Dark Lord of the Sith
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- "The Sith must be ruled by a single leader, the very embodiment of the strength and power of the dark side. If the leader grows weak another must rise to seize the mantle."
- ―Darth Revan's holocron[src]
The title of Dark Lord of the Sith, or Jen'ari in the Sith language, originally referred to the ruler of the Sith Empire, and later was taken by the recognized leader of the Order of the Sith Lords. Before Kaan, there was only one Dark Lord of the Sith at a time, who was the head of the Order—in more recent periods, it was a title shared by multiple individuals simultaneously. The term referred to individuals of both sexes, though Lumiya claimed the title of Dark Lady of the Sith.
The title Dark Lord of the Sith is often thought to be synonymous with the title Darth. Contrary to this, however, is the fact that Sith apprentices have been known to carry the title as well. Two examples would be Darth Malak as Darth Revan's apprentice, and Darth Vader as Darth Sidious's. Many Sith Lords have used the Darth title, but there is no evidence as to the synonymic relationship of these two appellations.
The title of Dark Lord was possibly comparable to that of a Jedi Grand Master.
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[edit] History of the title
- "I now complete your initiation to the power of the dark side…so that you may bring to pass the great destiny foretold…Exar Kun, because of you the Sith will NEVER die…you have rightly earned the title of—DARK LORD OF THE SITH!"
- ―Marka Ragnos bestows upon Exar Kun the title of Dark Lord of the Sith[src]
The first Dark Lord of the Sith was Ajunta Pall, the leader of the exiled Dark Jedi who, after their defeat in the Hundred Year Darkness conquered the Sith species and ruled over them as gods.
Xendor, believed to be the first Dark Jedi, is possibly the predecessor of the Dark Lords of the Sith, though he himself was never a Sith Lord (although he may have returned from the dead to take the position as the Dark Underlord many millennia later).
After the fall of the Sith Empire, Naga Sadow gave the title to his apprentice, Freedon Nadd. The spirit of the dead Dark Lord Marka Ragnos then declared Nadd's apprentice, Exar Kun, Dark Lord of the Sith. 3,000 years later, Lord Kaan began the practice of giving the title to all members of the Order, thus making it a title shared by many Sith for the first time in their long history. After the institution of the Rule of Two, the title was naturally held by only two members at a time, one being the Sith Master and the other being the Sith apprentice.
[edit] Dark Lords of the Sith
[edit] From the Hundred-Year Darkness to the New Sith Wars
- Dathka Graush (status disputed)[1]
- Ajunta Pall[2][3]
- Tulak Hord[2]
- Marka Ragnos[4]
- Naga Sadow (chosen by the Sith Council, in opposition to Ludo Kressh)[4]
- Ludo Kressh (self proclaimed, in opposition to Naga Sadow)[4]
- Freedon Nadd[5]
- Exar Kun[3]
- Ulic Qel-Droma[3]
- Darth Revan[2]
- Darth Malak[2]
- Darth Nihilus[6]
- Unidentified Darth[7]
- Sith Emperor[8]
- Darth Desolous[9]
- Darth Ruin[10]
- The Dark Underlord[6]
- Darth Rivan[10]
- Belia Darzu[11]
- Kaan[12]
[edit] From the rise of Kaan to the Seventh Battle of Ruusan
From this point on, the tradition of a sole "Dark Lord of the Sith" ended. At the time of the Ruusan campaign there were a total of twenty-six[source?] Sith Lords who held the title in conjunction with their leader, Kaan. Among them were:
- Qordis[12]
- Kopecz[12]
- Kas'im[12]
- LaTor[12]
- Seviss Vaa[12]
- Hezzoran[12]
- Borthis[12]
- Orilltha[12]
- Shenayag[12]
- Kaox Krul[13]
- Githany[12]
- Sirak[12]
[edit] Darth Bane's Reformed Order
In Bane's reformed order, two Sith held the title at the time, the only two living members of the order in the entire galaxy: a Master and an apprentice. In addition to Darth Bane, known members of this order included:
- Darth Bane
- Darth Zannah[14]
- Darth Cognus[6]
- Darth Millennial[3]
- Darth Vectivus[15]
- Darth Plagueis[16]
- Darth Sidious[17]
- Darth Maul[18]
- Darth Tyranus[19]
- Darth Vader[20]
[edit] Post-Sidious
After the Battle of Endor, the title Dark Lady of the Sith was claimed by an Emperor's Hand, Lumiya. It was an uncertain time for the Sith, and though several beings proclaimed themselves Sith Lords, it would be years before a cohesive Sith Order was rebuilt.
- Lumiya[21]
- Flint[6]
- Carnor Jax[22]
- Kyp Durron (self proclaimed, under the influence of Exar Kun)[23]
[edit] Legacy Era
With the re-emergence of Lumiya, after the devastating Yuuzhan Vong War, she began to forge the Sith remnants into a new, cohesive order. After her death, the mantle was inherited by her final apprentice and Vader's grandson, Darth Caedus. Months later, Caedus had his own apprentice as well: Tahiri Veila. The Sith would culminate in the rise of Darth Krayt in 130 ABY. After secretly electrocuting Krayt to death in 137 ABY, Darth Wyyrlok III, acting as Regent, would be crowned the new Dark Lord.
[edit] Yet-to-be-known Era
[edit] Appearances
[edit] Sources
- Star Wars toy line
- Star Wars: The Power of the Force (1995)
- Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook
"Straight from the Horse's Mouth: A Guide to the Tales of the Jedi Universe, Part 1" - Star Wars Insider 26
- Star Wars: Episode I toy line
- Star Wars: The Action Figure Archive
- "Classic Moment" - Star Wars Insider 102
Behind the Threat: The Sith, Part 1: Portrayal on Wizards.com (article)
- Aargau: For All Your Banking Needs on Wizards.com (article)
- "The Tale of Team Encyclopedia and the Very Big Saga" - Star Wars Insider 106
- "Toy Wars" - Star Wars Insider 107
[edit] Notes and references
- ↑ Korriban: Planet of Lost Souls on Wizards.com (article)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith
- ↑ Tales of the Jedi: Knights of the Old Republic
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Evil Never Dies: The Sith Dynasties
- ↑ The New Essential Chronology
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic
- ↑ Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (video game)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Vader: The Ultimate Guide
- ↑ Darth Bane: Rule of Two
- ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 12.11 Darth Bane: Path of Destruction
- ↑ Bane of the Sith
- ↑ Jedi vs. Sith
- ↑ Betrayal
- ↑ Labyrinth of Evil
- ↑ Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
- ↑ Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- ↑ Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- ↑ Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- ↑ Star Wars 88: Figurehead
- ↑ The Emperor's Pawns
- ↑ Dark Apprentice
- ↑ Sacrifice
- ↑ Star Wars Legacy 1: Broken, Part 1
- ↑ Star Wars Legacy 39: Tatooine, Part 3
[edit] Sources
- Galaxy Guide 3: The Empire Strikes Back
- "Straight from the Horse's Mouth: A Guide to the Tales of the Jedi Universe, Part 1" - Star Wars Insider 26
- "Heritage of the Sith" - Star Wars Insider 88
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
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