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Coruscant

Dec 01, 20246 min read

Coruscant is one of the most iconic planets in the Star Wars galaxy, functioning as the political, economic, and cultural hub for much of galactic history. Post-Clone Wars, during the early reign of the Galactic Empire, Coruscant undergoes significant changes as it transitions from being a Republic capital to the dark core of Emperor Palpatine’s New Order. Below, I’ll provide as many details as I can about the planet in that era—its state, its people, and the transformations that occur under the Empire.

Overview of Coruscant

Coruscant is best known as an ecumenopolis (a planet-wide city), fully covered by sprawling urban landscapes. It has been the seat of government for millennia, serving as the capital of the Republic, and later, of the Galactic Empire. Its galactic coordinates place it at the heart of galactic travel, acting as the “Zero Point” for hyperspace routes.

During the early Galactic Empire, Coruscant is renamed Imperial Center to reflect its new role as the locus of Emperor Palpatine’s authoritarian regime. While it remains visually similar—sleek spires, bustling airspeeder traffic, and layers upon layers of technological infrastructure—Coruscant’s culture, administration, and societal structure change significantly under Imperial rule.

Coruscant’s Physical Infrastructure

  1. Upper Levels of the City (Surface & Skyline):

    • These upper layers house the wealthy elite, high-ranking government officials, and influential Imperial loyalists.
    • The upper city still retains much of the glitz and glamour from its time as the Republic’s capital. The skyline is dominated by skyscrapers, including the Imperial Palace, formerly the Jedi Temple.
    • The Imperial Palace functions as Emperor Palpatine’s residence and the nerve center of the Empire, symbolizing the Sith’s dominance over the galaxy.

  2. Lower Levels (Underworld):

    • The planet’s lower levels descend deeper and deeper, with many areas entirely cutoff from sunlight.
    • The lower levels become even more marginalized under Imperial rule, as policing and maintenance further deteriorate. These areas are rife with crime, smuggling, gang activity, and poverty.
    • Entire species are subjected to structural inequality—alien populations are often forced into these lower levels where squalor and lawlessness reign.

Post-Clone Wars Coruscant

Following the events of the Clone Wars and the execution of Order 66, Coruscant becomes a darker, more oppressive place. Here’s how the Clone Wars’ aftermath and the Empire’s rise affect the planet:

1. Transition to Imperial Rule:

  • Coruscant witnesses Emperor Palpatine’s declaration of the Galactic Empire in 19 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin), a moment accompanied by intense propaganda and militarization.
  • The Senate remains active for a time as a ceremonial body called the “Imperial Senate.” Officially, it retains some consultative powers, but in truth, it is entirely beholden to the Emperor’s whims.
  • The Jedi Temple is converted into the Imperial Palace, a chilling act symbolizing the eradication of the Jedi Order. The structure’s vast halls are transformed into Sith training grounds, archival vaults, and centers for dark side activities.

2. Atmosphere of Fear and Surveillance:

  • The Galactic Empire institutes a surveillance state, with Imperial stormtroopers patrolling the streets and ISB (Imperial Security Bureau) agents monitoring dissent.
  • Public displays of force, propaganda holo-posters, and speeches cast Emperor Palpatine as a savior of the galaxy who ended the chaos of the Clone Wars.
  • Civil liberties are curtailed. Citizens—especially aliens—live in fear of secret arrests, interrogation, or execution.

3. Cultural and Social Shift:

Alien Populations:

  • Coruscant’s alien populations suffer under the Empire’s pro-human agenda, which views humanoids as superior. Many non-human species are forcibly relocated to the lower levels or deported entirely.
  • Alien workers see limited opportunities and are often forced into dangerous or menial jobs in the undercity.

The Elite and Privileged:

  • Wealthy and influential Imperial loyalists thrive, enjoying lavish lifestyles in luxury districts and supporting the New Order to maintain their privileges.
  • Coruscant’s elite grow increasingly insular under the Empire, distancing themselves from the daily struggles of the oppressed.

4. Urban Decay and Inequality:

  • The lower levels, which were neglected even during the Republic, plunge deeper into disrepair and despair.
  • Crime lords like the Black Sun and other criminal syndicates embed themselves into the lower levels, creating a thriving underworld economy for those who have nowhere else to turn.
  • Some sections of the underlevels are completely abandoned, becoming ghost cities full of vagrants and forgotten technology.

Life Under the Galactic Empire

  • Resentment begins to grow among both the everyday citizens of Coruscant and those in the underworld. However, open rebellion is extremely rare during this time because the Empire’s grip is near-total.
  • The suppression of alien rights directly affects the population; many aliens flee Coruscant entirely for systems less directly under Imperial control.
  • Human supremacism becomes entrenched in Coruscant’s culture under the Empire, reflecting Palpatine’s personal biases as well as the New Order’s propaganda.

Key Locations on Imperial Center

  1. Imperial Palace:

    • Formerly the Jedi Temple, this towering structure is reconfigured to serve the Emperor and his Imperial Court.
    • The Jedi’s sacred architecture is stripped away, adorned with ominous Sith iconography and battlements.
    • Rumors spread of dark side rituals taking place deep within the palace.

  2. Senate Rotunda:

    • The expansive domed hall where the Republic Senate once deliberated now operates as the ceremonial Imperial Senate.
    • It grows more irrelevant over time, as Palpatine rules unilaterally and eventually dissolves the Senate altogether in 0 BBY.

  3. Entertainment Districts:

    • Coruscant still has vast entertainment hubs, including casinos, theaters, luxury dining spots, and arenas. While some of these cater to the elite, others distract the masses from the oppressive reality of Imperial rule.
    • The Emperor encourages spectacles and disposable entertainment as tools of pacification.

  4. Lower Levels & Underworld:

    • These areas become increasingly lawless and dangerous as the Empire focuses its enforcement efforts on upper-levels and elite areas.

Rebellion and Dissent on Coruscant

  • The seeds of rebellion are scattered but small. Any organized dissent is ruthlessly quelled by the ISB or COMPNOR (Commission for the Preservation of the New Order). Despite this, pockets of resistance do exist:
    • Underground rebel cells form in the lower levels, passing along information and organizing small acts of sabotage or protest.
    • Espionage activities by individuals sympathetic to the Rebel Alliance occasionally occur, though they are extremely high-risk.

Conclusion: Coruscant in the Early Empire

In the early years of the Galactic Empire, Coruscant serves as a fitting microcosm of the galaxy itself, with the shiny, glamorous upper levels masking the growing horror and oppression below. While humans and loyalists thrive in the Emperor’s vast, stratified capital, aliens and dissenters suffer. The lower levels grow darker, crime increases, and the disparities between the rich and poor widen. The Jedi’s symbolic presence is erased, replaced instead by a manifestation of Sith power embodied in the Imperial Palace.

Coruscant during this time is a planet defined by contrast: the shimmering facade of Imperial prosperity hides the decay creeping closer with every act of repression. It remains a crucial centerpiece of Palpatine’s Empire—gleaming, dystopian, and suffocating under the weight of its authoritarian regime.

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