Every Major Sith Event In Star Wars Canon Explained

Summary

The Sith Order was formed around 5,000 BBY by a rogue Jedi.
The Hundred-Year Darkness marked the emergence of the Sith, coinciding with conflicts that shaped the galaxy.
Darth Bane’s Rule of Two preserved the Sith legacy by establishing a master and apprentice dynamic.

The Sith have been an essential part of Star Wars from the beginning, and these 12 major events comprise their canon history. Although the Jedi may often be the focus of Star Wars movies and TV shows, the Sith have been just as influential in the Star Wars timeline. In fact, the Sith have had massive impacts on the galaxy far beyond the Skywalker Saga.

While Palpatine and Darth Vader may very well be some of Star Wars’ most powerful Sith, they are nowhere near the first. Rather, the Sith history dates back thousands of years. Throughout that very long history, here’s every major Sith event in Star Wars canon.

Related All 36 Sith Lords In Star Wars Canon

The greatest villains of Star Wars, the Sith are the Jedi’s most fearsome enemies. Here are all 36 Dark Lords of the Sith revealed to date.

12 The Sith Order Was Formed In 5,000 BBY

The Sith Order Was Much Younger Than The Jedi Order

As with many aspects of Star Wars that took place prior to what has been shown on screen, there are several major discrepancies between canon and Legends when it comes to the history of the Sith. In Legends, the Sith Order was formed by Ajunta Pall, a Dark Jedi who was exiled from the Jedi Order along with several other fallen Jedi. Also in Legends, he is known as the first Dark Lord of the Sith.

In canon, many elements of this history remain the same, although there is no named being. Rather, in canon, there was an unnamed fallen Jedi who was exiled from the Jedi Order during the Old Republic Era for studying the dark side of the Force. Along the same lines, this unidentified being then helped to establish the first Order of the Sith. Notably, this means that, in both canon and Legends, the Sith Order was created by a rogue Jedi.

In both canon and Legends, the Sith Order was created by a rogue Jedi.

11 The Emergence Of The Sith Began The Hundred-Year Darkness

Dark Jedi Threatened The Galaxy

As with the creation of the Order of the Sith, the Hundred-Year Darkness is slightly different in canon and Legends. However, both the canon and Legends timelines have a version of this period. In canon, the Hundred-Year Darkness coincided with the creation of the Sith. Specifically, as mentioned, around 5,000 BBY, multiple Dark Jedi pulled away from the Jedi Order following one unidentified Jedi pursuing the dark side of the Force.

The Hundred-Year Darkness coincided with the creation of the Sith.

The Hundred-Year Darkness refers to the period of time following this falling out, during which, over time, the Order of the Sith was created. Interestingly, in both canon and Legends, this took place largely on the planet Korriban—or Moraband—the homeworld of the Sith. Legends follows many of the same overarching details about this period of time, although there is significantly more information available about the Legends versions of these events.

10 The Ancient Sith Allied With The Drengir

This Terrifying Species Helped The Sith

The Drengir were a terrifying and carnivorous sentient Star Wars species resembling plants, albeit with a mouthful of vicious teeth and violent tentacles, that played a role in the High Republic Era. Briefly, around 2,500 BBY, the Sith allied with the Drengir. Despite working alongside one another for a time, though, the Sith soon after betrayed the Drengir.

Nevertheless, the Drengir did pose a serious risk to the Jedi. In fact, the Sith had themselves turned on the Drengir because they had been wary of the threat the species posed. The Drengir wielded the capability to corrupt the minds of those they came in contact with, including the Jedi. Moreover, the Drengir even seemed somewhat impervious to blasters and lightsaber strikes. Ultimately, though, the Sith put them into a form of stasis, which neutralized their threat.

9 The Jedi-Sith Wars Began In 3,000 BBY

These Wars Threatened The Existence Of Both Sides

The Jedi-Sith wars haven’t been shown on the Star Wars screen, but that isn’t due to a lack of importance. Rather, these wars had a massive impact on the galaxy and changed the Sith forever. Following the Hundred-Year Darkness and the establishment of the Order of the Sith, the Jedi and the Sith were constantly locked in confrontations, no doubt giving way to the idea that the two groups are opposites in the Force, destined to be in battle with each other until one is destroyed.

