Rufaan Tigellinus Rufaan Tigellinus was a Grand Admiral and later a Grand Moff of the Galactic Empire until his death in 5 ABY . Known for his political savvy and charisma , Tigellinus was widely followed in the media and was considered to be a key player in Imperial Court politics . Already a respected fleet admiral , he was made a Grand Admiral in 2 BBY and , from the helm of his Star Destroyer , " Avatar " , spent much time rooting out pirates in the Outer Rim Territories . During the Galactic Civil War , Tigellinus stepped up in the Imperial Court in a bid for further power , allying himself with the likes of Moff Vilim Disra and Imperial Advisor Alec Pradeux , and becoming a member of the ancient , exclusive Order of the Canted Circle . When Thrawn , an alien admiral in the Imperial Navy , tried his hand at Imperial Court politics , the Humanocentric Grand Admiral Tigellinus befriended and later betrayed him , until Thrawn was unwelcome in the Empire . Soon thereafter , Tigellinus brought his political clout to bear in order to have himself appointed as Grand Moff of the Imperial Center Oversector with the help of Vilim Disra , who became something of a mentor to Tigellinus . After Emperor Palpatine perished at the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY , Tigellinus became involved with the Central Committee of Grand Moffs . The Committee ' s leader , Bertroff Hissa , a near - Human with whom Tigellinus had frequently butted heads , presented Tigellinus with a demeaning offer — a place on the Committee but not the leadership many had expected he would be awarded — hoping that he would refuse and give Hissa an excuse to execute him . Tigellinus prepared to accept the offer , but his close friend Disra advised against this ; Tigellinus refused the appointment , and the Committee executed him for perceived disloyalty , while Disra laid claims to his assets and seat on the Committee . Biography . Grand Admiral . A Human male , Rufaan Tigellinus was a charismatic member of the Imperial Court , well known among the media , and a respected strategist who served as a fleet admiral in the Imperial Navy for many years . In 2 BBY , during New Year Fete Week , Emperor Palpatine created the rank of Grand Admiral , appointing Tigellinus and eleven others to his " Circle of Twelve . " Tigellinus ' reputation was such that his appointment met with little argument from those in the Galactic Empire . The Grand Admiral used his new power to further his position within the Imperial Court , gaining a large following . Tigellinus commanded the Star Destroyer " Avatar " during the years preceding the Battle of Yavin . Around this time , he attempted to apprehend the Poss ' Nomin pirate Reginald Barkbone , who had been plundering many star systems from the Outer Rim Territories to the Colonies . Tigellinus and " Avatar " chased Barkbone through many sectors , though the pirate ' s Star Galleon , " Robber Baron " , was able to escape each time . In his ship ' s log , Tigellinus vowed to kill Barkbone ; the log was later sent to Grand Vizier Sate Pestage as part of an Imperial Security Bureau report compiled by Commander Maximillian Seerdon . Around that same time , an alien named Thrawn joined the Imperial Navy , earning the rank of captain . Tigellinus , a firm believer in Humanocentrism , despised Thrawn , and began looking for ways to get rid of him . Several months after the disastrous Battle of Yavin , Tigellinus started to become a major player in Imperial Court politics on Coruscant . He established an alliance with Alec Pradeux , an Imperial Advisor who was thought to be close to Palpatine , and forged a sizable faction in a short span of time . In late 1 ABY , Tigellinus attempted to win support for his protégé , Gerald Weizel , to become the governor of the planet Chandrila . On 1 : 9 : 4 ABY , the media reported that Weizel had won the backing of Moff Jamson Caglio ; this was an important event in Tigellinus ' rise , as Caglio had been a firm supporter of Tigellinus ' rival faction , that of Grand Moff Traeda , and winning his support was seen as a large step toward the center of power . Around the same time , Tigellinus attempted to recruit Moff Vilim Disra , a man with many ties to Traeda but who had recently fallen out of favor with Palpatine , into his faction . The media kept a close watch on the situation , and journalist Alendar Jarvis of the " New Order Progressive " published a report on Tigellinus ' progress . Tigellinus , along with Traeda and Moff Jaan , officiated the festivities of that year ' s New Year Fete Week in Palpatine ' s absence , since the Emperor was away on Imperial business in the Deep Core . Shortly thereafter , Thrawn , now an admiral , entered Imperial politics . Tigellinus still harbored a deep hatred for non - Humans and resented Thrawn ' s encroaching on his territory ; he befriended the alien admiral , with the intention of later betraying him . Around six months later , Tigellinus was inducted into the Order of the Canted Circle , an elite , ancient , and highly exclusive social organization . The Order rarely took on more than eleven members at any one time , but Tigellinus was the thirteenth member added since 5 BBY , so his invitation was a surprise to the media . It was a testament to Tigellinus ' rising stature that he was selected to join ahead of swaths of prospective members , each revered leaders of the Imperial government , most of whom had been waiting for an invitation for several years . Tigellinus wore the traditional black velvet robe of the Order