Palpatine

{{main|Star Wars original trilogy}}

{{main|Star Wars original trilogy}}

The character is referred to as "the Emperor" in the [[Star Wars original trilogy|original trilogy]]. He is briefly mentioned in ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' (1977), the first film in the original trilogy, which was later retitled ''Episode IV{{snd}}A New Hope''. On the [[Death Star]], [[Grand Moff Tarkin]] explains to his fellow Imperials that the Emperor has dissolved the Imperial Senate, the last remnant of the [[Galactic Republic (Star Wars)|Old Republic]]. The Emperor does not appear on-screen, leaving Tarkin and [[Darth Vader]] as the film's main villains. The Emperor first appears in ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'', the 1980 sequel to the original film. He appears as a hologram to inform Vader that [[Luke Skywalker]] has become a threat to the Empire. Vader persuades him that the young Jedi would be a great asset if he could be turned to the dark side of the Force.<ref name="Star Wars Databank-2">{{cite web|url=https://www.starwars.com/databank/character/palpatine/|title=Palpatine|website=Star Wars Databank|access-date=February 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216025044/http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/palpatine|archive-date=December 16, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

The character is referred to as "the Emperor" in the [[Star Wars original trilogy|original trilogy]]. He is briefly mentioned in ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' (1977), the first film in the original trilogy, which was later retitled ''Episode IV{{snd}}A New Hope''. On the [[Death Star]], [[Grand Moff Tarkin]] explains to his fellow Imperials that the Emperor has dissolved the Imperial Senate, the last remnant of the [[Galactic Republic (Star Wars)|Old Republic]]. The Emperor does not appear on-screen, leaving Tarkin and [[Darth Vader]] as the film's main villains. The Emperor first appears in ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'', the 1980 sequel to the original film. He appears as a hologram to inform Vader that [[Luke Skywalker]] has become a threat to the Empire. Vader persuades him that the young Jedi would be a great asset if he could be turned to the dark side of the Force.<ref name="Star Wars Databank-2">{{cite web|url=https://www.starwars.com/databank/character/palpatine/|title=Palpatine|website=[[Star Wars Databank]]|access-date=February 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216025044/http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/palpatine|archive-date=December 16, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1983's ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'', the Emperor appears in person to oversee the last stages of the second [[Death Star]]'s construction. He assures Vader that they will together turn Luke, Vader's son, to the dark side of the Force. Unbeknownst to Vader, the Emperor plans to replace him with Luke; Vader, meanwhile, intends to overthrow the Emperor and rule the galaxy with Luke at his side. When Vader brings Luke before his master, the Emperor tempts Luke to join the dark side by appealing to the young Jedi's fear for his friends, whom he has lured into a trap.<ref name="Star Wars Databank-2"/> This leads to a [[lightsaber]] duel in which Luke defeats and nearly kills Vader. The Emperor betrays his apprentice by urging Luke to kill Vader and take his place, but Luke refuses and declares himself a Jedi. Enraged, the Emperor attacks Luke with [[Force lightning]]. Unable to bear the sight of his son in pain, Vader throws the Emperor down a chasm to his death shortly before the Death Star is destroyed.<ref name="Star Wars Databank-2"/>

In 1983's ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'', the Emperor appears in person to oversee the last stages of the second [[Death Star]]'s construction. He assures Vader that they will together turn Luke, Vader's son, to the dark side of the Force. Unbeknownst to Vader, the Emperor plans to replace him with Luke; Vader, meanwhile, intends to overthrow the Emperor and rule the galaxy with Luke at his side. When Vader brings Luke before his master, the Emperor tempts Luke to join the dark side by appealing to the young Jedi's fear for his friends, whom he has lured into a trap.<ref name="Star Wars Databank-2"/> This leads to a [[lightsaber]] duel in which Luke defeats and nearly kills Vader. The Emperor betrays his apprentice by urging Luke to kill Vader and take his place, but Luke refuses and declares himself a Jedi. Enraged, the Emperor attacks Luke with [[Force lightning]]. Unable to bear the sight of his son in pain, Vader throws the Emperor down a chasm to his death shortly before the Death Star is destroyed.<ref name="Star Wars Databank-2"/>