Sith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sith Order

Emblem of the Sith Order
Universe	Star Wars
Type	Monastic Academic Kraterocratic Imperialistic
Founded	c. 5,000 BBY or prior (canon) c. 6,900 BBY (Legends)
Fate	Last member slain by Rey during the Battle of Exegol – 35 ABY (canon) Last known member slain by Ania Solo during the Battle of the Floating World – 139 ABY (Legends)
Location	Sith Temple, Moraband / Korriban (homeworld) Imperial Palace, Coruscant (headquarters – 19 BBY to 4 ABY) Fortress Vader, Mustafar (headquarters – 19 BBY to 4 ABY) Sith Citadel, Exegol (headquarters – 4 ABY to 35 ABY) Legends Dromund Kaas (capital) Ziost (key planet)
Leader	Darth Bane (until c. 1022 BBY) Darth Plagueis (until 32 BBY) Darth Sidious (32 BBY – 35 ABY)
Key people	Darth Vader Darth Sidious Darth Tyranus Darth Maul Legends Emperor Vitiate Ajunta Pall Marka Ragnos Naga Sadow Darth Revan Darth Malak Darth Traya Darth Nihilus Darth Sion Ludo Kressh Darth Malgus Lord Kaan Darth Caedus Darth Krayt Lady Lumiya
Affiliates	Asajj Ventress Savage Opress Quinlan Vos (briefly) Inquisitorius (Grand Inquisitor) Supreme Leader Snoke Knights of Ren (Ren; Kylo Ren) Legends Starkiller HK-47 Bastila Shan (briefly)
Official language	Basic, Old Tongue

The Sith are powerful villains in the Star Wars stories. They are the ancient enemies of the Jedi. The Sith Order is a group of Force-users who are very strong. They want to rule the galaxy and get revenge on the Jedi. The bad guys in Star Wars, like the Galactic Empire, all started because of the Sith.

Sith are very strict and want to control everything. One person, called the Dark Lord of the Sith, has all the power. Sith culture is about being strong and taking power. If a Sith Lord becomes weak, their apprentice will kill them. Then the apprentice takes over. Stealing and betrayal are normal for them. Sith believe they should rule the galaxy. This system makes sure only the strongest and most competitive people are in charge.

Like the Jedi, Sith use lightsabers. These weapons have a blade made of energy. Jedi lightsabers are usually blue or green. Sith lightsabers are red. This red color comes from the dark side of the Force. It makes the Kyber crystal inside "bleed." This even changes the sound when the lightsaber turns on.

What Does the Word "Sith" Mean?

The word Sith was first used in early ideas for the Star Wars movie in 1974. It was first printed in the 1976 book version of Star Wars. It was a title for the main villain, Darth Vader, the "Dark Lord of the Sith." Characters were called Sith in some Star Wars Legends stories before the movie The Phantom Menace came out. This was the first movie to show characters as Sith.

In his books, author Timothy Zahn called Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine "Dark Jedi." This was because the meaning of "Sith" was not clear yet. Later Star Wars stories used "Dark Jedi" for other characters who used the dark side of the Force. Some of these characters, like Vader, were later called Sith.

Ideas Behind the Sith

George Lucas, who created Star Wars, said that the Jedi, Sith, and the Force were inspired by many ideas. These include knights, samurai, and different philosophies and religions. Ideas from thinkers like Friedrich Nietzsche also helped Lucas create the 'modern myth' of Star Wars.

The fight between the light side (Jedi) and the dark side (Sith) is a big part of the story. The dark side of the Force is seen as dangerous. It corrupts people and must be removed for balance. Jedi are not perfect, but they fight for good against the evil Sith. The Sith are driven by power.

The Jedi value reason, kindness, and helping others. The Sith value strong emotions, conflict, and power for themselves. Star Wars shows the Jedi and Sith as total opposites. The Sith's path always leads to ruin, even if it gives them temporary power.

Sith believe in "master" qualities like pride and power. Jedi believe in "slave" qualities like kindness and empathy. The Sith want to control the world. The Jedi want peace and freedom from suffering. Sith think Jedi goals are weak. For Sith, more power is the only real goal.

How the Sith Were Created

George Lucas first thought of the Sith as a group that worked for the Emperor. They were like the Schutzstaffel who worked for Adolf Hitler. Later, Lucas made this into one character, Darth Vader.

Sith Beliefs

Sith believe that conflict helps them grow. It removes the weak and disloyal. Sith schools teach rules, but also have a "kill or be killed" mindset. Sith believe in "survival of the fittest" and see self-control as a weakness. They want power by any means. They use strength, tricks, and clever plans.

Sith connect to the dark side of the Force. This gives them amazing power and secret knowledge. But it also makes them cruel and selfish. They lose their ability to care for others.

Sith are known as the enemies of the Jedi. Jedi are kind warriors who use the "light side" of the Force. They want peace for the galaxy. The Sith have reasons for their cruel actions. But most people and the Jedi find their plans terrible. The Sith secretly started many small wars. This was part of their plan to take over the galaxy. Their hidden influence was everywhere.

The Code of the Sith

The Sith follow the "Code of the Sith." They want to master the dark side of the Force. The Code says that conflict is the most important thing in the world. It says that looking for peace is wrong. Instead, Sith use strong, dark emotions like anger and hate. They believe these feelings give them strength and freedom through victory.

The Code:

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.

Sith want to rule. But their ideas say that power belongs only to the strong and clever. So, "betrayal" among Sith is not bad. It is expected. Sith do not believe in kindness or helping others. They think these ideas make them weak. Sith use negative emotions to draw on the dark side of the Force. Jedi use calm and compassion to use the Force's "light side." Both Jedi and Sith avoid romantic love. Jedi fear it leads to selfishness. Sith fear it makes them less ruthless.

