Jedi Order

Numerous ancient and partly legendary groups have been suggested as possible predecessors to the Jedi Order. These include the Order of Dai Bendu, the Followers of Palawa, and the Chatos Academy. Despite these ancient Force traditions, the Order's true beginnings can be traced back to the verdant planet Tython located in the Deep Core. Around 36,453 BBY, the galaxy's most accomplished philosophers, priests, scientists, and warriors were brought to Tython by mysterious, pyramidal vessels known as Tho Yor. Their purpose was to discuss their findings related to the enigmatic and mystical energy known as the Force. These individuals, referred to as Tythans, eventually identified themselves as the Je'daii Order. This was a group of Force-sensitives dedicated to maintaining an internal balance between the light side, or Ashla, and the dark side, known as Bogan.

For millennia, the Je'daii Order prospered on Tython, constructing impressive temples and monuments dedicated to the Force. They remained constantly vigilant against the allure of both the light and the dark. Ultimately, around 25,793 BBY, several centuries before the founding of the Galactic Republic, a conflict arose between the followers of Ashla, who sought knowledge, and the followers of Bogan, who desired power. This conflict, known as the Force Wars, had a devastating impact on the planet, disrupting Tython's balance and destroying its ecosystem. In the end, the followers of Bogan were defeated. The more proactive followers of Ashla formed a new organization called the Jedi, abandoning the planet to liberate other worlds and champion the light. Among these original Jedi were Jedi Masters Rajivari, Garon Jard, Cala Brin and Ters Sendon, who were instrumental in establishing the Order's principles. Rajivari and Jard were known for organizing week-long gatherings, the earliest form of Jedi Council, with many of their peers, to reflect on how to protect the Order from the dark side and to increase the Order's wisdom.

During the Jedi's initial period, one of its founders, Master Rajivari, defected and urged his followers to forsake the light and seek guidance and power from Bogan. Rajivari later attempted to assassinate his fellow Jedi and rebuild the Order according to his ideals, but he was killed in the process. His followers barricaded themselves in the fortress of Kaleth but were soon wiped out by the Order. Following their victory, the Jedi Order decided to abandon Tython, taking with them all surviving text and scriptures they could find.

The nascent Jedi Order journeyed between the stars, fleeing the Deep Core for Wild Space, a vast, unexplored region of the galaxy. Discovering a lush planet resembling Tython, the Jedi colonized it and named it Ossus. They established an academy on the world and remained secluded on Ossus, dedicating themselves to the study of Ashla and warning against the evils of Bogan. Intentionally distancing themselves from the newly formed Galactic Republic, the Jedi Order welcomed members of other Force traditions to Ossus, integrating their philosophies and assimilating numerous groups into their ranks. Continuing traditions from the old Je'daii Forge, the Great Temple of Vur Tepe, the Jedi continued to craft durasteel blades as part of initiation ceremonies and imbue them with the Force. While these Force-imbued blades were the primary weapon of choice, the Jedi continued to work in secret to enhance the usability of a new weapon called the lightsaber. In the Order's final years on Tython, a mysterious man from beyond the system brought technology called a Forcesaber to the world. Through the study of the weapon, basically advanced off-world laser technology, the Jedi were able to "freeze" a laser beam which could cut through durasteel. By 25,000 BBY, the Jedi agreed to join the Republic, remaining isolated on Ossus but supporting the Republic's goal of galactic peace.

As the Order welcomed others to Ossus, the leaders of the Jedi began to be influenced by other thinkers who had been involved in galactic affairs much longer than they had. The most prominent influence was a group of Caamasi who preached the principles of justice laid forth by Hespecia Tik'kla; these teachings would lay the framework for the Jedi Order's view of galactic justice and their role as peacekeepers. Simultaneously, the Jedi High Council began to assert its authority over the members of the Order, limiting individuality and crafting several exclusionary regulations. Around this time a Kashi Mer exile named Xendor, who showed great interest in the Bogan, gained a large following on Ossus, taking counsel from a Steel Hand of Palawa named Arden Lyn and eventually breaking from the Order to found his own academy on Lettow. Members of the so called Legions of Lettow celebrated their freedom by giving in to their emotions and passions, rejected the concepts of order and structure, and touched the power of the dark side. The outflow of students was deemed the Great Schism. Sometime in the 24,500s BBY an open war erupted between the Legions and the Jedi Order. Sources are divided on which side started the conflict, some say it was the Jedi Order who declared war against the Legions and rose an army first, others say it was Xendor, who attacked the Jedi. Xendor stroke first, landing ships on Ossus before being repelled and driven into the core. Xendor attempted to spread propaganda about the Jedi throughout the Republic as the war broke out, trying to convince the leaders that the Jedi were trying to seize power under the guise of peacekeepers. The Republic saw through Xendor's attempts to discredit the strange monks from Ossus and so began aiding the Jedi in the war effort. As conflict erupted on Chandrila, Brentaal, Metellos and Coruscant itself, the war dragged on and on. Finally, Jedi Master Awdrysta Pina managed to confront Xendor at the battle of Columus and slay the leader of the Legions, using a powerful battle meld, a practice rejected by the Legionaries, since they saw it as giving up their individuality. In the following months, the rest of the Legions of Lettow were routed and the Great Schism finally ended.

Despite their brief allegiance with the Republic during the Great Schism, the Order was seldom thought of in the greater galaxy since their abandonment of Tython. Because of this the Order's warnings of impending war went unheeded by the Republic government until the Tionese were on their doorstep. As the Tionese War erupted across the Perlemian Trade Route, the Order's attempts to divide Tionese allegiances were abandoned and the Jedi withdrew again to Ossus to avoid involvement in the war. From their ancient fortress world, the Jedi contemplated the war, struggling to see how they fit into the galactic crisis at hand. After a long internal debate, the Jedi High Council declared for the Republic and entered into service as commanders in the Republic Army to crush the Tionese threat. As the war was all but won, the Republic sterilized the planet Desevro in an event which horrified the Order. Meeting above the ruined world, the Jedi struck a deal with the Republic that, while they could not serve the government, they would establish a network of watchmen to protect the Perlemian from the Tionese and Hutts from a series of fortress worlds including Ossus, Falang Minor, and Haashimut. When the war with the Tionese had been resolved, the Republic decided to disband its military and rely on sector- and system-based defense fleets, earning back the trust and allegiance of the Jedi Order.

In 11,987 BBY, the Republic's Supreme Chancellor, Pers'lya, was assassinated and replaced by Chancellor Contispex I, a member of the Pius Dea faith. During his reign, the fanatical Chancellor began a series of crusades which would come in the form of war, purges, and genocide. Officially known as the Recusal, the Jedi Order declared itself independent from the Republic in 11,933 BBY and completely withdrew back to Ossus. Throughout the next millennium, the Jedi Order fought an internal struggle regarding the correct response to the insanity of the Contispex dynasty and the Pius Dea rule it had established. While the majority of the Order refused to fight against the very government it had protected for millennia, some Jedi served as Knights errant, taking the fight to the cultists without the permission of the High Council. Others declared for the Pius Dea, forming a splinter group called the Order of the Terrible Glare. It wasn't until the 11,100s BBY that the Order was approached by the Caamasi and were finally convinced to end their period of isolationism and intervene. The Jedi High Council joined with the Bureau of Ships and Services in seeding the cathedral ships of the Pius Dea with a crippling virus, and plotting to arrest the current Chancellor. In a stunning move, a Jedi strike team boarded Chancellor Contispex XIX's flagship, the Flame of Sinthara and arrested him on war crime charges. In accordance to the terms set forth by the Jedi Order at the start of their involvement, the Jedi High Council suspended the Galactic Senate and placed Grand Master Biel Ductavis in the position of Supreme Chancellor.

