Star Wars: Alien Races That Changed The Galaxy (2023)

war of starsis the story of a vast galaxy andthe thousands of alien racesthat inhabit it More importantly, it's an epic tale of how these diverse civilizations come together to live as one galactic community, and the many struggles it often takes to get there.

As with any real world society, many of the extraterrestrial races are inwar of starsThey have profound stories that cover everything from their origins and lore, to the discovery of space travel, to their contributions to the galactic annals. Thanks to the expanded universe of books and comics that have spent the last 40 years going well beyond what you will see on screen, we know all about how the Chiss created one of the most dangerous corners of space and how the Jedi and the Sith were born. We know many of the early races that explored the galaxy, and have learned about the vast empire that preceded those in the movies by millennia.

The point is that thewar of starsThere is a lot of history in the universe, especially if you digthe stories of legendswhich are no longer canonical but provide a wealth of information about events prior to the times in which the films and TV series are set. And now canon stories likeThe High RepublicThe series do the same for modern Disney continuity.

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Through these stories, we have learned of the many extraterrestrial civilizations that have shaped galactic history, whether through conquests, scientific discoveries, interstellar exploration, or minor actions that have nonetheless led to massive changes in the galaxy. These are some of those civilizations you should know about...

Gree, To y Tythans

The Gree are so ancient that they predate known history in both Legends and Disney canon. Even the most authoritative Gree scholars were unaware of the full extent of their civilization's history, but we do know that these six-tentacled cephalopods were one of the first alien races to develop some form of hyperspace technology and explore the stars. While the Gree settled and established empires on many planets, most famously they discoveredTython, a once hidden planet of great power that would become the birthplace of the Jedi Order.

While the Gree had long since left the planet (and the known galaxy) when the pilgrims-to-be-Jedi arrived, they were not the only ancient civilization to have inhabited Tython before the Jedi days. Then came the Kwa, who were actually contemporaries of the Gree. They were best known for building the Infinity Gates, a network of structures that allowed them to travel instantaneously from one point in the galaxy to another, a method of interstellar travel far more advanced than hyperspace .

But much of this kwa technology and knowledge was lost when Force-sensitive pilgrims representing many species in the galaxy arrived on the planet and founded the Je'daii Order, the forerunner of the protector religious faction we know today . These people are also known as the local Tythans, an ancient civilization that studied and learned to use the Force on both the light and dark side...

accompaniment

During the time of Gree and Kwa, there was also the vicious warrior race known as the Rakata, a primitive cannibalistic society that would one day escape their homeworld of Lehon and conquer the rest of the galaxy to found the Infinite Empire. Originally discovered by the Kwa, the Rakata learned the ways of the Force from the more advanced species and quickly embraced the dark side. They created Force-powered hyperdrives and captured Force-sensitive slaves to power their ships, and when they powered the Kwa to take the Infinity Gates, the Kwa were forced to destroy the network. Ultimately, the Rakata wiped out most of the Kwa, and what remained of this once-advanced civilization eventually evolved into a species of creatures known as the Kwi.

Needless to say, the Rakata were known for two things: their immense ferocity and vast empire, linking more than 500 planets. At the height of their power, the Rakata developed many other Force-powered machines, including the Star Forge, a space station that harnessed the dark side and energy from a nearby star to create an endless supply of battleships and weapons for their warfare. . Machine.

But like all empires, the Infinite Empire eventually fell. Millennia of wars with other races, power struggles, and a mysterious plague that cut them off from power have left the Rakata shattered and virtually extinct. Centuries later, the few remaining Rakata didn't even know how to power their own technology.

Sith

The original Sith who existed tens of thousands of years ago.PalpatineHailing from the planet Korriban (known as Moraband in new canon), they were very different from the Sith Lords you know from the movies. Indeed, the ancient Sith were a unique species of red-skinned, facial-tentacled humanoids with their own culture and traditions. But they have one thing in common with the villains of the Skywalker saga: they worshiped and practiced the dark side of the Force.

The Sith species eventually interbred with a faction of outcast dark Jedi humans who left the known galaxy after a long and bloody war with their light, worshiping counterparts (a story for another time). During this time, the Sith established their own great empire and waged many wars against the Republic and the Jedi.

But more enduring than their former empire, long dead by the time of the films, are their traditions, their religious beliefs in the dark side, and the many artifacts and teachings they left behind for Palpatine's Sith order to discover and use to conquer the galaxy. The Sith holocrons scattered throughout space held many great mysteries of the Force, while the tombs on Korriban/Moraband held the histories of many of the Sith's greatest Dark Lords.including one worshiped by the Sith Eternal in The Rise of Skywalker. Without this ancient species, there would be no Sith as we know them today.

