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 Sith Holocron
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 Skere Kaan, there was only one Dark Lord of the Sith at a time, who was the head of the Order, with the exception of the members of the Dark Council of the Sith Emperor Vitiate's Sith Empire who held the title of Dark Lord at the same time. 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'. Many Sith Lords have used the Darth title, but there is no evidence as to the synonymic relationship of these two appellations.
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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
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.
Dark Lords of the Sith
From the Hundred-Year Darkness to the Great Hyperspace War
- Dathka Graush (status disputed, also labeled "Sith King")[1][2]
- Ajunta Pall[3][4]
- Darth Andeddu[5]
- Tulak Hord[3]
- Marka Ragnos[6]
- Naga Sadow (chosen by part of the Sith Council, in opposition to Ludo Kressh)[6]
- Ludo Kressh (chosen by part of the Sith Council and later self proclaimed, in opposition to Naga Sadow)[7]
- Shar Dakhan (As acting Dark Lord)
From Freedon Nadd to Darth Nihilus
- Freedon Nadd[8]
- Exar Kun[4]
- Ulic Qel-Droma[4]
- Darth Revan[3]
- Darth Malak[3]
- Darth Traya[9]
- Darth Sion[9]
- Darth Nihilus[10]
Reformed Sith Empire
- Sith Emperor[11]
- Dark Council
- Darth Acharon[11]
- Darth Arctis[11]
- Darth Arho[11]
- Darth Azamin[11]
- Darth Decimus[11]
- Darth Ekkage[11]
- Darth Hadra[11]
- Darth Howl[12]
- Darth Igrol[13]
- Darth Jadus[14]
- Darth Marr[15]
- Darth Mekhis[16]
- Darth Mortis[11]
- Darth Nox[11]
- Darth Nyriss[13]
- Darth Ravage[11]
- Darth Sajar[11]
- Darth Thanaton[11]
- Darth Vengean[11]
- Darth Vowrawn[11]
- Darth Xedrix[13]
- Darth Zhorrid[11]
From Darth Desolous to the rise of Kaan
- Darth Desolous[17]
- Darth Ruin[18]
- The Dark Underlord[10]
- Darth Rivan[18]
- Belia Darzu[19]
- Skere Kaan[20]
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[20]
- Kopecz[20]
- Kas'im[20]
- LaTor[20]
- Seviss Vaa[20]
- Hezzoran[20]
- Borthis[20]
- Orilltha[20]
- Shenayag[20]
- Kaox Krul[21]
- Githany[20]
- Sirak[20]
- Llokay[20]
- Yevra[20]
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. Known members of this order included:
- Darth Bane
- Darth Zannah[4]
- Darth Cognus[10]
- Darth Millennial[4]
- Darth Vectivus[22]
- Darth Guile[23]
- Darth Gravid[23]
- Darth Gean[23]
- Darth Ramage[23]
- Darth Tenebrous[23]
- Darth Venamis[23]
- Darth Plagueis[24]
- Darth Sidious[25]
- Darth Maul[26]
- Darth Tyranus[27]
- Darth Vader[28]
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[29]
- Carnor Jax[30]
- Kyp Durron (self proclaimed, under the influence of Exar Kun)[31]
- Trioculus (self proclaimed, tried to simulate illusion that he could use the Force)[32]
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. Krayt "died" by electrocution 137 ABY at the hands of Darth Wyyrlok III, leaving the position of Dark Lord temporarily under the control of Darth Wyyrlok III, who technically never claimed the title himself. Krayt was then able to successfully resurrect himself. In 138 ABY Darth Krayt died a final death, after which Darth Nihl assumed command of the remaining Sith, though it is uncertain if he claimed to be Dark Lord.
Appearances
Non-canonical appearance
- "The Hidden"—Star Wars Tales 6 (Ambiguously canonical source) (Mentioned only)
Sources
Notes and references
External links
Dark Lady of the Sith on Hyperspace (content now obsolete; backup links 1 2 on Archive.org)