A few generations later, the Jedi Order had returned to their peaceful ways on Ossus upon seeing the Republic make a full recovery from the Pius Dea Era. However, in 7003 BBY, the Jedi suffered a Second Great Schism, resulting in a time known to history as the Hundred-Year Darkness. The schism stemmed from the Order's reaction to a group of heretical Dark Jedi experimenting with forbidden alchemy, twisting living beings into monstrosities. The creatures which arose were deemed abominations to the Force by the High Council and war was begun to end the practice of these dark arts. By this time the Order had managed to develop the lightsaber in a way in which it was useful in hand-to-hand combat. Used before as a siege weapon due to its massive power pack, the Order's scientists were able to create a transportable power pack which could be worn on the belt of the user. Crossing blades with the heretics, who rose an army of animalistic monsters against them, the Jedi Order finally saw the end of the conflict with the victory at the battle of Corbos in 6900 BBY. There the Jedi Order arrested the twelve surviving Dark Jedi, led by High General Ajunta Pall, and banished them to Wild Space. Unknown to the Jedi, these Exiles would land on the planet Korriban, homeworld of the Sith species, and posing as god-like beings, conquer the natives, deeming themselves the Dark Lords of the Sith. Shortly after settling on Korriban, a splinter group of exiles, led by Remulus Dreypa, returned to Republic space to enact vengeance, but were intercepted by a Jedi patrol. The Jedi pursued those Sith across the galaxy, until both factions crash-landed on the planet Kesh. After a period of fighting, the two factions made peace and formed a new organization called the Doomed, striving to achieve balance between the light and the dark sides of the Force. Meanwhile, the Korriban Sith would eventually move their headquarters to Ziost where they would form the massive Sith Empire, an Order of dark side warriors who would dream of crushing their Jedi oppressors.

In approximately 5000 BBY, the Sith Empire launched an assault on the Koros system, thereby unveiling their existence to the Republic and the Jedi Order. This event ignited the Great Hyperspace War. The conflict's genesis can be traced to a chilling vision experienced by Jedi Knight Odan-Urr, foreseeing the demise of Sith Lord Marka Ragnos and the subsequent war against the Republic. Accompanied by Jedi Master Memit Nadill and Teta, the empress of Koros, Odan-Urr journeyed to Coruscant to caution the Galactic Senate, but his warnings were dismissed, and no action was taken. Upon their return to Koros, Jedi Nadill, Odan-Urr, and Ooroo (Urr's master) were present when a young convict, Jori Daragon, interrupted Teta's chambers, revealing her encounter with the formidable Sith Empire and their impending attack on the Republic. Gathering as much intel as possible, Nadill then journeyed to Coruscant to garner the support of the Jedi Knights.

Naga Sadow, now the self-proclaimed Dark Lord of the Sith, initiated a simultaneous invasion of numerous Republic worlds, while positioning his distinctive eye-shaped Sith Meditation Sphere near Primus Goluud. He then employed Sith magic to conjure thousands of illusory soldiers, thereby exaggerating the perceived size of the Sith army. The Jedi Order was instrumental in the defense of Coruscant, with Memit Nadill leading a squad of Jedi Knights, among them Tuknatan and Sonam-Ha'ar. Simultaneously, another battle raged on Kirrek, where Jedi Master Ooroo and his apprentice Odan-Urr were stationed. However, the Republic's forces experienced a surge in morale when Naga Sadow's concentration faltered, causing the illusory Sith forces to vanish. On Coruscant, the Jedi recognized the shift in momentum and launched a powerful counteroffensive, easily overwhelming the Sith. The Republic also secured victory on Kirrek, but at the cost of Master Ooroo's life, who sacrificed himself to defeat a large force of Massassi warriors. Following the Sith's defeat, Supreme Chancellor Pultimo sanctioned a full-scale invasion of Sith Space, liberating the Sith from the Dark Lords and ultimately dismantling the Empire. During these events, the Jedi exerted considerable effort to cleanse the galaxy of darkness by systematically destroying Sith texts and dangerous artifacts to prevent their exploitation by power-hungry dark side adherents.

In 4400 BBY, Freedon Nadd, an ambitious Padawan, was denied Knighthood by his Jedi Masters as a test of his humility. Seeking to understand the rationale behind the decision, Nadd approached Jedi Master Matta Tremayne. She, in turn, tested his patience by ignoring him, and when the angered Nadd decided to leave, she told him that there are things they cannot simply teach him. Accusing her of withholding secrets and proclaiming himself a Jedi, Nadd was challenged to a duel by Tremayne to prove his worthiness. Misinterpreting this as a threat, Nadd attacked and killed Tremayne, who purposefully lowered her guard. Blaming the Jedi Masters for his teacher's demise, the enraged Nadd sought out the Sith, believing they would readily accept his apprenticeship and instruct him in the ways of the Force. During his quest, Nadd encountered the Sith Lord Naga Sadow, who was in exile on Yavin 4. Awakening from his stasis chamber, Sadow trained Freedon Nadd in the dark side, only to be killed by Nadd upon completion of his training. Following Sadow's death, Nadd abandoned Yavin 4 for Onderon, located outside Republic space, with the intention of rebuilding a more formidable Sith Empire. After establishing himself as the leader of the capital city of Iziz, Freedon Nadd began to exile those who questioned his authority; some of whom survived in the perilous jungles surrounding the city, forming a tribe of hunter-gatherers. Onderon continued to suffer from Nadd's legacy even after his death, as a cult devoted to his memory, known as the Naddists, caused chaos among the planet's inhabitants. When Jedi Master Arca Jeth attempted to relocate Freedon Nadd's remains to Onderon's moon Dxun, the Naddists, led by Onderonian King Ommin, attacked and seized both Nadd's remains and Jeth himself. Ommin then retreated to Iziz. The Republic's army converged on the planet and attacked Iziz, but was too strong and devastated the city. After the battle, Freedon Nadd's remains were transported to Dxun and entombed within an armored tomb.

In 4250 BBY, the Jedi experienced a third Great Schism on Coruscant following Nadd's death, when a faction of Jedi succumbed to the dark side and initiated a war against the Order. Following a brief civil conflict on Coruscant, the Jedi forced the surviving dark side adherents to retreat to the Vultar system, where they discovered that the system's planets were artificial constructs. Seeking to inflict maximum destruction, the Dark Jedi attempted to manipulate the machines, but were unable to control the massive Cosmic Turbine that powered the system, resulting in their swift annihilation along with the entire system.

Over time, Ossus flourished as a Jedi stronghold, safeguarding a wealth of knowledge and treasures within Odan-Urr's extensive archives, known as the Great Jedi Library. The Jedi High Council assumed a more proactive role in the Order's affairs, and Four Masters oversaw the construction of a grand Temple on Coruscant to accommodate Order members working directly with Republic representatives. At Ossus' zenith in 3996 BBY, the talented and inquisitive Jedi Exar Kun, intrigued by the Golden Age of the Sith, traveled from Ossus to Dxun, where he located Freedon Nadd's tomb. Nadd's spirit corrupted Kun, and the young Jedi yielded to the dark side of the Force. After visiting Korriban, Kun proceeded to Yavin's fourth moon, seizing control of Naga Sadow's ancient fortresses and enslaving the Massassi race to advance his ambitious schemes. Destroying Nadd's spirit once and for all, Exar Kun proclaimed himself the rightful heir to the ancient Sith legacy, which was believed to have been extinguished. News of this unsettling development prompted the Jedi High Council to convene a conclave on Deneba to address the growing Sith threat. During the conclave, the Krath, a secret dark side society, attacked the Jedi with war droids. Led by Aleema and Satal Keto, the Krath assassinated the legendary Master Arca Jeth, who sacrificed himself to save his student Ulic Qel-Droma's life. After repelling the Krath, the Jedi regrouped and returned to Ossus.

Seeking vengeance for his master's death, Qel'Droma devised a clandestine mission to infiltrate the Krath and dismantle them from within. However, the Krath suspected him of espionage, injecting him with a Sith poison. Consequently, Qel'Droma succumbed to the dark side and became a Krath general. Simultaneously, Sith acolyte Exar Kun journeyed to Cinnagar to locate and eliminate Ulic Qel-Droma. However, their duel was interrupted by the spirit of Marka Ragnos, who commanded them to cease their conflict and forge an alliance, declaring them Dark Lords of the Sith. United, the Dark Lords waged war on the Republic, enticing young Jedi from Ossus and corrupting them to the dark side. In a bold move, Exar Kun raided the Great Jedi Library, stealing the Dark Holocron after murdering the legendary Master Odan-Urr. Elsewhere, Qel-Droma defeated Mandalore the Indomitable, the leader of the Mandalorians, and with their leader vanquished, the Mandalorian Crusaders pledged their allegiance to the Sith.

