Tangletown

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"It's a sad little slum named for the Imperial governor who kicked everybody out of their homes in Tangletown, and other outlying communities. Typical. Those in power don't ask, they just take."
―Ezra Bridger, on Tarkintown[1]

Tangletown was a small, once-thriving farming community on the Outer Rim planet Lothal. It proudly referred to itself as the "Food Basket of Lothal" due to its production of fruits, spices, vegetables, and other flavors. In addition to agricultural importance, Tangletown also promoted itself as the "Relaxation Oasis of the Outer Rim," featuring a historic downtown that served as a tourist attraction.

During the Imperial Era, the Galactic Empire occupied Lothal and began mining its land for ore. Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin ordered the forced displacement of Tangletown's citizens, leading to the relocation of its residents and those of other outlying farming communities to a re-settlement camp that came to be derisively known as Tarkintown.

Description

"Visit our Historic Downtown. Relaxation Oasis of the Outer Rim."
―Tangletown tourism poster[1]

Tangletown was a small,[2] developed agricultural settlement on the Outer Rim planet Lothal with a strong connection to the planet's farming industry. The town was known for its production of fruits, spices,[1] vegetables,[3] and other flavors, earning it the moniker of the "Food Basket of Lothal." It boasted a historic downtown that locals encouraged tourists to visit, touting itself as the "Relaxation Oasis of the Outer Rim."[1] Beneath Tangletown were rich veins of ore that could be used for industrial purposes.[4]

History

"My research for the Mining Institute concluded that a rich vein of ore lay below these people's farms. I personally convinced the Grand Moff that mining would be worth the effort. At the time, I believed the Empire was a force for good, and would help lift Lothal out of poverty and obscurity."
―Ria Clarr, who felt personally responsible for the plight of Tarkintown[4]
Tangletown's residents were forcibly relocated to Lothal re-settlement camp 43, derisively nicknamed Tarkintown.

Tangletown's residents were forcibly relocated to Lothal re-settlement camp 43, derisively nicknamed Tarkintown.

Before the Galactic Empire occupied Lothal, Tangletown flourished as an agricultural center. Chef Strono Tuggs once visited Tangletown and sampled the Jogan Fruit Greens salad prepared by the locals.[5] The Empire's arrival changed everything, and the town became a target for Imperial expansion after the analyst Ria Clarr of the Imperial Mining Institute recommended to[4] Grand Moff[6] Wilhuff Tarkin[4]—Governor of the Outer Rim Territories[6]—that farming communities[1] with rich, underground ore deposits[4] like Tangletown[1] be mined for their resources.[4]

Under Tarkin's orders, the Empire forcibly relocated the citizens of Tangletown and nearby farming communities from their homes[1] and into what the Empire designated Lothal re-settlement camp 43.[4] The settlement became derisively known as Tarkintown, where the former citizens of Tangletown lived in impoverished conditions[6] as part of a growing refugee crisis on Lothal.[7] Ezra Bridger, a Lothalite orphan who became one of the rebels who began operating on Lothal in 5 BBY,[8] mentioned the forced relocation of Tangletown's citizens to Tarkintown in his journal, along with a town tourism poster promoting Tangletown's historic downtown,[1] published no earlier than the same year.[9]

In 4 BBY,[8] during the Siege of Lothal, the Empire burned Tarkintown to the ground as reprisal for rebel aid and activity in the area, leaving the citizens who survived the razing once again displaced as prisoners of the Empire.[10] Tuggs referenced his visit to Tangletown in his third cookbook, The Ultimate Cookbook,[5] which was published in 35 ABY.[11]

Inhabitants

"Greetings from Beautiful Tangletown."
―Tangletown tourism poster[4]

Tangletown was a farming community with a diverse, multi-species citizenry[2] that took pride in their town's agricultural success and cultural identity, encouraging visitors to make their way to the town. The citizens, who were mostly farmers,[12] cultivated a variety of crops, including fruits, vegetables, and spices, which contributed to Tangletown's reputation as the "Food Basket of Lothal."[1] The forced removal of Tangletown's citizens by Imperial forces devastated their way of life, forcing them into impoverished conditions in Tarkintown and severing them from the once-thriving community they had built.[6]

Behind the scenes

Tangletown was first indirectly mentioned in the first part of Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion,[6] the two-part premiere episode of the animated television series Star Wars Rebels, which premiered on September 26, 2014.[13] It was later identified in the book Rebel Journal by Ezra Bridger, written by Daniel Wallace[1] and released on October 21 of the same year.[14]

Appearances

This article has an associated index page with page numbers and/or timestamps.

Sources

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Rebel Journal by Ezra Bridger
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
  3. ↑ Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 SWInsider "Rebel Bluff" — Star Wars Insider 158 (reprinted in Star Wars Insider: The Fiction Collection Volume 2)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Star Wars: The Ultimate Cookbook
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion
  7. ↑ Nexus of Power
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Star Wars: Timelines
  9. ↑ Rebel Journal by Ezra Bridger establishes that Ezra Bridger's journal was completed following the events of Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion. As Star Wars: Timelines dates Spark of Rebellion to 5 BBY, the work must have been finished by no earlier than that year.
  10. ↑ Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal
  11. ↑ Star Wars: The Ultimate Cookbook establishes that the publishing of the in-universe The Ultimate Cookbook and the culinary tour that preceded it occurred following the publishing of The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook and prior to the destruction of Kijimi. It also establishes that The Ultimate Cookbook was published following the Festival of the Ancestors that occurred during that time period. Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook further establishes that The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook was published concurrently with the First Order's search for the Resistance base on Batuu, which Star Wars: Timelines dates to 34 ABY. In addition, Timelines dates the Festival of the Ancestors and the destruction of Kijimi to 35 ABY, meaning the tour must have taken place between 34 ABY and 35 ABY and The Ultimate Cookbook must have been published in 35 ABY.
  12. ↑ Star Wars: Build the Millennium Falcon 25 Guide to the Galaxy: Visiting Lothal
  13. ↑ SWInsider "Star Wars Rebels Recounted" — Star Wars Insider 156
  14. ↑ Amazon-Favicon Star Wars Rebels: Rebel Journal by Ezra Bridger on Amazon.com (backup link)
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