In December 2017, the next milestone of the cult Star Wars: The Last Jedi franchise will be released, which all fans of the saga are waiting for with delight and awe. This is the eighth chapter of a movie adventure set in a "galaxy far, far away" that has high hopes as Episode 7, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, surprised and delighted. In the Episode 8 trailer, Luke Skywalker says that the Jedi must end. What he means, we will soon find out. In the meantime, let's take a look at 10 great Jedi in Star Wars history.

Mace Windu: best duelist

The greatest "duelist" of all time (among lightsaber wielders) is considered to be Mace Windu, played in the prequel trilogy by Samuel L. Jackson. Very few people could defeat Windu - it was almost unthinkable, as Mace was able to sense weaknesses in any of his opponents and use it in battle, thanks to a technique that brought him close to the dark side of the force. Ultimately, the Jedi managed to get close to the villain Senator Palpatine, but before Mace could deal with the villain, Anakin Skywalker, who had recently turned to the dark side of the Force, killed him.

Shaak Ti: cunning planner

A member of the Jedi High Council, Shaak Ti was a Togruta who rose to prominence during the Clone Wars as a general in the Grand Army of the Republic. She is a cunning planner and an excellent performer, however, as a mentor, she was defeated: two of her Padawans died. Shaak Ti became a member of the "strike" team organized by Mace Windu, and, along with others, rescued three of the most important figures in the history of Star Wars (Anakin, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Queen Amidala). However, when the clones went on the offensive, and Anakin turned into a monster, Shaak Ti's days were numbered.

Quinlan Vos: A powerful telepath

Trained as a Jedi, Quinlan Vos eventually became one of the best young Jedi in the Order. He was tasked with killing Count Dooku, but Quinlan was captured and, under the influence of the dark side of the Force, became Dooku's apprentice. However, Vos managed to escape from oppression - thanks to the feat of Ventress, who sacrificed himself. Quinlan defeated Dooku but refused to kill him, he became a Jedi again and took refuge on the Wookiee planet. General of the Grand Army, Quinlan was a powerful telepath, and if he touched an object, he could penetrate the mind and memories of the person who touched the thing before him.

Revan: the scariest man in the galaxy

When people think of Revan (the hero of the Star Wars video game franchise and comics), they think of him as the scariest person in the galaxy. With rare and powerful abilities, Revan (aka the Prodigal Knight) found himself able to tap into both the light and dark side of the Force (and go as far as he wanted). He never felt that killing was wrong. Although Revan managed to become the master of the Third Sith Empire, he was also a Jedi who participated in the civil and Mandalorian wars. He created his own group of Jedi Knights who don't need the Order to lead them.

Qui-Gon Jinn: masterful manipulator

Known primarily for discovering the young Anakin Skywalker, Qui-Gon Jinn was one of the finest Jedi in history. He was not only Anakin's teacher, but also Obi-Wan Kenobi. His influence over the Jedi was enormous, and Qui-Gon also possessed the deadly Ataru fighting style, which allowed him to get ahead of his opponents when it came to battle. He was also a skilled manipulator and could make people do whatever he wanted. Even the Hutt, who was immune to Jedi tricks, fell victim to Jin's sanity. However, all these skills and talents did not help Qui-Gon in an unequal battle on Naboo. In Star Wars, this character was played by Liam Neeson.

Jaina Solo: killed twin who turned to the dark side

Another great female Jedi is Jaina Solo, who married Jagedd Fel. Jaina (daughter of Han Solo and Leia Organa Solo) had a younger brother, Anakin Solo, and a twin brother, Jacen Solo. Jaina was tech savvy like her father, and she felt the Force like her mother. After her training and "baptism of fire", Leia's daughter became a member of the New Order's Jedi High Council. Jaina had an interesting gift: she could create flashes of light by manipulating molecules, affecting the air. And the Jedi had mastered the ability to destroy anything that could be destroyed. When Jaina's twin became part of the dark Force and called himself Darth Cadus, she killed him in battle.

Anakin Skywalker: The Chosen and the Fallen

The story of Anakin Skywalker is similar to the story of Lucifer: he was a shining smashing sword of the light side of the Force, and then fell and turned to darkness. Found by Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin became a Padawan in the Jedi Order, who believed he was the key to balance and the "chosen one". After Qui-Gon was killed, Obi-Wan became Anakin's sole mentor. Able to understand both the light and dark sides of the Force, Anakin (Hayden Christensen) could sense people with the Force and those in distress, as well as foresee the future. Senator Palpatine managed to tempt Skywalker, using his visions of the death of his wife and child. Anakin almost died at the hands of Obi-Wan, but he was revived and made Darth Vader. After many grim deeds in the name of the dark side, Dart sacrificed himself to save his son, Luke, and in doing so, according to some fans, restored the balance of the Force.