Not every dark side user is a Sith. And not every light side user is a Jedi.

Yes, a Jedi’s strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side. Anger, fear, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan’s apprentice.

The dark side gives users powers like the Jedi. But it uses strong, angry emotions. These include anger, greed, hatred, and rage. By learning the dark side, Sith can gain "unnatural" powers. One example is "Force lightning." Darth Sidious used this to torture Luke Skywalker. Darth Sidious said his master, Darth Plagueis, could even stop people from dying.

Beneath anger is always fear. Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering. I sense much fear in you. Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.

When people turn to the dark side, they often change their name. They feel like a new person. Sith Lords add "Darth" to their new name, like "Darth Vader." Using too much dark side power can change their bodies. Sith often get yellow eyes and pale skin. But Sith are not always evil forever. Some, like Darth Vader, have left the dark side.

The dark side is generous... It is patient and it always wins – but in the heart of its strength lies its weakness: one lone candle is enough to hold it back.

Fighting skills are very important for Sith. Sith in the Star Wars films are strong warriors. They use the Force to make their skills even better. Like Jedi, Sith use lightsabers. Only Force-users can use them well. But General Grievous, who was not a Force-user, could use many lightsabers. Sith use lightsabers with Force powers like moving things with their mind. They can also move very fast and see the future. A trained Sith can fight a trained Jedi Knight. They can easily defeat many regular attackers. Sith wear clothes that fit their plans. They often wear black robes or armor.

Sith History in Legends

In the Legends stories (which are not official canon anymore), the Sith Order started around 6,900 years before the movies. This was during a time called the Hundred Year Darkness. Some Jedi who used the dark side fought against the Jedi Order. These "Dark Jedi" were defeated and sent away. They found a planet called Korriban, home to a species also called the Sith. The strongest Dark Jedi, Ajunta Pall, became the first Dark Lord of the Sith. The human Dark Jedi and the Sith species mixed. This created the first Sith Empire.

One early leader was Tulak Hord. He made the Sith Empire bigger. Later, Marka Ragnos ruled during a "Golden Age" of the Sith. After Ragnos died, Naga Sadow and Ludo Kressh fought for power. Sadow won and started a big war against the Republic. Sadow's plans failed when his apprentice betrayed him. The Republic attacked the Sith. Darth Vitiate, another Sith, saved the Empire by leading them into hiding. They rebuilt on a planet called Dromund Kaas.

Later, Exar Kun and Ulic Qel-Droma became powerful Sith. Marka Ragnos's spirit named Kun the new Dark Lord. They fought the Galactic Republic. Qel-Droma was captured and helped defeat Kun.

The Sith Empire, led by Vitiate, returned 300 years later. They started the Great Galactic War. This war stopped for a while, then started again. Vitiate died, and Darth Malgus took over. The Sith Empire eventually fell apart due to fighting among themselves.

Later, the Brotherhood of Darkness arose, led by Skere Kaan. They tried to stop Sith infighting. But one of their own, Darth Bane, disagreed with them. He tricked the Brotherhood into destroying themselves. Bane then started the Rule of Two. This rule said there would only be two Sith: a master and an apprentice. This is how the Sith are seen in the Star Wars films.

Sith in the Star Wars Films

The Star Wars story began with the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope in 1977. Since then, many films, books, games, and comics have added to the Sith's history.

The Sith's plans are central to the Star Wars films. Their background has changed over time. But the Sith are always the evil enemies of the Jedi. They use dark powers to gain power and revenge. The Sith were first mentioned in A New Hope in a scene that was cut. They were explained more in books and games. The Sith were officially shown in the movie Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace in 1999. They were a secret group causing a galaxy-wide war.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars started in 2008. It takes place between Episode II and Episode III. It shows Anakin Skywalker becoming a Jedi Knight. It also shows how he starts to turn to the dark side. Count Dooku is the active Sith Lord and leads the Separatist Alliance. The series also shows Dooku trying to train secret apprentices. He wanted to defeat Darth Sidious and become the main Sith Lord.

How the Sith Order Began

The Sith's start and powers are linked to the Force. With training, rare people can use the Force for amazing things. They can move objects with their mind, see the future, and suggest thoughts. Both calm and strong emotions can help use the Force. The first Sith were Force-sensitive warriors. They found that strong emotions helped them use the Force. This was at least 5,000 years before the first Star Wars film. They fully embraced this, and it corrupted them.

The first Sith were once Jedi. The Jedi were like space knights in the Galactic Republic. They used the Force to protect the weak and uphold laws. Jedi believed in being calm, kind, and humble to use the Force. But some Jedi started to use strong emotions instead. This caused a big fight. The rebellious Jedi were defeated and sent away.

In exile, these Jedi explored how emotions and the Force worked. They decided the Jedi's ways were wrong. They believed strong emotions were the best way to use the Force. They also thought conflict, not peace, was natural. They rejected the light side. They embraced being selfish and wanting power. They believed power belonged to those strong enough to take it. They trained by using dark emotions like anger and hate. The Jedi hated this practice. These former Jedi became the Sith Order. They wanted to conquer the Galactic Republic and get revenge on the Jedi.

Many Sith-led groups tried to fight the Jedi and the Republic. But internal power struggles always stopped the Sith. It was hard for them to balance personal ambition with the group's goals. This problem was "solved" by Darth Bane. He changed the Sith into a master-apprentice system called the Rule of Two. From then on, there would only be two Sith at a time. One master had the power, and one apprentice wanted it.

