Bentrinus Act

"You want to know a secret? We're not even supposed to be here. Renting the Senate building for private events violates the Bentrinus Act, but there's been no enforcement for years."

―Mon Mothma^[2]

The Bentrinus Act was an act implemented by the Galactic Republic's Galactic Senate,^[1] which disallowed the renting of the Senate Building for private events. However, the act had not been enforced for years^[2] by 19 BBY. That year,^[3] following the transformation of the Republic into the Galactic Empire, a private fundraiser was held in the Senate Building to fund the campaigns of six senators from the Colonies region. Senator Mon Mothma attended, at one point telling another guest that hosting the fundraiser at the Senate Building was disallowed per the Bentrinus Act, though the law was largely unenforced.^[2]

Behind the scenes

The Bentrinus Act was mentioned in the 2025 novel Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear, written by Alexander Freed as the first installment of the Star Wars: Reign of the Empire trilogy.^[2]

Appearances

Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear (and audiobook) (First mentioned)

Notes and references

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear establishes that the Bentrinus Act had been in effect for years prior to its events. The novel also indicates that its events take place within the first year of the Galactic Empire's formation. Therefore, the Bentrinus Act have been put in place by its predecessor, the Galactic Republic, and its legislative body, the Galactic Senate.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear
↑ Star Wars: Edge of the Abyss on Penguin Books' official United Kingdom website (backup link) establishes the events of Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear take place thirteen years before the events of Reign of the Empire: Edge of the Abyss. Rebecca Roanhorse (@rebeccaroanhorse) on Instagram (post): "Title and updated release date of my upcoming STAR WARS novel announced at SDCC. THE EDGE OF THE ABYSS takes place a year before Andor S1." (backup link) states that Edge of the Abyss takes place a year before the events of Andor Season 1, which are set in 5 BBY per the reasoning here. Therefore, the events of Edge of the Abyss must be set in 6 BBY, and the events of The Mask of Fear in 19 BBY. Star Wars: Timelines also dates the Empire's formation to that year.

[Republic-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear establishes that the Bentrinus Act had been in effect for years prior to its events. The novel also indicates that its events take place within the first year of the Galactic Empire's formation. Therefore, the Bentrinus Act have been put in place by its predecessor, the Galactic Republic, and its legislative body, the Galactic Senate.

[MOF-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear

[Date-3] Star Wars: Edge of the Abyss on Penguin Books' official United Kingdom website (backup link) establishes the events of Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear take place thirteen years before the events of Reign of the Empire: Edge of the Abyss. Rebecca Roanhorse (@rebeccaroanhorse) on Instagram (post): "Title and updated release date of my upcoming STAR WARS novel announced at SDCC. THE EDGE OF THE ABYSS takes place a year before Andor S1." (backup link) states that Edge of the Abyss takes place a year before the events of Andor Season 1, which are set in 5 BBY per the reasoning here. Therefore, the events of Edge of the Abyss must be set in 6 BBY, and the events of The Mask of Fear in 19 BBY. Star Wars: Timelines also dates the Empire's formation to that year.

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