The Genesis of Rebellion: Comparing Old and New Star Wars Canon on the Alliance’s Formation

The upcoming second season of Andor promises a deep dive into the formative years of the Rebel Alliance, offering a year-by-year examination of the events that culminated in the rebellion depicted in the original Star Wars trilogy. This exploration invites a comparison between the current Star Wars continuity and the now-Legends Expanded Universe (EU), revealing intriguing parallels and significant divergences in how the Alliance to Restore the Republic came into being.

Both continuities agree that organized resistance to the Galactic Empire didn’t materialize on a grand scale until relatively close to the Battle of Yavin. Instead, the seeds of rebellion were sown almost from the Empire’s inception, following the end of the Clone Wars. Emperor Palpatine, consolidating his power, ruthlessly suppressed any potential dissent. Senators who had previously questioned his emergency powers, specifically those associated with the Delegation of 2,000, found themselves targeted. The Empire’s tactics involved either silencing these former signatories discreetly or coercing them into submission or political exile, effectively neutralizing senatorial opposition. The Imperial armed forces adopted a doctrine of control through fear, employing overwhelming military force to quash even minor instances of dissidence.

Events like the Ghorman Massacre, where peaceful protestors were brutally crushed in 18 BBY, fueled anti-Imperial sentiment. However, this aggressive approach also proved effective in eradicating early pockets of resistance across the galaxy. These included remnants of the Separatist movement attempting to reignite the Clone Wars and localized rebellions on planets like Kashyyyk, Naboo, and Kamino. While resistance movements continued to emerge and falter throughout the Empire’s early reign, genuine, widespread cooperation among them remained elusive.

In both versions of Star Wars history, figures like Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and Garm Bel Iblis played crucial roles in the rebellion’s genesis. The earliest signs of a formal Rebel Alliance arose from the efforts of these senators, representing Alderaan, Chandrila, and Corellia, respectively. They engaged in discussions and coordinated actions among their respective resistance cells, notably through the Cantham House talks on Coruscant. These early interactions laid the groundwork for future collaboration, although it took nearly two decades for the trio to unite again and openly discuss rebellion.

However, the circumstances surrounding their eventual alliance differ considerably between the two continuities. The Legends timeline introduced Galen Marek, also known as Starkiller, a secret apprentice of Darth Vader, as the catalyst for bringing these key figures together. Unbeknownst to them, Marek’s actions were orchestrated by Vader, who intended to use the nascent rebellion to identify and eliminate potential threats to the Emperor. Marek gathered Bel Iblis, Mothma, Organa, and others, including the former Jedi Rahm Kota, under the guise of forming a unified resistance against the Empire. This led to the signing of the Corellian Treaty, a foundational pact between Alderaan, Chandrila, and Corellia, establishing a unified command structure and advisory council.

Vader then exposed Marek’s subterfuge, capturing Organa, Leia, Bel Iblis, Mothma, and Kota at the treaty signing and imprisoning them on the Death Star. Marek, however, experienced a change of heart and sacrificed himself to liberate the captured leaders, enabling them to escape to Kashyyyk. Inspired by Marek’s sacrifice, the signatories of the Corellian Treaty adopted his family crest as the symbol of their organization and vowed to continue the rebellion in his name.

Following these events, the nascent Rebel Alliance issued the Declaration of Rebellion, a public proclamation addressed to Emperor Palpatine. Drafted by Mon Mothma and ratified by Bel Iblis and Organa, the declaration outlined the Empire’s various transgressions, from curtailing civil liberties and imposing excessive taxation to promoting non-human slavery and dismantling planetary representation. It served as a formal call to arms, signaling the start of the Galactic Civil War.

The release of the Declaration of Rebellion galvanized worlds across the galaxy to openly support the Alliance. However, the Imperial military responded swiftly and brutally to these secessionist movements. In the early stages, the Rebel Alliance, hampered by internal divisions over strategy, primarily engaged in minor strikes and fleeting victories.

The current Star Wars canon presents a different narrative. While the core elements of the Rebellion’s formation—the long period of localized resistance cells, the significance of events like the Ghorman Massacre, and the prominent roles of Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and (to a lesser extent) Garm Bel Iblis—remain consistent, the catalyst for the Alliance’s formation differs significantly. Instead of a character like Starkiller orchestrating the initial alliance, the events surrounding the theft of the Death Star plans in Rogue One appear to be the inciting incident. The Battle of Scarif, depicted in Rogue One, is often cited as the "first victory" that spurred the formalization of the rebellion. The declaration of rebellion, in the current canon, occurs during the third season of the Rebels animated series.

The absence of a character like Starkiller and the role he played in the EU is a major divergence. The current canon largely disregards the intricate details of the rebellion’s foundation as established in the Expanded Universe, particularly the transmedia project The Force Unleashed.

As Andor‘s second season unfolds, it will be interesting to see how it further fleshes out the timeline of the Rebellion’s formation and how it reconciles the established details with the broader narrative of the Galactic Civil War. While it’s unlikely that a figure like Starkiller will be retroactively introduced, Andor has the potential to offer a compelling and nuanced portrayal of the sacrifices, compromises, and strategic decisions that shaped the Alliance to Restore the Republic.