Summary

• The Battle of Jakku marked the end of Imperial rule in the Star Wars canon, as the New Republic emerged after the defeat of Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader.
• Operation Cinder, orchestrated by Palpatine from beyond the grave, targeted several worlds as a massive bombardment campaign in the wake of his death, and Jakku was the final phase.
• The battle took place above and below the surface of Jakku, with Hera Syndulla and Grand Admiral Rae Sloane playing critical roles as the New Republic faced an impressive Imperial blockade, all while Palpatine's secret and final contingency was ready to be activated.
• The Battle of Jakku was the official end of the Galactic Civil War and the beginning of the New Republic Era.

The Battle of Jakku was the definitive conflict between the New Republic and the Empire that officially marked the end of Imperial rule in the Star Wars canon. Following the demise of Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader aboard the second Death Star during the Battle of Endor, the Rebellion was in a position to become the New Republic. However, the fractured Empire still posed a threat thanks to a few key leaders and posthumous orders from Palpatine himself, culminating in the Battle of Jakku.

Although the debris and wreckage from the Battle of Jakku were featured throughout the desert world decades later as seen in The Force Awakens, the conflict itself has never been featured in the movies or shows. Instead, the massive confrontation was predominantly featured in both EA's Battlefront II video game and Chuck Wendig's Aftermath trilogy, specifically the final novel Empire's End. To that end, here are the nine biggest events that occurred during the Battle of Jakku, one of the most important conflicts that kickstarted a brand-new era in the Star Wars galaxy.

9 Before The Battle: Operation Cinder

Palpatine's Revenge

Following the Battle of Endor and Palpaltine's initial demise, messenger droids bearing the Emperor's face were sent across the galaxy to several key Imperial officers. Relaying orders to carry out a massive bombardment campaign, Palaptine's Great Contingency was known as Operation: Cinder, striking his enemies as well as rivals within the Empire whom Palpatine believed would attempt to claim power for themselves. To that end, some of the most loyal Imperial worlds were targeted, including Palpatine's own home world of Naboo. The Purge of Mandalore was also part of Operation: Cinder. As such, the New Republic was incredibly busy thanks to the Emperor's final orders beyond the grave.

8 Palpatine's Final Contingency Orchestrated By Gallius Rax

Convergence on Jakku

While Operation: Cinder was not completed in full, the final phase was always meant to take place on Jakku which secretly held one of Palpatine's observatories containing rare Sith secrets and artifacts. As such, one of Palpatine's secret agents Gallius Rax (codenamed The Operator) emerged as a leading force following the Empire's defeat on Endor. Manipulating events, Rax was responsible for ensuring that both the New Republic and Empire would have their definitive battle at Jakku according to Palpatine's will and careful designs, a final scheme meant to end both the New Republic that had defied him and the Empire that failed him.

7 Hera Syndulla Escorts Troops To Jakku's Surface

Jakku Was Fought Above and Below

Having become one of the New Republic's best generals throughout the Galactic Civil War when it was still the Rebellion, Hera Syndulla was a critical player during the Battle of Jakku, commanding fighters aboard the New Republic Star Destroyer known as The Deliverance. Not only did she oversee the escort of several corvettes containing ground troops to Jakku's surface, but she continued to fight in Jakku's orbit while facing an impressive Imperial blockade. Furthermore, Hera continued fighting even after Deliverance was critically damaged, piloting her beloved ship The Ghost to continue the battle (a role in which she likely felt far more comfortable).

6 The New Republic Destroys The Imperial Blockade

Destruction of the Super Star Destroyer Ravager

Despite the massive Imperial blockade as the shattered Empire's final attempt to crush the New Republic, the mass of Star Destroyers was simply not enough. This was largely thanks to the New Republic's Krysta Agate who refused to abandon ship even after The Concord was critically damaged. Instead, she used her ship's tractor beam to pull the Super Star Destroyer known as The Ravager crashing down to the surface of Jakku below. As such, the tide turned with the New Republic gaining the advantage thanks to Agate's noble sacrifice.

5 Brendol And Armitage Hux Flee For The Unknown Regions

The Future First Order

During the Battle of Jakku, Brendol Hux and his son Armitage were ordered by Rax to flee into the Unknown Regions of the galaxy. With them were several young children who'd been brainwashed to be child soldiers. These unfortunate younglings would eventually become the very first stormtroopers of the First Order which emerged out of the Imperial Remnant in the years just before The Force Awakens. As such, they were all part of Palpatine's plan to oppress the galaxy once more following his resurrection as seen in The Rise of Skywalker. Likewise, Armitage would continue his father's work as one of the First Order's top generals.

4 Grand Admiral Rae Sloane Saves Jakku From Rax

Palpatine's Posthumous Plans Are Foiled

Although Rax tried to destroy her after she objected to his methods, Grand Admiral Rae Sloane made her way to Jakku just in time to stop Rax from fulfilling Palpatine's final contingency. Uniting with operatives of the New Republic, Sloane shoots and kills Rax before he can activate the devastating weapon within Palpatine's observatory that would have triggered a massive planetary detonation. Because the observatory was built over a deep borehole leading directly to the planet's core, the detonation would have destroyed the planet as well as both the New Republic and Imperial fleets. In the aftermath, Sloane reunites with Brendol before venturing into the Unknown Regions.

3 Galactic Concordance Peace Treaty Is Signed

The Empire Surrenders To The New Republic

Eventually, the Galactic Concordance Treaty was signed and the New Republic accepted the fractured Empire's surrender. This marked the official end of the Battle of Jakku as well as the Galactic Civil War which had officially begun with the Battle of Scarif and the stealing of the Death Star plans four years prior. Signed by the Empire's Grand Vizier Mas Ameedda and Chancellor Mon Mothma of the New Republic, the Galactic Concordance included a series of conditions that led to Imperial disarmament and reparations to be made by those who surrendered. However, not all Imperials surrendered during this new era.

2 The Imperial Remnant Is Born

Hiding In The Outer Rim and Unknown Regions

Just like Sloane and Brendol Hux, the shattered Empire transformed into holdouts hidden within the Unknown Regions and Outer Rim, becoming known as the Imperial Remnant. Led by various warlords who would meet as a secret Imperial shadow council, the Remnant included leaders such as The Mandalorian's Moff Gideon as well as Captain Pellaeon who spoke on behalf of the exiled Grand Admiral Thrawn who's since made his return to the known galaxy as seen in Ahsoka, about a half decade after the Battle of Jakku.

1 Ben Solo Is Born

The First Order's Future Supreme Leader

Ben Solo was born the very same day the Galactic Concordance was signed in Jakku's aftermath. With the Galactic Civil War officially ending the day he was born, one would have thought that the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa would have lived a happy life, becoming the Jedi Padawan to his uncle Luke Skywalker. However, the rise of the First Order and its leader Supreme Leader Snoke resulted in Ben's corruption to the dark side, becoming Kylo Ren who eventually rose as the First Order's Supreme Leader before his redemption in Star Wars defeating a resurrected Palpatine and his Final Order as seen in The Rise of Skywalker.

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  Star Wars

  Created by:

  George Lucas

  TV Show(s):

  The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions

  Character(s):

  Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Princess Leia Organa, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Kylo Ren, Emperor Palpatine, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu

  Movie(s):

  Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order

  First Film:

  Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

  Cast:

  Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal

  Video Game(s):

  Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords, Star Wars: Battlefront, Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2017), Star Wars: The Force Unleashed , Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor