Sith/Legends

"Treachery is the way of the Sith."

- Darth Tyranus

The Sith Order was a sect of Force-sensitives who utilized the dark side of the Force. The term "Sith" originally refered to a species of alien native to the planets Korriban and Ziost, who were later enslaved and ruled by exiled Dark Jedi from the Galactic Republic. These Dark Jedi had once been members of the Jedi Order, a monastic Force religion dedicated to peace through the use of the light side of the Force. The Dark Jedi, who refused to rely exclusivly on the light side, challenged the Jedi by giving into the dark and starting the Hundred-Year Darkness. They were defeated exiled from known space, which lead to their discovery of the Sith species. Following centuries of interbreeding and mixing of cultures between the aliens and the exiles, the Sith would no longer be identified by their race, but by their dedication to the ancient Sith philosophy. This religous order would survive in many different incarnations throughout Galactic History. The rise of a new leader, or Dark Lord, would often cause drastic reorganizations in the cult, however the Sith would always be characterized by their lust for power and their desire to destroy the Jedi Order.

The Sith were the most infamous of all dark side religions, and the members of the cult were often seen as the pinnacle of power within the dark side. Throughout their long history, the Sith commanded several Empires and initiated many galactic wars. With such great influence, the Sith religion inspired many cults that weren't technically part of the Sith Order, nor were they comprised of actual Sith. Instead, they were founded and made up of Sith devotees and other Force-sensitives dedicated to prolonging the teachings and the memory of the Sith. Such cults included the Naddists, the Disciples of Ragnos, and the Krath.

Forged by fire
"If you seek to aid everyone that suffers in the galaxy, you will only weaken yourself … and weaken them. It is the internal struggles, when fought and won on their own, that yield the strongest rewards... If you care for others, then dispense with pity and sacrifice and recognize the value in letting them fight their own battles."

- Darth Traya

The Sith belived that conflict was the only true test of one's ability, and so emphasized it's importance. It was their belief that conflict challenged both individuals and civilizations, and so forced them to grow and evolve. They believed that the avoidance of conflict - like the pacifist teachings of the Jedi - resulted in stagnation and decline.

Another purpose served by conflict was the elevation of the strong and the death of the weak. By encouraging strife, the strong were able to exercise their power while the weak were weeded from the ranks of the Sith. A core tenant to Sith philosophy was self-reliance and the idea that an individual only deserved what they were strong enough to take. Likewise, morality was treated as an obstacle to be overcome, as it got in the way of a Sith's ability to recognize and seize opportunities for advancement and self-empowerment.

Such philosophies were embraced and taught at Sith academies, where students were encouraged to challenge one another and fight for prestige that would be recognized by the headmaster of the academy. At the academy on Korriban during the Jedi Civil War, students were tasked with gaining prestige so they might become one of the "chosen few" accepted into the ranks of Darth Malak's Sith Empire. The strive to achieve prestige caused rivalries and animosity between the students, as there were few tasks that offered prestige, and many prospective Sith. Similarly, the students of the academy during the New Sith Wars were pitted against each other in dueling sessions atop the academy. It was during these dueling sessions that intense rivalries were formed - rivalries that resulted in the deaths of students Fohargh and Sirak at the hands of Darth Bane.

Empowered by passion
"What fuels your power with the Force but your passion? The stronger, darker emotions. Anger, hatred, fear&hellip; these passions empower us."

- Yuthura Ban

The cornerstone of a Sith's power was emotion. While the Jedi taught that fear, anger, and pain were negative emotions to be overcome, the Sith believed that these strong emotions were natural, and aided individuals in their survival. By hanessing their emotions rather than suppressing them, the Sith believed they could achieve true power. This belief was in stark contrast to that of the Jedi's, who strived to place themselves beyond such base emotions. Indeed, the Sith saw passion as the only real way to fully understand the Force. However, the Sith believed strongly that the worthy could control their emotions and use them, while the weak were ruled by them. In accordance, Dark Lady Lumiya refused to accept Jacen Solo as a Sith Lord until he was able to control his anger instead of become a slave to it, and Freedon Nadd renounced his faith in Exar Kun shortly before his destruction, when he discovered the limitless ambition Kun served.

However, not all emotions were embraced by the Sith. They, like the Jedi, considered 'love' a dangerous emotion, but for different reasons. The Jedi discouraged love because it led to attachment, but the Sith taught that love led to mercy, which was anathema to them. While Darth Sidious preyed on Anakin Skywalker's love for his wife in order to corrupt him, he had no intention of allowing the relationship to survive Skywalker's fall to the dark side. Darth Bane had fallen in love with fellow Sith pupil Githany, however he did not allow himself to retain any connections to her, and did not regret her death on Ruusan.

