Great Jedi Purge

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Great Jedi Purge
Part of the end of the Clone Wars and the beginning of the Galactic Civil War

Darth Vader's March on the Jedi Temple signalled the beginning of the Great Jedi Purge.
Date 19 - c. 1 BBY
Location Throughout the galaxy
Result Imperial victory; destruction of the Jedi Order

The Great Jedi Purge was the near-destruction of the Jedi by the Sith-led Galactic Empire in the fictional Star Wars universe. This conflict was first documented in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Contents

[edit] The Fall of the Jedi

Ki-Adi-Mundi moments before he is killed
Enlarge
Ki-Adi-Mundi moments before he is killed

The Purge began shortly before the end of the Clone Wars, which had really been from their conception only part of a grand scheme by Darth Sidious to eliminate the Jedi once and for all and establish himself as the Emperor of the galaxy

Apparently at some point between Episodes II and III, members of the Jedi council began to suspect Chancellor Palpatine was tied somehow to Sidious and Count Dooku's Separatist army. Though they were not sure what his goals were, their collective intuition told them something was wrong. Jedi Master Mace Windu stated openly to other Jedi that he no longer trusted the Chancellor; Obi-Wan Kenobi expressed similar misgivings.

Shortly after the Battle of Coruscant, Anakin Skywalker, the "Chosen One" of Jedi prophecy, found out that Palpatine was Darth Sidious and revealed this information to Windu, who then led a small team of fellow Jedi Masters to apprehend Sidious. This team consisted of Windu, Agen Kolar, Kit Fisto, and Saesee Tiin. In the ensuing duel, Sidious quickly dispatched all but Mace Windu. Just as Windu was about to execute Palpatine, however, Anakin suddenly entered the room while pleading for the Chancellor's life; Palpatine had manipulated the young Jedi's impatient desire for power and his fear for the safety of his pregnant wife, Padmé Amidala, and had convinced him that embracing the dark side of the Force was the only way to save her and reach his full potential in the Force. As Windu was about to strike the Chancellor down, Anakin severed his hand, leaving him open for Sidious to finish him off with a torrent of Force lightning.

Darth Sidious gave Anakin the Sith name Darth Vader, and told him that all of the Jedi must be destroyed. Darth Vader agreed that the Jedi were orchestrating a move to kill the members of the senate, just in time when enough evidence was surfacing about the Jedi plot to overthrow the Republic. He sent his new apprentice to the Jedi Temple along with the 501st Clone Trooper Legion to kill all of the Jedi there. Palpatine said that if Vader carries out his commands, he will be strong enough in the dark side to save Padmé, and so Vader complies. While the newly turned Dark Lord is completing this task, Palpatine instructs the clone troopers to fire on and kill their Jedi generals by carring out Order 66. This order has been secretly endorsed to the clone commanders, who then follow its mandate to kill those Jedi who are leading them.

Among the most notable Jedi killed at the very beginning of the purge were Ki-Adi-Mundi, Aayla Secura, Barriss Offee, Erik Sviokla, Luminara Unduli, Plo Koon, Stass Allie, and Traavis. At least one clone team openly refused to kill the Jedi they had become so accustomed to serving. Some had built such a rapport with the Jedi that they could not bring themselves to kill them, while others suspected that it was a Separatist plot. Roan Shryne is an example of a Jedi who survived the purge because of clone insubordination. His story, along with his eventual death at Vader's hands, is described in the novel Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader.

Returning to Coruscant, Masters Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi entered the Temple long enough to re-encode a secret retreat signal being broadcast by the in-house communications ordering all Jedi to return to the Jedi Temple, deciding to warn all surviving Jedi about the treachery and to take precautions. During the special senate session, Palpatine declared himself emperor, and formally ordered the reorganization of the Republic into the Empire.

Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda set about to end the Sith rule before it could strengthen. Kenobi confronted Darth Vader on the fiery Separatist world of Mustafar, while Yoda faced Darth Sidious in the Galactic Senate. Though Yoda was able to counter at least most of Sidious's attacks, an energy blast erupted while Yoda was effectively countering force lightning from Sidious, Yoda was blown away from Sidious and into the lower levels of the Galactic Senate, forcing Yoda to retreat and face defeat in the Senate building. Kenobi was victorious in his fight, and Vader was terribly wounded. However, he survived with a life-sustaining mechanical suit. With this new physical identity, Vader was given a new task: to hunt down and kill the remaining Jedi scattered throughout the galaxy. Palpatine thought this would cement Darth Vader's identity and ensure that he was fully entrenched in the dark side of the Force. Vader traveled from system to system, hunting down and destroying the Jedi until they were all extinct. Kenobi and Yoda are the only Jedi known to have survived until the second trilogy.

