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The Emperor's Royal Guard, also called Imperial Royal Guard and the Imperial Guard, was a highly elite guard unit tasked with the protection of Emperor Palpatine. The Emperor was almost never seen without a detachment of Royal Guards at his side, so much that they usually accompanied him to his bed chambers and his office within the Death Star. The Emperor's Royal Guard was the successor to the Republic's Red Guard.

The exact number of Royal Guardsmen serving the Emperor was unknown, with speculations ranging from less than fifty to tens of thousands, although their numbers were estimated to be at least four hundred at any one point. Like the Stormtroopers of the Stormtrooper Corps, the Royal Guards formed a military unit independent of the Imperial Military and directly answerable to the Emperor.

Contents 1 Organization and philosophy 2 History 3 Equipment and training 4 Royal Guards serving other Imperial commanders 5 Known members of the Royal Guard 5.1 Sovereign Protectors 5.2 Royal Guardsmen 5.3 Apprentice Guardsmen 5.4 Others 6 Behind the scenes 7 Appearances 7.1 Non-canon appearances 8 Sources 9 External links 10 See also 11 Notes and references

[edit] Organization and philosophy

This group was rumored for being a fierce fighting force^[1] and were personally hand picked by the Emperor to serve as his bodyguards.^[2] They were indoctrinated in the service of the Emperor to the point that they were completely subservient to his will.^[3] The members of this bodyguard detail were completely devoted to Palpatine and gladly gave their lives in his service.^[4] Those individuals that were part of the organization were trained to serve the Emperor loyally and completely. They would instantly turn against one another if commanded to do so and killed their fellow guardsmen without hesitation though they did feel remorse for doing so. They were so well trained that even when injured, they did not ask for mercy and none was afforded to them. Despite this loyalty, some guardsmen were known to gain their own ambitions as well as motives to the point that they plotted treasonous actions against the Emperor and even their comrades.^[5] Others were also loyal til the death of the Emperor after which they no longer identified themselves as members of the Royal Guard and believed the organization to had been destroyed.^[6] Some guardsmen also were capable of defecting as in one case, a member of the Royal Guard after participating in a terror attack became so horrified by his actions that he left the service and became a rebel.^[7]

It was never known how many members were present within the ranks of the Royal Guard because of the fact that they never fought as a unit.^[2] The knowledge of the number of these soldiers was made available to only the top Imperial brass and the Emperor himself.^[4] Speculation claimed that their numbers ranged from fifty to tens of thousands. All that was ultimately known was that they were a potent sub-unit within the Imperial military that was under the direct service of the Emperor.^[1] The only records regarding their exact number remained with Palpatine, in his private archives on Imperial Center, or Byss.^[6]

The primary duties of the Imperial Guard included the personal protection of Palpatine and those he designated as well as guarding his secret facilities and clone laboratories on Byss and the Emperor's Citadel. This task was considered the most prestigious and was usually reserved for the Sovereign Protectors.^[4] They were also involved with the security arrangements at the Imperial Palace.^[8] Being Palpatine's protectors meant that their mission involving stopping any assassination attempts on the Emperor's life as well as performing covert assault and even serving as assassins for their master. At least two guardsmen were always by Palpatine's side and within earshot of his Imperial Majesty at all times.^[2] Others operated the Guard training facility on Yinchorr or served at some of the Emperor's other safe-houses. In addition, Palpatine was known to loan detachments of the guard to his most trusted servants though many were not sure whether this was to genuinely protect their charges or to keep an eye on them for any signs of disloyalty.^[9]

During their service, they quickly became one of the most recognizable units within the Empire which was attributed largely to their unique armor.^[10] With their primary mission to protect the Emperor and any one he designated, the Royal Guard was never sent on combat missions as a corps. Instead, a few small elements of Royal Guardsmen were sent into combat on a rotating basis to keep them in fighting trim, appearing as and working alongside the usual stormtroopers.^[6] During such operations, they were always together as part of the same unit. This meant that they were never dispersed among the ordinary army units.^[1]

