The high-ranking bureaucrats within the Galactic Empire, known by names such as Emperor's advisers, Emperor's advisors, or Imperial advisors, fulfilled diverse functions. These functions encompassed governance, oversight, and other, more mysterious responsibilities. The most experienced of these individuals comprised the Imperial Ruling Council, with the Grand Vizier presiding. They were known for their elaborate attire.
The Emperor's advisers, who were also called Emperor's advisors, or simply Imperial advisors, were bureaucrats of great power and influence, charged with managing the intricate details of the Empire's administration. They also secretly monitored other advisers, high-ranking military officers, and even the home star systems of these individuals. Their numbers typically hovered around one hundred. The most experienced among them held positions on the Imperial Ruling Council, which was led by the Grand Vizier.
Imperial advisers wielded considerable authority over vast expanses of space, possessing the authority to appoint Moffs. Consequently, Moffs, who governed large sectors and their corresponding Sector Groups, reported directly to them and the Emperor. Imperial advisers conveyed various decrees from the Emperor and were tasked with informing him about the state of the government. Some advisers had more enigmatic roles, discussed only in whispers within the highest echelons of government, such as searching the galaxy for Sith artifacts.
Despite the actual significance of their roles, the Emperor viewed his advisers more as servants, as he sought counsel from no one. To emphasize their dependence on him, Palpatine frequently manipulated his advisers, pitting them against each other to prevent any individual from accumulating excessive personal power.
Imperial advisers wore flamboyant outfits reminiscent of the elaborate style of Naboo noblemen, typically featuring luxurious, plush, purple robes and extravagant hats. The majority operated from the Imperial capital of Coruscant. Although their duties, assignments, and schemes often took them to distant locations across the galaxy, they tried to remain close to the Emperor, fearing the loss of influence to rivals or missing crucial events. While some advisors were well-known public figures, revered like gods on their respective homeworlds, others operated discreetly. They maintained their own diverse personal staffs and owned luxurious residences.
It is believed that only a select few advisers were privy to the Emperor's concealed identity as a Force-wielding Dark Lord of the Sith. Adviser Yupe Tashu was one such individual.
A group coalesced around Sheev Palpatine when he was a seemingly unremarkable senator representing Naboo in the Senate of the Galactic Republic. After Palpatine's appointment as Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, some of them—specifically Janus Greejatus, Ars Dangor, and Sate Pestage—began serving as his emissaries. Palpatine ultimately dissolved the Republic, establishing the First Galactic Empire and declaring himself Galactic Emperor. Many members of his political circle were promoted to Imperial advisers, with figures like Greejatus, Dangor, Pestage, and Kren Blista-Vanee serving on the Imperial Ruling Council.
Around 12 BBY, Adviser Rersey was dispatched to Mustafar to assess the Emperor's Sith apprentice, the cyborg known as Darth Vader, who had displeased his master. Rersey's sanity deteriorated on Mustafar after witnessing disturbing events at Fortress Vader.
During the Gorse Conflict, eleven years prior to the Battle of Yavin, Count Denetrius Vidian served as one of the Emperor's advisers. Although not yet a member of the Ruling Council, Imperial Captain Rae Sloane anticipated his imminent inclusion.
Leading up to the Galactic Civil War, Adviser Sim Aloo and his daughter Alinka gathered Sith artifacts from across the galaxy for the Emperor's collection. Adviser Greejatus also took part in this artifact hunt. Similarly, Adviser Veris Hydan was a scholar of Jedi and Sith lore. Following the discovery of an ancient Jedi Temple on Lothal, he was entrusted with overseeing the excavation.
When the Emperor traveled to the second Death Star to oversee the destruction of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, six of his advisers — Janus Greejatus, Sim Aloo, Sate Pestage, Ars Dangor, Kren Blista-Vanee and Pebimarus Xorn– accompanied him. All six died alongside their Imperial master when the Death Star was destroyed by the Alliance during the Battle of Endor. Following the Emperor's death at Endor, Adviser Yupe Tashu became a member of the short-lived Imperial Future Council.