Qel-Droma's Krath and Mandalorian forces laid siege to Coruscant, launching a full-scale assault on the Republic's heart. Jedi forces on the capital were limited, as their temple remained a small hermitage. Internal strife between Qel-Droma and Aleema Keto allowed the Republic to achieve a victory by capturing Qel-Droma and forcing his forces to retreat. In Republic custody, Qel-Droma was tried before the Galactic Senate on Coruscant for war crimes. During the hearing, Dark Lord Exar Kun entered the Senate Hall and executed the Chancellor before a stunned audience, later striking down the wise Master Vodo-Siosk Baas. Freeing Qel-Droma, Kun contacted his acolytes within the Jedi Order to assassinate their former Masters in a successful uprising that resulted in numerous Jedi deaths. Culminating their attack on the Order, the Sith Lords triggered the supernova of the suns in the Cron Cluster using Naga Sadow's Sith flagship, which they had discovered on Yavin 4. The exploding stars unleashed a devastating shock wave through space, heading directly towards Ossus. Forewarned of their impending doom, the Jedi frantically attempted to salvage as many artifacts as possible from the world while initiating a mass evacuation. In a surprising move, Exar Kun and Ulic Qel-Droma arrived on Ossus as the Jedi scattered, seeking to plunder the Great Jedi Library. In the upper levels, Master Ood Bnar buried several priceless artifacts just before the Sith arrived. As the Sith attempted to strike him down, Bnar called on the Force to transform his body into that of a tree, a technique natural to the Neti. Meanwhile, Qel-Droma dueled his brother Cay and killed him in his anger. Confronted with the finality of his actions, Qel-Droma's will crumbled, and he was severed from the Force by the Jedi Nomi Sunrider. A broken man, Qel-Droma surrendered to the Republic and was escorted off Ossus as it was engulfed by the supernova's shock wave.

With Qel-Droma in Jedi custody, Exar Kun realized that his secret forces on Yavin 4 were in danger. To avert his ultimate defeat, Kun performed a ritual that drained the life force from every Massassi on the planet, separating his spirit from his body and binding it to his temple. When Jedi forces arrived on the planet, they unleashed a Force-based assault, trapping Kun's spirit within his temple indefinitely. With both Sith Lords defeated and the Mandalorian Crusaders vanquished on Onderon, the Jedi Order had finally ended the Great Sith War. With many great Masters dead and the fortress world of Ossus rendered uninhabitable, Master Nomi Sunrider convened a conclave on Exis Station to formally address the Order and initiate the healing process. With the entire Order in attendance, Sunrider accepted the leadership role and set about rebuilding the High Council. Furthermore, the Jedi headquarters was relocated to Coruscant, with significant expansions to the existing enclave to accommodate the entire Order. Relics and texts salvaged from Exis Station after the destruction of Ossus were transported to Coruscant as a new Jedi Archives was established within the Temple. In addition to her efforts in rebuilding the Order, Master Sunrider ordered the creation of an underground city on Yavin 4 to aid the planet's ecological recovery and ensure that Kun's spirit never returned.

As the Order settled on Coruscant, Krynda Draay, a renowned Jedi Seer, felt compelled to prevent another war like the one that had recently plagued the galaxy and claimed numerous lives, including her husband, Barrison Draay. Resigning from the Order and isolating herself within her late husband's expansive Galactic City Estate, Draay began the arduous task of training an army of Seers without the High Council's knowledge. Perceiving the Order as growing complacent, the respected Master established the Covenant, a clandestine organization dedicated to identifying and addressing any shatterpoints that could facilitate the resurgence of the Sith. With her son, Lucien Draay, leading the First WatchCircle, Draay and her loyal retainer Haazen guided their operations on Taris as they sought a dangerous Sith artifact known as the Muur Talisman.

The Mandalorian Wars marked the beginning of the Jedi Order's decline. These events coincided with a vision experienced by four Jedi Masters—the Consular members of the Draay's Covenant's First WatchCircle—who foresaw chaos within the Jedi Order and the Republic, along with indications that one of their Padawans might be responsible. The Masters decided to take action, but only succeeded in murdering four of their own Padawans who were close to Knighthood. Their actions also triggered widespread civil unrest on Taris—which subsequently rendered the planet vulnerable to the Mandalorians—alienated Padawan Zayne Carrick from the Order, and inadvertently dissolved their own group, as the High Council split them up and reassigned them to various postings throughout the galaxy. As each WatchCircle member began to die under mysterious circumstances mirroring their vision of impending doom, one of them, Master Xamar, revealed the Covenant's existence to the High Council and confessed his crime. As the High Council moved to secure the Draay Estate, it became apparent that the venerated Master Krynda Draay was no longer in control; Haazen, her retainer and secret Sith Acolyte, had seized power and descended into madness. Sending Covenant members against the Jedi Temple and hijacking ships from the Republic Navy, Haazen ultimately and inadvertently destroyed the estate and himself through an orbital bombardment.

The Mandalorians, under the leadership of Mandalore the Ultimate, began to conquer planets left defenseless after the Sith War. By incorporating the weapons and technology of their victims, the Mandalorians rapidly amassed a formidable army, and their territory expanded swiftly. The Republic's attempts to halt the Mandalorians proved ineffective, and Mandalore exploited this weakness by directly attacking Republic space. The Jedi High Council declined to intervene, citing the need for caution and reluctance to engage in further bloodshed after the significant losses incurred in the previous war. The Council's decision was met with disapproval by many young Jedi who, led by Jedi Knight Revan and his friend Alek, openly defied the Council and led the Republic's forces into battle. Revan employed Mandalorian tactics against his adversaries, willingly sacrificing one planet to secure victory on a more crucial one. Under Revan and Alek's leadership, the Republic liberated numerous planets, and the war's final battle took place on Malachor V.

During the battle, Revan killed Mandalore in single combat and annihilated the remaining Mandalorian forces, bringing the war to an end. The Mandalorians had been defeated by a worthy adversary and destroyed their armor and weapons as a sign of respect. While the Republic hailed Revan and Alek (later known as Malak) as heroes, the High Council was deeply angered. Ordering all so-called Revanchists to return to the Coruscant Temple for judgment, the High Council's summons were only heeded by General Meetra Surik. Appearing before the Council, Surik was stripped of her titles and exiled for her role in the destruction of Malachor V. Additionally, Jedi Master Kreia, Revan's former mentor, was exiled as the Council believed her 'gray' stance on the Force had led her students, particularly Revan, down the path of the dark side.

At the conclusion of the Mandalorian Wars, the Jedi Revan and Malak mysteriously vanished into the Unknown Regions, ostensibly pursuing the last remnants of the Mandalorian fleet. Unbeknownst to the Order or the High Council, the two Jedi had followed clues to the planet Dromund Kaas, where they discovered that the Sith Empire had secretly survived and was ruled by the enigmatic and immensely powerful Sith Emperor. Driven by haste and curiosity, Revan and Malak confronted the Emperor without alerting the Republic. Unable to defeat him, the Emperor corrupted the Jedi and dispatched them back to the Republic as the Sith Lords Darth Revan and Darth Malak. Returning to the Republic with their loyal followers, the newly christened Sith Lords initiated a second war, exploiting a Republic already weakened by the Mandalorians and capitalizing on the large number of Jedi who remained willing to follow them.

The Jedi Civil War stands as a profoundly emotional conflict in galactic history, as it set mentor against apprentice, father against son, and friend against comrade. While the initial stages of the war lacked a clear victor, it soon became evident that Revan's Sith armada was expanding rapidly, quickly overwhelming the Republic with its seemingly endless forces. Revan's vast fleets and strategic brilliance led to the fall of countless worlds. Determined to avoid repeating their mistakes from the Mandalorian Wars, the High Council conceived a plan to eliminate the enemy's source: Revan himself. During a pivotal battle, a small Jedi strike team, spearheaded by Bastila Shan, a young Jedi Padawan possessing the extraordinary ability of battle meditation, infiltrated Darth Revan's flagship with the intent of capturing the Dark Lord. In the midst of the confrontation, Darth Malak, positioned on a separate vessel, saw an opportunity to easily defeat Revan and seize the title of Dark Lord of the Sith. He then fired upon his master's ship, hoping to eliminate both Revan and the Jedi adversaries. Although the Jedi successfully escaped with the wounded Revan, Malak achieved a critical triumph, becoming the new Dark Lord of the Sith and commander of the entire Sith armada.