Whilst the Royal Guard were elite soldiers within the Empire, there were in fact various ranks and even more elite groupings within this body. Part of the reason for doing so was because the Empire did not feel it wise to limit the aspirations as well as ambitions of his subjects. Thus, he created near unattainable goals in order to watch his servants struggle in order to reach them and thus keep better control over them. This meant that by constantly creating more and more circles of elite status, he kept his followers constantly motivated and determined to push themselves in order to achieve these new positions.^[11]

One of the more elite positions was that held by the Emperor's Shadow Guard which were a unit that were evidently based on the Royal Guard.^[10] This division was a cadre that consisted of a special operations unit that was sent out on selective missions. They were evident for being based on the Royal Guard and wore black versions of their uniform though they made use of lightsaber pike's as their primary weapons. The Shadow Guard were rarely seen in public and dispatched on missions that were directed by the Emperor himself. Some of its members were being trained to serve as Palpatine's personal bodyguards.^[12] An added advantage to these guardsmen was the fact that they were Force-sensitive soldiers who were trained to use the Dark Side of the Force.^[13]

The highest ranking position within the Royal Guard and consisted of elite warriors that were Force-sensitive who were known as Sovereign Protectors. Once identified, these guardsmen were taken to be trained in the use of the Dark Side of the Force which they received on worlds such as Prakith where they were mentored by the Inquisitorius. While wearing a similar uniform as the Royal Guard, the ranks of the Sovereign Protectors wore a dark colored version of the attire. Their tactics often involved them closing the distance to their foes in order to engage in melee combat where they used vibroblades in order to pin their foes against solid surfaces. This allowed them to attack incapacitated foes with their double vibroblades.^[14] Before the Emperor's final death, it was suspected that he had intended to create even further elevated positions but instead the Sovereign Protectors were the highest achievement for a member of the Royal Guard.^[11]

One of the most prestigious positions within the group was that of Master Instructor who consisted of the most experienced guardsmen that were charged with the training of new recruits at the Royal Guard Academy.^[5] Other notable divisions included the Imperial Senate Guard and the Imperial Senate Sentinel though it was not known whether these bodies were parts of the Royal Guard.

The myths that encompassed the Royal Guard outnumbered the known facts about them. The mystery that fell upon the unit meant that individuals were unsure of whether it consisted of clones, recruits or a mixture of both.^[10] Some myths that surrounded the guardsmen included that their reputation was only based on propaganda and that they were not an elite fighting force that they were led to believe. Another rumor that involved them was that a discerning individual was capable of telling a stormtrooper apart from an Imperial Guardsmen; whether they were in uniform or dying. However, neither myths were true as a guardsmen were highly skilled warriors and were easily capable of disguising their position within the Imperial hierarchy as was the case with one of them who maintained the guise of being a major for eight months with his identity only being discovered by a thorough examination of the Imperial records library.^[6] Another rumor was that not a single guard had ever been killed in battle.^[4]

[edit] History

The Royal Guard's origins dated to the turbulent years of the Galactic Republic before the outbreak of the Clone Wars. They came after allegations of corruption within the Senate Guard and after an attempt on Palpatines life. They were charged with the protection of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and were noted as being skilled combatants. Some of its members were handpicked from the militant Senate Commandos at the time.^[15] During the Battle of Coruscant, the Red Guard attempted to defend Palpatine from Separatist General Grievous but failed and were killed by the cyborg.^[16] When the Jedi Council learned that there was another Sith Lord known as Darth Sidious, they believed this Sith to be hiding within the higher levels of government. Some believed that the mysterious Sith was hiding in the ranks of the Red Guard. Anakin Skywalker was later allowed entry into the Chancellor's office by one of the Red Guard.^[17] After the Declaration of a New Order was made and the Galactic Empire formed, the Red Guard became the Emperor's Royal Guard who stood to guard the Emperor.^[18] They remained as silent warriors that stood as elite guards for the Emperor during his visits to other worlds or during his meetings in the Imperial Palace on Coruscant.^[19] Many members of the decimated Sun Guard who had served Darth Sidious were later inducted into the ranks of the Royal Guard with Force-sensitive members joining the Emperor's Shadow Guard. The new Royal Guard along with the Coruscant Guard were in charge of the security arrangements in the capital.^[15]

