Senate Guard

The Senators and Supreme Chancellors of the Galactic Republic were defended by the Senate Guard, an elite security organization. The tradition of the Senate Guard, which was based on the galactic capital planet of Coruscant, dates back thousands of years, making it as old as the Galactic Senate itself. Senate Guards were also police officers, not just bodyguards. The Guard's well-known blue armor and robes served as symbols of peace and security in Galactic City, where the Guard served as a secondary police force. The Guard was in charge of both the Senate Building and the entire Senate District in order to protect the thousands of senators. Senate Guards could also be found on senatorial transports, protecting their charges, and carrying out clandestine government missions. Guards worked to protect senators from both external threats, like assassinations, and internal threats, like bribery, which they were required to report to their superiors. The Senate Guard developed into a legacy system over time, with numerous generations enlisting. The legacy system, especially in the Republic's final years, fostered corruption, with senators paying their Guards to ignore criminal activity. This occurred despite the best efforts of the devoted internal affairs department.

Candidates had to complete a comprehensive training program to become a Senate Guard, while those with prior experience as planetary police officers had to complete a shorter one. Guards were immediately given the rank of private after graduation and were typically assigned to the Senate Guard Headquarters, where they processed prisoners and profiled suspects. Corporals were assigned to protect prominent senators, groups of less prominent senators, or VIPs from the government. The sergeants assigned bodyguard detail and provided security for the Grand Convocation Chamber, which was overseen by the Sergeant at Arms. A lieutenant oversaw a squad made up of two to four Guards. Commanders were in charge of task forces of six to eight guards. The Captain of the Guard, who reported to a Senate committee and officials in the Republic's Judicial Department, served as the leader of the Senate Guard. The Senate Commando division, which was regarded as the best and bravest of the Guards, was made up of the Senate Guards' elite. The Senate Commandos, who were led by a captain, were volunteers who were chosen and had to complete a demanding four-week combat training program. They were frequently called upon to carry out covert government operations or conduct police investigations. Their armor was more practical than that of their regular Guard counterparts.

Potential recruits were carefully chosen from among the galaxy's most esteemed law enforcement organizations. One of the requirements for selection was that all candidates be exceptional combatants and completely devoted to the Galactic Republic. The Senate Guard Academy trained the candidates, who were then assigned to headquarters upon graduation. By the time the Republic fell, Senate Guard membership had become increasingly hereditary, with some families having served in their ranks for generations. This meant that family connections frequently dominated candidates. However, acceptance was also extended to distinguished members of recognized planetary law enforcement agencies. In that case, these more seasoned recruits frequently completed a condensed academy training program.

The Senate Guard's iconic blue robes and helmets were its most recognizable feature. Their blue armor had served as a reliable symbol of the Galactic Capital's peace and security for thousands of years. The Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders wore the ancient armor during the Mandalorian Wars, which served as the inspiration for the armor's design. The striking blue robes also represented the Senate's supreme authority and its long history of wise and just rule. The helmets also had large crests, and the uniform consisted of simple drapes, but these were more for show than for functionality. New guardsmen were frequently given ceremonial rifles that were distinctive, potent, and accurate in terms of weaponry. These weapons were renowned for their capacity to fire a potent stun blast, and while they were primarily ceremonial, they saw more and more use in the Republic's final years. Guardsmen were known to discard their long weapons in favor of more practical weaponry if their mission or security called for it. The Guard received extensive blaster training and instruction in the use of Force pikes. They also received instruction in the Hijkata martial arts style. Furthermore, they wore enhanced armor with a distinctive blue paint job compared to that of a clone. Senate Guards used a speeder to get around the capital. The Guard employed a heavily armed assault vehicle in more serious circumstances.

The Republic Guard used fully equipped and modern analysis laboratories to conduct their investigations, among other amenities. Special analysis droids were used in the field, and they only released their sensitive data to the appropriate officers.