Obi-Wan Kenobi: Anakin and Luke's mentor

During the battle on Naboo, Obi-Wan Kenobi witnessed the death of his teacher Qui-Gon Jinn, who managed to tell the student that from now on he is a Jedi Knight. Enraged, Obi-Wan killed Jinn's adversary, Darth Maul, becoming the first warrior to succeed (in over a thousand years) in killing the Dark Lord of the Sith. Kenobi mentored Anakin, and together they succeeded during the Clone Wars. When Anakin went under Palpatine, Obi-Wan fought him, was one of those who hid Luke and Leia (the twin children of Padmé and Anakin) in different parts of the galaxy to save them. As an elderly Jedi, Kenobi trained Luke Skywalker, but died at the hands of Vader, after which he merged with the force, and in the form of a spirit continued to help the young Skywalker. The role of the young Obi-Wan was played by Ewan McGregor, and the gray-haired Kenobi (in the original trilogy) was Alec Guinness.

Luke Skywalker: Restored Balance

Like his father, the power in Luke Skywalker was enormous. He was taught by the old and wise Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin's former teacher, as well as Master Yoda. Kenobi revealed Luke's ability to understand the Force and develop it in himself. He destroyed the first Death Star and ended the battle with his father (which he lost the first time). This time he defeated Darth Vader, regaining his balance, but refused to kill him (which caused Darth Sidious to intervene). Vader helped his son and died with Sidious. An aged and disillusioned Luke, played by Mark Hamill, is an important character in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Yoda: wise teacher

The Great Yoda, voiced by Frank Oz, has long been a household name. He is a wise Jedi Master, a Master whose life has been long and eventful. Yoda was able to defeat Darth Sidious, but did not kill him, because he realized that his vision of the Jedi order was too outdated, and while they stood still under his leadership, the Sith evolved. A visionary and mentor, Yoda was a longtime member of the Jedi Council and served as Jedi Master longer than anyone else. He lived for almost 1000 years. When you think of Star Wars, you think of Yoda, his unusual appearance and strange phrasing. He is a sensible veteran and a symbol of calm and strength that we all need (at least in our heads),

In the Star Wars universe, there is an endless war between the dark and light sides of the Force, and the main soldiers in this endless battle are force-sensitive and lightsaber-wielding Jedi and Sith. Even in the new canon, which, remember, includes eight films, four animated series and current comics and books, you can find many powerful users of the Force, however, the old expanded canon, now referred to as "legends", also offers its own look at several prominent personalities on both sides of the barricades.

It is difficult to say which of them is the strongest, because the Force has many ways, not always obvious and unambiguous. Few characters from this list managed to measure their strength in battle (if only because there is a time gap of several thousand years between some of them) and we can only roughly compare their potential. Therefore, this list will not be a top, but only a listing of the strongest personalities, in our opinion, who know the paths of the Force.

In almost all works on Star Wars, Shaak-Ti was minor character, except for the story arc in the animated series "Rebels", completely dedicated to the red-skinned Twi'lek. But she occupied a seat on the Jedi Council for a reason, and during the Battle of Geonosis she was part of the strike force that arrived to rescue Anakin, Obi-Wan and Padme. In almost every frame of this battle, Shaak Ti can be seen in the background, skillfully cracking down on the droids.

Her composure helped uncover the fact that the clones were implanted with behavioral chips, and although Palpatine did everything to hide the truth, this information helped save Ahsoka and Captain Rex. Although she has never been a central character, Shaak Ti is powerful enough to deserve a spot on this list.

The main antagonist of Knight of the Old Republic II, Darth Nihilus is somewhat of a Force vampire. Calling himself "a tear in the Force", Nihilus was able to absorb the Force from her other users.

Thanks to this, his skills developed very quickly. He far surpassed his teacher, Darth Tria, a woman who telekinetically fought with three lightsabers.

Nihilus may not be the most intimidating Sith Lord in the Star Wars universe, but he comes perilously close to that title. He was able to destroy the entire Jedi Council simply by absorbing their Force energy and destroyed his former master's connection to the Force.

However, Nihilus has one weakness - if he does not “feed” on the Force for a long time, then he begins to weaken. In addition, he is easily fooled or deceived, which significantly levels his high skills in handling the Force.

Every Jedi should have a cool name, and Kit Fisto is no exception. But there's more to this Jedi Master than a cool name and design.

Fisto played a small role in Attack of the Clones, taking part in the Battle of Geonosis and helping rescue Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padmé. However, we were able to fully appreciate Fisto's skills in the animated series The Clone Wars, where he had to fight General Grievous. In battle, Fisto easily cut off the android's hand and displayed impressive lightsaber skills while throwing wise bits of his Jedi wisdom at Grievous.

His calm demeanor, high discipline, and polished combat skills easily make Fisto one of the most trusted members of the Jedi Council. His skills were held in high esteem even by Windu, who was recruited by Kit Fisto to join the team that intended to arrest Emperor Palpatine. Although he was one of the first to die at the hands of a Sith Lord, Fisto's importance to the Council cannot be overestimated, and his dedication and ability to fight will forever remain in people's memory.