In fact, while these wars may have begun in 3,000 BBY, they didn’t end until 1,032 BBY, revealing just how extensive these wars were. While details about the wars are somewhat sparse in canon, undoubtedly, the destruction of these wars was immeasurable. The Jedi Order in particular was faced with a brand-new threat the likes of which they had never seen. However, it was the Sith who nearly collapsed between these wars and the issues internal to their Order.

8 The Sith Nearly Went Extinct Due To Their Own In-Fighting

The Nature Of The Sith Threatened Their Future

Perhaps unsurprisingly, one of the biggest issues the Sith have faced throughout their long history is their own damaging behavior when it comes to their desire for power. Although the Jedi clearly posed (and continued to pose) a threat to the existence of the Sith, the Order nearly tore itself apart because each of the Sith wanted to claim power for themselves. In fact, it was Sith in-fighting, much more so than the Jedi, that almost ended the Sith forever.

This is not all that shocking in light of what has been shown of the Sith in Star Wars movies and TV shows. Clearly, the Sith desire power for themselves and, crucially, only themselves. Just as Palpatine was shown burning through apprentices in his quest for power throughout the Skywalker Saga and willing to cast anyone aside should they get in his way, the ancient Sith had no interest in collaborating or living harmoniously as the Jedi Order did. Unfortunately for the Sith, this nearly caused them to go extinct.

7 Darth Bane Established The Sith Rule Of Two

This Rule Preserved The Legacy Of The Sith

Darth Bane

Created By George Lucas Cast Mark Hamill First Appearance Bane of the Sith Alliance Sith

Although Darth Bane has only appeared on-screen in Star Wars as a ghost in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, he was absolutely essential to the survival of the Sith. In fact, it may only have been because of Darth Bane that the Sith survived at all. In light of the wars with the Jedi and the significant in-fighting, the Sith nearly went extinct, which led Darth Bane to establish the Sith Rule of Two—a rule that lasted all the way to the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

This rule established the Sith master and apprentice dynamic, dictating that there would be two Sith Lords at a time, a master to wield power and an apprentice to crave it. While this has proven challenging in its own way, as this quickly became an issue wherein Sith apprentices were constantly seeking to kill their master, it addressed the violent, ambitious inclinations of the Sith in a way that prevented their self-destruction.

6 The Sith ‘Returned’ With Palpatine And Darth Maul

The Phantom Menace Saw The Official Return Of The Sith

Darth Maul

Created By George Lucas Cast Ray Park , Sam Witwer First Appearance Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Alliance Sith/Shadow Collective, Crimson Dawn

The Sith were never truly extinct, despite what the Jedi believed in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. However, it’s nevertheless true that the Sith hadn’t quite ‘returned’ until the prequel trilogy’s first movie. In fact, even in light of The Acolyte, which revealed the existence of Darth Plagueis on the Unknown Planet, it wasn’t until The Phantom Menace that the Sith were truly confronting the Jedi out in the open yet again.

This return in The Phantom Menace included Darth Maul, the Sith apprentice who faced off against Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn, and Darth Sidious, the Sith master who entirely concealed his identity until the time was right. Despite Sidious only working in the shadows, though, this marked a major change in the Sith Star Wars timeline. Now, finally, the Sith were back to challenging the Jedi, attempting to take power for themselves.

5 Palpatine Gained Power During The Clone Wars

The Clone Wars Only Furthered Palpatine’s Power

Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious

Created By George Lucas Cast Ian McDiarmid , Sam Witwer , ian abercrombie First Appearance Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back Alliance Sith, Empire

The Clone Wars was an imperative period for the Sith, as Palpatine had orchestrated the events of the war entirely to his benefit. Not only was Palpatine leading the Republic Senate and gaining power in that way, but he was also the secret head of the Separatists, using Count Dooku as a puppet to get what he wanted. Ultimately, Palpatine was able to play both sides of the war so effectively that he won either way.

The Clone Wars was an imperative period for the Sith.

Moreover, this era saw the beginning of the end for the Jedi in more ways than one. On the one hand, yes, a Sith master was gaining increasing access to the Jedi, including the Jedi Council. On a larger scale, though, the Jedi’s willingness to participate in politics and act as soldiers in a war shifted public opinion of them. This, too, was essential to Palpatine’s plan, as it made the galaxy much more willing to accept the massacre of the Jedi.