during his public induction ceremony at the Skydome Botanical Gardens ; later that evening , a private ceremony was held in an undisclosed location , and Tigellinus became a fully - fledged member of what was considered one of the most prestigious social clubs in the galaxy . Tigellinus ' joining the Order was somewhat overshadowed by the induction of Admiral Thrawn , who had returned to Coruscant after an extended trip to the Outer Rim , several months later . Rumors abounded that Palpatine had personally requested that Thrawn be invited , but his invitation was still considered remarkable ; he was the fourteenth member and he was a non - Human . Tigellinus was outraged and attempted to use his influence to halt Thrawn ' s joining , to no avail . Though he did the best he could to conceal his actions in an attempt to maintain his charade with Thrawn , the media assumed it had been Tigellinus leading the opposition . Grand Moff . Around the same time , Tigellinus ' bid for further power was given a tremendous boost when Lord Darth Vader , one of his chief rivals on Coruscant , left the capital to lead Death Squadron in the Outer Rim , for what was expected by the media to be a considerable amount of time . Tigellinus met with Vader just days later as part of his Grand Admiral duties , during the unveiling of the Star Dreadnought " Executor " , the first of its kind , near Kuat . Tigellinus , Vader , Thrawn , and several others flanked the Emperor during the unveiling ceremony . Tigellinus soon returned to Coruscant to enact his plan to ensure that Thrawn was out of favor in the Emperor ' s Court ; he betrayed the alien admiral , who ultimately became not only unwelcome on Coruscant , but within the entire Empire . Thrawn was exiled to the Unknown Regions , and Tigellinus was believed to have achieved a great victory . In actual fact , Thrawn ' s falling out of favor was orchestrated by the Emperor for his own clandestine means . Tigellinus also took a dislike to the vicious tendencies of Delak Krennel , the violent – but – effective captain of the Star Destroyer " Reckoning " , and in order to both rid himself of Krennel and to vex Thrawn , Tigellinus had Krennel expelled to the Unknown Regions to serve under the Chiss . Soon thereafter , Tigellinus decided that he was best suited to governing regions rather than protecting them , and used his considerable political influences to bring about an appointment to Grand Moff . He had many allies , though he was also at odds with many of his fellow Grand Moffs , including Bertroff Hissa , a near - Human Moff . Tigellinus was something of a rival with Vilim Disra , whom he had once courted , but Disra ' s assistance to the Grand Admiral - cum - Grand Moff was immeasurable ; with Disra ' s aid , Tigellinus took control of the Imperial Center Oversector , considered to be among the most important sectors in the galaxy . In 3 : 5 : 11 ABY , the Emperor assigned Tigellinus to head an investigation into the affairs of one Jerrod Maclain , the governor of Brentaal , who had been accused of corruption and " behavior unsuitable for an Imperial diplomat . " Tigellinus ' appointment was to the great surprise of Imperial Court observers , who considered him too important and influential to be relegated to such rudimentary investigative duties , though Alec Pradeux , his longtime ally , informed the media that Palpatine ' s choosing such a prominent individual merely highlighted the gravity of the situation . Tigellinus addressed the media about the impending investigation , informing them of his suspicions that those who had sold Maclain out were embroiled in a plot to steal his power . He also told the media that Maclain was a loyal servant of the Empire , and that Tigellinus would carry out as thorough an inquest as he could muster . After the Emperor and Darth Vader perished at the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY , the Empire descended into chaos , and many sought to claim the Emperor ' s former power . Tigellinus continued to defend his territories while waiting to see who came to power as Palpatine ' s successor . Eventually , Director of Imperial Intelligence Ysanne Isard emerged as the new leader of the Empire , though many others lusted for power and opposed her . A group of Moffs , led by Grand Moffs Bertroff Hissa , Dunhausen , Thistleborn and Muzzer , formed the Central Committee of Grand Moffs , which openly opposed Isard and claimed the throne for their ally , Trioculus . Because of his previous power and influence , Tigellinus was seen by many as a natural leader of the Committee , though Hissa , Tigellinus ' enemy from his early days as a Grand Moff , presented him with a demeaning offer : he could become a member of the Committee , but nothing more . Hissa engineered events so that , should Tigellinus refuse , he would be executed . On the advice of his trusted colleague Disra , Tigellinus declined the offer , and Hissa and his allies killed him . Disra ' s machinations allowed him to absorb Tigellinus ' assets and take his place on the Committee . Personality and traits . Rufaan Tigellinus was a highly driven , highly motivated man , with abundant charisma and political savvy who was known for his tactical abilities . His ambition saw him rise extremely high in Imperial politics , becoming one of the Emperor ' s most trusted minions ; however , others , such as Darth Vader , thought little of the Grand Admirals . Tigellinus was adept at making allies who would benefit his rise to power , and he demonstrated this numerous times during his