And so hidden behind a veil of mystery, the history of this Sith Lord was completely erased after the rebranding of the Star Wars universe by Disney. However, his mention in "Revenge of the Sith" suggests that one way or another, but he is still part of the canon. Based on the bits and pieces of information we've seen so far, Plagueis was Palpatine's mentor before the start of the prequel trilogy. Afraid of losing loved ones, Plagueis revealed a secret eternal life and lived for many years. Other than that, all we know is that he was killed by his apprentice, as the Rule of Two dictates. After him, Palpatine became the Sith Lord, who also took on students.

Such an enigmatic figure with such a mysterious past couldn't help but become one of the most talked about topics among Star Wars fans, especially when it comes to the future development of the universe. Despite so little information about him, Palpatine's master remains a powerful and feared figure to earn his place on the list. And the fact that we do not know much about him only gives us reason to fear him even more.

A very welcome addition to the Star Wars canon, Ahsoka Tano quickly became one of the key figures in the Clone Wars and Rebels animated series. A capable but inexperienced Padawan who was given to Anakin to train, she became a Jedi rebel during the Clone Wars. Although the two were close, her decision to leave the Jedi Order was one of the factors that pushed Anakin to the dark side.

Strong and with deep character, Ahsoka became a sip fresh air in a galaxy far, far away where there weren't enough serious female characters. Seeing her develop during the absence between The Clone Wars and Rebels, where she agreed to help the Resistance, we understand how independent she is. Her Jedi skills speak for themselves. While still a Padawan, she was able to fight on equal terms with General Grievous, and in the "Rebels" she had already successfully fought in a duel with a former teacher. Armed with two lightsabers (which is always nice to look at), Ahsoka has proven herself to be a strong (albeit former) Jedi.

A relative newcomer to the universe, Kylo Ren still proves to be a skilled Sith apprentice.

Born as Ben Solo, the only son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, Ren faced the same problem as his grandfather - he was stuck in the eternal struggle between light and darkness within him, only while he was pressed by the big name of the family. In the end, the dark side won and Ren joined the First Order. While we haven't seen his full power, we can already tell that he has a lot of potential, if only by the way he freezes a blaster shot in the air. After this, we understand that the leader of the Knights of Ren, whoever they are, has already reached unprecedented heights and continues to improve his skills.

Though he doesn't have Vader's habit of meditating regularly, he imitates his grandfather in everything else, wearing a similar helmet, though he ended up ditching it. He also wields an unstable energy crystal lightsaber with guard, making him one of the few Force users who have eschewed the more traditional versions of this elegant weapon. Although formally his training is over, Kylo Ren has room to grow, so, without a doubt, in the ninth episode we will see him much stronger and more dangerous. In the meantime, we can only sit back in our chairs and wait for his meteoric rise ... or fall.

In every work there is necessarily a character who rebels against the established order and is a kind of rebel in relation to other positive characters. And although he never left the Order, Qui-Gon became such a character in the films.

Unlike traditionalists like Windu, Qui-Gon interpreted the Jedi Code far more freely than anyone else, not afraid to break it if he felt it was necessary. He played leading role in becoming Anakin's "chosen one" who would bring balance back to the Force and was going to be his teacher despite the Jedi Council's refusal. In addition to his rebellious spirit, Qui-Gon also repeatedly showed his judgment and wisdom, which was reflected in his student Obi-Wan.

In addition, the cunning Jedi Knight became famous not only for actually making Anakin a Jedi, but also for being able to unravel the secret of, in fact, immortality. This goes way beyond the abilities of Force users before him. While the nature of his immortality is still a mystery, there is no doubt that Qui-Gon continues to live as an conscious part of the Force itself.

Of course, the prequel trilogy had its problems (okay, there were plenty of them), but there were a few positives as well. Perhaps one of the main ones is the Sith apprentice Darth Maul.

Palpatine raised and trained Maul from a young age, and he became the perfect student. Resolute and faithful, under the guidance of the future Emperor, he reached considerable heights. In the future, his role in the ongoing events will only grow, for example, he was sent to Naboo to kill Queen Amidala. There, he met Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan several times before going head-to-head. Later, in The Clone Wars, it will be revealed that he did not die on Naboo and will continue to delight fans with his appearances, including (spoiler alert) in a recent film about a young Han Solo. Unfortunately, the film did not do very well at the box office and we are unlikely to see a continuation of the history of the red-skinned Zabrak in the future.

Maul's training has made him the ultimate weapon, and he is incredibly agile and aggressive in combat. His double-bladed sword, more like a pole, is equally good for both defense and offense, and he learned to use his strength to jump especially high and significantly speed up his movements. Maul is the undisputed leader in the fan debate over who is the best Sith apprentice (other than Vader, of course), and no one should ever underestimate him.

