Grand Master/Legends

Grand Master was a title used in both the Old and New Jedi Orders, used to recognize the accepted leader of the Jedi Order.

History
"Secret, shall I tell you? Grand Master of Jedi Order am I. Won this job in a raffle I did, think you?  "How did you know, how did you know, Master Yoda?"  Master Yoda knows these things.  His job it is."

- Master Yoda to Scout

Yoda was the last and only known Grand Master of the Old Jedi Order, although there may have been one during his time as a knight, and possibly some time into his Mastery: his report on the Battle of the Chu'unthor was made to a single, enthroned "high master", not a council. Luke Skywalker achieved the title after he rebuilt the Order, though he did not formally assume the title until the Swarm War.

Traits and Abilities
Both Grand Masters were known to be the most prominent of their era, whether through feats of valor or otherwise. Both were apprenticed to the wisest Masters of their time. Both have proven their prowess with lightsabers, each having fought with them in the major Galactic conflicts of their day. Both were known to have incredible Force potential, and were very proficient in its applications. Master Yoda, widely recognized as the most powerful Jedi in the Order, was also credited as being the greatest lightsaber duelist in the History of the Jedi Order. He trained Jedi for more than eight-hundred years, during which time every youngling in the Jedi Order received some form of training from him. Through Yoda, the foundations were laid for which future generations would restore the legacy of the Jedi. Luke Skywalker, after being trained by both his father's master and Master Yoda, toppled the Galactic Empire and through the redemption of his father brought balance to the Force. Skywalker then created a New Jedi Order in the wake of the Galactic Civil War.

Jedi Convocations


"Now that we finally know what the Force wanted for the Yuuzhan Vong, it's time to ask what the Force wants for us."

- Luke Skywalker addresses the gathered Jedi

Over the course of Galactic history many events have taken place that have sundered the ranks of the Jedi Order, at times stretching them very thin. Because of this, several Masters have recognized the necessity in gathering the host of Jedi to discuss and preserve the state of the Order from time to time. Of the two known, one presided over great Jedi assemblies. Grand Master Luke Skywalker called together four separate meetings of Jedi. First was the Conclave on Yavin 4 in 25 ABY, called together in response to the impending Yuuzhan Vong threat. Second was the Conclave on Coruscant in 26 ABY, an attempt by Skywalker to heal the growing rift within the Order. The third was in 30 ABY for the Conclave on Zonama Sekot, to discuss the future of the Order post-Yuuzhan Vong War. Fourth was the Conclave on Ossus in 36 ABY, where Luke proclaimed himself Grand Master of the Jedi Order.

Destroying the Sith


The Jedi Order dedicated itself to publicly serve the Galaxy, specifically maintaining peace and order. Over the course of time, the Sith have influenced many individuals or groups to disrupt that peace, with the Sith Order themselves being the primary antagonists more often than not. To this end, each Grand Master saw paramount necessity in the eradication of the Sith menace, and of the taint of the dark side completely. Both have engaged at least one Sith Lord, and defeated a Dark Lord in combat; both Yoda and Luke Skywalker triumphed with lightsabers. Both assailed the leaders of these different Sith factions directly. Master Yoda dueled Darth Tyranus on two occasions, forcing the Sith Lord into retreat both times. He then dueled Darth Sidious to a stalemate, but ultimately lost that contest.

Luke Skywalker has dueled more Sith Lords on more occasions than the others combined. Also of note, all of his duels have been not with mere Sith Lords, but with Dark Lords of the Sith. First, his own father in Cloud City, where Darth Vader severed his weapon-hand and revealed himself as Luke's father. Again Luke dueled Vader, this time with assistance from his sister and the spirit of his old mentor. His third and final duel with Vader on the second Death Star, which led to Vader's redemption and the destruction of the Sith. He then fought and defeated the new Dark Lady, Lumiya. In 10 ABY, he dueled a reborn Darth Sidious, to which he lost and succumbed to the dark side.

He dueled Sidious again on the Emperor's flagship, and won. Luke would duel with Lumiya again in a bout that ended with Lumiya's escape and the loss of his prosthesis. Their third duel would end in a draw. Their fourth and final duel ended with the death of the Dark Lady. He later dueled his own nephew, the Sith Lord Darth Caedus, which Caedus escaped. Master Yoda was the only of the two who was unsuccessful in completely halting the machinations of the Sith. It should be noted that many great Jedi Masters throughout history have dueled and fallen to the power of the Sith. The fact that each of these Masters has managed to defeat the deadliest of foes is quite a testament to their leadership as well as their connection and dedication to the will of the Force.

Known Grand Masters

 * Yoda; Grand Master of the Post-Ruusan Old Jedi Order
 * Luke Skywalker; founder and Grand Master of the New Jedi Order

Appearances

 * Yoda: Dark Rendezvous
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith novelization
 * The Courtship of Princess Leia
 * Dark Nest III: The Swarm War
 * Legacy of the Force

Notes and references
Wielki Mistrz Jedi