All Imperial Ranks Of The Galactic Empire [Canon] Star Wars Explained

This video explains the Galactic Empire's ranks and insignias from Star Wars Canon productions to date. The chart compiles the rank insignias or rank plaques by the imperial military branch and provides characters from Star Wars wearing the rank insignias.
Imperial Rank Insignias Playlist: • Imperial Ranks Star Wars
Canon Lore video Playlist:
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Legends Lore video Playlist: • Galactic Empire Star W...
Andor Imperials Explained: • Andor Star Wars Explained
Mandalorian Imperials Explained: • Mandalorian Imperials ...
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[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

For more Imperial Rank videos just click on the link: kzbin.info/aero/PLagwqgVrWjQXa5mYyQq5e3_X1xGZ5B7tj&si=SvLtJUsKCN7lWWD5

[@morscalaroleplays1207]

3 Grand Admirals in cannon have been named 1.) Grand Admiral Thrawn 2.) Grand Admiral Savit 3.) Grand Admiral Slone

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Ah yes l forgot about Savit, good spot 👍😊

[@javierb5754]

3 known Grand Generals as well, Tagge, Loring; and Ormeddon

[@horatiohuskisson5471]

Grand Admiral Versio?

[@MOB6UDT4]

@@horatiohuskisson5471he wasn’t a grand admiral I don’t think

[@Darth-vade123]

​@@javierb5754versio is a Navy admiral he wears the isb uniform

[@AndersonNeo12]

"In my book, experience outranks everything" - Captain Rex

[@timothybrandriff6499]

This is, maybe, the most comprehensive explanation of the absolute mess that is the Imperial rank system.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

It's definitely a comprehensive chart. l feel that having studied this subject extensively, the branches element explains better how the ranks operated alongside each other. That is a bit of a game changer for me.

[@grandmoffscott143]

The ranks may be confusing. But we unlike the Rebels, wear them with style!

[@FrostyGerardo-kr7xs]

Apparently more blue mean more levels up

[@bobulousgaming5353]

​@@FrostyGerardo-kr7xsor red, or orange

[@LordKalte]

It only depends how they spent their 6 points between HP and Mana

[@notmyrealname6150]

This shows how massive the Imperial military was. I always thought the Imperial Navy and Imperial Army should have had different color uniforms to distinguish the 2 branches.

[@LibertyandFreedom4]

Yes, gay white for the Navy and oorah black/grey for the Army/Marines

[@Belzediel]

They do, Navy wears grey, Army wears olive grey.

[@juliocastillo9073]

i always thought it would be better if all of the Army wore Black, the Navy wore all Grey and the ISB wore all White.

[@joshuaseuser625]

@@juliocastillo9073 black is for navy infantry

[@juliocastillo9073]

@@joshuaseuser625 i know, im just saying that i would've prefered if each of the Empire branches had a single signature color for their uniforms.

[@juliesmith1100]

Long live the empire!!

[@jimjam5570]

The convoluted empire. The best system was the CIS during the clone wars: All Rogers answer to Commander, all Commanders answer to someone with more than two arms, everyone with more than two arms answer to the guy with the whitest hairs on their head, who secretly answers to the guy with the most wrinkled face. Very simple.

[@Bennahr_Fett]

@@jimjam5570 And then I guess anyone with a scrotum for a face answers to satan right?

[@oakandthepack4887]

Hear hear

[@oakandthepack4887]

​@@jimjam5570lmao

[@tytoguardian]

Death to the Empire! Long live freedom and the Republic!

[@ExecutorGCW]

Rank plaques definitely have always been confusing but I think with this new era of Disney Star Wars, ever since Rogue One was released productions have generally been using the same system so hopefully as more content releases the hierarchy becomes more clear. The only thing seemingly lacking here is the presence of Imperial Intelligence which I don't think we've seen on screen at all yet, in addition to lower ranking Imperial Government staff such as Planetary Governors (Possibly avoided due to Governor Pryce's appearance in SW Rebels using the Grand Moff plaque). My one query about the Imperial Navy at the moment is how the Grand Admirals operated. I know there's supposedly twelve, and that they're appointed directly by the Emperor, and report to him, yet Admiral Motti is supposed to be the Chief of the Imperial Navy in 0 BBY. So entire fleets of the Navy are just handed off to a Grand Admiral with no oversight from the Joint Chiefs? I don't get how that would work, lol.

[@randomstuff9005]

Andor. In Andor the ISB plays a Major-part. So go take a look over there.