The Sith hid their identities for centuries. They worked to gain power and weaken the Republic. The Banite tradition encouraged each apprentice to kill their master. Then they would take their own apprentice. This kept the secret for a thousand years. Bane believed the Sith could get revenge and rule the galaxy this way. The first six Star Wars films show this ancient plan.

The Sith Take Over

Sheev Palpatine, a Senator from Naboo, made Darth Bane's plan come true. He was secretly a Dark Lord of the Sith, known as "Darth Sidious." Palpatine caused a civil war by tricking unhappy groups in the Republic. This war was called the "Clone Wars." It gave him a reason to take more power. He also built a large army of clone soldiers. These clones were programmed to obey his secret commands.

The Jedi found out Palpatine was a Sith Lord. They tried to arrest him. But Palpatine said they were trying to take over. He used this as an excuse to destroy the Jedi. He activated "Order 66," a secret command for the clone soldiers. Palpatine also tricked Anakin Skywalker, a powerful Jedi. He promised to teach Anakin how to save Padmé Amidala's life. Sadly, Padmé died after seeing Anakin's actions. Sidious tricked Anakin into thinking he killed Padmé. Anakin then fully embraced the dark side. Sidious ruled the new Galactic Empire for about 20 years as Emperor. Darth Vader was by his side. Unknown to them, Padmé had given birth to two children before she died.

Sith Temples

The Rebels episode "Twilight of the Apprentice" shows an old Sith temple on a planet called Malachor. This temple has a superweapon. It can only be turned on by placing a special Sith Holocron inside. Thousands of years ago, a big battle happened on Malachor. It killed everyone there. Darth Maul was stranded on this planet. When Ahsoka Tano, Kanan Jarrus, and Ezra Bridger arrived, Ezra met Maul. They worked together to solve puzzles and find a Sith Holocron. With Kanan and Ahsoka's help, they fought three Inquisitors. Maul killed all of them. Then Maul betrayed his allies. He blinded Kanan and tried to activate the superweapon.

Maul was defeated by Kanan, who was now blind. Darth Vader arrived to get the holocron. Ahsoka, his old student, fought him. While the superweapon was about to fire, Kanan and Ezra took the holocron and escaped. This stopped the weapon from being used. The temple started to fall apart. But Ahsoka and Vader kept fighting inside. The building exploded, hurting Vader.

The Star Wars Resistance episode "The Relic Raiders" shows a Sith temple hidden under a Jedi temple.

The End of the Sith

Anakin's children, Leia and Luke Skywalker, joined the Rebel Alliance. They wanted to bring back the Galactic Republic. Luke was secretly trained by Vader's old Jedi master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and a wise Jedi, Yoda. They both survived Palpatine's attack.

Later, Luke, Darth Vader, and the Emperor fought on the Death Star. The Sith line ended as Darth Bane planned. Darth Sidious told Luke to join him or die. When Luke refused, Sidious used Force powers to torture him. Vader realized Luke was his son. He chose to save Luke and killed his old master, Sidious. This fulfilled the prophecy of the Chosen One. Vader died soon after from his injuries. This seemed to end the Sith and their old fight.

The 2019 film The Rise of Skywalker shows the final battle between the Sith and the Jedi. It features a group called the Sith Eternal. They were led by a resurrected Darth Sidious. When Sidious was finally defeated by his granddaughter, Rey, it marked the true end of the Sith.

Key Sith Characters

Timeline of Important Sith Events

• Before the films - Some Jedi leave the Order and form the Sith. After a long war, most Sith are thought to be dead. The only survivor, Darth Bane, creates the Rule of Two. This starts the modern Sith, who live in secret. About 1000 years later, Darth Plagueis trains Darth Sidious. Sidious kills Plagueis and takes Darth Maul as his first apprentice.
• Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace - Sidious and Maul are the only known Sith. Maul kills Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn but is defeated by Obi-Wan Kenobi. He is thought to be dead.
• Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones - Sidious replaces Maul with Darth Tyranus. Tyranus was once a Jedi Master.
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars film and television series - Sidious and Tyranus are the main Sith. Tyranus trains Asajj Ventress and later Savage Opress. Opress finds his brother, Maul, who returns as a Sith Master. Sidious kills Opress, and Tyranus kills Ventress.
• Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith - Tyranus is killed by Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker. Anakin later turns to the dark side and becomes Sidious's third apprentice, Darth Vader. The Sith take over the galaxy. They almost wipe out the Jedi and turn the Republic into the Galactic Empire. Sidious rules as Emperor.
• Star Wars Rebels - Sidious and Vader are the main Sith. Vader trains the Inquisitors to hunt surviving Jedi. Maul lives in hiding and no longer calls himself Sith. He tries to train Ezra Bridger but fails. Obi-Wan eventually kills Maul.
• Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, and Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi - Sidious and Vader are the only Sith. Vader kills Sidious to save his son, Luke Skywalker. Vader returns to the light side but dies. The deaths of Sidious and Vader end the Sith for 30 years. The Galactic Empire falls a year later.
• Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens - Snoke and his apprentice, Kylo Ren, fill the power gap. Snoke leads the First Order. Kylo leads the Knights of Ren. They are not official Sith.
• Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi - Kylo Ren kills Snoke and becomes Supreme Leader.
• Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker - Sidious is revealed to be alive. He manipulated Kylo Ren. He leads the Sith Eternal to conquer the galaxy. But his granddaughter Rey kills him. Kylo Ren is redeemed and helps Rey. He dies saving her. Without its leaders, the First Order falls. This marks the final end of the Sith.

