Order 66/Legends

"The time has come. Execute Order 66."

- Palpatine to numerous clone commanders

Order 66 was one of a series of contingency orders that the clone troopers of the Grand Army of the Republic were trained to prepare for during their growth. The order branded the Jedi as traitors of the Republic and called for their immediate execution without question. Its issuing by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine marked the formal beginning of the Great Jedi Purge, starting the rise of the Galactic Empire, and it was chief among the atrocities that led to the Galactic Civil War.

Almost all of the Jedi were killed by Order 66, and most of the survivors were killed in the Great Jedi Purge that followed. The Jedi Order survived through acts of surviving Jedi, such as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda teaching Luke Skywalker the ways of the Force.

History
"Statement: Overwhelming odds is also a good tactic, master. There are few Jedi that can long hold their ground against a hundred attackers all firing at once&hellip; or being turned on by their own troops."

- HK-47

Prelude to Order 66
"I sense a plot to destroy the Jedi. The dark side of the Force surrounds the Chancellor."

- Mace Windu

Order 66 could be found in the document entitled Contingency Orders for the Grand Army of the Republic: Order Initiation, Orders 1 through 150, GAR Document CO(CL) 56-95, a document containing a series of special contingency orders that covered any and all emergency situations, which the clones that comprised the GAR were prepared to execute, immediately and without question, and only in specific cases of extreme necessity. Some of these orders concerned contingencies any armed force could conceivably face. Many dealt with contingencies specifically involving the GAR Supreme Commander &mdash; in this case, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine &mdash; and the effect on the chain of command were he ever to become incapacitated or declared unfit to issue orders. In particular, Order 65 dealt with the detainment and possible execution of the Supreme Chancellor by the Republic, further hiding the true intention of Order 66. Sufficiently buried among the other one hundred forty-nine orders so as to almost escape notice, Contingency Order 66 specifically dealt with the effect on the chain of command were issues to arise involving the Jedi. The exact text of the order ran:

Under close examination, the text of Order 66 exposed several distinctions that set it apart from the other contingency orders. First, the majority of the other known contingency orders took into account other sources of command authority &mdash; the Vice Chair Mas Amedda, the Senate Security Council, the Jedi Council, the GAR High Command&mdash;while Order 66 could only be issued by the GAR Supreme Commander &mdash; in this case, Palpatine himself. Second, it was not required that the Security Council, or a Senate majority, declare that the Jedi were acting against Republic interests; Palpatine alone had the power to make that determination. Third, GAR commanders were not required to authenticate the order, or even to report it to any other command authority. If the order came directly from Palpatine, using specific command phrasing and over specific communications channels pre-approved by him for this express purpose, that was all the authentication the clone commanders appear to have needed. Fourth, there was no apparent mechanism for rescinding the order; once given, it had to be followed.

Finally, there was no proviso &mdash; as there was in other known contingency orders &mdash; that the Jedi were to be detained and that lethal force should be used if necessary; the order specified that they were to be removed by lethal force, period. Though the true purpose of this specific command was to satisfy Darth Sidious's personal wish to eliminate the Jedi as a threat to his power, the insistence on lethal force could have been rationalized for general &mdash; that is, non-Sith &mdash; consumption: it could be argued that any attempt to detain a Jedi who did not wish to be detained would fail, except in the event that said Jedi was faced with overwhelming GAR numbers, and even then, such an attempt would likely result in numerous unnecessary GAR casualties. The use of lethal force, in that event, would therefore automatically be considered necessary to preserve the lives of GAR soldiers and officers.

In 19 BBY, Order 66 was issued by Darth Sidious toward the end of the Clone Wars. The official reason given for its execution was the onset of an attempted Jedi coup against the Republic; in reality, it was the culmination of a chain of events orchestrated by Palpatine himself over a period of decades, all designed to end the Jedi Order and to bring about the domination of the Sith. Just days earlier, the Senate had passed the Security Act amendment, which gave Palpatine authority to disband the Jedi Order.