4 Order 66 Wiped Out Nearly All The Remaining Jedi

This Event Was Perhaps The Greatest Sith Achievement In Thousands Of Years

Order 66 was one of the most defining moments for the Sith and the Jedi. In fact, it was just before Order 66 that Palpatine established his newest Sith apprentice, Darth Vader, and Vader himself was key in carrying out this brutal slaughter. However, Order 66 also gave the Sith the most power they had ever had in the galaxy—not only were they now ruling the galaxy, but they also no longer faced opposition from their greatest adversary, the Jedi.

Order 66 was one of the most defining moments for the Sith and the Jedi.

Although there were survivors of Order 66, the Jedi had been so effectively crushed, physically and in public opinion, that those who survived really posed very little threat to the massive Empire and the Sith leading it. Surprisingly, even the likelihood that Obi-Wan Kenobi had survived didn’t seem all that important to Palpatine; Vader was obsessed with hunting Obi-Wan down for revenge in Obi-Wan Kenobi, but finding and killing Obi-Wan clearly wasn’t a priority for Palpatine. Evidently, he wasn’t concerned.

3 Palpatine and Darth Vader Ruled The Galaxy Together

For Nearly Twenty Years, The Sith Had Complete Power

Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader

Created By George Lucas Cast Bob Anderson , Hayden Christensen , James Earl Jones , Matt Lanter , Matt Lucas , Jake Lloyd , David Prowse , Sebastian Shaw First Appearance Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope Alliance Jedi, Sith

Although it inevitably crumbled in the original Star Wars trilogy, Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine ruled the galaxy for nearly twenty years, representing a massive Sith accomplishment. From the very beginning of the Sith Order, the Sith had faced opposition from the Jedi, constantly in a struggle for power against them. With the Jedi effectively squashed (or, at least, working in the shadows, as the Sith had once been), Vader and Palpatine were able to rule the galaxy as Sith Lords.

It’s easy to overlook how significant this was because so much of the Star Wars story is about this rule being overthrown, but this was a massively important period in the history of the Sith. In many ways, Palpatine had achieved what even the ancient Sith had aspired to; the Jedi were destroyed, and the Sith ruled. Of course, that wasn’t built to last, and none other than Darth Vader’s son brought all of it down.

2 Luke Skywalker Defeated Darth Vader And Palpatine

Together, Luke And Anakin Skywalker Brought Balance

Luke Skywalker

Created By George Lucas Cast Mark Hamill , Grant Feely First Appearance Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope Alliance Jedi

Unfortunately for Palpatine, Luke Skywalker brought about the end of the Empire and, for a time, the end of the Sith. There has long been a debate in the franchise regarding whether it was truly Anakin or Luke who fulfilled the Chosen One prophecy. Clearly, Anakin was identified as the Chosen One in the franchise, yet the prophecy spoke of one who would bring balance to the Force and end the Sith. Star Wars has been clear that this was indeed Anakin, although he never could have done so without Luke.

It was only because of the love he had for his son that Darth Vader was willing to turn on his Sith master, kill him, and return to the light side of the Force. In doing so, Anakin fulfilled the prophecy, bringing an end to the two living Sith at the time. However, Star Wars made that slightly more complicated in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, as Palpatine was revealed to have returned.

1 Rey Destroyed Palpatine And The Sith Eternal

So Far, The Future Of The Sith Remains Unknown

Rey Skywalker

Created By J.J. Abrams , Lawrence Kasdan , Michael Arndt Cast Daisy Ridley First Appearance Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens Alliance Jedi

The Rise of Skywalker certainly threw a few wrenches into the history of the Sith, not only with the return of Palpatine but also with the introduction of the Sith Eternal, a group of Sith cultists. However, despite the many updates this movie made to the story of the Sith, it also saw the true end (presumably) of the Sith in Star Wars. Rey, a biological descendant of Palpatine (but not exactly his ‘granddaughter’), managed to destroy Palpatine for good and wipe out the Sith Eternal on the Sith planet Exegol.

Now, the future of the Sith remains quite unclear in Star Wars. Rey’s upcoming Star Wars movie will be set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, which could mean a clearer understanding of what the franchise will do with the Sith now that the Skywalker Saga has ended. For the time being, though, it seems the canon timeline of the Sith in Star Wars has come to an end.