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Summary
Darth Vader may be one of the best-known villains in cinema, but he was never at the top ofStar Wars’ big bad hierarchy. As every fan knows, he wasn’t even second in charge of the Empire on his first appearance. One of the few characters able to order Lord Vader around was Grand Moff Tarkin, the commander of the first Death Star so brilliantly played by Peter Cushing. Although this title wasn’t used in the film and was only confirmed in the movie’s end credits, Cushing’s performance set the template for every Moff that followed.
The Empire ofStar Warsis a curious mix of the dark and devious machinations of the Dark Side of the Force and a strict military dictatorship. Although a powerful Sith. Emperor Palpatine successfully obliterated millennia of the Republic by creating a vast web of ruthless bureaucracy that could work alongside him and Vader. That ensured he could rule an Empire without drowning in the complications of running it. The ruthless Tarkin, who was only defeated by a plucky teen from the outer rim exploiting a design flaw in hisvast superweapon, is a powerful example of that ruthless bureaucracy.
What Are Moffs In Star Wars?
Moff is a political position most commonly associated with the years of the Empire, although it had been used before and would, in some notable cases, survive the rise of the New Republic.
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.
So says Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin inStar Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope.Moffs were a huge part of the control the Emperor exerted over the galaxy. As Tarkin explains, the Emperor had kept an increasingly weakening puppet senate in place for many years after the fall of the Republic up to the first activation of the DS-1 Death Star. All power was centralized in the Emperor’s hands, although he relied on a complicated network of delegation to impose the New Order — the rule-based ideology and effective religion of the Empire.
Key to this power structure were the Moffs, governors of galactic sectors. The Moffs were handed direct control of their territories with the dissolution of the Senate, but they had long been a part of Emperor Palpatine’s plan for control. This Imperial position was created in the final years of the Clone Wars under the Sector Governance Decree.
Once the Emperor was in place, the Moffs enforced his rule within their territories, and the role of Grand Moff was introduced as the Rebel Alliance gained traction. Grand Moffs like Tarkin had military control over multiple sectors, superseding Moffs, Planetary Governors, and other local authorities. This included the Death Star, which Tarkin took control of followinghis battle with Director Krennic, as seen inRogue One: A Star Wars Story.
The term Moff was taken from previous titles in the Galactic and Sith Republics. In the Galactic Republic, it was a name given to former warlords who had peacefully joined the Republic. This would be echoed in roles taken by some Imperial Moffs, like Gideon, after the Battle of Endor. During the Sith Empire — 5,000 years before the construction of the first Death Star — Moff had been an honorary title awarded for valuable contributions to the Empire.
How Many Moffs Are There In Star Wars?
Expanded media, includingexcellent comic runsand the booksTarkin,Aftermath: Life Debt,and 2024’sThe Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire, have helped to establish the picture of how Moffs operated in the Empire. A key event during the Emperor’s rule was the execution of Dodd Rancit for treason after he became embroiled in a Rebel plot 14 years before the destruction of the DS-1 Death Star. In the aftermath, Palpatine tightened his grip on power by creating a committee of his loyal governors: The Council of Moffs.
The Republic had been divided into a thousand sectors, but the Emperor’s assignment of the Moffs often didn’t comply with these established borders. Some Moffs managed sectors stretching far beyond traditional boundaries, while others took control of important planets. However, the number of operating Moffs is thought to have been over a thousand by the Battle of Endor. This number fell quickly in the years following the Emperor’s death as the New Republic established itself.
Although much of the information on the Moffs is part of the non-canonical Legends continuity, elements have been introduced into the core franchise. In Legends continuity, the Council of Moffs is of far greater importance to the New Republic era, as it formed the basis for the imperial remnant that survived the Empire’s fall under Admiral Gilad Pellaeon, Grand Admiral Thrawn’s trusted lieutenant.
Who Are Notable Moffs In Star Wars?
Tarkin is the most famous Moff inStar Wars, thanks to his chilling entrance inA New Hope. Although he didn’t survive the Battle of Yavin, dying along with the first Death Star, the Emperor’s right-hand man is the most important Moff in the franchise. His death was arguably more important than the Rebel Alliance’s impressive achievement in destroying the Empire’s superweapon. While the Rebels knew there was always a possibility that the Empire could construct a new Death Star, eliminating Tarkin created a power vacuum and removed an irreplaceable strategist.
Tarkin was utterly ruthless, as seen when he ordered the destruction of Alderaan with his new planet-destroying mega-weapon. He has continued to cast a long shadow over the franchise. He has continued to cast a long shadow over the franchise. His canonical role has been expanded by appearances inThe Clone Wars,RebelsandRogue One: A Star Wars Story, keeping him at the top of the all-time list ofStar Warsvillains. Books, especially 2014’sTarkin, explore his rise to the top of the Empire on the back of his influential Tarkin Doctrine. This dictated that the threat of using force was more effective and efficient than the use of force itself and became central to Imperial strategy. His success in the field earned him a promotion as the first Grand Moff in the Empire.
Moff Tiaan Jerjerrod (Michael Pennington) took a leading role in constructing both Death Stars. He inherited the commanding role from Tarkin, although he was tactically inferior to the Grand Moff and subordinate to Vader. Jerjerrod was in charge of the second superweapon and met Lord Vader when he arrived on the Death Star ahead of the Emperor. When the Rebel Alliance launched their attack inReturn of the Jedi, he deployed the devastating laser against the unsuspecting fleet.
Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) emerged as the main antagonist inThe Mandalorian. Working apart from the remnant of the Empire operating after the Emperor’s death, thevillainous Gideon had become a warlord. His machinations saw him subvert the resources of the Empire, and for a short while, he was the holder of the legendary Darksaber.
Using his loyal faction, Gideon attempted to secure the blood of the Force-sensitive child Grogu to create clones of himself with Force powers. His plan and his past as a key player in the Great Purge of Mandalore put him into direct conflict with the Mandalorian Din Djarin.