[@ExecutorGCW]

​@@randomstuff9005 I have watched Andor, but the only Imperial Intelligence in the series are the Death Troopers. I'm more looking for genuine intelligence agents. To clarify, the ISB and Imperial Intelligence aren't the same branch, they're sister agencies and rival each other when it comes to resources and jurisdiction. In fact, the ISB isn't even housed in the Imperial Military, it sits within COMPNOR instead.

[@tricksor6589]

ISB is not Imperial Intelligence. I.I was a seperate espionage branch of the Empire, whereas the ISB was counter-espionage and internal security.@@randomstuff9005

[@Belzediel]

Colonel Yularen would be pleased you think so.

[@IIC7]

From what I remember, Grand Admiral is a senior rank so most of the Grand Admirals should've already been in command of a fleet prior to their appointment. While true that Grand Admirals are appointed directly by the Emperor, there was still so much political infighting that it made things slow for a lack of a better term. Like even if the newly appointed Grand Admirals were given say 3 ISDs, said ISDs might not arrive for some time due to "logistical" complications.

[@logannaraine7952]

In my own head cannon I like to think of it a bit like how the British army uses both a rank and appointment system. So a rank is what you are but an appointment is what you do. So you could be the rank of captain but are appointed as the OC of a platoon (which is normally the job of a major). Which can lead to a lot of confusion. And In a large headquarters élément such as a brigade or campaign level HQ it gets extremely confusing. So if you try and think of the imperial army in that context it actually makes quite a bit of sense: fleet level and sector level are more headquarters staff officers where as regular officers would be more akin to troop and platoon level commanders. (It also could explain why some officers are seemingly doing jobs either a rank above or below there actual rank, as some officers suck and get appointed shit jobs or the opposit) Anyways that’s how I think about it

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Yes, l believe that could be true 👍 an example of this is Captain Tigo in Andor Season 1. Obviously, he holds the military rank of Captain, but as the most senior imperial running the day to day affairs on Ferrix, he is given the title appointment of Prefect. I am sure there are other examples, but thar one sprung to mind. Thanks for the comment 👍

[@spencersholden]

Grand Admiral Savit is also from canon. He was in Thrawn Treason. There’s no image of him though.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Thanks for pointing out, not read Thrawn treason yet. Long live the Empire!

[@spencersholden]

@@ImperialsExplainedStarWars you should. Second best of new Thrawn Trilogy.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

@@spencersholden Thanks, I will take a look as I am aware of the book. I've got Thrawn Ascendancy 'Chaos Rising' but that's more around the Chiss etc I suppose.

[@MasterDownUnder]

yes. Grand Admiral Connery!!!

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Here is the link to the rank chart on Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/MawInstallation/comments/yvjrwa/imperial_military_ranks_version_2/

[@sw-gs]

I always thought that Grand Moff had the same authority as Grand Admiral and Grand General, but where those both ranks were strictly military ranks, while Grand Moff and Moff were more political/overseer ranks that were outside jurisdiction of any branch of military or navy (yet when given authority in time of need by The Emperor they could order both).

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

It depends on the timeline, which changed their authority as the Empire went into decline. The rank refers to pre-battle of Yavin, so Grand Moff's generally had the ear of Palpatine over the Grand Admirals and Generals. However, after the Battle of Yavin, that was reversed.

[@SmokeyBCN]

I'd like to see an expansion of the government branch, to encompass what is surely a gigantic civil service, required to keep such a huge Empire running on a day to day basis.

[@gabrieltassoni5549]

There was also Grand General Ormeddon from Star Wars: Tales from Vandor :)

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Thanks for spotting this 👍

[@bojokowski]

It needed to be done. Thank you

[@prato6396]

Here is my head canon. In the United States military there is a tradition called getting frocked. Which means you will promote to the next rank without it actually reflecting either on your uniform or on your "profile". Im assuming because the inconsistencies are most of the time only a rank down. They were frocked to the next rank.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Maybe so 👍 that be a logical explanation 🤔 as it this system largely follows the US military but with a degree of fictional license of course.

[@galacticempirestudio400]

Thanks for explaining imperial ranks

[@decimusgelt6797]

This chart sure is nice. I would have loved to have seen this matter placed entirely in one persons hands to maintain consistency. Crossman had a good go at it, but I don't think I've seen a Rank System yet which displays rank naturally and comfortably.

