No. He just killed the Imperial head of state and government. The rest of the Empire was still there. The EU goes into great detail about the subsequent decline of the Empire. Even if you don't believe in the EU, it is an unwarranted assumption that Palpatine's death brought about the immediate end of the Empire. Roman emperors were killed all the time, but portions of the Empire remained intact, under imperial control, until 1453. Could not the Galactic Empire survive the death of an emperor, for at least a few years?
No. He just killed the Imperial head of state and government. The rest of the Empire was still there. The EU goes into great detail about the subsequent decline of the Empire. Even if you don't believe in the EU, it is an unwarranted assumption that Palpatine's death brought about the immediate end of the Empire. Roman emperors were killed all the time, but portions of the Empire remained intact, under imperial control, until 1453. Could not the Galactic Empire survive the death of an emperor, for at least a few years?