Settings, Planets and Systems | Organisations and Governments
An Index of content for this post:
- The first Prequel era story (from 1979, with Obi Wan Kenobi)
- Coruscant / Had Abbadon
- The Clone Wars being Jedi vs Mandalorians - and more (‘The Star Wars Trilogy Scrapbook: The Galactic Empire’ - 1997)
- Mandalore
- The Sith
- The Dark Worlds
- The Republic
- The Empire (the birth of the Empire + how they came about and their rise to power)
- The Rebellion (early protests and organisations against the Empire, Palpatine and their backers + enablers)
- “A Call To Reason” - The Farlander Papers : The Rebellion attempting to recruit to its ranks (1993 X-Wing game)
- “A Call To Reason” - The Farlander Papers : some pages from Mon Mothma’s manifesto (1993 X-Wing game)
^ If anyone knows of any other relevant info on ‘Settings, Planets & Systems’ etc for the pre-Prequel era, please post them up.
1. The first Prequel era story (from 1979)
The FIRST Star Wars Prequel-Era Story - 3+ minute video from Star Wars Explained (2021)
Video Description: ‘Today we’re jumping back to 1979 and the very first story told that took place in the prequel era of Star Wars. A tale all about Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars issue 24, back when the writers and artists had no idea what that period of time would look like.’
more on the Star Wars #24 comic (aka ‘Silent Drifting’):
wookieepedia page: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars_(1977)_24
Plot Summary:
'After Han Solo skillfully pilots the Millennium Falcon to destroy two TIE fighters, Princess Leia mentions that Jedi pilots developed that same maneuver. She recounts one particular event involving Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Kenobi, traveling as a passenger on a pleasure cruiser, is notified by Captain Quasar that Merson pirates have been spotted in the Merson asteroid belt. The attacking ships are quickly destroyed, but Obi-Wan suspects the Mersons to have been lured by a signal from within the cruiser. The other passengers immediately accuse Augustus Tryll, a known criminal, of working with the Mersons, but Kenobi is not as quick to judge without proof.’
Continuity
'The framing story takes place after the events of Star Wars (1977) 15, according to the notation on the first page. Aside from the first four pages and the last half page, the entire story in this issue is a flashback to a time when Obi-Wan Kenobi was an active Jedi Knight in the Galactic Republic. This is the first published story to take place in the Galactic Republic era.
One of the letters in this issue’s letters page criticizes the comic series for making Luke and Leia “… act more like young brother and sister than sweethearts.” Although the creators of the book didn’t know this at the time, four years later Return of the Jedi would reveal that they were indeed siblings.’
2. Coruscant / Had Abbadon
Coruscant’s backstory BEFORE THE PREQUELS! - 8 minute video from EckhartsLadder (2020)
Video Description: ‘We cover the fascinating backstory of Coruscant from before the Star Wars Prequels released on today’s Star Wars Legends lore video!’
wookieepedia page for Coruscant: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Coruscant/Legends
wookieepedia page for Had Abbadon: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Had_Abbadon/Legends (original name of the Capital)
^ Early concept art for Had Abbadon with two orbiting Death Stars by Ralph McQuarrie (+ ROTJ early story ideas)
3. The Clone Wars being Jedi vs Mandalorians
and the Emperor taking over the Republic years after the end of the Clone Wars
^ a screenshot from the 1997 ‘The Star Wars Trilogy Scrapbook: The Galactic Empire’:
https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/The_Star_Wars_Trilogy_Scrapbook:_The_Galactic_Empire
4. Mandalore
“Battle for Mandalore” - 1992 story by Chris Hind:
"Ten soldiers wearing the distinctive gray uniforms of the Republican Army and a half-dozen black-clad Jedi Knights advance cautiously through the deserted, rubble-choked streets of Mandalore. Black smoke hangs heavily in the air. Army Lieutenant Weirs matches strides with Voli Quana, Jedi mistress.
‘Your soldiers fight with remarkable order,’ Quana says, ‘even in these chaotic conditions.’
‘The troops are obeying orders which I haven’t even given yet,’ Weirs responds, ‘It’s you, isn’t it? Doing something to their minds–to all our minds–to keep us disciplined and in high morale. That’s why you look so haggard.’
‘The governor is still in the city,’ Quana says, ‘but he is preparing to escape in a private spacecraft. He must be tried for crimes against the Republic. I am telepathically relaying all your orders so we may reach him in time. And do not concern yourself with my health, for my ally is the Fo…’ Quana stops, covering her eyes with a hand.
‘What’s wrong?’ Weirs asks.
