Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire

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Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire

Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire is a reference book authored by Dr.Chris Kempshall and published byDorling Kindersley onJuly 4,2024 in theUnited Kingdom and onJuly 9 in theUnited States. The book is written from thein-universe perspective ofhistorianBeaumont Kin.^[4]

Publisher's summary[]

A history of the dark times.

"So this is how liberty dies—with thunderous applause." —Senator Padmé Amidala

When Palpatine declared the birth of his new Empire, he expected it would stand for millennia. Instead, it lasted only 24 years. This is the story of how a tyrannical regime rose from the ashes of democracy, ruled the galaxy with an iron fist, and then collapsed into dust.

It is a story of war and heroes, of the power of propaganda and the dangers of complacency. But most of all, it is a story of normal people trying to live their lives in the face of a brutal dictatorship.

From the ruthlessness of Darth Vader's campaigns to the horrors of the Tarkin Initiative, this book offers fresh new insights into the dark entity at the core ofStar Wars.

Contents[]

Overview[]

The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire is written as aneponymous in-universe book byBeaumont Kin, a former lecturer at theLerct Historical Institute and acaptain in theResistance'sIntelligence Division. It was written by Kin in the aftermath of theBattle of Exegol while he was leading the excavation of theSith temple onExegol. The book uses the'ABY-BBY' dating system on the rationale that theBattle of Yavin marked a pivotal turning point in the history of theGalactic Empire.

Rise and Fall is divided into four parts, with 25 chapters. The first part looks at the rise and consolidation of the Empire across the galaxy while the second part focuses on the expansion of Imperial rule across the galaxy. The third part focuses on the battle and campaigns of theGalactic Civil War while the fourth part explores the fall of the Galactic Empire and its continuation via theFirst Order.

Part One: Rise and Consolidation[]

The first chapter is a biographical sketch ofEmperorPalpatine. The chapter covers hissenatorial career, rise toSupreme Chancellor and Emperor, and his secret identity as aSith Lord. The second chapter explores how Palpatine engineered theClone Wars as a means of building a large military and eliminating threats to his rule, particular the Jedi. The third chapter discusses the consolidation of Imperial control over theImperial Senate, which had become a rubber stamp by the time of its dissolution following theBattle of Scarif.

The fourth chapter looks at the machinery of the Imperial bureaucracy, focusing onCOMPNOR, theImperial Security Bureau andImperial Intelligence. The fifth chapter discusses Imperial society, focusing on how the Empire favored theCore Worlds over the other regions,Loyalist worlds overSeparatist worlds, and pursuing extractive economic policies aimed at expanding theImperial Military. The sixth chapter examines the Empire's economic and industrial policies, discussing how the Empire channeled vast resources into its military and the twoDeathStarsuperweapons at the expense of plundering numerous worlds and their populations includingCynda,Lothal andIlum. Kin also explores how certain companies such asKuat Drive Yards andSienar Fleet Systems benefitted from Imperial rule.

Part Two: Expansion and Oppression[]

The second part looks at how the Empire expanded its rule across the galaxy and perpetrated oppressive policies including anti-alienxenophobia, atrocities, and genocide. The seventh chapter discusses the Empire's expansion strategies which included stripping worlds of theirlegacy status on the grounds they collaborated with the Separatists, forced deportations to facilitate the resource exploitations of worlds, and military interventions on worlds such asRyloth andMimban. The eighth chapter discusses the structure and machinery of the Imperial Military. Key topics covered in the chapter include theImperial Navy,Imperial Army,Imperial Starfighter Corps,Stormtroopers andImperial Academy system, which originated in the institutions of theGalactic Republic.

