Poggle the Lesser

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Star Wars character
Poggle the Lesser
From the Separatist's command center, Poggle the Lesser observes the Republic attack on Geonosis.
Portrayed by	Marton Csokas (voice)
Position	Archduke of Geonosis
Homeworld	Geonosis
Species	Geonosian
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Stalgasin Hive, Confederacy of Independent Systems, Techno Union

Poggle the Lesser is a fictional character from the Star Wars universe. In his appearances in the Star Wars prequel films, he was created with computer-generated imagery, and voiced by Marton Csokas. He first appeared in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.

[edit] Overview

Poggle the Lesser is the Archduke of Geonosis, as seen in Attack of the Clones. As planetary leader of the Geonosians and member of the Techno Union, he controls the vast droid factories found on his planet.

The Expanded Universe establishes that Poggle is a member of the Geonosian lower caste, hence his surname 'The Lesser.' He seeks the position held by then-Archduke Hadiss the Vaulted and organizes a revolt against him, which seems to be of little concern to Hadiss, who easily deals with the rebels. Hadiss' dominion ends, however, when the Sith Lord Darth Sidious comes to Poggle's aid by secretly funding his revolution. Over time, Poggle's rebels finally seize power; Poggle becomes Archduke of the Stalgasin Hive Colony, the ruling hive of Geonosis, and Hadiss is executed in the Geonosian arena.

Poggle the Lesser is human-sized and insectoid like all Geonosians, but his frame is slightly larger than his servants and he has a set of fleshy, beard-like tendrils growing around his mouth, as well as a prominent head-crest. He carries with him a command staff which is rumored to be made from the bones of a murdered political rival.

Once Poggle the Lesser is in power, Darth Sidious' intentions become clear: he wants control of the droid factories to supply battle droids to the Trade Federation for an invasion of Naboo. Poggle, grateful for Sidious' help, strikes a deal with the Trade Federation. Poggle and Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray hate each other, but still work together.

Shortly after Gunray is humiliated at the Battle of Naboo (as portrayed in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace), Poggle is approached by the rogue Jedi Count Dooku, revealing himself as the Sith Lord Darth Tyranus, apprentice to Darth Sidious. Dooku forms a partnership with Poggle; Poggle would ensure that Geonosis was among the founding worlds of the Confederacy of Independent Systems and manufacture a large supply of the Confederacy's battle droid army. In return, Poggle would be paid handsomely for his trouble and Geonosis would earn a place on the high order of the new Confederacy. This partnership is lucrative; Poggle even takes the liberty to create a new super battle droid for the Confederacy. In addition, Poggle and the Geonosian weapon masters are given the contract to build the vast superweapon that would later be known as the Death Star.

In Episode II, Poggle the Lesser hosts the first meeting of the Confederacy in the Stalgasin Hive. The Geonosians capture Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Senator Padmé Amidala soon after this meeting, and Poggle himself presides over their trials, charging them with espionage and sentencing them to execution in the Geonosian arena. Padmé warns Poggle that to execute three officials of the Galactic Republic and The Senate is an act of war; Poggle scoffs that, as a builder of weapons, he is more than prepared for any retaliation the Republic and The Senate had in store.

The execution does not go as Poggle planned, however; the prisoners outwit the arena beasts, and Mace Windu and several Jedi arrive to rescue them. Poggle's battle droids outnumber the Jedi and victory seems sure — until the Army of the Republic arrives. Poggle and the Separatists retreat to a war room and watch helplessly as the Republic Army, suddenly manned by squadrons of clone troopers, slaughters their droid army. Poggle orders his soldiers to retreat and hide, but before he joins them, he turns over the plans of the Death Star to Count Dooku and erases all data from his computers.

In Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Poggle the Lesser remains with the main Separatist Council during the final stages of the Clone Wars. While the Council Leadership, under the protection of General Grievous, becomes anxious when the war turns in favor of the Republic, Poggle tries to reassure his colleagues that they only need to hold out until the Death Star is completed. Poggle does not live to see its completion, however, as he is assassinated by Darth Vader in the Separatist stronghold on Mustafar.

[edit] In other media

Matthew Stover, in his novelization of Revenge of the Sith, describes Poggle the Lesser as "analytical and pitiless, but also pragmatic... reasonable."

[edit] External links

• Poggle the Lesser in the Star Wars Databank
• Poggle the Lesser on Wookieepedia, a Wikia wiki