One of the most prominent Jedi on the Council, Mace Windu is renowned for his prowess in lightsaber combat. Usually a calm, reserved and courageous Jedi, he becomes a real demon on the battlefield. While Jedi like Yoda or Obi-Wan are known for their intelligence and wisdom beyond their fighting skills, Windu has proven himself to be the strongest lightsaber fighter and has proven his strength more than once during the Clone Wars. And his rare sword with a purple blade only emphasizes his coolness.

Strictly adhering to the traditions of his path as a Jedi, Windu was the only one who managed to defeat Emperor Palpatine in a one-on-one battle, although he killed the other three masters in this battle. Had it not been for the intervention of Anakin Skywalker, Windu would have succeeded in what no one before him had succeeded in - defeating Palpatine in battle. An aggressive and unpredictable warrior who knows the very essence of power, on the battlefield, Windu is a role model for so many Jedi.

One of the key figures in the Clone Wars, Dooku is yet another noble warrior who left the Jedi Order after questioning their motives and goals. A former teacher of Qui-Gon and Yoda's last student long before Luke, Dooku replaced Maul after the latter's defeat at the hands of Obi-Wan. After becoming the face of the Galactic Empire during the Clone Wars, he continued to explore the ways of the Sith, repeatedly clashing with former fellow Jedi.

In terms of lightsaber wielding, Dooku was without a doubt one of the best duelists out there, easily defeating Obi-Wan in two separate battles. Apparently, only Yoda and Mace Windu could compare with him in battle. In addition, he is the only Sith besides Palpatine to use Force lightning, giving him a significant advantage in combat. Dooku's attitude towards the Force was very similar to that of his former teacher. Despite the fact that his death at the hands of Anakin was planned by Palpatine a long time ago and he could not prevent it, Dooku remains a very strong and dangerous Sith Lord.

In The Last Jedi, we clearly saw that Rey and Kylo were roughly evenly matched when they fought for Skywalker's sword. Of course, this may seem strange, but canon is canon.

Rey has trained a lot less, but has already reached the level of skill to fight Kylo Ren. And while it is possible that she is controlled by the Force within her, the young Jedi is not to be underestimated.

Rey has mastered so many skills in a very short amount of time, on top of all this she is very smart and she already had combat experience gained from a difficult childhood on Jakku. It was because of this that she was able to become such a capable and strong student of Luke.

By the end of her story arc, Rey may very well become one of the strongest Force users of her era (and maybe all time), but she is still a long way from that.

Snoke doesn't look like a typical Star Wars villain, he doesn't seem to be interested in the eternal struggle between the Jedi and the Sith. And although he was not, in fact, a Sith, Snoke is undoubtedly a true master of the dark side of the Force.

Although his identity and past is still a mystery to us, he has shown incredible command of the Force, especially in The Last Jedi. He could toss Rey like a rag doll with a flick of his finger, and entered her mind without any difficulty to find out Luke's location.

Snoke was also able to mentally connect Rey and Kylo with the Force while being present next to only one of them. Later, Snoke pinned Hux to the floor from somewhere on the other side of the galaxy.

Like Plagueis, Darth Bane is a very mysterious figure and was not even considered a canon character until he was mentioned in The Clone Wars. Although he is not the founder of the Sith, it was he who saved them from total destruction. Anticipating that the growing number of Sith would lead to eternal internal struggle, he came up with the so-called "Rule of Two", according to which only a Sith master and his student should exist. Since then, the Sith have strictly observed this rule. On the path of the dark side, this is by far the most important law.

You don't even need to know about his command of strength and power, just the fact that his appearance determined the future of the Sith and his shadow - canonically or not - continues to lurk in the darkest corners of the Star Wars universe. His strength is already said by the fact that the Sith draw power from the rule he invented, which even Yoda knows about. He can be considered the "godfather" of the Sith and his knowledge is still passed from teacher to student. And that already says something.

Marvel comics about Darth Vader are very good. Seriously, if you haven't read them, be sure to check them out, there is a Jedi who uses a sniper rifle. And in this series, one of the most important and strongest Jedi is Kirak Infil'a.

This Jedi Knight served as one of the Order's foremost fighters and was considered the finest warrior of all. He ended up taking an ancient oath called the Oath of Barash, which, as a punishment, forbade him from interacting with other members of the Order. During the Clone Wars, he meditated and strengthened his connection to the Force, and when Vader tracked down Kirak, he cut off the Sith's legs and threw him off a cliff, vowing to find the Sith master.

Vader ended up destroying an entire village to lure out Kirak, and in trying to save its inhabitants, Vader was unable to protect himself.

Torn between the light side and the dark side, Anakin eventually became the most ruthless man in the Galactic Empire and it is unlikely that you will survive an encounter with Darth Vader (unless, of course, you are his long-lost son). Proclaimed once the Chosen One, the future savior of the galaxy from the Sith, Vader (in past life Anakin Skywalker) was spotted by Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. Born a slave and successful, Anakin was a talented pilot and lightsaber fighter, with skills that rivaled even the Jedi Masters of the Council.