After the destruction of General Grievous at the hands of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Masters Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, Agen Kolar, and Saesee Tiin stormed the Supreme Chancellor's office, intent on arresting Palpatine, who had been revealed to them as the elusive Sith Lord Darth Sidious by Anakin Skywalker. Kolar, Tiin and Fisto were quickly cut down by Sidious, but Windu was able to hold him off and eventually disarm him. Skywalker then arrived to find the Supreme Chancellor, looking defeated, attempting to surrender in exchange for his life. When it became evident that Windu was going to kill Sidious, Skywalker intervened, which gave the Sith Lord the opportunity to destroy the Jedi Master. Windu's "assassination attempt" provided the Chancellor with the excuse he needed to have Order 66 carried out.

Anakin Skywalker, for his part, was in a state of shock and confusion. Sidious, now scarred from the "attempt on his life," took advantage of young Skywalker's emotional distress and pressured him to turn to the Dark side of the Force. Unsure what to do, feeling he could never be forgiven for what he had done and desperate to save his wife Padmé Amidala from the possibility of a presaged demise, Skywalker complied and was "knighted" by Sidious as his new apprentice, Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith. Vader would have an important role to play in carrying out his new master's plan.

Execution of the Order
"It will be done, my Lord."

- Senior clone commander Gree complies with Order 66

At 2100 hours local time, on the one thousandth, eighty-ninth day of the Clone Wars (16:5:22), Palpatine retired to his private office in the Republic Executive Building, activated his comm unit and issued Order 66. He employed a channel that would make the authenticity of the order unquestionable, but ironically, the signal was encrypted using a Separatist code – one of the rare giveaways that he was in fact the hidden hand behind both sides of the war.

Palpatine sent word out via the office of the Chancellor to all of the clone commanders in the army. The commanders displayed a variety of reactions to the surprising order, but since it came from the Chancellor himself, almost every single one of them carried it out without question or hesitation. On countless planets, Jedi were cut down by their troopers. The Jedi, who had been spread throughout the galaxy across disparate battlefields, were almost all caught totally unaware and easily gunned down. Three years of non-stop galactic warfare polluted the Force with the dark side, clouding Jedi perception even further. Because the clones had no malice nor hatred, but were merely following a legal order, they had no ill intent in their heart, which might have given some warning to the Jedi via the Force.

Although it was impossible for Palpatine to have issued the order to every single commander individually, he did take the time to contact several personally before the Order was relayed throughout the army as a whole. Within the first minutes of the Order, several members of the Jedi Council had been killed; including Plo Koon on Cato Neimoidia, shot down by Captain Jag; Stass Allie on Saleucami, at the hands of Commander Neyo and CT-3423; Aayla Secura on Felucia fell to Commander Bly and members of the 327th Star Corps; and Ki-Adi-Mundi on Mygeeto, who managed to deflect a few shots before being overwhelmed by Commander Bacara and the Galactic Marines. On Utapau, Obi-Wan Kenobi was riding a varactyl named Boga when Commander Cody executed the order, ordering an AT-TE to fire on him, but Kenobi managed to survive and escape the planet. He soon reunited with Grand Master Yoda, who had also managed to escape a sneak attack by Commander Gree on Kashyyyk, beheading the clone commander in the process.

As noted, not all clone troopers obeyed the Order. On Murkhana, Roan Shryne and Olee Starstone were rescued from Order 66 by members of the Ion Team. Led by Climber, they initially questioned the validity of the order, and even upon confirmation, refused to side with the government over those who had fought alongside them, having developed an affinity for the Jedi. Omega Squad, Delta Squad, and Ordo Skirata did not even hesitate to disobey the order, though all of them feigned compliance to avoid suspicion, as they had already formed doubts about Palpatine and his new Centax Clones. Captain Maze, as well, did not execute Arligan Zey. In all other recorded instances, Commandos and ARC troopers obeyed it.

Raid on the Jedi Temple
"I saw thousands of troops attack the Jedi Temple. That's why I went looking for Yoda."

- Bail Organa



On Coruscant, Senate Emergency Response announced a state of martial law over Coruscant, and declared the Jedi Temple under military lockdown. Order 66 authorized the newly christened Darth Vader and the 501st Legion to attack the Jedi Temple; however, deciding to take a more surprise-attack approach, a mission named Operation: Knightfall was devised where the 501st attacked any Jedi they found in the Temple &mdash; Masters, Padawans, even younglings. They also massacred non-Jedi staff, including administrators, trainers, and guards. Bail Organa was able to escape because the 501st were "tired of killing". No Jedi within the building were spared, but some escaped, including Shaak Ti, Kazdan Paratus and Jin-Lo Rayce.

