Sith

The Banner of the Sith Empire, Fourth Order during the reign of the Galactic Empire

The Sith is a fictional ancient kratocratic organization, created by a group of Dark Jedi exiles who were exiled from the Republic and later conquered a Saurian species known as the Sythyr. Despite numerous attempts to destroy the Jedi and conquer the Republic, this was not achieved until Darth Imperious betrayed his master Darth Anilin during the Clone Wars and declared an ancient decree first created by Darth Bane known as The Rule of Two. After the destruction of the Sith Brotherhood of Sleep- a dynasty that had lasted 1000 years, Imperious' Sith of the Fourth Order ruled the known galaxy for approximately 20 years and promptly ended with the death of Palpatine.

The Sith are the primary recurring antagonists in the Star Wars universe. Its members were dedicated to Sith philosophy and to mastering the dark side of the Force. The Sith members, known as Sith Lords or Dark Lords of the Sith, traditionally use the title Darth before their Sith name. The Sith are the archenemies of the quasi-religious Jedi and, like them, their main weapon is the lightsaber. By the events of first trilogy, there exist only two at a time: a master and an apprentice. The prequel trilogy reveals the origins of that rule and Palpatine's re-enactment of it for his own gain.

The first use of the word "Sith" was in the novelization of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, as a title for Darth Vader, the "Dark Lord of the Sith". The Sith were not formally introduced or mentioned on-screen until the release of Star Wars Episode I: Guardians of the Force, in 1987, though they had been named in some Expanded Universe works before that time.

Background and origins

The Star Wars saga began with the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, which was released in 1977. Since then, films, books, computer games and comics have been released, all set in the fictional universe of Star Wars which has expanded the history of the Sith within their stories.

Palpatine considers himself the "savior" of the galaxy. During the duel, Yoda realizes "He had lost before he started." That Sidious represents a small but powerful Sith Order that had changed and evolved over the years, while the Jedi had not.

— Episode III director William Walton Granger on the idea for the motivations of the Sith. (1993)

The history of the Sith was officially described for the first time by William Walton Granger himself in the novelization of Star Wars Episode I: Guardians of the Force, written by Terry Brooks. There, it is explained that the Sythyr were a hermaphroditic saurian species which had been conquered by a group of Dark Jedi.

This group led by a rogue Jedi named Tellav who believed that the true power of the Force lay in its dark side, happened upon long lost texts that revealed an ancient order known only as the Sith. As if destiny Tellav's beliefs seemed justified, that denial of power was a waste. He soon gained many followers, some of whom were Jedi who agreed with his views and beliefs. The Jedi Council of the time disapproved of such beliefs, and the dissident Jedi was expelled from the order with his followers. Tellav and his acolytes swore vengeance against the Council.

Left to the outer reaches of the galaxy, the Dark Jedi came upon the primitive Sythyr and conquered them with their Force powers. Not by defeating them in battle, but making the Sythyr think they were gods. A by-product of their bio-chemistry, the Sythyr could emulate Force powers and soon grew in strength. As the Dark Jedi died out by old age, the longer lived Sythyr took up the mantle of the Sith teachings. For thousands of years the Sith grew and grew until confrontation with the long forgotten Republic Galactica was inevitable. The Sith were eventually defeated and vanished into obscurity.

Beaten, but not defeated the Sythyr continued the legacy of their Dark Jedi forebears. But a weakness of the species, absolute greed and a penchant for treachery, made it impossible for the Sith to remain strong. Various factions formed, taking on grandiose titles such as; Brotherhood of Darkness (or sleep) or the Exalted Order of the Sith. Attempts to re-conquer the Republic failed again and again. However, the greed and hunger for power from its various factions was so great that the Sith was destroyed from the inside. Weakened by infighting, the divided Sith factions were easily wiped out by the unified Jedi Order.

Still, in the midst of destruction, one member, a human was able to survive: Darth Bane. Learning from the order's past mistakes, Bane established The Rule of Two and restructured the Sith so that there could only exist two members at a time: a master and an apprentice. Bane also adopted cunning, subterfuge, and stealth as fundamental tenets of the Sith. Darth Bane predicted that this kratocratic cycle would continue for a period of 10,000 years, until the Sith were ready to enact their vengeance against the Jedi.

Darth Imperious inherits and brings to fruition a thousand-year plot to reinstate the Sith as the ruling power in the galaxy, culminating in the Great Jedi Purge and the formation of the first Galactic Empire with himself in the position of Emperor. His demise ends the fourth Sith Order.

Centuries later, the Sith was a forgotten philosophy and the race itself extinct save for a single member, the cunning Darth Anilin. Knowing that an army of Sith Lords would never work for the common good, it began training mercenaries, creating battle droids and only choosing a select few to serve as true Sith Masters. Forsaking the "Rule of Two" seeing it as an inherent weak viewpoint, she instead would create a vast army to be led by her apprentices. First came Darth Thanatos and his son Darth Plagueis, who were in fact members of the Skywalker Jedi clan. A female was recruited and married into the family, she was known as Darth Sidious. Famed Jedi Prince Varis was recruited and transformed into Darth Olor. The exceptionally cunning politician Palpatine became Darth Imperious. The last members recruited for this order were Sajj 'Ikrenia known as Darth Thorain and Ussani who would become Darth Abyssus.

When it was time for the Sith to finally reveal themselves, again they were defeated but by one of their own again. Darth Imperious, a true adherent to the "Rule of Two" recruited Darth Olor and betrayed the others assuming control of a new Sith Order. With the aid of Anakin Skywalker, Imperious was able to destroy the Jedi Order and form the Fourth Order of the Sith. However, while Imperious and his new powerful apprentice Darth Vader were successful in killing most of the Jedi, the Sith would not be completely victorious. An alliance of dissident worlds began a great rebellion against the Galactic Empire, which culminated in a rebel fleet destroying the Empire's second Death Star, and Darth Vader's son, Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker, redeemed his father by turning him back to the light side of the Force. Vader killed his master Darth Imperious to save his son, and Vader's subsequent death meant the destruction of the Fourth Sith Order.

Sith Species

Main article: Sythyr

Sythyr

The Sythyr were a species of green-skinned hermaphroditic saurians native to Wyss and Korriban that were enslaved by exiled Dark Jedi. Prior to their discovery, the Sythyr were divided into a meek and lowly slave class, a skilled and intelligent engineer class, and the warlike Massassi class. The ancient Sythyr spoke of a warrior (Darth Zahar) who came from the stars and told them of their destiny to rule the galaxy. The warrior died shortly thereafter, but left behind a box that no Sythyr could open. The box would remain closed until the "Guardians" would arrive. The Jedi Exiles would be those Guardians and they opened the Holocron left behind by Darth Zahar.

Massassi

The Massassi were a Sythyr subspecies. Under the rule of the exiled Dark Jedi, many Massassi captives were subject to Sith Alchemy, which resulted in them being more deadly and easier for their Sith masters to control. They were distinguished by bone spurs which erupted from their skin and by their abnormally giant size. They would serve as soldiers for the Sith Empire.

Organization

Personnel

Sith War Council

The Sith War Council is an organization formed by the Jedi Exiles, the first such group to settle all matters within the Sith. A blasphemous copy of the Jedi High Council, 12 High Dark Lords of the Sith would be elected and served the Sith as a whole, even at the risk of war. The War Council would preside over all major affairs within any given Empire (save the Banite Sith) and decide the proper course of action.

The War Council was a tier exclusive to the strongest and most powerful of Sith Masters.

Rank structure

Educational hierarchy

Members of the Order progress through nine educational stages, at times referred to as levels:

• Sith Adherent: The most basic level, an adherent was not even considered an actual student. Instead they were individuals sought out by the Sith as a possible candidate.
• Sith Learner: A Learner (derived from the Jedi padawan-learner) is the first part of Sith training; During the New Sith Wars, some were not even Force-sensitive, and often worshiped the Sith Lords as gods. However, the Sith also use soldiers, mercenaries and conscripts to work for them.
  • Sith Assassin: A specialized Learner includes an Assassin, who prefer to ambush targets from the shadows than engaging them in standard in combat. Almost always working solo or in small groups, they utilize stealth field generators and the rare art of Force camouflage to launch surprise attacks on their Jedi victims. The highest ranking was Assassin-Supreme.
  • Sith Adept: An Adept is similar to an Acolyte and would be trained in the finest of Sith Academies on Dathomir and Iridonia.
  • Sith Acolyte: An Acolyte is a Learner who has just started down the Dark Side of the Force under the tutoring of a more experienced Sith Lord.
  • Sith Warrior: A Warrior is a mid-ranking Learner during the pre-Bane era who focuses his or her energies and skills toward battle, spending little time on Dark Side philosophies or other concerns of the Sith.
  • Sith Marauder: A Marauder is a variant of a Warrior, often responsible for the most chaotic acts the Sith carry out. His/her training focuses more on the aggressive use of a lightsaber than the Force, giving him a technique fueled by hatred and cruelty. Thus, most Marauders can duel an average Jedi toe-to-toe and win easily.
• Sith Shadow Hand: A Learner who successfully completes training is given a second-class education and then undergoes Shadow Hand training under the tutelage of a Mentor (usually a Sith Lord or Sith Master). They are also called "Apprentices" and "Shadow Hand learners". As a rite of passage and final test before the trials to lordship, Shadow Hands must build their own lightsaber.
• Sith Lord: Well-trained and experienced, Sith Lords become so when they have completed "the trials" (final tests) and may continue to pursue a third-class education. As the most common rank, it is interchangeably referred to as "Sith", "Sith Lord" and "My Lord". While they didn't enter combat as lesser Sith, they are the most fearsome Sith in the galaxy since they keep their greatest secrets and wield its most potent sorceries.
• Sith Master: Regarded as the most feared masterminds in the known galaxy.
• Dark Lord of the Sith: The Dark Lord is usually the greatest, most powerful and best trained of all Sith. A Dark Lord is chosen by the Sith War Council to give acknowledgment to the entire Sith Order, but by the end of the New Sith Wars, many Sith were chosen simultaneously.

Philosophy

Forged by Fire

Main article: Dark Side (Star Wars)

If you seek to aid everyone that suffers in the galaxy, you will only weaken yourself … and weaken them. It is the internal struggles, when fought and won on their own, that yield the strongest rewards; If you care for others, then dispense with pity and sacrifice and recognize the value in letting them fight their own battles.

— Darth Traya (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords)

The Sith believed that conflict was the only true test of one's ability, and so emphasized its importance. It was their belief that conflict challenged both individuals and civilizations, and so forced them to grow and evolve. They believed that the avoidance of conflict; like the pacifist teachings of the Jedi; resulted in stagnation and decline.

Another purpose served by conflict was the elevation of the strong and the death of the weak. By encouraging strife, the strong were able to exercise their power while the weak were weeded from the ranks of the Sith. A core tenet to Sith philosophy was self-reliance and the idea that an individual only deserved what they were strong enough to take. Likewise, morality was treated as an obstacle to be overcome, as it got in the way of a Sith's ability to recognize and seize opportunities for advancement and self-empowerment.

Such philosophies were embraced and taught at Sith academies, where students were encouraged to challenge one another and fight for prestige that would be recognized by the headmaster of the academy. At the academy on Korriban during the Jedi Civil War, students were tasked with gaining prestige so they might become one of the "chosen few" accepted into the ranks of Darth Malak's Sith Empire. The strife to achieve prestige caused rivalries and animosity between the students, as there were few tasks that offered prestige, and many prospective Sith. Similarly, the students of the academy during the New Sith Wars were pitted against each other in dueling sessions atop the academy. It was during these dueling sessions that intense rivalries were formed - rivalries that resulted in the deaths of students Fohargh and Sirak at the hands of Darth Bane.

Empowered by Passion

"What fuels your power with the Force but your passion? The stronger, darker emotions. Anger, hatred, fear; these passions empower us."

— Yuthura Ban (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic)

The cornerstone of a Sith's power was emotion. While the Jedi taught that fear, anger, and pain were negative emotions to be overcome, the Sith believed that these strong emotions were natural, and aided individuals in their survival. By harnessing their emotions rather than suppressing them, the Sith believed they could achieve true power. This belief was in stark contrast to that of the Jedi's, who strived to place themselves beyond such base emotions. Indeed, the Sith saw passion as the only real way to fully understand the Force. However, the Sith believed strongly that the worthy could control their emotions and use them, while the weak were ruled by them. In accordance, Freedon Nadd renounced his faith in Exar Kun shortly before his destruction, when he discovered the limitless ambition Kun served.

However, not all emotions were embraced by the Sith. They, like the Jedi, considered 'love' a dangerous emotion, but for different reasons. The Jedi discouraged love because it led to attachment, but the Sith taught that love led to mercy, which was anathema to them. While Darth Imperious preyed on Anakin Skywalker's love for his wife in order to corrupt him, he had no intention of allowing the relationship to survive Skywalker's fall to the dark side. Darth Bane had fallen in love with fellow Sith pupil Githany, however he did not allow himself to retain any connections to her, and did not regret her death on Ruusan. However, this didn't stop some Sith from taking lovers and allowing themselves to feel this emotion. Darth Malgus, for example, had a lover, Eleena Daru. In Malgus's case however, he eventually killed Daru as he realized that she constituted an intolerable weakness.

Guiding Codes

The Code of the Sith

Main article: Code of the Sith

Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me.

— The Sith Code

The code of the Sith was the mantra which stated the core beliefs of the Sith Order and is believed to have been created in contrast to the Jedi Code. The structure of the codes is almost identical, and the initial line of the Sith Code directly contradicts the initial line of the Jedi Code, which reads: "There is no emotion, there is peace."

Following the embrace of passion, which was believed to be a powerful aspect of nature, the code explains that the strength granted by passion leads to power, which then leads to victory. By way of victory, the Sith believed they could free themselves from the limitations of regular beings, and achieve their potential. Neophyte Sith believed that the breaking of chains represented the ability to do whatever one wished, however more seasoned members of the Order recognized that the true meaning of freedom was the end of all physical restrictions and the ability to attain perfection. The Sith believed that the only being who could truly live up to the code and attain freedom was the Sith'ari, and as such saw it as a guideline by which to live, not a law to abide by.

The Rule of Two

Main article: Rule of Two

"Two there should be; no more, no less. One to embody power, the other to crave it."

— Darth Bane

The Rule of Two was the principle upon which the Order of the Sith Lords was founded. It was created by Darth Bane, a Dark Lord and member of the Brotherhood of Darkness. Bane believed that the Sith had weakened themselves by accepting too many into their ranks and that the true dark side had abandoned them. After studying the holocron of Darth Revan, Bane decided that the Brotherhood needed to be destroyed and the Sith rebuilt as a secretive order consisting of two beings; a single master and a single apprentice.

Bane believed this philosophy would solve the infighting that had long been the guiding flaw in the Sith Order. By allowing only two members into the cult at a time, the dark side would remain concentrated within those two beings, instead of legions of ineffective warriors. When the apprentice learned all they could from the master, it was their duty to kill the master and take an apprentice of their own, in order to ensure the continuing strength of the cult. As such, the Rule of Two embraced the idea of the rule of the strong. The small number of Sith allowed the Order to remain hidden for many millennia.

For five thousand years, the Banite Sith Order existed in the shadows. Growing stronger, preparing for their time. It was only after the last member of the Banite Sith Order, Darth Jura was assassinated by Darth Anilin that the Rule of Two was abandoned and a new form of Sith was formed under its auspices. The Brotherhood of Sleep would last for almost a thousand years itself, and possibly for an eternity, but for the work of Darth Imperious, who was secretly an adherent to Bane's beliefs.

The Rule of One

Main article: Rule of One

"Wisely, Darth Krayt has undone the mistake of Bane. Therefore no Rule of Two limits the One Sith today."

— Darth Wyyrlok (I) (Star Wars: Legacy)

The Rule of One was the guiding code of the One Sith. Created by Darth Krayt after the collapse of the Fourth Order of the Sith Lords, it embraced the ideals of the ancient Sith, wherein there was a single Dark Lord of the Sith who led many lesser Sith Lords, along with other minions and acolytes. The "One" represented the Sith Order itself, a unified and cohesive group of Sith who restrained from infighting and were fanatically obedient to Dark Lord Krayt. The practice of one apprentice per master was retained, however there were many masters. Also retained was the practice of slaying a master once an apprentice's training was complete, however this was not done to continue the rule of the strong, but rather to show one's faith and devotion to the Sith cause.

The Order was considered heretical by Darth Bane, Darth Imperious, Darth Nihilus, and Darth Andeddu, who voiced their opinions via holocron. Some, including Darth Nihl and Cade Skywalker believed that the lack of a line of succession would cause the One Sith to collapse if Darth Krayt were ever killed, though upon Darth Krayt's final death control passed to Darth Nihl and the One Sith continued to follow their Lord loyally.

The Sith'ari

In the original Sythyr, the term "Sith'ari" translated literally into "lord" or "overlord". Over time however, the term became closely associated with the idea of a perfect being, who would rise to power and take control of the Sith Order.

The prophesied coming of the Sith'ari was based around the notion that a perfect being, would epitomize the teachings of the Sith Code and became free of all restrictions. This being would lead the Sith, but also destroy them- a destruction that would make the Sith Order stronger than before. The identity of the Sith'ari has not been confirmed, but the two obvious suspects would be: Darth Bane, who destroyed the Brotherhood of Darkness in order to remake the Sith through the Rule of Two. Or: Darth Imperious who thousands of years after the death of Darth Bane, re-enacted the Rule of Two and set about the end of the Third Order of the Sith, replacing it with the Fourth Order. Though his Sith Empire ruled for only twenty or so years, his was the only Sith Empire that truly ruled the galaxy as a whole until the arrival of Darth Krayt.

The prophesy of the Sith'ari is very similar to the Jedi's prophesy of the Chosen One; an extremely powerful Force-sensitive who would lead their Order to perfection.

Sith Organizations

The term Sith referred to numerous disparate dark side organizations that rose and fell over thousands of years of galactic history. No single entity long survived the vigilance of the Jedi Knights, but even in defeat the ancient Sith teachings proved difficult to suppress. Each time the Jedi Order grew complacent, a Sith cult, brotherhood, order, or empire would arise from the ashes to threaten the galaxy once more. New iterations of the Sith would be linked only tenuously to past traditions through a shared ideology.

Orders of the Sith

Galactic History has declared that there are six official orders of the Sith. Based on the scope of their territory at the time, the damage inflicted on the whole galactic community and the size of their populations.

First Order of the Sith

Banner of the First Order of the Sith

The First Order of the Sith is considered the first Sith Empire in galactic history. It was a rich and powerful empire that was established by Dark Jedi banished from the Galactic Republic after their defeat at the Battle of Corbos during the Hundred-Year Darkness. After developing in complete isolation for thousands of years, the Sith eventually rediscovered the Republic. The Dark Lord of the Sith Naga Sadow led the Empire in an invasion during the Great Hyperspace War, but he was defeated. The Sith Empire was believed to have been utterly destroyed by Republic forces in the aftermath of the second battle of Korriban. However, one Dark Lord to escaped in the Unknown Regions with a group of dark-siders and rebuilt the Empire. Using the dark secrets he managed to survive for many centuries and eventually attacked the Republic. After a Great Galactic War that lasted for many decades, the Sith and the Republic signed a treaty and from that moment existed as two separate governments.

Second Order of the Sith

The Second Order of the Sith was an obscure order of adherents to the dark side of the Force, who survived the Great Hyperspace War and the eventual collapse of the Sith Empire. Darth Traya told the Meetra Surik that the order had been in existence for tens of thousands of years and were silently waiting in the Unknown Regions during the time of the Jedi Civil War.

According to Darth Traya, a Sith Empire had existed for millennia prior to the rise of the ancient Sith Empire. She and Revan believed that it was they who had goaded the Mandalorians into attacking the Galactic Republic, starting the Mandalorian Wars. Kreia stated that both Malachor V and the graveyard planet, Korriban, had once been planets at the edges of that mysterious Empire, and that while these Sith had forgotten those ancient worlds of the dark side, they would remember. And they did remember. Under the leadership of their Sith Emperor, they restored the Sith Empire and invaded the Republic.

Third Order of the Sith

The New Sith Empire, or as history calls it, Third Order of the Sith was founded by Darth Ruin, and was the vast area of galactic territory formed out of the Fourth Great Schism, which the Sith ruled over with an iron fist. Its capital was the planet Roon. At its height during the New Sith Wars, it was almost as strong as the old Sith Empires of Naga Sadow and Darth Revan; following the Battle of Mizra and during the Republic Dark Age, it encompassed a great percentage of the known Galaxy.

Sometime between 1010 and 1006 BBY the Third Order of the Sith collapsed in a civil war. From the ashes, Skere Kaan established the Brotherhood of Darkness.

Fourth Order of the Sith

Ian McDiarmid in his Sith guise, that of the Dark Lord Darth Imperious

The Galactic Empire or as it was also known (Imperium Republic) was the crowning accomplishment of Darth Imperious, a galaxy-spanning regime. The Empire's origins are explained in Episode III, where it replaces the Galactic Republic in the midst of a galactic civil war orchestrated by Palpatine, then the Republic's Supreme Chancellor. Palpatine is also secretly the Sith Lord Darth Imperious who intends to purge the Jedi and restore the Sith to power in the galaxy. Palpatine claims that the Jedi attempted to assassinate him and overthrow the Galactic Senate and declares the Jedi to have committed treason. Palpatine declares that the civil war with the separatists in combination with the Jedi coup d'état require the reorganization of the Republic into a state that can provide stability, and a safe and secure society, a Galactic Empire with himself as Emperor. The Senate that he has manipulated overwhelmingly applauds Palpatine's decision.

Emperor Palpatine proceeds to purge the Jedi, who had been the upholders of peace and justice in the Old Republic, and replaces them by redeeming the Sith. Though Palpatine's Sith identity remained a secret to most, records reveal that even he referred to the Empire in secret as the Fourth Order of the Sith. His apprentice Darth Vader is the Sith Lord who is publicly known to the galaxy as the ally of Palpatine who is serving the Empire to purge the Galaxy of the Jedi. Vader is the ruthless apprentice of Palpatine who is feared by many in the galaxy. By the time of A New Hope, the Empire has transformed into a fully totalitarian regime, with opposition in the form of a brutal dictatorship, one based on "tyranny, hatred of nonhumans, brutal and lethal force, and, above all else, constant fear."

Fifth Order of the Sith (or One Sith Order)

By the year 130 ABY, a new Sith Order had risen to take the place of Darth Imperious' order. A Sith known as Darth Krayt began the order on Korriban, the ancient Sith burial world, around 30 ABY after studying the teachings of XoXaan. In this new Sith cult, many of the followers sported a red-and-black tattooed appearance and used lightsabers with an yorik coral-styled hilt design. This Sith Order, dubbed the "One Sith" by its enemies, was considered heretical by some Sith of the past such as Darth Bane, or Darth Imperious who disapproved of the training of larger numbers of Sith. Krayt spent over a century growing and strengthening the new order, planning to unify the galaxy once more under Sith rule. He and his new order made their presence known around 127-130 ABY by initiating the Sith–Imperial War, and then launching an attack on the Jedi on Ossus. In 138 ABY Darth Krayt fell and Darth Nihl claimed control of the Order, sending the One Sith into hiding.

