Summary
Emperor Palpatine’s plan to take over the galaxy worked almost seamlessly, but he may have had a different one inStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, one that would have been an even bigger success. Sheev Palpatine carefully plotted his takeover of the galaxy throughout the prequel trilogy ofStar Warsmovies. Every moment, from the Invasion of Naboo to the onset of the Clone Wars, was tailor made to fit his grand design. Palpatine’s planning abilities are why he’s themost powerful Sith Lord inStar Wars, but they may not have been as great as they seemed.
Palpatine’s takeover ofthe Galactic Republicalways seemed like a perfectly ingenious plan. He seemed to know every move both the Jedi and the Republic would make even before they did, and he accounted for nearly all of them flawlessly. He was a true puppet master, but there may have been one key moment that he wasn’t fully in control for. The beginning ofThe Phantom Menacesaw one of the few times Palpatine was on the back foot, and that moment may have completely transformed his plan and theentireStar Warstimeline.
Star Wars: Emperor Palpatine’s 20 Best Quotes
The Star Wars franchise is unmatched for quotable lines, and some of the best are spoken by the villainous Emperor Palpatine.
Palpatine Didn’t Anticipate The Jedi On Naboo
When Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi were sent to settle the Trade Federation’s blockade of Naboo, it threw a wrench in Palpatine’s plan.He clearly didn’t anticipate their arrival - he told Nute Gunray as much, as he said “This turn of events is unfortunate. We must accelerate our plans,” - because Chancellor Valorum sent them without consulting the Jedi High Council. WhatThe Phantom Menacedoesn’t explicitly explain, however, is just how much Palpatine had to change his plans because of the Jedi’s arrival on Naboo. Since he didn’t anticipate the Jedi’s involvement and had to adjust to the changing circumstances, Palpatine almost certainly had a different plan.
Since he didn’t anticipate the Jedi’s involvement and had to adjust to the changing circumstances, Palpatine almost certainly had a different plan.
Palpatine’s original plan probably hinged on the well-founded belief that the Jedi High Council wouldn’t have sent anyone to get involved in a trade dispute.Without the Jedi’s presence, though, Naboo would have fallen to the Trade Federation’s blockade, Padmé Amidala would have been killed, and Palpatine wouldn’t have been able to manipulate her into calling a vote of no confidence in Valorum. Palpatine’s rise in power seems to have been completely a product of his adaptation skills, not his planning. If his original plan didn’t include the Jedi, then it must have been spread out over a much longer timeline.
Palpatine’s Rise To Power Would’ve Been More Gradual… & Effective
Palpatine’s original plan was probably much more drawn out than the one he was forced to adapt to. Instead of rocketing into the position of Supreme Chancellor, Palpatine could have continued to work from the shadows and manipulate events.That protracted timeline would have made Palpatine’s rise to power even more effective: he could have perfectly set the stage for all of his pieces to fall into place, rather than hastily seizing an opportunity like he did inThe Phantom Menace. It’s easy to see how Palpatine’s original plan would have better set him up for power than the one he was forced into following.
Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious
The senator for Naboo, Palpatine rose to power and influence during the dying days of the Republic. In reality, his public persona was just a mask; he was really Darth Sidious, greatest of the Sith Lords, and he used his political skills and Machiavellian cunning to bring down both the Republic and the Jedi. Palpatine ruled his Galactic Empire for decades, until he was betrayed by his apprentice, Darth Vader. Even this wasn’t enough to stop the Emperor, however, as he was resurrected by his followers - only to be defeated once again.
Palpatine could have used the Invasion of Naboo as a way to paint himself as a champion of an oppressed people and gain even more support and sympathy than he got inThe Phantom Menace. That would have made his claim to authority even more legitimate, and it might have even been enough to get him elected in a true election rather than after Valorum’s vote of no confidence. Palpatine’s takeover of the Galactic Republic would have taken years, not days, and it would have gone through normal channels. That could have been enough to verify no one saw his true plans.
