Sanjay Rash

Sanjay Rash, self-stylized as His Royal Majesty King Sanjay Rash, was a tyrannical Human male who was King of Onderon during the Clone Wars and had ties with the Separatist Alliance.

Biography

Rise to power

Sanjay Rash was a young^[5] Human male^[4] native from Onderon,^[1] a planet located in the Inner Rim region of the galaxy.^[6]

In 22 BBY,^[7] a political crisis that had been plaguing the galaxy for a decade degenerated into an open conflict known as the Clone Wars.^[8] While normally allied with the Republic, the King of Onderon Ramsis Dendup regarded both sides as inherently corrupt and thought the best course of action for Onderon would be to remain unaligned.^[9] Recognizing the winds of change in the galaxy,^[10] Sanjay Rash knew better. To ensure Onderon's prosperity and strength in the shifting galaxy would require a strong alliance -- and that meant striking an accord with the Separatists. Through methods cloaked in intrigue,^[1] a local coup was secretly backed by the Separatists.^[2] Rash assumed the crown of Onderon, deposing Dendup^[4] through the Treaty of Iziz^[11] and branding him a powerless old crone.^[1] He took the title name of "His Royal Majesty King Sanjay Rash",^[11] a similar title held previuosly by Dendup.^[12]

Rash then allowed the Separatists to establish a firm foothold,^[4] believing that isolationism would only lead to Onderonian stagnation^[5] and cementing his rule of the planet.^[1] General Tandin supported the new king despite his misgivings of offworld interlopers interfering in Onderonian affairs. The people of Onderon, though, began to reject Rash's rule,^[13] as they preferred the neutral stance championed by former monarch.^[10] An insurgency began targeting the battle droid forces stationed on the planet,^[13] refusing to acknowledge the legitimacy of his rule. Saw Gerrera, a loyal follower of Dendup, would not tolerate Rash's Separatist-backed regime, which prompted him to join the Onderon rebels.^[4] Rash saw them as terrorists and refused to negotiate with them.^[1] He signed a Royal Proclamation that criminalized them, requesting his people to immediately notify any actions that were suspected to be terrorism to the Security Droid legions posted within the city of Iziz.^[11]

By 20 BBY^[2] King Rash lived a life of privilege within the polished walls of the royal residence, eyeing the actions of his subjects from the lofty heights of the palace balconies.^[1] His Bivall^[14] royal adviser Okalin kept him abreast of all developments within the walls of Iziz.^[1] He kept the deposed king Dendup in the Unifar Temple's garden, isolating from having any visitor.^[9]

Rebellion

In 20 BBY,^[2] while looking over his vast kingdom from his royal residence,^[14] Rash received words that his royal carriage was attacked^[9] - an attempt on his life.^[14] As result he ordered the commando droids to escort his predecessor to the throne. When Dendup arrived, he berated the former king, blaming him for the increase in activity by the Onderon rebels. He insisted that Dendup had to call off the attacks. Dendup retorted that Rash was dealing with the will of the people and it was up to the king to "embrace, bend, or break it," and Dendup could not as he was no longer the king. Rash reiterated that Dendup had to call off the attacks, or else, Dendup would atone with his life. Dendup responded that Rash had to end the attacks, by ending the droid occupation.^[9]

The same night the rebels made an attack on the city's power generator, disabling it for good. Without power, the droids were unable to recharge and would eventually be disabled one by one. With the darkness as their cover, the rebels were able to ambush battle droid patrols with ease. The rebels' actions made Rash even more distraught, and he demanded better troops from Count Dooku. The count, although displeased for the king's ability to not take care of the rebels, agreed to send more reinforcements, and also send a super tactical droid named Kalani to succeed where the king had failed.^[9]

As the Onderon rebels continued their strikes against the droids in the city, Rash prepared to act against them. Back in the palace, General Tandin identified Steela and Saw Gerrera as well as Lux Bonteri as the key members of the rebels. General Tandin suggested that the Royal Onderon Militia be allowed to handle the rebels, but Kalani refused, suspecting that the militia could have rebel sympathizers among them. Rash was getting more and more frustrated, and called Dendup again to his throne and ordered his predecessor to stop the attacks. Once again, Dendup denied that he had no part in the rebels' doings and said it was the will of the people that justified their actions. The King was done with the terrorist's acts and ordered Dendup's execution the next day, hoping it would break the rebels' morale and stop the attacks.^[9]