At the height of the Galactic Empire, the New Order faced some opposition from certain members within the government one of which included Bail Organa of Alderaan. In order to silence him, the Emperor had his daughter Leia Organa taken as a Senatorial Observer though in actuality she was a hostage. This led to her being taken by a pair of Royal Guardsmen to Kashyyyk where she was watched over by Ozzik Sturn. These guardsmen were later killed by the rogue Force user Galen Marek during his mission. A number of Royal Guardsmen were used to protect Palpatine onboard the Death Star I when it was under construction. These guardsmen were all killed by Galen Marek during his mission.^[20] During the Galactic Civil War, a pair of Royal Guardsmen accompanied the Emperor onboard his Lambda-class T-4a shuttle to the planet Bothawui. This was due to the Emperor's awareness of the Bothan's secret allegiance to the Rebel Alliance. After confronting them, Palpatine along with his Royal Guards killed a great many Bothans to serve as an example for betraying the Galactic Empire.^[21] Later, as the Death Star came closer to an operational stage, a number of Royal Guardsmen were stationed on the facility and were present during the time a Rebel Alliance team led by X2 infiltrated the base. These Royal Guardsmen battled the Clone trooper but were ultimately killed in the struggle thus allowing X2 to escape the Death Star I along with a number of captured Rebels.^[22] Several members of the Royal Guard also accompanied the Emperor during his inspection of the Death Star II and remained at his side until their death in the Battle of Endor.^[23]

Following the Emperor's demise, the ranks of the Royal Guard scattered with some following various warlords that had risen while others retreated into the Deep Core.^[24] Many of the rising warlords sought to add members of the Royal Guard into their entourage though this effect varied as some guardsmen joined various factions while others remained neutral.^[9] A number of guardsmen served the clone known as X1 during his bid for power though they were killed during the Battle of Mustafar.^[22] After the death of Palpatine, many of the Royal Guard decided to commit mass suicides. A number of these distraught guardsmen decided to follow Lord Shadowspawn's while others sought the Prophets of the Dark Side who claimed that the Emperor would return. Some members of the Royal Guard also fell to the service of Sate Pestage and later Ysanne Isard who at one point placed a detachment of guardsmen one of whom consisted of Carnor Jax and attached them to the services of Lumiya.^[25] Others such as Grodin Tierce survived the destruction of the Death Star II by being rotated into stormtrooper service in 4 ABY.^[6] At least one member of the Royal Guard was present in the Central Committee of Grand Moffs when Grand Moff Bertroff Hissa claimed that the Supreme Slavelord of Kessel, Trioculus was the son of Palpatine. After saying this, the guardsmen became vocal and stated that many claimed to be the heir of the Emperor such as Grand Admiral Josef Grunger seemed as a more worthy ruler due to his military might. When Trioculus stated that he would rule by right of the blood in his veins, other criticized him for not possessing a symbol of authority such as the Glove of Darth Vader and the guardsmen stated that Trioculus lacked the blessing of the Prophets of the Dark Side. After hearing this, Trioculus let loose a powerful electric shock at the dissenters which included the Royal Guardsmen until they begged him to stop whereupon other Imperials pledged their allegiance to Trioculus.^[26]