Of course, the influence of Emperor Palpatine corrupted him, and from the depths of Anakin's consciousness, the dark side awakened Lord Vader. Under this persona, he became a cyborg and failed no one, not even himself. Although he did not shoot lightning from his fingers, his appearance, skills, and connection to power - not to mention the impact on pop culture - make him one of the greatest Sith of all time, and certainly the most popular.

An old-fashioned Jedi who trained in all the traditions of the path of the Force at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, Obi-Wan Kenobi learned much from his master Qui-Gon, especially his ideas of Jedi restraint. Although his past is mostly unknown and we meet him already as a Jedi, Kenobi quickly and well-deservedly earned the rank of general. A battle-hardened veteran, Kenobi took on very tough opponents, including Darth Maul, General Grievous, and even his former apprentice, Darth Vader. It was after this battle that Vader was forced to use all available technology to keep himself alive.

An excellent lightsaber duelist and skilled Force user, Kenobi, however, sometimes gets lost in the shadows of other famous figures such as Vader or Luke Skywalker. He may be inferior to the Skywalker couple in some ways, but his intelligence and ability to make quick decisions in battle compensate for any shortcomings and make him one of the greatest Jedi in the galaxy.

The Sith Lord we all know and hate, Emperor Palpatine ruled the Galactic Empire for a long and successful time. Sheev Palpatine was born on Naboo and made a brilliant political career, quickly becoming Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. In addition, he managed to rebuild a huge Empire right under the noses of the Jedi and win over the Senate to his side, forcing them to distrust the Jedi Order. All this resulted in the mass extermination of the Jedi and the rise of the Galactic Empire. Palpatine wouldn't settle for anything less.

His calculating political mind already inspires fear, but beyond that, Palpatine was a powerful Sith Lord, even though he had to change many students. An ardent adherent of the Rule of Two, the Emperor was especially proficient with Force lightning, one of the most difficult arts of the dark side. His mastery of the force came to the fore during his fight with Yoda, when Palpatine hurled multiple huge platforms at him at once. An excellent combination of advance planning and command of the Force makes him the greatest Sith Lord of the moment.

The son of Darth Vader, born after the Imperial eradication of the Jedi and the takeover of the galaxy, Luke Skywalker quickly grew tired of being a simple farmer on Tatooine and managed to become a Jedi Knight equaling the all-powerful Darth Vader in battle.

Luke is not only one of the strongest and most fan-favorite Jedi in the Star Wars universe, he is also a skilled pilot and marksman who managed to blow up the Death Star with a single shot. Before becoming Yoda's student, Luke, after Kenobi's death, learned the Force himself and proved to be a good student, despite the lack of proper instructions. In just a year, he was able to master Force jumping and telekinesis.

His versatility in the use of the Force goes far beyond acrobatics and lightsaber wielding. Thanks to this, the young Skywalker managed to become one of the strongest Jedi of his time (although he, in fact, was the only one at that time). His natural kindness and patience made him the best candidate for the resurrection of the Jedi Order, though he ultimately failed.

Revan was arguably the greatest Sith of his time, but was captured by the Jedi, who erased his memory and forced him to join them. He was also known as the Protector of the Jedi and had ridiculously more influence in the Order.

To be honest, it is difficult to unambiguously attribute Revan to both the Sith and the Jedi, he often acted as he himself considered right. It was he who killed Darth Malak, who captured many Jedi and used the Star Forge to take and appropriate their power.

When he felt the call of the dark side, he disappeared and was never seen again. But even in the time of Anakin Skywalker, Revan is considered one of the strongest Jedi of all time, and his uniqueness is that he successfully traveled to both sides of the Force.

When you are 900 years old, you can say that you have seen a lot, and this little green alien has seen even more than some, having reached the peak of Jedi capabilities. Enough has already been said about his antiquity and wisdom. He has trained virtually all of the Council's Masters, including Windu and Obi-Wan, and has made the Council prosperous for many centuries since he attained the rank of Master.

There is no doubt that at the time of the execution of Order 66, Yoda was the strongest Jedi Master. His connection to the force is so great that he felt the death of every Jedi the clones killed. He also showed the ability to absorb Sith lightning, something no one else had done.

But the main difference between Yoda and other Jedi is his immense wisdom and patience (it’s hard not to learn this in 900 years), and any Jedi has something to learn from him, be it a Padawan or an already battered Jedi veteran. In every possible sense of the word, Yoda is the ultimate Jedi Master.

Jedi and Sith have been on opposite sides of the Force for centuries in the saga "Star Wars", but it seems that the Jedi are primarily responsible for their creation.

While both Orders of the Force have been battling each other since the very first part of 1977, the term "Sith" was first used on screen decades later, in the first episode of " Hidden threat". However, in reality, the Sith have always existed.

