User:OberRanks/Ranks Workshop

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1 Star Wars ranks
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[edit] Star Wars ranks

Rank Insignia of the Galactic Empire refers to badges of military rank that are displayed in the Star Wars feature films, worn by Imperial Navy and Army characters. The insignia was invented by the producers of the Star Wars films, influenced by George Lucas's theme of the Imperial Empire equatting to Nazi Germany with storm troopers, black uniformed security police, and an overall atmosphere of oppresion.

Neither Lucas or the Star Wars producers have ever firmly established a pattern and system for the Imperial rank insignia seen in Star Wars. This has led to much speculation, conjecture, and entertainment by Star Wars fans. With this, over the past thirty years since the Imperial ranks first were seen in Star Wars, they have been portrayed in four of the six Star Wars films, countless comic books and novels, and have been computer enhanced to appear in at least four major video games.

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[edit] Moff

thumb|200px|right|Grand Moff Insignia In the fictional universe of Star Wars, a Moff is an Imperial rank honorifically bestowed among various servants of the Galactic Empire. A Moff can be elevated to one of three levels:

(Sector) Moff
Grand Moff (Regional Governor)
Supreme Moff (Theoretical only)

The Moff Honorific can be granted to Imperial territorial governors; sectoral governors are granted flag rank equivalent to just senior of the High Admiral and Surface Marshal ranks in the Navy and Army, respectively; this allows the sectoral governor to simultaneously and directly command all armed forces in all branches through his sector. Sectoral governors are known as Moff Governors (or Sector Moffs). "Priority Sectors", "Oversectors", and regions are governed by Grand Moff Governors (or Regional Governors) with even higher equivalent flag rank than the Moff Governors. It is unknown what territories would exist under a Supreme Moff Governor's area of responsibility since none have been known to exist.

Moff and Grand Moff are also titles awarded to other Imperial servants as Moff Commander. The director of Imperial Center (Coruscant) Security was titled a Moff as was the Commander of the second Death Star (Moff Jerjerrod). Other officials, such as a possible chief of clone Stormtrooper production have been awarded the title of Grand Moff. The Emperor's Moff Governors and Grand Moff Governors were granted unlimited political control over their territories after the disbandment of the Imperial Senate, as part of Emperor Palpatine's effort to wipe out all vestiges of the Galactic Republic.

Analysis of rank badges and implication from the Expanded Universe novels has established that the rank of Grand Admiral, and presumably Grand General, are senior to Moffs.^{[citation needed]} Such personnel are directly appointed by Emperor Palpatine and outrank all Imperial personnel, military and civil. Grand Admiral Thrawn was one such officer who held this highest of Imperial ranks.

The concept of the Imperial Moff is based on the historic SS and Police Leaders of Nazi Germany.

[edit] Insignia

thumb|200px|right|Later Version Moff Insignia

The insignia for Moff is a multi-colored breast badge, with the number of yellow squares indicating the seniority of the Moff. For example, a Moff would wear two yellow squares, a Grand Moff three, and a Supreme Moff would wear four.^{[citation needed]}

A later insignia version consolidated all the Moff rank badges into one, and comprised seven red and blue rank squares. Both versions of the Moff rank badge display two code cylinders as part of the rank insignia.

Moff Jerjerrod, seen in the opening scene of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi was intended to have worn the updated Moff rank badge. Due to a costume problem, however, all the Imperial characters in Return of the Jedi were shown wearing Navy Commander badges.

[edit] Famous Moffs

Grand Moff Tarkin was the commander of the first Death Star. He was a ruthless and brilliant military commander, but he died in the explosion of the Death Star at the end of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. He is referred to as "Governor Tarkin" in the film.

Moff Jerjerrod was the commander of the Second Death Star. He was also killed in the destruction of the battle station at the end of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.

Moff Panaka was a former security guard captain protecting Queen Padmé Amidala on Naboo during the Battle of Naboo and long time follower of Palpatine. One of the items in Palpatine's receiving chamber was a gift from him.

Grand Moff Trachta was a cyborg who attempted to usurp control of the Galactic Empire from Palpatine and Darth Vader.

[edit] Grand Admiral

thumb|right|195px|Thrawn's Grand Admiral insignia The rank of Grand Admiral first appeared in the original Timothy Zahn novel: Heir to the Empire. In the novel, Zahn introduces the readers to the character of Grand Admiral Thrawn who has since become a major figure in Star Wars Expanded Universe literature.

According to the Zahn novels, as well as subsequent publications, Grand Admiral is a supreme military rank of the Galactic Empire, outranking all other political and military personnel, including the Imperial Moffs. Grand Admirals were directly appointed by Emperor Palpatine and answered directly to the Emperor, or his authorized executors, in all matters.

At the time of the Battle of Endor, marked by many as the beginning of the fall of the Galactic Empire, there were a total of twelve Grand Admirals and Grand Generals in service with Thrawn the last known Grand Admiral who had recieved his appointment in secret.

The insignia for Grand Admiral was first seen on the front cover of Heir to the Empire and was similar to the insignia of a Moff. The insignia consisted of seven blue and red squares, with two code cylinders, worn on a white uniform.

[edit] High General

thumb|right|195px|High General rank insignia High General was a rank that appeared in the script of the original Star Wars as the rank held by the character of High General Tagge, seen in the Death Star conference room (vocally opposing ignorance of the Rebel Alliance) in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. High General Tagge’s rank insignia appeared as a row of red squares with three code cylinders.

Tagge is referred to as "Commander" in the film, but by his rank of High General in the novel of Star Wars and the in the film's script. Star Wars Expanded Universe literature also gives reference to a rank of High Admiral.