When Ysanne Isard took stewardship of the Empire, a unit of Royal Guards appeared in turn as her personal bodyguard, and she would retain them later as Premier of Thyferra. Some of these were certainly genuine Royal Guards, but others may have been recruited from the elite cadre of black-clad enforcers which Isard had controlled since her days as a relatively junior field operative—hulking paramilitaries who she used as bodyguards, special operations troops, and casual lovers—all of whom had disappeared from everyday view when she took power. Isard also lent a force of Royal Guards to her former Imperial Intelligence subordinate Shira Brie, now the Dark Lady Lumiya. Unlike most Royal Guards, who wore either their scarlet ceremonial uniforms or white stormtrooper armor, these two squads wore distinctive crimson stormtrooper armor in the field, serving their mistress as crack shock-troops. One of them, Carnor Jax, showed Force potential, and was trained by Lumiya as her Sith apprentice.^[27] Unlike some of his comrades, Grodin Tierce decided that the death of the Emperor meant that the Royal Guard no longer existed and thus he remained as a stormtrooper major. He later joined Grand Admiral Thrawn though he did not reveal his existence as a former guardsmen.^[6] Despite this being the case, the Chiss Admiral deduced Tierce's origins and decided to use him as a prime clone in 9 ABY to create advanced clones that had Thrawn's mental genius implanted into them but the project was a failure. Thrawn did not, however, surround himself with a visible Royal Guard detail; instead, the original Grodin Tierce, followed by his clone in turn, served as officers with the stormtrooper force aboard Chimaera, supplementing the Grand Admiral's Noghri bodyguard. Tierce was later killed in action and his clone replaced him though had forgotten his origin or the fact that Thrawn had discovered him.^[28] However, others such as Kir Kanos—refused to choose sides among the various Imperial factions. Several more remained undercover in their stormtrooper units, while some still pledged themselves to Sate Pestage and his successors.

In 10 ABY, however, they all flocked to Byss when summoned by the reborn Palpatine.^[25] They fought by his side until his final death the next year. It was later revealed that his death had been hastened by the sabotage of his clones by renegade Protector Carnor Jax.^[9] One of the guardsmen overheard the Emperor's physician confess to his involvement with Carnor Jax to Luke Skywalker. This guard later attempted to notify his brethren of the betrayal but was attacked by Imperial forces loyal to Carnor Jax. After Palpatine's final death, the remnants of the Royal Guard, much decimated by the disasters on Byss and Eclipse II^[29], returned to Yinchorr, where they gathered to mourn Palpatine and form a plan to avenge him. The guardsmen that had learned of the conspiracy later returned to his brothers to inform them of Jax's betrayal. However, Jax had laid a trap, and they were slaughtered by his stormtroopers. Ironically, the Royal Guards suffered the same fate as the old Jedi Order. The Royal Guards were annihilated by the stormtroopers, just as the the Jedi were by the clone troopers decades before. Only Kir Kanos escaped, and eventually killed Jax.^[5] Kanos is often said to be the last surviving member of the Royal Guard, but this may only be true "from a certain point of view", as at least one member of Palpatine's original Royal Guard, Vin Northal, defected to the Rebel Alliance, and others still may have served the Dark Lady Lumiya.^[27] The members of the new Royal Guard recruited by Admiral Daala were the most high-profile "Guardsmen" encountered by the New Republic.

At some point in 19 ABY, four stormtroopers were promoted to the rank of Royal Guardsmen by Admiral Natasi Daala. These four were one of the founders of the Second Imperium movement that sought to bring back the dominance of the Empire by masquerading as Emperor Palpatine where they seemingly made it seem as he had be reborn. To that end, the group formed the Shadow Academy and used the Dark Jedi Brakiss to train an army of such warriors to fight for the Second Imperium. Their plans were ultimately thwarted by the New Jedi Order and four of the guardsmen were killed when Brakiss learned the truth about the seemingly reborn Emperor. This led to the guardsmen activating hidden charges that destroyed the Shadow Academy and themselves though one of their number survived. He later attempted to make use of the deadly plagues in an Imperial storehouse as a weapon against the New Republic but was killed by Nolaa Tarkona of the Diversity Alliance.^[30] In the same year, Moff Vilim Disra used the Imperial Records Library on Bastion to learned the existence of Grodin Tierce within his forces in the Imperial Remnant though was unaware of the fact that he was a clone. Using the tactically brilliant major and the impersonator Flim to form the Sinister Triumvirate which orchestrated the Caamas Document Crisis in order to bring down the New Republic.^[6] Their plan was later uncovered leading to the clone Tierce's true origins as well as his death at the hands of the Mistryl Shadow Guards woman Shada D'ukal. The triumvirate was later disbanded upon Moff Disra's arrest.^[28] Later, in 20 ABY, former guardsmen Chik Apla who had taken the life of an Imperial commando was charged by Moff Derran Takkar with the disruption of Mara Jade's wedding to Luke Skywalker. Despite the surprise attack, Apla was easily defeated by Jedi Knight Mara Jade.^[31]

By the time of the Legacy Era, the duties of the Royal Guard were taken over by the newly formed Imperial Knights.

