}} {{Mo}}
*{{Hyperspace|url=fans/hyperspace/source/ximweek02/index.html|text=Xim Week: The Despotica (Part I)|int=Xim Week: The Despotica}}
*{{GamerCite|7|Bartyn's Landing (article)|Bartyn's Landing}}
*{{Topps|set=2010 Topps Star Wars Galaxy Series 5|cardname=Palpatine Plays Possum}}
*''[[Star Wars Art: Visions]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Villains]]''
*{{InsiderCite|123|Secrets of the Force}}
*{{SWArchive|url=theclonewars/guide/episode317.html|text=''The Clone Wars'' Episode Guide: Ghosts of Mortis|archivedate=20110902135110}}
*''[[The Clone Wars: Secrets of the Force]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Head-to-Head Tag Teams]]''
*{{InsiderCite|128|Classic Moment}}
*''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Incredible Vehicles]]''
*{{DB|location|catoneimoidia|Cato Neimoidia|archivedate=20110817015919}}
*{{DB|character|darthsidious|Sidious, Darth|archivedate=20110524224318}}
*{{DB|character|janusgreejatus|Greejatus, Janus|archivedate=20100727084208}}
*{{DB|character|palpatine|Palpatine|archivedate=20110524172359}}
*{{DB|character|yullacib|Acib, Y'ull|archivedate=20100203110431}}
*{{InsiderCite|129|Ask Lobot}}
*{{InsiderCite|130|A Certain Point of View (Star Wars Insider)|A Certain Point of View: Family Tradition}}
*{{InsiderCite|131|We Need to Talk About Jar Jar}}
*''[[Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: The Expanded Visual Dictionary]]''
*''[[Battle for Naboo]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Darth Maul, Sith Apprentice]]''
*''[[Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Beware the Sith]]''
*''[[The Essential Guide to Warfare]]''
*''[[Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide: Updated and Expanded]]''
*''[[Star Wars Character Encyclopedia]]''
*''[[The Essential Reader's Companion]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Knight]]''
*''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Masters of the Force]]''
*{{InsiderCite|137|Red Five (Star Wars Insider)|Red Five}}
*''[[Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Beginner Game]]''
*''[[Star Wars: The Legendary Yoda]]''
*{{FFGTCG|set=Star Wars: The Card Game Core Set|cardname=Counsel of the Sith}} {{Po}}
*{{FFGTCG|set=Star Wars: The Card Game Core Set|cardname=Advisor to the Emperor}}
*{{FFGTCG|set=Star Wars: The Card Game Core Set|cardname=The Emperor's Web}}
*{{FFGTCG|set=Star Wars: The Card Game Core Set|cardname=Emperor Palpatine}}
*{{FFGTCG|set=Star Wars: The Card Game Core Set|cardname=Emperor's Royal Guard}} {{Imo}}
*{{FFGTCG|set=Star Wars: The Card Game Core Set|cardname=Force Lightning}}
*{{FFGTCG|set=Star Wars: The Card Game Core Set|cardname=The Endor Gambit}}
*{{FFGTCG|set=Star Wars: The Card Game Core Set|cardname=Mission Briefing}} {{Imo}}
*{{SW|url=news/planet-earth-abandons-death-star-project-in-face-of-superior-galactic-imperial-power|text=Planet Earth Abandons Death Star Project In Face Of Superior Galactic Imperial Power}}
*{{FFGTCG|set=A Dark Time|cardname=Serve the Emperor}}
*{{FFGTCG|set=A Dark Time|cardname=Prophet of the Dark Side}}
*[[Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Core Rulebook|''Star Wars: Edge of the Empire'' Core Rulebook]]
*''[[Star Wars: Force Collection]]'' {{C|Card: Stormtrooper (★)}} {{Imo}}
*''[[Star Wars: Force Collection]]'' {{C|Card: Darth Maul (★★)}}
*''[[Star Wars: Force Collection]]'' {{C|Card: Darth Vader (★★)}}
*''[[Star Wars: Force Collection]]'' {{C|Card: Darth Vader (★★★)}} {{Imo}}
*''[[Star Wars: Force Collection]]'' {{C|Card: Dooku (★★★)}}
*''[[Star Wars: Force Collection]]'' {{C|Card: Nute Gunray (★★★)}}
*''[[Star Wars: Force Collection]]'' {{C|Card: Agen Kolar (★★★★)}}
*''[[Star Wars: Force Collection]]'' {{C|Card: Darth Vader (★★★★)}}
*''[[Star Wars: Force Collection]]'' {{C|Card: Emperor's Royal Guard}}
*''[[Star Wars: Force Collection]]'' {{C|Card: Grand Moff Tarkin (★★★★)}}
