Palpatine is the major antagonist in Star Wars fiction. He first became a senator of Naboo and then he became the chancellor when the former chancellor was ousted.

He began to put into plan his most grand scheme and was able to lure Anakin Skywalker to the dark side of the force and rechristened him as Darth Vader. He would be the most powerful man on the galaxy, until he was killed by Darth Vader.

Characteristics

In Star Wars fiction, Palpatine is described as a manipulative and ambitious politician, a ruthless emperor, and an evil Sith Lord. The Star Wars Databank describes him as "the supreme ruler of the most powerful tyrannical regime the galaxy had ever witnessed" and Stephen J. Sansweet's Star Wars Encyclopedia calls him "evil incarnate". In A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader is depicted as the ultimate Star Wars villain, but as critic James Berardinelli notes, "With the arrival of the Emperor (a gaunt-looking Ian McDiarmid) [in Return of the Jedi], Vader has turned into a second fiddle." Darth Vader himself reminds Moff Jerjerrod, "The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am."

As a Senator, Palpatine is portrayed as "unassuming yet ambitious". In Cloak of Deception, James Luceno writes that Palpatine carefully guards his privacy and "others found his reclusiveness intriguing, as if he led a secret life." Despite this, he has many allies in the government. Luceno writes, "What Palpatine lacked in charisma, he made up for in candor, and it was that directness that had led to his widespread appeal in the senate. ... For in his heart he judged the universe on his own terms, with a clear sense of right and wrong." In Terry Brooks' novelization of The Phantom Menace, Senator Palpatine claims to embrace democratic principles. He tells Queen Amidala, "I promise, Your Majesty, if I am elected Supreme Chancellor, I will restore democracy to the Republic. I will put an end to the corruption that has plagued the Senate." A Visual Dictionary states that he is a self-proclaimed savior.

As Emperor, Palpatine abandons any semblance of democracy. Sansweet states, "His Empire ... was based on tyranny, hatred of nonhumans, brutal and lethal force, and, above all else, constant fear." In Matthew Stover's novelization of Revenge of the Sith, Count Dooku anticipates the coming of the new government: "A government clean, pure, direct: none of the messy scramble for the favor of ignorant rabble and subhuman creatures that made up the Republic he so despised. The government he would serve would be Authority personified. Human authority." The Emperor enforces his will through clandestine, Force-sensitive agents known as the Emperor's Hands. The Star Wars Encyclopedia calls them "the Emperor's eyes and ears throughout the galaxy" who "communicate with him ... through the Force." Prominent Hands include Mara Jade and Roganda Ismaren.

The apprentice of Darth Plagueis, Palpatine is "the most powerful practitioner of the Sith ways in modern times." The comic Sithisis by Derek Thompson, printed in Star Wars: Visionaries (2005), reveals the extent of Darth Sidious' power as he performs a terrifying Sith ritual that manipulates people and places across the galaxy. Palpatine is so powerful that he is able to mask his true identity from the Jedi. In Shatterpoint, Mace Windu remarks to Yoda, "A shame Palpatine can't touch the Force. He might have been a fine Jedi."

The Databank explains that the Force "granted him inhuman dexterity and speed, agility enough to quickly kill three Jedi Masters" in seconds. Palpatine is a master lightsaber duellist and skilled at using Force lightning to attack his opponents. Stover elaborates on the duel between Palpatine and Yoda: "From the shadow of a black wing, a small weapon ... slid into a withered hand and spat a flame-colored blade. When the blades met it was more than Yoda against Palpatine, more the millennia of Sith against the legions of Jedi; this was the expression of the fundamental conflict of the universe itself. Light against dark. Winner take all."During the duel, Yoda realizes, "He had lost before he started."

Stover also states that when fighting Mace Windu, the Jedi Master manages to reflect Palpatine's own Force Lightening back at him using his self-developed fighting style, the Vaapad. Although much the change in his appearance during the Third film is a result of this, almost no explaination is given as to why Palaptine's eyes turned yellow.

According to the Databank and New Essential Guide to Characters, Palpatine possesses great patience and his maneuverings are as a dejarik grandmaster moves pieces on a board.

Abilities

Despite his old age, Palpatine could channel the force through him and move very quickly like Yoda (but not quite as quick). Palpatine was a master at form IV and form VII lightsaber combat. This is a deadly combination.

Palpatine likes to use his force lightning more than fighting with his lightsaber. He has great control over his lightning and with enough energy, can kill someone usually in a few seconds.