Showdown on Coruscant

"It's treason, then."

- Supreme Chancellor Palpatine

The Duel in the Chancellor's Office was, at first, the planned arrest of the corrupt Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, who was in fact the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, by Jedi Masters Mace Windu, Agen Kolar, Saesee Tiin, and Kit Fisto near the end of the Clone Wars. However, it began as soon as all were suddenly murdered by Palpatine, except for Windu. Windu and Palpatine fought one-on-one in the Chancellor's office, but the cause of the duel began sometime before:

Meeting Supreme Chancellor Palpatine at the Galaxies Opera House, Anakin Skywalker learned of a Sith Lord named Darth Plagueis the Wise from his mentor. He was so intuned with the Force that he could manipulate midi-chlorians to make life, Palpatine told the young Jedi. He also told him that he could even save the ones he loved from dying but, one day, his apprentice killed him in his sleep after learning that power. Anakin realized it was the only power to save Anakin's wife, Padmé Amidala, from dying at childbirth as he had forseen.

When Anakin later met up with Palpatine to inform him that General Grievous engaged Obi-Wan Kenobi on Utapau, he finally revealed himself as the Sith Lord the Jedi have been looking for, Darth Sidious. He revealed that he had Plagueis's power and he could teach it to Anakin if he became his new apprentice.

Anakin told Mace Windu of Palpatine's identity. Distrusting Anakin, he took a squad of Jedi&mdash;Kit Fisto, Agen Kolar, and Saesee Tiin&mdash;to arrest Palpatine for his dealings which ultimately resulted in the Duel in the Chancellor's Office, the first formal duel of the Clone Wars takig place on Coruscant in Palpatine's suite.



The Jedi saw their plan of arresting Palpatine fail, as he ignited a lightsaber that had remained hidden in his sleeve and attacked them with fury. He jumped at Agen Kolar and thrusted his lightsaber through his stomach. He then slashed Saesee across the chest. Fisto and Windu dueled bravely, but seconds later, only Windu remained as Fisto was slashed in the thigh by the Chancellor's blade.

As Windu and Palpatine, revealed as Darth Sidious, dueled, they went up near the apartment's window that was shattered by Windu's purple blade. Windu then kicked Sidious in the face, sending his lightsaber out the window. Unarmed, Palpatine laid against the wall, Windu's blade a centimeter from his throat, seemingly defeated.

It was at that moment that Anakin arrived, unable to resist his personal conflict regarding the promises of Darth Sidious. Sidious hurled Force lightning at Mace, but he deflected it back with his lightsaber. The bolts flowed through Sidious, seemingly injuring him and deforming his face. The Chancellor begged for mercy and repeated in a raspy, tired voice that he was too weak as his face literally melted away. He called out to Anakin for help while Windu counseled him not to trust him. The Jedi Knight remained undecided, standing and watching as Palpatine seemed to suffer.

As Mace was about to deliver Sidious the killing blow, Anakin finally decided. The young Jedi cut off Windu's arm and Sidious seemed to shift from weakness to superiority in an instant, sending an endless barrage of Force lightning to shatter the Jedi Master's body and finally hurl it out of the window.

Anakin pledged himself to Sidious's teachings to learn Plagueis's power of life. He would now be known as Darth Vader.

The Great Jedi Purge had begun.

Behind the scenes

 * In the novelization of Revenge of the Sith, there were a few differences from the film's interpretation, as is usually the case with novelizations of the movies. Firstly, Sidious tricked Saesee Tiin by asking him to read his mind (to establish if the Chancellor was truly a Sith Lord) then used the distraction as a chance to strike. Then, Kit Fisto was beheaded by Sidious, not stabbed in the chest. His death was not described firsthand&mdash;instead Anakin found Fisto's head on the Chancellor's table with the Nautolan's typical smile on it.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (novel)
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (game)