The Coruscant Security Force and the Senate Guard worked most closely together, though they were rivals. The Senate Guard served as Coruscant's police force, but the CSF, which had primary jurisdiction over Galactic City, took precedence. However, the Senate Guard also had primary jurisdiction in cases involving the safety of senators. There were exceptions, such as the CSF, not the Senate Guard, investigating the murder of Senator Onaconda Farr.

The Guard's use of some of the best investigative and forensic work in the capital was one of its distinguishing characteristics. However, this caused some members of the Blue Guard to distrust the Jedi, as the Guard preferred to deal in concrete facts. As a result, they frequently relied on forensic evidence rather than what they perceived to be the mysticism of Force sorcery. As a result, they frequently clashed with the Jedi Order due to their less concrete methods of gathering evidence.

The Coruscant Guard was established with the advent of the Clone Wars to assist the CSF in securing the capitol. The clone shock troopers of the Coruscant Guard took over the Senate Guard's role as Coruscant's secondary police force, which diminished the Senate Guard's power. The Senate Guard's power was further diminished when the Red Guard was established to protect the Supreme Chancellor.

The Senate Guard's history was as old as that of the Galactic Senate itself, tracing its origins to the Republic's ancient times. Images of silent Guardsmen were present in the artwork of the Republic's earliest times, serving as a silent testament during diplomatic negotiations that force was prepared to be used if diplomacy failed.

Jesra Loture led the Guard during the Separatist Crisis. By 22 BBY, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine began to diminish the Senate Guard's role. Instead, he started installing his own elite guard, made up of red-robed warriors known as the Red Guard. These soldiers were chosen from the ranks of the Senate Commandos and took over the Chancellor's security responsibilities.

The Senate Guard launched a covert operation to look into the Black Heth gang, which had been operating in the lower levels. The gang discovered the undercover informant who had been sent in to investigate and held him at a construction site. The Senate Guard requested assistance from the Jedi and Obi-Wan Kenobi, who had also been looking into the Black Heth, to help rescue the informant. Kenobi fought his way through a number of Black Heth thugs and was able to stop the informant from being executed while being questioned about his true identity. The informant informed Kenobi that the Black Heth were importing large quantities of illegal weapons into Coruscant. Kenobi then took over the investigation, eventually finding and eliminating the smuggling operation.

The blue-armored Senate Guard served as the elite honor guard for high-ranking government officials on Coruscant during the Clone Wars, rarely leaving the capitol except for the most important Senate business. In the early years of the war, Korun terrorists under the command of Nuriin-Ar seized the Galactic City Spaceport and took a number of hostages, including Senator Meena Tills and her aide, Vun Merett Jai. The terrorists demanded that the Galactic Republic withdraw its forces and cease interfering in the affairs of their homeworld, Haruun Kal. Obrim and a Senate Guard detachment responded to the hostage crisis as a result of the Senator's involvement, as did the Coruscant Security Force, the clone commando unit Omega Squad, Mandalorian Sergeant Kal Skirata, and Null ARC Captain Null-11, also known as "Ordo."

Jedi Master Kaim attempted to negotiate with the Korun terrorists, but they killed him and threw his body, strapped with explosives, outside of the spaceport. Clone commando RC-8015, also known as "Fi," jumped onto the Jedi before the explosion went off, saving the lives of the CSF police officers nearby. The commando team forcefully entered the building and killed the terrorists, bringing the hostage siege to an end. Fi survived the blast, and Obrim and the CSF remembered his heroism for a long time afterward.

Captain Faro Argyus and additional commandos were dispatched to guard the captive Neimoidian Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray, a member of the Separatist Council and an enemy of the Republic, after his capture. They were to guard him aboard the Star Destroyer Tranquility while en route to Coruscant. Count Dooku, the leader of the Separatists, had contacted Argyus and bribed him to release the viceroy and return him safely to Separatist space. Argyus secretly switched allegiances because he didn't want to be bound to Republic guardsmen duty forever. The warship came under attack by vulture droids and three Droch-class boarding ships during the Tranquility's voyage, piercing the hull and releasing a Separatist boarding party. Clone troopers under the command of Commander Gree eventually destroyed the invading battle droids, but they were only a diversion to allow Separatist assassin Asajj Ventress to infiltrate and cripple the Republic warship.