The Sith'ari
In the original Sith language, the term "Sith'ari" translated literally into "lord" or "overlord". Over time however, the term became closely associated with the idea of a perfect being, who would rise to power and take control of the Sith Order.

The prophesied comming of the Sith'ari was based around the notion that a perfect being, would epitomize the teachings of the Sith Code and became free of all restrictions. This being would lead the Sith, but also destroy them- a destruction that would make the Sith Order stronger than before. The identity of the Sith'ari has never been confirmed, although some believed it to be Darth Bane, who destroyed the Brotherhood of Darkness in order to remake the Sith through the Rule of Two. The prophesy of the Sith'ari is very similar to the Jedi's prophesy of the Chosen One- an extremely powerful Force-sensitive who would lead their Order to perfection.

The Code of the Sith

 * Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
 * Through passion, I gain strength.
 * Through strength, I gain power.
 * Through power, I gain victory.
 * Through victory, my chains are broken.
 * The Force shall free me.
 * &mdash;The Sith Code [src]

The code of the Sith was the mantra which stated the core beliefs of the Sith Order and is believed to have been created in contrast with Jedi Code. The structure of the codes are almost identical, and the initial line of the Sith Code directly contradicts the initial line of the Jedi Code, which reads: "There is no emotion, there is peace."

Following the embrace of passion, which was believed to be a powerful aspect of nature, the code explains that the strength granted by passion leads to power, which then leads to victory. By way of victory, the Sith believed they could free themselves from the limitations of regular beings, and achieve their potential. Neophyte Sith believed that the breaking of chains represented the ability to do whatever one wished, however more seasoned members of the Order reconized that the true meaning of freedom was the end of all physical restricitions and the ability to atttain perfection. The Sith believed that the only being who could truly live up to the code and attain freedom was the Sith'ari, and as such saw it as a guideline by which to live, not a law to abide by.

The Rule of Two


"Two there should be; no more, no less. One to embody power, the other to crave it."

- Darth Bane

The Rule of Two was the principal upon which the Order of the Sith Lords was founded. It was created by Darth Bane, a Dark Lord and member of the Brotherhood of Darkness. Bane believed that the Sith had weakened themselves by accepting too many into their ranks and that the true dark side had abandoned them. After studying the holocron of Darth Revan, Bane decided that the Brotherhood needed to be destroyed and the Sith rebuilt as a secretive order consisting of two beings- a single master and a single apprentice.

Bane believed this philiosphy would solve the infighting that had long been the bane of the Sith Order. By only allowing two members into the cult at a time, the dark side would remain concentrated within those two beings, instead of legions of ineffective warriors. When the apprentice learned all they could from the master, it was their duty to kill the master and take an apprentice of their own, in order to ensure the continuing strength of the cult. As such, the Rule of Two embraced the idea of the rule of the strong. The small number of Sith allowed the Order to remain hidden for a millenia.

The Rule of One


"Instead of two there is now only one&mdash;the Sith Order itself. I have recreated the Sith, Lord Bane, as you once did. I have given it a purpose. For what use is power without one?"

- Darth Krayt to Darth Bane's holocron

The Rule of One was the guiding code of the One Sith. Created by Darth Krayt after the collapse of the Order of the Sith Lords, it embraced the ideals of the ancient Sith, wherein there was a single Dark Lord of the Sith who lead many lesser Sith Lords, along with other minions and acolytes. The "One" represented the Sith Order itself, a unified and cohesive group of Sith who restrained from infighting and were fanatically obedient to Dark Lord Krayt. The practice of one apprentice per master was retained, however there were many masters. Also retained was the practice of slaying a master once an apprentice's training was complete, however this was not done to continue the rule of the strong, but rather to show one's faith and devotion to the Sith cause.

The Order was considered hereical by Darth Bane, Darth Nihilus, and Darth Andeddu, who voiced their opinions via holocron. Some, including Darth Nihl and Cade Skywalker believed that the lack of a line of succession would cause the One Sith to collapse if Darth Krayt were ever killed.

History
"But in their hearts they never forgot the Jedi. The hatred for the Jedi Order burns in their veins like fire, and it echoes in their teachings."

- Darth Traya

Origins
Before the founding of the Jedi Order and the discovery of the dark side, the Sith species evolved on Korriban. The Sith species began society around 130,000 BBY and about 30,000 years later, their culture and religion was formed. Around 28,000 BBY legendary Sith King Adas ruled his people and their Empire. Adas had ruled as a warlord for a time, however he was able to unite the people of Korriban and was pronounced the Sith'ari, or overlord. Adas' reign lasted for several centuries ending only after the invasion of Korriban by the Rakata of the Infinite Empire.

