During the Imperial Period, the Galactic Empire conducted a massacre at Malthee, a city on the planet Kinyen, when the Gran refused to open their world. Malthee was completely devastated by the Imperial bombardment, which reduced the city to a crater.
Prelude
During the Clone Wars, Kinyen's close ties to the Trade Federation, added to its political isolation from the Galactic Republic, pressured it to join the Confederacy of Independent Systems. After the Declaration of a New Order, in 19 BBY, Kinyen surrendered without resistance to the newly formed Galactic Empire, on the condition that the Imperial forces did not occupy the planet.[1]
Three years later, in 16 BBY, the Empire used Kinyen as an orbital staging area for its Western Reaches campaign. During that time, the Empire forced the Gran's conditional surrender by deploying garrisons in Kinyen's offworld quarters. As a reward for its peaceful surrender, Kinyen was allowed to continue engaging in trade for more than a decade.[1]
The massacre
Eventually, the Empire demanded a greater access to the planet and an increase of the food production, but the Gran refused. In response, a squadron of TIE bombers bombarded the heavily populated city of Malthee, leaving nothing but a crater.[1][3]
Following the bombardment, the Empire broke the conditions of Kinyen's initial surrender and landed occupation forces. Early protests were put down violently, and the Gran were forced to capitulate utterly to the Empire.[1]
Aftermath
The Malthee Crater
After the massacre, most Gran adopted a policy of peaceful patience, assuming the Empire would eventually implode. However, just as many Gran became sympathetic to the Rebel Alliance. The leader of the underground resistance, Gorbek Fask, set up a network of farmers that provided foodstuffs and credits to the Rebellion. Fearing more bombardments, the Gran restricted the Alliance from conducting military operations on Kinyen.[1]
Additionally, the Malthee Crater became a monument to Imperial aggression and a site of pilgrimage. The Gran built a granite memorial around the crater, displaying the carved names of those lost in the tragedy. Later, a Doellinist temple was also erected at the Malthee Crater to provide services for those visiting to honor the lost.[1]
Sources
- Galaxy Guide 12: Aliens — Enemies and Allies (First mentioned)
- Alien Anthology
- Ultimate Alien Anthology
- The New Essential Guide to Alien Species
- The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide
- Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Core Rulebook
- Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Core Rulebook
- Strongholds of Resistance (First identified as massacre at Malthee)