The title of the entry is exactly what I am going to write about. The last Supreme Chancellor. Now, you may be thinking "No! Please, no! We've had quite enough blogs on the Emperor to be getting on with. Don't do this to us."

Don't worry. I feel your pain. No offense to all those writing up excellent theory's on Palpatine's first name, his past, his face, his lies. I do enjoy reading them, but their number is growing rather large. So don't be mad at me for saying I hope to halt their streak. Would a change in topic not be nice? Agreed?


Which means this will be an entry on-Finis Valorum.
Actually, my next several entries will be on Valorum. This one is simply the first of a three-part series. I'm hoping it will start an overflowing quantity of Valorum related articles. Then, when we get sick of those, we can go back to Palpatine! Perhaps a complete cycle can be made...
Anyhoo.

To begin, I will establish who Valorum is (or at least who I find him to be.)
Let's take a look at some content fromValorum's Databnk entry. The opening line begins:

One of the last Supreme Chancellors to hold that office before the Galactic Republic crumbled to make way for an oppressive Empire

I must disagree with how the Databank words this. While it may be correct in the fact that he was one of the last chancellors, can it not simply be said that he was the last? Can Palpatine be counted as a Supreme Chancellor? Well...yes. So I lose my argument there But, can Palpatine be counted as a Supreme Chancellor before the Galactic Republic crumbled? No. (yea, I win!) In my eyes, the moment Palpatine was voted into office, the Republic began to fall to pieces. Valorum rightly was the last to hold the post of Chancellor. Moving on.

Now, why was Valorum voted out of office. Because Palpatine wanted him to be? Partly. Remember, though Padme may have been young during the Battle of Naboo, she wasn't stupid. As she herself said about Valorum "He's been one of our strongest supporters." She obviously didn't want to call for a Vote of No Confidence. However, as worded in the databank-She [Padme] singled out Valorum specifically, on the advice of Palpatine, for his inability to take decisive action. She trusted what Palpatine said, but would she have if she hadn't realized it was true?

Valorum didn't take decisive action.

Twice in the databank it states Valorum went by bureaucratic procedures. It was because of this that he wouldn't help Naboo by doing anything more then sending ambassadors. Palpatine accused him of doing the right thing, and at the time, the right thing wasn't working for Padme. Padme, being imperfect, did what she thought would mover her closer to getting what she wanted. I'm not bashing Padme, but it's true.

Again, quoting the Databank-By the end of the session, Valorum was voted out of office, with no greater crime on his head than being bound by procedure and subjected to baseless accusations. Sad, isn't it? I remember seeing the scene when Valorum hears that he could be out of a job. He sees the Senate react to the Vote of No Confidence and slowly sits back down in his chair, shocked. Shocked at how his life was ruined for no real reason. It seems Palpatine's good at doing that to people. The ruining lifes part, and the shocking. If you know what I mean.

Since this entry is carrying on longer than I wanted it to, I'll go ahead with my final point.

Let's end with a look at Valorum's name. Finis Valorum.

Finis is a noun, meaning- The end; the conclusion/ the temporal end; the concluding time/ the concluding part of any performance.
Wow. That surprised me. While writing this, I had no idea what Finis meant. So who would have thought that it would work perfectly with my first point- Valorum was the "concluding part of the Republic's performance."

Valorum is not a real word. So I took the end out and got Valor.
Valor is a noun meaning- the qualities of a hero or heroine; exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger.

Not many would call Valorum brave. After all, he didn't take any drastic measure's in trying to save a planet under attack. I find him brave though. He didn't go down under the pressure of Padme and others pushing towards drastic actions. He followed the procedure that he knew he was supposed to follow.

Conclusion:

Finis Valorum was the last Chancellor before the fall of the Republic, was unfairly put out of a job, and was brave (even for a politician.)

My next entry will be about Valorum's history, and the concluding entry will be about what happened to him after Episode I.

As always,
MTFBWY

Merryman