Emperor Palpatine is the foremost villain in Star Wars. He was introduced in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) as the Emperor, an aged, cowled, and pale-faced figure who walks with a cane. Palpatine appears in the prequel trilogy as a middle-aged politician in the Galactic Republic who rises to power through deception and treachery. The character is featured in the animated miniseries Star Wars: Clone Wars and in Star Wars literature.