‘Halt your troops Lieutenant. I sense…’
Suddenly a loud blast and the flash of a bright blue beam. An ambush! Weirs’ chest explodes, and his body spins into an alley. Quana’s amber-bladed lightsaber is in her hand, ignited, in time to deflect a second blast aimed at her. In the next second, dozens of blue and red blaster bolts intersect the smoky streets, ionizing the air and sending chunks of formex flying with each near miss. The FINAL BATTLE FOR MANDALORE BEGINS!"
^ from Challenge Magazine #58, Page 68.
wookieepedia page: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Battle_for_Mandalore
5. The Sith
The only living Sith at this pre-PT era was Darth Vader himself - “The Dark Lord of The Sith”.
^ see the ‘Anakin / Darth Vader’ section of ‘Characters and Biographies | Antagonists, Adversaries and their Allies’
For more on The Sith (and Jedi) ‘origin’ type stories, the ‘Tales Of The Jedi’ comics (1993-98) are a most useful resource:-
wookieepedia page: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_Tales_of_the_Jedi_(comic_series)
OriginalTrilogy•com thread for the TOTJ comics: Tales Of The Jedi | 1993-1998 comic book series | a general discussion thread
More information on The Sith (and Jedi) stories can be found in the ‘Dark Empire’ comics (1991-95):-
wookieepedia page: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_Dark_Empire_Trilogy (especially “Empire’s End”)
OriginalTrilogy•com thread for the DE comics: Dark Empire trilogy | 1991-1995 EU comic series | a general discussion thread
^ 1978 General Mills Star Wars #15 Darth Vader collectible card - at the TCDB•com database
wookieepedia page: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars_Customizable_Card_Game
I do think Palpatine was intended to be a Sith, though. Once the Sith and the concept of Sith Lords existed, I’m fairly certain that Vader and Palpatine were integrated into it.
Little doubt this is what Lucas intended, but it’s a factoid he apparently kept close to his chest, because Palpatine wasn’t characterized as a Sith in the pre-1999 EU. Darth Vader was characterized as THE Dark Lord of the Sith during the time of the Empire, and as per Tales of the Jedi, only the reigning Sith lord held the “Dark Lord” title. And Empire’s End excluded Palpatine from the Sith hierarchy.
The Sith spirits were gracious enough to make Palpatine an honorary Dark Lord in lieu of Vader, but that Vader had a throne set up for him in their mausoleum while Palpatine didn’t speaks volumes.
^ All credit and thanks to Superweapon VII for the above post, and also this below:
In the Inquest gaming magazine, issue 43 (November 1998), there is a reference to official Star Wars CCG, and a new ‘Dark Side’ variant game to play, along with some backstory of other Sith being in opposition to Dark Vader.
The magazine can be read here: the article is titled “The Sith Element - A Third Darker Side Invades The CCG”, on Pages 52-57 of the magazine itself (and Pages 54-58 of the archive link below):
https://archive.org/details/IQ.Gamer.Partial.Collection/inquest.043.(1998-11)/mode/1up?view=theater
some screenshots:
^ wookieepedia page for Bataal Bandu: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Bataal_Bandu
In the 1976 novelization of Star Wars (1977), Darth Vader is described as being a Sith on a number of occasions:
Yet Palpatine in the Prologue in the 1976 Star Wars novelization, is described as being a weak and manipulated politician; “controlled by the very assistants and boot-lickers he had appointed to high office”. Far from the powerful force-using, cunning and manipulative individual seen in the later two Original Trilogy films.
Also, Palpatine was not mentioned as being a Sith in the films - or any other official Lucasfilm material - until 2000 (see the ‘Palpatine’ section in the ‘Characters and Biographies | Antagonists, Adversaries and their Allies’ category).
^ wookieepedia page Star Wars novelization: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_A_New_Hope_(novelization)
6. The Dark Worlds
The Dark Worlds were the antagonists of the Clone Wars and seemed to be a Confederacy of Clone Masters, geneticists, Bpfasshi Dark Jedi, and Mandalorians - led by the most powerful clone master named Atha Prime (see the ‘Characters and Biographies | Antagonists, Adversaries and their Allies’ category).
‘The so-called “Dark Worlds” was an Unknown Regions principality, located at the furthest reaches of the galaxy, which the genetic terrorist Zeta Magnus had claimed as his personal kingdom. Magnus carved out his kingdom using the followers and slaves he had gathered during his journey around the galaxy. It was composed of a group of planets ruled by Magnus, who considered the Chiss Ascendancy, the Ssi-ruuvi Imperium, the Vagaari, an Ebruchi clan, and the Rhandite nihilists as his neighbours. The terrorist’s seat of power was the Rennek palace, deep within the “Dark Worlds.” At some point in time before the Clone Wars, the Rhandite nihilists would “bless” these worlds.’