[edit] Equipment and training

Royal Guards wore matching scarlet robes, battle armor (underneath a loose fitting tunic, as it was not visible under the robe), and helmets. Although ceremonial, the red armor did not hamper movement or fighting. The armor bore design influences from the uniforms of the Death Watch of the Mandalore system, the Sun Guards of the Thyrsus system, and the Senate Guards of the old Galactic Republic.^[24] The fact that their armor resembled these other groups was no accident and the mere sight of a guardsmen tended to invoke fear in even the most trained of warriors.^[1] The Royal Guard wore fully functional battle armor which was obscured by loose fitting ceremonial robes and provided superior protection to that of normal Imperial armor.^[9] When rotated into Imperial service, the guardsmen discarded their uniforms and instead wore the armor of stormtroopers making their true position in the Imperial hierarchy indecipherable.^[1] Though this was the case, it was known that they also possessed another set of combat uniform that resembled stormtrooper armor but was colored red in form.^[27]

Once accepted into the ranks of the Guard, they were exhaustively trained in many forms of combat.^[2] Their preferred weapon was the meter-long force pike; a weapon that was originally used by the Umbaran Shadow Assassin's of the Brotherhood of Darkness.^[32] Whilst this was considered a modest weapon, in the hands of these trained soldiers it was used with deadly effect.^[2] These pikes were primarily for ceremonial reasons but were capable of being used for crowd control, self defense and even as tools for torture.^[33] In addition, they were also trained in the use many common and exotic weapons and martial arts, such as Echani art, or a vibrosword. They also utilized concealed Heavy blaster pistols when ranged fighting was required.^[9] They used a special "combat language" that only they understood, and part of the training included removal of fingerprints. In addition, they flew specialized red variants of the TIE/In starfighter.^[34] Furthermore, a lesser known aspect of their training involved being taught techniques designed to sustain the Emperor until help arrive though there was no known case where this feat was performed.^[35]

Members of the Royal Guard were hand-picked from the ranks of the most elite stormtroopers. Each recruit was scrutinized to fit select size, strength, intelligence and loyalty requirements, as well as latent Force sensitivity.^[24] Recruits strong but not too strong in the Force were noted and pulled aside to test into a special class of Royal Guards known as Sovereign Protectors. If they passed these even more rigorous tests, they were trained by Dark Jedi to wield the Force.^[24] The names of the Royal Guardsmen were never uttered by anyone outside the Guard, including Palpatine. The exact number of Royal Guard was never accounted for on official records which meant that the true strength of the organization was unknown.^[24]

Equipment and training were lavished upon them at the Imperial Royal Guard Academy on Yinchorr. Classes consisted of forty students per course who attended a brutal training regime. Usually, by the end, there were only a handful of candidates left to become guardsmen and it was not uncommon for there to be only a single survivor.^[9] Students would train fencing and fighting in an arena called the Squall.^[36] Classes consisted of approximately forty students each, and trainees were partnered up into doubles. During a yearlong training program, recruits sparred against each other continuously to perfect their combat skills.^[36] A step away from the squad-based stormtrooper training received on Carida, by working both alone and in pairs, recruits learned how to rely on themselves or on a teammate to achieve victory. Training mainly centered on Echani hand-to-hand combat, and failure often resulted in death. Casualty rates were very high; out of Kir Kanos's class of forty-two, only two reached full Guardsman status—all others were killed in training. During their final test, trainees fought each other to the death before Palpatine himself.^[3] Only a handful would survive this final test in a display of their loyalty and skill. Kir Kanos regretted killing his sparing partner and upon looking up from his fallen comrade, he saw Vader swinging his lightsaber extremely close to Kir Kanos's face, leaving a scar. Vader told the young man that he is never allowed to question or regret an order given to him by the Emperor.

