RELATED: Star Wars: Things Only Die-Hard Fans Know About The CIS
It’s a period of turmoil that witnesses the Empire’s most powerful players fight each other for supremacy after the demise of Emperor Palpatine. Former generals, admirals, and governors become warlords who divide the Empire’s former territory into their own personal fiefdoms. This list will provide a brief overview of the conflict for fans interested in the more obscure aspects of the Star Wars lore.
4 The Emperor’s Death Leads To A Power Vacuum
In Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi, fans witness the deaths of Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader as well as the destruction of the second Death Star. However, the Empire’s woes didn’t end there. The various novels and supplementary material of the Expanded Universe describe a power vacuum that several of the Empire’s leading figures would try to fill.
The first to seize power after the Battle of Endor was Sate Pestage, the Emperor’s Grand Vizier. Nevertheless, Pestage’s ineffectual leadership induced several prominent admirals and generals to secede, who formed their own “little Empires” from the old. Prominent individuals included Admirals Blitzer Harrsk, Delak Krennel, Treuten Teradoc, Zsinj, Teren Rogriss, Feyet Kiez, as well as Generals Sander Delvardus and Alix Balan. Former Grand Moffs such as Ardus Kaine also formed their own political establishments.
3 The Empire’s Heirs
While the many individuals mentioned above splintered off to form their own mini-states, other persons strove to maintain the continuity of the original, true Empire. After Sate Pestage was removed from power, the Director of Imperial Intelligence, Ysanne Isard, seized control of the rump Empire.
RELATED: Actors You Forgot Were In Star Wars
However, Isard was eventually defeated after the New Republic liberated Coruscant and another power vacuum commenced. The Empire’s fortune took a turn for the better when Grand Admiral Thrawn made a surprise return. His brilliance as a tactician enabled the Empire to reclaim much of its former territory.
Unfortunately for the Imperials, Thrawn was assassinated by his bodyguard at the pinnacle of his power. After Thrawn’s death, the reborn Palpatine, who had cheated death at Endor, returned to the galaxy. The squabbling warlords were brought to heel temporarily as Palpatine very nearly reconquered the galaxy. Luckily, Palpatine was betrayed from within his ranks and was killed permanently by the New Republic’s heroes.
2 The Warlords
While the characters mentioned in the previous entry tried to restore the Empire’s former glory, several Warlords looked after their personal interests. Many of these successor states had unique names, which often reflected their geographical locations. The most prominent of these states included:
Zsinj’s Empire (Warlord Zsinj) - Killed by Han Solo Zero Command (Blitzer Harrsk) - Killed by Admiral Daala Greater Maldrood (Treuten Teradoc) - Killed by Admiral Daala Eriadu Authority (Sander Delvardus) - Killed by Admiral Daala Pentastar Alignment (Ardus Kaine) - Killed by New Republic Forces Ciutric Hegemony (Delak Krennel) - Killed by New Republic Forces Trioculus’ Empire (Trioculus) - Killed by a Droid
More minor Warlords also existed at one point or another. Over time, these individuals either killed each other or were eliminated by the emerging New Republic. For example, Grand Admirals Josef Grunger and Danetta Pitta killed each other in battle, ending their respective fiefdoms. The Warlords who remained eventually banded together to help form the Imperial Remnant.
1 The Imperial Remnant & The End Of The Civil War
After the reborn Palpatine’s demise, the Empire again experienced a period of upheaval. Admiral Daala, an Imperial naval commander, grew weary of the Empire’s constant infighting and took it upon herself to settle all accounts. Warlords who refused to join her cause were murdered, including Harrsk, Delvardus, and Teradoc.
RELATED: Star Wars: Best Comics Every Fan Should Read
Although Daala managed to unify the Empire, she led a disastrous campaign against the New Republic. Years of civil war and military defeat rendered the once mighty Empire a minor player in galactic affairs. Daala’s loyal lieutenant, Admiral Gilad Pellaeon, maintained the last vestiges of the Imperial Remnant. He signed a peace treaty with the New Republic, finally ending the decades-long conflict between the Empire and the former Rebel Alliance once and for all.
Star Wars: Empire At War – Thrawn’s Revenge Mod
The author of this article would be remiss if he didn’t mention the excellent Thrawn’s Revenge mod for Star Wars: Empire at War. To say that this mod is impressive would be an understatement. The focus of the mod is the entire Imperial Civil War. Best of all, fans can choose which stage of the conflict they’d like to play (including the whole war).
Players should be prepared for a challenge, however. With all of the mod’s factions vying for dominance, achieving victory is no walk in the park. With currently 8 playable factions, fans won’t run out of things to try anytime soon. The mod also hosts a plethora of new gameplay mechanics and tweaks that makes Empire at Warfeel almost like an entirely different game altogether.
MORE: Fantasy Tropes That Will Never Get Old
