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TheStar Warstrilogy sequel can be criticized in a variety of ways, but one thing it has going for it is its ambition. WithEmperor Palpatine somehow managing to return inThe Rise Of Skywalker, a lot of fans were left scratching their heads at a storytelling beat that might have been too ambitious. Luckily, all was ultimately explained, even if it wasn’t satisfactory to everyone.
One of the most important parts of Palpatine’s return to theStar Warsuniverse is his closest followers, the Sith Eternal. Without this group by his side, it’s possible that Palpatine’s return would have been nothing more than a dud. This mysterious cult may not have gotten much time to shine, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be in the future of theStar Warsseries.
Thousands of Star Destroyers, Tie Fighters, and Sith Troopers
Date Founded
Likely sometime during the Imperial Era. (It is possible it began some point earlier.)
Date Destroyed
35 ABY
First and foremost, the Sith Eternal is a powerful group of cultists who believe in the mission of the Sith, and as a result, the mission of Emperor Palpatine (Darth Sidious) to rule over the galaxy. The Sith Eternalexisted in the Unknown Regions for decades, slowly but surely building up their forces. This group wasn’t comprised of crazed followers, either. Bright engineers helped build ships, military leaders helped to build ranks, and those with knowledge of the Force searched through the secrets of the Dark Side all to gain an edge in the fight.
It isn’t just fans who view the Sith Eternal as a cult. The eerie nature of the group has earned it a lot of concern from even the villains of the series. This very thing is said by General Domaric Quinn inStar Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalkerin a conversation with Kylo Ren:
Forgive me, sir, but these allies on Exegol, they sound like a cult. Conjurers and soothsayers.
Makingtheir home on the planet Exegol, the Sith Eternal managed to become one of the most powerful forces in the galaxy. With all this power came the ability to run intense experiments. The planet became home to a cloning station that was working to createa new body for the Dark Lord of the Sith. Perhaps most interesting, none of the Sith Eternal members had the same ambition that full-fledged Sith did. The group was devoted to their Sith master, trying to help Palpatine live again rather than seeing him defeated by any other ordinary Sith.
How Powerful Was The Sith Eternal?
The answer to this question depends on what one views as a part of the Sith Eternal. Technically, because Palpatine was orchestrating everything,the First Order was a part of the Sith Eternalin terms of their overall forces. If one were to ignore this fact and simply look at what forces the Sith Eternal were able to amass on Exegol, the conversation becomes different. Darth Sidious makes it clear how loyal and powerful the Sith Eternal could be in theStar Wars: The Secrets Of The Sithreference book:
My Sith Eternal would provide me the tools I needed. It was they who constructed a fully operational armada on Exegol at my command. It was they who trained their offspring to operate those vessels with deadly efficiency. For a generation, they toiled and trained, and now their efforts shall be put to the test as the Final Order prepares to arise!
Initially, the Sith Eternal was any Sith and Empire loyalists who existed in the galaxy and retreated to Exegol to help with the rise of a new Palpatine-led empire. While this may not sound like massive numbers, those within the Sith Eternal immediately began building ships, and form a military as well. By the time of Palpatine’s Final Order, his fleet had more than a thousand Star Destroyers (each capable of destroying planets), and thousands ofsmaller ships in the form of TIE fighters. The Sith Troopers themselves had a sprawling ground force complete with thousands of fully-equipped soldiers, each ready to give their lives for Palpatine.
When Did The Sith Eternal Begin?
In yet another mysteriousStar Warstwist, there isn’t any indication as to when the Sith Eternal was officially formed. The beginning of the group can only be loosely tied to the Imperial Era, as it is during this time that they are first officially mentioned in theStar Warscanon. Palpatine pays Exegol a visit sometime during 19 BBY. At this time, the Sith Eternal is already well-established, as this is where the experiments to create the perfect clone body for Palpatine began. At some point,even the iconic Darth Vadertook a trip to Exegol, though he was attacked by the Sith Eternal members there. It is during Darth Vader’s trip to the planet that more information is shed on the Sith Eternal, notably on theiroperations to gather kyber crystalsfor use in the Final Order fleet.
The Sith Eternal were so loyal to the Sith and Palpatine that they continued to prepare for the return of Palpatine and his second rise to power. Upon Palpatine’s return to a clone body, the Sith Eternal continued to work in secret in order to ensure that the next time Palpatine attempted to rule the galaxy, no one would be able to oppose him. The Sith Eternal would officially announce their arrival to the galaxyin one way through Kylo Ren, and then again during the Battle of Exegol.
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Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise originally created by George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd with the 1977 motion picture. The science fiction franchise follows the adventures of characters (both humanoid and alien) in outer space including those who can wield a mystical power known as the Force. Since the release of the original trilogy of movies, the franchise has expanded to include multiple films and branched out to other media like comics, video games, tv shows, theme park attractions, and more. The IP and Lucasfilm were sold to Disney in 2012.