^ from The Dark Worlds wookieepedia page: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Dark_Worlds
The Confederacy of Dark Worlds required large numbers of clone warriors to fight the Jedi and Republic, but these clones were grown too quickly by the impatient Clonemasters in Spaarti Cloning Cylinders - many started to show signs of going insane. This was something the Clonemasters had great difficulty controlling, but soon learnt that their insane clones could still ravage the Republic when dropped deep behind Republic lines, and then be left to fight anyone who came across their path.
wookieepedia page for Spaarti cloning cylinders: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Spaarti_cloning_cylinder
7. The Republic
An overview of the Republic:
‘The development of the Republic, its transformation into the Empire, and the fall of the Jedi, and just what the details of the original history were at the time of the first film.’
‘The Republic Revolution’ - article at The Secret History Of Star Wars website.
A screenshot of the article (just in case the superb TSHoSW website ever goes down):
^ A screenshot on ‘The Old Republic’ section of the ‘A Guide To The Star Wars Universe’ book, 2nd edition (1994):
Also see Cat. #10 & #11 below on Mon Mothma’s “A Call To Reason” manifesto and information from ‘The Farlander Papers’.
8. The Empire
(the birth of The Empire; how they came about, and then rose to power)
From ‘The Making Of Star Wars’ book by JW Rinzler, on Page 351:
Also see ‘The Jedi (as an Order of Knights, Way Of Life, the Force, Robes, Lightsabers etc)’ category for more info on The Empire.
^ A screenshot on ‘The Empire’ section of the ‘A Guide To The Star Wars Universe’ book, 2nd edition (1994):
Also see Cat. #10 & #11 below on Mon Mothma’s “A Call To Reason” manifesto and information from ‘The Farlander Papers’.
9. The Rebellion
(+ early protests and organisations against the Empire, Palpatine and their corrupt backers)
From ‘The Making Of Star Wars’ book by JW Rinzler, on Page 352:
^ A screenshot of the ‘Rebel Alliance’ section of the ‘A Guide To The Star Wars Universe’ book, 2nd edition (1994):
^ from Page 6 of the 1994 ‘Rebel Alliance Sourcebook’ (2nd edition)
wookieepedia page: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/The_Rebel_Alliance_Sourcebook_(Second_Edition)
Also see Cat. #10 & #11 below on Mon Mothma’s “A Call To Reason” manifesto and information from ‘The Farlander Papers’.
10. “A Call To Reason” : The Farlander Papers (Part 1)
The Rebellion attempting to recruit more people to its ranks:
“The Farlander Papers” : from the 1993 X-Wing game : a mission & companion book that came with the game
https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/The_Farlander_Papers
Mon Mothma speaks of the “decades of peace” between the end of the Clone Wars and the rise of the Empire, with Palpatine being elected President during the war, but not declaring himself Emperor and exterminating the Jedi, until much later.
Some pages relevant to the “pre-Prequels” story at the time:
All 98 pages of ‘The Farlander Papers’ can be seen here: https://archive.org/details/pdfy-52fQeoxh9CohzbEk/page/n67/mode/2up
11. “A Call To Reason” : The Farlander Papers (Part 2)
some pages from Mon Mothma’s manifesto-type document
(and also part of ‘The Farlander Papers’, from the 1993 X-Wing game)
“A Call To Reason” : some pages from Mon Mothma’s manifesto-type document used to try and attract people to the Rebellion (and part of ‘The Farlander Papers’):
All 98 pages of ‘The Farlander Papers’ can be seen here: https://archive.org/details/pdfy-52fQeoxh9CohzbEk/page/n67/mode/2up
A Thread Index:
• Introduction
• A quick note on ‘Canon’ (yep, I know…)
• Timelines: Story Events and Alterations
• Settings, Planets and Systems | Organisations and Governments
• The Jedi (as an Order Of Knights; their Way Of Life, the Force, Robes, Lightsabers etc)
• Characters and Biographies | Protagonists and Allies (including changes of persona or origin story)
• Characters and Biographies | Antagonists, Adversaries and their Allies (including changes of persona or origin story)
• Miscellaneous
• Blank Post (a spare post for possible future use; if ever required)
• A list of ‘Suggestions, Claims, Memories, and Posts’ on more pre-PT era material: to be checked and confirmed
• Index of Relevant OriginalTrilogy.com Threads
• Credits