Nute Gunray
Nute Gunray died in 19 BBY.
Nute Gunray is best remembered as the Trade Federation viceroy who blockaded and invaded Naboo, and whose greed made him a willing tool of Darth Sidious. He had already become viceroy when the Eriadu Conference emptied out the Federation's leadership, and with Sidious secretly behind him he took full control of the conglomerate. In 32 BBY he carried out the Sith Lord's plan: he blockaded Naboo, tried to kill the Jedi envoys Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, and occupied the planet to force Queen Amidala to sign a treaty. The crisis ended when Amidala captured him in her own throne room. He then went through four Supreme Court trials without being convicted, kept his wealth and his titles, and came out of it with a lasting grudge against Amidala. He put the Federation's droid armies behind Count Dooku's Separatists in exchange for her assassination, which failed. From Geonosis he watched the Clone Wars begin. During the war he schemed against Amidala on Rodia, was captured by the Republic, and escaped with Asajj Ventress's help. When Dooku and Grievous were dead, he fled with the Separatist Council to Mustafar expecting the peace Sidious had promised. Instead Darth Vader killed the whole council, and Gunray was the last to die, begging for his life. Imperial records later claimed he had taken his own life.
- Homeworld
- Neimoidia
- Species
- Neimoidian
- Force Sensitive
- No
34 BBY - Viceroy of the Trade Federation
Gunray has become Viceroy of the Trade Federation, with Darth Sidious quietly steering his rise.
33 BBY - Seizing control after Eriadu
The disastrous Eriadu Conference leaves a power vacuum at the top of the Federation. Gunray takes total control of the conglomerate, and Lott Dod takes its Senate seat.
32 BBY - Blockade of Naboo
After a trade-route taxation dispute, Gunray's fleet blockades Naboo from his flagship, the Saak'ak. On Sidious's orders he tries to kill the Jedi envoys Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
32 BBY - Occupation of Naboo
His droid army takes Theed and forces the population into camps. Gunray sits on Amidala's throne, holds Governor Sio Bibble prisoner, and keeps demanding that the queen sign his treaty.
32 BBY - Captured at the Battle of Naboo
Amidala tricks his droids with a decoy and takes Gunray and Rune Haako prisoner in the throne room. When the Droid Control Ship is destroyed, his army shuts down, and he is sent to Coruscant for trial.
32 BBY–28 BBY - Four Supreme Court trials
For four years expensive lawyers keep him out of trouble. The third trial ends in a hung jury and the fourth finds him not guilty, so he keeps his assets and titles. He blames Amidala and has the Federation spread rumors against her through the press.
24 BBY - Joining the Separatist movement
After Dooku's Raxus Address, Gunray allies with the new Confederacy of Independent Systems. His condition is that Senator Amidala be killed.
22 BBY - Plot against Amidala
Dooku hires Jango Fett and Zam Wesell to kill Amidala, and both attempts fail. On Geonosis, Gunray refuses to sign the Separatist treaty until he has her head on his desk.
22 BBY - First Battle of Geonosis
He watches the execution arena and the Jedi rescue, then flees as the clone army arrives. The Federation core ships are evacuated as the Clone Wars break out.
22 BBY - Mission on Nooroyo
Early in the war, Gunray goes to Nooroyo in person to negotiate a spice deal. Amidala and Anakin Skywalker are on the planet at the same time and have to leave in a hurry.
22 BBY - Trap on Rodia
He promises relief supplies to Rodia in return for Senator Onaconda Farr handing over Amidala. The plan backfires, and Gunray is captured by Republic forces.
22 BBY - Escape from the Tranquility
While he is being taken to Coruscant, the traitorous Senate Guard captain Faro Argyus and Asajj Ventress free him. He flees with Ventress, who then kills Argyus.
22 BBY - Bait on Vassek
A hologram of Gunray lures Kit Fisto and Nahdar Vebb into General Grievous's fortress, where Grievous is waiting for them.
~21 BBY - Lending the fleet to Cad Bane
On Sidious's orders, Gunray sends Federation warships to support Cad Bane at Devaron. He is furious when Bane loses ship after ship to the Republic.
19 BBY - Council on Utapau
After Dooku's death, Gunray openly challenges Grievous's ability to protect the Separatist Council. The council is then sent to Mustafar just before the Republic attacks Utapau.
19 BBY - Death on Mustafar
Sidious sends Darth Vader, supposedly to make peace. Vader kills the entire Separatist Council, and Gunray is the last to die, begging for his life. The Empire later records his death as a suicide and dissolves the Trade Federation.
~3 ABY - Remains found by Vader
Sidious leaves Vader stranded on Mustafar as punishment. There Vader finds Gunray's decaying body in the ruined Separatist complex and relives the massacre.