[edit] Survivors

Both Yoda and Kenobi survived the initial purge and were picked up by Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan, who had secretly remained loyal to the Jedi, aboard his diplomatic cruiser Tantive IV.

Realizing they were in no position to oppose the Empire for now, Kenobi and Yoda decided to go into hiding. Additionally, they decided that Luke and Leia, the children of Anakin and Padmé, who had died giving birth to them, would need to be raised separately and in hiding with the hope that they could help fight the Empire in the future. Bail Organa volunteered to adopt Leia with his wife on Alderaan. By Yoda's decision, Luke would be raised by Anakin's stepbrother, Owen Lars on Tatooine, while Kenobi watched over him from a distance. Yoda chose exile on the planet Dagobah.

[edit] Expanded Universe

The Expanded Universe series of books indicates that other Jedi also survived the Purge, though few of these Jedi lived to see the fall of the Empire.

According to the The Hand of Thrawn Duology, Palpatine began killing Jedi before the Great Jedi Purge occurred. Shortly after the Battle of Naboo, the Jedi Council approved the "Outbound Flight Project". A group of Jedi masters would travel to the edge of the galaxy and attempt to use the Force to punch through the hyperspace turbulence surrounding the galaxy, thereby allowing them to attempt contact with life in other galaxies.

The ship was intercepted on Palpatine's command and all hope of contacting life outside the galaxy stopped. It is known that the Chiss who would become Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn was involved in the interception of this ship. It is possible that, had the mission been a success, the Republic would have had early warning of the approaching Yuuzhan Vong. Timothy Zahn has two new novels, Survivor's Quest and Outbound Flight, to further elaborate the Outbound Flight Project.

One of those Jedi Masters killed by Thrawn was Jorus C'Baoth. His clone, which served the Empire, was subject to fits of insanity and eventually betrayed Admiral Thrawn in the Heir to the Empire series.

X-Wing Rogue Squadron pilot Corran Horn discovered a museum chronicling members of the Jedi Order whom Palpatine had killed, filled with destroyed statues of former Jedi on Coruscant. It is generally assumed to have been a personal goal for Palpatine to celebrate the success of the purge.

In the strategy game Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds, after crashlanding on the planet of Krant, Princess Leia Organa and C-3PO, along with a small group of rebels, discover a Jedi who survived the purge, Echuu Shen-Jon. He helped them win many victories on Krant, then traveled with them to the Geddes asteroids to reclaim a Jedi artifact. When they landed there, they were helped by a small army of Wookiees. In this mission, he was killed by Darth Vader, sacrificing himself so Leia and the other Rebels could escape.

In the expansion, it is learned that he stayed on Krant because after the battle on Geonosis, he lost his Padawan, Stam Reath, and tried to avenge him by following the killer, Sev'Rance Tann, to Krant. His Padawan for this mission was Naat Reath, Stam's sister. Naat was captured and Echuu attacked Sev'Rance and her droid army, overtaken by the dark side. Helping him in this was a small group of Wookiees, who were left on Krant when their leaders evacuated. He succeeded in killing the Dark Jedi, but at the cost of many clones and wookiees. After realizing that he let the dark side overtake him, he stayed on Krant in self-exile, narrowly avoiding the Great Jedi Purge, which he refers to as "the Jedi Massacre."

In the New Jedi Order Series, Vergere is revealed as a Jedi Knight from before the Empire. She was sent on a mission to investigate the living planet Zonama Sekot, where she encounters the Yuuzhan Vong. Considering them to be a threat that must be watched, Vergere convinces them to take her as an advisor and jester of sorts to their Warmaster, Tsavong Lah. The Great Jedi Purge takes place after she has left with the Vuuzhan Vong. Her connections to the Old Jedi Order prove important in the training of Jacen Solo and allow her to provide Luke Skywalker with a small view of the old order. Before she can finish completely instructing them, she dies protecting Jacen from Tsavong Lah's forces.

[edit] Legacy

At first glance, the Purge appears to have accomplished exactly what was intended—the total destruction of the Jedi Order—thus making it a complete success. An entire generation of Galactic citizens grew up under the oppression of the Empire, and never knew the era when the Jedi sought to guarantee peace and justice. The Empire and its Sith leaders faced no opposition capable of defeating them, and their oppressive rule was secure. Jedi (as well as Sith, who apparently were not known as being distinct from Jedi) were mostly remembered as sorcerors, witches, or otherwise supernatural beings not to be trusted. In A New Hope, Han Solo and Admiral Motti show a "lack of faith" in the Force and those who wield it, while older officers such as Tarkin show some respect for it; even Owen Lars refers to Obi-Wan Kenobi as a "crazy old man" and downplays Anakin's role in the Clone Wars.