Malak shifted his war strategy against the Republic, relying primarily on overwhelming force rather than intricate tactics. Adhering to Sith tradition, he chose his own apprentice: the former Jedi, Darth Bandon. As the Republic and the Jedi faced increasingly dire circumstances, they became increasingly reliant on Bastila Shan's battle meditation to gain an edge against the ever-growing Sith Empire. Consequently, Darth Malak prioritized Shan as a target, aiming to destroy the Republic's last hope of resisting his armies. During a battle above Taris, Shan's ship, the Endar Spire, sustained irreparable damage, forcing the young Jedi to evacuate to the planet below. As fate would dictate, two other survivors eventually joined Shan on Taris: Carth Onasi, a distinguished Republic soldier and war hero, and a low-ranking officer recently transferred to Shan's command. However, the key to the war's outcome rested in the identity of this seemingly insignificant soldier.

Onasi and Shan, joined by additional companions, successfully escaped the destruction of Taris and sought refuge at the secret Jedi Enclave on Dantooine, where their third companion was initiated into the Order and they learned of the Star Forge's existence. The Jedi Council tasked their small group with locating Star Maps on various planets to uncover the Star Forge's location, believing it to be the source of Malak's power. Throughout their quest, the group encountered and defeated numerous Sith minions, including Darth Bandon. Their mission faced a major disruption when they were captured by a Sith fleet command ship. Following a daring escape, Onasi, Shan, and the new Jedi Padawan confronted Darth Malak himself. This encounter unveiled a shocking truth: Darth Revan had not perished, but had instead been rendered comatose by Malak's attack and rescued by the Jedi, specifically Shan. The Jedi Council had implanted a new identity into his damaged mind, that of the low-ranking officer who was now a Jedi Padawan. Darth Revan had been traveling alongside Shan and Onasi throughout their journey.

Upon escaping Malak and recognizing his true identity, Revan resolved to complete his mission and eliminate his former apprentice. Eventually, he and his companions discovered the Star Forge's location and launched a joint attack with the Republic against it. Revan successfully infiltrated the massive factory, the source of the Sith's boundless armada, and defeated his former apprentice Malak once and for all. Despite the victory over Malak and the apparent defeat of the Sith, the High Council and the Order generally distanced themselves from Revan and his wife, Bastila Shan. Considered outsiders, Revan and Shan remained outside the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, while their relationship with the Order became increasingly strained. Plagued by debilitating Force visions, Revan eventually departed for the Unknown Regions in search of answers.

The Jedi Civil War inflicted significant damage on both the Jedi and the Republic, leaving them highly susceptible to attack. Following the war, the High Council convened a conclave on the planet Katarr to reorganize and refocus the Order. It was at this gathering that Darth Nihilus, a member of the Sith Triumvirate, assaulted the world and extinguished all life from its surface. This attack resulted in the near-annihilation of the Order, with only around a hundred Jedi surviving across the galaxy. Immediately afterward, Triumvir Darth Sion deployed his legions of Sith assassins to hunt down the remaining Jedi in the first Jedi Purge. Recognizing the increased danger posed by Jedi gatherings, the surviving members of the High Council disbanded the Order, with the remaining Jedi Masters concealing themselves on planets throughout the galaxy in hopes of uncovering the true origins of the new Sith threat without endangering others. The Jedi Temple on Coruscant was completely abandoned, and the severely damaged Jedi Enclave on Dantooine was reduced to a desolate ruin.

Meetra Surik, a former Jedi also known as the Jedi Exile, who had been severed from the Force and exiled by the High Council years prior, sought out the remaining Councilors in hiding, aiming to assemble a group to combat the Sith Triumvirate's threat to completely destroy the Jedi. As she traversed the galaxy in search of the hidden Jedi, Surik trained several of her companions in the ways of the Force. She located Vrook Lamar on Dantooine, Zez-Kai Ell on Nar Shaddaa, and Kavar on Onderon. The three former Councilors then reunited with Surik at the rebuilt Jedi Enclave on Dantooine. They decided to exile her once more and sever her completely from the Force, believing she posed a threat to all living beings around her. As they attempted to execute their plan, Kreia, Surik's mentor, killed them and revealed herself as the third Sith Lord, Darth Traya, before abandoning Surik on Dantooine. Surik's revival coincided with the Sith attack on the Republic, and she journeyed to Telos IV to confront the Sith Lord Darth Nihilus. Surik defeated Nihilus on his flagship above Telos, before traveling to Malachor V to eliminate Darths Traya and Sion, the remaining Sith Lords.

Ultimately, the group of individuals Surik trained, known as the Lost Jedi, would, as Darth Traya had foretold, unite to re-establish a new Jedi Order. As the Order gradually reformed, Surik persuaded Masters Shan and Atris to return to Coruscant and the abandoned Jedi Temple there, commencing a slow rebuilding process. Training a new generation of Jedi, Surik re-established the High Council with the assistance of her companions from the war, and the Order and the Galactic Republic embarked on a lengthy and gradual recovery. In time, Surik witnessed the Jedi Order flourish once more, but she was haunted by recurring dreams and a beckoning from beyond known space. Leaving the Republic and the Order behind, Surik departed Coruscant to search for Master Revan and the darkness he had sought beyond the galactic rim.

The Republic and the Order were under the impression that the Sith Empire had been utterly destroyed following the Great Hyperspace War; unbeknownst to them, a lone Sith Lord evaded Chancellor Pultimo's assault on Korriban and established himself as the new Sith Emperor, continuing the reign of the Sith Empire in the Unknown Regions. This Emperor was responsible for corrupting Revan and Malak, and he later imprisoned Revan for a second time after his return to Dromund Kaas following the Jedi Civil War. In 3681 BBY, the Sith Empire emerged from hiding and launched a surprise attack on the Republic and the Jedi. Unbeknownst to the Republic, the Sith had already infiltrated several planetary governments, the Republic itself, and the Order, enabling them to achieve numerous victories. As Jedi and Republic forces fought back, the Mandalorians, under the leadership of Mandalore the Lesser, joined the conflict on the side of the Empire. The war ultimately lasted 28 standard years. In 3653 BBY, while peace talks were underway on Alderaan, the Sith launched a surprise attack on Coruscant, devastating the planet, killing the Chancellor, and nearly destroying the Jedi Temple. With Coruscant under their control, the Sith presented the Republic with the Treaty of Coruscant. The Treaty called for peace but was heavily skewed in favor of the Sith, demanding that the Republic cede several long-held territories and withdraw Republic forces from current battlefields, leaving planets defenseless against Imperial occupation. With limited options, the Republic accepted, bringing an end to the Great War.

Although officially labeled as minor skirmishes between rogue elements of the Republic and Sith Empire, the Cold War saw both sides supporting coups, revolutions, assassinations, and even full-scale civil wars throughout the galaxy. With the Temple on Coruscant in ruins, the Order briefly lacked a home before Jedi Knight Satele Shan returned from the Deep Core with coordinates to the lost planet Tython. As Jedi scouts prepared the planet for recolonization, the Order mourned the loss of Grand Master Zym over the ruins of the Coruscant Temple and the defection of Master Dar'Nala to terrorism. As a new Temple arose on Tython, the Jedi resettled their ancient homeworld and began to rebuild slowly. With Shan appointed Grand Master, Jedi explored Tython's forests and ruins, reconnecting with their roots and growing stronger in the Force. Elsewhere in the Republic, planets like Balmorra and Alderaan became major battlegrounds where both sides engaged in treaty violations, but provided unofficial support; throughout the galaxy, the Great Galactic War was reigniting.

Numerous new heroes emerged during this period of time; these heroes, from both the Republic and the Sith Empire, grew in power and significance, eventually becoming key figures for their respective sides, as many significant individuals fell during the Cold War. Jedi Order members remaining on Coruscant formed a special Jedi delegation within the Senate, while others attempted to safeguard the ruins of the Jedi Temple and protect any remaining treasures. It was believed that these new heroes would lead the Republic and Sith Empire into an all-out war more devastating and dangerous than any previous conflict.

The illusion known as the Cold War inevitably ended, and the Galactic War erupted on a galactic scale, proving to be even more brutal than any previous war. The Jedi Order quickly mobilized to compete with the Sith Empire and various third parties, all at their peak strength and boasting numerous powerful heroes. Engaging in full-scale warfare once more, Sith and Republic forces clashed, while the constant threat of betrayal loomed over everyone. Despite the abundance of traitors and third parties, they did little to prevent the Republic and Empire from continuing their conflict. The Great War witnessed the emergence of some of the Republic and Empire's bravest and mightiest heroes, which only heightened tension and alarm, adding to the chaos already present in the Great War.

