With the release of the first part of the Star Wars movie epic in 1977, the whole world learned a new word - the Jedi. Thanks to the fantastic success of the tape, these knights, their status and culture have become incredibly popular. However, only with the release of The Phantom Menace in 1999 did everyone learn that the antipodes of the Jedi exist - these are the Siths. What kind of knights are they, how do they differ and what role did they play in the Star Wars universe?
Star Wars Universe
To better understand who these Siths are, you should learn more about the world in which they exist.
All the actions of the Star Wars epic take place in a fictional galaxy, which is called - "Galaxy". It consists of hundreds of star systems inhabited by a variety of intelligent races.
At different periods of its existence, the control of the Galaxy was carried out in different ways. Originally was the Galactic Republic. According to its rules, over the millennium, all the star systems were ruled by the Senate. However, thanks to the machinations of Darth Sidious, the Republic was destroyed (the events of the Star Wars 3: Revenge of the Sith tape), and in its place appeared an Empire that lasted 20 years (the events of the original "New Hope", as well as the tapes "The Empire Strikes Back," Return of the Jedi ").
Thanks to the rebels and the Skywalker family, the Empire was destroyed, and a republican system of government was re-established in the Galaxy. But it didn’t last long - after 30 years the First Order appeared, the members of which advocated the return of the Empire.
Who are the Sith? How do they differ from the Jedi
Despite the huge number of races and star systems that constantly took part in wars for power in the Galaxy, the main battles that decided the fate of the whole world took place between the adherents of the Force - the Jedi and the Sith.
Force in the Galaxy refers to an energy field that is associated with all living things. Individual individuals with special abilities to feel and use the Force can do great things with it that are impossible for ordinary creatures.
Although there were more than ten cults practicing the use of the Force in the Galaxy, only two of them were the most powerful and influential. These are Jedi and Sith. The Jedi considered it their mission to preserve peace in the universe and help the weak. To do this, they used the Bright Side of the Universal Energy.
But the Sith are the exact opposite of the Jedi. They believed that their goal was to strengthen their power and become masters of the galaxy. To achieve these goals, they used the Dark Side of Energy. Both of these knightly orders constantly fought among themselves.
History of the Sith
The Sith Order was an offshoot of the Jedi. It is generally accepted that at some point in the existence of the Order of Supporters of the Bright Side of the Force, discontent began to build up among its members. In particular, they wanted to use forbidden practices, and also believed that it was necessary to use the Dark Side of the Force.
Such Jedi were called apostates. There were probably a lot of them, and they tried to revolt, but were defeated and banished.
The origin of the name "Sith"
After their exile, the apostate Jedi found refuge on the distant planet Korriban. Its humanoid inhabitants were called Siths and worshiped the Dark Side of the Force. They considered the aliens to be gods and received with hospitality.
For almost a millennium, the apostates lived more or less peacefully on the enslaved planet. Gradually they took the name of the race of the indigenous inhabitants of Korriban, calling themselves the Order of the Sith, with their own statute and rules.
The ideals of the Sith
Unlike the Jedi, their opponents did not seek to preserve peace in the Republic, but to seize power over it, which they managed to do by organizing the Empire (the events of the film "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith").
Like their ancestors, the Order of the Sith had its own code.
Honored passion, greed and hatred - the main driving feelings for mastering the Dark side of the Force - the Sith welcomed these qualities and aspirations in their followers.
However, neglect of morality and the desire to achieve one’s own benefit by any means, on the one hand, made them invincible, and on the other, weakened them. After all, having mastered the Force, each member of the Order strove for sole power, fighting against his own comrades. Thanks to this destructiveness, for many centuries, apostates did not constitute a serious threat to the Galaxy.
Dualistic system of government
In ancient times, there was only one Dark Ruler at the head of the Order. Later there were several, and sometimes much more than two.
Over time, the management system became dualistic. The head of the Order now always stood 2 Sith: a mentor and a disciple. So, in the case of Darth Sidious (aka Palpatine) at different times he had several students: Darth Maul, Darth Tyranus and the last (starting with the tape "Star Wars. Episode: Revenge of the Sith") Darth Vader.
After the death of Palpatine and Vader, the rule of the Sith was destroyed, as well as the Empire created by them. But later they managed to be reborn under the name "First Order".
Sith Lightsabers Features
Like the Jedi, the apostates had the lightsaber as their main weapon . Moreover, in the canonical version of the adherents of the Light side of the Force, the blade glowed green, and among their opponents - red.
The main reason for this difference was the crystal used to make the lightsaber. So, the Jedi made him from materials of natural origin. But the apostates are made of artificial crystals.
Sith in the epic Star Wars
In the original trilogy of George Lucas, the term “Sith” was mentioned only as part of the title of Darth Vader, and even then only in the script. At the same time, the character himself was positioned not as a Sith, but as an apostate Jedi, or Dark Jedi.
Later it became necessary to give a name to the Order of the Apostates, especially given that they played a key role in the destruction of the Republic and the emergence of the Empire. And in 1999, with the release of the movie “The Phantom Menace”, the term “Sith” was first used in it.
Later they appeared in the franchise animated series, as well as in the following parts of the trilogy: Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.
Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace
After reviewing the history of the Sith, as well as the features of their philosophy, it is worth paying attention to what role they played in the epic Star Wars. For this, it is advisable to recall the events preceding the fall of the Republic and the emergence of the Empire.
10 years before the start of the Clone Wars, in a period called the Rise of the Empire, the Republic is in crisis. The indecision and venality of many members of the Senate, as well as the increasing power of the Trade Federation, all this greatly weakened the Republic and provoked the beginning of various wars between different planets and entire systems.
The Jedi, who were struggling to keep the peace in the galaxy, suspected that the reborn Sith Order was behind the events. They turn out to be right, because the actions of the representatives of the Trade Federation are cleverly manipulated by the new Dark Lord - Darth Sidious - and his student - Darth Maul.
Almost the entire plot of the “Hidden Threat” is focused on the attempts of the Sith with the hands of the Federation to seize the planet Naboo, which is quite influential in the Galaxy. To prevent this, the Jedi Obi-Wan and his mentor Qui-Gon rescue the queen of the planet Padme Amidala and try to escape.
Due to the breakdown of the ship, they land on the neutral (relative to the confrontation between the Republic and the Federation) planet Tatooine, where they get acquainted with the young Anakin Skywalker. The boy helps them fix the ship. The Jedi feel that a great potential has been concentrated in it regarding the possession of the Force. Therefore, they take Anakin with them and, despite the disapproval of many members of the order, decide to make him a Jedi.
There, on Tatooine, the Jedi encounter Darth Maul. A little later, during the battle for Naboo, they have to fight this Sith. At the cost of his life, Qui-Gon is killing him.
Having liberated Naboo and cracked down on the invaders, Senate members and Jedi celebrate victory and bury Qui-Gon. At the same time, they doubt that the murdered Sith was a true Dark Ruler and realize that the main battle is yet to come.
Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones
10 years after the battle for Naboo, a civil war is brewing in the Republic. The Jedi believe, not without reason, that the Sith is at fault. Star Wars in the Galaxy is provoked by a new student of the Dark Ruler - Darth Tyranus. With his filing, many planets seek to secede from the Republic.
In addition, Padme is in danger. For her protection, the matured Anakin is sent to her. Spending a lot of time together, young people fall in love with each other. Together with Obi-Wan, they find themselves in the very center of the revolt organized by the Sith. Only the army of clones sent by the Senate saves them.
Thus begins the Clone Wars (armed confrontation between the Galactic Republic and the Confederation of Independent Systems, provoked by the Order of the Apostates).
"Star Wars. Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith
This episode begins with the fact that it is already the 3rd year from the beginning of the Clone Wars. Padme becomes a senator, secretly marries Anakin and is already pregnant with him.
Meanwhile, an adult Jedi suffers from nightmares in which he sees the death of his wife. Around his attempts to save her and concentrated the whole plot of the painting "Revenge of the Sith"
By intrigue, Skywalker is led to his side by the lord of the Sith - Darth Sidious, successfully hiding under the guise of the Chancellor of the Republic - Palpatine. It is he who provokes the young man to the murder of Darth Tyranus. Using the Dark Side of the Force for this action , Anakin gradually succumbs to his fears and betrays the Jedi, participating in their extermination.
With the help of clever manipulations, as well as the use of a secret code to activate the submission program to Sidious, the army of the Republic switched to the side of the Sith. Without the support of the Jedi, the Senate and all its members were in the hands of the rebels.
Obi-Wan and Padme find Anakin and try to return him to the Bright Side. But their efforts are in vain.
Entering the battle with Obi-Wan, Anakin was disfigured and in desperation became a disciple of Sidious - Darth Vader. Together, they led the newly formed Empire. At the same time, Anakin continued to consider himself the culprit of the death of Padme.
Meanwhile, she was saved by Obi-Wan. But yearning for Anakin, she died in childbirth. The newborn twins Luke and Leah were separated and hidden in different parts of the Empire. And the survivors Obi-Wan and Yoda were forced to hide because all the Jedi and their teachings were declared outside the law of the Empire. It was on this sad note that the third episode of Star Wars ended - Revenge of the Sith.
Other paintings of the sith epic
In the original trilogy, the events of which chronologically unfold after the Revenge of the Sith, the apostate Jedi are not mentioned. But they appear in the "Awakening of power."
According to the plot of this tape, the organization of the apostate Jedi is again gaining strength in the Galaxy under the name of the First Order. Her new leader, a creature of an unknown race named Snoke, becomes the teacher of Leah's son, Kylo Ren. This young man, like his grandfather, has chosen the path of the Sith and is now hunting for Luke Skywalker in order to destroy all the Jedi in his face forever.
Sith fanfiction
How the fate of the First Order will develop in the future, it will become known in the new films of the epic.
But now fans can read many books from this series. By the way, after the release of each film based on the script, separate novels were published.
There are also countless fanfiction written by Star Wars fans of the epic.
“Sith War”, “Gray Sith”, “Their Secrets”, “Choice”, “Apostate: The Third Side of the Force”, “I beg” - this is just a small list of Russian-speaking amateur works in which the main characters are the Sith.