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SenatorPalpatine, the galaxy had been a Knighthood that had watched it over it for centuries.But inevitably it had grown too large—to massive a bureaucracy had been required,over too many years, in order to maintain the Republic. Corruption had set in. A few greedy senators had started the chain reaction of malaise, some said: butwho could know? A few suddenly a fever was in the stars. Governor turned ongovernor, values eroded, trusts were broken—fear had spread like an epidemic inthose early years, rapidly and without visible cause, and no one knew what washappening, or why. And so Senator Palpatine had seized the moment. Through fraud, cleverpromises, and astute political maneuvering, he'd managed to get himself elected headof the Council. And then through subterfuge, bribery and terror, he'd named himselfEmperor.