Xizor, was a Falleen Prince of House Sizhran and the leader of the Criminal Organization known as Black Sun. Xizor was born into a wealthy family on the planet Falleen. He would become the head of Xizor Transport Systems and was very wealthy by the end of the Old Republic’s life time. Xizor had made home on the planet Coruscant by creating an enormous palace and he had climbed high in the ranks of Black Sun and by the time of the Birth of the First Galactic Empire at the end of the Clone Wars, he had established a close relationship with Emperor Palpatine.
After the rise of the Empire, Xizor would have dealing with Jax Paven and his protocol droid I-5YQ. And would escape from his attempt to destroy the Dark Prince. Later, as Xizor was cementing his leadership in Black Sun, the planet Falleen, which was home to a biological weapons lab that worked on projects in secret for Darth Vader. In 7 B.B.Y, a flesh-eating bacterium was released from the lab, causing Vader to order that that the lab and the surrounding city be destroyed to prevent an outbreak. Xizor’s family were killed in the destruction. Xizor vowed to get revenge on Vader, but he kept this all to himself and did not let his feeling enter public attention.
Xizor would have a great deal of interest in politics that dealt with the Hutts, knowing full well that they were very skilled in illegal activities in the Outer Rim. Xizor desired to ally himself with them to expand the power of Black Sun.
Xizor and Jabba the Hutt
Xizor would eventually have dealings with the Jabba the Hutt. It’s interesting to note, that Jabba actually talked to Xizor in Basic rather than in Huttese which rarely ever happened from a a Hutt Lord. With all his dealings with the Hutts, Xizor was able to extend Black Sun’s reach into the Outer Rim while also eliminating a potential Hutt threat. Black sun was now a very powerful organization.
After the Battle of Hoth, Xizor was finally known as one of the most influential beings in the galaxy. Also, during this time, Xizor was with Palpatine on Coruscant when the Emperor contacted his apprentice on the Super Star Destroyer Executor. Vader was hunting down the Rebels Han Solo, Leia Organa, and Chewbacca to lure Luke Skywalker to him. It was in this conversation that Vader learned for certain that Skywalker was Anakin Skywalker’s son. Xizor, realized this and believed that this was his perfect opportunity to get his desired revenge on Darth Vader. Xizor decided to kill Luke Skywalker.
The occupation of Bespin
Shortly after the Occupation of Bespin, Xizor began working with the Empire and offered 300 ships for the second Death Star’s construction. Vader did not trust the Prince, but the Empire desired he work with Xizor, and not wanting to answer to the Emperor’s wrath. Vader did have good reason to distrust the Falleen. Xizor would then put a bounty on Luke Skywalker’s head to lower the Emperor’s view on Vader. Xizor would also convince Palpatine to allow the Rebel’s to acquire the plans for the new Death Star. Xizor would win esteem with the Emperor or the Rebellion no matter the outcome.
Xizor would actually encounter Luke Skywalker on Tatooine for the final swoop race of the season in Mos Espa, however, Skywalker would escape.
Princess Leia, shortly after the Battle of Gall, would go to Xizor’s palace to get some information on the assassination attempts on Luke’s life. Xizor used his Falleen pheromones to try and seduce Leia who overcame his advances but was then thrown into a prison cell.
Xizor tries to seduce Leia
Luke, Dash Rendar, Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian infiltrated the palace to recuse the princess. Xizor decided to confront the group himself. Having just sent a gladiator droid after Dash Rendar, he confronted the group. A battle erupted and both Guri and Xizor were impressed with Skywalker’s lightsaber and Jedi skills. Skywalker and Calrissian threatened Xizor with thermal detonators and Calrissian actually threw one in the trash compactor which would lead the palace to explode in 5 minutes. The Rebels escaped in the Millennium Falcon piloted by the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO. Xizor escaped the destruction of the palace and fled to his skyhook while the Rebels pursued him.
When arriving in space, Rouge Squadron arrived to aid in the Skyhook battle. but the true turning point came from an unlikely source: The Empire.
The Empire arrives to aid the Rebellion
During a communication with his skyhook, Xizor made the mistake of saying Skywalker's name in his instructions to destroy the Millennium Falcon despite being warned by Darth Vader not to go after him. As the Emperor was away inspecting the second Death Star, Vader was in command of Coruscant. He was aboard the Executor when the message was intercepted and ordered his TIE Fighters to attack Xizor's StarVipers.