Initially friendly, the Rakata taught Adas how to create holocrons and lent their knowledge of space travel to the Sith. However, it soon became apparent that the Rakata intended to take the Sith people as slaves, and Adas launched a war to rid them from his world. He was successful, however the victory cost him his life. The Rakata left behind a Star Map on the planet, and possibly the origin for the Darth title.

The death of Adas threw Korriban into civil war, with many different Sith scrambling for power. The world was devestated from the years of conflict, and no new leader arose from the ashes. The Sith people moved their center of government and culture to the world of Ziost, and left Korriban to become a tomb world for their fallen leaders.

In 25,000 BBY, elsewhere in the galaxy, the Galactic Republic was forming. On the planet Tython, scholars, scientists, warriors, and religous figures met to discuss an anomolic energy field present in the galaxy that would become known as the Force. In these discussions, several individuals advocated the use of Bogan, what would become known as the dark side. The followers of the light rejected this idea and defeated the followers of Bogan in the Force Wars of Tython. Following the conflict, the victors established the Jedi Order, a group of warrior-monks who followed the light side. Around 24,500 BBY, a Jedi named Xendor accepted the teachings of the dark side and left the order, along with many other students calling themselves the Legions of Lettow. The resulting conflict, known as the First Great Schism, ended with Xendor dead and the Legions of Lettow defeated.

The dark side would not have a strong hold untill 7,000 BBY, when another group of Jedi left the Order to follow the dark path. These Jedi had been delving into alternative uses for the Force, and became increasingly reliant on it. They discovered that the Force could twist life to serve their purposes and create new life. These practices were looked upon with apprehension by other Jedi, as memories of the First Schism were still present. Feeling their power was threatened, the rogue Jedi sought supporters within the Order, but were turned away. Arguments for their cause turned to conflicts, and these Jedi were exiled from the Order. Taking their teachings with them, they became known as Dark Jedi, and launched a war against the Jedi Order that would come to be known as the Hundred-Year Darkness.

Using alchemically altered soldiers and beasts, the Dark Jedi's war lasted a hundred years. It was during this war that the Leviathan was created, along with many other monstrosities. Eventually, the Dark Jedi were defeated at the Battle of Corbos as a result of infighting and Jedi bombing. As punishment, the surviving Dark Jedi were gathered by Republic forces and loaded aboard unarmed transport ships. Robbed of their weapons, the exiles were to be sent into the unknown regions of space to contemplate the error of their ways.

