Master of the Order/Legends

Master of the Order was a title used to denote the elected leader of the Jedi High Council during the last decades of the Old Republic, and was also used by the New Jedi Order. Separate from the title of Grand Master, the positions were often times granted to the same individual.

History
Master of the Order is a title which had existed within the Jedi Order for much of its history, representing the elected leader of the Jedi High Council. Appointment of this position was reserved to the High Council's sitting members, with a unanimous vote need to name a new leader. While not always the case, the Grand Master of the Order often times was named leader of the High Council.

While many Masters have held the title over the history of the Order, only a few names are remembered by historians. The earliest named Master of the Order was Grand Master Satele Shan, who led the Council and the Order throughout the Cold War. After many centuries had passed, the Jenet Grand Master Fae Coven was appointed head of the Council and held the position for several centuries, meeting her future successor, Yoda, before her death.

Master Mace Windu held the title of Master of the Order during the last years of the Republic's Golden Age, stepping down after the Battle of Geonosis so as to take a more active role in the Clone Wars. Grand Master Yoda took up the title in Windu's absence, as he was remaining on Coruscant to serve as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine's chief military adviser. At the end of the war, Chancellor Palpatine revealed himself as a Dark Lord of the Sith and ordered the disbanding of the Order. With the High Council dissolved and Master Yoda in exile, the term fell out of use for several decades.

Before his death, the exiled Master Yoda helped Luke Skywalker complete his training as a Jedi; Skywalker would eventually rebuild the Order, yet he did not form a Council until several years later. Leading the Order he built for many years, Skywalker was held responsible for the actions of the Jedi-turned-Sith Jacen Solo by the Galactic Alliance government. After trying the Grand Master, Chief of State Natasi Daala exiled Skywalker from Coruscant and the Jedi Order in 43.5 ABY until he could prove what had caused Solo's turn to the dark side of the Force. In the mean time, Skywalker and Daala agreed to the appointment of Master Kenth Hamner as acting Grand Master and leader of the Council, until Skywalker's return or the High Council elected another Master.

Known Masters of the Order

 * Satele Shan (3,653 BBY&mdash;)
 * Fae Coven (c. 990 BBY&mdash;)
 * Mace Windu (&mdash;22 BBY)
 * Yoda (22 BBY–19 BBY)
 * Luke Skywalker (36 ABY–43 ABY)
 * Kenth Hamner (43 ABY&mdash;44 ABY)

Behind the scenes
The title "Master of the Order" first appeared in The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, but it is unclear if this was meant to be a separate title or another term for Grand Master.

Jedi Master Kol Skywalker was described as being the leader of the Jedi Council in Star Wars: Legacy 0½; this would seem to imply that he also held the title of Master of the Order.

Appearances

 * Yoda: Dark Rendezvous
 * Outcast

Notes and references
Maestro de la Orden