During training, the Guards were inculcated with the belief that Palpatine, and his every order, were beyond fault or question.

[edit] Royal Guards serving other Imperial commanders

During Palpatine's time, he would occasionally "loan" detachments of the Royal Guard out to several Grand Moffs and Grand Admirals. However, such deputations occurred only at the Emperor's request.

After the Battle of Endor, Royal Guards appeared as personal protectors of some of those who claimed Imperial power. Some of the Guardsmen seen after Endor were merely ordinary soldiers, organized into new units wearing Royal Guard uniform; however, others were genuine members of Palpatine's pre-Endor corps d'élite. The examples of Grodin Tierce and Carnor Jax show that the loyalty of the Royal Guard to Palpatine was not as absolute and unquestioning as their mystique suggests—at least one Guardsman, Vin Northal, even defected to the Rebellion.^[37]

In the immediate aftermath of Endor, power on Coruscant passed initially to the leader of the Imperial Council, Grand Vizier Sate Pestage, and although at first no Royal Guards were observed among his protectors, he began to use a visible escort of the red-robed warriors as his power began to wane. Subsequently, when Ysanne Isard took stewardship of the Empire, a unit of Royal Guards appeared in turn as her personal bodyguard, and she would retain them later as Premier of Thyferra. Some of these were certainly genuine Royal Guards, but others may have been recruited from the elite cadre of black-clad enforcers which Isard had controlled since her days as a relatively junior field operative—hulking paramilitaries who she used as bodyguards, special operations troops, and casual lovers—all of whom had disappeared from everyday view when she took power.

Isard also lent a force of Royal Guards to her former Imperial Intelligence subordinate Shira Brie, now the Dark Lady Lumiya. Unlike most Royal Guards, who wore either their scarlet ceremonial uniforms or white stormtrooper armor, these two squads wore distinctive crimson stormtrooper armor in the field, serving their mistress as crack shock-troops.^[27] One of them, Carnor Jax, showed Force potential, and was trained by Lumiya as her Sith apprentice.

Later, when Admiral Daala seized command of remaining Imperial assets in the Deep Core, she recruited stormtroopers into a new Royal Guard unit. After her defeat, four of them became leaders of the Second Imperium.

[edit] Known members of the Royal Guard

[edit] Sovereign Protectors

• Carnor Jax

[edit] Royal Guardsmen

• Guardsman 22716^[38]
• Kile Hannad
• Kir Kanos
• Ved Kennede
• Myn Kyneugh
• Vin Northal
• Grodin Tierce

[edit] Apprentice Guardsmen

• Burr Danid
• Alum Frost
• Lemmet Tauk

[edit] Others

• Chik Apla
• Four unidentified Imperial Royal Guards
• Grodin Tierce (clone)
• Gaege Xarran

[edit] Behind the scenes

According to Randy Stradley, when writing Crimson Empire, they worked under the idea that all Royal Guards were clones, with the shot of the unmasked Jax supposed to show that he and Kanos were from the same prime clone.^[39] However, the establishment of Jax's father, and the fact that other Royal Guardsmen have been developed, seem to have vanquished that concept (unless they are all oblivious GeNode clones). Also, Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary states that guards were chosen from non-clone military units.

Nilo Rodis-Jamero originally designed the appearance of the Emperor's royal guards through his early concept art of the Sentinels. These drawings of the guards varied from centurion-like warriors to monk-like priests, but ultimately all of the concept art the royal guards were given a crimson hue.^[24] One of the concept drawings by Rodis-Jamero later evolved to become two characters of the Expanded Universe, the Imperial Sentinel from Dark Empire and Atha Prime by Kenner.

