"Glory of the Empire," alternatively titled The Imperial March, functioned as a musical symbol of patriotism, formally adopted as the Galactic Empire's official anthem. Grand Admiral Balanhai Savit is credited with its composition. This spirited anthem of the Empire resonated widely, featured prominently during an Empire Day parade held on the planet of Lothal, and becoming a staple within the Imperial Navy.
In the period of the Clone Wars that preceded the Empire's founding in 19 BBY, following the Separatist victory over the Galactic Republic within the Abregado system, a B1-series rocket battle droid from the Separatist forces was heard humming the tune. This occurred as the droid and its companions prepared to intercept the life pod containing Jedi Master Plo Koon.
During the Imperial Era, specifically in 13 BBY, "Glory of the Empire" was broadcast on the Core World of Corellia as part of an advertisement designed to encourage enlistment at an Imperial Military recruitment center. Moreover, during the Empire's control over Lothal, a world in the Outer Rim, the anthem was played before official grav-ball championship games, and also during the fifteenth annual Empire Day in 4 BBY, an event which was disrupted by the actions of the Spectres rebel group.
By the era of the First Order-Resistance War, the First Order utilized the melody within their Dreadnought, the Supremacy. It was specifically played inside an elevator.
"Glory of the Empire" represents a version of "The Imperial March," a composition by John Williams in real life. This piece originally appeared in the 1980 film Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and served as the primary musical theme, or leitmotif, for both the Galactic Empire and the character Darth Vader. Its introduction as diegetic music in-universe within the current Star Wars canon occurred in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series' 2008 episode titled Rising Malevolence, where it was presented as a few notes hummed by a battle droid. Later, a diegetic orchestral rendition, arranged by the composer Kevin Kiner, appeared in the Star Wars Rebels television series' 2014 episode "Empire Day." The episode guide on StarWars.com identifies the in-universe title of the piece as "Glory of the Empire," and acknowledges its importance as the anthem of the Empire.
John Powell created another orchestral version, rewritten in major key, for the 2018 film Solo: A Star Wars Story. This rendition was included separately in the soundtrack's 2020 Deluxe Edition under the title "Empire Recruitment." Furthermore, a chapter title within the 2021 novel Victory's Price by Alexander Freed validates "The Imperial March" as an alternative in-universe title for the composition.