Emperor Vader

He would have probably lasted about 5 yrs before being over throne. The man's spirit was broken for many years under Sidious thumb so he wouldn't have been any better.

 

Now that's a worthy successor although he would have preferred being called #GrandEmperorThrawn.

 

Padme holos everywhere!

 

I think he'd be fine- not good, by any means, but not significantly worse than the Emperor, if that's your standard.

Remember, Palpatine didn't always do a ton of governing. He really just sort of acted as a dictator when he wanted, and left the dry governing stuff to his bureaucrats. Vader could pretty easily do the same thing.

 

I feel like Emperor Vader would be far more involved in direct fighting than the Emperor was. There are so many times where he either goes with his troops into the fray or, in cases like Rogue One, goes on the mission mainly by himself. I don't think that would change if he became the ruler of the galaxy, and in some ways, that might make him scarier than the Emperor.

 

He would rule it just like he said he would in AOTC and ROTS and would actually probably have no need to be a Sith Lord anymore, unify the galaxy, still keep everything equal, and use his son to start a new Jedi order of which Vader is the head of or one of those force cults

 

Palpatine had the illusion of legitimacy. He was elected. He was granted powers. Vader on the other hand its unclear his position. He was an agent, he was given control of the 501st. Even if his desire was to rule I don't think things would have fallen into his lap.

 

Although Vader would have lacked most of the cunning that Siduous displayed, if this turn of events had proceeded I think the galaxy would have been ruled more so by fear and brute force rather than brainwashing and manipulation. Vader's vision had always been of an authoritarian government where people are "made to" agree with the high majority rule as once forshadowed by naive Anakin in Episode 2. Vader's perspectives might have been more established as a dictatorship, abolishing the use of politics altogether and ruling the galaxy with an iron fist of force rather than manipulation.
If Vader ruled the galaxy, I would envision him forcing all species that had once practiced slavery, to in turn be made into slaves THEMSELVES as a vengeful act due to his mother's death, becoming the very thing he swore to destroy.
I could also see his first act as Emporer being the immediate destruction of all planets that have sand on it, haha.

 

I don't know if it would have worked out. It always seemed to me that most people who mattered in the Empire (besides the Emperor) didn't care for Vader. Palpatine had many people fooled but Vader never pretended to be anything but what he was. And what he was ticked a lot of people off. I don't think many people would willingly follow Vader and fear can only get you so far.

 

The Emperors's hand is all Vader was... sort of like what Mara Jade was to Vader or StarKiller.

 

Great point for sure. but if it was a quiet death who knows what would have happened. We know from the aftermath trilogy that after the events at end of Jedi people weren't 100% that the emperor was actually dead. Vader could easily have persuaded the admirals and other higher ups in the imperial ranks that the emperor was still alive but after such a close call would not be accessible anymore. Therefore he would be the defacto ruler, while the galaxy still believes Palpatine is controlling his strings. At least until a time when the transition of power could be handled in a smooth manner - people start respecting and following Vader directly.

And the galaxy is a different place than it was during the old republic. As there is no longer a senate anymore it wouldn't be that hard to keep this kind of thing a secret, and even if it did become public knowledge, Vader is definitely the most powerful imperial. Anyone wishing to take charge would have to go through him.

So it may just have fallen in his lap...

As for his prowess as a ruler, Although he is controlled mostly by his emotions he still has an incredible amount of political and military experience. he's nowhere near the strategist that Palpatine was BUT not even Thrawn can claim that. I think he would rule with tyranny and fear and have a successful go at it.

 

I think the last poster hit the nail on the head. I feel Vader would play everyone by feeding them disinfo about Palps still being alive, but all communications to the Emperor must go through him. The higher-ups of the Empire may not have cared for Vader, but I wouldn't be too concerned with that considering how much the troops that actually fought the battles respected and admired Lord Vader. Any politician who slandered his name could be easily dealt with, either by Vader himself or loyal troopers. He would surely rule with an iron fist, as he alluded to in the prequels, but some times order by force is necessary...at least for a little while. I believe he'd have a rather successful reign as Emperor. He's a great tactician when it comes to military matters, so almost any war the Empire fights under his rule would most likely be won. He doesn't really care for politics or politicians, but I think that might actually be a good thing. Dark Side users are known for deceit and lies, but Vader wasn't really like that. He did lie when he had to or when it benefited him, but more often than not he was a straight shooter. I think that a lot of the Republic would come to respect that. Even if they didn't always like what he said or what he did. I know I would much rather have a leader who's going to give me a truth that I don't like than one who feeds me lines that I only want to hear. The only real question to me is, assuming he turns Luke and makes him his apprentice: how long until he's dethroned? Or if he doesn't turn Luke, say he is forced to kill Luke after saving him from Sidious...who would become the apprentice then? Or would Vader be the last Sith?

 

I'm actually surprised no one has mentioned Palpatine's various contingency plans in place for the event of his death. The abolishment of his empire would most likely still stand in the event of Vader's betrayal. The way of the Sith is never to hand their apprentice everything on a silver platter after all.

This would have been the Emperor's final test; prove that you can build something greater than him. This would most likely lead to an Imperial civil war, how many would follow Sheev's posthumous orders from his sentinel droids, and how many would support its enforcer?

Essentially a crisis of faith: did the people support the Empire, or its "charismatic" leader?

 

If Vader was emperor, alot of thumb down force chokes would happen. Hail Vader.