Elite Protectors of the Sovereign were the distinguished bodyguards serving Darth Sidious, the Galactic Emperor and Sith Lord who returned from death to command a fresh Sith Empire. These crimson-armored sentinels were regarded as the most skilled soldiers within the secret army of Sith troopers rigorously trained by the Sith Eternal cult.
These Sovereign Protectors maintained their positions on the planet of Exegol, specifically within the throne room of the Sith Citadel, ensuring the Emperor's safety. Following his first death, the Emperor's weakened state meant he relied on an Ommin harness for survival. During the Battle of Exegol, the Jedi Rey and Ben Solo triumphed over the Sovereign Protectors, leaving the Emperor vulnerable to confront the Force dyad alone.
The Sovereign Protectors acted as the premier bodyguards for Darth Sidious, the Dark Lord of the Sith and reborn Galactic Emperor who aimed to take back the galaxy to establish a new Sith Empire. Based on the ancient Sith planet Exegol, their duty was to provide security within the Sith Citadel—including the chamber that contained the Throne of the Sith—on Exegol, an old Sith planet located in the Unknown Regions.
In 35 ABY, the Sovereign Protectors engaged in combat against the Jedi Rey and Ben Solo during the Battle of Exegol. Initially, these crimson-clad bodyguards appeared to guard the resurrected Sith Lord as he spoke to Rey regarding her potential destiny to rule as Empress of the Sith. They encircled Rey, blocking any chance of escape and further pressuring her to accept Sidious' proposition. Unbeknownst to the Emperor or them, Ben Solo had arrived on Exegol utilizing a TIE scout and was rushing to Rey's location. Rey then pretended to agree to the Emperor's conditions and followed the ceremony's rituals until the moment arrived to strike down her grandfather. The Protectors remained vigilant during the ritual until it became clear that the girl was not complying with the plan. Solo killed numerous guardsmen using a blaster pistol before the Knights of Ren confronted him, while the guards inside the throne room opened fire on Rey after she refused her grandfather's plea to succeed him.
The moment Rey ignited Leia's lightsaber in defiance of Darth Sidious' proposal, the Emperor retreated into his mechanics while the Protectors simultaneously moved forward to eliminate the youth. Despite having a numerical advantage, none of the Sovereign Protectors managed to harm Rey, whose bond with Solo amplified her Force powers. The Jedi apprentice defeated all but one of the guardsmen by using her command of the Force to redirect their blaster fire back at themselves and their comrades. The last Sovereign Protector was defeated through the telekinetic skills of Solo, who arrived in the throne room to stand alongside Rey as a dyad in the Force.
This military rank, similar to the Old Empire's Royal Guard, was held by individuals who served as the personal protectors of Darth Sidious. Within the Sith Eternal, only the most exceptional Sith troopers from their army's ranks could attain such a position.
Clad in red and black armor that resembled that of a Sith trooper, a Sovereign Protector wore a crimson full-body cape attached at the neck, reminiscent of the old Imperial Royal Guard, along with a specialized two-pronged blaster rifle. The Protectors' helmets closely resembled those of standard Sith troopers, but featured a lip extending from the headpiece above the eye slit, similar to that of a wet-weather gear stormtrooper.
The Sovereign Protectors made their debut in Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker, which premiered on December 20, 2019.
Within Star Wars Legends, Palpatine had the Imperial Sovereign Protectors, who shared similarities with the Sovereign Protectors in canon.