The Jedi Wouldn’t Have Known About The Sith
Another feature of Palpatine’s original plan that had to be scrapped due to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan’s involvement was Darth Maul. At the start ofThe Phantom Menace, Maul was completely hidden, and he only revealed himself to try to kill the Jedi.If things had gone according to Palpatine’s original plan, Maul would have stayed in the shadows, and the Jedi would never have known that the Sith had returned. If the Jedi weren’t aware of Maul and the Sith’s return, it would have had far-reaching effects.
Darth Maul
Palpatine’s apprentice, Darth Maul was nothing more than a tool to winnow down the ranks of the Jedi ahead of Darth Sidious' true plans. Discarded after he was defeated by Obi-Wan Kenobi on Naboo, Darth Maul swore revenge against all those he blamed for his past struggles - Jedi and Sith alike. Maul tended to operate within the shadows, running various syndicates, and even established himself as a true rival for Palpatine on at least one occasion. He was eventually killed by Obi-Wan in a duel on Tatooine.
Count Dooku
The apprentice of Master Yoda, Count Dooku’s interest in prophecy and ancient Jedi texts led him inexorably to the dark side. He somehow discovered the existence of the Sith, and became Palpatine’s apprentice after the death of Darth Maul. Dooku’s inherited title as Count of Serenno gave him vast political influence, which he used as leader of the Separatist movement during the Clone Wars. He was ultimately killed by Anakin Skywalker, realizing too late that Palpatine had tricked him.
If the Sith could have stayed hidden, it would have made it significantly easier for Palpatine to sneak around, as the Jedi wouldn’t have been looking for the Sith master, and Count Dooku likely would have been written off as just a fallen Jedi. It also would have meant that Maul would still be a Sith long afterThe Phantom Menace.Maul could have gotten quite a bit done in that time, like assassinating Palpatine’s political rivals, such as Bail Organa or Mon Mothma. He would have been much more capable of such assassinations than Dooku was, particularly because the Jedi wouldn’t have been expecting it.
Palpatine Could Have Risen To Power At The Beginning Of The Clone Wars
Palpatine’s original plan wouldn’t have seen him become Supreme Chancellor when he did.If he hadn’t become Supreme Chancellor during the Invasion of Naboo, then Palpatine was probably planning to take over the Senate at the onset of the Clone Wars. After years of positioning himself as a Senator who was being oppressed by the Trade Federation and their allies, the Clone Wars would have vindicated him. He then would have been the perfect person to run for Supreme Chancellor, and he could have even included the emergency powers he wanted all along in his campaign.
32 BBY
22 BBY
19 BBY
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Palpatine’s Death
4 ABY
If Palpatine had run for Supreme Chancellor when he originally intended, it also would have let him avoid suspicion.ByStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, the Jedi and Senators like Padmé Amidala were growing suspicious of Palpatine’s growing emergency powers. If he had campaigned under the promise of using them, however, he would have had a clear mandate, and no one would have thought he was following some political scheme. That, coupled with the fact that the Jedi would have only learned of the Sith’s return through Dooku, would mean Mace Windu and the other Jedi would never have tried to oust him from power.
10 Unmistakable Emperor Palpatine Character Traits In Star Wars
Emperor Palpatine was a Sith Lord who pulled off the impossible, all due to a mixture of nefarious character traits that made him the monster he was.
In essence, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi’s presence during the Invasion of Naboo was a butterfly effect that changed the entire galaxy. If they hadn’t been sent by Valorum, Palpatine’s plan would have went as he originally intended. Qui-Gon would have survived, but he never would have found Anakin Skywalker, and Palpatine’s rise to power wouldn’t have received a fraction of the pushback that it did. He would have had a clear path to becoming Emperor, and nothing could have stopped him. In a way, Chancellor Valorum saved the entire galaxy all the way back inThe Phantom Menace.
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Cast
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace is set in a galaxy facing political turmoil, as Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi seek peace while encountering Anakin Skywalker, a slave with great potential in the Force. Meanwhile, the Sith begin their resurgence, threatening the stability of the Republic.
