The Galactic Empire, also known simply as the Empire, is a fictional autocracy featured in the Star Wars franchise. Introduced in the 1977 film Star Wars, it is the main antagonistic faction of the original trilogy, which also includes The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983).
The Galactic Empire is portrayed as an anthropocentric, imperialist, and bureaucratic dictatorship which seeks absolute rule and social control over every planet and civilization within the Star Wars galaxy ("the Galaxy"). The Empire pursues these goals by various means, including intimidation, coercion, expropriation, power projection, state terrorism, ethnic cleansing, and genocide.
The Galactic Empire's rise was not the result of a revolution or coup, but rather the culmination of gradual erosion of galactic institutions through the end of the Clone Wars, when Palpatine, the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic, launched a self-coup. At its peak, the Galactic Empire sprawls over much of the Galaxy, which consists of millions of planetary systems and billions more fringe colonies, shipyards, fortress worlds, and outer territories.
In an attempt to destroy the Jedi and gain political power, Palpatine—secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious—falsely accuses the Jedi of inciting the secessionist Clone Wars. After manipulating the Galactic Senate into using clone troopers created during the conflict to purge the Jedi, Palpatine reorganizes the Republic into a state meant to "ensure the security and continuing stability, and a safe and secure society": the Galactic Empire, with himself as Emperor. The Senate overwhelmingly supports this decision and lauds his apparent resolve, bravery, and selflessness.
With Emperor Palpatine keeping mostly to the shadows, his Sith apprentice Darth Vader maintains a more public presence and leads the Imperial forces as a personification of the Galactic Empire's power. The completed construction of the Death Star, a planet-destroying battle station, ultimately empowers Emperor Palpatine to dissolve the Imperial Senate and transfer power to Praetor-officers called Imperial Moffs, such as Grand Moff Tarkin. But by the time of Episode IV – A New Hope, revolutionary insurgents organized the Rebel Alliance as a united front to overthrow what had become a totalitarian regime.
The Galactic Empire largely collapses following the events of Return of the Jedi, with its remnants forming a rump state as the First Order in the sequel trilogy, set 30 years later.
Appearances in chronological order Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008–2020) (Briefly) Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021–2024) Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord (2026–present) Tales of the Empire (2024) Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) Andor (2022–2025) Star Wars Rebels (2014–2018) Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) (First appearance) Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) The Mandalorian (2019–2023) (Remnants) Ahsoka (2023present) (Remnants) The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) (Remnants) Star Wars Resistance (2018–2020) (Reunited into the First Order) Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) (As the First Order) Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017) (As the First Order) Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019) (Reorganized into the Final Order) Star Wars: Starfighter (2027) (As remnants of the Final Order)
Historical influences
Nazi Germany
Star Wars creator George Lucas sought to make the First Galactic Empire evoke aesthetic and thematic parallels to Nazi Germany and European fascism.
Similar to Nazi Germany, the Galactic Empire is a dictatorship based on rigid control of society, which dissolved a previous imperfect democratic republic, and is led by an all-powerful supreme ruler.Henderson (1997), p. 146 The Empire, like the Nazis, desires the creation of a supremacist totalitarian orderHenderson (1997), p. 153 and engages in state terrorism and crimes against humanity to achieve such ends.
The uniforms of Imperial officers take partial inspiration from Nazi uniforms. The title of the Empire's main soldiers, the stormtroopers, is somewhat similar to the name given to the (SA, "storm department") paramilitary bodyguards. Further, the flag of the Galactic Empire closely resembles the Nazi German flag, with a black symbol placed within a white circle, on a red background.
The visual appearance of Darth Vader in his all-black uniform combined with his fanatical obedience to Palpatine alludes to the Schutzstaffel (SS), and particularly Heinrich Himmler's loyalty to Adolf Hitler. According to a Lucasfilm-authorized source, Darth Vader's relationship with Palpatine is akin to SS leader Heinrich Himmler's relationship with Hitler.
United States
Lucas has also indicated that the Galactic Empire's struggle against a smaller guerrilla force was inspired by American imperialism in the Vietnam War and his surprise at the relative lack of anti-war voices in the United States.
Roman Empire
Palpatine has been compared to various political strongmen, but especially Augustus Caesar. Many key events in the Star Wars universe mirror the consolidation of power and imperial expansion of the Roman Empire under Augustus:
Palpatine Augustus Caesar Manipulated the Galactic Senate Manipulated the Roman Senate Cited corruption in the Galactic Senate hampering the head of state to legitimize authoritarian rule Cited corruption in the Roman Senate hampering the head of state to legitimize authoritarian rule Pressured the Galactic Senate to grant emergency powers as Supreme Chancellor to address a crisis Pressured the Roman Senate to grant emergency powers as Consul of the Republic to address a crisis Falsely promised to relinquish emergency powers once the crisis ended Falsely promised to relinquish emergency powers once the crisis ended Oversaw the transition from the Galactic Republic to the Galactic Empire, backed by strong control of military force Oversaw the transition from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire, backed by strong control of military force
Soviet Union
The various military personnel and TIE Fighters that are flying in formation as Palpatine arrives on the second Death Star in Return of the Jedi. According to Lucas, the ceremony for the Emperor's arrival was inspired by October Revolution Day military parades in the Soviet Union.George Lucas, commentary, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Special Edition (DVD, 20th Century Fox, 2004), disc 1.
