I suppose we may never know everything about Palpatine. If we did, it would ruin the mystery, but it certainly is fun to speculate. Was he really a native of Naboo? What lead him to a life of politics? When did he become a Sith apprentice and why did he turn to the Dark Side? Here are some of my own theories.

I seem to recall an issue of the Dark Horse comic "Republic" that described in a flashback how he ascended to the senatorial seat of Naboo after the mysterious death of his predecessor. Of course, Palpatine killed the old man to get the position, but where was he before that? Was he a Representative of Naboo? Did he hold a position on Naboo in a local capacity?

One of the big questions out there seems to be whether Palpatine was even born on Naboo or moved there later in order to manipulate the situation as he did so well. Presumably, if he had been raised there, he would have gone through the same student leadership program that Padmé did unless of course he didn't enter politics until later in life. And if he was so adept at the Force, the Jedi would have taken him for training at an early age since Naboo was well within the Republic for the Jedi to sense him (or however it is they seek out younglings). As a result, I am inclined to think he came to Naboo after he had trained as a Sith (whether this was before or after he killed Plagueis, I am not sure), and he erased and rewrote his past to blend into the political atmosphere there. The Sith specialized in working in the shadows and probably would not have found an apprentice in such a prominent place in the Republic before the Jedi.

Which brings me to my next topic. Many people have debated the question, "Who is Anakin's real father?" but the question I find more intriguing is this: Who is Palpatine's father? This is some sticky territory, but I'll make a bold suggestion. I think Palpatine's father was Darth Plagueis. It's a radical theory, I know, but it goes something like this. In the opera scene, Palpatine speaks of Plagueis being able to create life and "save those he loved from dying." Now, we all know Palps is a big fat liar, but within his labyrinthine tales is usually a kernel of truth. What if Plagueis had loved ones? Just because he's a Sith doesn't mean he can't love or even be married. Unlike Jedi, Sith are prone to succumb to their passions. Just look at Anakin. What if he had a wife and child that lead to his fall to the Dark Side? What if that child was Palpatine, and Plagueis raised him from birth to be his own apprentice? The Sith speak of their revenge against the Jedi. What if that revenge was something very personal for Plagueis and Sidious?

I only bring up this possibility because the Star Wars saga is a story of fathers and sons, surrogate fathers and adopted sons. If the Jedi Master-Padawan relationship can be equated to a parent and child relationship, could the Sith one-Master-one-Apprentice rule be the same? Think of how personal that would make everything. A Sith apprentice is almost destined to kill his master in order to become one. Perhaps Darth Sidious was able to kill Darth Plagueis in his sleep because Plagueis saw their relationship as Vader saw Luke in his hope to "rule the galaxy as father and son." Palpatine was clearly able to install himself into the seat of power after much manipulation. I think that was the Sith's plan all along, and for Palpatine, the time was right. Only, as a Sith, he was far too ambitious to let his father take all of the glory. He had be trained from birth for this task, and he took control. But that's just my theory.

Whoever Mr. & Mrs. Palpatine were, surely they must have given their son and future Emperor a first name. I could be wrong here. There might be some reference I'm missing, but from the time we meet him, Senator Palpatine is never addressed by his first name. Perhaps he doesn't have one. Yoda has a simple, singular name, but then we never get the name of his species. Generally, the humans in the Star Wars universe have a first and last name. Somewhere along the line, someone even gave Grand Moff Tarkin the name Wilhuff.

So, what's Palpatine's first name? What did his friends call him (I know he probably doesn't have any real "friends" but he was a kid once, I think)? Surely, he wasn't Palpy Palpatine, and I just don't see him having such a benign name as Bob or Billy. Maybe Eddie. Yeah, in the schoolyard Billy always got beat up by Eddie. I can see it now, Fast Eddie Palps. No, maybe not. Eddie was probably Darth Maul's given name. Or Vinny. And I'm not sure I see him having a WASPy sounding name like Chauncey or Weatherby.

Personally, I'm putting my money on Adolph. A close second might be Napoleon. Napoleon Palpatine has a certain ring to it. Or how about Tom Marvolo Palpatine (for you Harry Potter fans out there)? I'd throw in a Tolkein reference, but I think Sauron and Morgoth were singular names. Well, I'm out. Anyone else have any thoughts?