[@mr.giraffe5838]

This video was great. Explained the ranks and insignias with the perfect amount and necessary amount of information. I personally have a massive fascination when it comes to ranks and insignias, not sure why, but I do. I've served 5 years in the Rural Fire Brigade in Queensland, Australia - currently at the rank of Crew Leader, which is represented by 3 Yellow/Gold Bars. I am a Volunteer so being at a rank like Crew Leader with such a short service time is somewhat common, as opposed to the Fire and Rescue (or professional paid Firefighters), which 5 years would get me up 1 rank from 4th Class Firefighter (represented by no Insignia) to 3rd Class (represented by 1 White Chevron), maybe 2nd Class (represented by 2 White Chevrons) if I'm lucky. Of course that doesn't really have any real addition to the video, but I figured mentioning it should help show my fascination.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

I am glad you enjoyed my video, and it explained the ranks for you. It is certainly a subject that confuses lots of people, but l have found that there is a system if you piece it together in the form of a chart. The military branches also add a layer, which compartmentalizes the ranks.

[@DSON89]

Long live the Empire!

[@JRGProjects]

Yet Star Trek has the easy ranking system in known sci-fi: 1 black Pip - Chief Petty Officer (NCO) 1 Gold Pip - Ensign 1 black + 1 Gold - Lt. Jr Grade 2 Gold Pips - Full Lt. 2 Gold Pips + 1 black - Lt. Cmdr 3 Gold Pips - Cmdr. 4 Gold Pips - Captain 1 Gold Square - Rear Admiral Lower 2 Gold Squares - Rear Admiral Upper 2 Gold Bars with 3 Pips- Vice Admiral 2 Gold Bars with 4 Pips - Admiral 2 Gold Bars with 5 Pips - Fleet Admiral Starfleet Commander in Chief Federation Council Federation President

[@aadvantagegold5220]

Probably because they just yoinked the USN rank structure

[@59rlmccormack]

The rankings are very distinct.

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

Honestly it does not look any more convoluted that any earth mmilitary.. Just stark... souless which I think makes it a wonderful system as it fit's the empire and works good enough.

[@Sigma0283]

Piett had a Captains insignia in Return of the Jedi despite being an Admiral. This was a costuming error during production.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

I have done a video on this subject. Please watch that one too

[@theoneandonly7520]

I needed this for my SW notes on the notes section of my phone thanks bro 💀

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Glad to be of service 👍

[@Toasted_Failure]

Listening to army ranks is fun

[@ncl1701]

Nice video. Do you have a link to this chart?

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

I will add it to the description

[@jlamb6919]

Hi, love the video but for your knowledge, in the US navy senior officers like rear admirals and vice admirals simply go by admiral when addressed as it is easier to conduct speaking to them as a senior officer

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

That is same as the imperial ranks after the Battle of Yavin; where a new double row rank system used the same rank plaque for all levels of Admiral

[@netrolancer1061]

Long Live The Empire!!!

[@acrazysheepdog1555]

Should be mentioned that Sloane appointed herself as a Grand Admiral, not the Emperor.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Yes, you're right my mistake

[@kinglars2280]

@@ImperialsExplainedStarWars I think you have forgotten the one and only General Veers 🤗 4x red over 4 blue Quarters on his Insignia from Star Wars V. The best General, Lord Vader ever had... Long live the Empire 😁

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

@@kinglars2280 General Veers rank plaque is not included because his double row plaque of 4 red over 4 blue is related to the rank system used by the Galactic Empire after the battle of Yavin to reorganize the rank system entirely into all double rows. I have covered this in a separate video to explain. So, in other words, the system I mentioned in this video is related to the rank plaque system prior to the battle of Yavin and so, General Veers as an Army Line General would have worn a single row plaque of 6 red tiles.

[@kinglars2280]

@@ImperialsExplainedStarWars Thank you, for this Information

[@lightningAnbu700]

Great overview, appreciate it. However, question, is it just me or is the Vice Admirals rank wrong, if we check on Rampart in the first and second season of Bad batch. You might've mentioned this in the vid, I did not watch it fully though.

[@bobulousgaming5353]

He did mention it

[@Hemi_.Z]

Would Vader sit above Grand Vizier? Considering he’s the right hand and Sith Lord to the emperor himself?

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Well, Vader didn't have an official rank, so l suppose he could be have been higher

[@starpunisher3851]

Vader did not have an official rank, though he operated as the unofficial Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Military. It warrants a place on the chart. Also to note, is that Cassio Tagge held the title of Supreme Commander while being a Grand General, and therefore was superior in status to other Grand Generals (Though he was the only one at the time). Another thing, is that in the comics when Tagge is promoted to Grand General, there is an inconsistency, as art in the comic shows him with a red strip like he had in ANH, despite being a Grand General.@@ImperialsExplainedStarWars

[@colinmerritt7645]

Vader didn't NEED a rank. You do what he says, or develop sudden breathing problems.

