The Inner Rim, also called the Inner Rim Planets, Inner Rim Territories, or the Inner Sphere, was a region of the galaxy between the Colonies and the Expansion Region.
The Inner Rim was originally just called "the Rim" when first settled by the Galactic Republic in 20,100 BBY during the Great Manifest Period. It was expected to be the farthest extent of the known Galaxy for centuries, but the Expanded Rim (later renamed the Expansion Region) was opened within a hundred years of the Inner Rim. Due to their closer proximity to the hub of galactic civilization in the Core Worlds, Inner Rimmers gradually developed a condescending attitude towards those of the "outer galaxy" but were looked down upon by the inhabitants of the Core and Colonies. [1]
In 3,996 BBY during the Great Sith War, Mandalorian forces invaded Onderon but were decimated by Republic reinforcements while their leader Mandalore the Ultimate met his demise on the jungle moon of Dxun. [3] For much of the Jedi Civil War, the Selkath of Manaan maintained a state of neutrality and supplied the therapeutic kolto to both the Republic and Darth Malak’s Sith Empire. [4] With the decline of the kolto market and the destruction of its surface cities during the Great Galactic War, Manaan slipped into primitive decline. [5]
During the reign of Palpatine, the Galactic Empire ruthlessly controlled the Inner Rim. Rather than rebel, many residents chose to flee to the Outer Rim Territories. In 6 ABY, the Dark JediwarlordShadowspawn waged a dogged and savage campaign against New Republic forces on Mindor. [6] In 7 ABY, Thyferra was the site of fighting between Ysanne Isard’s Imperial faction and Rogue Squadron over control of the production and supply of therapeutic bacta. [2] Due to the entrenched Imperial presence, much of the region was held by the Empire until as late as 9 ABY. Subsequently, many Inner Rimmers later resented the New Republic's sluggishness in liberating the region. Many worlds, despite joining the New Republic, were openly afraid that the government was not strong enough to maintain power. [1]
Their concerns were borne out following the return of Palpatine in 10 ABY during Operation Shadow Hand. Following the deployment of the world-destroying Galaxy Gun against several Republic targets, the clone incarnation of Palpatine reclaimed most of the Inner Rim. With the final demise of Palpatine during the Battle of Onderon in 11 ABY, much of the region quickly fell back under the New Republic’s control. By the end of the Galactic Civil War in 19 ABY, the remnants of the Empire had been driven into eight barren sectors in the Outer Rim. [2]