The Exarch Rhialto emerged as the political leader of New Tibannopolis, a cloud city in the Life Zone of the gas giant Bespin, as the Imperial Republic continued its decline. One of the more viable Successor States, New Tibannopolis brought stability and prosperity to the lower Hydian Exarchates. Already a master shipbuilder, Rhialto had proven himself as a good technical administrator on Raxus Prime. As he originally hailed from Taloraan, another tibanna-producing gas giant, New Tibannopolis was a natural match for Rhialto.