Timeline of major events in Sith history
.
 * 6,900 BBY – Exiled after their defeat during the Hundred-Year Darkness, the Dark Jedi arrive on Korriban, where they interbreed with the Sith natives, and form the Sith Empire. Over the millennia, the empire expands to surrounding systems, including Ziost.
 * 5,000 BBY – Dark Lord of the Sith Naga Sadow is defeated in the Great Hyperspace War, and the Sith Empire collapses ten years later. Sadow flees with his Massassi warriors to Yavin 4.
 * 4,990 BBY – Final collapse of the Sith Empire, following the defeat of Naga Sadow. One Dark Lord escapes in the Unknown Regions to  rebuild the Empire.
 * 4,400 BBY – Jedi Knight Freedon Nadd falls to the dark side, and is trained by the awakened Naga Sadow. Sadow dies at the hand of Nadd, who soon establishes himself as the King of Onderon.
 * 4,250 BBY – The Third Great Schism occurs on Coruscant, resulting in the Dark Jedi fleeing to Vultar, where they activate the Cosmic Turbine, causing the Vultar Cataclysm.
 * (4,000 – 3,998 BBY) — Freedon Nadd's descendants Queen Amanoa and King Ommin lead the Naddist Sith cult in a skirmish with the Jedi during the Beast Wars, and the Freedon Nadd Uprising. The Great Sith War begins. Satal and Aleema Keto are taught Sith teachings by Nadd's spirit. After the defeat of the Naddists, they flee to the Empress Teta system, and form the Krath sect.
 * 3,997 BBY – Exar Kun falls to the dark side. The spirit of Freedon Nadd leads him from Dxun to Korriban, and thence to Yavin IV, where Kun destroys Nadd utterly. There he founds a new Sith order, which he names the Brotherhood of the Sith.
 * 3,996 BBY – Kun takes the fallen Jedi Ulic Qel-Droma, leader of the Krath, as his apprentice. The Brotherhood of the Sith and the Krath fall during the Battle of Yavin IV.
 * 3,961 BBY – Jedi Knight Revan falls under the influence of the dark side after discovering the Trayus Academy on Malachor V, a relic of the mysterious True Sith.
 * (3,960 - 3,959 BBY) – Revan, hero of the Mandalorian Wars, betrays the Galactic Republic, declares himself Dark Lord of the Sith, and forms a new Sith Empire.
 * (3,959 - 3,956 BBY) – Darth Revan supplements his forces with a fleet constructed by the Star Forge, and invades the Republic during the Second Sith War. Revan is supposedly killed when his apprentice Darth Malak betrays him, but later reappears as a Jedi, having returned to the light side. Revan leads Republic forces to victory by defeating Malak and destroying the Star Forge. After the Second Sith War, it became common practice for the Sith to prepend the title "Darth" to their name.
 * (3,956 – 3,950 BBY) – In the wake of the Battle of Rakata Prime, the Sith Civil War erupts on Korriban, and virtually wipes out the Sith followers of Revan and Malak.
 * (3,954) – Darth Nihilus and Darth Sion unite many of the remaining Sith warlords. They begin to wage a shadow war upon the devastated Republic and start the First Jedi Purge.
 * 3,951 BBY - The Sith Triumvirate is defeated by the Jedi Exile and the First Jedi Purge ends. The Sith Civil War continues as the remaining Sith fight over the remnants of their empire. At the end of the war one Sith Lord bearing the title of "Darth", being one of the few survivors declares himself a Sith Lord. Another presumed extinction of the Sith.
 * c.3,756 BBY - The Sith Empire invades the Republic, and the Great War begins
 * 3,656 BBY - The Great War ends with the signing of the Treaty of Coruscant. The Republic and the Sith Empire exist as two separate governments in a state of Cold War.
 * 3,500 BBY - Darth Desolous is expelled from the Jedi Order, and forms a Sith army of Pau'ans, training them in the use of cortosis armor and shields, and leads them against the Jedi. Some two thousand Jedi Knights are killed before the carnage ceases.
 * 2,000 BBY – Darth Ruin, another fallen Jedi, forms a new Sith order and begins the New Sith Wars during the period of the Fourth Great Schism. Lasting a millennium, by 1,466 BBY the New Sith Empire conquers all of known space outside the Colonies.
 * (2,000 – 1,000 BBY) – The Sith prove to be their own undoing, as internal power struggles destroy their organization. Lord Kaan unites the survivors under the Brotherhood of Darkness, and grants the title of "Dark Lord" to many Sith.
 * 1,000 BBY – Both Jedi and Sith armies are destroyed in the Seventh Battle of Ruusan, leaving Darth Bane the only survivor. To ensure the continued survival of the Sith, Bane institutes the Rule of Two.
 * (1,000 – 33 BBY) – The Rule of Two continues. Darth Millennial abandons his master, Darth Cognus, and establishes the Prophets of the Dark Side. Darth Vectivus becomes the administrator of a mine on an asteroid near Bimmiel, and builds a mansion there at the heart of a dark-side energy nexus. He lives out the rest of his days there, surrounded by friends and family, and presumably trains his own apprentice. The Muun Sith Lord, Darth Plagueis is found and trained by an unknown Master. Palpatine is trained under the tutelage of Darth Plagueis, and is given the title of Darth Sidious. Palpatine kills his Master in his sleep. He then trains Darth Maul as his own apprentice.
 * 32 BBY – The Sith, who had been in hiding for nearly one thousand years, resurface again when Darth Sidious orchestrates the Battle of Naboo in which Darth Maul is killed by Obi-Wan Kenobi.
 * (22 – 19 BBY) – Darth Sidious and Darth Tyranus provoke the Clone Wars, and many Jedi die, or turn to the dark side.
 * 19 BBY – Darth Vader becomes Sidious's new apprentice. The Republic falls and the Galactic Empire is established by Darth Sidious, now known as Emperor Palpatine. The Sith rule the galaxy once more, from the Core Worlds to Wild Space.
 * (19 – 1 BBY) – Darth Sidious eradicates most of the Jedi in the Great Jedi Purge.
 * 4 ABY – Vader is turned back to the light side of the Force by Luke Skywalker, resulting in the deaths of both Sidious and Vader, presumed extinction of the Sith Order, thus fulfilling the Ancient Jedi Prophesy of the Chosen One.
 * 11 ABY – The resurrection of Palpatine, who nearly overthrows the New Republic before dying one last time. Another presumed extinction of the Sith order. Exar Kun's spirit is revived on Yavin IV and turns Kyp Durron into a Sith Lord.  Exar Kun is later defeated by the New Jedi Order and Kyp turns back to the Light Side of the Force.
 * (11 ABY+) – Rumors abound of a last Sith, an Emperor's Hand, named Lumiya. Three decades later, these whispers would prove true.
 * 14 ABY – A Sith cult, the Disciples of Ragnos, attempt to resurrect Marka Ragnos, but are thwarted through the efforts of the New Jedi Order.
 * 30 ABY – Darth Krayt begins to rebuild the Sith Order on Korriban.
 * 40 ABY – Lumiya appears in the galaxy again, and seduces Jacen Solo to join her. Jacen slowly attempts to lead his cousin Ben Skywalker toward the Sith ways, in order to make him his apprentice but instead later takes Tahiri Veila as his apprentice. Jacen eventually becomes a Sith Lord, taking on the title of "Darth Caedus" and becomes a co- Chief of State of the Galactic Alliance. However with his death Lumiya's Sith, the last surviving remmant of the Order of the Sith Lords had perished. Another presumed extinction of the Sith Order.
 * 130 ABY – The Sith, led by Darth Krayt, return to prominence in the galaxy by sabotaging the Ossus Project, causing mass secessions from the Galactic Alliance to the second Galactic Empire, and nearly eliminating the Jedi Order once again.

