The Galactic Empire was a galaxy-wide central government under the dictatorial rule of Emperor Sheev Palpatine. It succeeded the democratic Galactic Republic at the end of the Clone Wars in 19 VSY after Palpatine, as the previous Supreme Chancellor, had declared the Jedi to be traitors and almost completely wiped out their order with his Order 66. He proclaimed himself Emperor and thus sole ruler of the Senate. Moffs took control of regional territories and massively expanded their military presence. In the course of constant expansion, non-humans from the outlying systems were oppressed, enslaved and their home worlds exploited for resources. To protect itself from uprisings, the Empire did not shy away from genocide. According to the Tarkin Doctrine, however, the Empire was to rule less through the exercise of its power than through the fear of it. This culminated in the construction of the Death Star, which was intended to subdue rebellious worlds.