[@481mitch]

In Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, when Vader strangles the officer in "I find your lack of faith disturbing," he obeys Grand Moff's order. Vader would be below Grand Moff on the same level as Moff, Grand General, and Grand Admiral.

[@cartman20000]

​@@481mitch although Vader says "as you wish." so he may have just decided to release him and didn't have to comply. I'd think the only one he would have to obey would be the emperor.

[@thebear6078]

I just like to think that if their rank name doesn’t the insignia then it means they haven’t gotten a new plaque or uniform since they were promoted just so I don’t confuse myself😂

[@sharkthing3859]

could chalk up higher ranks having lower rank placks to recent promotions where new placks were unavalible

[@Cantwell-cf7ux]

Long live the imperial navy may god bless you imperials explained

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

King Doran admittedly to me said had created that rank as an equivalent to the Fleet Admiral.

[@mcmike89]

When you compare the Imperial ranks vs. the real world military ranks, there's no comparison since they are a few ranks missing from the real world that's not in Star Wars such as for example, the Corporal and Sergeant ranks that is used in the U.S. Military.

[@tashkent561]

Actually, these ranks exist in fact, but they're delegated to only Stormtroopers AFAIK. The only differential of them would be the orange shoulder pads indicating the ranks.

[@mcmike89]

@@tashkent561 The Stormtrooper name and the helmets they wear were also inspired by the Nazis, I heard about this somewhere. I don’t remember.

[@derrickhuff6234]

I actually never knew what the strips on the suit meant but I gusse I do now

[@magerflags1]

In the case of the rear admiral sitting on the Admiralty there is a thing of being promoted "acting lacking". But that's just my head Canon.

[@Elena-ce8ek]

Long live the Empire ❤😊

[@CK4412Productions]

It’s hard remembering canon and legends ranks

[@Delerane]

Thank you so much for your work and videos. It helps a lot. I'm triing to organise my LEGO Imperial officers and I've got a problem with the (legend) Juno Eclipse minifig. Whe wears a black uniforms, with two code cylinders and a single row rank plaque, with 4 yellow squares and 2 red squares ! In the legend video game, she was supposed to be a decorated pilot. Let's forget about this, and judge only by her uniform and her rank plaque. What rank could it be ? It could be a medium rank between Captain and Major in the Army Operations, but the black uniform is pretty inconsistent with that. So... what about a new rank in the Navy Operations ? Something between Captain and Commodore maybe ? But red and yellow are inverted... A "special rank" then, with some technical engeneries ? Any ideas ?

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

I have Juno Eclipse lego minifigure myself, she is a captain and with the black uniform, appears to lend towards the navy security branch at a guess.

[@Delerane]

@@ImperialsExplainedStarWars Thank you for your answer. So she would belong to the Navy Operations, giving her the rank of Captain, but with some responsabilities from the Navy Security, justifiing her rank plate ?

[@jimmy918w47]

How many moffs would there be cuz i read something saying there are 20 part of the council of moffs is that right ?

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

In Legends, after the fall of the Empire and the rise of Pellaeon's imperial Remnant in 12 ABY, the council of moffs was born in which there were around 20 as you mentioned.

[@MilkTub]

I wish there was a collumn for ISB. I presume Director equates to Fleet Admiral/Sector General?

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Yes, for the purposes of Krennic's rank foe Advanced Weapons Research.

[@mag5235]

It’s just an assembly of squares, rows and colors without any cohesive pattern that fans have attempted to explain though convoluted explanations. Rank insignias are intended to be easily identifiable and this system defeats that propose and even shoehorns additional unnecessary ranks that make no sense such as ‘sector Captain’. That makes more sense as a billet not a rank.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Once studied, it does make sense, although l agree there were a lot of unnecessary ranks

[@Mrstealth93]

So if i understand this correctly, every rank badge below Grand Admiral, Moff and Grand General is the same rank, regardless of which branch of the Empire the individual is assigned to and the type/color of their uniform. Would any of the ranks in the 3 lower rows possibly be able to apply to stormtroopers as well? Or does stormtroopers strictly only have one rank, regardless of their skill and performance in combat?

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

I afraid you appear to have misunderstood my video. There are different levels of rank, like any rank system would have

[@Mrstealth93]

@@ImperialsExplainedStarWars I wont deny that being a possibility. Im just wondering how the ranks apply within the various Imperial branches, say, ISB as a example and the uniform colors/design. White, grey and black.

[@philly83]

Long live the empire

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Long live the Empire!!!

