501st Legion

The 501st Legion, also known as the 501st Battalion or simply the 501st, was a legion of elite clone troopers who fought under the Galactic Republic through its transition into the Galactic Empire. The Legion was secretly commissioned by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, who later deployed it to fight in the Clone Wars with the Senate's permission. Since its action at the First Battle of Geonosis, it gained a reputation as an effective fighting force, often achieving victory against overwhelming odds.

Made up of units like Torrent Company, the 501st fought many key battles throughout the war, such as the Battle of Teth and the Battle of Coruscant, becoming one of the most well-known clone trooper legions. While fighting for the preservation of the Republic, the 501st also undertook covert operations that boosted the political agenda of Chancellor Palpatine.

The Legion's troops were initially issued standard white Phase I clone trooper armor. Towards the end of the Clone Wars, the soldiers transitioned to Phase II armor with navy blue markings.

When Chancellor Palpatine - in reality the Sith Lord Darth Sidious - issued Order 66, the 501st became the personal unit of his apprentice, Darth Vader. He led them in Operation: Knightfall, in which the clones helped take down the Jedi, believing them traitors to the Republic. Shortly after the Jedi Purge and the formation of the Galactic Empire, the Grand Army of the Republic was absorbed into Stormtrooper Corps, given new armor and new weapons. They quickly gained a fearsome reputation as Vader's most elite soldiers, earning them the moniker of "Vader's Fist," and after the Kamino uprising, they became the last remnant of the Grand Army of the Republic fully composed of Jango Fett clones. In the ever-growing and diversifying army, the Fett clones were becoming a minority, with the inclusion of pools of clones from different templates, while others were birth-born recruits from Imperial academies; by 0 BBY though, Lord Vader was known to comb through the ranks of all stormtrooper units and transferring the very best to the 501st, a fact that angered other Imperial figures- like Emperor's Hand Mara Jade - who had to work with lesser qualified units.

Under the supervision of the Supreme Commander, Darth Vader, the Legion fought in a number of battles during the Galactic Civil War in an effort to defeat the Rebel Alliance and bring peace to the galaxy; however, the Alliance ultimately triumphed, and the 501st was disbanded after the Battle of Endor.

Later, Grand Admiral Thrawn resurrected the designation by forming a new 501st Legion. The Chiss commander also added more diverse recruits to the 501st, including non-humans. The reconstituted 501st was stationed in the Unknown Regions, where they protected Thrawn's Empire of the Hand. Over a century later, the Legion was in the service of a new Empire, by then under the rule of Emperor Roan Fel.

When Fel was deposed by the Sith Lord Darth Krayt shortly after the conclusion of the Sith–Imperial War, the 501st Legion fell under the control of the new Dark Lord of the Sith in the year 130 ABY. Seven years later, however, Fel returned from exile and joined in the war against Krayt in order to reclaim his throne. Under the leadership of General Oron Jaeger, the 501st deserted the Sith Lord's Galactic Empire in order to join the Fel faction.

Text and facts from the “501st Legion/Legends” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.