The ninth chapter profiles several prominent Imperial political and military figures includingDarth Vader,Grand VizierMas Amedda,Sly Moore, theImperial Ruling Council,Grand MoffTarkin,Grand AdmiralThrawn,Grand GeneralCassio Tagge,AdmiralsKendal Ozzel andFirmus Piett,GeneralMaximilian Veers andMoffTiaan Jerjerrod. Vader is identified as theJedi KnightAnakin Skywalker and the father ofLuke Skywalker andLeia Organa. The chapter also discusses a clash between theTarkin Doctrine which favored developing weapons with "great firepower" such as theDeath Star andStar Destroyers over Thrawn's doctrine which favored the development of advanced starfighters. While recognizing Thawn's skills as a military tactician, Kin criticizes his targeting of civilians atBatonn andLothal.

The tenth chapter discusses Emperor Palpatine efforts to eradicate the Jedi and their legacy. These policies included the destruction of Jedi-themed toys and paraphernalia,propaganda films such asThe Last Betrayal andDisorders of Magnitude and the creation of a secretive force ofJedi hunters known as theInquisitorius. Kin attempts to shed light on the Inquisitors based on Imperial records and the accounts of Princess Organa and theSpectres rebel cell. Kin observes that the Inquisitors shifted to kidnappingForce-sensitive children after the number of Jedi declined. He also ponders whether the sighting of anInquisitor onCorellia suggests the survival of the Inquisitorius following the Empire's fall.

The eleventh chapter discusses the Imperial legal system, with Kin arguing that it served the interests of the state rather than Imperial citizens. Kin looks at theImperial Legal Code, which graded crimes fromClass Five infractions such as property damage toClass One infractions such as rebellion, sedition, assassinating Imperial officials and piracy. Kin also argues that the Imperial penal system served as pool of forced labor for Imperial industry and the war machine. Kin also briefly mentions Vader's use of bounty hunters and mercenaries and the Empire's tolerance of crime syndicates on the condition that they did not get in their way.

The twelfth chapter looks at prejudice and discrimination in the Empire, focusing on anti-alien xenophobia with some references toanti-droid sentiment and misogyny. Kin argues that the Empire exploited existing tensions between humans and aliens, and anti-droid sentiment that arose from theClone Wars as a means of "divide and conquer." He also argues that the Empire promoted the notion that humans were the greatest species in the galaxy. Kin discusses a few case studies of Imperial xenophobic policies including the creation of several non-human control zones onCoruscant, the imposition ofGalactic Basic Standard onTalus' education system at the expense of aliens, and theenslavement of theWookiees ofKashyyyk on the grounds that the latter supported the Jedi. Kin observes that the reptilianTrandoshans experienced discrimination but were unsympathetic to the plight of the Wookiees due to the long-standing rivalry between the two species. Kin also discusses how anti-alien educational and job discrimination led many aliens to pursue careers as criminals and bounty hunters, perpetuating negative media stereotypes in the Empire.

The thirteenth chapter discusses the Imperial use of atrocities and genocide as a means of suppressing resistance and acquiring the resources of worlds and their inhabitants. Kin discusses several case studies of violent Imperial suppression includingLothal,Aldhani,Kamino,Kashyyyk,Wobani,Lasan,Ghorman,Mandalore andAlderaan. Kin describes thedestruction of Alderaan as the culmination of the Empire's intolerance of resistance and disregard of sentient life. Kin ends by discussing efforts by various survivors and scholars includingJ0-8O,Pri'am Q'asl,Xugg Twam, andFroh Loeaw to preserve the memory of Imperial atrocities, as well as efforts by the inhabitants ofBosph to "dis-remember" the Galactic Empire.

Part Three: The Galactic Civil War[]

The fourteenth chapter discusses the opening skirmishes of theGalactic Civil War. While the official history regards SenatorMon Mothma's denunciation of the Emperor andcall to Rebellion as the foundation of theRebel Alliance, Kin seeks to highlight the role of other early rebel figures and movements such asLuthen Rael,neo-SeparatistAnto Kreegyr andSaw Gerrera'sPartisans. Kin also argues that heavy-handed Imperial actions onIvera X,Arieli andDinwa Prime bolstered resistance.

