Republic crest

The origins of the Galactic Roundel can be traced back millennia to the Bendu monks. They studied numerology and held the belief that the number nine represented the benevolent presence of the Force within a unified galaxy. The design of the insignia was intended to visually represent the number nine, achieved through eight spokes connected to a central disc. The Tho Yor structures also displayed symbols reminiscent of the Galactic Roundel. Given that the Jedi Order was established from the Bendu, the Insignia of Unity was ultimately embraced and transformed into the symbol representing the Galactic Republic.

During the era of the Old Sith Wars, the Republic employed a symbol featuring nine spokes, which they prominently displayed on their starships.

Subsequently, the Galactic Roundel was once again adopted as the symbol of the Republic and its unity. One such emblem was affixed to the podium within the Galactic Senate Rotunda, and until Palpatine's proclamation, another adorned the Hall of Justice situated on Alderaan.

In 25 BBY, the Rotunda underwent a significant renovation, during which the emblem positioned on the podium was replaced with a counterfeit. This substitution was orchestrated by the Republic Group, who believed that the symbol possessed the potential to reawaken and galvanize those who had succumbed to Palpatine's influence. The Republic Group relocated the symbol to Tandun III for safekeeping.

Throughout the Clone Wars, a multitude of Republic vehicles and vessels were emblazoned with the Galactic Roundel. Among these were vehicles such as the Republic Gunship and the UT-AT. The symbol also appeared on the Jedi Starfighter and Jedi Interceptor. However, towards the latter stages of the Clone Wars, Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, for reasons that remain unclear, opted to display a smaller, six-spoke emblem on his customized interceptor.

By 19 BBY, the Republic Group had grown increasingly concerned about the ominous trajectory the Republic was taking. Consequently, the group resolved to reintroduce the icon they had concealed on Tandun III to the galaxy, with the hope of restoring the Republic's honor. They entrusted Captain Tobb Jadak with the task of delivering the Stellar Envoy to an Antarian Ranger named Aren Folee. Folee was then tasked with using the Stellar Envoy to recover the "treasure". Following a debacle involving the Senate Bureau of Intelligence, Captain Jadak sustained critical injuries and the Stellar Envoy was lost, thwarting the Republic Group's efforts to complete their mission. Knowledge of this mission was subsequently locked away within Jadak's comatose memories, leaving only Lestra Oxic with the truth about the insignia for decades to come.

During the rise of the Empire, Palpatine modified the Galactic Roundel by removing two of its spokes, resulting in the creation of the Imperial crest.

Following the conclusion of the Galactic Civil War, the New Republic reinstated the Galactic Roundel of the Old Republic. However, due to its resemblance to the Imperial Crest, it did not achieve widespread adoption as an official symbol and the Alliance Starbird largely superseded it.

In 43 ABY, Han, Leia, and Allana Solo, while on a quest to uncover the history of the Millennium Falcon, ultimately discovered the history of the Galactic Roundel that had been removed from the Senate Rotunda many years prior. Guided to Tandun III by the Millennium Falcon and the now-awakened Tobb Jadak, the Solo's located the insignia and learned its history from Lestra Oxic, who had followed them to the location. The insignia found on Tandun III, much like its counterpart in the Rotunda, was a forgery, and the location of the genuine icon remained undiscovered.

Notably, in Revenge of the Sith, during the Battle of Coruscant, Anakin's fighter displays a six-spoke symbol instead of the eight-spoke symbol visible throughout the remainder of the film. This detail is observable when R2 battles the buzz droid. As explained in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Incredible Cross-Sections, this symbol represents a simplified form of the one used by the Republic during the Unification Wars, and is likely the precursor to Palpatine's Imperial symbol.

In Tales of the Jedi: The Sith War, Republic Navy starships are adorned with a blue symbol featuring nine spokes. Coincidentally, the flag of Khoonda on Dantooine (3956 BBY to 3951 BBY), which appeared 39 years later in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, also featured a blue symbol with nine spokes.