The
Old Republic
Star
Wars Episode IV: A New Hope Novelization
A
novel by George Lucas, 1976
The following is an
excerpt from the preface:
"ANOTHER galaxy,
another time.
The Old Republic was
the Republic of legend, greater than distance or time. No need
to note where it was or whence it came, only to know that...it
was the Republic.
Once, under the wise
rule of the Senate and the protection of the Jedi Knights, the
Republic throve and grew. But as often happens when wealth and
power pass beyond the admirable and attain the awesome, then appear
those evil ones who have greed to match.
So it was with the
Republic at its height. LIke the greatest of trees, able to withstand
any external attack, the Republic rotted from within though the
danger was not visible from outside.
Aided and abetted by
restless, power-hungry individuals within the government, and
the massive organs of commerce, the ambitious Senator Palpatine
caused himself to be elected President of the Republic. He promised
to reunite the disaffected among the people and to restore the
remembered glory of the Republic.
Once secure
in office he declared himself Emperor..."
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A
Guide to the Star Wars Universe
by
Bill Slavicsek
Second Edition, Revised and Expanded, 1994
Here
follows the complete entry for "Old Republic, the."
The entire entry is drawn only from the films, the radio dramas,
and the film novelizations.
"The
Old Republic was a democratic galactic government that spanned
time as well as distance. For over a thousand generations, this
government spread justice and freedom from star system to star
system. Elected senators and administrators from all the member
worlds participated in the governing process, and the noble jedi
Knights served as the Republic's protectors and defenders. In
the years prior to the current era, corruption, greed, and internal
strife began to destroy the Old Republic from within. Special-interest
groups and power-hungry individuals accomplished what no outside
threat ever could--they weakened the galactic government and gave
rise to apathy, social injustice, ineffectiveness, and chaos.
To reverse this destructive trend, or at least give the impression
that something was being done, both sides elected a compromise
candidate to serve as president of the Senate.
"For
all his promises and plans, the newly elected Senator Palpatine
quickly named himself Emperor, abolished the Republic, and began
a reign of terror and even greator social injustice based upon
his dark vision of a New Order. The Old Republic passed away,
and the Empire was born."
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Star
Wars: The Lost Episodes
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