The rise and fall of General Armitage Hux is a story of ambition, deception, and ultimate betrayal. Played by Domhnall Gleeson, this high-ranking officer of the First Order dedicated everything to its cause. From childhood indoctrination to commanding Starkiller Base, the General Hux journey is marked by ruthless determination. But beneath the loyalty, personal ambition and resentment festered, leading to an unexpected betrayal.
A Childhood Forged in Cruelty
Born during the final years of the Galactic Civil War, Armitage Hux was the son of Brendol Hux, an officer in the Galactic Empire. Unlike those who lived under the rule of the Empire, Armitage never knew peace—only war, discipline, and expectation. Brendol, a firm believer in the Empire’s superiority, raised his son with the belief that weakness was intolerable.
The elder Hux saw the fall of the Empire as a failure of leadership, not ideology. He took part in the Empire’s retreat into the Unknown Regions, where remnants of the Imperial forces began forming what would become the First Order. Armitage, growing up among these remnants, was indoctrinated with a vision of revenge. The Rebel Alliance, now the New Republic, was an enemy that had to be eradicated.
Brendol’s strict nature turned into cruelty. Armitage endured verbal and physical abuse from his father, reinforcing a deep sense of inferiority and resentment. However, weakness was not an option. Armitage learned to suppress emotions, using intelligence and cunning to survive. Unlike Imperial officers who climbed the ranks through battlefield experience, this young strategist relied on manipulation and political maneuvering.
The Creation of the First Order’s Stormtrooper Program
After the death of Emperor Palpatine, Imperial officers in exile knew that traditional conscription methods were unreliable. The failures of stormtroopers in battle had proven that soldiers with free will could not always be trusted. Armitage Hux, now rising in influence, proposed a radical alternative—child soldiers raised from birth to be completely loyal.
Under his leadership, the First Order abandoned the use of recruits in favor of abducting children and training them as soldiers. This method ensured total obedience. Unlike clone troopers, who had been genetically modified for loyalty, these new stormtroopers had no memory of life outside the First Order. The new program created an army that was ruthless, efficient, and unquestioning.
Rivalry with Kylo Ren and the Pursuit of Power
The emergence of Kylo Ren created an immediate power struggle. While both served Supreme Leader Snoke, their rivalry was clear from the beginning. One was a master of the dark side, chosen to lead the First Order into battle. The other was a strategist who relied on technology, military command, and political influence.
Despite their differences, both men shared a common trait—arrogance. Kylo Ren saw Hux as a weak and pathetic leader, unworthy of ruling a force as powerful as the First Order. Hux viewed Kylo Ren as reckless, emotional, and unfit to lead. Each sought the Supreme Leader’s favor, but Snoke encouraged the conflict, knowing that their competition would push them to greater extremes.
The Destruction of Starkiller Base
The General Hux journey reached a turning point with the construction of Starkiller Base. This superweapon, far more powerful than the Death Star, could destroy entire star systems in a single attack. Hux, standing before legions of stormtroopers, delivered a fiery speech promising the end of the New Republic. The first attack wiped out Hosnian Prime, the heart of the Republic’s government.
However, the Resistance struck back. Led by General Leia Organa, the Resistance launched a desperate assault on Starkiller Base. Poe Dameron, Finn, and Han Solo infiltrated the base, disabling its shields and leaving it vulnerable. Despite Hux’s confidence, the Resistance’s attack overwhelmed the First Order’s defenses. Kylo Ren, engaged in a duel with Rey and Finn, was left wounded and defeated.
With the base collapsing, Hux retrieved Kylo Ren and fled before the explosion consumed the planet. The loss of Starkiller Base was a devastating blow, but Hux remained determined to crush the Resistance.
Supreme Leader Snoke and the Hunt for the Resistance
After Starkiller Base’s destruction, Hux led the pursuit of the Resistance fleet. The First Order tracked them to D’Qar, forcing the Resistance to flee. A slow chase followed, with the Resistance running low on fuel and hope. Hux, eager to prove himself, launched relentless attacks. However, the arrival of Vice Admiral Holdo changed the battle. The Raddus, the Resistance’s flagship, executed a hyperspace jump directly into the First Order fleet, destroying multiple warships.
The battle left the First Order shaken, but Snoke remained focused on his ultimate goal—Kylo Ren. While Hux commanded the fleet, Snoke manipulated Kylo Ren into embracing his anger. This led to a final betrayal. Kylo Ren turned against his master, using the Force to kill Snoke aboard the Supremacy.
Hux, arriving to see Snoke’s lifeless body, realized what had happened. For a moment, an opportunity to seize power existed. But Kylo Ren’s strength was undeniable. Hux had no choice but to swear loyalty to the new Supreme Leader.
The Spy Within the First Order
With Kylo Ren now in control, Hux’s ambitions collapsed. No longer in a position of influence, resentment grew. Every order given by the Supreme Leader was an insult, a reminder of failure. Hux did not believe in the Resistance, but aiding them became the only way to undermine Kylo Ren.
Secretly, intelligence was passed to the Resistance. Strategic weaknesses, fleet positions, and battle plans—all leaked to the enemy. The intent was not to see the Resistance win but to see Kylo Ren lose. If the Supreme Leader fell, a power vacuum could allow Hux to reclaim control.
The Execution of a Traitor
The betrayal did not go unnoticed. Allegiant General Pryde, a more loyal and ruthless officer, discovered the truth. Once the information leaked, there was no escape. Hux attempted to justify the actions, claiming to act for the good of the First Order. But in the eyes of the leadership, treason had only one punishment.
Without hesitation, Pryde executed Hux with a blaster shot. The rise to power, the years of loyalty, and the dreams of ruling the First Order—all ended in an instant. A lifetime of ambition led to nothing.
Legacy of General Hux
Despite the downfall, the impact of General Hux remained. The stormtrooper program, one of the most feared elements of the First Order, continued to shape warfare. The obsession with discipline and order influenced the First Order’s strategies, even after Hux was gone.
The rivalry with Kylo Ren ultimately weakened the First Order. Infighting, betrayals, and personal ambitions fractured the organization from within. By the time the Final Order emerged under Emperor Palpatine, the First Order was already crumbling.
Hux’s name faded into history, remembered not as a conqueror, but as a man consumed by resentment. A lifetime of service to the First Order ended with betrayal, proving that the greatest enemies often come from within.