[@jasonmorahan7450]

Any real world military reference complicates them further. Titles describe ranks and roles and don't always line up, the only time a rank is strictly adhered to in terms of authority is in administrative roles. In field roles authority is by posting and rank may differ as the size of the command. In navy one difference between a gunboat and a ship of the line is obviously the number of crew members and stations under command of the Captain, so a Lieutenant rank is often a boat Captain (generally called a Corvette-Captain and is a 1st Lieutenant), whilst a ship Captain is a Captain and a Capital Ship Captain could be a minor Admiral and a Frigate Captain a Commander. This obviously gets confusing when you have naval officers running around with Lieutenant, Commander, Captain and Admiral ranks all being called Captain by other staff. You get a similar problem in army with field as opposed to staff officers, it gets more complicated with special forces and since the Stormtrooper Corps and ISB are modelled upon Nazi Germany Waffen-SS and Gestapo there is another complication being politically appointed positions of state authority with their own ranking system which is equivalent but separate from military ranks. So an ISB Captain could easily outrank a military Admiral and not just a little bit, completely outrank him and a Stormtrooper Colonel may have the authority to relieve any commanding officer from their posting, and isn't really subject to their commands although is more of a special political security force detachment answering only to seniors within their own command structure, although they do take orders from military commands they are attached to as part of the specific mission posting. They just don't answer to them if their opinions should depart ways and do have the authority to execute any military officer deemed a threat to Imperial security. In this sense a Stormtrooper Colonel which is the highest Yavin period Stormtrooper rank is equivalent in authority to a Sector General or Admiral, although their command is the size of a Colonel's.

[@danielfalcocchia8537]

I forget was Jileya Shayel from the after math series a sector general or a grand general

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

I don't recall the name to be honest and I can't find a reference either

[@davisanchesceballos7698]

Maybe there are some confusions about the rank because the list disconsider the code pens wich the imperial officers wear.

[@davisanchesceballos7698]

Another important point is the color of the uniforms,for example the officers who worked with the inquisitors usually wear tan uniforms while the navy ones wear grey uniforms,and the BSI officers usually wear black or white ones.

[@VictoryFireStudios]

The moff rank bar has 2 lines missing..but good video👍

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Thanks, it's definitely correct though as I have had this point put to me so many times.

[@VictoryFireStudios]

@@ImperialsExplainedStarWars I think also grand general or the other general could possibly be high general with only 1 yellow cube

[@Pinkerton03]

Its so weird too as enlisted and warrant officers don't have rank plaques but are still there

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

It's just for commissioned officers as warrant officers and enlisted were not obviously commissioned

[@MultiFalcon3000]

It blows my mind that Enlisted and Non-commissioned officers aren't in the imperial military.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Enlisted and non-commissioned officers were part of the imperial military as you would expect. However, the chart and my video looks at just commissioned officers ranks plaques to clarify 👍

[@gabihanriot]

Long live the Empire! 💜

[@jakedavidheilemann1208]

What's with the insignias from rebels? I found the 4 square lieutenant one very strange

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

The rank plaques from Rebels can be explained. Where an officer held a double row, apart from Grand Moff Tarkin, belonged to the sector command branch. All other officers seen with single rows belonged to other branches showed in the chart. SW Rebels was set between 5 BBY and 2 BBY, and so it wasn't until after the Battle of Yavin did all officers switch to a totally new simplified double row plaque system due to the heavy loss of offices and vacuum caused within the imperial military ranks.

[@Daniel-Strain]

A noble effort, but what was up with Moff Jerferrod, with 3 red over 3 blue?

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Exactly, as l point that out in another video l have done on ROTJ rank plaque. Check that out, too.

[@MikeS-vb1bs]

I thought the colored rank tiles were breath mints.

[@simondodd918]

A second thought: We have seen a colonel of security and he wore three blue and three red tiles, not five blue one red.

[@joeypapen6679]

Great Vid Does Someone have the link to the chart

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

I will add it to the description.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

It's also in the comments now

[@joeypapen6679]

@@ImperialsExplainedStarWars thank you

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Thanks my friend, link is in the comments.

[@lostaudio]

I remember in ep. 6 one guy has three red on top, three red on bottom and he was a captain, where is he on the list?

[@bobulousgaming5353]

All the ranks in rotd are the same it was just a mistake with the costume designers

[@anthonyhanlon9808]

I thought moff was his name, just found out its a title

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Correct 👍

[@redhallow5201]

I wonder if the elisted have any type of rank

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Yes, they did 👍obviously these all commissioned ranks in the chart

[@SecretPersonComment]

Was there a limited number of Moffs like Grand Admirals? Somewhere I heard that a Moff is someone in charge of a planet.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

That was a Planetary Governor who reported to the Sector Moff

[@SecretPersonComment]

Thanks for the information@@ImperialsExplainedStarWars !

