The Great Citadel, more formally known as the Sith Citadel by the reconstituted Sith Empire, was a fortress erected by the old Sith Empire. It was situated on Ziost at some point preceding the Great Hyperspace War. Functioning as the capital city, it also served as the assembly point for the Sith Council.
Perched precariously atop a cliff on the planet Ziost, the Sith Citadel not only rose above the surface but also plunged deep into the planet's core. Its upper reaches were built with somber gray granite, contrasting with the icy caves that formed its lower levels. It was a [vergence](/article/vergence-legends], radiating potent dark side energies. A kilometer-long path, paved with precisely cut black stone slabs, provided access to the citadel's primary entrance.
The Sith Empire, having abandoned their previous capital world of Korriban, constructed the Sith Citadel well before the outbreak of the Great Hyperspace War. The initial purpose was to establish Ziost as the new heart of Sith power, with the citadel acting as both palace and central hub.
Following Ajunta Pall's arrival on Korriban alongside his Dark Jedi, and the subsequent formation of a new Sith Empire, he ordered the construction of his Citadel directly upon the palace of Hakagram Graush.
The capital was left behind after the Sith suffered defeat in the Great Hyperspace War, leading to their retreat from Ziost, along with other worlds like Korriban. Despite this setback, the empire endured. A new empire was secretly established, with Dromund Kaas becoming the new capital world. Subsequently, "Kaas City" became the empire's new primary urban center, taking the place of the Sith Citadel.
Around 3680 BBY, the Sith Empire made its return to Republic space, initiating a bloody war. At some point, they successfully reclaimed their former capital world. However, rather than restoring the citadel to its former status as the planetary capital, the Sith chose to construct New Adasta, a city that eclipsed the ancient fortress.
During the New Sith Wars, Seviss Vaa, a member of the Brotherhood of Darkness, conducted research on the worlds of the Sith Empire. His recordings, stored within the Telos Holocron, included mentions of the Sith Citadel.
Thousands of years later, Lumiya paid a visit to the citadel sometime before the Second Galactic Civil War. While searching for the Amulet of Kalara, Ben Skywalker explored the citadel alongside Kiara Olvidan.