Poggle the Lesser

Poggle the Lesser was the Archduke of Geonosis before and during the Clone Wars, and was a leading member of the Separatist Council.

As planetary leader of the Geonosians and a member of the Techno Union, Poggle controlled the vast droid factories found on his planet.

Poggle wielded the Staff of Command, which was the symbol of his office.[3] Made of bone allegedly taken from a conquered adversary, it also served as a walking stick and, due to its sharp point, a weapon if the Geonosian ruler ever felt the need to motivate or punish those around him. He was clothed in ornate and aristocratic garments that reflected his position, wealth, and power. For similar reasons, Poggle also wore jewels as well as chain-like visgura thread. His chosen emblem of rank was arachnid-inspired, crafted from the egg cases of an extinct giant cave spider.

Poggle the Lesser was Human-sized and insectoid like all Geonosians, but his frame was slightly larger than his servants and he had a set of fleshy, beard-like tendrils growing around his mouth as well as a prominent head-crest. At full height, Poggle stood almost as tall as Count Dooku. As a member of the worker caste, Poggle most likely looked like an average Geonosian when he was younger; it was believed that his current physique was normal for a Geonosian of advanced age, and few outside the higher castes likely ever lived that long. He carried with him a command staff which was rumored to be made from the bones of a murdered political rival—possibly a grim trophy from the execution of Hadiss the Vaulted.

Poggle the Lesser was described as "analytical and pitiless, but also pragmatic… reasonable" (in comparison to "monster" General Grievous). Among the Separatist Council, Poggle was the only member to be an actual head of state and military, giving him some insight into military strategy. Weaponry was one of Geonosis's primary trades and its production increased dramatically during Poggle's reign.

Poggle the Lesser, like Nute Gunray, was aware of the existence of Darth Sidious, but like Jango Fett, he also knew that Count Dooku was Darth Tyranus. What Poggle didn't know, however, was the true identity of Lord Sidious or that the very clones used to attack him were commissioned by Sidious and Tyranus. Though not the most intelligent or diplomatically-versed being, it is notable that the Sith placed a great deal of trust in him, and that he and Count Dooku respected each other mutually (Dooku's solar sailer was a gift from Poggle), even if he was, for the most part, unaware of their true intentions. It is especially surprising in light of Dooku's Speciesist attitudes.

Geonosians were a winged, semi-insectoid species native to the planet Geonosis that created nests in large, spire-like colonies on their homeworld. The Geonosians would fight on the side of the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars, defending their planet on multiple occasions.

The First Battle of Geonosis, also referred to as the Battle of Geonosis or the Battle on Geonosis, was the first major battle fought in 22 BBY between the Confederacy of Independent Systems and the Galactic Republic on Geonosis, marking the beginning of the three-year Clone Wars. It would be the first major combat of the Grand Army of the Republic, as well as the first major battle the Jedi had fought in years. The battle also caused the death of the notorious bounty hunter Jango Fett and the discovery of Count Dooku's dark side allegiance.