Grand Moff Tarkin

Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin (64 BBY - 0 BBY) is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, portrayed in the film ' by British actor Peter Cushing.

Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope

A native of the planet Eriadu, Tarkin had a reputation as a brutal, cold and ruthless Imperial officer dating to the early days of the Empire. A large group of protesters stood on a landing platform directly underneath his transport, protesting the Imperial taxation on the distant planet Ghorman. Tarkin ordered his ship to land anyway, crushing and killing hundreds of Imperial subjects. This incident became known as the "Ghorman Massacre." Rather than punish Tarkin, Emperor Palpatine made him the sector moff for Seswanna, where Eriadu was located. The massacre was the first manifestation of what became known as the Tarkin Doctrine, also known as the "doctrine of fear." Tarkin explained it simply: "Rule through the fear of force, rather than force itself."

Related Topics:
Eriadu - Imperial - Protester - Taxation - Ghorman - Moff - Tarkin Doctrine

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The Rebel Alliance frequently jumped across Imperial sectors to avoid detection. As a countermeasure, Tarkin proposed dividing the Empire into "priority sectors." These would overlap the existing astrographic and political sectors and be defined by the level of treasonous activity. These sectors would be commanded by one official, a "Grand Moff." The Emperor granted Tarkin the title and a huge base of operations on the Outer Rim.

Related Topics:
Rebel Alliance - Treason

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Some had reservations about Tarkin's methods, suspecting them to be only efforts to enlarge his own position, in open opposition of Palpatine's agenda; projects of his, such as his Maw Installation (the research facility in the Maw, which developed most of the superweapons the Empire was noted for, such as the Death Star, the World Devastators and the Sun Crusher) only supported such theories.

Related Topics:
Maw Installation - Death Star - World Devastators - Sun Crusher

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