The Byrnum Maw, a nebula situated within the Inner Rim Territories, came into existence due to the explosive death of a star many centuries prior to 40 BBY; this formation event created the nebula. In the years that followed its genesis, the hyperspace routes in the nebula's vicinity experienced significant disruptions, rendering them impassable. The scientists of the Galactic Republic made numerous attempts to chart a course through the Byrnum Maw, but these efforts were consistently unsuccessful.
In the year 40 BBY, researchers serving under the Republic's Supreme Chancellor, Kirames Kaj, made a crucial discovery. They found that hyperspace anchors deployed on the planet Pijal, located near the nebula's heart, and its moon could stabilize a central portion of the Maw, facilitating the creation of new hyperspace lanes. Subsequently, Kaj approved the Governance Treaty, an initiative conceived by Rael Averross, the lord regent of Pijal, and representatives from the Czerka Corporation. Queen Lamia of Pijal eventually signed the treaty, following its rejection by her predecessor, Queen Fanry. This paved the way for the Republic to establish the Pijal Hyperspace Corridor, thereby restoring hyperspace traffic to the regions affected by the Byrnum Maw's creation.
The nebula known as the Byrnum Maw was situated in the Inner Rim Territories, within a region also referred to as the Interior. It encompassed the planet Pijal and its system, located at grid coordinates L-8 on the Standard Galactic Grid. The Pijal Hyperspace Corridor, a hyperspace route established in 40 BBY, provided a navigable passage through the nebula.
The Byrnum Maw came to be when a star reached the end of its life and exploded, forming the nebula many centuries prior to 40 BBY. The emergence of this nebula caused major disruptions to the hyperspace routes that connected the surrounding space, rendering them unusable. Following this event, Galactic Republic scientists made repeated attempts to discover a stable path through the nebula, hoping to restore hyperspace traffic, but they met with no success. As time passed, the Byrnum Maw's interference with nearby hyperspace routes resulted in the isolation of numerous worlds from the broader galaxy. At some point, the Czerka Corporation began to increase its influence in the region as the economic conditions worsened. Over the years, several worlds affected by the formation of the Byrnum Maw, including Pijal, which was located near its center, maintained limited contact with the Republic, hoping that routes through the nebula would eventually be charted.
In 40 BBY, Supreme Chancellor Kirames Kaj's scientists found that a portion of the Byrnum Maw could be stabilized by placing a hyperspace anchor on both Pijal and its moon. This would allow the creation of new hyperspace routes. Rael Averross, the Jedi lord regent of the planet, collaborated with Czerka officials to create the Governance Treaty. This initiative aimed to remove authority from the Pijali monarchy and give it to a democratic assembly that could legally make agreements with Republic officials.
Kaj approved the initiative, hoping to reconnect systems near the Byrnum Maw with other Republic worlds. The Supreme Chancellor dispatched Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, on a mission to Pijal to ratify the Governance Treaty after it was signed. During the briefing in her office, Kaj explained their mission goals, including the discovery of a path through the nebula. However, Queen Fanry of the Pijali refused to sign the Governance Treaty, leaving its ratification to her successor, Queen Lamia. The Republic then established the Pijal Hyperspace Corridor through the Byrnum Maw to restore hyperspace traffic to the region.
A hologram depiction of the Byrnum Maw was included in Master & Apprentice, a 2019 novel written by Claudia Gray.