Vader sent a holo-message to Xizor’s skyhook, Falleen's Fist ordering Xizor to cease his attack immediately and surrender into Vader's custody and he only had a limited amount of time to do so. As the seconds ticked away, Vader listened to communications from the skyhook and the commander of Xizor's fleet who was begging to be allowed to surrender until his ship was destroyed. There was no answer from Xizor and when time was up, Vader gave the order to destroy the skyhook. The Skyhook exploded and Xizor was no more.
With the destruction of the skyhook, Xizor was assumed to be dead and his niece Savan took control of Black Sun, which would go through a civil war and spawned at least one offshoot, the Black Nebula. Beginning in 43 ABY, there were still rumors among the Jedi that Xizor was somehow alive; however, they were quickly proven false and it was clear, Prince Xizor of Black Sun, was dead.
When it comes to Prince Xizor, he was created to be a new and different kind of Star Wars villain. The Shadows of the Empire Multi-media Project had many different things created for it. It was promotion materials that would be made with a film, without a film being made. The novel was the main thing, but there were comics, trading cards, a video game, action figures and a host of others. Xizor is also a villain who had his own theme composed for the soundtrack. This theme is very good and can be heard on the soundtrack and in the Xizor’s palace level in the Shadows of the Empire video game.
George Lucas is known for really liking the Shadows of the Empire storyline and it makes sense as Xizor can be seen in the Mos Espa arena in the Phantom Menace. A Micro-Machine figure of Xizor was used as a stand in for many of the miniatures used in the film. Now as to whether this is Xizor or just a falleen species that just happens to be on Tatooine is unknown.
Darth Plagueis (Mentioned only)
Millennium Falcon (Mentioned only)
Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds (Mentioned only)
XTS Cleared in Freighter Explosion—HoloNet News Vol. 531 47
100 Metric Tons of Ryll Seized—HoloNet News Vol. 531 56 (Mentioned only)
Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight
Coruscant Nights II: Street of Shadows (Mentioned only)
Coruscant Nights III: Patterns of Force (Mentioned only)
The Last Jedi
Evasive Action: Prey
Evasive Action: End Game
"The King's Requiem"—Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook (Mentioned only)
"Only One of Her Kind"—Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook (Mentioned only)
The Hutt Gambit (Mentioned only)
"The Business Merger"—Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook (Mentioned only)
Shadow Games
Rebel Dawn
Star Wars: Empire at War (Cut from game)
Scoundrels (Mentioned only)
Allegiance (Mentioned only)
Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption (Appears in hologram)
Side Trip (Mentioned only)
"The Emperor's Trophy"—Star Wars Galaxy Magazine 11 (Mentioned only)
Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided (Appeared in loading screen)
Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Shadow Syndicate (Light Side and Dark Side scenario campaigns)
"Up the Intelligence Ladder"—Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook
"Bounty's Due"—Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook (Mentioned only)
Shadows of the Empire novel (First appearance)
Shadows of the Empire junior novelization
Shadows of the Empire audio book
Shadows of the Empire comic
Shadows of the Empire game
"The Regalia of Office"—Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook (Mentioned only)
"The Obvious Scapegoat"—Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook (Mentioned only)
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire Galoob minicomic
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire Ertl minicomic
"The Backup Plan"—Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook (Mentioned only)
The Mandalorian Armor (Appears in flashback(s))
Slave Ship (Appears in flashback(s))
Hard Merchandise (Appears in flashback(s))
Mara Jade: By the Emperor's Hand 2 (Appears in hologram)
Shadows of the Empire: Evolution (Appears in flashback(s))
X-Wing Rogue Squadron 25: The Making of Baron Fel (Appears in flashback(s))
X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble (Mentioned only)
X-Wing: The Krytos Trap (Mentioned only)
X-Wing: The Bacta War (Mentioned only)
Darksaber (First mentioned)
Specter of the Past (Mentioned only)
Vision of the Future (Mentioned only)
Young Jedi Knights: Return to Ord Mantell (Mentioned only)
Young Jedi Knights: Trouble on Cloud City (Mentioned only)
"Or Die Trying"—Star Wars Insider 75 (Mentioned only)
Fate of the Jedi: Backlash (Mentioned only)
"An Apology" (Non-canonical mention)
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