Kashyyyk

Kashyyyk's climate was perpetually consistent due to its lack of axial tilt and perfectly circular orbit around its star. Its structure consisted of a molten metallic core, a mantle composed of rock, and a crust of silicate rock. Forty percent of the planet's surface was land, divided into four continents largely covered by extensive forests of wroshyr trees reaching kilometers in height. Despite the prevalent forests, Kashyyyk also featured small desert areas located in the rain shadows of minor mountain ranges, as well as expansive plains such as the Woolwarricca region. A tropical oceanic zone included numerous archipelagos and extensive coral reef systems. Furthermore, the planet's coastlines featured scattered sandy beaches with brownish-white sand and dense grasses. The tallest point on Kashyyyk was Korrokrrayyo Mountain.

The majority of the planet resembled a vast swamp, teeming with wildlife and characterized by saturated soil and plentiful water. The planet's ecology was often described as a "layered deathtrap" due to the increasing danger posed by local fauna at lower levels. According to Wookiee traditions, this vertical ecosystem was divided into seven distinct levels. Wookiee civilization was primarily concentrated on the uppermost, seventh level, with only the most courageous venturing below the fourth. Chewbacca notably differed from most Wookiees, frequently traveling below this depth. The lowest level was known as the Shadowlands, sometimes referred to as the "notherworld."

As previously mentioned, the dominant plant species was the wroshyr tree. These trees may have been a single, interconnected organism; when branches from different trees met, they would merge together. The Wookiees attributed significant symbolic meaning to this phenomenon. Jolee Bindo proposed that the wroshyr tree was not native to Kashyyyk, but was introduced by the Infinite Empire. His theory was based on information from a Rakata computer found near one of their ancient Star Maps.

Kashyyyk's forests boasted a wide array of plant species, many of which possessed some degree of sentience. The Wookiees developed methods of communication with these plants, often reaching agreements about their use. One such example involved the Orga plants, which allowed the Wookiees to harvest their mature roots for use in Life Day celebrations.

Most other plant life either existed as parasites on the wroshyr trees, grew in pockets of soil within the trees' crevices, or were carnivorous. Chyntuck, an onion-like vegetable, was a staple food for the Wookiees. The Kthysh vine was utilized by the Wookiees to create strings for their bowcasters.

At least two types of large carnivorous plants inhabited the lower levels. These included a spiked vine plant and the notorious Syren plant, which played a vital role in the coming-of-age rituals of various Wookiee tribes. Both plants were capable of consuming adolescent Wookiees or fully grown Humans.

In addition to the sentient Wookiees, Kashyyyk was populated by various species of banthas, a small number of terentateks, and numerous other creatures. The danger posed by the planet's fauna generally increased with depth into the jungle. For example, the tenacious and intelligent wyyyschokk, a large, red-pigmented spider-like creature, could track prey for distances exceeding a kilometer and coordinate ambushes with other members of its species. Furthermore, many species inhabiting the deeper jungle regions exhibited bio-phosphorescence due to the perpetual darkness.

Around 36,453 BBY, a group of Wookiees native to Kashyyyk boarded a visiting Tho Yor. This Tho Yor, along with others that visited different planets, journeyed to Tython. There, the Je'daii Order, which was the original form of the Jedi Order, was subsequently established by those transported by the Tho Yor. Eventually, the Wookiees left Tython and settled on the forest world of Ska Gora.

Sometime after the Tho Yor's departure, Kashyyyk fell under the control of the Rakatan Infinite Empire. The Rakata terraformed the planet's surface for agricultural purposes. However, the collapse of their empire resulted in the abandonment of their terraforming machines, which led to the abnormally large plant life found on the planet.

In 4020 BBY, the Czerka Corporation discovered Kashyyyk, renaming it first G5-623 and later Edean following a shareholder vote. Recognizing the Wookiees' physical strength, they began to enslave them. In 3993 BBY during the Great Hunt, Jedi Guun Han Saresh perished on the planet while fighting a terentatek.

During the Mandalorian Wars, the Mandalorians considered conquering Kashyyyk, but ultimately decided against it. Their plans for assault included burning vast areas of the forests and glassing entire continents to create suitable battlegrounds. After the Mandalorian Wars began, self-exiled Jedi Jolee Bindo established his home on Kashyyyk's forest floor. In 3976 BBY, Zaalbar, a Wookiee who later assisted Jedi Revan, was banished from Kashyyyk. His brother, Chuundar, seized the position of Chieftain from their father, Freyyr. Chuundar permitted Czerka to enslave Wookiees in exchange for weaponry. Freyyr then went into self-imposed exile in the Shadowlands of Kashyyyk. Czerka's control over "Edean" was disrupted in 3956 BBY when the enslaved Wookiee population, led by Freyyr and Revan, successfully overthrew the local corporate headquarters and expelled all outsiders from the planet, with the exception of the Ebon Hawk crew.