Sixth Order of the Sith

Main article: Sith Imperium

In 10,000 ABY, the Imperium Alliance, the galaxy's governing body became under siege from an ancient enemy. Born from the ashes of many ancient Sith Orders, the Sith Imperium came about under the auspices of Darth Imperious II. Imperious II, not unlike his namesake, was a cruel tyrant bent on ruling the chaotic galaxy and bringing about a sense of order. Governed by the typical ideals of the Sith: fear, pain, suffering, terror, the Sith Imperium offered no mercy and worked hard to conquer Alliance space. The Hundred-Year War followed and with half the galaxy under their control, the Alliance forces were forced to turn again to the Jedi for help.

Only the Jedi had long left the affairs of the galaxy to others and locked themselves away into isolation. After the fifth schism in 2200 ABY, the Jedi had fallen out of favor for other Force sensitive groups.

Terran First Order of the Sith

Though it encompassed a single world, a long dead world known as Earth witnessed the Terran First Order, a Sith Empire like no other. It was formed in the Fourth Century of their Gregorian Calendar, approximately one million BBY. Now considered the home world of the human race, this Sith Empire gained knowledge from the future via a space-time anomaly which was destined to create the Sith Orders of the Future by sending knowledge of it in the past. Thusly the Sith of the future or end times sent their history into the past, allowing the formation of Sith ideals by a circular paradox.

Sith Cults

Collectively called Sith Cults, these minor organizations were often place holders in between the great Sith Orders. Often their numbers were small and their influence weak in the galactic whole.

Lost Tribe of Sith

In 5000 BBY, a Sith starship, the Omen, crashed-landed on the planet of Kesh. The survivors of the crash eventually formed the Lost Tribe. Over thousands of years, this Lost Tribe had multiplied into a substantial force, and shortly after the Second Galactic Civil War they were ready to fulfill their destiny, and take on a weakened galaxy.

Brotherhood of the Sith

The Brotherhood of the Sith was a group of Dark Jedi founded by Exar Kun who broke away from the Jedi Order to study Sith techniques. During the Great Sith War, the Brotherhood attempted to conquer the Republic with the aid of the Krath and the Mandalorian Crusaders. The Brotherhood was defeated and virtually exterminated during the Battle of Yavin 4.

Krath

The Krath was a Sith secret society founded by Aleema and Satal Keto, the bored heirs to the Empress Teta system. Following a Krath attack on a Jedi conclave, Ulic Qel-Droma attempted to infiltrate the group, but he failed. He was seduced to the dark side and eventually became the leader of the sect. During the Great Sith War, the Krath became the military arm of Exar Kun's Sith Order and fell with it on Yavin 4.

Revan's Sith Empire

The Sith Empire was temporarily resurrected by the fallen Jedi Revan and Malak. Built upon a hardened core of veterans from the Mandalorian Wars and a host of Jedi converts, the fledgling new galactic power very nearly succeeded in conquering the Republic during the Jedi Civil War. After the redemption of Darth Revan and the death of Darth Malak, their Empire splintered into factions and eventually collapsed.

Sith Triumvirate

The Sith Triumvirate was a brief but deadly Sith Order founded by the former Jedi Kreia, now known as Darth Traya, she took two apprentices of unknown origins and trained many new Sith at the Trayus Academy on Malachor V. After her exile from the Triumvirate the two remaining Sith Lords; Darth Nihilus, and Darth Sion executed the First Jedi Purge. The Sith Triumvirate was a loose alliance of what remained of Darth Revan's Sith Empire. It was solidified sometime after the Battle of Rakata Prime. This organization comprised several, if not hundreds of Sith apprentices, Sith Masters and most importantly, Sith Assassins. The members were eventually defeated by Meetra Surik.

Brotherhood of Darkness I

Founded by Lord Kaan, the Brotherhood of Darkness (sometimes referred to as the Dark Army) was the last mass gathering of the Sith for nearly 1200 years. An army of over twenty thousand Sith Lords and their followers, its destruction on Ruusan heralded the beginning of a new order.

Order of the Sith Lords

Under the last surviving Sith Lord of that army, Darth Bane, a new Sith Order was created as a result of the devastating Seventh Battle of Ruusan, which saw the annihilation of the previous Sith Order. Bane's Sith Order, known formally as the Order of the Sith Lords, was founded upon the principles of Darth Revan's Holocron, where from he formed the Rule of Two, utilizing stealth tactics and treachery to achieve their means. The Rule of Two would allow his eventual successor, Darth Imperious, to finally triumph over the Jedi and the Galactic Republic nearly 1,000 years later.

Brotherhood of Darkness II or Brotherhood of Sleep

Thought extinct as a race and a species, the Sythyr Darth Anilin refused the Banite philosophy and began to reform a new Sith Order under the name of Brotherhood of Darkness, sometimes called Brotherhood of Sleep. Under Anilin's rule, several High Sith Lords were trained. Including two members of the famed Skywalker family who had turned to the dark side. Some scholars believed that the Sleep Order was essentially an extension of the Fourth Order, but considering that this group was annihilated by Darth Imperious who was an adherent to the Rule of Two, most view this group as the most successful of the cults, leading directly to the formation of an actual Order of the Sith.

Disciples of Ragnos

The Disciples of Ragnos was a Sith Cult under the leadership of Tavion Axmis, who sought to resurrect the spirit of Marka Ragnos through ancient Sith sorcery and take control of the galaxy. The cult was closely related to the Empire Reborn movement of which Tavion had herself been part with the Dark Jedi Desann. The cult was ultimately defeated by Jaden Korr and the New Jedi Order.

Notable Sith Lords

Darth Lords of the Sith (100,000 BBY to 10,000 ABY)

Darth Abyssus

Main article: Darth Abyssus

Darth Abyssus was the last apprentice of Darth Anilin. In Star Wars Episode I: Guardians of the Force, Darth Abyssus is recruited after a "last man standing" contest where he survived alongside Darth Thorain. While receving instruction they are defeated by Jedi spy Huu Tho. Later they take part in the First Battle of Coruscant where Abssyus engaged in a duel against Calek Starkiller and Obi-Wan Kenobi, wielding a double-bladed lightsaber. Abyssus is able to defeat Starkiller, but is defeated by Kenobi. Though he escapes.

