Subjugation of Mon Calamari

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For other uses, see Battle of Mon Calamari.

"Yes, it was I, Seggor Tels, who lowered our planetary shields that fateful day and allowed the Imperial fleet access to our world. But the Mon Cals forced my hand— they needed to be taught a lesson! Do you see what the Mon Cals' intangible wishes led to? Oh how I laughed to see the mighty Mon Cals fall!"
―Seggor Tels[5]

The Subjugation of Mon Calamari was one of the first battles fought by the new Galactic Empire. It resulted in the enslavement of the Mon Calamari and Quarren for nearly two decades, until both races united to throw the Empire offworld.

Background

"When the Imperial agent approached me, an advance scout that had slipped through our unsuspecting defenses, I knew what I had to do."
―Seggor Tels[5]

Following the dissolution of the Galactic Republic, the newly formed Galactic Empire began to spread its power across the galaxy. As the Imperial war machine began to grow, new resources were needed. Slavery was a key component to this buildup. Like the Wookiees of Kashyyyk, the native Mon Calamari and Quarren of Mon Calamari were viewed as ideal slaves. The world's massive shipyards and location near the Tion Cluster made it the perfect site for an Imperial base.

The Mon Calamari attempted to negotiate a peaceful settlement with the Empire, but it was rejected. The world was to bear the full force of an Imperial invasion, led by Moff Wilhuff Tarkin.

The battle

"I chuckled aloud when the insignificant Mon Cals resisted the massive Imperial fleet with their ideals, resisted absolute power with only fragile dreams."
―Seggor Tels[5]

Protected by a planetary energy shield, the Mon Calamari and Quarren believed that they could resist any Imperial attacks. However, several disgruntled Quarren sabotaged the planetary shields, opening the world to invasion. They were led by Seggor Tels, a Quarren leader motivated by hatred of the Mon Calamari. The world fell quickly, with the Mon Calamari Shipyards falling into Imperial possession.

Aftermath

"But my laughter died when the Empire forced its iron will upon us all. We were enslaved, Mon Cal and Quarren alike. Soon both races were on equal footing at long last, slaves beneath the armored boot of the Empire."
―Seggor Tels[5]

The Empire would go on to control Mon Calamari for nearly two decades, though the Mon Calamari and Quarren slowly planted the seeds of resistance. Experiments with building Imperial warships using Mon Calamari building techniques were dismal failures, while the spirit of Mon Calamari's peoples proved more powerful than the Empire expected.

Before joining the Rebel Alliance, Admiral Ackbar was a slave of Tarkin for many years during the Imperial occupation of Mon Calamari.

Behind the scenes

When The Star Wars Sourcebook was first published, this battle was presented as the first contact between the people of Mon Calamari and the rest of the galaxy. With the presence of Mon Calamari and Quarren in the prequel trilogy and various Expanded Universe stories set before the rise of the Empire, however, this detail has been retconned away.

Appearances

Sources

Notes and references

  1. ↑ The Essential Guide to Warfare places the liberation of Mon Calamari in 1 BBY while Geonosis and the Outer Rim Worlds mentions that the occupation lasted almost 20 years.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 Strongholds of Resistance
  3. ↑ Heir to the Empire Sourcebook, p. 14
  4. ↑ The Essential Atlas, p. 159
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "The Shame of Seggor Tels" – The Star Wars Sourcebook
In other languages
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