Presumably, it was sometime after these events that Kashyyyk decided to join the Galactic Republic. The Wookiees reverse-engineered hyperdrive technology from a captured Trandoshan vessel. They were welcomed into the Republic through collaborations with the Corellians, Verpine, and Alderaanians.

During the Cold War, a period of proxy conflict between the Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic, one of the oldest wroshyr trees on Kashyyyk—reportedly thousands of years old—began to die. An individual was sent to examine its rings to learn more about the planet's history. Around the same time, an reclusive hermit residing on Kashyyyk ended his isolation and rewarded those who could solve his ancient riddles.

In 1,003 BBY during the New Sith Wars, the Brotherhood of Darkness conquered the planet.

Eventually, Kashyyyk gained representation in the Galactic Senate, with Senator Yarua serving as the final Kashyyyk representative before the outbreak of the Clone Wars. The Wookiees established colonies on both of Kashyyyk's major moons, as well as on other planets within the system, such as Alaris Prime.

A few years following the Invasion of Naboo, the Wookiee Trade Guild attempted to impose taxes on the Trade Federation for goods passing through the Kashyyyk system. In response, an army of B2 super battle droids, led by Count Dooku, arrived at the Wookiee Trade Guild's headquarters and disbanded it.

At the onset of the Clone Wars, Kashyyyk maintained a neutral stance. During the Dark Reaper crisis of 22 BBY, the Force Harvester discovered by Count Dooku on Raxus Prime was tested on the neighboring world of Alaris Prime. However, all Separatist forces were subsequently driven off the moon, ending the immediate Separatist threat to the system. A minor attack on Kashyyyk itself occurred later, but it was also repelled, and Kashyyyk continued to remain neutral eighteen months into the Clone Wars.

The decision regarding the planet's role in the conflict was entrusted to several Wookiee Royal Families, acting through a council led by King Grakchawwaa. He initially favored neutrality, engaging in limited negotiations with both the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems. The Confederacy sought to control hyperspace route planning and exploit the Wookiees' secret trade routes to disrupt Republic trade and communication, thereby gaining an advantage in the war.

However, in 21 BBY, General Grievous grew impatient and ordered Trade Federation officials to deploy probe droids to 'persuade' Grakchawwaa to make the 'correct' decision. He was on the verge of agreeing to join the Confederacy out of self-preservation when news arrived that his son, Prince Rikummee, had been accidentally killed by the droids. In anger, he allied himself with the Republic, ultimately forcing the Separatists to launch a major invasion in the war's final stages.

In 19 BBY, a rescue mission was underway, led by Jedi General Etain Tur-Mukan and Boss, to free Chieftain Tarfful from captivity by Trandoshans. Commandos from Delta Squad carried out the mission, uncovering more Separatist collaboration among the Trandoshans than initially anticipated, including General Grievous. In response, the Republic sent a task force led by Master Yoda and Clone Commander Gree to defend Kashyyyk. At the coastal city of Kachirho, a combined force of clone troopers and Wookiees fought against the invading Separatist droids, with Yoda himself participating in the battle. Despite the overwhelming Separatist forces, the Republic and the Wookiees were victorious in the Battle of Kashyyyk, although they suffered heavy casualties. Shortly thereafter, the secretly married Jedi couple Kento and Mallie Marek sought refuge on Kashyyyk, where Mallie gave birth to Galen.

However, the Wookiees' victory was short-lived. With the rise of the Galactic Empire, the Jedi were declared enemies of the Republic/Empire as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, secretly Darth Sidious, proclaimed himself Emperor and initiated Order 66. The clone troopers subsequently seized control of Kashyyyk, killing Luminara Unduli, forcing Quinlan Vos into hiding, and compelling Yoda to kill Gree and discreetly escape the battle on a Can-cell. Later, Yoda escaped the planet with the assistance of Tarfful and Chewbacca via a former Republic escape pod. The Empire quickly suppressed Kashyyyk, renaming it "Wookiee Planet C" (as it was the third planet in its system) and placing it under martial law.

Several months later, a group of Jedi, including Olee Starstone, traveled to Kashyyyk in search of other Jedi who had been there. The Empire, led by Darth Vader, tracked them and attacked the planet. The Wookiees rebelled in response, but were ultimately unsuccessful. Clone troopers attempted to land, but many were shot down by abandoned Confederate weaponry utilized by the Wookiees. Darth Vader landed and killed two Jedi before being confronted by Master Roan Shryne, who also died at Vader's hand. The orbital fleet bombarded the planet, causing extensive surface damage. Wookiees either fled into the undergrowth or into space, where they were intercepted by a Detainer CC-2200 interdictor cruiser. The slicer Filli Bitters managed to slice into an abandoned CIS ship and crash it into the interdictor cruiser, allowing many refugees to escape, including Starstone and her Jedi companions, Filli and his smuggling group, and Chewbacca. The Empire occupied the planet, allowing then-Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, an Imperial commander involved in the battle, to capture and export Wookiees as slave labor to Despayre to aid in the construction of the First Death Star.