Aftermath
"Would it have been too much to ask for the order to have come through before I gave him back the bloody lightsaber?"

- Commander Cody, speaking of Obi-Wan Kenobi, after receiving Order 66

Although Order 66 greatly depleted the Jedi Order's ranks, with an estimated less than 100 Jedi surviving it, it was only the beginning of the Great Jedi Purge, which stretched on for years and would claim the lives of many of the survivors. Nearly all of the surviving Jedi Knights were hunted down and murdered by Darth Vader, while Order 66 itself remained in effect indefinitely among the ranks of the Galactic Empire's newly-christened stormtroopers. Masters Kenobi and Yoda, like many others, chose to go into exile&mdash;on Tatooine and Dagobah, respectively. There they managed to elude Imperial forces for many years; a feat few of their contemporaries could claim.

Victims
"Every single Jedi, including your friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi, is now an enemy of the Republic."

- Palpatine to Anakin Skywalker

The majority of the Jedi across the galaxy fell victim to Order 66. Specifically targeted were the leaders of the Order: the Jedi Council. Masters for immediate execution, Knights were to be detained or executed, while Padawans were to be detained for interrogation.


 * Master Ali-Alann: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by the 501st Legion.
 * Master Stass Allie: Stationed on Saleucami; killed by Commander Neyo also accompanied by CT-3423.
 * Jedi battlemaster Cin Drallig: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
 * Master Sian Jeisel: Visiting the Bogden Jedi Training Facility; killed herself and several clone troopers.
 * Gatemaster Jurokk: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
 * Master Ki-Adi-Mundi: Stationed on Mygeeto; killed by Commander Bacara and the Galactic Marines.
 * Master Plo Koon: Stationed on Cato Neimoidia; killed by Captain Jag.
 * Master Ferroda: Stationed on Cato Neimoidia; killed by X2.
 * Master Saras Loorne: Stationed on Murkhana; killed by the 22nd Air Combat Wing.
 * Master Du Mahn: Stationed at the Bogden Jedi Training Facility; killed by clone troopers.
 * Chief Archivist Jocasta Nu: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
 * Master Simms: Stationed on Toola; killed by Commander Keller.
 * Master Sev: Stationed above Ragmar V; killed by clone troopers.
 * Master Traavis: Stationed on Garqi; killed by Commander Sarge.
 * Master Luminara Unduli: Stationed on Kashyyyk; killed by Commander Faie.
 * A group of Masters: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
 * The master who protected the Great Holocron: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
 * A Zabrak Knight: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
 * Knight Nem Bees: Stationed on Orto; killed by Commander Deviss.
 * Knight Olana Chion: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by the 501st Legion.
 * Knight Serra Keto: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
 * Knight Barriss Offee: Stationed on Felucia; killed by Commander Galle.
 * Knight Aayla Secura: Stationed on Felucia; killed by Commander Bly and members of the 327th Star Corps
 * Knight J'oopi Shé
 * Knight Etain Tur-Mukan: Stationed on Coruscant; killed indirectly by another Jedi while protecting a clone trooper.
 * Knight Tru Veld: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by the 501st Legion.
 * Two Knights: Stationed on Murkhana; killed by clone troopers.
 * Padawan Bene: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
 * Padawan Zett Jukassa: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Sergeant Fox and members of the 501st Legion.
 * Padawan Whie Malreaux: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
 * Youngling Sors Bandeam: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
 * Youngling Jeswi Ele: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
 * Youngling Shia Letap: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
 * Unidentified Clan: At least four more younglings hiding in the High Council Tower.
 * Ten members of the Soaring Hawkbat Clan: Stationed at the Bogden Jedi Training Facility; killed by clone troopers.
 * Hundreds of other Jedi

Known survivors
"The Jedi Order is as ancient as time itself. It would take the might of the entire galaxy to strike us down."

- Kreia

It was said that fewer than one hundred Jedi&mdash;approximately one percent of the entire Order&mdash;survived Order 66. However, it appeared that that was incorrect, as the number seemed to actually be above one hundred (close to two hundred). Nonetheless, many of these Jedi were killed over the following years during the Great Jedi Purge.