The fifteenth chapter discusses Imperial fleet and starfighter tactics during the conflict. Kin focuses on the conflict between the "firepower" lobby and critics like Thrawn, who advocated greater investment in the Empire's starfighter capabilities, culminating in theTIE Defender programme. He argues that the destruction of theTIE defender factory on Lothal and the resultant loss of funding undermined Thrawn's vision of a more flexible Imperial Navy capable of precision operations. This development allowed the "firepower" lobby to dominate Imperial naval strategy. Kin also critically analyzes Thrawn's tactics during theBattle of Atollon, criticizing Thrawn's decision to appointAdmiralKassius Konstantine andGovernorArihnda Pryce to command positions.

The sixteenth chapter covers theTarkin Doctrine, thefirst Death Star and the rebel plot to steal the Death Star plans. According to Kin, the Tarkin Doctrine was predicated on "ruling through the fear of force rather than force itself." The Death Star was the culmination of the Tarkin Doctrine but itsdestruction of Alderaan and theBattle of Yavin undermined its purpose and emboldened the Rebellion.

The seventeenth chapter covers Imperial military operations following the Battle of Yavin. Kin discusses the rivalry betweenGrand GeneralCassio Tagge and Darth Vader for leadership of the Imperial Military, which culminated in the latter's triumph. Kin also discusses Vader's obsession with finding his sonLuke Skywalker and recruiting him to the dark side. Kin also covers the fate of the remnants of Thrawn'sSeventh Fleet particularlyVice AdmiralCorf Ferno and the development of Imperial special forces units particularly AdmiralGarrick Versio'sInferno Squad, which eliminated theDreamers, an offshoot of the Partisans.

The eighteenth chapter focuses on theBattle of Hoth and its impact on Imperial morale. In the years leading up toHoth, theJoint Chiefs of the Imperial Military had sought to disrupt the Rebel Alliance's ability to supply and sustain its own military war efforts. This had led to a successful Imperial military operation to disrupt Rebel supply lines through theDerra system in the Outer Rim, stripping the Rebellion of their manufacturing abilities. While the Rebel Alliances suffered significant casualties during the Battle of Hoth, Kin argues that Darth Vader's decision to pursue theMillennium Falcon (due to the mistaken belief that his son Skywalker was aboard the ship) prevented the Empire from hunting down the rest of therebel fleet. Kin concludes that the failure to destroy the Rebellion undermined Imperial military morale and prolonged the war.

The nineteenth chapter focuses on theCrimson Dawn crime syndicate's attempt to destroy the Sith. Drawing uponThe Archivist's research, Kin argues that Crimson Dawn's leaderQi'ra was continuing her predecessor and formerSith apprenticeMaul's conflict with the Sith. Qi'ra's plot involved creating a loose alliance of criminals and recruiting Imperial personnel as sleeper agents. Putting her plans into action, the Crimson Dawn stirred up trouble in the galactic criminal underworld and activated its Imperial sleeper agents to wage war on multiple fronts. This conflict culminated in a showdown between Crimson Dawn's forces and the two Sith Lords Palpatine and Vader, which ended with the decimation of Crimson Dawn. Qi'ra vanished from the historical records. Following Crimson Dawn's defeat, the Empire initiated a purge of its armed forces, which robbed the Empire of many experienced soldiers, officers and pilots. This had the effect of reducing morale and encouraging defections to the Rebellion.

The twentieth chapter focuses on theBattle of Endor. Kin argues that the Empire engineered the Battle of Endor in order to break a stalemate in theGalactic Civil War. The Imperial plan involved using a visit by the Emperor to thesecond Death Star to lure the Rebel fleet into a trap consisting of the operational superweapon and elements of the Imperial fleet. Drawing upon Imperial military records and the unpublished memoirHero of the Empire, Kin found there was significant disagreement among Imperial military commanders including Admirals Piett,Jhared Montferrat, Versio and Vice-Admiral Ferno over tactics. Kin credits the Rebel victory at Endor to the second Death Star's failure to destroy the Rebel flagshipHome One, Imperial ground forces underestimating the threat posed by the nativeEwoks, the destruction of the Imperial flagshipExecutor, and the Emperor restraining his own military forces due to his obsession with converting Luke Skywalker to the dark side. Ultimately, the Emperor's gambit failed and led to his first death and the beginning of the end for the Empire.

