Troops are fundamental in the conquest and maintenance of galaxies and republics, which is why they have a predominant role in Star Wars and Ancient Rome
If there’s an overall parallel between Star Wars and Ancient Rome, there’s one in the troops too. In any imperial structure, armed force is not just a tool of defense or conquest: it is the backbone of political power.
Both in the Ancient Rome like in the galaxy George Lucasthe evolution of armies reflects the transition from a republic in crisis to a centralized empire. From clone troopers to stormtrooperfrom the Jedi commanders to the guardians of Palpatinethe parallelism between the two military machines reveals a profound historical inspiration on the part of George Lucas.
The troops of the Republic: between citizens and clones
In the First Roman Republicthe army was made up of citizens who own property forced to serve when called upon by the government of Eternal City. The army was an extension of the civic body, just as in the Greek polis. Likewise, inside Star Wars: Episode IIthe Republic creates the Grand Army of the Republic through the cloning of soldiers in Fireplacebeing men destined to serve the cause, they obey orders without questioning them and protect the Republic as in the Battle of Geonosis.
Both armies share a structured, hierarchical and efficient nature. They are divided into tactical units, some in legions and others in clone divisions; and are highly trained, although in Star Wars citizenship is replaced by programmed genetic loyalty.
At the end of the 2nd century BC the general Gaius Mario implemented key reforms as it enabled the hiring of proletariatpropertyless citizens, and professionalized the army. These soldiers no longer fought for Rome, but for their generals, on whom they depended for lands and rewards.
This moment in Roman history has a direct parallel in the evolution of clones, because these, even if they are useful at the beginning Republicthey soon become a political instrument under the control of Canciller Palpatinewho positions himself as its supreme commander. After the Order 66the clones become personal soldiers of the new Empire, breaking all ties with the Empire Senatejust as Marius’ legions ended up being instruments of personal ambition.
The clearest equivalent of Julius Caesar in Star Wars it is Anakin Skywalkerwho, like Caesar, is a charismatic figure, militarily brilliant and with strong popular support, in this case, from Jedi Council at the start. Both cross forbidden lines, Caesar crosses the Rubicon; Anakin massacres the Jedi.
Both represent the crucial moment where the army stops being republican and becomes imperial. The loyalty of 501st Clone Legion A Anakin during the execution of the Order 66 remember the legions X Equestris, IX Hispana, XIII Gemina and I Germanica, who followed Caesar in his rebellion against the Senate. In both cases, the transition to Empire occurs not through a popular revolution, but through the use of the army as a tool to destroy the Republic from within.
The Empire, absolute power, the professionalized army and repression
With the foundation of Galactic Empirelos clones are gradually replaced by stormtrooperhuman soldiers were recruited massively, with less rigorous training, and in greater numbers. It refers to the legions of the High Roman Empire (1st-2nd century AD), professionalised, permanent and loyal to the emperor, not the state.
Stormtroopers represent a massive force that controls, monitors and represses. They are the face of the Empire, just as the Roman legions were in the provinces. Uniformity, obedience and brutality are shared traits.
The famous 501st Legion, commanding Darth Vaderrepresents the Emperor’s military elite. In Rome, some legions enjoyed this status, such as the aforementioned Legio X Gemina (Caesar’s) or the Legio II Traiana Fortis, which directly served the interests of the emperor and received special privileges.
These units were more mobile, better equipped, and assigned to sensitive operations, such as sieges or riot suppression, just as the 501st does across the galaxy.
Los Palpatine’s royal guardsdressed in red, silent and ceremonially lethal, they directly evoke the Roman Praetorian Guard, who protected the emperor in Rome. As in Rome, these units are more than soldiers, they are living symbols of imperial power.
Later, in the sequel trilogy, the Snoke’s Praetorian Guard It appears as an aesthetic and symbolic evolution, being an elite force in direct service of the supreme leader, with both military and ritual functions.
The Great Moff Tarkin and other officials of the Empire remember the governors of the Roman provinceslos Augustus’ ambassadorswith both civil and military powers. They control entire sectors of the galaxy, decide on life and death, and answer directly to the Emperor. In both cases, these leaders are figures to be feared, with their own armies at their disposal, responsible for maintaining order and quelling any threats.
Los Imperial Star Destroyers represent the absolute naval control of the Empire, in the same way that the The Roman fleet The Roman fleet ensured dominion of the Mediterranean. In both cases these ships have long-distance force projection, transport troops and represent a visual and psychological deterrent.
Decline and fragmentation, from the First Order to the Sith Army
In the sequel trilogy, the First Order Stormtrooper They are children kidnapped and indoctrinated from an early age. This system remembers federated of Under Empirethat is, soldiers from foreign peoples recruited to serve Rome, often loyal to their leaders and not to the Empire.
In both cases the central identity of the army is lost. The troops no longer protect the state, but are the tool of those who seek to maintain power at all costs.
THE Exegol’s secret fleetrevealed in The Rise of Skywalkersymbolizes the attempt to revive the old empire through a brutal coup of force, without institutional support. This hidden army is more a myth of imperial restoration than a legitimate force, as were the last attempts to restore Rome in the West Charlemagne or the Holy Empireand his too Byzantine Empire.
They are faceless troops, generated en masse, with an almost religious structure. They represent the end of the imperial cycle, where force is no longer at the service of order, but rather of the illusion of a lost greatness.
The special forces
THE Clone Forza 99which is revealed in The Bad Remittance (Terrible batch) is a unit of genetically engineered clone commandos, each with unique abilities such as superhuman strength, extreme marksmanship, tracking, technology, or tactical leadership. These soldiers are assigned high-risk missions that a regular platoon could not accomplish, such as infiltration, sabotage, extraction of valuable assets, etc.
Its role is that of a special operations unit within the Grand Army of the Republic, operating outside the regular hierarchy, but with great efficiency and autonomy.
While the Roman army did not have commands like modern ones or those in Star Wars, it did have elite units for tasks outside the scope of common legions, such as The spies and scoutslos wheat farmers or, later, the the curious oh go agents in things for reconnaissance, intelligence or infiltration.
