Black Knights

This organization came into being approximately 250 years following the demise of Darth Ruin, and experienced the downfall of their leader at the hands of Jedi Master Murrtaggh. The Underlord's Zeltron general spearheaded the defense against a simultaneous assault on the Black Knights Malrev IV fortress, which was actually a cleverly designed distraction executed by Mandalorian mercenaries. This diversion was intended to draw attention away from the Jedi's mission to assassinate the Black Knight's leader. This strategy proved successful, resulting in the leader's death.

What happened to the group following this battle remains a mystery. However, the Black Knights resurfaced on multiple occasions in the centuries that followed, and were opposed by a newly appointed Padawan, Yoda, during the time of the Fluwhaka revolt.

In the second iteration of the script for A New Hope, the "Black Knights of the Sith" (previously referred to as the "Knights of the Sith" in the initial draft) are identified as the ones responsible for the destruction of the Jedi Bendu of Ashla. This group consisted of pirates who had been instructed in the ways of the Bogan by a fallen Padawan named Seig Darklighter. Eventually, the Black Knights evolved into the personal guard for the Galactic Emperor's. They were later renamed the Dark Lords of the Sith in the third draft of the script.

In the introductory section of the book Star Wars: Darth Vader: A 3-D Reconstruction Log, Darth Vader is described as the "Empire's black knight." Despite this title, he has no specific connection to the Black Knights organization, beyond their shared Sith affiliation, as he appeared on the scene more than a millennium after their time.

• Evil Never Dies: The Sith Dynasties on Hyperspace (article) (content now obsolete; backup link) (First mentioned)
• The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia , Vol. I ("Dark Underlord") (First identified as Black Knights of Malrev IV)
• The Essential Atlas
• The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force