This immense conflict resulted in the defeat of various third parties and their leaders, such as Darth Malgus, leader of his own rebellion, and Bouris Ulgo, leader of House Ulgo of Alderaan. The Dread Masters of the Sith Empire were freed, and the destructive nature of this new war radiated throughout the galaxy, slowly devastating it. After a prolonged and arduous conflict, the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic emerged victorious, and the Sith Empire of old was finally defeated. The Jedi Order returned to Coruscant, abandoning Tython indefinitely, and began to rebuild the Jedi Temple slowly with financial assistance from the recovering Republic. A new era of peace began, but it was destined to be short-lived.

For generations, the Republic remembered the horrors of the Old Sith Wars and the near extinction of the Jedi Order that resulted from that conflict. Few, however, could have anticipated that a much larger conflict would soon engulf the galaxy. From within the Order's ranks, Jedi Master Phanius, one of the Order's most promising members, became fascinated by the forbidden knowledge of the Sith. Defying the High Council, he absconded into deep space with a Sith holocron stolen from the Jedi Archives. Phanius assumed the long-vacant title of Dark Lord of the Sith, adopting a new name and identity: Darth Ruin. Over the following years, Ruin gathered a large following of dark side adherents and surviving Sith clans, establishing the New Sith Empire. With this army, Ruin intended to bring the Republic, and the Jedi who served it, to their knees. Initiating what would become a thousand-year war, Ruin's empire quickly fragmented, tearing apart the Republic and the Jedi Order while simultaneously destroying itself from within. Throughout the conflict, the Order suffered from ineffective leadership, constantly hindered by a politically motivated High Council. To counteract the Order's poor management, several Jedi left Coruscant to establish baronies and kingdoms on the Rim, protecting their subjects in exchange for fealty and military service. These so-called Jedi Lords formed a loose confederation under the guidance of a Jedi Grand Council composed of the most powerful Lords, waging war against the Sith Empire and eliminating any Sith minions who encroached on Jedi territory.

In 1010 BBY, the High Council elevated their protégé Skere Kaan to the rank of Master, dispatching him into the galaxy to cripple the Sith Empire. They did so despite knowing Kaan's extremist views and his belief that the Order and the Republic were responsible for the galaxy's state. Taking a group of like-minded Jedi with him, Kaan declared himself Dark Lord and formed a Brotherhood of Darkness, issuing a warning to all surviving Sith: join the Brotherhood and pledge allegiance, or face death. True to his promise of death to those who refused to join, the High Council congratulated Kaan for swiftly eliminating the worst of the Sith Lords. Kaan openly mocked the Order and their gratitude, declaring war on them and vowing to burn their Temple to the ground. Enraged by the Council's ineptitude, Lord Hoth rallied those loyal to him and assembled a great force known as the Army of Light. Gaining the support of the last Grand Council of the Jedi and every remaining lord, Hoth harassed the Brotherhood along its flank until the Army of Light had gained enough combat experience to strike at the Brotherhood's core. Meeting the Brotherhood in open battle during a series of campaigns on the planet Ruusan, the conflict raged through seven fierce battles, claiming many lives on both sides. At the conclusion of the seventh battle, Lord Kaan—nearing defeat and driven mad by the power of the dark side—unleashed the horrors of the thought bomb in a cave system, engulfing every Force-user on the world.

The New Sith Wars were over. The Jedi Order had survived once more, despite the deaths of nearly every member of the Army of Light on Ruusan, and the Sith were presumed to be wiped out to the last individual. However, one had survived: Darth Bane. He and his successors would hide from the Republic and the Jedi, secretly plotting revenge under the Rule of Two.

With the Sith believed to be extinct, the Jedi were confident that they had finally established a lasting peace in the galaxy. Following the passage of the Ruusan Reformation in the Senate and its approval by the High Council, both the Jedi Order and the Republic renounced militarism, disbanding their vast armies and navies. From that point forward, the galaxy would rely on smaller Planetary Security Forces and the Judicial Department to assist the Jedi in maintaining peace.

The wave of change sweeping the Republic enabled forward-thinking Jedi to make vast strides in the Order's structure during the first years of peace. Under the leadership of Grand Master Fae Coven, the Jedi High Council gained more influence, and many informal rules were codified. Adults were prohibited from entering the Order after Ruusan demonstrated their volatility and susceptibility to the dark side's influence. They would renounce all ties to the outside world—to wealth, material possessions, and even family. Training would now be conducted on a strict one-to-one basis and centralized on Coruscant. With the far-flung academies of the past, the temptation of delving into forbidden knowledge was deemed too great for members of the Order. Many remote, satellite training facilities were closed, and the Temple on Coruscant became the Order's central hub. The Trials of Knighthood were firmly established to ensure that all Knights were tested fairly and equally. Coven also ensured that her changes would be known by every Jedi by drafting and distributing throughout the Order personal copies of The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force, a guidebook provided to each member of the Order.

Alongside Master Coven's efforts to solidify the Order, Caretaker of First Knowledge Restelly Quist and the other members of the Council of First Knowledge were determined to completely erase all memory of the Sith to prevent their return. Dispatching Shadows to locate and retrieve all Sith artifacts, relics, and even history books detailing past Jedi-Sith conflicts, the Order effectively eliminated all memory of the Sith in under five decades.

Over the next thousand years, the Jedi Order experienced a period of great prosperity, marked by enhanced training programs and a peaceful era for the Galactic Republic. The incident on Almas, involving the fallen Padawan Kibh Jeen, revealed to the Jedi Order that a Sith had survived the events on Ruusan, establishing a new Rule of Two. Initially dismissing the Sith as a minor concern, it wasn't until the schemes of Darth Tenebrous and his apprentice Darth Plagueis in the Fobosi District around 53 BBY, that the Jedi Order sensed the dark side of the Force on Coruscant for the first time in almost a millennium.

By 32 BBY, the Jedi once more became aware of the Sith's presence. Darth Sidious, secretly contacted members of the Trade Federation, including Nute Gunray and Daultay Dofine, ensuring Gunray's appointment as Viceroy through the use of a specialized battle droid, which, alongside the Federation Ruling Council's droids, eliminated the Council members. Through a series of cunning plots, Sidious manipulated Gunray to demonstrate to the Republic that trade embargoes would not intimidate him, leading to a blockade of the remote planet Naboo. In response, the Supreme Chancellor dispatched Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, to negotiate a withdrawal by the Trade Federation.

However, the Neimoidians attempted to assassinate the Jedi, forcing them to seek refuge on an invasion vessel bound for Naboo. There, Jinn encountered and saved a Gungan named Jar Jar Binks. Binks guided Jinn and Kenobi to the Gungan city of Otoh Gunga. Despite initial reluctance, the Gungan High Council eventually permitted the Jedi to use a bongo to reach Naboo's capital, Theed. In Theed, the Jedi rescued Queen Padmé Amidala from a droid escort. The group then escaped to Tatooine to repair the Queen's starship, and then proceeded to Coruscant. Realizing the Senate's inability to resolve her predicament, Amidala returned to Naboo. With the assistance of the Gungan Grand Army and a young boy named Anakin Skywalker, the Queen and her Jedi protectors triumphed over the Federation's Droid Army. However, during a decisive lightsaber duel between Jinn, Kenobi, and Sidious's apprentice, Darth Maul, Jinn was killed. Fueled by his master's death, Kenobi attacked the Sith, seemingly killing him. With Darth Maul defeated, the Jedi knew that a Sith was still active, but Sidious's identity remained a mystery.

During the decade after the Invasion of Naboo, Jedi Master Dooku, the Count of Serenno, departed from the Jedi Order to lead a coalition of corporations, including the Trade Federation and the Commerce Guild, known as the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Unbeknownst to the Jedi, Dooku had been recruited by Darth Sidious and become his apprentice, renamed Darth Tyranus.

In 22 BBY, Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, his Padawan Anakin Skywalker, and Padmé Amidala, a young Senator from Naboo, were captured by Dooku on Geonosis in the Outer Rim. Scheduled for execution, they were rescued by a group of over two hundred Jedi, led by Mace Windu. In the Petranaki arena, most of the Jedi were killed, and the remaining few formed a circle, surrounded by Confederate droids. Before their demise, Grand Master Yoda arrived with thousands of clone troopers, secretly commissioned by Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas. The clones saved the surviving Jedi, marking the beginning of the First Battle of Geonosis, and thus, the Clone Wars. The Jedi attempted to prevent Count Dooku's escape from Geonosis. Obi-Wan Kenobi was wounded in a duel with Dooku, and Anakin Skywalker lost an arm. Master Yoda led the clones and Jedi to victory, but allowed Dooku to escape to save Kenobi and Skywalker. Of the hundreds of Jedi in the rescue team, less than fifty survived the opening battle of the war.