Despite Argyus's expressed attempt to stop her, Ventress briefly rescued Gunray in the detention level. Ventress Force-pushed Argyus out of her way, intending to leave with the viceroy. However, the arrival of Jedi Master Luminara Unduli foiled Gunray's escape and forced Ventress to flee. Unduli pursued Ventress into the Tranquility's engine room, leaving Ahsoka Tano, the Padawan of Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, to guard the captive viceroy alongside Argyus, his commandos, and Gree. Argyus informed the Padawan that following one's heart distinguished them from droids. Tano, at his urging, left to find Ventress, leaving Gunray under the watch of Argyus, his men, and Gree. Ventress sent Argyus an all-clear signal during her engagement with the Jedi.

Argyus revealed his true loyalties to the Republic by killing his fellow commandos, freeing Gunray, and using the Neimoidian viceroy as a living shield. Only Gree stood in his path. Gunray struck the clone over the head with the butt of Argyus's blaster during the ensuing scuffle, knocking him unconscious. Argyus signaled Ventress to let her know he had succeeded, and he and Gunray boarded a docked Consular-class frigate, which they used to flee. Ventress, meanwhile, had evaded the Jedi and entered an escape pod, arriving aboard the escaping cruiser before reaching Separatist space. Argyus arrogantly boasted to Ventress about his mission's success and that he was responsible for Gunray's rescue. Ventress permanently silenced his gloating by impaling him with her lightsaber and killing him.

The Republic's scientific community and Chancellor Palpatine both wanted to study the Zillo Beast's invulnerable scales to create impenetrable armor for the Republic's clone troopers after discovering the last known one during the battle on Malastare. However, they chose to conduct this study on Coruscant and subsequently transported the heavily sedated beast to the Republic Science and Technical Center. Senate Guards accompanied Palpatine as the beast arrived under heavy guard. Doctor Sionver Boll discovered during her examination of the beast that she could not remove its scales without harming it. When she informed Palpatine of this, he ordered her to kill it, enraging the Zillo Beast. The beast later escaped from the facility during the attempted execution and began a rampage across Coruscant. As alarms began to sound across Coruscant, orders were given for the Senate staff to evacuate to the lower levels. Palpatine agreed to evacuate as well when the Zillo Beast arrived at the Republic Executive building in search of the Chancellor.

Accompanied by Senator Padmé Amidala, Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, R2-D2, and C-3PO, they left the Chancellor's Suite through an emergency escape tunnel and boarded the Executive Shuttle, which was piloted by a Senate Commando. The Zillo Beast seized the shuttle as it left the docking bay. Skywalker cut the shuttle in half, releasing the passenger compartment from the beast's grasp. However, the Commando and Palpatine were unable to jump from the falling shuttle. The Zillo Beast noticed the Chancellor and the Commando as it landed on the ground and moved toward them just as R2-D2 arrived. Seeing the Zillo beast approaching them and realizing that R2-D2 couldn't carry both of them, the Commando forced Palpatine onto the droid to be carried to safety, sacrificing himself as the beast slammed its foot down on top of the shuttle's remains, killing the Commando. With the Chancellor in safety, Republic forces began a bombardment of poisonous gas, killing the beast. The following day, Palpatine, accompanied by robed Senate Guards, ordered the dead beast to be cloned.