Important Sith and Dark Side Users

Jedi and Sith Order master-apprentice relationships
Generations of Sith Darth Andeddu Immortal God-King of Prakith Darth Vitiate Tenebrae Valkorion Darth Traya Kreia Exal Kressh Revan The Jedi Exile Meetra Surik Darth Malak 1,000 Generations Darth Bane Dessel Darth Zannah Rain Darth Cognus The Huntress Set Harth Darth Millennial 1,000 Years Prophets of the Dark Side Darth Tenebrous Rugess Nome 1,000 Years Darth Plagueis Hego Damask Darth Venamis Ren Darth Sidious Emperor Sheev Palpatine Sith Eternal Supreme Leader Snoke Mother Talzin Darth Tyranus Count Dooku Cylo Directive Kylo Ren Ben Solo Maul Asajj Ventress General Grievous Darth Momin Knights of Ren Quinlan Vos General Krell Darth Vader Anakin Skywalker Ezra Bridger Savage Opress Doctor Chelli Lonni Aphra Inquisitorius Starkiller Galen Marek The Dark Apprentice Colour key: Colour Description      Jedi      Sith      Knights of Ren      Jedi turned Sith      Former Sith      Sith apprentices      Other Force users      Can not use the Force
Notes:

Darth Sidious: The Evil Emperor

Darth Sidious (Sheev Palpatine) was a human Dark Lord of the Sith. He appeared in all three Skywalker Saga movie trilogies. He was born into a rich family on Naboo. He rose to power in the Galactic Republic. He became Senator, then Supreme Chancellor, and finally Emperor.

He did this by acting like a humble politician. Secretly, he mastered dark Sith powers under Plagueis. He planned to destroy the Jedi and the Republic. Palpatine tricked unhappy political groups. He used spies to cause trouble. This led to a civil war. This war gave him a chance to take all power.

He had three known Sith apprentices: Darth Maul, Darth Tyranus, and Darth Vader. His last apprentice, Vader, eventually betrayed and killed him. This happened at the end of Return of the Jedi.

He came back over 30 years later in The Rise of Skywalker. He cheated death using powerful dark side Force abilities. He tried to take over the galaxy again. He used the Sith Eternal's huge fleet of Star Destroyers. But his granddaughter, Rey, finally killed him. She sent his Force lightning back at him. Darth Sidious's final death marked the end of the Sith.

Darth Maul: The Vengeful Warrior

Darth Maul was a Zabrak Sith Lord. He was the first apprentice of Darth Sidious. He first appeared in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. His master told him to capture Queen Amidala of Naboo. This was to make her sign a treaty.

During a fight with Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, Maul killed Qui-Gon. But Obi-Wan cut Maul in half. Maul fell down a deep shaft. Everyone thought he was dead. But he survived and ended up on a junk planet. He became a cyborg and went a little crazy.

His brother, Savage Opress, rescued him 12 years later. This was during the Clone Wars. Maul got new robotic legs. He wanted revenge on Obi-Wan. Maul teamed up with crime groups. He took over the planet Mandalore. He killed Duchess Satine Kryze, whom Obi-Wan loved.

His old master, Sidious, captured him. Sidious saw Maul as a rival. Maul escaped and rebuilt his crime empire. He was later captured by the Republic. Maul escaped again and went into hiding. He was no longer a Sith Lord. During the Galactic Empire's rule, Maul was a crime lord. He ran his group, the Crimson Dawn, in secret. He ended up stranded on the Sith world of Malachor.

Years later, he met Ezra Bridger. He forced Ezra to help him find Obi-Wan. Maul found Obi-Wan on Tatooine. They fought one last time. Maul was badly hurt. Before he died, Maul was happy. He believed Obi-Wan was watching over the "Chosen One." This person would one day destroy the Sith.

Darth Tyranus: The Fallen Jedi

Darth Tyranus (Count Dooku) was a human Dark Lord of the Sith. He was Darth Sidious's second apprentice. He first appeared in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. Dooku was born into a royal family on Serenno. His family gave him to the Jedi Order because he was Force-sensitive.

He trained under Yoda. Dooku was strong with the Force and a great fighter. Many thought he was one of the best Jedi. He became a Jedi Master. But he left the Order and went back to Serenno. He took back his title as a nobleman.

He later fell to the dark side. He became a Sith Lord and Sidious's puppet. Dooku helped Sidious with his plans to conquer the galaxy. He hired Jango Fett to be the template for the clone army. This army would be used by the Republic. He also formed the Confederacy of Independent Systems. This group wanted to be free from the Republic. This started the Clone Wars.

Dooku led the Separatist Alliance during the Clone Wars. Anakin Skywalker killed him in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. In his last moments, Dooku realized Sidious had just used him. Sidious had planned to kill him and replace him with someone stronger.

Darth Vader: The Dark Lord

Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker) was a human-cyborg Dark Lord of the Sith. He was Darth Sidious's third and final apprentice. He first appeared in the original Star Wars trilogy. He later appeared in the prequel trilogy.

After helping Sidious kill Jedi Master Mace Windu, he joined the Sith. He was given the name Darth Vader. He then went to destroy all Jedi left on Coruscant. Sidious sent Vader to kill the Separatist council members on Mustafar. Vader was badly hurt in a fight with Obi-Wan Kenobi. He lost his remaining arm and both legs. He also got severe burns.

Sidious saved him. Vader was put into a black suit of armor with cybernetics. This kept him alive. As the Galactic Empire grew, Vader became the Emperor's feared second-in-command. He was tasked with finding surviving Jedi and the Rebel Alliance's base. After the first Death Star was destroyed, Vader hunted the Rebel Alliance.

But his son, Luke Skywalker, changed Vader. Vader turned against his master. This led to the deaths of both Sidious and Vader. It also fulfilled the Chosen One prophecy.

