Emperor Palpatine

Emperor Palpatine

Sith Lord

Rising to the station of Supreme Chancellor following the Battle of Naboo, Palpatine originally began his political career as a humble Senator serving alongside Queen Amidala. His manipulation of the Force and his ability to put others at ease with his words allowed him to go undetected right under the Jedi Order's very nose on Coruscant.

Although his apprentice, the Zabrak Darth Maul, was killed during the Battle of Naboo, Palpatine was successful in eliminating the powerful Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, subsequently allowing the Jedi Council to accept Anakin Skywalker into the Order. Palpatine presumably sensed the power that resonated with Skywalker, even at a young age, and began planning to groom him as his next apprentice.

However, Anakin was not ready yet. Palpatine had other plans in motion following the events at Naboo, the most important of which was toppling the Republic. Having secured his role as Supreme Chancellor, Palpatine's next move was to slowly separate entire worlds from the influence of the Republic. Successful in leading the Jedi Master Dooku to the dark side, Palpatine took him as his next student, teaching him to be a politician as well as a dark warrior. When Dooku was ready, Palpatine allowed him to lead the Separatist movement, which was then successful in securing necessary funds and weapons from several worlds.

Luring the Jedi to the Separatist stronghold of Geonosis, Palpatine was ultimately responsible for both the creation of the clone trooper army on Kamino, as well as the killing of over one hundred Jedi. Master Yoda sensed that the dark side was at work, but was unable to identify the specific source at that time. Next the Clone Wars erupted across the galaxy, pitting whole worlds against each other and further killing off more Jedi generals in the process, making it all the easier for Palpatine to inch his way to the galactic throne. However, in order to do so, he needed Anakin Skywalker.

Palpatine was able to manipulate the younger man's emotional state during the war, eventually turning him not only against the Jedi Council, but against his former Master and closest friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Although Palpatine was put in a dangerous position during a heated duel against Jedi Master Mace Windu, he was saved by the arrival of Skywalker, who helped him defeat Windu. Finally successful in bringing Skywalker to the dark side, Palpatine gave him the new name of Darth Vader and instructed him to cut down every single Jedi in the Temple on Coruscant. Simultaneously, he initiated Order 66 across the galaxy, influencing clone troopers everywhere to turn on their Jedi generals and execute them. With nearly all of the Jedi wiped away at this point, Palpatine had virtually no one to stop him as he did away with the Republic and proclaimed the birth of the Galactic Empire.

However, as successful as he was, Palpatine was not able to prevent the survival of two very vital Jedi Masters, Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi. These two figures were later responsible for ensuring Luke Skywalker became a champion of the light side of the Force. Years later, pitted in a duel against Luke, Palpatine was surprised from behind when Darth Vader, critically injured, picked him up and hurled him over the side of a balcony, where he fell to his demise.