Part Four: Fall and Continuation[]

The twenty-first chapter deals with the fragmentation of the Empire that occurred after the Battle of Endor andOperation: Cinder. Several Imperial officials such as GovernorEcressys, MoffUbrik Adelhard established fiefdoms. Other individuals such asGrand MoffPlorest and AdmiralRolas proclaimed themselves as Emperor but failed to rally the Empire. Several individuals includingEderlatth Nataasias Pallopides also claimed to be related to the Emperor. Kin also discusses several worlds targeted by Operation Cinder includingNaboo,Vardos,Nacronis,Burnin Konn andMon Cala. Apart from Mon Cala, most of these targeted worlds were Imperial loyalist worlds. Kin theorizes that the Emperor had no intention of abdicating and had come up with a posthumous to punish "disloyal" citizens as a means of purging the Empire of "weakness." Kin speculates that the Emperor wanted a tougher and more ruthless Empire to arise from the ashes of the "Old Empire."

The twenty-second chapter focuses on the events leading up to the pivotalBattle of Jakku including the emergence of Grand AdmiralRae Sloane and the enigmatic shadow masterGallius Rax, theNew Republic'sProject Starhawk, theBattle for Kuat Drive Yards, theAkiva Summit and theattack on Chandrila. Possessing the Empire's last known remaining Super Star DestroyerRavager, Sloane and Rax were able to gain command of most of the Imperial forces. While Grand Vizier Amedda was officially the Emperor's second-in-line, he was merely a powerless figurehead. Feigning peace talks with the New Republic on Chandrila, Rax sent Sloane to meet withChancellor Mon Mothma duringLiberation Day. However, the peace talks were disrupted by several liberated Imperial prisoners, who had been secretly reprogrammed into assassins. Based on his research, Kin is unsure about Sloane's knowledge of the attempted assassination but concedes that she was not in command of the Empire on Chandrila and Jakku.

Kin also covers the Battle of Jakku; covering Rax's military leadership, the space and ground battles between the New Republic and Empire, and New Republic pilotNorra Wexley and Sloane's showdown with Rax. While Rax's motives are unclear, Kin theorizes that the warlord had engineered a showdown on Jakku in order to destroy the assembled Imperial and New Republic forces by using technology within an Imperial facility known as theJakku Observatory to disrupt Jakku's core and destroy the planet. Kin speculates that Sloane and other Imperial personnel and forces who vanished following the Battle of Jakku fled into theunknown Regions. Following the Imperial defeat on Jakku, Amedda signed theGalactic Concordance with the New Republic; ending the Galactic Civil War and ushering New Republic rule over the galaxy.

The twenty-third chapter "Truth and Reconciliation" examines New Republic policies aimed at rebuilding galactic society following the Civil War. Key priorities included delivering justice for victims of Imperial crimes, prosecuting Imperial war criminals, overhauling Imperial legislation to ensure fairness, and placing curbs on executive power to prevent a repeat of the circumstances that led to the rise of the Galactic Empire. Besides helping former prisoners who were liberated from Imperial prison, labor and concentration camps, the New Republic government was faced with the challenge of managing countless former Imperial officials and military personnel.New Republic Intelligence developed a system for classifying ex-Imperials on the basis of their value and risk. To aid with reintegration, theNew Republic Amnesty Program was established on Coruscant to help reprogram ex-Imperials.