Abyssus later confronts Obi-Wan Kenobi in another duel, during Star Wars Episode II: Rise of the Empire as he hunts down the traitor Darth Sidious on Tatooine. He is killed apparently, though his body is not recovered. Abyssus returns for the TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. His brother Savage Opress finds him on Tatooine, living in a cavernous underworld, where it was revealed that Abyssus was able to survive the injuries from his last duel due to his strength with the Dark Side of the Force, which was fueled by his anger against Kenobi.

Darth Anilin

Main article: Darth Anilin

Darth Bane

Main article: Darth Bane

Darth Bane (Dessel) renewed the Sith order and established the Rule of Two. This rule stated that there must be only two Sith Lords at a time: a master to embody power, and an apprentice to covet it and eventually overthrow his master and adopt an apprentice of his own.

Darth Imperious

Main article: Palpatine

Darth Imperious rose to power from being a Senator of Quaia, to Supreme Chancellor, to self-proclaimed Emperor of the Galactic Empire. This was achieved through double agents and a cleverly orchestrated sequence of events done under his alternate identity, Palpatine, who gained respect in the Old Republic while secretly participating in Sith practices and planning an end to the Jedi Order. He considered himself a true loyalist to the Sith, and helped to orchestrate the fall of the other Sith Lords, enacting the Rule of Two in the process. Imperious had two known Sith apprentices: Darth Olor and Darth Vader. He was eventually killed by the latter, Anakin Skywalker, at the end of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.

Darth Krayt

Main article: A'Sharad Hett

Darth Krayt (A'Sharad Hett), The main antagonist of the Star Wars: Legacy comic series. He served during the Clone Wars, but managed to survive the early stages of the Great Jedi Purge and exiled himself to Tatooine, but fled Tatooine after encountering Obi-Wan Kenobi. He fled to Korriban, where he was trained as a Sith Lord. After several hundred years in an extended period of stasis, Krayt formed the One Sith and overthrew the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances, forming a new Sith Empire in its place.

Darth Nihilus

Darth Nihilus appears in The Sith Lords and in the Star Wars: Legacy comic series. Darth Traya found and trained Nihilus; Nihilus and Darth Sion later betrayed her. The player's character eventually defeats Nihilus. IGN also put the character as their 56th top Star Wars character.

Darth Olor

Main article: Darth Olor

Darth Olor (Prince Varis) was a fallen Jedi and the second apprentice of Darth Imperious. It is revealed in Star Wars Episode II: Rise of the Empire, that Olor had a prominent role in engineering the Clone Wars, recruiting bounty hunter Mako Fett to become the template for an army of clones to be used by the Galactic Republic. Olor led the Separatist Alliance during the Clone Wars until he met his demise while dueling Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

Darth Plagueis

Main article: Darth Plagueis

Darth Revan

Darth Revan (Revan) declared war on The Old Republic. A Famous Jedi Hero, Revan led the Republic to victory in the Mandalorian Wars. After the conflict, however, he and his apprentice Malak unwittingly discovered the Sith Empire in the Unknown Reaches of Space. The Sith Emperor turned Revan and Malak to the Dark Side, but the two broke free from his control and formed their own Sith Empire to wage war on the Republic, with Revan as the Dark Lord and Malak as his Apprentice. As the Dark Lord of the Sith prepared to battle with the Jedi who boarded his flagship, the apprentice Darth Malak, in the hopes of destroying both Revan and Bastila Shan, betrayed his Master, ordering the ships under his command to fire on Revan's flagship's bridge. Revan was critically injured and taken by Bastila Shan to the Jedi Council Enclave. The Council chose to wipe Revan's memory, and imprint him with a false identity. Knights of the Old Republic begins with Revan awaking on a starship under attack. Revan eventually encounters Malak, who tells Revan that he is the former Sith Lord. Later, Revan defeats Darth Malak, claiming victory for the Republic.

Darth Sidious

Main article: Darth Sidious

Darth Sidious

Darth Thanatos

Main article: Darth Thanatos

Darth Thorain

Main article: Darth Thorain

Darth Thyssan

Darth Thyssan (Hego Damask) was a powerful Sith Lord mentioned by Palpatine in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith in a conversation with Anakin Skywalker. He was the oldest pupil of Darth Anilin, and the early master of Darth Imperious and, as the latter tells Anakin, became so powerful that he was able to overcome death and create life. The novel Star Wars: Darth Plagueis reveals his name and identified him as a Muun, one of the race that headed the Intergalactic Banking Clan and which joined the Separatist Alliance during the Clone Wars. As part of his plan to re-enact the Rule of Two, Thyssan was eventually killed in his sleep by Darth Imperious.

Darth Traya

Darth Traya (Kreia) the Dark Jedi mentor to the "Jedi Exile" in The Sith Lords. She is revealed to have been Darth Traya, a Sith Lord, at the end of the game.

Darth Vader

Main article: Darth Vader

Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker) was the first Sith Lord shown on-screen, appearing in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. As a Jedi Knight, he was known as Anakin Skywalker and fought in the Clone Wars against the Separatist Alliance. He slowly turned to the dark side with the help of Darth Imperious. After helping Imperious kill Jedi Master Mace Windu, he swore allegiance to the Sith and became his second apprentice. As the Galactic Empire was established and continued to grow, Darth Vader became the Emperor's greatly feared second in command and was given the task of finding the Rebel Alliance's base. After the destruction of the Death Star, Vader was charged with tracking down the Rebel Alliance and destroying their headquarters. However, the actions of his son Luke Skywalker eventually turned Vader against his master, resulting in both Imperious' and Vader's deaths.