British Empire
Many Imperial officers speak with the Received Pronunciation accent (known in-universe as Coruscanti), which is associated with social prestige in British English. This is partly because Irvin Kershner "deliberately cast British actors as the high-rank imperials for The Empire Strikes Back to mirror the composition of the American [R]evolution [against the British Empire], with the rebels mostly Americans".
Others The uniforms of Imperial military officers bear resemblance to those of 19th-century Polish ulans (mounted lancers)—who wore tunics, riding breeches, and boots like the Empire's officers wear.
The Imperial officers' cap resembles the field caps historically worn by troops of the German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Depiction
Origins Note: All dates in this article are in the BBY/ABY format. This is a fictional in-universe dating system centred on the Battle of Yavin in Episode IV: A New Hope in which the first Death Star is destroyed. BBY is Before the Battle of Yavin; ABY is After the Battle of Yavin.
The Twilight of the Republic The Galactic Empire is born out of the collapsing Galactic Republic; the rise of the Empire wasn't sudden but instead unfolded gradually, step by step with one power grab after the next. However, its seeds are planted and nurtured by the Sith over a period of centuries. The Clone Wars, the epic war between the Republic and the Separatist Confederacy of Independent Systems (CIS) depicted in Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith represents the fruit of those labors. The traditional checks and balances failed completely because the Sith systematically dismantled the legal guardrails of the government. Palpatine's ascension came with the final layer of poison instilled into a governmental system on the brink of collapse. The hubristic Jedi, corrupt senate and civil war led many to see Palpatine as a savior; he is easily able to take near-complete control of the Republic.
In Episode I: The Phantom Menace, amid a trade dispute and invasion of his homeworld of Naboo, Senator Palpatine convinces Queen Padmé Amidala to call for a vote of no confidence in Supreme Chancellor of the Republic Finis Valorum. Palpatine is elected Supreme Chancellor in Valorum's place.
The Clone Wars
As the Separatists Crisis intensifies into a galactic conventional war with the Battle of Geonosis, in Episode II, the Galactic Senate, the legislature of the Republic, grants Palpatine emergency powers to deal with the crisis. Palpatine promises safety at the cost of individual freedoms, all while tightening his own control over every facet of society; he promises to relinquish his powers once peace and order are restored. His first emergency order creates a massive army of clone troopers. His second emergency order conscripts the Jedi as commissioned officers of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) armed forces; by seizing influence over the Jedi Council, Palpatine indirectly takes command of the GAR. His third emergency order nationalizes the military-industrial and financial sectors to finance the war effort. He intentionally prolongs and exploits the Clone Wars to amass unprecedented political power, using his apprentice Darth Tyranus, Head of State of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, as a pawn to keep everyone distracted and focused on ending the war.
By the time of Episode III, he is effectively a dictator who overstayed his term limits; he exploits the people's fears, systematically rewrites constitutional laws and crushes the institutions that threaten his goals. He orchestrates his own kidnapping by the Separatists by leaking classified information, thereby bringing the war to the capital, Coruscant, to further spread terror. The Jedi are overstretched across the galaxy trying to end the war; they distrust Palpatine's motives, fearing he has come under the influence of a Dark Lord of the Sith named Darth Sidious. Their concerns are shared by more than 2,000 loyalist, pro-democracy senators who suspect Palpatine may not return his emergency powers once the war ends. These senators set into motion plans that will eventually lead to the creation of the Rebellion. The film reveals that Palpatine and Sidious are one and the same, and Palpatine engineered the conflicts as a false flag.
The Purge
Palpatine reveals himself as a Sith Lord to Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, promising to save Padmé, Skywalker's secret wife, from dying in childbirth as Anakin has foreseen. Skywalker reports Palpatine's true identity to the Jedi Council.
However, when Jedi Master Mace Windu confronts Palpatine, Anakin comes to Palpatine's aid and helps him kill Windu. Desperate to save Padmé, Anakin pledges himself to the dark side of the Force and becomes Palpatine's third apprentice, Darth Vader. Palpatine declares the Jedi to be traitors, providing "irrefutable evidence" that they were the instigating masterminds behind the Clone Wars, and all but exterminates the Jedi Order in a galaxy-wide slaughter, while sending Vader to kill everyone in the Jedi Temple and assassinate the Separatist leaders. Vader then immediately ends the Clone Wars by transmitting deactivation codes to all Separatist droids in the galaxy.