The Bellator-class dreadnought represented a class of dreadnought within the Imperial Navy. These vessels were produced in limited quantities by Kuat Drive Yards during the Imperial Era, a period when the Galactic Empire was actively exploring the creation of larger battlecruiser designs, an initiative that spanned from 19 BBY to 3 BBY. This endeavor also led to the development of the Assertor-class Star Dreadnought. Both the Bellator-class and the Assertor-class were grouped within the same family of dreadnoughts, which also included the Mandator-class Dreadnought.
The Bellator-class dreadnought constituted a class of large-scale warship serving the Galactic Empire during its reign. These vessels were products of Kuat Drive Yards. It was smaller in size compared to the Assertor-class Star Dreadnought, which held the position of the second most powerful and largest ship in the Imperial Navy, surpassed only by the Executor-class Star Dreadnought. Both the Assertor-class and the Bellator-class were categorized within the same family of dreadnoughts in the Imperial Navy, alongside the Mandator-class.
The command structure of the Bellator-class shared similarities with that of the smaller Surveyor-class reconnaissance frigate. The frigate's heavily armored, bunker-like command center extended beyond the primary drives and rose at the rear of the ship.
Kuat Drive Yards secured an exclusive contract to supply Star Destroyers to the Imperial Navy in 19 BBY, leading to a significant naval expansion during the Imperial Era. From 19 BBY to 3 BBY, the Galactic Empire engaged in experimental designs for larger battlecruiser variants of the Star Destroyer lineage, resulting in the creation of vessels like the Assertor-class and Bellator-class dreadnoughts. However, the production of these larger warships remained limited. The Bellator-class dreadnought operated concurrently with the Mandator-class, and also during the period when the Assertor-class Star Dreadnought was under construction, sometime before the Battle of Yavin in 0 BBY.
The Bellator-class dreadnought made its debut in the new Star Wars canon through the 2016 Star Wars Roleplaying sourcebook Lead by Example, published by Fantasy Flight Games. The Bellator-class dreadnought initially appeared, though without a specific designation, in the second issue of the Star Wars: Dark Empire comic series within the Star Wars Legends continuity. This issue was released on February 18, 1992 and featured artwork by Cam Kennedy.
Later, in 2008, Ansel Hsiao reimagined the dreadnought as a 3D fanon design, naming it the Bellator-class. This design and name were officially integrated into the 2012 Legends reference book, The Essential Guide to Warfare, authored by Jason Fry and Paul R. Urquhart. Fry mentioned in his Tumblr notes regarding the book that Lucas Licensing approved the specifications and details of the Bellator-class. "Bellātor" translates to "warrior" in Latin.