Darth Vader was known as the Dark Lord of the Sith before the release of " New Hope", and the Emperor later revealed that he was his master. But what did it all mean? Before the prequel trilogy Star Wars released in the late 1990s and early 2000s lacked canonical Sith history, at least compared to the Jedi Order. This is partly why Lucas took the time to establish certain principles of the Sith Order, such as Darth Bane's Rule of Two.

However, despite the fact that eight films, dozens of novels, comics, and video games have provided countless details about the history of the Sith, unexplored areas regarding their true origins still linger. Interestingly, one scene in " the last jedi» confirmed the story "Legends" about how the Sith were created, which would make them canon of origin. And Luke Skywalker blames the Jedi for all of this.

SITH IN SAGA

For many years it was believed that people using the dark side of the Force were Sith, but this is not the case. These people, namely Kylo Ren and Supreme Leader Snoke. So far, only a small fraction of the real Sith have appeared on the big screen, with most of them mentioned in comics and animated TV shows. In the movies, we could only see Darth Maul, Count Dooku, Darth Vader and Darth Sidious. And everyone else is just using the dark side of the Force.

The original trilogy gave the world an entire galaxy to explore, both on and off screen, but the prequel trilogy really stepped into the past. As Yoda says at Qui-Gon Jinn's funeral, two Sith can't be at the same time. After they fell about a thousand years before the events of the films " Star Wars", Darth Bane instituted the "Rule of Two" and sent the Sith into hiding until they were ready to strike back.

It wasn't until Darth Sidious, aka Palpatine, and Darth Maul that the Sith felt capable of destroying the Jedi. Throughout the prequel trilogy, fans have learned more about the history of the Sith, such as the infamous known history Darth Plagueis. Of course, much more has been revealed in the films' spin-off material as well as various franchised media, but a major aspect of the Sith's history has been left out, especially their true origins, which have in fact already been revealed; the fans just couldn't understand it.

100 YEAR DARKNESS AND THE ROGUE JEDI

A story that was once considered canon and then relegated to Star Wars Legends, was a story about a Hundred Years' Darkness and an unidentified rogue who turned on the Jedi Order to study the dark side of the Force. Outside of canon, this rogue Jedi was known as Ajanta Poll, who split from the Jedi approximately 7,000 years before civil war in the galaxy and fought the Order along with a group of Dark Jedi who founded the Sith Order on the planet Korriban.

It's a great story, but it's no longer canon. The role of Ajanta Poll has been reassigned to an unnamed rogue Jedi, which may not be canon anymore as the original official databank " Star Wars”, which contained his dark deeds, was destroyed. The Hundred-Year Dark itself was not mentioned again, that is, until 2015. While the vast majority of the old Expanded Universe was reserved for Star Wars Legends, parts of those classic stories have returned to this realm. The Hundred Years' Darkness is one of these tales.

After first mentioned in the comic Tales of the Jedi, first mentioned in a 2015 comic Star Wars #9: Showdown on the Smuggler's Moon Part II, in which the holocron containing the teachings of Master Fin-Low says:

Once we were brothers in the Force, but out of the Hundred Years of Darkness, the Sith were born.

It's clearly clear here that the Sith originated from the same time period, but it's not clear exactly how that happened. Fans know that mythology " Star Wars is quite specific, and this Jedi Master doesn't mention anything about the rogue Jedi that caused the creation of the verses.

LUKE MAKES THE ORIGIN OF THE SITH CANON IN THE LAST JEDI

Here's what the Sith Lord, Marka Ragnos, said in Tales of the Jedi:

We were once mighty Jedi of the Republic, brothers in the Force. But the Great Schism between the dark side and the light turned the Jedi against the Jedi.

Comparing with Fin-Low's words, it is obvious that the main difference is the reference to the Jedi. Ragnos is reminded that they were all once Jedi, and this is also subtly mentioned by Luke Skywalker in " the last jedi before blaming the Jedi for the Sith uprising.

Luca talks about this as part of his teaching to Ray:

Lesson two: now that they are extinct, the Jedi are romanticized - deified. But if you discard the myth and look at their deeds from the birth of the Sith to the fall of the Republic, the legacy of the Jedi is a failure. Hypocrisy, pride.

Here, Luke considers the creation of the Sith a failure of the Jedi; this is the first mention of the Jedi in direct relation to the wording of the Sith in canon, especially in reference to the films " Star Wars».

Fans of the franchise may never get to see Korriban or hear the stories of Naga Sadow and Exar Kuna on the big screen, but looking at all the stuff Lucasfilm has released over the past few years, the birth of the Sith has already been laid out, and it seems that the official stance is at least least, as far as Luke is concerned, is that the Jedi were responsible. We may not hear of an unnamed scammer whose only mention in canon appears to be in an old version of the website " Star Wars", but it is clear that these former brothers The Force split thousands of years ago, and during a hundred year period, the Sith Order was formed.

