Grand Admiral Thrawnappears to be poised to become the next major villain in theStar Warsfranchise, and the Legends continuity madePrincess Leiainvaluable to the Grand Admiral’s eventual defeat. Timothy Zahn’s 1991 novelHeir to the Empire, the first book in the belovedThrawntrilogy, introduced Grand Admiral Thrawn as a new threat to the fledglingNew Republic, and while Thrawn lackedForce powerslike Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, he made up for it with sheer military genius. Thrawn was a particularly challenging adversary to theStar Warsoriginal trilogy heroes, but he was not unbeatable.
Thrawn was one of the most iconic characters to originate in theStar WarsLegends continuity, so it was not surprising when, after Legends ceased to be the officialStar Warstimelineand was redesignated an alternate continuity, Thrawn gained a counterpart in the modern canon. While the newer canon’s Thrawn is extremely similar to his original incarnation, there are notable differences, particularly when it comes to their respective personalities and backstories. Grand Admiral Thrawn’s original defeat, for instance, will have to be different in the modern canon, yet it could still perhaps involve Princess Leia playing a key role.
Leia Played A Key Role In Thrawn’s Defeat In Legends
In the Legends continuity,theGalactic Empiretook advantage of the Noghri species, whose homeworld of Honoghr was poisoned and polluted by a Separatist bioweaponduring the Clone Wars. Darth Vader lied to the Noghri, offering aid from the Empire in exchange for Noghri warriors to serve him while secretly perpetuating the devastation of Honoghr to maintain a steady supply of Noghri Death Commandos. Grand Admiral Thrawn continued this horrible ruse after the death of Vader and the fracturing of the Empire, with Thrawn employing the Noghri known as Rukh as his assassin and bodyguard.
Princess Leia discovered the truth of Vader and Thrawn’s deceptionwhile visiting Honoghr during the Thrawn campaign and revealed her findings to the Noghri. This led to a revolution, with the Noghri severing their ties with the Empire’s warlords – specifically Thrawn’s faction – and joining the New Republic. Rukh turned on Thrawn and assassinated him during the Battle of Bilbringi, helping the New Republic win the Thrawn campaign.
The tragic Clone Wars-era history of Honoghr is shown in issue 68 of theStar Wars: Republiccomics, by John Ostrander and Jan Duursema.
Star Wars Canon Thrawn Saga Is Set At The Peak Of Leia’s Influence
Thrawn and the rest of the Empire’s history with the Noghri – as well as the species’ Clone Wars-era history – is currently unknown in the modernStar Warscanon, yet Rukh is in the newer timeline, serving the same role for Thrawn as he did in the Legends continuity. Rukh dies inStar Wars Rebels, however,making it impossible for the modern canon to replicate Thrawn’s original death. Despite this, a forthcomingStar Warsproperty can – and perhaps should – have Princess Leia nevertheless play a major role inThrawn’s ultimate defeatin the modern canon.
June 28, 2025
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