Initially, four Jedi on Dellalt escaped with their lives: Klossi Anno, Deran Nalual, Siadem Forte, and Iwo Kulka. A group that was fighting on Murkhana were saved by their troops but one of their number, Bol Chatak was later killed by Vader. The other Jedi, Roan Shryne and Olee Starstone, then fled, meeting up with the group fleeing Dellalt. Forte and Kulka would die at Darth Vader's hands, along with Shryne, while the others would escape to attempt to attack the Empire on smaller fronts. A group of several Jedi combatants in the Battle of Shumari, who, except for the young Tao, would all be hunted down by the Sith. Dass Jennir would lead his own fight against the Sith along with a group of rebels, while fellow Jedi Kai Hudorra and Noirah Na went into Imperial City to try and become "normal" citizens. Kai Justiss attempted to hide from bounty hunters. Ekria, Zonder, and Drake Lo'gaan were able to escape Felucia alive, though Zonder died in a duel against Vader. Chase Piru would watch after younglings from the Soaring Hawkbat Clan including Seddwia, Jiro, and Kennan Taanzer. Tholme would die at some point, and have a funeral pyre on Anzat. Beyghor Sahdett slaughtered the clones that attacked him, and a female Jedi was able to hide from her clones.

Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, and Shaak Ti, were the only Council members to survive the initial purge, though Ti would die later in the Dark Times. An'ya Kuro was another prolific Jedi that would die at Vader's blade.

Maris Brood survived and went into hiding along with Shaak Ti on Felucia, while Kento Marek would hide amongst the Wookiees on Kashyyyk. Aven Rolk survived, as he was frozen in stasis for decades in an escape pod, and planned to rebuild the Jedi Order but would later die in an ice cave on the planet Zissh.

Celeste Morne escaped the initial order as she had slept in an Oubliette since the Mandalorian Wars. She later was awakened by Darth Vader onboard a smuggling vessel named the Uhumele. She would escape, but only to die nearly a hundred years later at the hands of Cade Skywalker on Had Abbadon.

At a meeting on Kessel the Sith executed Koffi Arana, Tsui Choi, Roblio Darté, Jastus Farr, Ma'kis'shaalas, Shadday Potkin, Bultar Swan and Sia-Lan Wezz. Morvet Storm would soon die after this when Vader attacked his home. Aqinos and his Iron Knights hid away on Dweem, while Lady Caryn took a Padawan, Ana Tathis and then fled into the Unknown regions. Minos Fel'Kona fled the devastated Cularin system and disappeared. Geith, Callista Ming, and Plett hid on Belsavis away from the fighting, though were eventually found. Bon and Nia were found by a traveler and escaped the purge. Darrus Jeht tricked his clone troops and fled to parts unknown. Ylenic It'kla later died on Alderaan while Bardan Jusik fled to Mandalore. Drakka Judarrl and her master hid on Dantooine, and Quinlan Vos would presumably hide on Kashyyyk with Khaleen Hentz and their son, Korto Vos.

Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy and Kina Ha survived and were brought to Mandalore by Nyreen Vollen.

Darrin Arkanian and his apprentice Corwin Shelvay were killed by High Inquisitor Antinnis Tremayne while Lexi Degarienne and his family were hunted down and murdered. To escape a similar fate, Neth Enasteri left his family and fled into the Outer Rim. Ydra Kilwallen and her husband would live in peace for several years until they were lost to the Ssi-ruuk. Niebur Boton, Dama Montalvo, a Gotal Jedi, and Halagad Ventor were tortured by Vader, with Ventor giving the locations of several surviving Jedi, along with his friend Ashka Boda hiding spot. While Boton was tortured to death and mutilated by Vader, Ventor was released and went insane because of the deaths he caused. Ameesa Darys was killed by Arden Lyn, while the Last Curator of Records, Axton Tredway, and a Jedi on Talasea was hunted and killed by the Sith.

Drun Cairnwick, Denia, Dorn Tavers, Joc Sah, and Tyneir Renz joined the Rebel Alliance and fought against the Empire. A Jedi that was captured by the Empire would lead the Death Star Uprising during which he was killed. A Jedi and her daughter joined the Alliance and helped combat the Empire. Ranik Solusar and his son were hunted, with Kam eventually joining the New Jedi Order. Qu Rahn would help Kyle Katarn in his quest for the Valley of the Jedi. Vima-Da-Boda would hide in shame in the Outer Rim after the Order's fall.