[edit] Appearances

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith comic Star Wars Republic 78: Loyalties Star Wars Dark Times: The Path to Nowhere Star Wars Dark Times 13: Blue Harvest, Part 1 Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader Evasive Action: End Game (Mentioned only) Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight (Mentioned only)  Sword of the Empire on Wizards.com (article)  Jaws of the Sarlacc on Wizards.com (article) (Mentioned only) The Last of the Jedi: A Tangled Web The Last of the Jedi: Return of the Dark Side The Last of the Jedi: Secret Weapon The Last of the Jedi: Master of Deception The Force Unleashed game The Force Unleashed novel (Mentioned only) Star Wars: The Force Unleashed comic (Appears in flashback(s)) First Impressions Star Wars: Empire at War Boba Fett: Enemy of the Empire (Vision) Extinction Star Wars Empire: Betrayal Resurrection Interlude at Darkknell Star Wars Missions 17: Darth Vader's Return Star Wars Missions 18: Rogue Squadron to the Rescue Rebel Force: Target Vader's Quest Allegiance Star Wars Empire: "General" Skywalker (Appears in flashback(s)) Star Wars Rebellion: My Brother, My Enemy  Star Wars Galaxies – An Empire Divided Star Wars Galaxies: The Ruins of Dantooine X-wing Rogue Squadron 25: The Making of Baron Fel Star Wars: TIE Fighter The Emperor's Trophy Shadows of the Empire comic Shadows of the Empire novel Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi novel (First appearance) Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi Star Wars: Return of the Jedi 2: The Emperor Commands Mara Jade: By the Emperor's Hand X-wing Rogue Squadron: Masquerade X-wing Rogue Squadron: Mandatory Retirement The Glove of Darth Vader "Lumiya: Dark Star of the Empire" - Star Wars Galaxy 3 X-wing: Rogue Squadron X-wing: Wedge's Gamble X-wing: The Bacta War The Last Command (Mentioned only) Crimson Empire The Bounty Hunters: Kenix Kil Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood Hard Currency (Mentioned only) Children of the Jedi (Mentioned only) Darksaber Specter of the Past Vision of the Future Star Wars: Union Young Jedi Knights: Darkest Knight Young Jedi Knights: Jedi Under Siege Young Jedi Knights: Delusions of Grandeur

[edit] Non-canon appearances

• A Death Star Is Born
• Star Wars Infinities: A New Hope
• Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi
• LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
• LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
• The Return of Tag & Bink: Special Edition
• Collapsing New Empires (Ambiguously canonical source) (Armor only)

[edit] Sources

• Star Wars: Return of the Jedi toy line
• Dark Empire Sourcebook
• The Dark Side Sourcebook
• Imperial Sourcebook (Second Edition)
• Star Wars: The Power of the Force (1995)
• The Essential Guide to Characters
• Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook
• Rules of Engagement: The Rebel SpecForce Handbook
• Hideouts & Strongholds
• Star Wars: The Action Figure Archive
• Handbook 2: Crimson Empire
• Star Wars: Power of the Jedi
• The Essential Chronology
• Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Death Star II Limited (Card: Royal Guard)
• Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Death Star II Limited (Card: Myn Kyneugh)
•  "The Emperor's Pawns" - Star Wars Gamer 6
• Star Wars Trading Card Game – The Empire Strikes Back (Card: Mara Jade) (Picture only)
• Star Wars Minatures: Rebel Storm # 32
• Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary
• The New Essential Chronology
• Evil Never Dies: The Sith Dynasties
• The Official Star Wars Fact File 33 (The Emperor's Royal Guard)
• The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide
• The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
• Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Champions of the Force (Card: Imperial Royal Guard)
• Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Agents of Deception (Card: Order 66) (Picture only)
• Rebellion Era Campaign Guide
• Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Shadow Syndicate (Card: Emperor's Royal Guard Greeter)
•  Emperor's Royal Guard in the Databank

[edit] External links

•  Shades of Blue and Red on StarWars.com (backup link on Archive.org)
• Black Knight on Hyperspace

[edit] See also

• Red Guard
• Imperial Sovereign Protector
• Emperor's Shadow Guard
• Imperial Senate Sentinel

[edit] Notes and references