Darth Plagueis: The Wise Master

Darth Plagueis was a Muun Dark Lord of the Sith. He was Darth Sidious's master. He was first mentioned in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. According to the Rule of Two, Sidious eventually killed Plagueis in his sleep. Sidious then became the new Sith Master.

Plagueis is the main character of the Legends novel, Star Wars: Darth Plagueis. This book explains his story. It tells about his training under Darth Tenebrous. It also covers his teaching of Palpatine. And it shows his early plans to weaken the Republic and destroy the Jedi. The novel also says that Plagueis's public identity was Hego Damsk II. He was a member of a banking group.

Darth Bane: Creator of the Rule of Two

Darth Bane (Dessel) was a human Dark Lord of the Sith. He was the only Sith survivor after the ancient war between the Jedi and the Sith. He is famous for creating the Rule of Two. This rule started the modern Sith in Star Wars canon. This rule said there could only be two Sith Lords at a time. One master had power, and one apprentice wanted it. The apprentice would eventually overthrow and kill their master. Then they would take their own apprentice. He is the main character of the Darth Bane Trilogy of Legends books.

In Star Wars canon, Darth Bane's story is mostly the same. He was the only Sith survivor and created the Rule of Two. Not much else is known about him. His only appearance in canon was in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars episode "Sacrifice." His spirit appeared to Yoda on the Sith homeworld of Moraband. The book for The Rise of Skywalker says that the Rule of Two was a weaker version of the Doctrine of the Dyad. This was a strong Force-bond between two Force-sensitive beings.

Darth Momin: The Sculptor Sith

Darth Momin was a humanoid Dark Lord of Sith. He appeared in the comic book Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith. He was a sculptor who was jailed for his scary art. A Sith Lady named Shaa rescued him. She trained him in the dark side. He became more powerful than her and killed her.

Momin built a superweapon to destroy a city. He died when the Jedi stopped him. He lost control of his power. His body was destroyed, but his spirit lived in his mask. Years later, Darth Sidious found the mask. He gave it to Darth Vader. Vader wanted to make Mustafar his base.

Momin's spirit killed some of Vader's people. Vader learned about Momin's past. He let Momin possess a Mustafarian body. Momin built a fortress for Vader. When the fortress was done, Vader was busy fighting Mustafarians. Momin used this chance to open a door to the Dark Side. He brought himself back to life. But when he fought Vader, Vader quickly killed him by crushing him with a giant rock.

Even after Momin's death, his dark spirit stayed in the mask for years. At one point, the mask was on an Imperial ship. Thieves led by Lando Calrissian tried to rob the ship. Momin's spirit possessed two thieves. The others blew up the ship, seemingly destroying Momin's mask and spirit. Luke Skywalker later learned about Momin. He wrote about Momin building Vader's fortress in his book.

Other Canon Sith Lords

• Darth Revan – An ancient Dark Lord of the Sith. He is mentioned as the namesake of a Sith Trooper legion. In Legends, he was a Jedi hero who fell to the dark side. He created his own Sith Empire. He was later redeemed and became a Jedi again.

Legends Sith Lords

After Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, most old Star Wars novels and comics became Star Wars Legends. This means they are not official canon anymore. But these stories still inspire new Star Wars creators.

The Legends stories explain a lot about the Sith. They tell how the "Dark Jedi" split from the Jedi. They also describe many wars between the Sith, Jedi, and Republic. These wars happened thousands of years before the movies.

In Legends, the Sith started with followers of a Jedi named Ajunta Pall. He used the Dark Side. After being exiled, they found a planet called Korriban. It was home to a red-skinned species also called the "Sith." Over time, the name "Sith" came to mean the ideas and group created by these exiled Jedi. This Sith group attacked the Republic and Jedi many times.

One big war was the "Great Hyperspace War." The Sith invaded the Republic but fought among themselves. Another event was the "Sith Holocaust." The Republic tried to wipe out the Sith, but failed. The surviving Sith swore revenge. Legends also describes Sith characters after Emperor Palpatine's Empire fell. For example, "Darth Krayt" tried to create a New Sith Order.

The first Legends novel was Splinter of the Mind's Eye (1978). It tells a new adventure with Princess Leia, R2-D2, C-3PO, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader. Vader tries to get a Kyber Crystal for his evil plans.

Other novels like Cloak of Deception describe the political situation before The Phantom Menace. They also show Darth Sidious's plans to rule the galaxy. Darth Maul: Saboteur and Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter show Darth Maul's missions for Sidious.

Dark Horse Comics published many Star Wars comics. They helped expand the stories of characters. They also showed the rise and fall of Dark Lords of the Sith.

Star Wars video games also tell stories from the films and books. Some games focus heavily on Sith characters and lore. These include Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003) and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords (2004).

Darth Caedus: Han and Leia's Son

Darth Caedus (Jacen Solo) was a Dark Lord of the Sith. He was the oldest son of Han Solo and Leia Organa Solo. He was a Jedi hero in one war. But he later fell to the dark side. He started another big civil war. His twin sister, Jaina, eventually killed him for his actions.

Marka Ragnos: Ancient Sith Ruler

Marka Ragnos was an ancient Sith-human hybrid. He ruled the first Sith Empire as Dark Lord. After he died, Naga Sadow and Ludo Kressh fought for his throne. Ragnos's spirit appeared and said only the most worthy should succeed him. His spirit stayed in his tomb on Korriban.

A thousand years later, Exar Kun summoned Ragnos. Ragnos named Exar Kun the new Dark Lord. He made Ulic Qel-Droma Kun's apprentice. This was an attempt to bring back the old empire. Thousands of years after that, in the game Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, a cult tried to bring Ragnos back. They used an old artifact. They almost succeeded on Korriban. But Luke Skywalker's New Jedi Order stopped them. A Jedi Knight defeated the cult leader. Ragnos's spirit possessed her. But the Jedi defeated Ragnos again. His spirit returned to the Force, vowing revenge.