*''[[Star Wars: Force Collection]]'' {{C|Card: Kit Fisto}}
*''[[Star Wars: Force Collection]]'' {{C|Card: Darth Maul (★★★★★)}}
*''[[Star Wars: Force Collection]]'' {{C|Card: Darth Vader (★★★★★)}} {{Imo}}
*''[[Star Wars: Force Collection]]'' {{C|Card: Master Yoda (★★★★★)}} {{Imo}}
*{{SW|url=news/so-uncivilized-great-gunslingers-in-star-wars-part-1|text=So Uncivilized: Great Gunslingers in ''Star Wars'', Part 1|int=So Uncivilized: Great Gunslingers in Star Wars}}
*{{SW|url=news/viva-space-vegas-the-history-of-the-marvelous-wheel-part-1|text=Viva Space Vegas! The History of the Marvelous Wheel, Part 1|int=Viva Space Vegas! The History of the Marvelous Wheel}}
*''[[The Bounty Hunter Code: From the Files of Boba Fett]]''
*''[[Enter the Unknown]]''
*{{FFGTCG|set=Balance of the Force|cardname=The Emperor's Hand}} {{Po}}
*{{FFGTCG|set=Balance of the Force|cardname=Admiral Piett}} {{Imo}}
*{{FFGTCG|set=Balance of the Force|cardname=Emperor Palpatine}}
*{{FFGTCG|set=Balance of the Force|cardname=We Shall Double Our Efforts}} {{Imo}}
*{{FFGTCG|set=Balance of the Force|cardname=Mission at Kothlis}} {{Imo}}
*{{SW|url=news/the-imperial-warlords-despoilers-of-an-empire-part-2|text=The Imperial Warlords: Despoilers of an Empire, Part 2|int=The Imperial Warlords: Despoilers of an Empire}}
*''[[Star Wars: Sith Wars]]''
*{{SW|url=news/slugthrowers-part-2|text=Slugthrowers: An Overview of Popular Music and Musicians in a Galaxy Far, Far Away, Part 2|int=Slugthrowers: An Overview of Popular Music and Musicians in a Galaxy Far, Far Away}}
*''[[Suns of Fortune]]''
*{{FFGTCG|set=Heroes and Legends|cardname=Imperial Inquisitor}} {{Imo}}
*{{FFGTCG|set=Lure of the Dark Side|cardname=Agent of the Emperor}} {{Imo}}
*{{FFGTCG|set=Lure of the Dark Side|cardname=Mara Jade}} {{Imo}}
*{{FFGTCG|set=Lure of the Dark Side|cardname=Imperial Shadow Guard}} {{Imo}}
*{{SWE|technology|arc170starfighter|ARC-170 starfighter}}
*{{SWE|characters|cadbane|Cad Bane}}
*{{SWE|characters|argyus|Captain Argyus}}
*{{SWE|characters|darth-bane|Darth Bane}}
*{{SWE|characters|darthsidious|Darth Sidious}}
*{{SWE|groups|emperors-royal-guard|Emperor's Royal Guard}}
*{{SWE|groups|empire|Galactic Empire}}
*{{SWE|groups|galacticrepublic|Galactic Republic}}
*{{SWE|groups|galacticsenate|Galactic Senate}}
*{{SWE|characters|jarjarbinks|Jar Jar Binks}}
*{{SWE|characters|masamedda|Mas Amedda}}
*{{SWE|characters|Padméamidala|Padmé Amidala}}
*{{SWE|characters|palpatine|Palpatine}}
*{{SWE|groups|rebelalliance|Rebel Alliance}}
*{{SWE|technology|republicdiplomaticcruiser|Republic Cruiser}}
*{{SWE|groups|senateguard|Senate Guard}}
*{{SWE|characters|siobibble|Sio Bibble}}
*{{SWE|groups|sith|Sith}}
*{{SWE|technology|sithinfiltrator|Sith Infiltrator}}
*{{SWE|groups|tradefederation|Trade Federation}}
*{{FFGweb|subdomain=images-cdn|url=filer_public/6d/75/6d753239-1009-4650-b813-9daaa81a721a/swa01_arkhan_character_folio_wq.pdf|text=Arkhan Character Folio|archivedate=20200413140928}}
*[[Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Core Rulebook|''Star Wars: Age of Rebellion'' Core Rulebook]]
*''[[Far Horizons]]''
*''[[LEGO Star Wars: The Dark Side]]'' {{Ncs}}
*''[[Star Wars: Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide]]''
*{{FFGTCG|set=Between the Shadows|cardname=I Am a Jedi}} {{Po}}
*''[[Fly Casual]]''
*''[[Strongholds of Resistance]]''
*{{FFGXW2|Galactic Empire Conversion Kit|link=https://xwing-miniatures-second-edition.fandom.com/wiki/Captain_Kagi|cardname=Captain Kagi}}
*{{HasbroCite|set=Star Wars: The Black Series|pack=Darth Maul (Sith Apprentice)|altlink=https://www.gamestop.com/toys-collectibles/collectibles/figures/products/star-wars-darth-maul-the-black-series-lucasfilm-50th-anniversary-action-figure/11113847.html|archiveurl=https://archive.vn/2evZx}}
}}

{{Chancellor}}
{{Supreme Commander}}
{{Start_box}}
{{Succession_box