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

@SecretPersonComment You are welcome. I have published a video on Planetary Governors, so check it if you have time soon 👍

[@SecretPersonComment]

I will @@ImperialsExplainedStarWars! Thank you again!

[@justinsmart9438]

What do the pens mean like what are those

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Their access to sensitive imperial information and areas on a ship or station via terminals.

[@andersonstmoficial6431]

I assume that the Moffs and Grand Moffs are like Emperor's political Commissars, right?

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Correct 👍

[@andersonstmoficial6431]

@@ImperialsExplainedStarWars thanks brother

[@chronos2157]

Why is there no NCM ranks? I can't find NCM ranks anywhere

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Just commissioned ranks, hence the rank plaque chart. Covered non-commissioned in a different set of videos

[@6810historynerd]

Long live the empire!

[@patthelad9514]

What would Vader's official rank have been? Advisor? Grand Admiral? Grand General?

[@bobulousgaming5353]

He was the emperors right hand man, he didn't really have a rank but everyone saw him as the top dog, well 2nd to the emperor

[@DanHubHD]

Now I'm confused why captain Pellaeon in the third season of the mandalorian only seems to have the insignure rank of a fleet Lt.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Pellaeon is wearing a Captain's rank plaque. A navy line Lieutenant is two blue over two red tiles. Pellaeon was wearing three of each.

[@-hackzzz-7282]

In cannon it was said the emperor appointed Vader as “Supreme commander” where does Vader rank in all this because I know the only grand moff allowed to command Vader was tarkin

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Supreme Commander was not a military rank but rather a title awarded. Vader never had an official military rank, and Tarkin was only senior to Vadar on the Death Star due to the fact Tarkin was in charge of the project, which was part of his doctorine.

[@simondodd918]

Have we ever *seen* a Grand General in canon? It seems to me that if an Admiral is six blue tiles and naval plaques start with blue tiles (reading left to right), and if a General is six red tiles and army plaques start with red tiles, and if a Grand Admiral is three blue followed by three yellow over three blue followed by three red, the logic of the chart dictates that the rank plaque of a Grand General be three red and three yellow over three red and three blue, does it not?

[@bman3794]

Should have stayed with the legends model for rank insignia. Less confusing.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Well, maybe that is another video 👍🤔

[@jimmy918w47]

Are these the right ranks because i found an other one really similar to this and it has totally different ranks making the st corps go from blue to red

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

It's a great question. During the making of these videos, I came across the issue in King Doran's rank chart, that the Starfighter Corp ranks were actually the Stormtrooper Corp ranks. A great example of this is Praji from the start of A New Hope. I found out that the Starfighter Corp did actually align with the imperial navy line ranks.

[@jimmy918w47]

@ImperialsExplainedStarWars so is the mainly blue ranks star fighter corp and mainly red is storm trooper corp?

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

@@jimmy918w47 Praji in A New Hope held a senior rank which consisted of blue tiles but also yellow tiles and wore a black uniform as part of the Stormtrooper Corp. Watch the scene in the film. I know it is confusing but that is why I like to work it out lol

[@jimmy918w47]

@ImperialsExplainedStarWars isnt the rank 4 blue and 2 red?

[@jimmy918w47]

@ImperialsExplainedStarWars just looked at the chart and the rank major general 4 blue and 2 red match up with his rank in a new hope

[@notmyrealname6150]

Good chart, but I don't see the rank plaque worn by General Veers.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

That is because his rank was a post Battle of Yavin double row rank plaque as part of an emergency rank structure put in place to reorganize the ranks after so many personnel were lost upon the First Death Star's destruction.

[@notmyrealname6150]

@@ImperialsExplainedStarWars Ok. Also, I thought Grand Admiral (and Grand General) outranked a Grand Moff. A Grand Admiral wore a white uniform where a Grand Moff wore the stand military color uniform.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

@NotMy RealName Again, really after the Battle of Yavin, the power shifted from the Grand Moff to the Grand Admirals and Grand Generals. For example, Tagge was a Grand General for identifying the rebel threat, and the Grand Moffs were seen less influential after Tarkin disastrous mistake with the first Death Star. Also, yes, a white uniform worn by Grand Amiral and a Grand General wore grey or olive green uniform.

