The Force Wars represent a decade-long series of battles fought on the planet Tython. These conflicts occurred over seven centuries before the establishment of the Galactic Republic. These wars are recognized as the initial clashes between adherents of the light and dark aspects of the Force. Initially, the Force Wars were triggered by an invasion conducted by the forces of the Rakatan Infinite Empire.
The origins of the Force Wars on Tython can be traced back to the period following the Despot War. This war involved the armies of Hadiya, the queen of Shikaakwa, against the Je'daii Order. Around 25,800 BBY, Je'daii Master Daegen Lok strayed from established teachings and ventured into the Chasm beneath the Anil Kesh temple. There, he and his companion Hawk Ryo were overwhelmed by a disturbing Force vision. In this vision, they witnessed a dark warrior army wielding blades of frozen fire advancing across Ska Gora, led by a being distinguished by a single red eye. To counter this, they envisioned themselves leading the Je'daii forces against this impending menace. Driven to madness by the visions, Lok succumbed to the dark side of the Force, and was brought before the Je'daii Council for interrogation. Despite his fervent pleas, the Council dismissed Lok's vision and warning, exiling him to the moon of Bogan until he disavowed his vision and restored his balance within the Force. During his seven years of solitary exile, Lok dedicated himself to carving a massive mural depicting himself wielding the fiery blade, alongside numerous depictions of the weapon.
Even with the Rakatan threat lessened, a division arose within the Order between Daegen Lok's adherents and the Je'daii Council. These groups eventually became defined by opposing ideologies: the use of the Ashla, or the light side of the Force, to gain knowledge, and the followers of Bogan, or the dark side of the Force, to seize power. Both factions employed traditional metal swords enhanced with the Force, while the Bogan Je'daii also wielded Forcesabers in combat. When the Ashla Je'daii reformed into the Jedi under the guidance of a High Council, prospects for peace seemed promising until the betrayal of the esteemed Master Rajivari. Fortifying themselves within Kaleth, Rajivari's followers fought until their demise, ultimately suffering defeat.
In 25,783 BBY, a catastrophic event devastated the planet's ecosystem, making it uninhabitable. The surviving Ashla Je'daii fled to the Rim, eventually establishing a settlement on Ossus 730 years afterward.
Although the fledgling Galactic Republic prohibited travel to Tython, the Jedi Order occasionally made brief returns. However, they did not reestablish their presence on their homeworld until the Cold War, after Satele Shan rediscovered the planet, shortly after the signing of the Treaty of Coruscant. During the Galactic Civil War, rumors circulated about a hidden temple on the planet, purportedly housing the Jedi's secret treasures.
The Force Wars were a subject of study for Padawan students at the Jedi academy on Coruscant as part of Mrs. Pilton's History of the Jedi Order course. Roan Novachez demonstrated a weakness in his understanding of this topic. His report card for the third semester of the course revealed a B+ grade, accompanied by a note indicating that his studies were "excellent, with the exception of his comprehension of major events during the Force Wars."