Over the millennia, the Jedi Order has undergone many changes, and from a loosely organized group of "sorcerers" as it was in antiquity, during the days of the Old Republic, it turned into an organization consisting of disciplined warriors, defenders of peace and justice. Some of the changes were gradual and implemented only after careful consideration by the Jedi; others arose as a quick response to unforeseen events and political upheavals.

Despite all these transformations, the most significant aspect in the history of the Jedi is the fact that beings endowed with strength and power did not just band together, but began to use their abilities for the benefit of others. The Jedi may share their skills in the use of the Force, but the real unifying factor for them was the Jedi Order.

Strength and its mythical origins

Force is the energy that permeates and unites time, space and living beings. Although the predecessors of the earliest Jedi are often cited as the discoverers of this phenomenon, in fact the Force has always existed, and the Jedi were by no means the first to use it as a source of energy. Ancient history knows many beings who have discovered (and manifested) special abilities in themselves. This indicates that they were force users and understood the nature of the Force.

Although such individuals have always been in the minority, there are suggestions that in reality there are many more such beings - at least those who can be classified as susceptible to the Force. It is understood that they are endowed with the potential to some extent, allowing them to become forceusers over time.

Approximately thirty thousand years ago, there was such a biological species as a rakat. They used the Force as a power source for most of their technology - including spacecraft engines that allowed them to travel in hyperspace and visit distant worlds. Despite the existence of many ancient reliefs illustrating the scientific achievements of the Rakata and their dominant position in the galaxy, some historians believe that the Rakata may have borrowed technology from the mysterious Creators of the Corellian system, who existed many millennia before the Rakata.

Based on fragmentary information preserved on dilapidated data disks, researchers have tried to trace the history of the Jedi, from the current era to the times of the existence of several organizations that have long disappeared - including the mystical Order of Dai Bendu, the Disciples of Palaua in the legendary Chatos Academy, or the worshipers of Ashla on Tython.

The Great Holocron sheds little light on the Tython-based organization; as for the rest of the bands, it seems that all that is left of them is the name.

First Jedi

Approximately twenty-five thousand years ago, the development of hyperspace travel technology led most of the planets of the Core to form into a democratic alliance known as the Galactic Republic. According to the Great Holocron, the first community of Force-sensitive beings was formed on a young planet called Tython, where force users manipulated a positive energy they called "Ashla". This energy allowed them to communicate through telepathy over great distances. She also helped them sharpen their senses, heal themselves, and see the future through the veil of time. Eventually, they learned that this energy was not limited to Tython alone, but permeated the entire galaxy. Apparently, it was these force users or their descendants that eventually became known as the Jedi - warriors who professed a religion of harmony, knowledge, tranquility and peacefulness.

The Jedi of Tython came to understand that the Force has two fundamental aspects: the light side, or Ashla, and the dark side, or Bogan. The light side was regarded by them as the quintessence of creation, balance and development. They believed that it was originally naturally inherent in the entire galaxy. The Dark Side, in their opinion, was selfish in nature and consisted of negative energy, which made it both more isolated and more destructive.

It took generations for the Jedi to master the Force and transform it from what was once considered sorcery to what was now considered science. When they learned that the Force permeated all space, they went to other planets to select and train beings similar to them susceptible to the Force. Some Jedi chose the path of diplomacy, while others became experts in martial arts. They began to refer to themselves as Jedi Consulars and Jedi Protectors, respectively. The Jedi who, on duty, watch over individual sectors of the galaxy became known as "Jedi Watchmen". The Great Holocron records the words of Sarah Agorn, Jedi Consul of the early days of the Republic:

“The ability to manipulate the Force may seem unusual, but it is not a unique phenomenon. With enough time and the right ingredients, almost anyone can learn how to use the power of the Force to move small objects or affect weak minds. But this is not the way of the Jedi. The desire to use such skills for the benefit of others, and not for the sake of their own selfish thoughts, distinguishes the Jedi from everyone else.

Through meditation and spiritual practices, the Jedi discovered that by avoiding emotions such as hatred, anger, and desire, they became more powerful in using the Light Side of the Force. Ancient Jedi were not prohibited by the Order from having close relationships or marrying. However, it was considered that powerful emotions associated with such relationships could influence the actions and behavior of most Jedi. Most members of the Order led a monastic lifestyle. According to some legends, the first of the Jedi Knights visited the planet Caamas in order to study the moral principles of the local inhabitants. The Jedi struggled to figure out how to balance their abilities with ethical standards.

Force studies were continued in the Ossus-based school of Jedi philosophy after the Great Hyperspace War. Jedi students trained in the art of combat while learning that patience, humility, and self-sacrifice are the path to enlightenment. Here is what Master Odan-Urr said:

"A Jedi Master always says this to his apprentices before their first class: 'Try to cross an unfamiliar river without checking its depth and scouring the shallows, and you will drown in the current without reaching your intended destination.' The same goes for becoming a Jedi. You must be able to recognize the traps and choose the right path - otherwise you will only let the Order down and sacrifice yourself aimlessly.

