Sith is a term applied to certain characters in the Star Wars universe.[1] In the films they are the central antagonists. They are capable of using the dark side of the Force.[2]
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Star Wars creator George Lucas took the name "Sith" from Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter of Mars series in which the sith are giant, venomous, hornet-like insects that are difficult to kill.[3] The first use of the word "Sith" is in the Star Wars novelization for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, as a title for Darth Vader, the "Dark Lord of the Sith." The Sith are not formally introduced or mentioned as such on-screen until The Phantom Menace.[4]
The Star Wars series began with the film Star Wars which was released in 1977.[5] However since 1977, books, computer games, comics, and films have been released all set in the fictional universe of Star Wars. This has expanded the history of the Sith within the stories told in the Star Wars Universe.[6]
Early dark side users were called The Dark Jedi not the Sith. They were exiled to the planet Korriban, where they conquered a powerful but malleable indigenous species known as the sith race. Treated like gods by their conquered people, they proclaimed themselves "Lords of the Sith".[7] As time progressed The Sith ruled an isolated part of the galaxy. They called this the Sith Empire. The capital was on the planet Ziost.[8] The Empire fell because of the battle for supremacy between two Sith Lords: Ludo Kressh and Naga Sadow.[9] This period was called The Great Hyperspace War.[10] Eventually a Sith named Darth Bane creates the Rule of Two. He is responsible for the destruction of all the Sith save him and his apprentice, Darth Zannah. He manages to trick the Jedi Council into believing that the Sith are completely gone.[11] The Rule of Two states: "Two there shall there be...a master and an apprentice: one to embody power and the other to crave it.".[12][13] Centuries Later Darth Sidious' schemes lead to the Clone wars, the destruction of the Jedi Council and the transformation of the Republic into the Empire.[14] However the Sith are not completely victorious, Darth Vader and the Emperor attempt to turn Luke Skywalker to the dark side but they fail and are defeated. In the end Darth Vader chooses the path of the Jedi once again and becomes one with the force. He appears with Obi Wan Kenobi and Jedi Master Yoda at the end of Return of The Jedi.
Darth Vader was the first Sith Lord to appear to the general public, appearing in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. As a Jedi Knight, he was known as Anakin Skywalker and fought in the Clone Wars against the Separatists. He turned slowly to the Dark Side with the help of Darth Sidious. After helping Darth Sidious kill Mace Windu, he swore allegiance to the Emperor and became his pupil. As the Galactic Empire continued to grow, Darth Vader became the Emperor’s enforcer and was put in command of the task to find the Rebel Alliance’s base. After the destruction of the Death Star, Vader was in charge of tracking the Rebel Alliance down and destroying their headquarters. However, the actions of Luke Skywalker, Vader’s son, eventually turned Vader against his master, resulting in both Darth Sidious and Darth Vader's death.[15]
Darth Sidious rose to power from a Senator of Naboo, to Supreme Chancellor, to self-proclaimed Emperor of the Galactic Empire. This was a cleverly orchestrated sequence of events done under his alternate identity, Palpatine, who gained respect in the Old Republic while secretly participating in Sith practices and planning an end to the Jedi Order. Darth Sidious' reign was in the time of the Rule of Two. He had three pupils, Darth Maul, Darth Tyranus and Darth Vader who eventually kills Darth Sidious at the end of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.[16]
Unlike his master Darth Sidious, Darth Maul did not crave power to rule over the galaxy. He wanted nothing but revenge against the Jedi for their actions against him and his people on his home planet, Dathomir. With this in mind, Darth Maul reaches notable status as probably the most deadly warrior the Sith had ever created. Wielding a dual-bladed lightsaber in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Darth Maul wreaks havoc for the Jedi Order and kills Obi-Wan Kenobi's master and friend, Qui-Gon Jinn before falling to Obi-Wan Kenobi in the same lightsaber battle.[17]
Referred to more as Count Dooku in Episodes II and III of the Star Wars movies, Darth Tyranus is really only a notable Sith character because of his relationship with Darth Sidious and his role in the Clone Wars where he led the Separatist Alliance. Many Star Wars fans may argue that Count Dooku's lightsaber battle against three Jedi, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda in Episode II, is reason enough to put Dooku on this list.[18]