Four members of the Senate Commando unit served as bridge crew aboard the New Mandalorian ship known as the Coronet, reporting to Captain Gray. In a surprise attack, they were all killed by Senator Tal Merrik of Mandalore, a secret operative working for the Death Watch, who was trying to kidnap Dutchess Satine Kryze. Jedi forces successfully rescued the Dutchess, and Merrik was killed. Subsequently, Kryze secretly met with Davu Golec, an agent from the Republic Ministry of Intelligence. During this meeting, a Death Watch assassin murdered Golec. The ensuing police probe discovered a weapon on Kryze, identifying her as a possible suspect. The Duchess then went on the run, leading to a police chase from which she escaped. While the police were still searching for her, she met with Jedi Master Kenobi in Coruscant Park and handed over a video regarding Republic aid for the Mandalore system. After ensuring the information was secure, she turned herself in to Senate Guards at the Senate Building. The video was then shown to the Senate, resulting in the resolution of the situation and the end of the Duchess's extortion.

Later, Senate Commandos were part of the security detail for Senator Padmé Amidala at the Alderaan Conference on the Clone War Refugee Crisis. Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano accompanied them, prompted by several Force visions suggesting a threat to Senator Amidala's life. During Amidala's speech, Tano stood with the Senate Guards at the front of the room. At that moment, she sensed a disturbance in the Force. She quickly moved to the walkway above and intervened just before the bounty hunter Aurra Sing could fire at the senator. The shot hit Amidala in the arm, causing a wound that was not life-threatening. While Tano pursued Sing, the Senate Guards moved quickly to protect the Senator. Tano lost track of the assassin. To lure Sing into a trap, a droid was dressed in Amidala's clothing and brought into the meeting room under heavy guard by the Senate Commandos. Senate Commandos also secured the corridors and walkways around the meeting room. Using a comlink, Amidala spoke through the droid from her quarters. However, Sing, realizing the deception, tried to assassinate Amidala in her own room. Tano intervened again, using her lightsaber to deflect the blaster bolt. As Captain Gregar Typho and the Senate Commandos forced their way into the room, Amidala managed to stun the assassin, and Sing was taken into custody.

Upon their arrival on Coruscant, Bane's team separated to infiltrate the Executive Building. Bane, accompanied by Alama, a sentinel droid, and a pair of droid commandos, approached the building in an airspeeder, where they encountered a squad of Senate Commando guards. From a nearby tower, Sing provided covering fire, eliminating most of the Commandos, while Alama and the droids also engaged the Senate Guards. Bane killed the guard captain, and the commando droids then donned the armor of the Senate Guards to conceal the conflict. Sing, Robonino, and the sentinel droids arrived in a second airspeeder. After leaving the commando droids outside to clear the platform of the fallen Senate Guards, the bounty hunter team entered the building.

The group eliminated a guard stationed in the Executive Building's power control room, along with an assistant droid, a [protocol droid](/article/protocol_droid-legends], a WED-15 Treadwell, and the astromech droid that were in the room. Robonino stayed behind to sabotage the building's power distribution network, while the rest of the team proceeded toward the senators' meeting. En route to the East Wing, where the senators were assembled, Bane threw a thermal detonator into the Senate Commandos' barracks, which was occupied by two assembled shifts. Sing killed the sole survivor with a headshot. The group then entered the Annex Dome, where they surrounded and took prisoner Senators Organa, Amidala, Philo, Dantum Roohd, Zinn Paulness, Onaconda Farr, Riyo Chuchi, Jakker-Sun, Kin Robb, and a Christophsian senator, as well as C-3PO. Bane contacted Palpatine, who eventually agreed to release Ziro.

Senate Guards maintained their presence, guarding the Senate and Republic Executive buildings. A formal honor guard attended the funeral of the assassinated senator, Onaconda Farr. However, the Coruscant Security Force was summoned instead, and Lieutenant Tan Divo led the investigation. The inspector was put in charge of the Senate Guards to assist in protecting the senators involved.