[@slavsquatsuperstar]

Pretty sure they’re just “Main Character”, “Cool Side Character”, and “Disposable Character” :)

[@Rocka5438]

does anyone know where i can find this chart on reddit?

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

I added the link to the comments 👍

[@chancegarrison7636]

Imagine After The First Deathstar Blow up All of em Were Promoted to Grand Mod....... All of Em.

[@SD78]

They were literally strips of British cough drops commandeered by the props department.

[@justin_wayne_elrod_jrod]

So, in the bad batch show , Rampart was really a rear admiral and not a vice admiral

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

I think his rank plaque may have been incorrect somehow, but l pointed it out because l saw early on in the series, Rampart's plaque was at odds with Admiral Motti's.

[@justin_wayne_elrod_jrod]

@ImperialsExplainedStarWars yeah it's just confusing but glad you made this video to explain all this

[@zaiken639]

interesting I always thought that Grand Admirals are higher then Grand Moff

[@DarrellKeith_]

12 Grand Admirals but only one Grand Moff

[@business_casual_rex]

Whomever made this system up did a bad job

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

What is your reasoning to that conclusion? Disney created the plaques, and King Doran just ordered them into the chart. He did a great job of it, too. It's only when you study the plaques in the context of the timeline that it generally makes sense, as l have explained.

[@SurvivalistMedia]

I think they mean that the real world lack of a concept lead to a jumble of retcon that makes the in cannon designer of the system seem like an idiot.

[@Custerd1]

Nah, it’s just throat lozenge storage. The higher ranks smoked more, so needed more lozenges.

[@jeffkardosjr.3825]

I thought they were Jolly Ranchers.

[@stereotypical6404]

I wonder where vader lies in the imperial ranks because in ep. 4 grand moff tarkin seems to have some power over vader

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Because was the chief in command of the Death Star in Ep 4, Vader was an emissary of Palpatine, and only out of political courtesy did Vader follow Tarkin. By Ep 5 Vader held the title of Supreme Commander of the Imperial Military, although that was a title and not a military rank as such. does that make sense?

[@TheJoeSwanon]

I swear, I think they were just making it up as they go . You probably put more thought into making this video than they did.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Possibly so, however, there is material that supports the theme and details of what l am talking about through various SW publications. The creator of the chart pulled the plaques together from loads of sources. But you are right in the sense that it has never been explained on this scale prior to now 👍😊

[@theraghy5323]

Actually in Canon Grand General is higher than Grand Admiral, it's basically the commander in chief of all the Imperial Military sistem (higher than Vader himself). It's a rank more ore less equivalent to Grand Moff (which has political implication too though), you should also consider that this rank in Canon was only introduced after the Battle of Yavin and the death of Tarkin, so Grand General Tagge and Grand Moff Tarkin have never had the same level of authority together. Also, most of the other Grand Moffs that we know of actually got their power and title after the Battle of Endor, basically by becoming warlords with a self-promotion.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

I understand your point, but as l have said to several subs. It depends on the timeline as to which position was higher than another due to favor from the Emperor. But you have a valid point 👍😊

[@1mlister]

Not the empires best idea

[@General_Belu]

Nothing for enlisted and/or noncommissioned?

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

It was purposely focused on the commissioned officers.

[@General_Belu]

@@ImperialsExplainedStarWars Huh. Can’t seem to find anything on anywhere for NCOs and enlisted. Found a non canon chart, and that’s what I’m going with for this.

[@johnsimpson8043]

The rank below Major General is Brigadier NOT Colonel. Nice try.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Agreed that maybe so for the British army rank structure, but there are no imperial officer characters holding the rank of Brigadier, so King Doran's is correct in terms of the SW imperial military ranks. Not everything aligns completely to real-life rank structure , and SW is an American creation, and they don't have Brigadier rank.

[@ExaminersEye]

Based on this chart General Veers becomes a Sector Captain.🤨

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

This rank chart in this relates to pre-battle of yavin, and so General Veers rank plaque in Empire Strikes Back relates to a post-battle of yavin rank chart. Veers would have had an army line single row plaque of General of six red tiles, like General Cassio Tagge, prior to the Battle of Yavin. I hope that makes sense.

[@ExaminersEye]

I've been collecting Lego minifigs of Imperial officers and I've been trying to make sense of the ranks and insignias.@@ImperialsExplainedStarWars

[@bfg9000zx]

Where was general veers?

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

General Veers rank plaque is not included because his double row plaque of 4 red over 4 blue is related to the rank system used by the Galactic Empire after the battle of Yavin to reorganize the rank system entirely into all double rows. I have covered this in a separate video to explain. So, in other words, the system I mentioned in this video is related to the rank plaque system prior to the battle of Yavin and so, General Veers as an Army Line General would have worn a single row plaque of 6 red tiles.