Organizations
"There is a faction of meatbags called the Sith. They want what any rational meatbag would want&mdash;the power to assassinate anyone they choose at any time."

- HK-47

The term Sith referred to numerous disparate dark side organizations that rose and fell over thousands of years of galactic history. No single entity long survived the vigilance of the Jedi Knights, but even in defeat the ancient Sith teachings proved difficult to suppress. Each time the Jedi Order grew complacent, a Sith cult, brotherhood, order, or empire would arise from the ashes to threaten the galaxy once more. New iterations of the Sith would be linked only tenuously to past traditions through a shared ideology.

Sith (species)

The Sith were a species of red-skinned humanoids native to Ziost and Korriban that were enslaved by exiled Dark Jedi. Prior to their discovery, the Sith were divided into a meek and lowly slave class, a skilled and intelligent engineer class, and the warlike Massassi class. Over time, the Sith interbred with the Human Dark Jedi through the practice of Sith Alchemy, and the two peoples became one.

Massassi

The Massassi were related to the Sith species. Under the rule of the exiled Dark Jedi, many Massassi captives were subject to Sith Alchemy, which resulted in them being more deadly and easier for their Sith masters to control. They were distinguished by bone spurs which erupted from their skin and by their abnormally giant size. They would serve as soldiers for the Sith Empire.

Sith Empire

The Sith Empire was a rich and powerful empire that was established by Dark Jedi banished from the Galactic Republic after their defeat at the Battle of Corbos during the Hundred-Year Darkness. After developing in complete isolation for thousands of years, the Sith eventually rediscovered the Republic. The Dark Lord of the Sith Naga Sadow led the Empire in an invasion during the Great Hyperspace War, but he was defeated. The Sith Empire was believed to have been utterly destroyed by Republic forces in the aftermath of the Second Battle of Korriban. However, one Dark Lord to escaped in the Unknown Regions with a group of dark-siders known as the True Sith and rebuilt the Empire. Using the dark secrets he managed to survive for many centuries and eventually attacked the Republic. After a Great War that lasted for many decades, the Sith and the Republic signed a treaty and from that moment existed as two separate governments.

True Sith

The "True Sith" was an obscure and largely unknown order of adherents to the dark side of the Force, who survived the Great Hyperspace War and the eventual collapse of the Sith Empire. Darth Traya told the Jedi Exile that the order had been in existence for tens of thousands of years and were silently waiting in the Unknown Regions during the time of the Jedi Civil War.

According to Darth Traya, the "True Sith" had existed for millennia prior to the rise of the ancient Sith Empire. She and Revan believed that it was they who had goaded the Mandalorians into attacking the Galactic Republic, starting the Mandalorian Wars. Kreia stated that both Malachor V and the graveyard planet, Korriban, had once been planets at the edges of that mysterious Empire, and that while these "True Sith" had forgotten those ancient worlds of the dark side, they would remember. And they did remember. Under the leadership of their Sith Emperor, they restored the Sith Empire and invaded the Republic.

Brotherhood of the Sith

The Brotherhood of the Sith was a group of Dark Jedi founded by Exar Kun who broke away from the Jedi Order to study Sith techniques. During the Great Sith War, the Brotherhood attempted to conquer the Republic with the aid of the Krath and the Mandalorian Crusaders. The Brotherhood was defeated and virtually exterminated during the Battle of Yavin IV.

