Palpatine

Palpatine From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Palpatine

Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine Emperor of the Galactic Empire In office 19 BBY – 4 ABY Preceded by	Himself as Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic Succeeded by	Empire Abolished Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic In office 32 BBY – 19 BBY Preceded by	Finis Valorum Succeeded by	Himself as Emperor of the Galactic Empire Senator of the Galactic Republic In office 52 BBY – 19 BBY Preceded by	Vidar Kim Succeeded by	Republic Abolished Constituency	Naboo Personal details Born	Palpatine 82 BBY Naboo, Galactic Republic Died	4 ABY Death Star II, Galactic Empire Nationality	Naboo Residence	Coruscant Profession	Diplomat, Politician Palpatine is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the Star Wars saga,[1] portrayed by Ian McDiarmid in the feature films.

Palpatine first appeared as the unnamed Emperor of the Galactic Empire in the 1980 film Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and was voiced by Clive Revill. He is an aged, pale-faced figure who wears dark robes. In Return of the Jedi, Palpatine (now portrayed by Ian McDiarmid) oversees the final stages of the war between the Rebel Alliance and the Empire, culminating in a confrontation with Luke Skywalker, in which Palpatine is ultimately destroyed.

In the films and the Expanded Universe, Palpatine is portrayed as cunning and deceptive in manipulating people and events to achieve his goals. Palpatine's principal desire is to have ultimate power.[2] Palpatine presents himself in public to others as a modest, polite, and harmless person.[3] However, behind this public persona he is a ruthless megalomaniac.[2]

In the prequel trilogy, Palpatine is a middle-aged politician of the Republic who rises to power through deception and treachery. As the Senator from Naboo and later the Chancellor of the Republic, he outwardly behaves like a well-intentioned and loyal public servant and supporter of democracy, yet underneath his affable public persona lurks his true identity: Darth Sidious, a Dark Lord of the Sith. As both Palpatine and Sidious, he sets into motion a series of events—including the Clone Wars—which ultimately destroy the Jedi Knights and the Republic, allowing him to usher in the Galactic Empire, a brutal authoritarian regime.

Since the initial theatrical run of Return of the Jedi, Palpatine has become a symbol of evil and sinister deception in popular culture.

Contents 1 Appearances 1.1 Star Wars films 1.1.1 Original trilogy 1.1.2 Prequel trilogy 1.2 Clone Wars 1.2.1 2003 Animated Series 1.2.2 2008 Animated Series 1.3 Star Wars literature 2 Characteristics 2.1 Character creation 2.2 Portrayal 2.3 Make-up and costumes 3 Popular culture 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External links [edit]Appearances

[edit]Star Wars films [edit]Original trilogy In Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, several characters mention that The Emperor is the ruler of the Empire, but he is neither properly named nor seen in the film.

In Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Emperor Palpatine appears for the first time as the Sith master of Darth Vader (David Prowse/James Earl Jones). The Emperor contacts Vader via holographic communication to tell him of a "great disturbance in the Force," and warns him that Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) is becoming a threat. Vader convinces the Emperor that Luke would be an asset if he could be turned to the dark side of the Force.[4]

Star Wars portal In Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Palpatine arrives on the second Death Star to oversee the last stages of its construction and a trap for the Rebel Allliance. When Darth Vader delivers his son, Luke Skywalker, to Palpatine, the Emperor—intent on replacing Vader with a younger, more powerful apprentice—tempts the young Jedi to the dark side by appealing to his fear for his friends. This leads to a lightsaber duel in which Luke defeats and nearly kills Vader. Luke ultimately refuses to turn to the dark side, however, and an enraged Palpatine attacks him with Force lightning. Moved by the sight of his son's suffering, Vader turns on his master and redeems himself by throwing the evil Emperor into the Death Star's reactor shaft, killing him and fulfilling his prophecy as the chosen one.[5]

[edit]Prequel trilogy

Ian McDiarmid as Senator Palpatine in The Phantom Menace In Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, set 32 years before A New Hope, Palpatine is introduced as the senior Galactic Senator from the planet Naboo. The corrupt Trade Federation blockades and invades Naboo under the influence of Palpatine's Sith alter ego, Darth Sidious. Queen Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) flees to the planet Coruscant to receive counsel from the Senator. After a plea for help from the senate results in bureaucratic delays, Palpatine persuades her to make a motion to have Chancellor Finis Valorum (Terence Stamp) removed from office. Palpatine, as Sidious, sends his apprentice Darth Maul (Ray Park/Peter Serafinowicz) to Naboo to oversee the invasion and find the queen. The invasion, however, is thwarted by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor); in the ensuing lightsaber duel, both Maul and Jinn are killed. Palpatine returns to Naboo, having been elected the new Chancellor of the Republic. He tells nine-year-old Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), newly accepted as Obi-Wan's Jedi apprentice, that "we will watch your career with great interest".[6]

