by David K McMillin

Created on: March 31, 2010

The Star Wars saga is both a cultural icon and a description of ancient Roman polity. Back room bargaining, manipulation, war, and deception, all for the sake of gaining ultimate power are represented in George Lucas's story about the fall and redemption of a Jedi Knight named Anakin Skywalker.

During early years the Roman Republic was ruled by a single body of men called the Senate with each member being referred to as Senator. These men were wealthy and usually held vast amounts of land and servants. The Senators also served in various military posts. The most powerful of them held the top command positions, such as Julius Caesar. Much of the Roman prestige and power went to those who were successful in battle and added to the wealth and vastness of the Empire. Julius through savvy military campaigning, including the conquest of the British Isles and civil war: the crossing of the Rubicon against Roman law to attack Pompey, maneuvered the Senate into appointing him as perpetual dictator or more commonly Caesar. This move by the Senate converted the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire ruled by Julius alone. The Senate still, however, retained the power to appoint Caesar but as in most traditions there was more nepotism then true selection.

In Lucas's universe there is a galactic republic ruled by a Senate represented by a confederation of planets. Senator Palpatine, from the planet of Naboo, secretly craving ultimate power puts into motion a plan to capture the position of high chancellor and then start a civil war through his pupil Lord Dooku. Chancellor Palpatine starts a Civil War so that he can raise and army to fight for him and to continue his stay in power, through martial law, longer then the standard term of office. When the Senate and the Jedi order begin to become nervous about his long stay in office he manages to win the war and destroy the only force that could oppose him and gain the Senates approval to make him the first emperor and creating the first Galactic Empire, with thunderous applause. Thus as Princesses Amidala so eloquently put is, “So this is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause.”

The correlation between the two empires is striking; the rise to power through subterfuge and civil war, the gaining of popularity among the Senate, and the creation of an empire. No can really argue fall and redemption of Anakin Skywalker is set against the backdrop of Roman History almost like the Rise and fall of General Lew Wallaces' character Ben Hur.

In the end the Emperor is destroyed by his closest companion and student Anakin Skywalker, Darth Vader. Just as Brutus stabbed Julius Caesar, his friend, to death on the Ides of March so Darth Vader threw his master into the reactor shaft ending both the reign and power of the Empire. Rome, however, after the assassination of Julius continued to appoint other Caesars who came to power through the same means and subterfuges of civil war, assassinations, and political savvy. As we watch the final destruction of the Emperor we can hear that far far distant cry, “Et tu Brute'”

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