Great Jedi Purge

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Great Jedi Purge
Conflict	Tied into the end of the Clone Wars and the beginning of the Galactic Civil War
Date	19 - c. 1 BBY
Place	Throughout the galaxy
Result	Imperial victory; near complete destruction of the Jedi Order
Casualties	Almost all of Jedi Order, many clone troopers and stormtroopers, and presumably many others who either allied themselves with or opposed the Jedi

The Great Jedi Purge was the extermination 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.

Contents 1 The Fall of the Jedi 1.1 Survivors 2 Expanded Universe 3 Legacy 4 Recorded purge victims 5 Survivors of the Purge 5.1 Missing in action 5.2 Traitors to the Knighthood 6 Star Wars and the Knights Templar 7 External links

The Fall of the Jedi

Image:Ki-adi rots.jpg

"I have waited a long time for this moment, my little green friend; At last, the Jedi are no more." — Emperor Palpatine.

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.

Apparently at some point between Episodes II and III, members of the Jedi council began to suspect Chancellor Palpatine possessed dark motives. 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 also expressed similar misgivings about the Chancellor and his actions.

Shortly after the Battle of Coruscant, Anakin Skywalker found out that Palpatine was Darth Sidious and revealed this information to Jedi Master Mace Windu who then led a small posse of masters to apprehend Sidious. This team was comprised of himself, Agen Kolar, Kit Fisto, and Saesee Tiin. In an ensuing duel, Sidious quickly dispatches all but Mace Windu. There is a brief argument between the Jedi Master and Anakin. However, as the former is about to strike the Chancellor down, Anakin severs Mace's hand. Thusly unarmed, Sidious takes advantage of this turn of events and the Sith Lord finishes him off with a torrent of lightning.

Darth Sidious names Anakin Darth Vader, and tells him that all of the Jedi must be destroyed. He sends Anakin to the temple along with the 501st Clone Trooper Legion to kill all of the Jedi there. Palpatine says that if Vader carries out his commands, he will be strong enough in the Dark Side to save his wife, Padmé, from dying. Being so afraid of losing her, Anakin complies. While the newly turned Dark Lord is completing this task, Palpatine instructs the clone troopers to fire on and kill their Jedi comrades in the infamous Order 66. This order has been secretly fed to the clone commanders, who then follow its mandate of assassinating 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, 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 Seperatist plot.Roan Shryne is an example of a Jedi who survived the purge because of clone insubordination. However, Darth Vader later kills him. This is described in the novel Dark Lord.

Returning to Coruscant, Masters Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi entered the Jedi Temple long enough to prepare a secret signal with the in-house communications warning all surviving Jedi about the treachery and to take precautions. During this slaughter, Palpatine declared himself emperor, and formally ordered the reorganization of the Republic into the Empire.

Following this catastrophic turn of events for the Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda set about to end the Sith rule before it could become entrenched. Kenobi confronted Darth Vader on the fiery Confederate world of Mustafar, while Yoda faced Darth Sidious in the Galactic Senate. Yoda fled the Senate building, however there is some controversy over whether he was bested by Palpatine or decided that a lightsaber battle wasn't the right way to defeat the Sith. Kenobi was victorious in his fight, and Vader was terribly wounded. However, the Dark Lord survived, being placed in a life-sustaining mechanical suit. This proves true Obi-Wan's earlier statement in the movie that he couldn't kill Anakin. 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 but extinct. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda are the only Jedi known to have survived until the second trilogy.

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 the 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 the late Padmé Amidala, would need to be raised separately and in hiding with the hope that they could help oppose their father and, more importantly, the Emperor 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 solitary exile on the planet Dagobah.

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 shattered. 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 to 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 Dark Side, was Joruus C'Baoth, but unlike the original, the clone 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 mutilated statues of former Jedi on Coruscant. It is generally assumed to have been a personal "playroom" 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 make many victories on Krant, then traveled with them to the asteroid of Geddes 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.

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 tyrannical rule was secure. Jedi (as well as Sith, who apparently were not known as being distinct from Jedi) were mostly remembered as sorcerers, 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; even Owen Lars refers to Obi-Wan Kenobi as a "crazy old wizard" 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).

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.

Clone troopers on Toola

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 concievably be considered to have ended with the final 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• Roan Shryne (killed by Darth Vader)
• Dorn Tavers (whereabouts unknown)
• Halagad Ventor (died due to dark side corruption)
• Vergere (Actual Survivor: killed during the Yuuzhan Vong War)
• Yoda (died of old age)

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.

• Ekria
• Fy-Tor-Ana
• A'sharad Hett
• Kai Hudorra
• Sian Jeisel
• Das Jennir
• Kai Justiss
• K'Kruhk
• Drake Lo'gaan
• Garen Muln
• Noirah Na
• Ferus Olin
• Plett
• Olee Starstone
• Dorn Tavers
• Travgen
• Quinlan Vos
• Zao
• Zonder

Traitors to the Knighthood

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.

• Boc Aseca (killed by Kyle Katarn)
• Beldorian (killed by Leia Organa Solo)
• Adalric Cessius Brandl (whereabouts unknown)
• Ameesa Darys (killed by Arden Lyn)
• Jeng Droga (killed by Kyle Katarn)
• Giflyn (whereabouts unknown)
• Roganda Ismaren (killed by Lord Nyax)
• Jedgar (whereabouts unknown)
• Jerec (killed by Kyle Katarn)
• Kadann (whereabouts unknown)
• Danaan Kerr (whereabouts unknown)
• Maw (killed by Kyle Katarn)
• Sarcev Quest (killed by Emperor's Hand Jeng Droga)
• Sariss (killed by Kyle Katarn)
• Aurra Sing (whereabouts unknown)
• Anakin Skywalker (redeemed by Luke Skywalker)
• Kam Solusar (redeemed by Luke Skywalker)
• Taselda (killed by Luke Skywalker)
• Tremayne (whereabouts unknown)

Though the number of Jedi who survived the purge, in 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.

Star Wars and the Knights Templar

There are many parallels to be found between Lucas' full Star Wars history- especially the rise and fall of the Jedi order, and the rise and fall of the Knights Templar.

The first (sequential) Star Wars trilogy (Episodes I,II,III) which already had most of its major plotlines canonized through backstory references in the second (sequential) trilogy (Episodes IV,V,VI) can be viewed as a science fiction/fantasy retelling of some very real historical events, indeed some of which were still quite obscure and for the most part unknown to mass popular culture at the time the first drafts of Star Wars were being pencilled by a very young and well shaven George Lucas. (1974 - 75).

It's impossible to say if Lucas was already acquainted with the historical tragedy of the Templar Knights before he created his own cinematic mythology of the Jedi Knights – but much of their philosophies, functions and major ascendance and denouement run uncannily parallel to each other.

One thing is certain. The “mystique” of both spiritual military orders, comprised of fiercely dedicated and formidibly disciplined mystical warrior-monks is a universal one, clearly cut from the same archetypally rooted mythic template so brilliantly revealed and elucidated by pre-eminent 20th Century scholar of comparative religion and mythology, Joseph Campbell whose seminal work, "HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES" directly inspired Lucas to craft the Star Wars mythology in just the way he did.

In order to illustrate some of the major parallels between the Star Wars myth and Templar history, consider first how both Templar and Jedi orders become entangled and engulfed in a dense web of intrigue and treachery when a Great War is thrust upon them. For the Templars, it is the Crusades. For the Jedi, it is the Clone Wars.

Both orders are considered highly respected, even legendary guardians of peace and justice in their own day, established around the highest seats of the prevailing ruling powers and both are maliciously betrayed and destroyed by that same ruling power and all but completely wiped out in one spectacular and tragic day of betrayal and violence.

For instance, what follows are some direct examples of a few rather remarkable parallels presented in such a way as to enhance the obviousness of their similarities.

• Based upon a declaration made by King Philip of France, all of the Knights Templar were ordered rounded up and executed on that fateful day, Friday the 13th in the month of October, AD 1307, in order to completely annihilate their vast autonomous power base and erase from all influence and memory the "Cathar heresy" forever from World history, replacing it with a harsh, genocidal, totalitarian judicial organization called the Inquisition whose sole purpose was to hunt down and erase all traces of the Cathar's former influence from memory (led by the dark and sinister Torquemada).

• Based upon the secret Order 66 issued by Chancellor Palpatine of Naboo, all of the Jedi were rounded up and executed or corrupted on that fateful day in 19 BBY, in order to annihilate their vast, autonomous power base and erase from all influence and memory the "Jedi heresy" forever from Galactic history; this was carried out initially with the aid of the clone trooper and Darth Vader, but later and in the long-term by a harsh, genocidal, totalitarian judicial organization called the Inquisitorius whose sole purpose was to hunt down and erase all traces of the Jedi's former influence from memory (led by the dark and sinister Darth Vader). The linguistic resemblance of the Star Wars Inquisitorius to the Inquisition of the Catholic Church is readily apparent; indeed, the already mentioned real-world Torquemada has a direct parallel with the High Inquisitor Tremayne.

• Some of the Jedi Knights escaped the brutal cleansing and underwent a clandestine diaspora taking some of their most highly valued secrets and treasures with them. Eventually, they dispersed to remote, wilderness planets (for example, Dagobah and Tatooine) and went into hiding, but the rumors of a very special bloodline (the Skywalker heirs) persist, and it said that the remaining Jedi are sworn to harbor and protect them at all costs, and that the Galactic Empire remained determined and vigilant in its desire to seek them out and destroy them.

• There are some long standing beliefs to the effect that some of the Knights Templar survived the brutal cleansing and underwent a clandestine diaspora taking some of their most highly valued secrets and treasures with them. Eventually, they dispersed to remote, wilderness continents (Scotland & North America) and went into hiding, but the rumors of a very special bloodline (the Jesus/Magdelene heirs) persist, and it said that the remaining Templars are sworn to harbor and protect them at all costs, and that the Catholic Church remained determined and vigilant in its desire to seek them out and destroy them.

External links

• Template:Swwit:Grande Purga Jedi

Jedi	Introduction	Death	Killer
Stass Allie	Attack of the Clones	Revenge of the Sith	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
Nem Bees	Clone Wars	not depicted	Commander Deviss
Bene	Revenge of the Sith	Revenge of the Sith	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
Bol Chatak	Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader	Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader	Darth Vader
Tsui Choi	Jedi Council: Acts of War	"Purge"	Imperial stormtroopers
Roblio Darté	Star Wars Republic #61: "Dead Ends"	"Purge"	Imperial stormtroopers
Cin Drallig	Revenge of the Sith	Revenge of the Sith	Darth Vader
Jastus Farr	"Purge"	"Purge"	Imperial stormtroopers
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	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	Darth Vader
Kendalina	Mission from Mount Yoda	not depicted	unknown
Serra Keto	Revenge of the Sith	Revenge of the Sith	Darth Vader
Ki-Adi-Mundi	Prelude to Rebellion	Revenge of the Sith	Commander Bacara and the Galactic Marines
Plo Koon	The Phantom Menace	Revenge of the Sith	Captain Jag
Iwo Kulka	Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader	Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader	Darth Vader
Whie Malreaux	Yoda: Dark Rendezvous	Revenge of the Sith	Darth Vader
Dama Montalvo	"Schism"	"Purge"	Darth Vader
Jocasta Nu	Jedi Apprentice #17: The Only Witness	Revenge of the Sith	Darth Vader
Barriss Offee	The Approaching Storm	Revenge of the Sith	Lieutenant Galle and the 327th Star Corps
Aayla Secura	Twilight	Revenge of the Sith	Commander Bly and the 327th Star Corps
Shadday Potkin	Star Wars Republic #80: "Into the Unknown, Part 2"	"Purge"	Darth Vader
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"	Darth Vader
Ranik Solusar	Dark Empire II	not depicted	Darth Vader
Bultar Swan	Star Wars Adventures" #1: Hunt the Sun Runner	"Purge"	Jedi Master Koffi Arana
Shaak Ti	Attack of the Clones	not depicted	Darth Vader
Traavis	"Orders"	"Orders"	Sarge and Aiwha Squad
Axton Tredway	Jedi's Honor	Jedi's Honor	Darth Vader
Luminara Unduli	Cloak of Deception	Revenge of the Sith	Commander Faie and the 41st Elite Legion
Sia-Lan Wezz	Invasion of Theed Adventure Game	Invasion of Theed Adventure Game	High Inquisitor Volytar