Krath

The Krath was a Sith secret society founded by Aleema and Satal Keto, the bored heirs to the Empress Teta system. Following a Krath attack on a Jedi conclave, Ulic Qel-Droma attempted to infiltrate the group, but he failed. He was seduced to the dark side and eventually became the leader of the sect. During the Great Sith War, the Krath became the military arm of Exar Kun's Sith Order and fell with it on Yavin 4.

Revan's Sith Empire

"You think the corruped remnants of the republic the machines spawned by techonolgy that Revan lead into battle were Sith&hellip;you are wrong. The Sith is a belief."

- Kreia

The Sith Empire was temporarily resurrected by the fallen Jedi Revan and Malak. Built upon a hardened core of veterans from the Mandalorian Wars and a host of Jedi converts, the fledgling new galactic power very nearly succeeded in conquering the Republic during the Second Sith War. After the redemption of Darth Revan and the death of Darth Malak, their Empire splintered into factions and eventually collapsed.

Sith Triumvirate

The Sith Triumvirate was a brief but deadly Sith Order founded by the former Jedi Kreia, now known as Darth Traya, she took two apprentices of unknown origins and trained many new Sith at the Trayus Academy on Malachor V. After her exile from the Triumvirate the two remaining Sith Lords; Darth Nihilus, and Darth Sion executed the First Jedi Purge. The Sith Triumvirate was a loose alliance of what remained of Darth Revan's Sith Empire. It was solidified sometime after the Battle of Rakata Prime. This organization comprised several, if not hundreds of Sith apprentices, Sith Masters and most importantly, Sith Assassins. The members were eventually defeated by the Jedi Exile.

New Sith Empire

The New Sith Empire was founded by Darth Ruin, and was the vast area of galactic territory formed out of the Fourth Great Schism, which the Sith ruled over with an iron fist. Its capital was the planet Roon. At its height during the New Sith Wars, it was almost as good as the old Sith Empires of Naga Sadow and Darth Revan; following the Battle of Mizra and during the Republic Dark Age, it encompassed a great percentage of the known Galaxy.

Sometime between 1,010 and 1,006 BBY the New Sith Empire collapsed in a civil war. From the ashes, Kaan established the Brotherhood of Darkness.

Brotherhood of Darkness

Founded by Lord Kaan, the Brotherhood of Darkness (sometimes referred to as the Dark Army) was the last mass gathering of the Sith for nearly 1200 years. An army of over twenty thousand Sith Lords and their followers, its destruction on Ruusan heralded the beginning of a new order.

Order of the Sith Lords

Under the last surviving Sith Lord of that army, Darth Bane, a new Sith Order was created as a result of the devastating Seventh Battle of Ruusan, which saw the annihilation of the previous Sith Order. Bane's Sith Order, known formally as the Order of the Sith Lords, was founded upon the principles of Darth Revan's Holocron, where from he formed the Rule of Two, utilizing stealth tactics and treachery to achieve their means. The Rule of Two would allow his eventual successor, Darth Sidious, to finally triumph over the Jedi and the Galactic Republic nearly 1,000 years later.

Disciples of Ragnos

The Disciples of Ragnos was a Sith Cult under the leadership of Tavion Axmis, who sought to resurrect the spirit of Marka Ragnos through ancient Sith sorcery and take control of the galaxy. The cult was closely related to the Empire Reborn movement of which Tavion had herself been part with the Dark Jedi Desann. The cult was ultimately defeated by Jaden Korr and the New Jedi Order.

Lumiya's Sith

Lumiya's Sith were a loosely collected group of individuals associated with Lumiya, self-proclaimed Dark Lady of the Sith after the final death of Darth Sidious. Even with Palpatine's final death, the Sith continued to survive. Their next Sith Lord was an Emperor's Hand named Lumiya. Darth Vader had passed on to Lumiya some Sith teaching secretly from his master, and the woman adopted the title "Dark Lady of the Sith" upon her masters' death at Endor. She trained two apprentices: Flint, who was redeemed by Vader's son Luke Skywalker, and Carnor Jax, who was killed by Palpatine loyalist Kir Kanos.

Soon afterwards she succeeded in convincing Vader's grandson Jacen Solo to join the ranks of the Sith, thus calling himself Darth Caedus. Darth Caedus later corrupted the Jedi Tahiri Veila and took her as his apprentice. However, following the death of Caedus and the redemption of his apprentice, the war Lumiya had started was over; and Lumiya's Sith had perished.