In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, set 10 years later, the galaxy is on the verge of civil war, as a growing Separatist movement of planets seeks to secede from the Republic to form the Confederacy of Independent Systems. They are led by Count Dooku (Christopher Lee), a former Jedi and Darth Sidious' new apprentice, known secretly by his Sith name, Darth Tyranus. Dooku hires a bounty hunter named Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison) to assassinate Padmé, leading to a wild goose chase for Obi-Wan to kill Fett and find Dooku. Palpatine tells Anakin (Hayden Christensen) to bring Padmé to her home planet of Naboo and guard her; Anakin and Padmé soon fall in love. After Obi-Wan discovers that the Separatists are building a secret battle droid army, Palpatine uses the situation to have himself granted emergency powers. Palpatine feigns reluctance to accept this authority, promising to return it to the Senate once the crisis has ended. His first act is to create an army of cloned human warriors to counter the Separatist threat. The clones had recently been discovered by Obi-Wan as having been secretly ordered by deceased Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas many years earlier. When Anakin, Obi-Wan, Padmé, and the other Jedi go to the planet Geonosis, they engage in an epic battle that serves as the opening salvo of the Clone Wars, but Dooku and the Separatists escape. Dooku then meets with Sidious, bringing with him plans for a Geonosian superweapon.[7]

In Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, set three years later, Palpatine is captured by Separatist leader General Grievous (Matthew Wood) as part of Darth Sidious' elaborate plan. Palpatine is rescued by Anakin and Obi-Wan, but not before the Jedi confront Count Dooku. A short duel ensues, in which Dooku knocks Obi-Wan unconscious, and goes after Anakin; the younger Jedi eventually overpowers Dooku, and then kills him in cold blood at Palpatine's urging. Palpatine then escapes with his Jedi rescuers and returns to Coruscant.

By this point, Palpatine has become a virtual dictator, able to take any action in the Senate. The Jedi Council is troubled by Palpatine's power and fears he will not relinquish it when the Clone Wars end. They also suspect that he has somehow fallen under the influence of Darth Sidious, whom they believe to be one of his advisers. Their suspicions only grow when the Senate grants Palpatine a vote on the Jedi Council. He appoints Anakin as his representative on the Jedi Council, but the Council refuses to grant Anakin the rank of Jedi Master. The Council then orders Anakin to spy on Palpatine, but he instead reveals the Jedi's plan to him. Palpatine tells Anakin the story of Darth Plagueis the Wise, a powerful Sith Lord who was able to manipulate life and death, but was killed by his apprentice. Eventually, Palpatine reveals his secret identity to Anakin, and tempts him with promises of the power to prevent death. Palpatine knows that Anakin has been having visions of Padmé, who is now pregnant, dying in childbirth, and offers to teach him Plagueis' secrets to save her life.

Confused and torn over his loyalty to both Palpatine and the Jedi, Anakin informs Jedi Master Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) that Palpatine is Sidious. Windu and fellow Council members Kit Fisto, Agen Kolar and Saesee Tiin go to arrest Palpatine, but the Chancellor surprises them and kills Kolar, Tiin, and Fisto. Palpatine unleashes Force lightning at Windu, who deflects it back with his lightsaber at Palpatine, deforming Palpatine's face into the wizened, yellow-eyed visage seen in the original films. Anakin appears and intercedes on Palpatine's behalf, cutting off Windu's hand; Palpatine then blasts Windu with another barrage of lightning, flinging him out the window to his death. Anakin pledges himself to the dark side, and Palpatine accepts him as his new apprentice, Darth Vader.

Palpatine commands the clone troopers to execute Order 66, a secret order he implanted in them to turn on their Jedi generals. He dispatches Vader to kill everyone inside the Jedi Temple and assassinate the Separatist leaders on the planet Mustafar. He then reorganizes the Republic into the Galactic Empire, with himself as Emperor for life. Jedi Master Yoda (Frank Oz) confronts Palpatine in his Senate office, and a lightsaber duel erupts between them which ends in stalemate. Sensing that Vader is in danger, Palpatine travels to Mustafar, where he finds his apprentice near death following a duel with Obi-Wan. Palpatine returns to Coruscant with Vader and rebuilds his apprentice's ruined body with the black armored suit first seen in the original trilogy. When Vader regains consciousness, Palpatine falsely tells him that he killed Padmé in the heat of his anger, breaking what remains of Anakin's spirit. Palpatine is last seen watching the first Death Star under construction, with Vader and Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin (Wayne Pygram) at his side.

[edit]Clone Wars

Chancellor Palpatine as seen in the animated Clone Wars [edit]2003 Animated Series Palpatine is a central character in Genndy Tartakovsky's Star Wars: Clone Wars, an animated miniseries set between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. The character is based on McDiarmid's likeness in The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. In the first chapter, Obi-Wan Kenobi informs Palpatine that the Jedi have discovered that the InterGalactic Banking Clan has established battle droid factories on the planet Muunilinst. Palpatine agrees to send a strike force that includes Obi-Wan and Anakin, but Palpatine suggests that Anakin be given "special command" of Obi-Wan's fighters. Yoda and Obi-Wan initially speak against it, but reluctantly concede to the Chancellor.[8] In