Cos Dashit

Biography

Following the Jedi-Bendu uprising and the subsequent replacement of the Jedi Order with the Knights of the Sith, Cos Dashit ascended to the position of Emperor. His first act was to order a massive search for all Jedi who had participated in the rebellion. This action precipitated a confrontation within the Aquilaean System, the only system that had maintained independence from the Empire, and where a number of Jedi were in hiding. He initially sought to persuade the Aquilae to sign the Treaty of Alliance through diplomatic channels. However, growing impatient with their prolonged indecision, he opted to seize control of the system by military force. He then delivered a formal declaration of the Empire's military campaign against Aquilae to assembled Imperial dignitaries and military leaders at the Plaza of the Daders situated in the Imperial City of Alderaan. During this address, he also announced the promotion of then-governor Crispin Hoedaack to First Lord of the Aquilaean System and Surrounding Territories, in recognition of his role in the forthcoming campaign. However, unbeknownst to Dashit, Hoedaack, a member of the Supreme Tribunal alongside Darth Vader and Vantos Coll, had secretly been devising a plan to seize power from Dashit, with the Aquilae campaign serving as the catalyst for its implementation.

Personality and traits

Dashit, a Human of advanced age, possessed a slender build and a mustache that extended over his upper lip. He also had slightly pointed ears. His attire consisted of a red cape adorned with gold trim, paired with a blue and black tunic also featuring gold embellishments. He exhibited certain narcissistic tendencies, as illustrated by his response to Crispin Hoedaack. When Hoedaack suggested that his speech would instill a sense of divine purpose in his subjects, Dashit responded with an enthusiastic repetition of "my words!"

Behind the scenes

Cos Dashit originated as a character in George Lucas' 1974 preliminary script, known as the Rough Draft for A New Hope. Ultimately, the character was replaced by Palpatine. Nevertheless, there is no indication that Dashit possessed Force-sensitive abilities or held the title of Sith Lord, unlike Palpatine. Furthermore, in contrast to the physically deformed Palpatine, Dashit was depicted as a handsome man of middle age.

In the first draft, he is renamed "Son Hhat". His dialogue and actions, however, remain unchanged.

According to the novelization of A New Hope, Palpatine was merely a figurehead and the first in a line of Emperors following the collapse of the Old Republic. The rough draft hints at Dashit's potential role as a puppet ruler, although this is not explicitly stated.

The similarity of Dashit's first name has led some fans to speculate that Palpatine's full name is "Cos Palpatine." However, this remains a fanon theory. Despite this, the Star Wars Legends novel Darth Plagueis introduced a character with a similar name, Cosinga Palpatine, as Palpatine's father.

Cos Dashit was later featured in the comic book adaptation of the rough draft, titled The Star Wars, released in 2013. Although he was not directly identified by name in his initial appearance, an article in Star Wars Insider Issue 144, which focused on the comic, confirmed that the character was indeed intended to be Cos Dashit.

Dashit's visual representation in the comic bears a striking resemblance to Emperor Ming the Merciless, the primary antagonist of Flash Gordon, especially as portrayed in the television series. Lucas has acknowledged that the Flash Gordon series served as one of the inspirations for Star Wars.