Grand iral Thrawn appears to be poised to become the next major villain in the Force powers like Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, he made up for it with sheer military genius. Thrawn was a particularly challenging adversary to the Star Wars original trilogy heroes, but he was not unbeatable.

Thrawn was one of the most iconic characters to originate in the Star Wars Legends continuity, so it was not surprising when, after Legends ceased to be the official Star Wars timeline and was redesignated an alternate continuity, Thrawn gained a counterpart in the modern canon. While the newer canon’s Thrawn is extremely similar to his original incarnation, there are notable differences, particularly when it comes to their respective personalities and backstories. Grand iral Thrawn’s original defeat, for instance, will have to be different in the modern canon, yet it could still perhaps involve Princess Leia playing a key role.

Leia Played A Key Role In Thrawn's Defeat In Legends

In the Legends continuity, the Galactic Empire took advantage of the Noghri species, whose homeworld of Honoghr was poisoned and polluted by a Separatist bioweapon during the Clone Wars. Darth Vader lied to the Noghri, offering aid from the Empire in exchange for Noghri warriors to serve him while secretly perpetuating the devastation of Honoghr to maintain a steady supply of Noghri Death Commandos. Grand iral Thrawn continued this horrible ruse after the death of Vader and the fracturing of the Empire, with Thrawn employing the Noghri known as Rukh as his assassin and bodyguard.

Princess Leia discovered the truth of Vader and Thrawn’s deception while visiting Honoghr during the Thrawn campaign and revealed her findings to the Noghri. This led to a revolution, with the Noghri severing their ties with the Empire’s warlords – specifically Thrawn’s faction – and ing the New Republic. Rukh turned on Thrawn and assassinated him during the Battle of Bilbringi, helping the New Republic win the Thrawn campaign.

The tragic Clone Wars-era history of Honoghr is shown in issue 68 of the Star Wars: Republic comics, by John Ostrander and Jan Duursema.

Star Wars Canon Thrawn Saga Is Set At The Peak Of Leia's Influence

Thrawn and the rest of the Empire’s history with the Noghri – as well as the species’ Clone Wars-era history – is currently unknown in the modern Star Wars canon, yet Rukh is in the newer timeline, serving the same role for Thrawn as he did in the Legends continuity. Rukh dies in Star Wars Rebels, however, making it impossible for the modern canon to replicate Thrawn’s original death. Despite this, a forthcoming Star Wars property can – and perhaps should – have Princess Leia nevertheless play a major role in Thrawn’s ultimate defeat in the modern canon.