Within weeks, the Clone Wars escalated into one of the largest conflicts in galactic history. The Jedi Order played a crucial role, serving as generals in the vast Grand Army of the Republic, a role that troubled the Order and led to the deaths of thousands of Jedi. This transformation caused shifts within the Jedi Order. Some saw the Clone Wars as a chance to save the Republic, while others viewed their involvement as a corruption of their core beliefs. Some members broke away to form groups that maintained their ideals without compromise. Others felt the Jedi Order approached the war from the wrong direction, leading them to create their own factions that fought the war as they saw fit. The Jedi Schism also threatened the unity of the Order, as some Jedi did not want to fight. To counter the Jedi's Force abilities, Dooku enlisted the help of Dark Jedi and Gen'Dai bounty hunter Durge. Dooku had many Force-using subordinates, the most feared being Sora Bulq, Aurra Sing, Asajj Ventress, and Quinlan Vos, who acted as a double agent.

Four months after Geonosis, the Jedi Order faced their greatest threat in the war against the Confederacy: General Grievous. On Hypori, Grievous was revealed to the Republic and the Order as a killing machine, slaying several Jedi and wounding other high ranking members of the Order. On Jabiim, the Jedi suffered heavy losses, and although they managed to evacuate the planet, all except one of the Padawan Pack, a group of Padawans orphaned when their Masters either were killed or disappeared, perished. The sole survivor was Anakin Skywalker, who was slowly becoming more famous.

Toward the end of the war, the Separatists retreated from many bases in the Core Worlds and the Colonies to Fortress worlds in the Mid and Outer Rim after defeats by the Republic. This boosted the morale of the Republic, and Chancellor Palpatine and the Jedi deployed almost every fleet available to CIS worlds in the Outer Rim, laying siege to the Separatist strongholds to force the Confederacy to surrender; however, the Sieges led to the deaths of many senior Jedi. On Boz Pity, the Order lost several members but removed Asajj Ventress from the war while Sora Bulq and his Morgukai Shadow Army were defeated on Saleucami. The citizens of the Core were led to believe that the end of the war was near, and that the Confederacy would be brought to justice in the near future. In truth, the Sieges were the work of Darth Sidious, intended to lure forces away from Coruscant.

In 19 BBY, with most of the Republic's army and the Jedi engaged in the Outer Rim Sieges, the Separatist fleet, led by Grievous and Dooku, launched a week-long siege against Coruscant. Thousands of Vulture droids and Droid tri-fighters bombarded the capital, and Confederacy C-9979 landing craft deployed hundreds of millions of battle droids and tank droids onto the streets, causing extensive damage. The Republic responded by deploying its clone forces against the CIS droids. As the battle raged in space, Grievous and his IG-100 MagnaGuards kidnapped the Supreme Chancellor, after defeating several Jedi and wounding Council member Shaak Ti. Grievous transported Palpatine to his flagship, the Invisible Hand. Several Jedi piloting starfighters tried to intercept Grievous, but failed. Realizing they had been lured from Coruscant, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi returned from Tythe to rescue Palpatine, who was held aboard Grievous's flagship, the Invisible Hand. Dooku injured Kenobi, but Skywalker disarmed him, and at the Chancellor's command, the young Jedi Knight ruthlessly beheaded the Dark Lord, delivering a significant blow to the Confederacy and releasing Palpatine.

After the battle over Coruscant, the Jedi learned from Anakin Skywalker that Palpatine was Darth Sidious, responsible for initiating the war. Mace Windu led a group of Jedi Masters to arrest Sidious, but Sidious killed all four Masters with Anakin Skywalker's help, who fell to the dark side and became Darth Vader. Palpatine later used this event as propaganda, claiming it was a Jedi coup attempt, justifying the Great Jedi Purge in which most Jedi were killed.

Immediately after Order 66 was issued, ordering all clones to eliminate their Jedi commanders, Darth Vader went to the Jedi Temple to kill the remaining Jedi. Accompanied by the 501st Legion, Vader killed all the Jedi, including the younglings, and altered the signal emitted by the Temple's emergency beacon to instruct Jedi to return. Sidious then sent Vader to Mustafar to eliminate the remaining Confederacy leaders, ordering him to send a deactivation signal to shut down the droid forces, ending the war. Order 66 successfully eliminated 99% of the Order and the High Council, ending the Order's dominance as a Force tradition and destroying most of their temples and academies.

In a final effort to save the Republic and the Jedi Order from extinction, Jedi Masters Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi, prominent survivors of Order 66, embarked on a mission to destroy the Sith. Kenobi confronted Darth Vader on Mustafar, while Yoda challenged Darth Sidious in the depths of the Senate building (who had just proclaimed himself Emperor of the Galactic Empire). Vader was defeated, losing limbs from lightsaber injuries, requiring a mobile life-support system to survive. The battle between Yoda and Sidious ended in a stalemate, forcing Yoda to flee. With Yoda and Kenobi in exile, Darth Sidious saw the Sith rise to galactic dominance.

Despite the loss of many senior Jedi, numerous Jedi survived Order 66. Sidious, now Emperor, used Darth Vader and the Inquisitorius to hunt down the remaining Jedi. Some Jedi chose to fight the Empire, such as Roan Shryne and those at the Conclave on Kessel. Others hid, like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda. Many Jedi fell to Vader, Inquisitors, Emperor's Hands, and even bounty hunters seeking to end the Order's influence. Sidious, as Palpatine, used rumors of Master Shadday Potkin's failed conclave on Kessel to establish Vader as a symbol of fear for the Empire, warning those who opposed him. The official report by Sate Pestage stated that a large group of Jedi attempted to kill Vader but descended into madness and infighting, while the survivors were executed.

During the Purge, Vader trained a secret apprentice to overthrow Palpatine. Between 3 and 2 BBY, the apprentice was sent to find and kill surviving Jedi such as Shaak Ti, Rahm Kota, [Maris Brood], and Force-sensitives on Felucia as training, with Rahm Kota being the only survivor. In 1 BBY, Emperor's Hand Mara Jade discovered Jedi Master An'ya Kuro, the Dark Woman, hiding on Cophrigin V. Darth Vader arrived to kill Kuro. By this time, the Great Jedi Purge was over, and the Empire would, but still deal with another conflict, the Galactic Civil War. Prominent survivors of the Great Jedi Purge included Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, A'Sharad Hett, Empatojayos Brand, K'Kruhk, T'ra Saa, Qu Rahn, Echuu Shen-Jon and Ood Bnar.

Despite the great loss of life, the former Grand Master had set in motion a plan, a final hope for the Order. Unknown to the Sith, Anakin Skywalker had fathered two extremely powerful children. His son, Luke Skywalker, was trained in the Force by Master Kenobi and Grand Master Yoda, eventually sending him to defeat the Sith. In a climatic battle, Skywalker defeated his father and the Emperor over the Sanctuary Moon of Endor, and brought an end to Darth Bane's line of Sith. In the decades following the Sith defeat, Skywalker would begin the slow rebuilding process as he gathered together the last remnants of the Order's membership and artifacts. Training a new generation of Jedi, Skywalker's Order materialized, struggling to gain a foothold in a galaxy rife with war and violence.

During the Force Wars, the first Jedi established a central political entity known as the Jedi High Council. This Council, composed of influential minds, served as the Order's governing body and later as an advisory board for the Office of the Supreme Chancellor after the Order joined the Republic. The High Council consisted of twelve members, a tradition dating back to the Great Hyperspace War.

The Jedi High Council's membership was determined by the current Council, featuring a mix of terms. It included five lifetime members, four members who served until they chose to resign, and three short-term members who rotated regularly. This approach ensured fresh perspectives and focus within the Council. While typically limited to Jedi Masters, exceptions were made for Knights with unique insights or in transition to Master status. A notable case was Anakin Skywalker, appointed by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine in 19 BBY during the Clone Wars. The Council accepted the appointment but declined to grant him the rank of Master.

For several generations, the Order was managed by three additional Councils, each overseeing specific responsibilities. The Council of First Knowledge supervised the Jedi academy within the Coruscant Temple, along with satellite training academies and libraries. Its members provided advice based on historical context. These Jedi, often former High Council members, offered insights from past decisions and mistakes. The Council of Reconciliation collaborated with the Republic Diplomatic Corps to facilitate the integration of new member worlds into the Senate, assigning Jedi Diplomats and Ambassadors to implement treaties and welcome new populations. The Council of Reassignment managed the Jedi Service Corps, placing individuals who failed the Jedi Trials or were deemed unsuitable for the path of Jedi Knights.