As the Jedi gained fame and notoriety throughout the Republic through their actions and deeds, the Jedi Masters never forgot the essence of the Dark Side. Here is what Master Bodo Baas said:

“A Jedi is not attracted to power. A Jedi is not a dominator or an oppressor. Striving for power means abandoning the path of the Force. Such an individual ceases to understand the Force - except for its Dark Side. To crave power is to embark on a path that leads to destruction. The Dominator is the enemy, that's right. But a Jedi does not use the Dominator's dark tricks against himself."

On Ossus, the Jedi began to come to understand that the Light and Dark Sides are a reflection of the real aspects of the living Force, the momentary manifestation of life energy, and the one Force - the planetary embodiment of prophecy and destinies. More precisely, they realized that both sides are closely intertwined and necessary to each other, as they provide universal balance. Jedi may avoid dealing with the Dark Side, but they cannot ignore its power. Millennia later, the understanding of a single Force was lost by the Jedi, but was rediscovered during the New Republic's war with the Yuuzhan Vong.

The Jedi are one of the main characters in the Star Wars universe, a kind of knightly order that performs mainly a peacekeeping function during armed conflicts. The main task of the Jedi Order is the protection of the Republic and democracy. Any humanoid capable of controlling the Force could join their ranks. The ability to handle the Force gives the Jedi some superpowers.

The Jedi have never sought power per se, supporting the Republic only to the extent that its policies were consistent with the Code. In the new franchise trilogy, the Order was subordinate to the government, but after the revival of the Republic, it took the form of an organization independent of the state. Nevertheless, when making decisions, the Jedi always took into account the opinion of the authorities.

origin of name

The word "Jedi" itself was coined by franchise creator George Lucas. He claims that he took the name of the Japanese cinematic genre "jidaigeki" as a basis. This genre refers to the historical drama, the leitmotif of which is life path samurai. Since George Lucas is a big fan of Japanese culture, most likely the image of the samurai was taken by him as the basis of the Jedi as a character.

So who is the Force with?

According to the plot, the Force exists because all life in the universe is interconnected through symbiotic creatures - midi-chlorians. The greater their content in the cells of the body, the stronger the contact with the Force. However, the presence of midi-chlorians does not guarantee proper control over the Force, this art requires long and hard work.

Children with a high content of midi-chlorians were specially found and, with the permission of their parents, were given to the education and training of the Order. Those who completed the training to the end and coped with the five tests received a knighthood. Occasionally, one could become a knight without any trials - in the case of an exceptional feat.

The most famous weapon of the Jedi is considered to be a lightsaber, consisting of plasma released by the hilt. According to tradition, the newly-born knight must make a light "blade" with his own hands. The ability to wield this weapon well, as a rule, is combined with high concentration and harmony with the Force. In addition, thanks to the Force, the Jedi are characterized by increased dexterity, possession of telekinesis, hypnosis, as well as the gift of foresight.

Of course, the Jedi have sworn and strong opponents - the Sith. Unlike most Jedi, they have a rather unpleasant appearance, since the appearance of a person who has chosen the dark side changes under its harmful influence. the brightest hallmark Sith are "cat" eyes.

The Sith themselves were once Jedi, however, carried away by the dark side of the Force, they chose the path of separation and moved to the desert planet Korriban. The planet was inhabited by a race of red-skinned humanoids who also had Force abilities. After a couple of millennia, the settlers enslaved them and became known as the Sith Order.

The Jedi Code

Many books in the Star Wars universe contain the Jedi Code, which includes the following truths:

• There is no excitement - there is peace.
• There is no ignorance - there is knowledge.
• There is no passion - there is serenity.
• There is no chaos - there is harmony.
• There is no death - there is Power.

Hierarchy of the Order

As in any professional environment, the Jedi have a hierarchy based on their level of proficiency in the Force:

• Yongling. So called children with the ability to the Force, selected by the Order and raised by the Jedi as younglings.
• Padawan. The knight could take one of the younglings as an apprentice. The Padawan followed his mentor everywhere and received invaluable first-hand knowledge. When the teacher saw fit, the Padawan could take tests to determine the strength of the spirit.
• Knight. After successfully passing the tests, the padawan was recognized as a knight and could take his own student. Knights were full members of the Jedi Order and were subject to the Council.
• master. The most honored and respected knights were elected to the Council and appointed masters.

Jedi among us

Due to the huge popularity of the stellar saga, a peculiar teaching of Jediism was born. Of course, it is more of a subculture than a religion, however, in the UK, Jediism is an officially registered religious movement. Only in this country the subculture has about half a million participants and is popular in many European countries, Australia, New Zealand. Modern "Jedi" consider themselves the same noble knights, following the path of Light and trying to live up to this title. Whether real followers of Jedi have the Force is a mystery.