Grand Moff Tarkin
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Wilhuff Tarkin (60 BBY - 0 BBY) is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, portrayed in the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope by the British actor Peter Cushing.
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."
The Rebel Alliance frequently jumped across Imperial sectors to avoid detection. To counter this, 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.
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.
As part of the triumvirate with Admiral Motti and General Tagge that governed the first Death Star, he destroyed Princess Leia's home planet of Alderaan merely as a show of force. By this time, Palpatine was suspicious of Tarkin's loyalty and sent Darth Vader to oversee construction and keep the Grand Moff in check. He was killed when the Rebels destroyed the Death Star at the Battle of Yavin.
Tarkin appeared very briefly at the end of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, played by Wayne Pygram. He neither speaks nor is addressed in this role, and is only seen walking away from the Emperor to make way for Darth Vader on the bridge of the command ship.
Appearances (Chronological):
- Darth Maul: Saboteur
- Cloak of Deception
- Rogue Planet
- Boba Fett: Pursuit
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Empire: Betrayal
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
External links
- Page about Tarkin at starwars.com (http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/grandmofftarkin/)da:Grand Moff Tarkin