Xim the Despot

18-Till-I-Die · Post by **18-Till-I-Die** » 2004-07-14 10:30pm

So...who is, or was, he? I've heard and read stuf refering to this guy, supposedly thousands of years in the SW universe's past. What or who was he? What was his army/ships like? Or is it just some mythical figure in the Galaxy Far, Far Away?

I needs to know.

Oh...one thing i read was he had some kind of battledroids. Is this accurate?

Techno_Union · Post by **Techno_Union** » 2004-07-14 10:43pm

He had the first type of battle droids, they were superior to humans of that era in almost every way. Xim built up an Empire and had great treasure (or at least it was treasure back then)... these droids also guarded these vaults and still do.

Xim was around 25,000 years ago, if you ever hear that the SW galaxy once had subspace tech, that's where it came from, or at leat that era.

I do not know much about him, others probably know way more though. I do know that he was eventually overthrown.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-07-14 10:56pm

The Completely Unofficial Star Wars Encyclopedia wrote:Xim the Despot
a legendary, pre-Old Republic tyrant, he grew to power by despoling entire planets, collecting and selling slaves, stranding entire populations in deep space, and collecting enough armaments to support his goals. Xim rulled for about 30 Standard Time Parts (years). His despicable rule became the basis for a number of legends following his defeat at the Third Battle of Vontor. Up to that time, Xim had conquered hundreds of thousands of worlds near the Tion Hegemony, and was planning to expand into Hutt Space. His forces were in the process of transporting a huge shipment to Dellalt when he was killed at Vontor, and his shipment became the basis for most of the legends of the Queen of Ranroon, the ship he was using to transport military materials to Dellalt. When his death was announced, the crew of the Queen of Ranroon scuttled the mission in the mountains of Dellalt, leaving the vaults Xim and built empty and awaiting the arrival of a new despot to take Xim's place. Xim's insignia consisted of a bone-colored death's head with two sunbursts in its eyesockets.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2004-07-14 11:30pm

IIRC, Xim was defeated by a proto-republic. I think I read a fanfic where the Empire of Xim ruled the galaxy for 25000 years before Palpatine took over.

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2004-07-15 01:12am

I've read several official sources that state Xim was defeated by the Hutts. And nothing official has ever suggested that Xim's empire existed in any form other than under his rule during his lifetime.

Fanfiction doesn't count for anything, naturally.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-07-15 02:31am

I don't think Chewie was suggesting otherwise.

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2004-07-15 02:41am

Howedar wrote:I don't think Chewie was suggesting otherwise.

Then it was rather irrelevant, since it wasn't an official or accurate fact to clarify who Xim was.

Shogoki · Post by **Shogoki** » 2004-07-15 02:53am

CaptainChewbacca wrote:IIRC, Xim was defeated by a proto-republic. I think I read a fanfic where the Empire of Xim ruled the galaxy for 25000 years before Palpatine took over.

Do you know the name of that fanfic?

18-Till-I-Die · Post by **18-Till-I-Die** » 2004-07-15 06:19am

So Xim was like an uber powerful pirate lord, who used his army of battledroids to build up his big empire thousands of years before the Republic, and then was killed durring a resource shipment. And, if i understand, his battledroids are still active and waiting for him to return somewhere, guarding some treasure vault. Very interesting.

Sounds like a cool character. Course, his name's been taken in his absence by a little green alien with a retarded android for a pet

Actually, the fact his name sounded like Invader Zim was what got me interested, ironically.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2004-07-15 11:57am

18-Till-I-Die wrote:So Xim was like an uber powerful pirate lord, who used his army of battledroids to build up his big empire thousands of years before the Republic, and then was killed durring a resource shipment. And, if i understand, his battledroids are still active and waiting for him to return somewhere, guarding some treasure vault. Very interesting.

Correction: They WERE waiting for him until Han Solo and some friends found the treasure vaults. If you want I can spoil it, or you can go buy "The Han Solo Adventures" for $6 and find out for yourself.

