Duel on Tatooine

"My only conclusion can be that it was&hellip; a Sith Lord."

- Qui-Gon Jinn

During the Trade Federation's invasion of the planet Naboo, the Sith Lord Darth Maul tracked the vessel of Queen Padmé Amidala to Tatooine, where it landed for repairs after escaping Naboo. When Maul discovered the escapees, he engaged Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, one of the queen's protectors, in a duel on the outskirts of Mos Espa. The two briefly fought across the desert floor, before the queen's ship came to Jinn's aid. The Jedi Master leapt aboard, and the ship escaped Tatooine and the Sith Lord.

Although it was a tactical stalemate, the duel represented the first known encounter between the Jedi and Sith for a millennia. The Jedi had believed that the Sith were extinct, and it was the duel on Tatooine when the Sith finally revealed themselves to their ancient enemies. The event coincided with the discovery of Anakin Skywalker, believed to be the Chosen One, and helped set off a series of events that, over the next several years, led to the fulfillment of millennia-long Sith goals: the fall of the Galactic Republic and the destruction of the Jedi Order.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace