Centuries before the onset of the Great Hyperspace War a duel was fought between two rival Sith Lords Marka Ragnos and Simus to determine which of them would assume the then-vacant mantle of Dark Lord of the Sith species. Simus lost the duel after being beheaded by the half-breed Ragnos, and the latter ascended to the position of Jen'ari or Dark Lord, as well as becoming ruler of the Sith Empire.