Wilhuff Tarkin

Key events in Wilhuff Tarkin's story

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~64 BBY - Birth on Eriadu

Born into the wealthy and demanding Tarkin family, and raised in the family compound to value discipline and obedience.

48 BBY - Trials on the Carrion Plateau

At sixteen, he finishes his wilderness training under his grand-uncle Jova by outwitting a pack of predators at the Carrion Spike. His training then moves on to space combat and piloting.

46 BBY - Crushing Q'anah's Marauders

Serving with the Outland Regions Security Force, he works out the pattern of the pirate Q'anah's raids, captures her ship and sends her crew slowly into a sun.

~45 BBY - Judicial training and meeting Palpatine

He attends the Sullust Sector Spacefarers Academy, where he meets Senator Palpatine, who helps him get into the Judicial Academy. He is later credited with saving his team during a mission to Halcyon.

36 BBY - Leaves the Judicial Forces

He resigns his rank to go into politics, as Palpatine had once suggested.

~34 BBY - Governor of Eriadu

With Palpatine's backing he becomes governor, drives immigrant communities off Eriadu, and helps undermine Chancellor Valorum around the Eriadu Conference.

~24 BBY - Rejecting Dooku

Over a series of dinners he turns down Count Dooku's attempts to bring Eriadu into the Separatist cause, which was secretly a loyalty test set by Sidious. He then decides not to seek reelection.

22 BBY - Joins the Republic Navy

When the Clone Wars begin he enlists as a captain and carries out covert missions for Chancellor Palpatine.

21 BBY - Murkhana and Kamino

He commands the assault on Murkhana and is decorated after the Battle of Kamino.

20 BBY - Captured and rescued from the Citadel

He is captured with Even Piell while carrying half of the Nexus Route in his memory, and is tortured at the Citadel on Lola Sayu. A Jedi team rescues him, and he forms a mutual respect with Anakin Skywalker.

20 BBY - Admiral at Carida

Now an admiral, he survives the Separatist rhydonium attack on the station Valor and writes a scathing report on Jedi command.

20–19 BBY - Special Weapons Group

He joins the Strategic Advisory Cell's group overseeing the battle station project, which puts him in rivalry with Krennic, and he questions Galen Erso.

19 BBY - Prosecutor of Ahsoka Tano

He leads the military's investigation of the Jedi Temple bombing and is made Adjutant General. He prosecutes Ahsoka Tano and asks for the death penalty until Barriss Offee confesses.

19 BBY - Rise of the Empire

He stands with Palpatine at the Empire's founding and becomes a regional governor.

19–18 BBY - Project War-Mantle

With Vice Admiral Rampart he oversees the replacement of clones with conscripted stormtroopers, including the operation that destroys Tipoca City on Kamino.

~14 BBY - Grand Moff of the Outer Rim

He becomes the Empire's first Grand Moff and forms an unofficial triumvirate with the Emperor and Darth Vader.

5 BBY - Arrival on Lothal

He arrives on Lothal to deal with the Spectres, executes the officers who failed to stop them, and captures Kanan Jarrus.

1 BBY - Seizing the Death Star

He tests the superlaser on Jedha City, takes command of the station from Krennic, and destroys the Scarif base during the rebel raid.

1 BBY - Destruction of Alderaan

To make an example of the planet and pressure Princess Leia, he orders Alderaan destroyed.

1 BBY - Death at the Battle of Yavin

He refuses to evacuate and is killed when Luke Skywalker destroys the Death Star.