Darth Malak: Revan's Betrayer

Darth Malak (Alek) is the main villain of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. He was a Jedi Knight and Revan's best friend. They fought together in the Mandalorian Wars. Later, Alek and Revan found the Sith Empire. The Sith Emperor captured them. He used dark magic to turn them to the dark side. But they broke free. They formed their own Sith Empire using the Star Forge. Revan was the leader, and Alek, now Darth Malak, was his apprentice.

At one point, Malak tried to kill Revan. He wanted to take over the Sith Empire. He was defeated, and his lower jaw was cut off. He had to wear a metal jaw. Later, Malak betrayed Revan again. He ordered his ships to fire on Revan's ship. He wanted to take over the Empire. But Revan survived. The Jedi captured him. They erased his memories and gave him a new identity. He became a Jedi again.

Eventually, Revan faced Malak. Malak told Revan the truth about his past. But Revan killed Malak. This led to the downfall of Malak's Sith Empire.

Darth Traya: The Betrayed Master

Darth Traya (Kreia) was a mentor to the "Jedi Exile." She was the secret main villain of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords. At the end of the game, she is revealed to be a Sith Master. She is eventually killed in battle.

Darth Sion: Lord of Pain

Darth Sion, also known as the Lord of Pain, was a villain in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords. He was one of Traya's apprentices, along with Darth Nihilus. He betrayed her and sent her away. Sion became immortal by using his pain, anger, and hatred. Every time he faced death, he used these feelings to survive. But this caused him constant agony and made him look very disfigured. The player's character eventually defeated Sion. Sion was given a chance to return to the light side. He let go of his hate and finally died for good.

Darth Nihilus: Lord of Hunger

Darth Nihilus, also known as the Lord of Hunger, was a villain in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords. He was one of Traya's apprentices, along with Darth Sion. He also betrayed her and sent her away. Nihilus put his dark soul into his mask and robes. He could drain the life force from any living thing.

After betraying his master, Nihilus used the Sith Armada. He didn't conquer planets. He contained them so he could "feed" on their life energy. He wiped out life on entire planets. But Nihilus was tricked into attacking Telos. He thought the last Jedi were there. The Exile fought Nihilus on his ship. Nihilus was killed after his former slave sacrificed herself. Or, his attempt to feed on the Exile's Force connection backfired and weakened him. Even after his death, Nihilus's soul lived on in his mask and robes.

Lord Vitiate: The Sith Emperor

Lord Vitiate was known as "the Sith Emperor" for 1300 years. He was a cruel young lord in an early Sith Empire. When that empire fell, he led survivors to another part of the galaxy. He built a new empire with himself as Emperor. Vitiate corrupted Revan and Malak. But Revan's redemption and Malak's defeat seemed to stop his plans. Three hundred years after Revan disappeared, the Emperor attacked the Republic. This set the stage for the video game Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Darth Malgus: The Ruthless Commander

Darth Malgus (Veradun) is a major villain in Star Wars: The Old Republic. He was a human Dark Lord of the Sith. He served the Sith Empire during the Great Galactic War. After taking Korriban back from the Jedi, Malgus killed his master. He then led an attack on Alderaan. But his enemy, Satele Shan, defeated him. Malgus was badly hurt and had to wear a breathing mask.

Later, Malgus led an attack on the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Malgus and his forces destroyed it. This shamed the Jedi Order. Malgus believed this was the first step to destroying the Republic. But it only led to peace talks. Malgus became in charge of orbital security. But he disobeyed orders. He went to Coruscant to fight a Jedi who wanted revenge. This fight made Malgus lose faith in the Empire. He killed his lover, seeing it as a weakness. He then tried to remove politicians from the Empire.

During the Cold War, Malgus explored unknown territories for the Empire. Near the end of the war, he formed his own Empire. He wanted to be free from Sith infighting. But the Republic and Sith Empire teamed up. They tracked him down and defeated him. Even after his death, Malgus was remembered as a powerful Sith Lord. Darth Sidious later found some of Malgus's writings. He put them in his Book of Sith.

Sith Affiliates

These are Force-users who use the dark side. But they don't follow the Sith rules. So, they are not official Sith. Some are trained by a Sith master as informal apprentices or assassins. They are called Sith Shadow Hands.

Canon Affiliates

Asajj Ventress: Dooku's Assassin

Asajj Ventress was a Dathomirian Sith Shadow Hand. She was trained by Darth Tyranus (Count Dooku). She was a villain in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. She first appeared in the 2003 microseries Star Wars: Clone Wars. Darth Sidious told her to kill Anakin Skywalker. She fought Anakin and fell off a cliff. But she survived.

In Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Ventress helped Dooku with many plans. Most were stopped by the Jedi. Dooku replaced her with Savage Opress. Ventress went back to the Nightsisters. General Grievous attacked them. Only she and Mother Talzin survived. She then became a bounty hunter.

Ventress later appeared in the novel Star Wars: Dark Disciple. She teamed up with Jedi Quinlan Vos to kill Dooku. They fell in love. Their attempt failed. Dooku captured Vos and turned him to the dark side. Ventress helped Vos turn back. But she died saving him from Dooku. She was buried on Dathomir.

Savage Opress: Maul's Brother

Savage Opress was a Dathomirian Zabrak Sith Shadow Hand. He was trained by Darth Tyranus (Count Dooku). Later, his brother, Darth Maul, trained him. He was a major villain in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He was a Nightbrother under Mother Talzin. Asajj Ventress chose him to help her kill Dooku. The Nightsisters changed him. He became a berserker and killed his brother Feral.

