Palpatine, (84 BBY - 4 ABY, spirit destroyed 11 ABY) is a fictional character of the Star Wars universe.

Palpatine is a scheming politician who eventually emerges as the main villain of the series and supreme ruler of the evil Empire.

Throughout the series he serves as Senator, Chancellor, and finally Emperor.

Palpatine's "biography"

At the beginning of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Palpatine represents the planet Naboo in the Senate of the Galactic Republic and, by the end of the movie, manipulates events to make the Senate elect him Chancellor of the Republic, deposing the previous office holder Finis Valorum.

Another character who appears in the film, the Sith Lord Darth Sidious bears a suspicious resemblance to Palpatine, and seems to have the same evil ambitions, but whether they are in fact one and the same person will not be revealed until Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith - currently in production.

In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, which is set ten years after Episode I, Palpatine is still in office as Chancellor and further manipulates events to make the Senate grant him dictatorial emergency powers to deal with Count Dooku's Confederacy of Independent Systems and promises to set his new powers aside after the Clone Wars end.

Instead, following the defeat of the Confederacy, he proclaims himself Emperor of the galaxy, establishes the Galactic Empire, and turns his protege from Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight, to Darth Vader, Lord Of The Sith. These events have not been seen in any Star Wars film thus far, but it is conjectured that they will be depicted in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

Known primarily as "the Emperor" from this point on, Palpatine continues to increase his power and squash rebellions with his iron hand. In the fourth film, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, he eliminates the last threat to his absolute power by dissolving the now-Imperial Senate and assuming complete control over the quadrillions of inhabitants of the galaxy.

Emperor Palpatine, supreme ruler of the evil Galactic Empire

It becomes evident by Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi that Palpatine does indeed possess the capability to use the Force. But what is not clear is the circumstances of his training - where, when, how. It's also not explained how Palpatine escaped detection as a potential Jedi as an infant, which would have meant his being taken in to be trained as a Jedi, being born on a Republic planet like Naboo.

Through his servant Darth Vader, he tries to make Luke Skywalker join the Sith, but in the end his plot fails. In anger over Luke's resolve, he tortures the young Jedi with dark-side lightning (and seems to get a kind of sadistic pleasure from seeing him writhe in pain,) but Vader, who turns from the dark side to once again become Anakin Skywalker at the last moment, turns against his master and casts Palpatine down the reactor shaft of the second Death Star, where his body dissolves in a cloud of energy.

Palpatine in the Expanded Universe

Palpatine appears very frequently in the Expanded Universe material which covers the prequel era. In the novel Cloak of Deception, a prelude to The Phantom Menace, he sets up his bid for the Chancellorship by discrediting Chancellor Valorum and in the comic Star Wars Republic, it is hinted that he is behind the assassination of the former Naboo Senator, the abdication of Naboo's King Veruna, and also that he asassinated his predecessor, Valorum. In the various "Clone Wars" stories, he continues his "great interest" in Anakin Skywalker.

In the classic era stories, Palpatine shows up the most in Shadows of the Empire, where Prince Xizor attempts to discredit Darth Vader, by killing Luke Skywalker, and take his place as the Emperor's second-in-command. Xizor is ultimately killed by Vader, who was obsessed with the idea of turning his son to dark side and did not want him dead.

Also according to the Expanded Universe, Palpatine created clones of himself - his spirit - which continued to live through the Force after his death, as Obi-Wan Kenobi's did, possessed so he could return to life. The cloned Palpatine tries to gain back his control of the galaxy, and brings Luke to the brink of the dark side. However, after his "final death," he was gone permanently, making the Dark Empire trilogy, which also resurrected Boba Fett, his last appearance chronologically.

It is also revealed in the novels that Palpatine trained a number of secret agents called the Emperor's Hands, among them popular character Mara Jade, as well as several Jedi who had gone to the dark side and become Dark Jedi, not disrupting the "two Sith" rule. It is also hinted in the Barbara Hambly novels -- and later discounted -- that Palpatine has had several offspring. In the Jedi Prince series an insane three-eyed mutant named Triclops appears as Palpatine's son with Ken as his grandson. In the series Triclops is impersonated by another three-eyed mutant named Trioculous. Despite this, the concept of Palpatine having children has not been embraced by the Expanded Universe at large, and is heavily out of character.

Palpatine's known relatives include his grand-niece Ederlaath Pallopides (mentioned in The Dark Empire Sourcebook) and his third cousin Voplau (mentioned in the comic book Boba Fett #1/2 : Salvage.)

On the planet Derilyn, there is a city named for Palpatine.

Behind the Scenes

Emperor Palpatine surrounded by his cronies, including Darth Vader.

Like many personalities in the Star Wars universe, Palpatine's character has clear similarities to certain historical figures. Parallels to Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte and Adolf Hitler can all be found in the Galactic Emperor's words and actions (in many ways he is an amalgamation of the two Caesars -- Julius Caesar and Caesar Augustus -- and Lucius Cornelius Sulla). In writing the original drafts of the Star Wars films, during the mid-1970s, George Lucas has said he was influenced by then-US President Richard Nixon.