Sounds like a cool character. Course, his name's been taken in his absence by a little green alien with a retarded android for a pet Actually, the fact his name sounded like Invader Zim was what got me interested, ironically.

Xim, not Zim. Like Zathrus vs. Zahthrus. And no, I don't recall the fanfic name, but I'm pretty sure it was on this board.

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2004-07-15 01:09pm

18-Till-I-Die wrote:So Xim was like an uber powerful pirate lord, who used his army of battledroids to build up his big empire thousands of years before the Republic, and then was killed durring a resource shipment.

Actually, his empire probably collapsed within a century of the the formation of the Republic.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2004-07-15 08:02pm

According to the KOTOR plot line, Xim was also responsible for the formation of the Genoharadan. At the time, they were assassins eliminating Xims political opponents and enemies instead of the super secrete bounty hunter clan.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-07-15 08:06pm

Events --

(25,000+ BBY) Xim the Despot loses the Third Battle of Vontor to the Hutt Clans

(25,000+BBY) The Corellian humans, and very shortly thereafter, the Duros, deploy hyperdrive technology

(25,000+ BBY) The Unification Wars; the human states in the Core spread outwards dominantly, and after a long series of wars, the galaxy is mostly united

(25,000+ BBY) The Galactic Republic is formed.

(25,000 BBY) The Jedi Order begins guardianship over the Galactic Republic.

EmperorSolo51 · Post by **EmperorSolo51** » 2004-07-15 10:28pm

Wasn't it true that the forces that fought for and against Xim used primitive proto-blasters that had to be connected to batteries that was worn like a Bac-pack? Isn't it also true that the Hutts who defeated Xim did not even have this proto-blaster tech but rather used sharp weapons like Spears and knives?

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-07-15 10:35pm

Yes on the first (beam tubes, I believe they were called), have no idea but doubt it on the second. Interstellar societies tend to go beyond sticks and stones.

Cap Chew: Why mention a fanfic?

Grand Admiral Thrawn · Post by **Grand Admiral Thrawn** » 2004-07-15 10:42pm

EmperorSolo51 wrote:Wasn't it true that the forces that fought for and against Xim used primitive proto-blasters that had to be connected to batteries that was worn like a Bac-pack?

Yep. IIRC it was 50 shots at 30RPM. Were pretty powerful and long range though.

Isn't it also true that the Hutts who defeated Xim did not even have this proto-blaster tech but rather used sharp weapons like Spears and knives?

ROFL! No, they had projectile weapons.

Thanas · Post by **Thanas** » 2004-07-16 05:26pm

From "A guide to the star wars universe"

(translated from german):

"A tyrant who conquered large realms of space long before the foundation of the Old Republik. Some historians maintain the fact that he reigned over thousands of systems. His armies plundered and subjugated world for world and filled Xims treasure chambers with unimaginable riches. His honour guard consisted of battle droids which were programmed to protect himself and his treasures. The cruel despot committted many atrocities. For example he is rumored to have spaced masses of delinquents. Xim reigned for 30 years before the subjugated systems managed to overthrow him."

which directly contradicts the essential cchronology:

translation (very shortened)
"Xim amassed a huge army under his banner in the tion hegomony, but miscalculated when he invaded Hutt space. Two battles were fought on the world vontor, but in the third battle the new fighters of the hutts (Nikto, Vodran, Weequays) prevailed."

Maybe his defeat contributed to his fall?

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2004-07-16 05:47pm

Those aren't contridactory (at least from what you've posted), in the first Xim's reign is ended by his own subjects. In the second his Empire is defeated by the Hutt and their mercenaries in a critical battle.

Most likely you're right, internal unrest abated by foreign military defeats.