Chiss

The blue-skinned, red-eyed Chiss are an enigma to most. Aside from the infamous Grand Admiral Thrawn, few Chiss have ever operated in the known galaxy, preferring instead to rule their empire in the uncharted, difficult to navigate, and dangerous region of space known as the Unknown Regions (where the Sith Planet Exegol fromThe Rise of Skywalkerwas also located). Republican historians knew very little about the origin of the Chiss or how they formed their hidden empire, but one theory holds that they evolved from a forgotten band of human colonists who journeyed into the uncharted regions and never returned.

But while most Chiss preferred to remain alone on their homeworld of Csilla, and the Chiss Ascendancy remained largely neutral in most galactic conflicts, Thrawn changed all that, bringing Chiss brilliance and strategy to the frontlines of the Galactic Civil War. Legends introduces Thrawn as the new leader of what remains of the EmpireReturn of the Jedi, while Disney canon shows him much earlier as a Grand Admiral operating at the height of Imperial power before the original trilogy. Regardless of the point of entry, this master military tactician left an indelible mark on the galaxy, securing his people's place in history even as the Chiss civilization continued to baffle scholars.

Kaminana

Although we didn't really get to see that erawar of starsuntil 25 years laterA new hope, the clone wars have been an important part of galactic history far, far from the start. Indeed, a brief mention ofclone warsin the first film was one of the first signs that there was a great epic story going beyond the scope of the story being told. Obi-Wan describes the Clone Wars as the stuff of legend for a young and impressionable Luke, a time when the Jedi were at the height of their power. Of course, the prequel trilogy painted a much bleaker picture.

Regardless of your point of view, few would argue that the Kaminoans played a crucial role in the Clone Wars, not just as the creators of the clones themselves, but as the civilization that almost single-handedly turned the tide of the war and set the stage. for the rise of the Empire to power and the near extinction of the Jedi. Before the Kaminoans abandoned their massive clone army, the Republic did not have an army on the scale needed to fight the Separatists who threatened to overthrow the galactic government. But when Palpatine was ready to unleash his latest plan at the end of the clone wars, he had the infinitely renewable force he needed to do what he wanted. And so the dark legacy of a largely benevolent alien civilization was cemented.

geonosianos

The future Emperor and Dark Lord of the Sith not only had plans for a large army that would one day make itturn against a weakened Jedi order, also wanted to build the ultimate superweapon with which to control the rest of the galaxy. When it came time to begin construction of the dreaded Death Star, Palpatine turned to the industrious Geonosians, an insectoid species with the ingenuity required for such a massive undertaking.

Geonosis will always be known as the planet where the Clone Wars began, but it was also the site of one of history's greatest military achievements.war of starsHistory of when the Geonosians set out not only to draw up the plans for the deadly space station, but to build it in orbit around the planet. But his efforts were not rewarded. Not only did the Geonosians suffer terrible casualties for their role in the first battle of the Clone Wars, but when the Emperor no longer needed them after the war, he ordered his forces to poison the planet with gas, which effectively sterilized and killed the Geonosians. the entire Geonosian population. The goal of this outrageous genocide? To keep the Death Star a secret until the time was right.

Bothanos

While the Geonosians were key to the design and construction of the Death Star, the wily Bothans played a key role in ending the station's reign of terror once and for all. You probably remember Mon Mothma's words inReturn of the Jedi:: "Many Bothans died bringing us this information." It's a solemn moment that barely scratches the surface of one of the most important espionage operations ever undertaken.

Known for their cunning elite spy network, the Bothans worked tirelessly to secure the location of the second Death Star project. These spies also discovered that the Emperor was planning to visit the station, providing the perfect time for the Rebellion to strike at the heart of the Empire. The result of the botanical sacrifice was a death knell for the tyrannical government and the death of the emperor.

Yuuzhan vong

One of the most controversial breeds ever introducedwar of stars, the Yuuzhan Vong came from outside the known galaxy and played the role of classic alien invaders bent on conquering every planet in their path. They were known for their bio-organic weapons, armor, technology, and ships, as well as for their general impenetrability to the Force, making them Luke Skywalker's ultimate enemy.New Jedi Orderin the Legends continuity.

The Yuuzhan Vong waged a war against the New Republic that not only resulted in the deaths of Chewbacca and Anakin Solo, Han and Leia's youngest son, but also the dissolution of the Republic itself. Everything the Rebellion fought so hard for during the Galactic Civil War had was destroyed. Like it or not, the Yuuzhan Vong wiped out the New Republic canon in Legends over a decade before we even knew what the First Order was.

Let us know in the comments if you think we've missed anyone and we can add them to the list!

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John Saavedra is the Editor-in-Chief of Den of Geek. He lives in New York City with his two cats.