The Trade Federation was a powerful megacorporation of the Republic founded in 350 BBY in Neimoidia. The commerce-savvy Neimoidians became the leaders of the Trade Federation, and they possessed a powerful private army of battle droids and a fleet of Trade Federation cruisers and Lucrehulk-class battleships. Led by Nute Gunray, the Trade Federation was aggressive, invading the planet of Naboo and fighting the Republic in the Clone Wars at the head of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. In 19 BBY, the last separatist leaders were killed, and the conglomerate was nationalized by the Galactic Empire.
Biography[]
Nute Gunray
The Trade Federation was based on the planet of Neimoidia, and they were founded in 350 BBY. As a megacorporation, it had immense financial power, and the Trade Federation had its own starfleet and droid forces. With a large army of battle droids, AAT tanks, and STAP aerial platforms and a large fleet of Trade Federation cruisers and Lucrehulk-class battleships, the conglomerate spread across the galaxy. Several thousand planets and systems allied with the Trade Federation to capitalize off of its power, and the Trade Federation made it a point to subdue all systems not willing to deal with them. Their 32 BBY invasion of Naboo failed, but the ensuing Separatist Crisis over the next ten years saw the Trade Federation continue to grow in power, invading Kashyyyk to destroy the Wookiee Trade Guild.
In 22 BBY, the Trade Federation made a daring move when they allied with Count Dooku of the Sith Order and several other conglomerates such as the Banking Clan, the Corporate Alliance, Retail Caucus, and the Commerce Guild. Millions of battle droids were built on Geonosis by the Trade Federation, and the droid army fought in several battles against the Grand Army of the Republic, consisting of clone troopers bred on Kamino. In 19 BBY, the Trade Federation was defeated when Nute Gunray and the rest of the leadership was massacred on Mustafar by Anakin Skywalker, and the Federation was nationalized by the Galactic Empire.