Fleshing out the Imperial grandeur: need help

[Battlehymn Republic]

I'm trying to come up with some ideas to flesh out the stylistic elements of the Empire. You know, the pomp, the circumstance, the finery, the rituals.

For one thing, I had an idea that like Augustus of Rome, "Palpatine" could become a title for the Emperor of the Galaxy just like "Caesar". But would it just be Palpatine, or some derivative? Palpatinius? Palpatino?
Add your suggestions here.

[lord Martiya]

It could be simply his first name, Cos. Simply and clear. Fel III, Cos of Bastion, Emperor of the Galaxy...
Or perhaps the Cos (or the Palpatine) could be the heir to the throne.

[ArcturusMengsk]

Romanticism. Give examples of nationalist poetry and architecture and painting and philosophy.

[Illuminatus Primus]

In the long term, I doubt that Palpatine's personality cult would translate into a title. Cos is also not Palpatine's first name. Its fanon. Also, its not a very good theory if you ask me. Alternative fanon names include Augustus (from Augie's Great Municipal Band in the TPM OST). This happens to be the choice (Augustus Nero Palpatine to be precise) of the esteemed poster on this forum, Publius, in his creations on domuspublica.net. Palpatine is awknowledged to be a member of a noble family, so Palpatine is probably not a name that could be acquired at large by a pretender (it was used by Caesar's family long before Vespasian claimed it). I am partial to the theory that Palpatine is a regnal or political name assumed by Nabooian nobility on election to political office (i.e., "Amidala" for Padme Skywalker).

[lord Martiya]

I didn't know of that fanonically. BTW, I remember that exists something called Empire Day...

[QuentinGeorge]

Augie doesn't refer to Palpatine - it refers to the Gungan leader of the Municipal Band, Augara "Augie" Jowil.

The Episode I Visual Dictionary was originally going to have "Ethril" as Palpatine's first name, but this was vetoed.

[Ender]

It could be simply his first name, Cos. Simply and clear. Fel III, Cos of Bastion, Emperor of the Galaxy...
Or perhaps the Cos (or the Palpatine) could be the heir to the throne.

Except Cos isn't his first name. His first name has never been given.

Also, more to the point, we don't even know that Palpatine was the guys name, it's quite possible that Sidious killed the real Palpatine and just showed up to his first job as a senatorial page or whatever with the proper forged documents.

[Publius]

Palpatine's full name is canonically Palpatine of Naboo (Revenge of the Sith). He has never been referred to by any other name. Unlike "Ethril," "Cos" was never applied to him; it is the given name of Cos Dashit, the Consul to the Supreme Tribunal in the rough draft of the first script (subsequently renamed Son Hhat). He is a completely different character. It is thoroughly inappropriate to apply the name to Palpatine, just as it would be to affix the name "Starkiller" to Luke Skywalker.

The character Augara Jowil was created this year. This author's use of the name Augustus Nero Palpatine (and its implied reference to Augie's Great Municipal Band via the diminutive nickname "Augie") dates to 1998. Though it may not be consonant with the official canon, it is because the canon has changed, not due to a lack of research on this author's part.

At any rate, this author has put considerable work into developing a more holistic picture of the Empire, both based on canon and a more detailed picture based on speculation. Please feel free to use the private message feature if you wish to discuss the matter further.

[QuentinGeorge]

I was probably a bit vague to my meaning - I wasn't accusing you of violating canon, and of course I realise that you wrote your fanfiction before Augara Jowil showed up, I was just pointing out that its no longer tenable that "Augie" is Palpatine.

'Course, doesn't stop Palpatine's name being Augustus...just takes away one reason for it.

[Darth Wong]

I'm trying to come up with some ideas to flesh out the stylistic elements of the Empire. You know, the pomp, the circumstance, the finery, the rituals.

For one thing, I had an idea that like Augustus of Rome, "Palpatine" could become a title for the Emperor of the Galaxy just like "Caesar". But would it just be Palpatine, or some derivative? Palpatinius? Palpatino?

Add your suggestions here.

I take it you're looking for something similar to the Wagnerian pomp and circumstance of the scene in Gladiator where Commodus returns to Rome from the territories? How do we know the Empire had such ritualistic elements? Palpatine himself seemed to prefer very simple clothing rather than lot of finery, and there was no sign that he had much of an entourage either.

If one wanted to give a hint of the scope and grandeur of the Empire without simply resorting to bland expository dialogue or narrative, one might want to describe the effect of casual decisions at the top. For example, depict how entire systems of factory worlds are thrown into disarray as a result of a casual off-handed decision by Palpatine, or by a minister trying to please Palpatine.

[Vympel]

After watching Episode III, "The Imperial Palace" has struck me as simply being inappropriate. I picture Palpatine in the same old office he'd occupied as Chancellor of the Republic.