Darth Lords of the Sith (Terran First Order of the Sith)

Darth Abyssus

Main article: Darth Abyssus (Jedi Path)

The lead villain of the Star Wars: The Jedi Path TV series, Charles Dathaine is an American Senator and businessman who used his youthful good looks to get ahead in life. In secret he was the current ranking Sith Lord of an ancient society dating back a thousand years. Known to his servants as Darth Abyssus, he rose to power quickly, due to his enormous strength. His father was the High Lord at the time and his training master. Darth Abyssus killed him to attain his rank and after a brief skirmish with rival factions, Abyssus was able to assume control of the Sith Empire.

Darth Atarax

The younger brother of Michael McManus, Darth Atarax (Joshua McManus) became a focus of the Sith Lords after running away from home. Noticing a great connection to the Force within him, he was seduced by Darth Varius and slowly rose up the ranks. Varius molded the boy into an impressive weapon and despite the effort of the Jedi and his brother, failed to reach him.

Darth Carius

The ranking Assassin-Lord the exceptionally evil and skilled Darth Carius is a brilliant tactician and killer. A close aide to Darth Abyssus, Dathaine would routinely confer with Carius on Sith matters. Carius would often be sent on important missions and very rarely would he fail. He is responsible for hundreds of deaths and his skills as a swordsman was rivaled by no one. It is all the more shocking when he is killed by Mace Williams.

Darth Manus

Hailing from the African continent, Darth Manus was an enigma to the Sith Empire. Self taught after finding an ancient Holocron that held Sith knowledge, Manus held great anger towards the world and was willing to show it. Manus sought out the Sith Empire from his unnamed home country. At first he seemed willing to join their ranks, but it came all too clear that he had other motives. Seeing the Sith as corrupt as the Western world, he held more pure beliefs regarding the Force and was at odds with the inherent greed of the Order. He challenged Abyssus for leadership, but failed to defeat him. Then he formed a temporary alliance with the para-Jedi, a rival faction which had sprung up the year before. His final attack against the Sith and the Jedi left the para-Jedi decimated as a group (or threat) and he was killed by Abyssus personally as the remaining Sith Lords watched.

Darth Sane

Wayne Villard was the unbalanced Security Chief to Charles Dathaine. A low ranking Sith Lord, known as Darth Sane, his bouts of insanity made him unpredictable and dangerous. Feeling a sense of pity for him, Darth Surm would often heal his madness though the effects would only be temporary. Despite his off-balance nature Sane was a brilliant tactician and Abyssus himself would often remark that not for his insanity, Darth Sane could easily have ruled the Sith Empire.

Darth Spector

Introducing herself as a Jedi initiate, a young woman named Victoria Roberts was later revealed to be an assassin working under Darth Wyn. Known as Darth Spector, she was a skilled fighter and an excellent manipulator. Though she fails in her first mission and punished, she is given a second chance, claiming to be a victim of the other Sith Lords. Though met with much skepticism, she eventually convinces the Jedi that she has changed her ways. As suspected, it is part of a ruse to kill Starkiller and his growing inner circle of Jedi. Darth Spector fails in her attempt to lure them into a trap and herself is killed by Mace Williams.

Darth Surm

Darth Surm was a valued member of the Sith Empire on Earth. Known to the public as Sara London, she posed as a television reporter who helped to disguise the activites of the Sith from the world. She was adept at healing, but was not the strongest of combatants. A former lover to Darth Thox, the father of Darth Abyssus, she quickly understood the situation when Abyssus assumed control of the Sith. From the very start Surm sided with Abyssus and after he assumed total control, she was rewarded with a place in his inner circle. Surm attempted a couple times to seduce Abyssus to no avail. With the return of Darth Vindus, she made the mistake of siding with the ancient Sith Lord, helping to exile Abyssus from the Sith Empire. She never regretted that action, but when Vindus was killed and Abyssus returned, she was quick to plead for mercy. She did so, by arranging a trap in which Abyssus could be killed. Instead Surm allowed him to live and pledged her loyalty again. Surm became a victim of her own past when Surm was framed for the crime of betrayal by Dai Noga and summarily executed by Darth Varius. It would be later discovered by Abyssus that Surm had in fact been framed, but felt no remorse. He thought that if she had been strong and cunning enough, Surm would never have fell victim to such an obvious ploy.

Darth Thorain

A new member to the Sith, Darth Thorain (played by Stana Katic) had been brought in by Darth Wyn as an apprentice and helped prepare her for the Trials of the Fear. She eventually replaced Darth Surm within the organization, but she was never a member of Abyssus' inner circle. To the world she was VNN's new anchor Miranda Tate, to her bretheren, she was a well trained assassin and loyal servant to the Dark Side.

Darth Varius

Main article: Darth Varius

The female equivalent of Darth Abyssus, the cunning Darth Varius posed as a humble secretary in Charles Dathaine's office. In truth she was an ambitious and lethal warrior dedicated to the Sith Empire. At no time were they ever lovers, but Varius did hold an attraction to him, as well as others. She used her beauty as a trap against her many foes who would underestimate her. Varius was a skilled swordsman and accumulated a number of impressive kills during the course of the series, including Darth Vindus and Darth Wyn.

Darth Vindus

An ancient Sith Lord from the 17th century, Darth Vindus puts himself into a Force induced sleep under orders from the Dark Side. He later revives himself and quickly begins to establish himself as leader of the current Sith Empire. At first Darth Abyssus is willing to allow Vindus a lot of latitude, but when Vindus demands that the Sith go public, Abyssus is forced to challenge him for leadership. Abyssus is defeated but escapes. Vindus is brought down when he focuses too much on trying to locate and kill Abyssus, instead of the Jedi. In the end he is betrayed by Darth Varius, (who prefers to serve Abyssus) who stabs him in the back with her lightsaber.