Opress became Dooku's new Shadow Hand. He learned a little about the Sith. Ventress then had him help her fight Dooku. Opress tried to kill both Dooku and Ventress. He escaped back to Dathomir. Mother Talzin told him to find Maul. He needed to complete his training. He found his brother Maul. Maul was not himself. Opress stirred up Maul's hatred for Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The two brothers set up their own group against the Republic. They took over Mandalore. But Darth Sidious saw Maul's rise as a threat. Sidious came to Mandalore and fought Maul and Opress. Sidious stabbed Opress with his lightsabers. Opress died in his brother's arms.

Quinlan Vos: The Jedi Spy

Quinlan Vos was a Kiffar Jedi Master during the Clone Wars. Near the end of the war, he worked with Asajj Ventress. She was a bounty hunter then. They tried to kill Count Dooku. Vos developed feelings for her. Dooku captured Vos. Vos willingly turned to the dark side. He became Dooku's apprentice. He hoped to find out who Dooku's master, Darth Sidious, was.

As a spy for the Separatists, he was called "Admiral Enigma." Ventress eventually turned Vos back to the light side. But it cost her own life. Vos buried Ventress on Dathomir. He was brought back into the Jedi Order. He continued fighting in the Clone Wars for the Republic. He likely survived the Great Jedi Purge.

Inquisitors: Vader's Jedi Hunters

The Inquisitorius, or Inquisitors, were Force-sensitive warriors. They worked for the Galactic Empire. Most were former Jedi who lost faith and turned to the dark side. This happened during or after the Clone Wars. Darth Vader trained them. Their job was to hunt down surviving Jedi. They also hunted other Force-sensitive people, especially children. This was to stop them from becoming Jedi.

• The Grand Inquisitor – He was a Pau'an Jedi Temple Guard during the Clone Wars. He lost faith and joined the Empire. He became the leader of the Inquisitors. He was the main villain of the first season of Star Wars Rebels. He hunted Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger. His light side spirit later helped Kanan become a Jedi Knight. In a comic series, his spirit was tied to an old Jedi outpost. He fought Luke Skywalker there.
• The Second Sister – Trilla Suduri was a Jedi Padawan. She survived the Jedi Purge. Her master, Cere Junda, was captured. Cere gave up Trilla's location. Trilla was captured and tortured. She turned to the dark side and became the Second Sister. She appeared in a comic book. She was the main villain of the video game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. She hunted Jedi Padawan Cal Kestis. She also hunted a holocron with a list of Force-sensitive children. She got the holocron. But Kestis and Cere defeated her. Cere tried to make up with her. But Darth Vader appeared. He killed Trilla for failing her mission.
• The Third Sister – Reva Sevander was a Youngling at the Jedi Temple. She survived the Jedi Purge. Reva was the main villain of the first season of Obi-Wan Kenobi. She secretly wanted revenge on Darth Vader for killing her friends. She survived being stabbed by him. She wanted to kill Obi-Wan Kenobi. She kidnapped Leia Organa to lure Kenobi out. The Grand Inquisitor tried to take credit. Reva stabbed him. She convinced Vader to make her the new Grand Inquisitor. Kenobi rescued Leia. Reva tracked Kenobi again. Kenobi realized her past. He offered her a chance to get revenge on Vader. Reva fought Vader. He easily disarmed her. He stabbed her again. The Grand Inquisitor, who was alive, took back his rank. He left Reva to die. But Reva found a message for Kenobi. It said Vader's son, Luke Skywalker, was on Tatooine. Reva went to Tatooine. She tried to kill Luke. But she remembered her younger self. She spared him. Kenobi forgave Reva. He told her she could choose her own path.
• The Fourth Sister – An Inquisitor in Obi-Wan Kenobi. She chased Obi-Wan Kenobi.
• The Fifth Brother – A former green-skinned Jedi. He became an Inquisitor after the Empire rose. He appeared in Star Wars Rebels. He and the Seventh Sister hunted the Ghost crew. They competed to be the next Grand Inquisitor. Ahsoka disarmed him. Maul killed him.
• The Sixth Brother – Bil Valen was a former human Jedi Knight. He became the Sixth Brother Inquisitor. He was tall with grey skin and blue eyes. He lost an arm to Darth Vader during training. He appeared in the Ahsoka novel. He hunted Ahsoka Tano. She made his lightsaber explode, killing him. Clancy Brown voiced him in Tales of the Jedi. Ahsoka defeated him with his own lightsaber.
• The Seventh Sister – A former Mirialan Jedi. She became an Inquisitor. She appeared in Star Wars Rebels. She used small droids to track targets. She worked with the Fifth Brother. Maul defeated her on Malachor. He killed her after Ezra Bridger refused to.
• The Eighth Brother – A former Terrelian Jango Jumper Jedi. He became an Inquisitor. He appeared in Star Wars Rebels. He hunted Darth Maul. He fought Maul, Kanan, Ezra, and Ahsoka. His lightsaber was damaged. It exploded when he tried to fly away. He fell to his death.
• The Ninth Sister – Masana Tide was a former Dowutin Jedi Knight. She turned to the dark side after torture. She appeared in Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith. She helped Darth Vader hunt Jedi Ferren Barr. The Sixth Brother betrayed her. He cut off her foot and left her. But she survived. She appeared in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. She hunted Cal Kestis. Kestis defeated her and cut off her hand. She survived again.
• The Tenth Brother – Prosset Dibs was a former Miraluka Jedi Master. He became unhappy with the Jedi's role. He appeared in a comic book. He tried to kill Mace Windu. He was defeated and kicked out of the Jedi Order. Dibs became the Tenth Brother Inquisitor. He helped Darth Vader hunt Jedi Ferren Barr. Barr used the Force to turn stormtroopers against them. The Tenth Brother was killed in the fight.
• Iskat – A red-skinned Inquisitor in Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith. She helped Darth Vader hunt Jedi Master Eeth Koth. Vader killed Koth. Iskat found Koth's wife and baby. She refused to kill them. She brought the baby to Vader. The Fifth Brother told Vader. Vader tried to kill her for treason. She escaped with another Twi'lek Inquisitor. Vader caught them. He froze them with the Force and killed them.
• Twi'lek Inquisitor – An unnamed black-skinned Twi'lek Inquisitor. He appeared in Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith. He helped Vader hunt Eeth Koth. He helped Iskat escape. Vader caught and killed them both.
• Masked Inquisitor - An unnamed masked Inquisitor in Tales of the Jedi. Ahsoka Tano killed him.
• Humanoid Inquisitor - An unnamed humanoid Inquisitor in Star Wars: Visions. He hunted T0-B1. Tobi killed him.

