Galactic Empire (Star Wars)

Galactic Empire

Emblem of the Galactic Empire
Universe	Star Wars
Type	Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy (de jure) Absolute monarchy under military dictatorship (de facto)
Founded	19 BBY from the Galactic Republic and Confederacy of Independent Systems
Defunct	4 ABY, after the Battle of Endor 5 ABY, dissolved after the Battle of Jakku
Fate	Reorganized into the First Order (34 ABY)
Location	Coruscant (Imperial Center), Death Star, Thyferra, Byss, Ord Cantrell, Bastion
Leader	Emperor Sheev Palpatine / Darth Sidious
Currency	Galactic Standard Credit (Imperial Dataries)
Founding documents	Declaration of a New Order Imperial Charter
Official language	Imperial Basic

4 ABY, after the Battle of Endor

The Galactic Empire, often referred to simply as the Empire, is a fictional dictatorship featured in the Star Wars franchise. It was first introduced in the 1977 film Star Wars and also appears in its two sequels: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983) and is the main antagonist faction of the original trilogy. By the time of the sequel trilogy, which starts three decades following the events of the original trilogy, the government has collapsed and is remembered as the Old Empire. The Empire's origins are depicted in the prequel Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005), where it replaces the Galactic Republic at the end of the Clone Wars orchestrated by Palpatine, who was then the Republic's Supreme Chancellor. Palpatine is also secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious who intends to purge the Jedi and restore the Sith to power in the galaxy. Palpatine's Sith identity is only known by a small few throughout his life. Palpatine claims that the Jedi attempted to assassinate him and overthrow the Galactic Senate and declares the Jedi to have committed treason. Palpatine declares that the civil war with the separatists in combination with the Jedi coup d'état require the reorganization of the Republic into a state that can provide stability, and a safe and secure society, a Galactic Empire with himself as Emperor. The Senate that he has manipulated overwhelmingly applauds Palpatine's decision.

Emperor Palpatine proceeds to purge the Jedi, who had been the upholders of peace and justice in the Republic, and replaces them by redeeming the Sith. Though Palpatine's Sith identity remains a secret to most, his apprentice Darth Vader is the Sith Lord who is publicly known to the galaxy as the ally of Palpatine who is serving the Empire to purge the galaxy of the Jedi. By the time of Episode IV: A New Hope, the Empire has transformed into a fully totalitarian regime, opposed by the Rebel Alliance.