[Vehrec]

Not that Palpatine's office wasn't full of luxuries and amenities like the bed that lets you get a full nights sleep in a couple of hours. They just tended to be subtle and not showy. No, what promoted the move might have been the growing central bureaucracy of the Empire, the centralization of power that required new facilities. Under this interpretation, the Imperial Palace was built to house not the emperor but his hangers on.

[lord Martiya]

Wasn't Imperial Palace builded to house all principal ruling bodies, their infrastructure AND the Emperor?

[Publius]

If one wanted to give a hint of the scope and grandeur of the Empire without simply resorting to bland expository dialogue or narrative, one might want to describe the effect of casual decisions at the top. For example, depict how entire systems of factory worlds are thrown into disarray as a result of a casual off-handed decision by Palpatine, or by a minister trying to please Palpatine.

Surely You Can't Be Serious: The Life and Times of a Rounding Error

[LadyTevar]

If one wanted to give a hint of the scope and grandeur of the Empire without simply resorting to bland expository dialogue or narrative, one might want to describe the effect of casual decisions at the top. For example, depict how entire systems of factory worlds are thrown into disarray as a result of a casual off-handed decision by Palpatine, or by a minister trying to please Palpatine.

Surely You Can't Be Serious: The Life and Times of a Rounding Error

Oh that's Priceless! I think the best part was the Senator complaining to Bail Organa that Mon Montha found out about the whole mess, and Organa sipping his tea and wondering how that could have happened.

Back OT: I find it hard to describe the grandeur of the Empire because there's so much of it. The visuals of Corsucant along were mind-blowing to me, just imagining how so technology went into not just designing those towers, but the engineering to make them work, keep them running... hell, you want Scope & Grandeur? Look at NYC, and the pigeon dropping problem -- now how does the Empire keep their buildings clean? (probably droids, but it's still a good question, right?)

[SirNitram]

If one wanted to give a hint of the scope and grandeur of the Empire without simply resorting to bland expository dialogue or narrative, one might want to describe the effect of casual decisions at the top. For example, depict how entire systems of factory worlds are thrown into disarray as a result of a casual off-handed decision by Palpatine, or by a minister trying to please Palpatine.

Surely You Can't Be Serious: The Life and Times of a Rounding Error

Beautiful.

Reminds me of the clerical error in one WEG supplement for military surplus.

Three commlinks were sold and delivered via automated system.

The clerical error was that they were actually Imperator-class Star Destroyers. I don't think anyone ever tracked the things down.

[ArcturusMengsk]

Marginally-related query: Is the "Imperial March" the official in-universe anthem of the Galactic Empire?

[Tiriol]

Marginally-related query: Is the "Imperial March" the official in-universe anthem of the Galactic Empire?

Hard to say, since there hasn't been too many instances of displaying in-universe music. However, if we are to take TIE Fighter's cut scene of the Emperor giving a medal of honor to Maarek Stele for saving the Imperial Majesty from Zaarinist coup attempt literally, the background music might be some military parade music of the Empire - and, coincidentally, it was a variant of the Imperial March.

One of the Han Solo books mentioned that the Empire does have its own anthem, though; but what kind is at anyone's guess (although I'm quite certain that fanon would place the Imperial March in that role).

[TC Pilot]

For the granduer of His Imperial Majesty Palpatine I's Galactic Empire, one need not look further than the galaxy itself.

One needs only to look out the viewport of any of his Imperial Majesty's warships, victorious on all front, in any corner of the galaxy and see a sea of Imperial stars. One need only to look to the sky from any one of the Empire's countless worlds, bustling with peace, prosperity, and civilized society as they are, to gaze upon an infinite horizon of jewels in the Imperial crown that is the Galactic Empire's galaxy. One need only look upon the motley flotilla of criminals, terrorists, and reprobates as it is chastised by the Imperial armed forces to see the granduer of the Galactic Empire.

[000]

The Imperial March is definitely an in-universe tune, and it's not unreasonable to assume it is in some way associated with the Imperial state.

[Battlehymn Republic]

So, in conclusion, is the consensus that "Palpatine" or a derivation thereof an unlikely title for would-be pretenders to the throne?

I still wonder why Caesar was the only guy to have his name become that.

[Publius]

He isn't. Many Eastern European languages derive their word for king from Charlemagne (e.g., król in Polish).

To make a long story short, Caesar's immediate successors as caudillo of Rome were members of his extended family, and adopted the name to emphasize their familial connections and to cash in on the prestige of the name. Over time, the name become inseparably linked with supreme power, and was naturally assumed when donning the purple, if one had not already acquired it. What you must remember is that the line between a name and a title was considerably less rigidly defined in Roman society (cf. cognomina and agnomina). There was not even an actual office of "emperor" for several centuries, and by the time the title became finalized, Caesar had long since lapsed as an imperial title.