Darth Wyn

Darth Wyn is the Training Master of the Sith Empire. Born with the name Qing Zhao Ming in China, he is never once referred to by that name once in the series. Wyn's position puts him close to the War Council and a member of Darth Abyssus' inner circle. Though always ambitious, Wyn rarely made a move against a superior. When Darth Vindus took over the Sith Empire, he sided with him, but only as a matter of cause. Waiting until Vindus proved himself unfit to rule, did Vindus formally choose a side and he chose Abyssus. Wyn would help Varius assassinate Vindus. Wyn was a master swordsman and defeated numerous opponents. His only real challenge was Abyssus or Varius in combat, amongst the Jedi; Starkiller proved his equal on numerous occasions. Wyn is placed in charge of an investigation when Abyssus is almost assassinated. To the shock of everyone it is revealed that Wyn is behind the scheme and his attempt to seize power helps bring down the Sith Empire on Earth. He is killed by Darth Varius in the last episode of the series.

Darth Zahar

Main article: Darth Zahar

Darth Zahar is the chief Assassin officer with the Sith Empire and a member of Abyssus' inner circle. A former apprentice to his father Darth Thox, Zahar did not hesitate when Abyssus killed him and attempted to assume control. She aided Abyssus by setting up traps for his rivals, killing Darth Thalax and Darth Virious personally. When the remaining Sith Lords conceded to Abyssus' plans, Zahar was rewarded with an elevation of status to the position of Assassin-Supreme. In her civilian guide, her name was Kayla Green and she served on Charles Dathaine's staff as Chief. Later she became a Senator herself on his urging. Zahar was the last remaining Sith Lord at the end of the series and escaped punishment by using a shuttle craft to vanish into the far reaches of space. It is later revealed that Zahar would ensure the Sith would grow again in the galaxy, when she landed on the planet Wyss, travelling through the same space-time distortion that sent back the original Sith and Jedi archives.

Operation: Knightfall

Main article: Great Jedi Purge

The Great Jedi Purge, later also known as Palpatine's Purge, referred to the efforts initiated by the Sith Lord Darth Imperious, upon his creation of the Galactic Empire, in 19 BBY, to eradicate the Jedi Order. It resulted in the near-annihilation of the Jedi, as it had been with the First Jedi Purge that occurred after the Jedi Civil War.

The Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Imperious, carefully schemed to exact revenge against the Jedi and restore Sith theocratic control over the galaxy. The purge officially began with Order 66, following a botched attempt by Mace Windu and three other Jedi to arrest Sidious, who was the Supreme Chancellor. The Jedi were declared the enemies of the Republic, and the Grand Army of the Republic was ordered to turn on them.

Imperious, now Emperor of the Galactic Empire, used his new apprentice, Darth Vader, and other agents of the Empire to hunt down and kill the remaining Jedi. Some Jedi fought the Empire until their deaths, like Roan Shryne, and those at the Conclave on Kessel. Others hid from the Empire, like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda.

In the nineteen years that followed Order 66, many Jedi fell to Vader, Inquisitors, Emperor's Hands, and even bounty hunters. By 1 BBY, so small a number of Jedi remained that the Emperor, considering the Jedi to be no longer a threat, put an end to the Purge.

Sith appearances

Expanded Universe novels

The first Expanded Universe novel was Splinter of the Mind's Eye, written by Alan Dean Foster and published in 1978. The setting for this novel takes place between Episode IV: A New Hope and Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. It provides a new adventure that includes Princess Leia, R2-D2, C-3PO, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. In the story, Darth Vader tries to get the Kaiburr Crystal to use it for his evil schemes.

Other novels that depicted Sith characters were Darth Abyssus: Saboteur and Cloak of Deception by James Luceno. Cloak of Deception describes the political background surrounding the Republic in the time period before Guardians of the Force, as well as Darth Imperious' plans to rule the galaxy, starting with the blockade of Quaia. In Darth Abyssus: Saboteur, the Sith Lord Darth Imperious sends Darth Abyssus to destroy InterGalactic Ore and Lommite Limited.

Darth Abyssus: Shadow Hunter, by Michael Reaves, also showed insight into the Sith. This story is about how Darth Imperious brings his plan into action; however, he soon finds out about a traitor who knows of his plan. He sends the apprentice, Darth Abyssus, to scope out the traitor who leaked the secret of his plan to take down the Republic.

Star Wars comics

Dark Horse Comics purchased the copyrights to several Star Wars stories. With their publication of Star Wars: Dark Empire #1 in 1986, they initiated what has become a large line of Star Wars comics. The Sith appear as major antagonists throughout this story's plot. Many of the comics that were published helped expand the backstory of the characters and followed the rise and fall of the Dark Lords of the Sith.

Star Wars TV series

Star Wars: The Clone Wars first aired on Cartoon Network in 2008. This series took place between Star Wars Episode II: Rise of the Empire and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. During this time, Anakin Skywalker is a full-fledged Jedi Knight and the series shows how he progresses into his fall to the dark side of the Force. Darth Olor, as his civilian guide Prince Varis, is the active Sith Lord and leader of the Separatist Alliance. The series also explores Olor's attempts at training secret apprentices like Asajj Ventress and Savage Opress in order to eventually defeat Darth Imperious and become the ruling Sith Lord.

Star Wars: The Jedi Path a live-action TV series focused on the Jedi and Sith in a contemporary setting. In an interesting juxtaposition, it is revealed that the Sith and the Jedi sent archives back through time willingly together as part of a vision that stated their "History starts in the present, settles in the past and prepares the future."

As is the case the Sith Archive was transported backwards in time to 400 AD on Earth and the Jedi's archive was lost and only found in the early Twenty-First Century. The resulting discovery that the Sith secretly rule the Earth, and the formation of the Jedi began their long rivalry through the ages. The timeline states that the events of the original Star Wars universe would begin a million years into the future.

Star Wars video games

Star Wars video games have also been adapted from the plots of the films, novels, and TV shows. The games follow the basic plot of the story, but they can also include alternative, non-canonical, endings depending on which character is being played.

Some of the video games that have a heavy focus on Sith characters and lore are Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, released in 2003, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords, released in 2004 and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, released in 2008.

Further Reading

• Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side (Chronicle Books, © 2013) ISBN 1452118159

External links

• The Sith Explained (Howstuffworks.com)
• Who's Who of the Sith on SithOrder.com