Skip to content

starwars.run

 Ask

Organization

Imperial Ruling Council

Legends Canon version → Linked from 125 articles

Legends. This article is part of Legends: the expanded-universe stories that Lucasfilm set apart from canon in 2014.

The Imperial Ruling Council, also known as the High Council and as the Emperor's Inner Circle, was a collective body of advisors led by Grand Vizier Sate Pestage that constituted the effective leadership of the Galactic Empire. While Palpatine was Emperor, the Council managed the daily affairs of the Empire and carried out the Emperor's will.

Following the Emperor's death at the Battle of Endor, Pestage took his throne as regent while other Councilors formed a tribunal known as the Emperor's Ruling Circle or Cabal in opposition, and ruled the Empire after the fall of Pestage and his successor, Director of Imperial Intelligence Ysanne Isard. The final death of a reborn Palpatine was orchestrated by a group of conspirators who seized power as the Imperial Interim Ruling Council, but fell to internal conflicts and the depredations of Imperial loyalists.

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

Facts

Leaders
Grand Vizier
Headquarters
Coruscant
Fragmented
5 ABY
Reorganized
4 ABY (as "Emperor's Ruling Circle")
11 ABY (as "Imperial Interim Ruling Council")
Dissolved
11 ABY
Affiliations
Galactic Empire
Thrawn's confederation
Dark Empire
Crimson Empire

Appearances

40 works, in story order
  1. Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
  2. Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Lightspeed (mentioned only, first identified)
  3. The Star Wars Holiday Special (first mentioned)
  4. Star Wars (1977) 49 (mentioned only)
  5. Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
  6. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi novelization (first appearance)
  7. Return of the Jedi 2
  8. X-Wing Rogue Squadron 21
  9. X-Wing Rogue Squadron 22
  10. X-Wing Rogue Squadron 24
  11. X-Wing Rogue Squadron 28
  12. X-Wing Rogue Squadron 29
  13. X-Wing Rogue Squadron 30
  14. X-Wing Rogue Squadron 31
  15. X-Wing Rogue Squadron 32
  16. X-Wing Rogue Squadron 33
  17. X-Wing Rogue Squadron 34
  18. X-Wing Rogue Squadron 35
  19. The Kaal Connection (indirect mention)
  20. X-Wing: Isard's Revenge (mentioned only)
  21. Dark Empire audio drama (mentioned only)
  22. Dark Empire 1 (mentioned only, first identified)
  23. Dark Empire II audio drama
  24. Dark Empire II 1
  25. Crimson Empire 0 (in a flashback)
  26. Crimson Empire 1 (mentioned only)
  27. Crimson Empire 2 (mentioned only)
  28. Crimson Empire 3 (mentioned only)
  29. Crimson Empire 6 (mentioned only)
  30. The Bounty Hunters: Kenix Kil (mentioned only)
  31. Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood 1 (first identified)
  32. Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood 2
  33. Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood 3
  34. Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood 4
  35. Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood 5
  36. Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood 6 (mentioned only)
  37. Crimson Empire III: Empire Lost 1 (mentioned only)
  38. Crimson Empire III: Empire Lost 3 (mentioned only)
  39. Crimson Empire III: Empire Lost 5 (mentioned only)
  40. The New Jedi Order: Destiny's Way (mentioned only)

Linked from

The best-known articles that mention Imperial Ruling Council.