Wilhuff Tarkin

From the Encyclopedia of Speculative Fiction - http://encyclopedia.wizards.pro

(Redirected from Grand Moff Tarkin)

{{{caption}}}
Character
Image:Tarkin DS1.jpg Tarkin, seconds before his death
Wilhuff Tarkin
Gender	Male
Date of birth	{{{birth}}}
House	{{{house}}}
Occupation	{{{job}}}
Parentage	{{{blood}}}
Loyalty	{{{loyalty}}}
Film portrayer	{{{portrayer}}}
First appearance	{{{appearance}}}

"Governor Tarkin, I should have expected to find you holding Vader's leash. I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on board.''

—Leia Organa

Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin (64 BBY–0 BBY) was a high-ranking Imperial official and the first Grand Moff. He was most well-known for his command of the Empire's first Death Star. He was a native of the planet Eriadu, where his family had history of political involvement.

Biography

Tarkin began his career in the Eriadu military; by 33 BBY, he had become lieutenant-governor of the Seswenna Sector. That year, his mansion was for a short time the residence of Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum, who was on Eriadu representing the Galactic Republic in a trade summit.

Image:Tarkin\'young\'.jpg

Governor Tarkin shortly after the rise of the Empire

By that time he had become acquainted with Senator Palpatine; as early as 29 BBY, Tarkin began to work closely with Palpatine, sharing his views on the superiority of Humans and the need for strictly enforced order. Palpatine made him full governor of the Seswenna Sector, as well as appointing him commander of the Republic Outland Regions Security Force. In 29 BBY, he launched an unsuccessful attack on the living planet Zonama Sekot, and presented Palpatine with Raith Sienar's plans for a moon-sized battle station.

During this period Tarkin married into the wealthy Motti family on Phelarion, and began to reap the benefits of their lucrative megonite moss mining business. Also during this time Tarkin's brother, Gideon, served as Minister of Defense for the Seswenna Sector, presumably appointed by Wilhuff.

As the Republic transitioned into the Galactic Empire, Tarkin rose in prominence through his connections to Palpatine. A few years after the formation of the Empire, a group of citizens stood on a landing platform directly underneath his transport, protesting the Imperial taxation on Ghorman. Tarkin ordered his ship to land regardless, crushing hundreds to death. The event marked the first of many acts of cold blooded mass murder at the hands of Tarkin.

This incident was labeled the Ghorman Massacre by Rebels. This action helped lead to his rise through the early Imperial ranks, eventually becoming a close advisor to the Emperor. This marked the early formation of his "Tarkin Doctrine" of suppressing dissent through state terrorism. Tarkin himself often told Palpatine that he should "rule through the fear of force rather than the force itself." He also had a unique relationship with Darth Vader, who trusted Tarkin's judgment and preformed special favors for him like sparing Admiral Motti’s life after Motti had openly defied Vader.

In 5 BBY, Gideon Tarkin was killed in the Erhynradd Massacre. Wilhuff adopted Gideon's orphaned daughter, Rivoche. It was roughly around this time that Advisor Ars Dangor officially promoted him to the rank of Grand Moff, although his friend Palpatine was undoubtedly responsible behind the scenes.

Image:Tarkin1.jpg

Grand Moff Tarkin in 0 BBY

It is alleged that while commanding the Death Star, Tarkin considered using the superlaser to destroy Coruscant while the Emperor was there to become ruler of the galaxy. Motti actually insisted that they strike before they were removed. Emperor Palpatine himself suspected him of having more ambition than he let on, so he sent Vader to oversee the Death Star's construction and even had Mara Jade train to infiltrate Tarkin's estate.

Alongside Admiral Motti and High General Tagge, Tarkin formed a triumvirate that commanded the first Death Star. He issued the order to destroy Princess Leia's home planet of Alderaan in a brutal and unabashed show of force typical of the Tarkin Doctrine. During the Battle of Yavin, Tarkin was notified of the Rebels strategy and that their might be a threat to the battle station, however, Tarkin in his pride for the weapon ignored the officer and his idea of escaping. Had Tarkin listened, and deployed the thousands of thousands of TIE fighters docked in the station, the Rebels would have quickly and brutally been finished off. Tarkin and everyone else on the station died when Luke Skywalker fired his proton torpedos in the station's exhaust port.

[edit]

Behind the Scenes

Tarkin was played by Peter Cushing in A New Hope, by Keene Curtis in the radio dramatization of A New Hope and by Wayne Pygram in Revenge of the Sith.

[edit]