What Is The State Of The Empire During 'The Mandalorian'?
Image Source: Wookieepedia
With the recent release of The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire, as well as The Battle of Jakku maxi-series from Marvel releasing throughout the end of 2024, we here at Culture Slate thought it was a good time to examine the Galactic Empire. Specifically, what is the state of the Empire during the era of The Mandalorian and its spinoff shows? The answer: Not good.
As many fans will be aware, the Empire is considered defeated during the era of The Mandalorian. Following the Battle of Endor, the Empire began to fracture, as there was no effective leaders to take the position left empty by Palpatine’s death. Some notable figures did rise to fill the gap, but the most important was a man named Gallius Rax. Found and mentored by Palpatine, Rax was given a unique mission in case the Emperor ever died.
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Image Source: Wookieepedia
Following Endor, Gallius Rax worked in secret to gather as many Imperial forces as he could to the planet of Jakku, where he claimed the Empire would be made stronger, and the New Republic would be unable to break their defenses. Instead, he helped engineer the Battle of Jakku, which was a plan to kill almost all combatants in the raging space and planetary battle through the detonation of the planet itself. He was stopped by Rae Sloane, and the destruction was averted. Despite this, thousands died in the fighting, with the remains of the Empire signing a formal treaty with the New Republic shortly afterward.
Image Source: StarWars.com
However, these officially-recognized remains of the Empire were minimal, and led by Mas Amedda, the Chagrian vizier to Palpatine whom Rax used as a puppet the year following the Battle of Endor. He commanded little power over the Imperial military assets, which scattered across the galaxy after Jakku. We know some surrendered to the New Republic, but others did not. Moff Gideon, as we see and learn about across the current three seasons of The Mandalorian, was captured by the New Republic, but escaped custody and began to operate a private empire, with elite assets in the form of Phase 3 Dark Troopers and cloning projects at his disposal.
Elsewhere, we know of the faction that would become the First Order, while elements within the First Order had connections with Palpatine’s cultists on Exegol, the Sith Eternal, and the brewing Final Order. These shadowy figures lurking in the background sought to clone a new body for their Sith Lord. It also appears that Imperial factions elsewhere in the galaxy were operating more like pirates, and sought to avoid the open attention of the New Republic. The Shadow Council we see in The Mandalorian Season 3 had many members, making up the future First Order, profit-focused factions, Gideon’s forces, and the others we know little about.
Image Source: Wookieepedia
In summary, by the time of The Mandalorian, the Empire is fragmented. But, as the shows have also told the audience, it is not truly defeated. Many groups plot together or in private against the New Republic and each other. The upcoming film, The Mandalorian & Grogu, already appears to feature Imperial forces located on an icy world, with equipment and some degree of strength at their disposal. The question is: Do these forces serve a warlord from the Shadow Council? Are they perhaps operating as a seeming independent outpost like the facility seen in Chapter 15: The Believer? We might have to wait a while to find out, but with the threat of Thrawn on the horizon, just how many of these Imperials will be removed from the playing field, and how many will continue to lie in wait until the sequel trilogy era?
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Sources: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire, The Battle of Jakku, Disney+
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