career — Alec Pradeux and Vilim Disra , both political powerhouses , were two friends who greatly helped Tigellinus establish himself in the Imperial Court . He used unscrupulous means to achieve his goals , befriending Thrawn with the intention of betraying him , merely because the admiral was not Human . Despite this , Tigellinus was easily manipulated by Disra ; his trust in his friend allowed Disra to orchestrate his downfall . He was also very persistent , chasing the pirate Reginald Barkbone through many systems and refusing to give up , and he told the media he would conduct a proper and thorough investigation into the events surrounding Governor Maclain . Tigellinus was very Humanocentric and he despised non - Humans and near - Humans . When he learned of Thrawn , then a captain in the Imperial Navy , he vowed to deal with the Chiss and ensure that his Imperial career was short - lived . Later , he betrayed Thrawn , and his animosity toward the alien was not a closely guarded secret . Tigellinus also clashed with a near - Human , Bertroff Hissa , many times while serving as a Grand Moff . The open disgust Tigellinus showed towards Hissa was not forgotten by the Sephi Grand Moff , who later engineered Tigellinus ' demise . Behind the scenes . Rufaan Tigellinus was created by Paul Sudlow for " Galaxywide NewsNets " , which was a recurring series of articles that appeared in the " Star Wars Adventure Journal " ; he first appeared in issue eight , published in November 1995 , and made frequent appearances until issue fourteen , some of which were written by Peter M . Schweighofer . Tigellinus was the third named Grand Admiral , a rank first appearing in Timothy Zahn ' s " " ; the other two were Thrawn , first appearing in " Heir to the Empire " , and Josef Grunger from " The Glove of Darth Vader " . Tigellinus went unreferenced for many years ; he was not mentioned in Daniel Wallace and Kevin J . Anderson ' s " The Essential Chronology " , released in 2000 , which dealt with the ultimate fate of many of the Grand Admirals . Wallace made mention to the character in 2002 ' s " The New Essential Guide to Characters " , and later , he and Abel G . Peña expanded Tigellinus ' history and backstory in the character ' s bio in " " , published in " Star Wars Insider " 66 . " Who ' s Who : Imperial Grand Admirals " was originally slated to appear under the title of " Dirty Dozen : Imperial Grand Admirals " in an edition of " Star Wars Gamer Magazine " , but the magazine was canceled and the article was moved to " Star Wars Insider " , and much of the original content was cut . Some of this cut content , such as Tigellinus ' Star Destroyer , " Avatar " , has since been mentioned by other sources and made canon ; the remainder of it is summarized in the next section below . In addition to cut content regarding his life , the original draft also included statistics , including Tigellinus ' equipment : a blaster pistol , a comlink , his code cylinder , a pendant of the Order of the Canted Circle , and an " Imperial " - class Star Destroyer , named " Avatar " . Daniel Wallace later posted the equipment list for each of the Grand Admirals on his StarWars . com blog . Tigellinus has since been mentioned in " The New Essential Chronology " , " " and " " . In " Galaxywide NewsNets " from " Star Wars Adventure Journal 14 " , Tigellinus is inexplicably referred to as a " Grand Moff , " despite all previous " NewsNets " articles giving him the title of " Grand Admiral " — a demotion . Peña and Wallace established that Tigellinus decided to become a Grand Moff around the time of ; however , there has been some confusion among fans as to whether Tigellinus retained his rank or if a new Grand Admiral was appointed , as Palpatine wished for there to be twelve Grand Admirals at any one time . Peña stated on the StarWars . com message boards that , in his view , it was possible for Tigellinus to hold both positions , at least informally , because of his political influence . In 2008 , Tigellinus received an entry in " The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia " by Stephen J . Sansweet , Pablo Hidalgo , Daniel Wallace and others . Cut content . Tigellinus emerged on the Imperial Court politics scene at a rapid pace , building up a large following ; he drew people into his influence rapidly , and those who opposed him quickly found their careers in tatters . Disra , Tigellinus ' mentor , advised him to " know your enemies as intimately as friends , " so when Thrawn , who Tigellinus considered an alien freak , became involved in Imperial politics , Tigellinus did just that ; he helped Thrawn gain admission to the Order of the Canted Circle , wherein he consistently undermined the alien ' s influence and turned the Order against him . Thrawn was possessed of considerable intellect , which few were able to match ; Tigellinus managed to do that and more , orchestrating — he believed — Thrawn ' s banishment . Tigellinus gave Thrawn credit , claiming he played the game well , but was very confident in his own intellect . Tigellinus thought little of his fellow Grand Admirals ; he saw some as wholly incompetent , others as talented military strategists possessing no tact or guile off the bridge , and was quick to locate the character flaws of many of his peers . Tigellinus relished a challenge , and after Thrawn ' s exile he saw none in the ranks of the Grand Admirals . When he looked at the Grand Moffs , however , he saw many worthy adversaries — Ardus Kaine , Kentor Sarne and Nivers — so he became a Grand Moff himself .