How much did Tarkin know?

Did Tarkin know that Palpatine was, if not Darth Sidious, then at least had the goal of overthrowing the Republic and becoming dictator? Consider:

1) In Cloak of Deception, there is a very clear implication that Lt.-Gov. Tarkin was privy to Senator Palpatine's plot to murder the Trade Federation delegates of the Eriadu summit, and it is stated in no uncertain terms that he helped cover up Valorum's subsequent investigation (again, presumably knowing that it was Palpatine who did it). It's stated that they've been on speaking terms with each other for some time before this.

2) And then in Rogue Planet, Tarkin talks with Palpatine about the need for greater control of the Republic through force, and knows that Palpatine has the plans for the 'great weapon.' It is also around this time (can't remember if before or after) that Tarkin is made full governor of the Seswenna Sector by Palpatine.

3) Just before the start of the Clone Wars, the Judicial Department is ordered (presumably by Palpatine) to send more military forces to Eriadu (where Tarkin was governor and his brother was Defense Minister). While this logically could be seen as defense in the case of hostilities against the Separatists, Palpatine might have also wanted to ensure that as much of the Republic's military as possible was under the command of those loyal to him, in the event Order 66 didn't go as planned.

4) ROTS seems to indicate that Tarkin was, if not in charge of, then at least a part of the Death Star project since its start (presumably 22 BBY). Since even the Jedi didn't know about the project, Dooku had just escaped from a planet of master engineers, and Tarkin would have been in a position to notice the differences/similarities between the new designs and Sienar's old ones, he might have known something was up.

5) Most importantly, Tarkin was just as ambitious as Palpatine. As such, while Palpatine didn't trust him in everything, it could probably be assumed that he could have trusted him to help in his plot to replace the Republic.

However, I realize that none of the above is really proof of anything more than the fct that they had similar views, were as close as people like them could be, and that Tarkin was willing to give a helping hand in making Palpatine chancellor.

 

I imagine that Tarkin (like Dorianna) served both Palpatine AND Sidious. Tarkin probably knew that Palpatine was a like-minded individual, but it is also hinted that Tarkin knew the days of the Jedi were numbered too, which means that he knew Sidious too. I imagine that by the end of ROTS he has put two and two together.

 

I agree...he had to put two and two together eventually

 

Interesting...where is this from?

 

"Humans are the future"...

Yep, Tarkin knows. Tarkin is probably already involved in high-level planning...

- The Imperial Ewok

 

My impression has always been that Palpatine had two networks -- as Palpy, subordinates who knew he was a significantly dirtier and more corrupt politician than he appeared publicly, and as Sidious, pawns of the Sith. Sometimes the two groups overlapped, sometimes they didn't. I don't think Tarkin overlapped. He was something of a hardcore authoritarian, but he was all about making the Empire. He really has no need to be involved in anything Sithly, as the Sith persona seems to have been reserved for the Separatists.

 

Except that Doriana was one of Palpatine's most trusted servants and he also served Sidious. I think (I HOPE) that we'll see Palpatine's machinations to gain power fleshed out now that ROTS is out and author's aren't forced to PRETEND they don't know that Palpatine is Sidious.

 

That's pretty much what Cloak of Deception did. And it's obvious from reading it that Luceno knew that Sidious was Palpatine.