Snoke: The Puppet Leader

Snoke was a Force-sensitive being. Darth Sidious and his Sith Eternal cult created him on Exegol. He was a major villain in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. He was behind the destruction of Luke Skywalker's Jedi Temple. He also caused the deaths of most of Luke's students. This was to wipe out the Jedi Order. Kylo Ren eventually killed him. Snoke failed to see Kylo's betrayal. After Snoke's death, Kylo became Supreme Leader of the First Order.

Kylo Ren: Vader's Grandson

Kylo Ren (Ben Solo) was a former Jedi. He was a powerful dark side user. He was the main villain of the Star Wars sequel trilogy. He helped destroy his uncle's new Jedi students. He became the leader of the Knights of Ren. He was also a high-ranking member of the First Order. Snoke trained him to be a strong dark side user. He proved his loyalty by killing his father.

But Kylo eventually betrayed and killed his master, Snoke. He sided with the Jedi Padawan Rey. They shared a special connection called a "dyad in the Force." But instead of turning to the light side, he became the new Supreme Leader of the First Order. He asked Rey to join him, but she refused.

Later, Kylo fought Luke. He found out Luke was a Force projection. Luke did this to distract him and help the Resistance escape. Luke died from the effort. This left Rey as the only living Jedi. Kylo found out Darth Sidious was alive. He planned to kill Sidious. But Sidious showed him the Final Order, a huge fleet of Star Destroyers. Sidious promised Kylo control if he killed Rey.

Kylo planned for Rey to join him. They would kill Sidious and take over the galaxy. But she refused and attacked him. During their fight, Kylo was distracted by his mother reaching out to him. This cost her own life. Rey defeated him. After talking with a memory of his father, Ben Solo was redeemed. He helped Rey defeat Sidious. Rey died killing Sidious. Ben revived her using the Force, but it cost him his own life.

Knights of Ren: Dark Side Warriors

The Knights of Ren were a group of masked Force-wielding warriors. They were villains in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. They were not Sith or Jedi. They were a new group of dark side warriors. They filled the gap left by the supposed end of the Sith. They had a code: live as they wanted, take what the galaxy gave them, and use what the dark side sent them. Their name came from a lightsaber called "Ren." Their leader was the only one who could use it.

There were once dozens of Knights. By the time the First Order rose, there were six: Ap'lek, Cardo, Kuruk, Trudgen, Ushar, and Vicrul. They were led by a man named Ren. He knew Supreme Leader Snoke. When Ben Solo fell to the dark side, they let him join. They demanded he get one "good kill." Ben killed Ren himself. He became the new leader, Kylo Ren. He also knighted another former Jedi Padawan, Voe. In The Rise of Skywalker, the six Knights joined Darth Sidious's Sith Eternal. Kylo killed them on Exegol after he was redeemed.

Starkiller: Vader's Secret Apprentice=

Starkiller (born Galen Marek) was Darth Vader's secret apprentice. He was the main character of the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video games and books. He was born to a Jedi Knight after the Clone Wars. He was incredibly strong with the Force. Vader saw his potential when he came to kill Starkiller's father. Vader secretly raised him and gave him the code-name "Starkiller."

When he grew up, Starkiller was sent to kill several Jedi who were hiding. But Vader then betrayed him. Starkiller eventually turned to the light side. He helped form the Rebel Alliance. He defeated his former master and sacrificed himself for the Rebellion. This happened in a fight against Darth Sidious. Vader later cloned Starkiller. He hoped to create the perfect apprentice. But the clone followed the same path. He turned to the light side and joined the Rebellion.

Sith Eternal: Palpatine's Cult

The 2019 film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker shows thousands of Sith followers. They are called the Sith Eternal. They are the main bad guys of the Star Wars sequel trilogy. They live on the Sith planet Exegol. The film calls it the "hidden world of the Sith." The film shows that these Sith followers built the Final Order. This was a huge fleet of Star Destroyers. They built it for Emperor Palpatine (Darth Sidious). At the end of the film, the Sith Eternal cultists are there when Palpatine comes back to life. They are also there when Rey kills him. The Sith Eternal cultists disappear in the explosion after Palpatine dies.

The book for The Rise of Skywalker explains more. It tells how Palpatine put his mind into the cloned body the Sith Eternal made for him.

Sith in Popular Culture

Sith Lords like Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine are famous villains. People often use them as examples of evil leaders. Palpatine is the classic "Evil Emperor." He is a clever ruler who uses tricks, lies, fear, and control. Darth Vader is seen as a tragic figure. He was a hero who became evil out of fear. When someone "turns to the Dark Side," it means they become bad. They do this because they want power.

See also

In Spanish: Sith para niños