Animated Emperor Palpatine Maquette (Star Wars)

During the Clone Wars, Palpatine enacted Order 66, a coded command that identified the Jedi Knights as traitors to the Republic. He broadcast this order to the clone commanders on the various distant battlefronts, and the loyal soldiers killed their Jedi generals in cold blood. The next day Palpatine called for a special session of the Galactic Senate. That day, before thunderous applause, Palpatine declared himself Emperor.