Emperor's Royal Guard
Royal Guards are fictional characters in the Star Wars universe.[1] They appear in Return of the Jedi (1983) and in the third prequel film, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005). Royal Guards have been merchandised into action figures and miniatures, and their backstory expanded upon in such works as Dark Horse Comics' Crimson Empire series.
Contents
Concept and development
Although Lucasfilm concept artist Nilo Rodis-Jamero created several designs for the Royal Guards, their crimson color remained consistent.[2] Rodis-Jamero's designs ranged from "centurion-like warriors to priest-like monks".[2]
Jay Shuster based the Senate Guards' appearance in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace on the Royal Guards.[3] Shuster humanized the Senate Guards by exposing their faces, and he gave them a plume for a classical appearance.[3] Although originally intended to be predecessors to the Royal Guards, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones shows the two types of guards to be contemporaneous.[3] No longer needing to suggest the Senate Guards' progression into Royal Guards, costume prop supervisor Ivo Coveney removed the Senate Guards' plume and added a visor to their helmet for Revenge of the Sith.[3]
Depiction
When Palpatine becomes chancellor of the Galactic Republic, he phases out the Senate Guards in preference for his own Royal Guards (called Red guard in Republic years) and the Shock Troopers .[4] Once Palpatine creates the Galactic Empire with himself as Emperor, the Royal Guards accompany him at all times.[5] Guardsman Kir Kanos is the anti-hero in Dark Horse's Crimson Empire comics.[6]
Royal Guards are chosen from among the Empire's stormtroopers, and Guards regularly cycle back into the stormtrooper corps to maintain their battle readiness.[7] Candidates for Royal Guard training are evaluated for their size, strength, intelligence, and loyalty;[5] those chosen for training are assessed for their combat reflexes and stamina, and they receive training in a wide range of armed and unarmed combat.[7][8] Guards' crimson robes conceal armor more advanced than stormtrooper armor.[5][8]
In other Star Wars media
The Royal Guards are enemies and playable characters in the video games Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy and Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga. They are also playable in Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars.
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
Cite error: Invalid <references> tag; parameter "group" is allowed only.
<references />, or <references group="..." />External links
- Emperor's Royal Guard in the Official StarWars.com Encyclopedia
- Senate Guard in the Official StarWars.com Encyclopedia
- Emperor's Royal Guard on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki
- Senate Guard on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki
- ↑ Fernando Bueno, "Imperial Royal Guard," Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Prima Official Game Guide (Roseville: Prima Games, 2008), 13.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