The twenty-fourth chapter "Complacency and Appeasement" discusses the interwar period between the Galactic Civil War and theFirst Order-Resistance War. Within the New Republic government, a split emerged between the combatants of the Rebel Alliance and politicians who had not been involved in the Civil War, which evolved into thePopulists andCentrists. The former believed that the best way to maintain peace was through vigilance and were suspicious of ex-Imperials in positions of government. The latter regarded the ex-rebel faction as paranoid warmongers who were unable to abandon their military past.

Kin also critiques the effectiveness of the New Republic's ex-Imperial reintegration programme, pointing out that several "rehabilitated" former Imperials were secretly colluding withImperial Remnants such as theFirst Order. The Centrists acted as proxy agents for theFirst Order, working to undermine the New Republic government. Kin also criticized Mon Mothma'sMilitary Disarmament Act for leaving the New Republic unprepared for the First Order. Kin describes the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn as turning point in the balance of power between neo-Imperial forces and New Republic elements urging vigilance. He mentions thatUniversity of Coruscant historianChalm Plesk'swork on the military campaign waged against Thrawn's forces was still classified by the time of theHosnian Cataclysm.

The twenty-fifth chapter focuses on the history of theFirst Order andFinal Order, the two main successor states to the Galactic Empire. Kin discusses the leadership of the First Order including Grand Admiral Sloane,CommandantBrendol Hux, CaptainEnric Pryde and GeneralArmitage Hux but admits that the source material is scarce. Kin also identifiesSupreme LeaderSnoke as a proxy for the resurgent Palpatine and the product ofcloning experiments. With the financial support of Centrist worlds and theCorporate Sector Authority, the First Order amassed significant manufacturing and military resources. Kin believes that the First Order's military doctrine was influenced by the Old Empire's "firepower" lobby. Kin also discusses the return of Emperor Palpatine and the events leading to his defeat during theBattle of Exegol, which culminated in the collapse of both the Final and First Orders.

Kin concludes his book by sharing his personal experiences during theFirst Order-Resistance War and exhorting readers to continue resisting authoritarian and totalitarian regimes such as the Galactic Empire and First Order. He ends by sharing the story ofMaarva Andor urging the people ofFerrix to fight the Empire.

Development[]

Concept[]

Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire was written by DoctorChris Kempshall.^[1] The book was edited byDavid Fentiman, and Kempshall received guidance fromBrett Rector and theStory Group atLucasfilm, with additional support from various loved ones andStar Wars authors,^[5] such asKristin Baver,Amy Richau,Amy Ratcliffe,Clayton Sandell,Adam Christopher,Jason Fry, andCole Horton.^[6] Kempshall said that his work was inspired byWilliam L. Shirer's seminal 1960 bookThe Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, a small bust ofStar Wars'EmperorPalpatine, andKristin Baver's2021 bookSkywalker: A Family at War.^[7] According to Kempshall,Rise and Fall would not have existed withoutSkywalker: A Family at War,^[8] and authorKristin Baver is referenced inRise and Fall as an in-universeSkywalker family biographer namedKitrin Braves.^[9] After the contract for the book was signed, Kempshall had a conversation withMichael Siglain ofDisney–Lucasfilm Press atStar Wars Celebration inLondon discussing topics such as the book's structure and a sample chapter Siglain had recently read.^[10]

As recounted byLucasfilm Story Group memberPablo Hidalgo, who worked with Kempshall on the book, the author set out with an ambitious plan.^[11] Kempshall, meanwhile, stated thatThe Rise and Fall would be "just a bunch of daft ideas in my head" if the story group and other authorities had not helped him.^[12]

Connections to then-unreleased material[]

Rise and Fall also ended up connecting well with^[14] the then yet-to-be announcedStar Wars: Reign of the Empire trilogy^[15] according to editorTom Hoeler.^[14] Furthermore, Hoeler noticed details inRise and Fall that he realized would work well withReign of the Empire Book Two, promising Kempshall thatRise and Fall content had been brought up as ideas to be fleshed out in that novel,^[16] much to Kempshall's joy.^[17]