In 18 BBY, Mallie Marek was killed by remnants of droids and Trandoshans from the battle a year prior. Almost immediately, her death caused Palpatine to sense Kento's presence on Kashyyyk, prompting him to send Vader to eliminate him. Vader and his troops faced heavy resistance from the local Wookiee population, but the 501st Legion ultimately crushed the uprising. During the battle, Vader defeated and killed Kento Marek. Upon discovering Kento's son Galen Marek, whom he found to be extremely powerful in the Force, Vader exterminated all witnesses, including the stormtrooper commander, and began training the boy as his secret apprentice.

During the occupation, Imperial authorities opened Kashyyyk to slavers from neighboring Trandosha and Mytaranor. Following the advice of the Trandoshans, the Empire began using the powerful Wookiees for slave labor. Wookiee captives were used for numerous Imperial projects, including the Maw Installation. However, due to their deep connection to their homeworld, many Wookiees would evade the Imperial garrison to revisit their beloved forests for significant Wookiee holidays such as Life Day.

In 2 BBY, Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan was secretly sent by Emperor Palpatine to be held hostage on the planet, to prevent her adoptive father from speaking out against the Empire. Leia was placed under the custody of the local commander, Captain Ozzik Sturn, who had a history of hunting Wookiees for sport, and confined to her private quarters. Eventually, she was rescued by Galen Marek, who was on a mission from Jedi Master Rahm Kota to locate Bail Organa. Leia promised to reveal her father's location only if Galen destroyed a skyhook designed to transport Wookiees off-world for slave labor. Galen went to the construction site, killed Captain Sturn, and destroyed the skyhook. However, according to Galen, "the Empire would just rebuild it." Grateful for Galen's heroic actions, Leia informed him that Bail had traveled to Felucia, initiating a series of events that led to the signing of the Corellian Treaty.

Later, after Marek's death at the hands of Emperor Palpatine, Leia Organa met with Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, Garm Bel Iblis, Rahm Kota, Juno Eclipse, and PROXY. In which they formed the Rebel Alliance. Leia chose a symbol for the Alliance, the symbol of the Marek family, as a tribute to Galen Marek, his family, and his victories against the Empire.

A year after the initial Death Star's demise, Kashyyyk endured a lengthy planetary blockade from orbit. Darth Vader gave the order for a strict, house-by-house curfew, aiming to capture all Rebels and, ultimately, the crew of the Millennium Falcon. The Imperials, however, were defeated on Rwookrrorro by Lumpawaroo, leading to the Wookiees' and their Alliance allies' Life Day celebrations. During this blockade, the Rebel Alliance's attempt to free the planet resulted in their invasion force being ambushed and utterly destroyed by the Empire within Kashyyyk's space.

The Imperial governor of Kashyyyk, Moff Hindane Darcc, who held dominion over the world from his personal palace, struck a deal with Trandoshan slaver Pekt, making him supervisor of all enslavement operations. To further the Wookiees' enslavement, they finally deployed the Avatar Orbital Platform into the planet's orbit.

Following the Endor conflict, the Alliance of Free Planets liberated the Wookiees from their bondage. Subsequently, the Nagai tried to enslave the Wookiee population, but the New Republic successfully fought them off. Sadly, the Wookiees' newfound freedom was fleeting. The Empire, having recovered, swiftly regained control of Kashyyyk and re-enslaved its inhabitants. Around 5 ABY, Han Solo and Chewbacca played a key role in sparking a rebellion among the Wookiee people, assisted by figures like Lando Calrissian, Rogue Squadron, and Admiral Gial Ackbar. During this conflict, Governor Darcc, Pekt, and Grand Admiral Peccati Syn all met their demise.

Kerrithrarr represented Kashyyyk in the New Republic Senate, and the planet became a crucial founding member of the Inner Council. Trade flourished, and the city of Thikkiiana rose to prominence as a major exporter of computer technology. This prosperity, however, drew the attention of the Second Imperium's agents in 23 ABY. A task force under Zekk conducted a raid on Thikkiiana's computer warehouses to supply the Second Imperium's needs in its Post-Galactic Civil War against the New Republic.