Downfall

The next day, Rash planned on publicly executing Dendup, along with Saw, who was captured attempting to rescue the deposed king. It was Rash's intention to demoralize the rebellion, as well as capture the rebels who attempt to rescue him. As soon as the rebels made their move, they were surrounded by droids and forced to surrender. But before Rash could proceed with the execution, Tandin and the military chose to rescue the rebels, having been convinced by Saw that Rash was not acting in Onderon's best interest. Tandin held Rash hostage, allowing Dendup, the rebels and his men to flee, even as Rash reminds the general that he'll be killed once he releases him. However, Jedi Ahsoka Tano emerged from the crowd and used the Force to knock down the droids, enabling Tandin and herself to escape. Rash's droids attempted pursuit, but the populace chose to impede them, openly declaring their support to the rebellion.^[15]

The rebels soon prepared for their final battle to take back the planet. Rash and Kalani sent a large force of battle droids and Heavy Missile Platform droid gunships to combat them. While the rebels were outnumbered, they seemed to have the upper hand, managing to destroy the gunships with rocket launchers. After this final skirmish, Dooku contacted Rash and Kalani. Rash quickly explained what had happened and that they would need even more help to defeat the rebels. Dooku coldly refused, not wanting another war to deal with. He commanded Kalani to call back all of the droid forces from the planet. As Rash angrily protested, Kalani shot the deluded king, killing him and ending^[3] his opportunistic reign.^[16]

Legacy

With the final death of Rash, the Confederacy droids retreated from Onderon, freeing the planet and having Ramsis Dendup reclaim his rightful place as the king.^[3]

Personality and traits

Far more decisive than Dendup,^[10] Sanjay Rash was a selfish and cruel leader, having made citizens riot and protest against his Separatist occupation in the planet.^[15] Rash was also arrogant, considering himself to be the true king of Onderon when he was really a puppet of the Confederacy.^[4] Regardless, he was so paranoid and afraid of losing his power that he believed Dendup was orchestrating the Onderon rebels despite being imprisoned and having no ability to communicate outside his confinement, ignoring Dendup's words that he was innocent and that the attacks were the will of the people, not his own, even as Rash demanded Dendup order the rebels to stand down.^[9]

Behind the scenes

King Sanjay Rash is voiced in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series by Kirk Thornton.^[9]

King Sanjay Rash's design heavly featured Roman influences, including a headband that suggested gilded laurel leaves at his temples.^[14]

Appearances

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "A War on Two Fronts" (First appearance) (In flashback(s))
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Front Runners"
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Soft War"
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Tipping Points"

Sources

Explore all of Wookieepedia's images for this article subject.

• "A War on Two Fronts" - The Clone Wars Episode Guide on StarWars.com (original link is obsolete) (First mentioned) (Indirect mention only)
• "Front Runners" – The Clone Wars Episode Guide on StarWars.com (original link is obsolete)
• "The Soft War" – The Clone Wars Episode Guide on StarWars.com (original link is obsolete)
• "Tipping Points" – The Clone Wars Episode Guide on StarWars.com (original link is obsolete)
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars Comic 6.46
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Episode Guide
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars Magazine 22
• dalgo in the Encyclopedia (original site is defunct) (Indirect mention only)
• General Kalani in the Encyclopedia (original site is defunct)
• General Tandin in the Encyclopedia (original site is defunct)
• King Ramsis Dendup in the Encyclopedia (original site is defunct)
• King Sanjay Rash in the Encyclopedia (original site is defunct)
• Mina Bonteri in the Encyclopedia (original site is defunct)
• Okalin in the Encyclopedia (original site is defunct)
• Onderon in the Encyclopedia (original site is defunct)
• Onderon rebels in the Encyclopedia (original site is defunct)
• ruping in the Encyclopedia (original site is defunct) (Indirect mention only)
• Saw Gerrera in the Encyclopedia (original site is defunct) (First identified as Sanjay Rash)
• Steela Gerrera in the Encyclopedia (original site is defunct) (Misspelled as "Sanjay Rush")
• The Official Star Wars Fact File Part 44

Notes and references

External links

• The Clone Wars (@TheCloneWars) on Twitter (post): "The King of Onderon has spoken. What is your take on the Onderon Rebels: Patriots or Traitors? #CloneWars" (backup link)