For other uses, see Galactic empire (disambiguation).
"Imperial Empire" redirects here. For empires that were "Imperial" related or use the term "Imperial", see List of empires.
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Galactic empires are a science fiction setting trope, in which most or all of the habitable planets in the setting's galaxy are ruled by a single centralized political entity. Galactic empires most frequently appear in works in the sub-genres of science fantasy and space opera, although they may appear in other sub-genres as well. Works featuring galactic empires may have them as the story's focus, chronicling the empire's growth and/or decline. Alternatively, they may merely serve as a backdrop against which the events of the story play out.
While depictions of galactic empires can vary wildly from work to work, most galactic empires share several key tropes:
The empire, or at least its wealthier and more powerful regions, has advanced considerably in science and technology compared to current human civilization.
Among these advances are some form of faster-than-light travel, which enables transit and communication across the empire's extent to occur in a reasonable time frame.
Habitable worlds are either directly administered by representatives of the centralized imperial government, or else their local leadership is ultimately subordinate to the central government.
Characterizations of these empires can vary wildly from work to work. They may be benevolent or malevolent; all-powerful or too weak or incompetent to exert power in anything but name; or anywhere in between.
Galacticempires are a science fiction setting trope, in which most or all of the habitable planets in the setting's galaxy are ruled by a single centralized...
humanity's distant future, two interstellar states – the monarchic GalacticEmpire and the democratic Free Planets Alliance – are embroiled in a never-ending...
The GalacticEmpire series (also called the Empire novels or trilogy) is a science fiction sequence of three of Isaac Asimov's earliest novels, and extended...
entity in the Star Wars universe that predates the formation of the GalacticEmpire. It is prominently featured in the prequel trilogy of Star Wars films...
original trilogy, Palpatine is depicted as the evil Emperor of the GalacticEmpire and the master of Darth Vader. The character has a larger role in the...
city was Galactic City (built at least in 100,000 BBY, partially destroyed in 27 and 44 ABY). It was Imperial City under the GalacticEmpire and was Republic...
Free Planets Alliance and the Imperial Calendar (R.C.) used in the GalacticEmpire. Golden Wings (From the beginning to 18:30) "Spiral Labyrinth" (Gaiden...
group of rebels conducting covert operations to thwart the sinister GalacticEmpire, including Kanan Jarrus, Hera Syndulla, Ezra Bridger, Zeb Orrellios...
Raalgon Empire (The Irresponsible Captain Tylor) GalacticEmpire (Legend of the Galactic Heroes) Fel EmpireGalactic Federation of Free Alliances Galactic Empire...
nearly 25,000 years, created through the gradual fusion of the Robot, GalacticEmpire, and Foundation book series written by American author Isaac Asimov...
who oppose the GalacticEmpire and its authoritarian rule. Its stated goal is to restore the liberal governance of the previous Galactic Republic, which...
stories and novels into a single future history: his Robot series, his GalacticEmpire series and his Foundation series. (Asimov also carried out this unification...
as a high-ranking officer of the GalacticEmpire, placed in charge of the operations on the Death Star, the Empire's moon–sized battle station. He orders...
Series" in 1966. His other major series are the GalacticEmpire series and the Robot series. The GalacticEmpire novels are set in the much earlier history...
female who lived during the final decades of the Galactic Republic and into the era of the GalacticEmpire. Alongside her husband, Clem, Maarva became the...
franchise, namely the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the First GalacticEmpire, the Imperial Remnant and the First Order all originated, with the...
film (1977). It depicts the GalacticEmpire hunting down the last of the Jedi while a fledgling rebellion against the Empire emerges. The visual style of...
examples are the GalacticEmpire in Star Wars, which forms as a result of a fascist auto-coup which abolishes the liberal-democratic Galactic Republic and...
a member of the Chiss race, Thrawn leads remnants of the scattered GalacticEmpire in the aftermath of its fall. In the Thrawn trilogy, Thrawn returns...