However, the destruction of the old ways of the Jedi led to a complete rebirth under Luke Skywalker. The stiff, dogmatic old ways were purged, the Force had been 'balanced' by Anakin Skywalker's sacrifice at the end of Return of the Jedi, and it was love—which had been all but forbidden under the old Order—which allowed Anakin to remember his "good self" and save his son. The failings of the old Order, which had allowed the ascension of the Sith, were eliminated, as well as the Sith Order itself. In this way, the Purge can be seen as a complete failure. As shown in the Expanded Universe, the new Jedi Order is not without its own problems, but these could be viewed as the tribulations of rebuilding such an organization in a chaotic time (the restoration of the Republic after the defeat of the authoritarian Empire).

[edit] Recorded Purge victims

This list includes all Jedi definitively known to have been killed, one way or another, during the Purge. The list includes those mentioned in Expanded Universe sources as well as those depicted in Revenge of the Sith.

Jedi Introduction Death Killer
Stass Allie Attack of the Clones Revenge of the Sith (Part of Order 66) Commander Neyo and the 91st Reconnaissance Corps
Koffi Arana Star Wars Republic #80: "Into the Unknown" "Purge" Darth Vader
Darrin Arkanian "Dark Vendetta" "Dark Vendetta" High Inquisitor Tremayne
Sors Bandeam Revenge of the Sith Revenge of the Sith, off-screen (Part of Order 66) Darth Vader
Nem Bees Clone Wars not depicted (Part of Order 66) Commander Deviss
Bene Revenge of the Sith Revenge of the Sith (Part of Order 66) Darth Vader
Ashka Boda Dark Empire Sourcebook not depicted Emperor Palpatine
Aidan Bok Galaxy of Fear #5: Ghost of the Jedi not depicted Darth Vader
Niebur Boton Evasive Action: Prey not depicted Inquisitor Tremayne
Callista Children of the Jedi not depicted Callista (suicide, later "resurrected" in Cray Mingla's body)
Bol Chatak Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader Darth Vader
Olana Chion Jedi Apprentice #9: The Fight for Truth Revenge of the Sith, off-screen (Part of Order 66) Darth Vader
Tsui Choi Jedi Council: Acts of War "Purge" Imperial stormtroopers on Kessel
Roblio Darté Star Wars Republic #61: "Dead Ends" "Purge" Imperial stormtroopers on Kessel
Cin Drallig Revenge of the Sith Revenge of the Sith (Part of Order 66) Darth Vader
Jastus Farr "Purge" "Purge" Imperial stormtroopers on Kessel
Siadem Forte Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader Darth Vader
Geith Children of the Jedi not depicted Eye of Palpatine
Lagan Ismaren Children of the Jedi not depicted Inquisitor Ameesa Darys
Zett Jukassa Attack of the Clones Revenge of the Sith (Part of Order 66) Commander Appo and the 501st Legion
Taj Junak X-Wing: Rogue Squadron: The Phantom Affair not depicted Imperial Inquisitors
Jurokk Revenge of the Sith Revenge of the Sith (Part of Order 66) Darth Vader
Kendalina Mission from Mount Yoda not depicted unknown
Serra Keto Revenge of the Sith Revenge of the Sith (Part of Order 66) Darth Vader
Ki-Adi-Mundi Prelude to Rebellion Revenge of the Sith (Part of Order 66) Commander Bacara and the Galactic Marines
Plo Koon The Phantom Menace Revenge of the Sith (Part of Order 66) Captain Jag
Iwo Kulka Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader Darth Vader
Saras Loorne Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader The 22nd
Ma'kis'shaalas Geonosis and the Outer Rim Worlds "Purge" Darth Vader
Whie Malreaux Yoda: Dark Rendezvous Revenge of the Sith (Part of Order 66) Darth Vader
Dama Montalvo "Schism" "Purge" Darth Vader
Jocasta Nu Jedi Apprentice #17: The Only Witness Revenge of the Sith (Part of Order 66) Darth Vader
Barriss Offee The Approaching Storm Revenge of the Sith (Part of Order 66) Lieutenant Galle and the 327th Star Corps
Shadday Potkin Star Wars Republic #80: "Into the Unknown, Part 2" "Purge" Darth Vader
Aayla Secura Twilight Revenge of the Sith (Part of Order 66) Commander Bly and the 327th Star Corps
Sev "The Order of Outcasts" "The Order of Outcasts" (Part of Order 66) Clone troopers over Ragmar V
Roan Shryne Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader Darth Vader
Simms Star Wars Republic #79: "Into the Unknown, Part 1" Star Wars Republic #79: "Into the Unknown, Part 1" (Part of Order 66) Clone troopers on Toola
Ranik Solusar Dark Empire II not depicted Darth Vader
Morvet Storm Jedi Dawn not depicted Darth Vader
Bultar Swan Star Wars Adventures #1: Hunt the Sun Runner "Purge" Jedi Master Koffi Arana
Tra'avis "Orders" "Orders" (Part of Order 66) Sarge and Aiwha Squad
Axton Tredway Jedi's Honor Jedi's Honor Darth Vader
Luminara Unduli Cloak of Deception Revenge of the Sith (Part of Order 66) Commander Faie and the 41st Elite Legion
Sia-Lan Wezz Invasion of Theed Adventure Game Invasion of Theed Adventure Game High Inquisitor Volytar

