The Daimyo, also referred to as the Daimyo of Tatooine, served as the supreme authority on the desert planet Tatooine. This authority was upheld through the loyalty and payments of tribute from subordinate entities, including government officials and business owners. The title of Daimyo was successively held by the crime lords Jabba Desilijic Tiure, Bib Fortuna, and Boba Fett.
The Daimyo title was one that was assumed; the individual holding this title typically bore the responsibility of enforcing laws, maintaining peace, and safeguarding possessions. Moreover, the Daimyo functioned as a crime lord, exercising control over various enterprises and government personnel, while also collecting tribute from their vassals.
The Daimyo also possessed the authority to grant audiences to those who served them. A Daimyo with less influence often depended on partnerships with other criminal organizations to maintain their position.
During both the Republic Era and the Imperial Era, the Hutt Jabba Desilijic Tiure governed a criminal empire in his capacity as a daimyo and crime lord. He expanded his operations and sphere of influence throughout the Outer Rim Territories, accumulating considerable wealth through diverse illicit activities such as smuggling and the slave trade.
Jabba was known for his severity, consistently demanding substantial tributes from various local groups and governmental bodies on Tatooine to ensure their compliance. These subordinate entities, driven by fear, would not dare to challenge the ruthless crime boss. Many of Jabba's captains amassed significant wealth under the Hutt's leadership.
Following Jabba's demise, his majordomo Bib Fortuna took control, acquiring his own retinue of servants and slaves. Upon Fortuna's assertion as the heir, Jabba's former captains quickly departed. Fennec Shand described Fortuna as a "terrible leader" lacking a legitimate claim to Jabba's throne. Consequently, the captains attempted to usurp his position, but Fortuna's cunning and deceit thwarted their efforts.
Fortuna's rule was brought to an end when Boba Fett, a former bounty hunter who had collaborated with Jabba's organization and the Galactic Empire, killed him. Fett had vowed to avenge Fortuna's betrayal.
After Fortuna's death, Fett established his own criminal empire as the self-proclaimed Daimyo of Mos Espa and Tatooine. In contrast to Jabba and Fortuna, Fett aimed to govern through respect, although the populace initially resisted the change in leadership and did not respect him. Fett accepted tribute payments and pledged to restore order to the Worker's District of Mos Espa. The position of Mayor of Mos Espa held little actual power and was thus subordinate to the Daimyo. Unlike Fortuna, who enriched Mayor Mok Shaiz to maintain his grip on power, Fett sought to assert his authority over the mayor by demanding tribute from Shaiz. The water-monger Lortha Peel offered to double his tribute to the Daimyo in exchange for protection from a street gang that had been pilfering his water supply. Instead, Fett enlisted the gang, acting on information from Drash and Skad regarding the unemployment and profiteering in his district. Fett also instructed Peel to lower his prices or relocate his business to Mos Eisley.
Fett's rule faced an early challenge with the arrival of The Twins, who sought to reclaim Jabba's territory based on familial ties. Fett initially refused to relinquish his lands, prompting them to dispatch Krrsantan to assassinate him. After Krrsantan's failure, the Twins apologized by gifting Fett a rancor. They revealed that the mayor had promised the planet to the Pyke Syndicate, as they did not want to initiate a war over a worthless "rock". Initial attempts at negotiation failed, with Fett securing Vanth's reinforcements in exchange for eliminating the spice trade. This resulted in Jabba's captains betraying Fett, as they did not approve of his rule in the first place similar to Fortuna. The Pykes attempted to make their presence known on the planet by bombing Sanctuary and hiring Cad Bane to intimidate the people of Freetown.
This series of events culminated in a battle in Mos Espa that ultimately ended in Fett's victory. As Fett defended his people against the Pykes, they expressed their gratitude for his protection and began to hold him in respect.
Daimyos lived in a large palace situated on the edge of the Northern Dune Sea in Mos Espa. The building functioned as a fortress, designed with a focus on defense against potential attacks. It was originally a monastery belonging to the B'omarr Order, a religious group that practiced isolation from physical stimuli to enhance their mental abilities. The earliest parts of the monastery were built underground, and included a mine.