In a time when Sith Lords were very few due to their near extinction by the Jedi Order, Darth Bane rose to lead the Sith and established the Rule of Two to replace the Brotherhood of Darkness. The Rule of Two stated that there must be two Sith Lords, one to embody the power of the Dark Side, and one to crave that power and eventually overthrow his master and adopt an apprentice of his own.[19]
Expanded Universe Novels
The first Expanded Universe novel was written by Alan Dean Foster titled the Splinter of the Mind's Eye in 1978.[20] The setting for this novel takes place between Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.[20] It provides further adventures that include Princess Leia, R2-D2, C-3P0, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader.[20] In the story, Darth Vader tries to get the Kaiburr Crystal to use it for his evil schemes.[20]
Other novels that depicted Sith characters were Darth Maul:Saboteur and Cloak of Deception by James Luceno.[21] In Cloak of Deception, it describes the political background surrounding the Republic in the time period before Phantom Menace. The Sith Lord at the time, Darth Sidious, plans for his blockade of Naboo. In Darth Maul: Saboteur,the Sith Lord Darth Sidious sends Darth Maul to destroy InterGalactic Ore and Lommite Limited.[22]Darth Maul:Shadow Hunter by Michael Reaves also showed insight into the Sith. This story is about how Darth Sidious takes his plan into action, however he soon finds out about a traitor who knows of his plan. He sends his apprentice, Darth Maul, to scope out the traitor that leaks the secret of his plan to take down the Republic.[23] Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back by Donald F. Glut takes place after the destruction of the Death Star. Darth Vader is in pursuit of Luke Skywalker, who is training with Yoda to become a Jedi Knight. This story depicts the fight scene between Vader and Skywalker almost exactly as it was scripted in the film.
Star Wars Comics
Dark Horse Comics purchased the copyrights to several Star Wars stories.[24] With their publication of Star Wars: Dark Empire #1 in 1991, they initiated what has become a large line of Star Wars manga and comics.[25] The Sith appear as major antagonists throughout this story's plot.[25]
In January 2007, Dark Horse Comics released their first of what became 5 waves of comic-pack figures.[24] Some of the Sith action figure characters that these comic packs included were Darth Vader, Clone Commando and a Trade Federation Assassin Droid. Most of the comics that were published had to do with expanding the backstory of the characters and followed the rise of the Lords of Sith.[25]
Star Wars T.V. Shows
Star Wars has had 3 T.V. shows titled Star Wars: Droids—The Adventures of R2-D2 and C-3PO, Star Wars:Ewoks and Star Wars:Clone Wars. Star Wars: Droids—The Adventures of R2-D2 and C-3PO aired their first episode in 1985. The show focused on the past history of R2-D2 and C-3PO and continuing with their future adventures throughout the galaxy.[26] Star Wars: Ewoks is an animated shows about the Ewoks and was aired in 1986. Star Wars: Clone Wars first aired on Cartoon Network in 2008. This show was made to take place some time between the Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith films. During this time, Anakin Skywalker has not become Darth Vader yet and it shows how he progresses into succumbing to the Sith.[27] There is also another (currently untitled) T.V. show whose release date will be soon[28] according to the head of Lucas Licensing, Howard Roffman.[29] Each of these T.V. series has expanded on the background story of major and minor characters that were introduced in the original film’s plot written by George Lucas.
Star Wars Video Games
Star Wars video games have also been adapted from the films, novels, and T.V. shows plots. The games follow the basic plot of the story, but they can also include alternative endings depending on which character is being played. Most of the games range from one to two players at a time. The earliest video game for Star Wars dates back to 1982 when Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back was released for the public in the arcades.[30] Other video games that focus mainly on the Sith are Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords released in 2004[31] and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed released in 2008.[32] In Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, the player can choose if they want to be a Sith, Jedi or another character. The outcome of whether the character follows the dark or light side depends on what character the player chooses and with whom they end up meeting or battling with throughout the game.[33] In Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, the player acts as Darth Vader’s secret apprentice. Along the way, the adventures consist of several battles against the major and minor Jedi fighters throughout the galaxy and helping Vader achieve his master plan.[34]
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