General Armitage Hux, portrayed by actor Domhnall Gleeson in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and the subsequent sequels, stands out as one of the key figures in the rise of the First Order. His journey through the dark corridors of the galaxy highlights a mix of ambition, insecurity, and the drive to control everything he touches. A military leader and master of manipulation, General Hux played a pivotal role in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, contributing to the continued menace of the First Order.
Early Life and Rise in the First Order
Armitage Hux was born into the remnants of the Galactic Empire. His father, Brendol Hux, was a commandant in the Imperial military who helped shape the training methods of the future Imperial officers. Brendol’s ruthless attitude and obsession with the creation of a strong military force heavily influenced young Armitage. Under his father’s harsh and cold demeanor, Armitage grew up harboring deep resentment, yet, he absorbed the tactical mindset necessary to rise within the ranks.
Hux’s early years saw him developing a deep hatred for weakness. He believed that discipline, control, and technological superiority were key to maintaining order across the galaxy. His obsession with creating a stronger, more brutal military led him to eagerly join the First Order, an organization that would ultimately succeed the Galactic Empire. In the chaos after the Empire’s fall, the First Order grew in the shadows, and Hux’s ambitions aligned with its goals of galactic domination.
Hux’s Role in the First Order
As General, Hux became one of the most influential figures within the First Order, working alongside Supreme Leader Snoke and Kylo Ren. While Snoke wielded political power and Kylo Ren embodied the raw, volatile Dark Side of the Force, Hux represented the cold, calculating force of military might. He was responsible for overseeing the construction and operation of the First Order’s most devastating weapon, Starkiller Base.
Starkiller Base was not just a superweapon; it was Hux’s ultimate expression of control. Capable of destroying entire star systems, it was far more powerful than the Death Star. Hux believed this would ensure the First Order’s supremacy and bring the galaxy to its knees. His fanaticism and willingness to annihilate entire civilizations were evident in his speech before launching the base’s weapon against the New Republic. The destruction of the Hosnian system was a show of power, one Hux delivered with the arrogance of someone who believed he was shaping the galaxy’s destiny.
Conflict with Kylo Ren
Hux’s relationship with Kylo Ren was one of the more dynamic and contentious aspects of the First Order’s leadership. While both served Snoke, their mutual disdain for one another was clear. Kylo Ren, being a powerful Force-user and the heir to Darth Vader’s legacy, represented an unpredictable and dangerous force within the First Order. Hux, on the other hand, saw Kylo’s reliance on the Force as a weakness. He believed in the supremacy of technological might and the precision of military strategy over the chaotic, emotional power that Kylo wielded.
Their rivalry was further fueled by their competition for Snoke’s favor. While Hux considered himself the superior strategist and leader, Kylo’s ability to wield the Force often placed him in a higher position of power, which frustrated Hux. Their strained relationship came to a head after Snoke’s death when Kylo Ren took control of the First Order. Hux, ever the opportunist, initially tried to challenge Kylo’s authority but quickly realized that defying a Dark Side Force-wielder was a dangerous gamble.
The Fall of General Hux
After Kylo Ren’s rise to Supreme Leader, Hux’s position within the First Order became tenuous. Hux, while remaining a General, was sidelined as Kylo Ren increasingly relied on brute force and his connection to the Dark Side to maintain control. Feeling humiliated and underappreciated, Hux harbored a growing resentment against Kylo Ren. His ambitions had always been to control the galaxy, but now, under Kylo’s rule, those ambitions were fading.
This internal conflict led Hux to take drastic measures. In Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Hux revealed himself as a traitor to the First Order. However, his betrayal was not born out of loyalty to the Resistance but rather out of personal vengeance against Kylo Ren. As he famously stated, “I don’t care if you win. I need Kylo Ren to lose.” Hux’s desire to see Kylo fail became more important than his loyalty to the First Order or his personal ambition to rule.
Ultimately, Hux’s betrayal was short-lived. His treachery was discovered, and he was executed by Allegiant General Pryde, another military leader in the First Order, who saw Hux as a weak link in the chain. In this moment, Hux’s ambition, paranoia, and obsession with control led to his downfall, leaving him a symbol of the internal divisions that ultimately weakened the First Order from within.
Legacy of General Hux
Though General Hux met his end before seeing the defeat of the First Order, his impact on the galaxy’s military and political landscape cannot be understated. As the architect behind Starkiller Base and one of the central figures of the First Order’s rise to power, Hux played a key role in shaping the fate of the galaxy. His belief in military might and order over all else represented a new generation of leadership within the remnants of the Galactic Empire, one that was more brutal and calculated than ever before.
In the years after his death, Hux remains a symbol of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the pursuit of power at all costs. His rivalry with Kylo Ren, his cold-blooded leadership style, and his willingness to betray his own side underscore the complexities of leadership within the First Order. His rise and fall serve as a reminder that power, when sought for personal gain without any greater purpose, can lead to a swift and brutal end.