When Duchess Satine Kryze of Mandalore hosted a peace conference on her planet to achieve a peaceful resolution to the war between the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, Captain Taggart, a number of Senate Guards, and Padawan Ahsoka Tano were dispatched to safeguard the Republic delegation, which included Senators Padmé Amidala, Bail Prestor Organa, and Mon Mothma. During the conference, Taggart and some of his unit were stationed at the docks with the Phoenix, the Republic delegation's transport, while the conference took place in the Sundari Royal Palace. During this time, Tano, along with former Separatist, Lux Bonteri, arrived at the docks where Taggart and his men were standing guard. Tano had rescued Bonteri from a potential execution by the Separatists for disrupting the peace conference, and the pair was being pursued by Separatist BX-series droid commandos. After Tano informed Taggart that they were being chased by commando droids, the Captain and his unit provided cover fire for them to reach the Phoenix, which drew the attention of the battle droids. Both sides suffered casualties in the ensuing battle.

Senate Guards, together with shock troopers from the Coruscant Guard and Jedi Mace Windu and Anakin Skywalker, escorted Chancellor Palpatine to the planet Naboo for the upcoming Festival of Light. SG-1984, a male Human, was among the Commandos tasked with guarding the Chancellor. During the ceremony, Cade Bane and Moralo Eval, acting under Count Dooku's orders, initiated their plan to kidnap Palpatine. They infiltrated the security detail, along with their group of bounty hunters, which included Obi-Wan Kenobi disguised as Rako Hardeen, using holographic disguise matrices. A skirmish erupted, and the Senate Guards moved to protect Palpatine. However, Eval and Bane, using the disguise matrix, managed to capture Palpatine and escape. Kenobi pursued them and captured them shortly before Windu, Skywalker, and a Coruscant Guard trooper arrived and arrested the two kidnappers.

Senate Guards also accompanied Senator Amidala on a diplomatic mission to the planet Scipio, but they had to remain outside the gates because the area was a neutral zone controlled by the InterGalactic Banking Clan.

During the Battle of Coruscant, Shaak Ti, accompanied by two other Jedi, a clone task force, and a single Senate Guard, arrived at 500 Republica with the intent of escorting the Chancellor to his designated bunker. However, before they could complete their mission, General Grievous appeared on the scene. Shaak Ti, along with the Chancellor and the other Jedi, retreated, leaving the task force and the Senate Guard to confront Grievous. The clones and the Guard were quickly overwhelmed, and Grievous pursued the Jedi.

In the last days of the Clone Wars, the Blue Guard's appearance was altered; the ornate crests were removed from their helmets, and a black visor, resembling that of the Red Guard, covered the open face.

Following the establishment of the Galactic Empire, Palpatine abolished the position of Supreme Chancellor and proclaimed himself Emperor. As a result, his Red Guard became the new Emperor's Royal Guard, responsible for his protection. Furthermore, the increased presence of clone forces rendered the Guard largely unnecessary, leading to their gradual removal from service.

By 2 BBY, the Senate Guard had been re-established as the Imperial Senate Guard. Members wore armor identical to that of the Royal Guard and the Emperor's Shadow Guard, but in blue. Additionally, like the Royal and Shadow Guards, Senate Guards of this era wielded lightsaber pikes, potentially indicating that they were Dark Side Adepts. They continued to serve as bodyguards (and possibly enforcers) for Imperial Senators while carrying out the Emperor's will. Galen Marek engaged in combat with numerous Imperial Senate Guard during his involvement in the formation of the Rebel Alliance.

The Hasbro toy line identifies the Senate Guards as the Coruscant Guard. However, the "Coruscant Guard" was initially composed entirely of clones, while the Senate Guard did not include any clones. It is possible that this misnomer arose from the fact that the Coruscant Guard was also tasked with protecting the Republic Senate facilities and all resident senators, supplementing, but not replacing, the existing non-clone Senate Guard.

A Quarren is mentioned as being employed by the Coruscant Guard in Star Wars: Obi-Wan, but this likely refers to the Senate Guard.

In their initial appearance in The Phantom Menace, they were intended to be the direct predecessors of the Royal Guard. However, this concept was abandoned in Attack of the Clones, where they appear alongside each other, with the Red Guard becoming the direct predecessors of the Royal Guard.