Coruscant

"Coruscant, the capital of old and new, of the Republic and the Galaxy. The entire planet is just one city.―Ric Olié" Coruscant, also known as Imperial Center during the rule of the Galactic Empire, Galactic Capital, or the Queen of the Core, is an ecumenpolis, collectively known as Galactic City, covering the entire planet, in the Coruscant system of the Core Worlds. Though debated by historians, it is generally believed that Coruscant is the original homeworld of humanity. Noted for its cosmopolitan culture and towering skyscrapers, Coruscant's population consists of approximately one trillion citizens hailing from a vast array of both humanoid and alien species. In addition, Coruscant's strategic location at the end of several major trade routes enabled it to grow in power and influence, causing the city-planet to surpass its early rivals and become the hub of galactic culture, education, finance, fine arts, politics and technology. It is the location of several major landmarks, including the Jedi Temple, Monument Plaza and the Senate Building.

Serving as the capital of the galaxy since the ancient days of the Old Republic, Coruscant was at the center of many historic events, such as the Jedi Order's conflict with the Sith. Although the planet fell under Sith occupation for a time, Republic forces ultimately liberated Coruscant with the aid of the Jedi Knights. Retaining its status as galactic capital, it was on Coruscant where the Galactic Senate governed the galaxy for centuries, establishing an era of peace that lasted for almost a millennium under the protection of the Jedi peacekeepers.

During the Fall of the Republic, political intrigue wrought by corruption and secession transformed Coruscant into a dangerous environment by the time of the Clone Wars—the first major war waged on a galactic scale in a thousand years. Between assassination plots and terrorist bombings, the Senate turned to the leadership of Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine. Following a direct attack on the capital by the Confederacy of Independent Systems in 19 BBY, the Senate granted additional wartime powers to Chancellor Palpatine who, on the eve of the New Order, declared all Jedi enemies of the state. Palpatine, who was, in fact, the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, succeeded in his scheme to turn the Republic into a military dictatorship. He then instructed the Grand Army clone troopers to execute Order 66 against their Jedi Generals, resulting in a galaxy-wide purge that all but destroyed the Jedi Order. Without the Jedi to oppose him, Palpatine dissolved the Republic and declared himself Galactic Emperor to the applause of the now Imperial Senate.

Coruscant continued to serve as galactic capital under the Empire, having become the Emperor's official throneworld, although Palpatine himself disappeared from public view for the most part, choosing to leave the day-to-day business of governing the galaxy to his advisors on the Imperial Ruling Council. The Empire maintained a firm hold on Coruscant throughout the Emperor's reign, but with his defeat at the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY, the citizens of Coruscant celebrated by revolting against the Imperial government. Meanwhile, across the galaxy, various high-ranking officers fragmented the Imperial Military in a rush to succeed Palpatine as ruler of the Empire. Unable to command the military's allegiance, Grand Vizier Mas Amedda's rule was contained within Coruscant, which he also lost control of to the supporters of Fleet Admiral Gallius Rax, the self-proclaimed Counselor to the Empire. Hoping to escape prosecution for war crimes, Amedda surrendered himself to the New Republic, which demanded that he surrender the entire Galactic Empire in return for amnesty.

With the apparent defeat of most of the Empire's walords and successor states in the wake of Palpatine's death, the newly formed New Republic successfully assaulted and liberated the planet in 6 ABY, proclaiming Coruscant once again the Galactic capital. The Galactic Senate and Chancellor of the New Republic attained their predecessors' headquarters, before the planet became a new battleground of Imperial remnants and the New Republic. To ensure its safety, the Senate and Court of Justice were temporarily relocated to Chandrila, where they remain until today however. After the planet was again secured, it became a subject of political tension as the Imperial Remnant claimed Coruscant as their capital, which they were reluctantly forced to reject following the Galactic Concordance, signed on Coruscant, and the Bastion Accords, ending the Galactic Civil War at last. With peace restored to the Galaxy, Coruscant economically and culturally thrives under its new government.

Today, Coruscant is one of three legal capital cities of the New Republic, together with Chandrila and Hosnian Prime, as it headquarters the Chancellary of the New Republic, its additional executive committees and councils, numerous government agencies and offices as well as a Galactic Senate consulate. It also hosts an embassy to Bastion.