The Chiss Ascendancy (5,000 BBY - )

"The Chiss do not simply accept alien concepts without careful consideration.  We certainly do not submit to domination.  By anyone."

-Grand Admiral Thrawn

History
The Chiss Ascendancy, sometimes termed Chiss Space or the Chiss Empire by outsiders, is a portion of the galaxy just inside the Unknown Regions that was ruled by the Chiss.

The Chiss were governed by an oligarchy of extended Ruling Families from House Palace, located in the city of Csaplar. Each clan with the families was headed by leaders known as Aristocra who wore particular colors to indicate their clan and family loyalties. Standard and day-to-day decisions were made by a democratically elected parliamentary body from each of the 28 colonies.

The vast financial holdings of the Chiss kept their supply lines running and also provided them access to a number of independent shipyards which they used to keep their vessels on constant patrol. It was through such methods that the Chiss maintained a poacher base at the Etyyy hunting grounds on Kashyyk.

The military of the Chiss Ascendancy consisted of a well trained and well armed force which protected a number of advanced and orderly worlds within its sphere of influence. Chiss belief in rigid discipline was further seen within their armed forces and they made use of superior technology when required in order to hold enemy forces at bay. Ultimately, the Chiss saw themselves as a bastion of order in a sea of chaos in their home space in the Unknown Regions.

While their history was marked by nearly continual warfare and conquest of other worlds, the Chiss were generally not violent. They preferred to extend themselves only from a defensive posture, although they were exposed to threats in the Unknown Regions and Outer Rim, such as the Ssi-ruuk and the thread of the Vagaari (who fought three wars with the Chiss), the Yuuzhan Vong War, and the later Killik incursion.

The Chiss were very xenophobic, believing themselves to be superior to all others. Because of this, the Chiss were as isolationist as possible. They rarely engaged in trade with those ouside their borders. Despite their isolationism, Chiss goods, like charrics, could be found in Republic markets by 3,951 BBY.

When the Sith Empire returned in 3,681 BBY to fight the Republic once more during the Great Galactic War and the Cold War, the Chiss Ascendancy was the only actual ally of the Empire, unlike all the species that the Empire subjugated, and some Chiss were known to serve as Imperial Agents.