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2004-07-17 04:51am

As I understand it, Xim the Despot was the first to utilize hyperdrive technology, which was what allowed him to logistically build up such a huge Empire--before then the FTL available was to slow to do it. He was defeated by a Hutt-led coalition of many states at Vontor after a series of stalemate battles, and then his empire revolted and collapsed around him. The Republic formed out of the coalition that defeated him at Third Vontor as an effort to prevent such a tyrant from ever gaining power again. He controlled a large portion of the galaxy but hardly all of it.

The problem is it's been years since I recall hearing all of that, and I can't remember what is from official sources and what is from fanfiction, if any of it.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-07-17 02:45pm

Duchess' Fanfic

We actually encountered the same question before.

The rise of Xim the Despot was before the advent of hyperdrive. Hyperdrive was first used by the humans of Corellia, and shortly thereafter the Duros (as navigators, frequently aboard human ships) as well. Then comes the Unification Wars as humanity becomes ascendant and the galaxy becomes a smaller community under the use of hyperdrive. The Galactic Republic is founded after the end of the wars. Then the Jedi Order is formed and is granted special powers and privledges over the Republic around 25,000 years before the Battle of Yavin ("for a thousand generations the Jedi were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic"). Around the same time the Great Schism of the Jedi Order occurs. The dark Jedi are expelled and eventually settle and form the Sith Empire outside the limits of the civilized galaxy.

From Xim's rise and fall to the end of the Great Schism was only a few centuries of time. An exciting period. A pity it hasn't been better explored (though apparently the comic authors have a goofy idea how ancient spacefaring civilization should be and draw absurd analogies to ancient classical empires and melee combat :sigh: )

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2004-07-17 02:59pm

Illuminatus Primus wrote:
The rise of Xim the Despot was before the advent of hyperdrive. Hyperdrive was first used by the humans of Corellia, and shortly thereafter the Duros (as navigators, frequently aboard human ships) as well. Then comes the Unification Wars as humanity becomes ascendant and the galaxy becomes a smaller community under the use of hyperdrive. The Galactic Republic is founded after the end of the wars. Then the Jedi Order is formed and is granted special powers and privledges over the Republic around 25,000 years before the Battle of Yavin ("for a thousand generations the Jedi were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic"). Around the same time the Great Schism of the Jedi Order occurs. The dark Jedi are expelled and eventually settle and form the Sith Empire outside the limits of the civilized galaxy.

From Xim's rise and fall to the end of the Great Schism was only a few centuries of time. An exciting period. A pity it hasn't been better explored (though apparently the comic authors have a goofy idea how ancient spacefaring civilization should be and draw absurd analogies to ancient classical empires and melee combat :sigh: )

Meh, I forgot about that, oh well. It does leave the interesting question of what sort of FTL drive was used at that time, however.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-07-17 03:16pm

The Rakata (from the Knights of the Old Republic RPG) existed several thousand years before Xim and used a Force-related FTL drive (similar in principle to the devices of the Aing-Tii Monks?).

As for everyone but the Rakata, but Xim-era civilization did use "subspace" for "comm and detection gear" and the centerpiece of that tech, "mytag crystals" were the massive treasure horded by Xim.

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2004-07-17 03:27pm

Illuminatus Primus wrote:The Rakata (from the Knights of the Old Republic RPG) existed several thousand years before Xim and used a Force-related FTL drive (similar in principle to the devices of the Aing-Tii Monks?).

As for everyone but the Rakata, but Xim-era civilization did use "subspace" for "comm and detection gear" and the centerpiece of that tech, "mytag crystals" were the massive treasure horded by Xim.

Something like slipstream drive, perhaps?

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-07-17 03:51pm

The Duchess of Zeon wrote:Something like slipstream drive, perhaps?

Perhaps, but in terms of sensibility I loathe the idea of more than one viable method of FTL in the same universe.

Perhaps the method of FTL is always the same, but there was some gulf in efficiency or velocity which that alien help the Corellians recieved bridged it and ushered in "true" hyperdrive.

Difference between an intense laser and a strong drill bit for the same ends, if you will.