One Sith

By the year 130 ABY, a new Sith Order had risen to take the place of Darth Bane's order. It is known that a Sith known as Darth Krayt began the order on Korriban, the ancient Sith burial world, around 30 ABY. In this new Sith cult, many of the followers sported a red-and-black tattooed appearance and used lightsabers with an yorik coral-styled hilt design. This Sith Order was considered heretical by the Sith of the past. Krayt spent over a century growing and strengthening the new order, planning to unify the galaxy once more under Sith rule. He and his new order made their presence known around 127-130 ABY by initiating the Sith-Imperial War, and then launching an attack on the Jedi on Ossus.

Ranks
The Sith had a clearly defined hierarchy which divided the strong from the weak, but because the Sith order existed in numerous disparate incarnations, the Sith hierarchy did not maintain a single continuous ranking system throughout its history. The Sith hierarchy remained much the same for almost 6,000 years - through the ancient Sith Empire, Exar Kun's Brotherhood of the Sith, and Darth Revan's Sith Empire - until Lord Kaan declared that all of his highest ranking followers in the Brotherhood of Darkness were Dark Lords of the Sith. Like the Jedi and the Old Republic, the Sith underwent a great reformation after the apocalyptic final Battle of Ruusan. The Sith order's destruction inspired Darth Bane to reform the order and decree that there would be only two Sith at a time from that point forward: a Master and an apprentice. Both would bear the title "Dark Lord of the Sith," which would become synonymous with the term "Sith Lord."

Sith Empire
These were the ranks of the Sith Order before Darth Bane instituted the Rule of Two.

Dark Lord of the Sith

Dark Lords of the Sith were the greatest and most powerful of the Sith Lords. Up until the reign of Kaan, it was a title that was only given to those that were acknowledged as the leaders of their order, but by the end of the New Sith Wars the title was held by many Sith Lords simultaneously.

Sith Lord

Sith Lords were the leaders of the Sith. They commanded armies of Sith Minions, Acolytes and Warriors during wartime and ruled through a governing body known as the Sith council. Sith Lords used the dark side of the Force to inflict misery, suffering, and corruption. They were also tasked with preserving the lore of the Sith by passing all their knowledge on to their acolytes. While they did not enter combat as often as lesser Sith (preferring to use pawns, servants, or proxies), they were the most fearsome of the Sith as they were the keepers of the Sith's greatest secrets and wielders of its most potent sorceries.

Sith Marauder

Sith Marauders, a variant of the Sith Warriors, were often responsible for the most brutal acts carried out by the Sith. Their training emphasized the aggressive use of a lightsaber rather than the Force. A Sith Marauder's berserk physical prowess was a dark side technique fueled by hatred, rage, and cruelty. Thus, most Marauders could duel an average Jedi toe-to-toe and win easily. Caring little for the subtleties of manipulating others and lacking a deep understanding of the Force, Marauders were often burdened with carrying out the wishes of the Sith Lords.

Sith Warrior

Sith Warrior was a rank of the Sith order before Darth Bane's reform of the Sith Order. They were mid-ranking Sith who generally focused their energies and skills towards battle, spending little time on actual dark side philosophy or other concerns of the "purer" Sith.

Sith Acolyte

Sith Acolyte were Force-sensitive apprentices who had only just started down the dark path under the tutelage of a more experienced Sith.

Sith adept

Sith Adept was a Sith rank during the New Sith Wars, similar to Sith acolyte. The Brotherhood of Darkness trained them in the Dathomir Academy and Iridonia Academy.

Sith Assassin

Specialized Sith minions included Sith Assassins, who preferred to ambush targets from the shadows rather than engaging them in standard combat. Almost always working solo or in small groups, they utilized stealth field generators and the rare art of Force camouflage to launch surprise attacks on their Jedi victims. While some used a lightsaber, most fought with more conventional melee weapons such as force pikes. Darth Traya, Darth Sion, and Darth Nihilus commanded legions of Sith Assassins during the aftermath of the Jedi Civil War, causing the near-extermination of the Jedi Order. The Sith Assassins drew their powers from the Force power of their enemies.

Sith Minion

Sith Minions were the lowliest members of the Sith. Some were not even Force-sensitive, and often worshiped the Sith Lords as gods. Sith Cultists, Sith Assassins and Sith Marauders can be considered examples of Sith Minions. However, the Sith also used soldiers, mercenaries, and conscripts to work for them.

Post-Bane


"Two there should be; no more, no less. One to embody power, the other to crave it."

- Darth Bane

To ensure the continued survival of the Sith, Bane was forced to put them on the brink of extinction. He instituted the Rule of Two. In Bane's order, both Sith held the title Dark Lord of the Sith. The rule of the two instituted that a master train an apprentice. Once the apprentice was fully trained, he would kill the master and take on the mantle himself and repeat the process. The death of the master is either a ceremonial killing or an assassination.