In many ways, Palpatine is an archetypical villain, who does not appear to have any understandable motivation. He relies on deception and manipulation to control and corrupt individuals throughout the films, and as a result is a classically diabolical character. As Emperor, he appears to be a frail, weak old man, but is actually quite supernaturally powerful. Palpatine may be viewed as the quintessential wolf in sheep's clothing. Palpatine's motivations are more easily explained when viewed in the context of his alter ego Darth Sidious.

Palpatine's full name (assuming he has any names other than "Palpatine" alone) has never been revealed. The usage "Emperor Palpatine" suggests that Palpatine is in fact his only name, though the use of titles such as "Senator Palpatine" suggests it may be his family name. Of course, Palpatine might be a name of state, as the name Amidala is, so it may mean that neither Palpatine's given nor family name is known.

Nevertheless, the original version of his character in Lucas's early scripts was named "Cos Dashit" and many Star Wars fan fiction writers have quite incorrectly adopted the name "Cos Palpatine" in their stories and web pages -- so much so that it has become fanon. The name "Dantius Palpatine" has also been adopted, though its origins are more ambiguous, seeming to come from SuperShadow, a website of fraudulent Star Wars material, including synopses for Episodes VII - IX. On the official website (http://www.starwars.com/community/askjc/steve/askjc20030701.html) it is stated that Palpatine's first name, if he has one, has not yet been revealed.

Both the middle aged Palpatine and the elderly Emperor Palpatine are played by actor Ian McDiarmid, although the holographic image of the Emperor that briefly appeared in The Empire Strikes Back was played by an unnamed actor (a woman with the composited image of a lemur for the eyes) and was voiced by Clive Revill. For the 2004 DVD release of the Star Wars Trilogy, the scene in Episode V was reshot with Ian McDiarmid replacing Revill as the Emperor, with new lines recorded for both McDiarmid and James Earl Jones (the voice of Darth Vader). In the Clone Wars cartoon series, Nick Jameson voiced Palpatine.

The origin of the name "Palpatine" is not known. It may come from the word "palatine," meaning "relating to a palace," which is fitting for a supreme dictator. Some have speculated that it refers to Leonard Harris's character in Taxi Driver, Senator Palantine (note the difference in spelling.) Another theory suggests he was named for Palatine Hill, where Romulus and Remus were found and raised by she-wolf according to Roman mythology.

Some have noted a visual resemblance between Senator Palpatine and United States Senator Joseph Lieberman. There is also a notable resemblance in appearance and persona between the elderly Palpatine and Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter series.

Quotations

As Darth Sidious

• "Viceroy, I don't want this stunted slime in my sight again." (about Daultray Dofine, who said Sidious' scheme had failed)
• "I will make it legal." (after Nute Gunray asked if an invasion of Naboo would be legal)
• "Wipe them out--all of them."

Politics

• "Enter the bureaucrats, the true rulers of the Republic, and on the payroll of the Trade Federation I might add. This is where Chancellor Valorum's stength will disappear."
• "A surprise to sure, but a welcome one." (on his nomination to become Chancellor)
• "I will not let this Republic, that has stood for a thousand years, be split in two."
• "It is with great reluctance that I have agreed to this calling. I love democracy. I love the Republic. The power you give me I will lay down when this crisis has abated. And as my first act with this new authority, I will create a grand army of the Republic to counter the increasing threat from the Separatists." (being given emergency powers)

Anakin Skywalker

• "We are indebted to you for your bravery Obi-Wan Kenobi and you young Skywalker. We will watch your career with great interest."
• "I have said it many times; you are the most gifted Jedi I have ever met."
• "I see you becoming the greatest of all the Jedi, Anakin. Even more powerful than Master Yoda."

About Luke Skywalker

• "The Force is strong with him. The son of Skywalker must not become a Jedi."
• "It is of no concern. Soon the Rebellion will be crushed and young Skywalker will be one of us."(after Vader mentioned the Alliance was massing near Sullust.)

Trying to turn Luke Skywalker to the dark side

• "I'm looking forward to completing your training. In time, you will call me 'Master.'"
• "Your faith in your friends is yours." (retort to Luke's statement that Palpatine's overconfidence was his weakness)
• "It is unavoidable, it is your destiny. You, like your father, are now...mine!"
• "Use your aggressive feelings, boy. Let the hate flow through you."
• "Good! Your hate has made you powerful. Now fulfill your destiny and take your father's place at my side!"
• "So be it...Jedi."(after Luke refuses the dark side and declares himself a Jedi)

Quotes about Palpatine

• "The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am."

-Darth Vader, Return of the Jedi

• "...the pure exercise of power is what he's all about. That's the only thing he's interested in and the only thing that can satisfy him — which makes him completely fascinating to play, because it is an evil soul. He is more evil than the devil. At least Satan fell — he has a history, and it's one of revenge."

-Ian McDiarmid, interview with Star Wars Insider

• "The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us. I have just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away."

-Grand Moff Tarkin, A New Hope