In the year 3671 BBY, amidst the Great Galactic War that pitted the Old Republic against the re-established Sith Empire, Sith forces assaulted and conquered the Seswenna sector, located within the Outer Rim Territories. This military action finalized the Empire's control over the Outer Rim, which then enabled the Sith Emperor to begin formulating strategies for an invasion of the Mid Rim, focusing on the Republic-aligned planet of Bothawui.
Upon the resurgence of the previously devastated Sith Empire into galactic affairs, triggering the Great Galactic War, the Empire strategically concentrated its efforts on the Outer Rim Territories. This area was chosen due to its relatively weak allegiance to the Galactic Republic and its lower priority in terms of defense. The Sith Emperor achieved considerable success in his campaigns throughout the region, swiftly securing control over the Aparo sector, the Sluis sector, the Rimma Trade Route, and the entirety of the Tingel Arm, among other areas. In the war's initial year, the Empire initiated a blockade of the Rimma Trade Route. However, their fleet, which was positioned in the Seswenna sector, suffered a defeat at the hands of the Republic Navy a year later.
Despite the continued inability of Republic leaders to agree on an effective response to the Empire's aggression, the Empire returned to the Seswenna sector in 3671 BBY and successfully reclaimed the territory. This action solidified the Empire's conquest of the Outer Rim. Among those who perished in the conflict was Republic Captain Joron Tal'vor, who was the spouse of Republic Army officer Elin Garza.
The seizure of the Seswenna sector was a pivotal moment in the war. With the Outer Rim now firmly under his control, the Emperor felt confident enough to shift his military's focus towards an invasion of the Mid Rim, bringing him closer to the Core Worlds of the Galactic Republic. In less than a week following the victory in the Seswenna sector, the Imperial Armada dispatched a strike fleet to attempt to seize the planet of Bothawui. This assault was anticipated by Admiral Greik of the Republic Navy, leading to its failure. Nevertheless, the Emperor would soon launch another offensive. Some time after the signing of the Treaty of Coruscant, which marked the end of the war, Jedi Master Gnost-Dural referenced the capture of the Seswenna sector in a holorecord intended for the Jedi Archives.
The initial mention of the Sith Empire's takeover of the Seswenna sector occurred in the fifth installment of the Galactic Timeline, which was titled The Battle of Bothawui. The Galactic Timeline served as an online promotional tool for the 2012 video game Star Wars: The Old Republic, developed by LucasArts and BioWare. These installments were accessible through The Holonet section of the official Old Republic Web site.
- Timeline 5: The Battle of Bothawui on The Old Republic's official website (article) (backup link) (First mentioned)
- The Journal of Master Gnost-Dural
- Star Wars: The Old Republic Encyclopedia