|title=[[Dark Lord of the Sith/Legends|Dark Lord of the Sith]] with [[Darth Plagueis/Legends|Darth Plagueis]],<ref name="Darth Plagueis" /> [[Darth Maul/Legends|Darth Maul]], [[Dooku/Legends|Darth Tyranus]], and [[Anakin Skywalker/Legends|Darth Vader]]<ref name="Jedi vs. Sith" />
|years=[[67 BBY]]<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />&ndash;[[4 ABY/Legends|4 ABY]]<ref name="Jedi vs. Sith" />
|before=[[Darth Tenebrous/Legends|Darth Tenebrous]] and Darth Plagueis<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />
|before-years=&ndash;67 BBY<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />
||after=[[Lumiya]] and [[Flint]]<ref name="END" />
|after-years=4 ABY<ref name="Jedi vs. Sith" />&mdash;[[5 ABY/Legends|5 ABY]]<ref name="END" />
}}
{{Succession_box
|title=Dark Lord of the Sith<ref name="Dark Empire 2" />
|years=&mdash;[[11 ABY/Legends|11 ABY]]<ref name="Empire's End 2" />
|before=Lumiya and Flint<ref name="END" />
|before-years=4 ABY<ref name="Jedi vs. Sith" />&mdash;5 ABY<ref name="END" />
|after=Lumiya with [[Carnor Jax]]<ref name="JATM" />
|after-years=11 ABY<ref name="END" />
}}
{{Succession_box
|title=[[Senator/Legends|Senator]] of the [[Chommell sector/Legends|Chommell sector]]<ref name="Databank Greejatus" />
|years=[[52 BBY/Legends|52 BBY]]&ndash;32 BBY<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />
|before=[[Vidar Kim]]<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />
|before-years=&ndash;32 BBY<ref name="Darth Plagueis" />
|after=[[Janus Greejatus/Legends|Janus Greejatus]]<ref name="Databank Greejatus" />
|after-years=32 BBY&ndash;[[30 BBY/Legends|30 BBY]]<ref name="Databank Greejatus" />
}}
{{Succession_box
|title=[[Supreme Commander (Republic)|Supreme Commander]] of the [[Republic Military/Legends|Republic Military]]<ref name="ROTS novel" />
|years=19 BBY<ref name="ROTS novel" />
|before=[[Valenthyne Farfalla]]<ref name="Rule of Two">''[[Darth Bane: Rule of Two]]''</ref>
|before-years=[[1000 BBY]]<ref name="Rule of Two" />
|after=None<ref name="Episode III" />
|after-years=
}}
{{Succession_box
|title=[[Galactic Emperor/Legends|Galactic Emperor]]<ref name="Episode III" />
|years=19 BBY<ref name="Episode III" />&ndash;4 ABY<ref name="Episode VI" />
|before=None<ref name="Episode III" />
|before-years=
|after=[[Sate Pestage/Legends|Sate Pestage]] (interim)<ref name="X-Wing Omnibus">''[[Star Wars Omnibus: X-Wing Rogue Squadron Volume 3]]''</ref>
|after-years=4 ABY&ndash;5 ABY<ref name="X-Wing Omnibus" />
}}
{{Succession_box
|title=Galactic Emperor<ref name="Dark Empire 2" />
|years=&mdash;[[11 ABY/Legends|11 ABY]]<ref name="Empire's End 2" />
|before=[[Mitth'raw'nuruodo/Legends|Mitth'raw'nuruodo]] as head of the Empire<ref name="TEA" />
|before-years=[[8 ABY/Legends|8 ABY]]&ndash;[[9 ABY/Legends|9 ABY]]<ref name="TEA" />
|after=Carnor Jax as head of the [[Imperial Ruling Council/Legends|Imperial Ruling Council]]<ref name="Crimson Empire 1">[[Crimson Empire 1|''Crimson Empire'' 1]]</ref>
|after-years=11 ABY<ref name="Crimson Empire 1" />
}}
{{End_box}}

==Notes and references==
{{Scroll_box|width=100%|content={{Reflist}}}}

==External links==
*{{WP|Palpatine}}
*{{Imdb|url=character/ch0000024|text=Chancellor Palpatine|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929004027/https://www.imdb.com/character/ch0000024}}

[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Banite Sith]]
[[Category:Dark Side Elite]]
[[Category:Darths]]
[[Category:Force ghosts]]
[[Category:Galactic Emperors of the Galactic Empire]]
[[Category:Human clones]]
[[Category:Imperial Supreme Commanders]]
[[Category:Males]]
[[Category:Naboo]]
[[Category:Palpatine family]]
[[Category:Revived individuals]]
[[Category:Separatist leadership]]
[[Category:Sith alchemists]]
[[Category:Sith Masters]]
[[Category:Sith sorcerers]]
[[Category:Supreme Chancellors]]
[[Category:Vergences]]