These four Councils' decisions shaped the Republic and the Order. The High Council's refusal to intervene in the Mandalorian Wars led to the rise of the Revanchists and the Jedi Civil War, nearly destroying the Order. After recovery, the Council adopted a more aggressive stance, culminating in the New Sith Wars, where they effectively ruled the Republic as a military dictatorship. Following the Ruusan Reformation, the First Knowledge Council purged references to the Sith, erasing their legacy from the galactic populace. A millennium later, during the Clone Wars, the Jedi served as generals and military advisors before facing near-destruction by the resurgent Sith.

As Jedi received instruction in the ways of the Order and the Force, each member progressed through various ranks.

• Jedi Initiate (also known as Youngling or "Jedi Hopeful") – These Force-sensitive children, the youngest members of the Jedi Order, were designated as Initiates upon commencing their shared training within clans. Jedi seekers traversed numerous planets across the galaxy in search of children with Force abilities; after discovery, blood tests were mandatory, and the Initiates were either, in rare instances, taken from their families or, more commonly, found as orphans and subsequently brought to a Jedi academy for structured education. [1]
• Jedi Padawan – After being chosen to receive personalized instruction from a Jedi Knight or Jedi Master, Initiates were granted the title of Padawan, a term originating from the ancient Je'daii Order . Following the successful completion of the Initiate Trials , a student became eligible for this rank, typically around adolescence, and continued their training away from the academy. According to tradition, Padawans of species with hair would wear a long braid behind their ear; Padawans without hair were encouraged to adopt jewelry, tattoos, or other forms of body modification. A Jedi Knight or Master could only mentor one apprentice at any given moment. The Padawan had to achieve the rank of Jedi Knight before another apprentice could be selected, a rule instated after the Great Sith War . This policy could be overturned if the Order faced a decline in numbers, necessitating a single master to train multiple students. If a student repeatedly failed the Initiate Trials or was not chosen by a Master, the Council of Reconciliation would assign them to the Jedi Service Corps . Depending on the student's aptitudes, this could involve the Agricultural Corps , the Medical Corps , the Educational Corps , or the Exploration Corps . Alternatively, a student could opt to leave the Order altogether if this role proved unsuitable. [1]
• Jedi Knight – After almost ten years of individual training with a master, a Padawan who had shown discipline could attempt the Jedi Trials . If they passed all the tests, the High Council would sever their braid, marking the start of their life as a Knight. No longer tied to a master, Knights could accept missions from the Council, pursue specialized training in one of the three Knighthood branches, or take on their own Padawan. [1]
• Jedi Master – A Knight who demonstrated a deep understanding of the Force and successfully guided a Padawan to the rank of Jedi Knight was promoted to Master by the High Council. While self-proclamation of the title was discouraged and uncommon later in the Order's history, it was more frequent during times of war or disbandment. Among the Masters, only a select few were chosen for the Jedi Councils. These Councils, composed of experienced and wise Masters, had varying levels of membership to ensure diverse perspectives as events unfolded. The High Council consisted of 12 masters, with five holding lifetime positions, four holding long-term positions, and three holding short-term positions. The elected leader of the Council was known as the Master of the Order and was often the acting Grand Master , the overall leader of the entire Order. [1]

The Jedi Service Corps comprised various organizations overseen by the Council of Reconciliation, serving as an alternative or supplement to standard missions assigned by the High Council. While the majority of the Corps consisted of Initiates who had not passed the Jedi Initiate Trials, many Padawans, Knights, and Masters also joined due to their specific skills.

Agricultural Corps The Agricultural Corps was the largest of these organizations. AgriCorps members utilized their Force powers to tend to crops across the galaxy, helping to feed millions of Republic citizens. Collaborating with the Republic Agricultural Administration, the AgriCorps promoted the idea that the Living Force could overcome drought and famine. Primarily composed of lifelong members who had failed their trials, the AgriCorps maintained bases on Salliche, Taanab, and Ukio.

Medical Corps In the Medical Corps, young Jedi learners who were not chosen as Padawans employed their healing abilities to care for the sick throughout the galaxy. Unlike the AgriCorps, the MedCorps typically had only a few dozen students and instructors at any given time. Operating an infirmary in the Halls of Healing on Coruscant, MedCorps members worked alongside doctors and specialists from the Galactic City Medical Center to treat the planet-city's inhabitants.

Educational Corps The Educational Corps consisted of students still undergoing training. Supervised by the Chief Librarian, EduCorps members stationed at the Temple on Coruscant cataloged and translated data within the Archives.

Exploration Corps The Exploration Corps was tasked with exploring the Unknown Regions and studying the history of the Jedi and the galaxy. With refueling centers at nearly every Republic Ordnance or Regional Depot, the galaxy was their domain for exploration. Working closely with the Republic Survey Corps and the Intergalactic Zoological Society, the ExplorCorps had the highest proportion of Knights and Masters within its ranks.

Throughout its history, the Jedi Order frequently encountered disagreements regarding the interpretation of the Jedi Code, leading to the emergence of new minority viewpoints within the Order. These perspectives, often marginalized and ostracized, were sometimes tolerated despite concerns about the resurgence of the Sith and the Dark Side.

Altisian Jedi Established by Jedi Master Djinn Altis, the Altisian faction adhered to several principles that were frowned upon by the mainstream Jedi Order, including allowing masters to train multiple apprentices, initiating adult Padawans, and permitting Jedi to have families. Leaving the Jedi Temple in its final decades, Altis and his followers traveled the galaxy, providing aid as relief workers on underdeveloped worlds and in remote areas.

Corellian Jedi True to their people's rebellious nature, Corellian Jedi maintained a strong connection to their home system and were reluctant to adhere to the Order's rules of emotional detachment. Consequently, they received a waiver allowing them to remain in the Corellian system, raise families, and train their own children as Padawans. Over time, they developed a unique cultural identity within the Jedi Order, characterized by traditional green robes, commemorative medals, and renowned dynasties like the Halcyon family.

Paladins Founded by Jedi Master Teepo during the New Sith Wars, the Teepo Paladins and later the Gray Paladins acknowledged that Jedi were as reliant on the Force as they were on sustenance or air; however, they cultivated skills and techniques that didn't rely on the more ostentatious aspects of the Force. While they didn't completely reject lightsabers, they believed Jedi should use whatever weapon they were most proficient with, with many opting for blasters and other forms of combat, both armed and unarmed. They became experts in martial arts like Teräs Käsi and esoteric weaponry like spinsticks, rather than relying on Force-enhanced acrobatics and speed. Teepo and his followers were viewed with suspicion as potential darksiders. Despite not being formally part of the Order, some continued to reside at the Jedi Temple.

Iron Knights Established by Jedi Master Aqinos, the Iron Knights were Force-sensitive crystalline Shards trained as Jedi, who required droid bodies to interact with the physical world. The Jedi Council, however, was appalled that Aqinos had taught inorganic crystals about the Force, believing they couldn't truly comprehend it. Aqinos was excommunicated, and the Iron Knights followed him.

Potentium Founded by Jedi Master Leor Hal, the Potentium asserted that viewing the Force held no inherent evil. They argued that what others referred to as the light side was simply the Force itself, which was inherently good. Therefore, what others called the dark side was a corruption of the Force, twisted by its users. Potentium followers believed that the potential for light and dark resided within the user, not the Force itself. Consequently, they believed there were no dark side actions or Force techniques; any action, good or evil, could be performed without risk as long as the intention was not malevolent. The adherents of Potentium were expelled from the Jedi Order, and some of these outcasts colonized Zonama Sekot.

Members of the Jedi Order, from Masters to Padawans, were encouraged to adhere to a set of principles encompassing self-discipline, responsibility, and public service. These principles were succinctly and effectively expressed in the Jedi Code.

Attribution for the transcription of the code in its classic form is given to Homonix Rectonia, drawing from the Code of the Je'daii Order. Later, Odan-Urr refined it by removing the fourth line, although Grand Master Fae Coven restored the Code to its original form.

The Code was not a rigid set of rules, but rather a collection of general guidelines that Jedi were encouraged to consider in their duties. Numerous Jedi teachings elaborated on and interpreted the Code over the millennia. These rules, created and embraced by the Jedi Masters, were crucial for a Jedi's development. They encouraged Jedi to overcome personal obstacles such as pride and materialism, to understand their modest yet significant place in the galaxy, and to give equal consideration to every being and perspective.

