Imperial family
The Imperial family was the first dynasty of the Galactic Empire under
Emperor Palpatine.
History
Darth Sidious: the last Palpatine
As the sole remaining member of his House, Palpatine inherited his family's fortune and private properties.[8]
Eventually, another three-eyed child, Triclops, was born. Triclops was regarded as the true son of Palpatine, both by himself and the few high-ranking officials who were aware of his existence.[9]
The Imperial family
- "Quite surprising. I've certainly never heard any gossip that Emperor Palpatine had a son by a three-eyed alien woman."
- ―C-3PO
In 19 BBY, absolute power over the galaxy was placed in Palpatine's hands; the kind that attracted ambitious individuals who sought to share in that power and influence. The two brothers Silas and Orman Tagge contemplated the political and financial advantages of uniting their family with the Emperor's clan, specifically by positioning their younger sister, Domina Tagge, into the Imperial family via marriage.[10] At the zenith of Palpatine's reign in 1 ABY, it was believed that he and the deceased Volpau were distant cousins by blood; a plaque accompanying Volpau's remains to Coruscant for ritual incineration aboard the freighter Mingula identified him as Palpatine's third cousin.[5]
In the aftermath of Emperor Palpatine's demise at the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY, several claimants who made their bid for the vacant Imperial throne did so while claiming to be blood-related to the deceased monarch. Roganda Ismaren tried to rule the Empire through her offspring, Irek Ismaren, whom she declared to be the late Emperor's secret son and true heir.[11] For decades, there also had existed rumors that Grand Vizier Sate Pestage was a bastard son sired by Palpatine.[4] However, not only was Pestage older than Palpatine,[1] he was also known to have a large extended family of his own.[12]
Although rumors of Triclops's existence, as well as his connection to Emperor Palpatine, circulated amongst the Empire's leading government officials, the Moffs ultimately deemed him insane and unfit to succeed to the throne. Instead, they gave their support to Trioculus, whom they falsely identified as Palpatine's illegitimate heir.[13] Triclops, rejected by the Empire, eventually spawned his own son with a "Jedi Princess" named Kendalina.[6] As the son of the Emperor's alleged son, Ken was essentially Palpatine's alleged grandson.[7]
Another claimant to the throne was Ederlathh Pallopides, a remote great-niece of Emperor Palpatine. In an attempt to end the Galactic Civil War, Admiral Betl Oxtroe of the Imperial Navy sought to work with the New Republic in reorganizing the Galactic Empire into a constitutional monarchy. Under this reformed regime, the Imperial throne would effectively be reduced to a powerless, symbolic position. Pallopides, too young to rule at eleven years old, was meant to serve as a mere figurehead while the New Republic Provisional Council ruled as the de facto head of government.[4]
Ultimately, none of Palpatine's alleged descendants or relatives succeeded him to the throne in an official capacity.
Family tree
| Palpatine's great-grandfather[1] | (3 Generations)[5][14] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1 Generation)[1] | Volpau[5][14] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cosinga Palpatine[1] | Palpatine's mother[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Palpatine[1] | (2 Generations)[4][15] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Triclops[6] | Kendalina[6] | Ederlathh Pallopides[4][15] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ken[7] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Behind the scenes
Before the release of Darth Plagueis, it was unknown whether Palpatine was a family name or a name of state adopted once he entered into politics. The book about Palpatine's apprenticeship under Plagueis, however, introduces House Palpatine, with its partiarch Cosinga Palpatine, thus establishing Palpatine as a surname, although Emperor Palpatine remains mononymous.
See the "Name" section of the Palpatine article for more details.
Appearances
- Boba Fett ½
- Star Wars (1977) 36 (First identified as Imperial family)
- Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back (Appears in hologram)
- Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
- Jedi Prince series
- Children of the Jedi (Mentioned only)
Sources
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 Darth Plagueis
- ↑ The Rebel Alliance Sourcebook
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Aliens in the Empire
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Dark Empire Sourcebook
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Boba Fett ½
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Mission from Mount Yoda
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 The Lost City of the Jedi
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Star Wars: Darth Plagueis (pp. 169 and 262) establishes that Palpatine is the sole surviving heir of House Palpatine, and that he inherited all the family assets. The Glove of Darth Vader establishes that claims of direct descent from Palpatine constitute claims of being Palpatine's inheritor at least to the throne. In this way, a direct line can be traced between the supposed relatives of Emperor Palpatine and the known relatives that he exterminated in his youth, as claims of descent from the heir of House Palpatine are claims of descent also from his forebears—i.e. House Palpatine.
- ↑ Prophets of the Dark Side
- ↑ Star Wars (1977) 36
- ↑ Children of the Jedi
- ↑ X-Wing: Isard's Revenge
- ↑ The Glove of Darth Vader
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Volpau is Palpatine's third cousin, according to the comic Boba Fett ½. However, Volpau's exact connection to the Imperial family, whether through blood relation or marriage, is unclear.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 According to the Dark Empire Sourcebook, Ederlathh Pallopides is the great-niece of Emperor Palpatine. In the novel Darth Plagueis, however, Palpatine kills all of his known siblings. It remains unclear as to whether Pallopides is the granddaughter of both Cosinga Palpatine and his wife, or simply descended from one side of the Emperor's family (i.e. paternal or maternal branch).