[@bluebaum2.7.16]

It's so annoying that there is no consistent system.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

There is a system, however it changed over time and the costume designers seemed to get things wrong during one or two productions.

[@5dmkiii60]

The "complications" arise from different productions just winging it and slapping on rank bars..."willie nilly" because....."eww...pretty colors." No one in Disney...which is not Star Wars but Suck Wars, came up with a standardized insignia table to follow for each branch of service or new show. It was costume designers just going with whatever suited their fashion whims at the moment. That's why none of it makes sense. Nice of someone to try and make sense out of it and chart it, but in the end, it all is just whatever the costume designer for any show thought looked best on their outfit design.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

You are right, of course, but that's exactly what has been achieved by creating th chart. Also, this is the reason for making this video to the messie array of plaques. The narrative of the system of single rows to double rows is true and covered in the old West End Game releases commissioned by Luscasfilm. The author of the chart and myself both had to research rather extensively to understand the details to explain the ranks.

[@5dmkiii60]

@@ImperialsExplainedStarWars You did a remarkable job of making some sense out of senselessness. I think the work you did was exemplary. It at least gives people a rough idea of what those bars mean. The time and work you put into this is noted and very much appreciated.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

@5dmkiii60 Thanks, my friend 👍

[@5dmkiii60]

@@ImperialsExplainedStarWarsAbsolutely. :-}

[@imperialesoberkommando]

Nah, this problem did not come up because of Disney, it was George Lucas himself who just did not care one single bit about this matter. But yes, Disney could still have at least tried to make a better system from the start on but they at least made it a little bit better with the Rogue One hierarchy. Still not perfect though.

[@subman721]

So where the hell does Allegiant General come into play?

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

It doesn't appear because Allegiant General as a rank fid did not exist under the Galactic Empire and later belonged to the First Order's rank system instead.

[@casanova419]

This is almost as complicated as the US Tax code almost.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

😊

[@GeneralRatsak17]

I thought Thrawne was above Tarkin

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Thrawn is after the Battle of Yavin, not just because he's dead but also because the Emperor downgraded his trust in the Grand Moffs. The Grand Admirals suddenly became more powerful

[@viterf9227]

Now the real question is, were does Darth Vader fit in all of this??

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Just beneath the Emperor, as his apprentice. Rather than a rank, he held the title of Supreme Commander but not until after the Battle of Yavin. This chart looks at the prior to the BBY. Hope that clarifies a little?

[@viterf9227]

​@ImperialsExplainedStarWars Thank you for your response! I just looked at Wookeepedia, and since Vader commanded the 501st Legion and Death Squadron, I guess officially he was a Lieutenant General and Admiral. Unofficial of course he had great greater power being "The Emperor's Voice". Plus being the Supreme Commander of the Inquisitors, the Purge Troopers, and being the Fedual Ruler of the Mustafar System!

[@jeffkardosjr.3825]

​@@ImperialsExplainedStarWarsIf Kenobi was a general in the Republic, but no Republic rank was given to Anakin?

[@jameshigh6481]

The Imperial rank system is an unholy mess! If you look at any "Bad Guy" rank system it is simple, clear and consice. A trooper wants to know if he is around peers or a group of superiors.

[@HyperGoat_14]

grad admiral is above grand moff :"Grand Admiral was one of the highest ranks in the Galactic Empire, outranking all other political and military personnel, including Moffs and Grand Moffs."- wookiepedia

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

It wasn't though prior to the Battle of Yavin. This video focus on the structure at that time in the timeline. However, I agree after the 0 BBY, the Grand Admiral was the highest military and politcal rank in the empire. It depends what part of the story you look at.

[@HyperGoat_14]

@@ImperialsExplainedStarWars that i would agree with thank you for clarifying

[@harcomou8395]

I prefer te less-confusing Star Trek ranks.

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

I like Star Trek, too. I suppose Star Trek's was simpler because it was only covering a navy in the production from Earth. The scale of Star Wars is on a grander scale. However, after the Battle of Yavin, the Empire reorganized and simplified its rank structure into a much smaller set of ranks.

[@Edmuresrampantmanhood-dp3jd]

Wasn't vader supreme commander of all imperial forces?

[@ImperialsExplainedStarWars]

Supreme Commander didn't have a rank within the imperial military structure, but it was simply a title given by the Emperor, like the title of 'Warlord of the Empire'.