As confirmed after the season's premiere,The Rise and Fall also contains various nods to the then-upcomingAndor Season 2.^[18] According to Kempshall, he was only told what he "needed to know at the time."^[13] As confirmed by Kempshall,^[19] the mention of "a significant breakthrough" of resources for the Death Star project^[20] was a reference to theGhorman-sourcedkalkite^[21] discussed inAndor Season 2.^[19] The section also contains a nod to Tarkin actorPeter Cushing^[22] being unable to wear his providedboots on the set ofStar Wars: Episode IVA New Hope^[23] by establishing that, in-universe, Tarkin had a great many boots directed to the Death Star.^[20] As fans had asked how he would update the Ghorman passages to reflect information revealed inAndor Season 2, Kempshall revealed that—at least as of the then-present ofMay,2025—he would actually not change anything^[24] even though it would be possible to write such an update.^[25] Beyond feeling he could not top what was seen inAndor,^[24] he hoped that the text ofThe Rise and Fall already invoked a feeling of sadness and horror, capturing the "awfulness of the Empire's crimes."^[25]

Continuity[]

As the conceit ofStar Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire is that it is an in-universe text written by Beaumont Kin, many continuity errors can be explained away as Kin possessing inaccurate information. For example, Kin makes reference toGrand AdmiralThrawn's significant civilian casualties at thebattle of Batonn. The 2017 novelThrawn established that the casualties were actually the result of actions taken byArihnda Pryce, but the pair conspired to give public credit to Thrawn.^[26] As Kin reports the commonly believed inaccurate version of events, this indicates that Pryce's actions at Batonn did not become public knowledge, even after the fall of the First Order.

• The book states thatGeneralHurst Romodidied during theBattle of Yavin, when he in fact participated in theBattle of Endor per "To the Last" short story inFrom a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi.
• The book states thatPitina Mar-Mas Voor made her final broadcast and was executed byDarth Vader in 2 BBY. These events actually take place in 2 ABY, per theStar Wars: Doctor Aphra comics.
• The book mistakenly callsThe Grand Inquisitor anUmbaran, when his species is, in fact,Pau'an.
• The book states that theambush of a rebel convoy at Derra before theBattle of Hoth involvedVice AdmiralRae Sloane in command of theVigilance and ended with her promotion toadmiral. However, the short stories "The Final Order"^[27] and "Lord Vader Will See You Now" establish she was still acommodore in the aftermath of Hoth. "Lord Vader Will See You Now" also ends with her being given command of theVigilance in the post-Hoth period,^[28] although the video gameStar Wars: Squadrons had established she already had a history commanding the vessel to a certain degree by that point.^[29] Additionally, she was still a Vice Admiral during theBattle of Endor perStar Wars Battlefront II andStar Wars Adventures: Destroyer Down.
• The book misspellsMorgan Elsbeth's name as "Morgan Elspeth" on one occasion, although subsequent references are spelled correctly.

Media[]

Editions[]

• ISBN 9780241655047;July 4,2024;Dorling Kindersley; UK hardcover^[2]
• ISBN 9780744098822;July 9, 2024; Dorling Kindersley; US hardcover^[1]

Cover gallery[]

Solicitation cover

Preliminary cover

Final cover

Appearances[]

This media's Appearances list is incomplete. You can help Wookieepedia byexpanding it.

Sources[]

• New BookThe Rise of the Galactic Empire to Explore the Imperial Regime - Exclusive onStarWars.com(backup link)
• "Launchpad" —Star Wars Insider 226
• OurStar Wars Reads Picks For Every Type of Reader in Your Life onStarWars.com(backup link)
• Star Wars: Master of Evil, a New Darth Vader Novel, Turns the Page on the Sith Lord onStarWars.com(backup link)
• "Writing History" —Star Wars Insider 231

Notes and references[]

External links[]

• Star Wars The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire onDorling Kindersley'sofficial United States website(backup link)