Empatojayos Brand, T'ra Saa, K'Kruhk, Ikrit, and some of Ephaan Kenzon students later joined Luke Skywalker's New Jedi Order.

Beldorion, Jerec, Danaan Kerr, Maw, Travgen, fell to the dark side and were eventually killed by other Jedi or Vader. A'Sharad Hett eventually fell to the dark side, renamed himself Darth Krayt and created the One Sith. Gruu Dunrik was never selected by a Jedi Master and therefore was sent to the AgriCorps where he fell to the dark side.

Shaak Ti, Rahm Kota, and Kazdan Paratus were hunted by Darth Vader's secret apprentice, Galen Marek, during the Purge as part of the latter's training. Only Kota survived and apprenticed the young misled youth to the light, which led to Maris Brood's redemption. Kota went on to join the Rebel Alliance, and lead the mission to capture the Death Star plans, despite his blindness. Jax Pavan and Laranth Tarak would try to undo the Empire on Coruscant. K'Kruhk would eventually take a Padawan to the Hidden Temple.

Fy-Tor-Ana and Garen Muln hid on Ilum and were eventually killed when they met on the secret Jedi asteroid. Ry-Gaul was undercover during Order 66 but also fled to the Jedi asteroid where he was killed. A Jedi attempt to attack a squad of clones at the Temple and was killed. Taj Junak sacrificed to save his academy and was killed by stormtroopers. Nos'lyn would hide on Tatooine and help Force-sensitives learn the ways of the Force. Qid Proko worked as a technician and Urootar was killed on Kasshyyyk by a bounty hunter.

Echuu-Shen Jon had gone into hiding early into the Clone Wars on Krant. He later reemerged and saved Leia Organa from a squad of Stormtroopers. He was killed later by Vader.

Jedi Master Falon Grey hid on Dantooine. During the Imperial Period, he led a rebellion against local Imperial stormtroopers. The elite clone trooper X2, having left Imperial service, helped Grey in the battle, but ultimately, X1 arrived and killed Falon Grey.

Jedi Master Iri Camas was tracked by the 501st Legion on Celen. Luring a group of four clone commandos into the building, he ignited a gas line, causing the building to detonate. While three of the clones escaped, Camas and one of the commandos were killed in the explosion; his lightsaber was later found half-melted in a wall opposite the explosion.

Valara Saar, Ood Bnar, Ferus Olin, Thracia Cho Leem, Codi Ty, and Zao were not active in the Jedi Order and therefore were not hunted by the Sith. Vergere was not in the galaxy at the time and thus was unaffected.

Unknown/MIA
There were many Jedi whose fate after Order 66 remained unknown. In the chaos of the beginning of the dark times, many reasons existing, chiefly that either no body could be discovered or all clone troopers present were killed. Among the lost were Depa Billaba, who was believed to be recovering from past wounds at the time of the attack on the Jedi Temple. Master Coleman Kcaj, a member of the Jedi Council, was also believed to have been present on Coruscant during Operation: Knightfall.

It was assumed by Obi-Wan Kenobi that his long time friend, Bant Eerin was killed. Other prominent Jedi whose fates were lost in the confusion were Glynn-Beti, Ulu Ulix, Voolvif Monn, Pix and Saldith.

Behind the scenes
The first indirect mention of Order 66 was in the novelization of A New Hope, ghostwritten by Alan Dean Foster and published in 1976, which stated, that the Jedi were "exterminated through treachery and deception".

When Revenge of the Sith first came out, some sources stated that Order 66 was preprogrammed into the clone troopers. However, George Lucas has stated that it was a "last resort" order, not preprogrammed. The order preceding Order 66 is Order 65, which stated that the Supreme Chancellor (had Palpatine not won the seat) would be removed from office by the GAR if the Galactic Senate declared him unfit for duty.

In one issue of Mad magazine, there are several comics parodying Star Wars, including a comic parodying Revenge of the Sith. It contains a short "Execute Order 66" scene quoted as a rip-off of the end scene in The Godfather (called "Baptism And Murder").

Non-canon appearances

 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
 * A clone trooper always obeys orders
 * Tag & Bink: Revenge of the Clone Menace
 * Star Wars: Republic Commando: Order 66
 * ''Star Wars Order 66 mod (Jedi Academy mod)