During the Yuuzhan Vong War, Kashyyyk served as a significant member world within both the New Republic and, later, the Galactic Alliance. Following the Yuuzhan'tar battle, which marked the end of the Yuuzhan Vong occupation, Kashyyyk was a site of great celebration.

Later, in 40 ABY, the planet defied Chief of State Jacen Solo by offering sanctuary to the Jedi who opposed him, resulting in an attack by Solo's forces. Solo's flagship, the Anakin Solo, unleashed its long-range turbolasers on Kashyyyk's forests, triggering a massive conflagration that claimed countless Wookiee lives and devastated vast areas of woodland. To aid the Wookiees, the Confederation redeployed fleets from the Kuat conflict, leading to the eventual defeat of the Galactic Alliance forces, who nonetheless managed to escape due to a tactical misstep by the Confederation Fleet. Consequently, Kashyyyk joined the Jedi Coalition, but not the Confederation itself.

After seizing control of the Galactic Alliance in 130 ABY, Darth Krayt's Galactic Empire recognized the Wookiees as a potential threat, but, learning from the mistakes of Darth Sidious' Empire, refrained from wholesale enslavement. Instead, they severed Kashyyyk's ties to the wider galaxy by imposing a blockade and destroying all Wookiee spaceports and shipyards. Wookiees were forbidden from leaving or visiting Kashyyyk without explicit Imperial authorization, and HoloNet communications to the planet were completely cut off. While traders and supplies were still permitted to enter and exit after vowing, under threat of death, not to share information about the galaxy's state with the Wookiees, the Wookiees themselves were left largely undisturbed and isolated.

Early iterations of Return of the Jedi envisioned the second Death Star being constructed in orbit above Kashyyyk, utilizing Wookiee slave labor. It was in later drafts that the setting was changed to the forest moon of Endor, and the laborers became Ewoks.

The planet made its debut in 1978 via The Star Wars Holiday Special, and it finally appeared on the silver screen in 2005 in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. Phuket, Thailand, and Guilin, China were scouted as locations for Revenge of the Sith, to obtain background plates for Kashyyyk. In the former, the planet was reused as backgrounds from the matte painting of Yavin Prime from Star Wars (as it was then known), colored in green.

In The Wookiee Storybook, Attichitcuk informs Lumpawarrump that the Wookiees are not native to Kashyyyk, but instead migrated there from an unidentified world centuries prior. Later accounts contradict this, stating that Wookiees are indeed indigenous to Kashyyyk. It's possible that Attichitcuk was simply telling an entertaining story to his grandson, rather than presenting a factual account.

When author Timothy Zahn featured the Wookiee homeworld in his novel Heir to the Empire, he had intended to call it "Rwookrrorro," unaware of its established name. Upon discovering that it was already named Kashyyyk, Zahn proposed that "Rwookrrorro" could be the planet's native name, but this idea was rejected. Instead, Zahn used the name for a specific city located on Kashyyyk.

Some argue that there is a discrepancy between how Kashyyyk is depicted in the Expanded Universe and in Revenge of the Sith. The former (in works predating Revenge of the Sith) portrayed Kashyyyk as a world where inhabitants lived exclusively in trees, never venturing to the ground, while the latter shows oceans and coastlines, with inhabitants living on the ground. This supposed contradiction could be easily resolved by noting that Revenge of the Sith only presented a small portion of the planet, and that this may not be representative of the entire world. Furthermore, Rebel Dawn explicitly mentions that Kashyyyk possesses coastlines.

The PC game Star Wars: Rebellion erroneously places Kashyyyk within the Sumitra sector of the Outer Rim.

While the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special does not provide a written spelling of the planet's name, its shooting script spells it as "Kazzook," and the pronunciation in the show aligns with this spelling (see the following section). In 1979, an untitled comic strip arc (later known as The Kashyyyk Depths) set on the planet used both "Kazhyyyk" and "Kazhyyk." Later that year, The Wookiee Storybook established the spelling as "Kashyyyk," which has remained the standard ever since, with a few exceptions, such as the Super Nintendo Super Star Wars games, which list Chewbacca's origin as "Kazhyyyk."

The name Kashyyyk has been pronounced in a multitude of ways. In its initial appearance in The Star Wars Holiday Special, it was pronounced /kəˈzuk/. In video games such as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Star Wars: Republic Commando, the pronunciation is /'kæʃɨk/. The official G-canon pronunciation, as heard in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, is /kəˈʃik/. This pronunciation is also used in Star Wars: Empire at War. In Star Wars: Battlefront II, the pronunciation is essentially a blend of the previous two, /kæˈʃik/, although this may be attributed to the troopers' accents.

Kashyyyk appears in the LEGO Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles episode "Raid on Coruscant," where the Rebel Alliance established a temporary base following the Yavin battle.