Throughout much of the Republic's history, the Jedi enjoyed considerable respect from both the Senate and the general population. Despite often being blamed for ancient conflicts and galaxy-spanning wars with the Sith, centuries of service to the Republic earned them a reputation for fairness and loyalty. As the Republic declined into corruption and division in its final decades, the Jedi struggled to uphold the ideals that the Republic's leadership disregarded or manipulated for their own gain.

Most citizens never encountered a Jedi. Many learned about the Jedi through education and history, or inevitably heard about their exploits in the news; however, their numbers were too small relative to the vastness of the Republic and its billions of inhabitants to be highly visible. Furthermore, the Jedi tended to isolate themselves in their temples and training centers, away from the public eye. Consequently, most citizens had no personal connection to or experience with a Jedi, and understood the Force even less.

The Clone Wars brought the Jedi into the public spotlight as they assumed command of clone military units and fought the Separatists. The worlds they saved regarded them as heroes, while the Separatists viewed them as another problem with the Republic. Jedi commanders became hated enemies of Separatist forces. The public witnessed Jedi exploits daily—both positive and negative—but the Jedi remained separate and aloof from most.

Chancellor Palpatine manipulated Jedi missions during the war, often setting them up for failure or exposing dishonorable actions in the process. As the Jedi transitioned from peacekeepers to warriors, they lost some of their public appeal. Palpatine's masterstroke involved manipulating the Jedi's attempt to arrest and expose him as a Sith Lord into appearing as a coup attempt, which he used as the final justification for declaring himself Emperor. Close Jedi allies were shocked by the accusation and watched helplessly as Palpatine achieved his long-suspected goals: total power and control over the galaxy.

The public, however, readily accepted his narrative. Scenes of clone troopers willingly firing on their Jedi commanders convinced many that Palpatine's accusations must be true.

Historically, the Jedi Temple on Coruscant served as the Order's last major headquarters, functioning as its administrative center and housing the largest active Jedi academy in the galaxy, as well as the extensive Jedi Archives. Prior to the Coruscant Temple, the Order had been headquartered on Ossus for the longest continuous period until the planet's destruction during the Great Sith War, and briefly on Tython, the Order's homeworld, both at its inception and during the Cold War. In addition to the main academy, the Jedi Order maintained outposts on numerous worlds and operated mobile academies throughout its history.

The Jedi Temple on Coruscant served as the primary Jedi headquarters from the end of the Great Sith War in 3996 BBY until the beginning of the Great Jedi Purge in 19 BBY. Despite its impressive appearance, the Jedi Temple was a relatively new structure compared to some of Coruscant's older buildings. It was built on land granted to the Jedi Order by the Senate after Naga Sadow's attempted invasion of the capital in 5000 BBY. The Senate hoped that a significant Jedi presence on the capital would make the planet less vulnerable to invasions. From this location, the four Jedi Councils managed the administrative, strategic, and spiritual needs of the Jedi Order, ensuring it met the needs of the Republic and its vast population.

Initially, the Jedi were hesitant to build a citadel on the land granted by the Senate, believing that the Order was not a military organization and that a military-oriented building would contradict their code. Instead, the Council authorized the construction of a meditative and training center, which also helped preserve the rapidly diminishing natural environment of Coruscant. Over time, the original center expanded significantly in size and complexity, eventually resembling the sprawling world on which it was located. New chambers within the Jedi Temple included the Room of a Thousand Fountains, which housed a large greenhouse with flowing waters and cascades. The expansive temple also included lightsaber training areas and spaces offering views of vast holographic star maps.

The Jedi Temple featured five spires, one for each of its four Councils and a larger spire containing the sacred manuscripts of the founding Jedi. The Jedi High Council chambers were located in the southwest tower, while the Council of Reconciliation chambers were in the southeast tower. The northeast and northwest towers were occupied by the Council of Reassignment and the Council of First Knowledge, respectively. Although the Temple was sacked numerous times throughout the Order's history, the Old Jedi Order last abandoned the facility following Operation: Knightfall. As part of the execution of Order 66, Darth Vader led the 501st Legion into the Jedi Temple with the intent of destroying the Jedi. While the Temple was not destroyed, it was severely damaged, with smoke visible from afar. The structure proved to be the most resilient of all Jedi temples, continuing to serve as the Order's home after Luke Skywalker rebuilt the Order. The rebuilt Temple served as the Order's home on and off for several generations before being occupied by the One Sith at the end of the Sith–Imperial War.

The fortified world of Ossus served as the Jedi's home for the longest continuous period, from the Jedi migration from Tython around 25,000 BBY until its destruction during the Great Sith War. The centerpiece of the Jedi-controlled planet was the Great Jedi Library, an immense library constructed for Jedi students under the direction of Odan-Urr around 5000 BBY. The library served as a repository for all types of knowledge, while the world functioned as a training center for many Jedi students. The vast amount of information in the library was organized in various ways based on age and importance. Most of the data was stored on reader tapes and holographic media, but some of the older knowledge was kept on traditional paper scrolls and books. Although the ancient books and scrolls were eventually translated into electronic formats, the Chamber of Antiquities preserved the original writing for historical purposes.

The library also contained knowledge forbidden to the Jedi, such as ancient Sith holocrons, which Odan-Urr decided to keep. The Draethos Jedi Master reasoned that all knowledge, even knowledge of evil, could be useful in the defense of justice. Access to these holocrons was restricted to those approved by the Jedi Council and Odan-Urr (as the [Keeper of Antiquities]), and even then, they were only permitted to do so under strict supervision. During the height of the Great Sith War in 3996 BBY, fallen Jedi Exar Kun visited Ossus to recruit new members for his cause. While there, he entered the Chamber of Antiquities and killed Odan-Urr to obtain a Sith holocron. Afterwards, Ossus became a battlefield for the Jedi/Republic army, which eventually defeated the Sith Empire. Meanwhile, a supernova threatened to destroy the planet. After Ossus was evacuated, Exar Kun and his apprentice, Ulic Qel-Droma, arrived at the Great Jedi Library to plunder the remaining artifacts before the supernova's shockwave destroyed them. However, Neti Jedi Master Ood Bnar thwarted the two darksiders by transforming into a powerful tree, sacrificing his life to protect a vault of lightsabers from Kun and his apprentice.

The Jedi Enclave on Dantooine was a secret Jedi training center located on Dantooine before the Jedi Civil War. The Enclave consisted of multiple levels, with the first level including a council chamber, sparring rooms, and dormitories. The sublevel contained common rooms, classrooms, a medical bay, and an archive room accessible only to Jedi Masters. The Enclave was built around a courtyard that opened onto Dantooine's plains. At the center of the building was a circular open-air room with trees along a walkway.

The Dantooine Jedi Enclave Council held its meetings in a small council chamber similar to the one on Coruscant and had jurisdiction over the Jedi in the part of the Outer Rim that included Dantooine and Taris. Around the time of the Jedi Civil War, the Council was responsible for healing Darth Revan's shattered mind and implanting a new identity, as well as retraining him in the ways of the Jedi after the destruction of Taris. The Council was dissolved after Darth Malak's bombardment of the Jedi Enclave during the Jedi Civil War, which left the Enclave in ruins, abandoned and reoccupied over the following centuries.

Tython, the birthplace of the Jedi Order, was devastated at the end of the Force Wars and quickly abandoned by a Jedi Order that wanted nothing to do with a growing Galactic Republic. Tython remained untouched for millennia as the Order flourished on Ossus and later Coruscant. Forgotten by many, it was not until the Cold War that Jedi Satele Shan rediscovered the hyperlanes to the lost world and established a new Temple there. As the Jedi Order relocated from Coruscant to their lush new home, Tython's mysteries were explored by eager young Padawans and curious Jedi archaeologists. Despite a significant recolonization effort by the Jedi during the Cold War, Tython was eventually abandoned once more, left as an ash-covered wasteland.

The Jedi Order originally appeared in the rough draft as the Galactic Emperor's bodyguard. In the second draft, they became affiliated with the Republica Galactica. Later, when providing background information for licensees in 1977, George Lucas described the Jedi Order as numbering "several hundred thousand" before the Purge.

Lucas drew inspiration for the word "Jedi" from the Japanese term "Jidaigeki," which refers to dramas set during the Edo period of Japanese history, when samurai were active.