[edit] Survivors of the Purge

Note: This list does not necessarily reflect those Jedi who survived to join the New Jedi Order. Indeed, many of these Jedi were ultimately killed by the Empire. This list only reflects those who, according to the Expanded Universe, survived the eighteen-year hunt by Darth Vader and the Jedi hunters of the Galactic Empire. The actual "Jedi purge" might only conceivably be considered to have ended with the death of Palpatine seven years after the Battle of Endor.

  • Aqinos (Actual Survivor: killed during the Yuuzhan Vong War)
  • Ood Bnar (killed in battle with Executor Sedriss)
  • Empatojayos Brand (killed by Palpatine)
  • Drun Cairnwick (whereabouts unknown)
  • Caryn (whereabouts unknown)
  • Vima Da Boda (Actual Survivor: whereabouts unknown)
  • Xavier Dade (whereabouts unknown)
  • Gruu Dunrik (whereabouts unknown)
  • Neth Enasteri (whereabouts unknown)
  • Ikrit (Actual Survivor: killed during the Yuuzhan Vong War)
  • Ilum (whereabouts unknown)
  • Ylenic It'kla (killed on Alderaan)
  • Drakka Judarrl
  • Kai Justiss (killed by Crimson Nova bounty hunters Breela, Zuckuss, and Boussh)
  • Kaoln (whereabouts unknown)
  • Obi-Wan Kenobi (killed by Darth Vader)
  • Ephaan Kenzon (Actual Survivor: whereabouts unknown)
  • Sinsor Khal (Actual Survivor: currently working as a scientist in the Hapes Consortium)
  • An'ya Kuro (killed by Darth Vader on Cophrigim 5)
  • Nos'lyn (whereabouts unknown)
  • Sasha Pancho (whereabouts unknown)
  • Qid Proko (whereabouts unknown)
  • Qu Rahn (killed by Inquisitor Jerec)
  • Tyneir Renz (whereabouts unknown)
  • Corwin Shelvay (whereabouts unknown)
  • Echuu Shen-Jon (killed by Darth Vader)
  • Ydra Kilwallen Sibwarra (killed during the Ssi-ruuk invasion of G'rho)
  • Dorn Tavers (whereabouts unknown)
  • Urootar (killed on Kashyyyk)
  • Halagad Ventor (died due to dark side corruption)
  • Vergere (Actual Survivor: killed during the Yuuzhan Vong War)
  • Yoda (died of old age on Dagobah)

[edit] Missing in action

A number of Jedi survived the initial slaughter of Order 66, but have not reappeared in the galaxy at large since the early days of the Purge. Their ultimate fates are unknown, but it is likely that most of them eventually succumbed to the Emperor's Jedi-hunters.

[edit] Traitors to the Order

In many cases, escaping the wrath of the Emperor's Jedi hunters by wit and guile alone proved too taxing for the Jedi outlaws. Many Jedi fell to the dark side during the Purge, and several actually joined the ranks of those who made a living persecuting their former comrades. Anakin Skywalker was the first of these, of course, but nowhere near the last.

Though the number of Jedi who survived the purge, in one form or another, is significant, it should be reinforced that Emperor Palpatine's Jedi Purge was nearly a complete success. Out of an order that had once included ten thousand or more Jedi Knights, less than one hundred escaped the Sith's revenge, and nearly all of those who survived were destroyed in some other way. Many fell to the dark side, and many others renounced their Jedi vows and let galactic affairs go on without them. By the time Luke Skywalker joined the Rebel Alliance, virtually all of the Jedi survivors had ceased actively carrying out the Order's fight for justice; for one reason or another, they remained silent and retired.

[edit] Misc Info

It was implied on the back of Boba Fett Action figure cases as well as the Dark Force Comic that came with the Boba Fett IG88 Bonus Set that Boba Fett assisted Darth Vader hunt down the Jedi, to avenge his father who was killed by Mace Windu (Attack of the Clones).

[edit] External links

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