Sith Master

Sith Masters were Sith Lords that had an apprentice serving beneath them. Other than Bane, notable Sith Masters include Darth Plagueis and his successor; Darth Sidious.

Sith apprentice

Sith apprentices were Sith neophytes that were studying under the tutelage of a Sith Master. Notable Sith apprentices include Darth Zannah, Darth Maul, Darth Tyranus and Darth Vader.

Dark Side Adepts

Dark Side Adepts were not technically Sith. These Force-sensitives were chosen and honed by the Sith apprentice. Essentially, adepts were candidates to replace the Apprentice when he or she was killed or ascended to mastery. Notables included Darth Tyranus's Dark Acolytes, whose numbers included Sora Bulq and the infamous Asajj Ventress, or Darth Vader's secret apprentices Galen Marek and Tao.

Palpatine Era
"Once more, the Sith will rule the galaxy&hellip;and we shall have peace."

- Darth Sidious, to Darth Vader

When Palpatine declared himself Galactic Emperor, the Sith controlled the known galaxy, in a political sense, for the first time. With this new, far-reaching authority came a need for functionaries throughout the Empire who were, to one extent or another, supporters if not adherents of the dark side. Though not Sith in any strict sense, these quasi-Sith minions were known generally as Dark Side Adepts. As Force-sensitive individuals serving the Emperor, they supported his Sith rule by working in the roles of servants, agents, intelligence operatives, military officials, etc. Dark Side Adepts were particularly important when Palpatine was reborn into his clone bodies, six years after his death.

Inquisitorius

The Inquisitorius was a secret division of Imperial Intelligence consisting of dark side Force-sensitive agents known as Inquisitors (sometimes also as Inquisitioners), or "truth officers".

Under the control of Darth Vader, these Inquisitors were considered the highest ranking of the Dark Side Adepts, outranking the Emperor's Hands, Prophets of the Dark Side, and lesser Dark Jedi. They reported directly to Emperor Palpatine.

Prophets of the Dark Side

The Dark Side Prophets were an ancient Outer Rim renegade Sith order founded by Darth Millennial. Though not Banist Sith, the Prophets were arguably a kind of true Sith. Darth Sidious rediscovered the group and brought them once again under his control, renaming them the Emperor's Mages.

Emperor's Hands

Emperor's Hands were top-secret special operatives trained in the Force by the Emperor himself. They were so secret they usually had no knowledge of each other. Mara Jade was one of the best-known Emperor's Hands.

Together with the Emperor's Mages, the Emperor's Hands were called the Dark Side Elite.

Imperial Royal Guard

These were hand-picked elite stormtroopers assigned to protect and serve the Emperor directly. Force sensitivity was by no means a requirement. Those with advanced talents, however, were assigned as Sovereign Protectors, and those with even more advanced talents underwent Force training under Dark Jedi tutors.

Dark Jedi

Although the name might imply otherwise, Dark Jedi were not synonymous with Sith, although Darth Vader among others used techniques drawn from the traditions of both the Dark Jedi and the Sith. Dark Jedi were distinguished from the Sith in the fact that Dark Jedi just used the dark side, whereas the Sith abided by the religion and codes passed down through the holocrons. It was much more likely for Dark Jedi to return to the Light (e.g. Kam Solusar). Other notable Dark Jedi included Joruus C'baoth and Jerec.

Legacy Era
By the year 130 ABY a new Sith Order had risen to take the place of that of Darth Bane's order. Krayt abolished Darth Bane's Rule of Two. Instead, there would be the Rule of One&mdash;that One being the Sith Order itself, under which there would be many Sith Minions.

Ruled by Krayt, the new Sith Order flourished and a chance for Galactic domination presented itself. The reverse Vong-forming of worlds was sabotaged and when the galaxy at large blamed and persecuted the Yuuzhan Vong, the GA and Jedi Order were split down the middle. In the midst of the New Galactic Civil War the Imperial Remnant joined forces with the Legacy Sith and brought the galaxy to its knees. The new Sith, however, betrayed the Empire and deposed the Emperor. Darth Krayt assumed the throne of the Empire. But the deposed Emperor, Roan Fel, set up a rival faction of the Empire that remained loyal to him. Each side tried to dominate the Galaxy in the years to come.

It is known that a Sith known as Darth Krayt began the order on Korriban, the ancient Sith burial world, around 30 ABY. In this new Sith cult, many of the followers sported a red and black tattooed appearance.

Fist

The Fist was a Sith Lord who served as the supreme military commander for the new Sith Order. The Fist was appointed to the position by Darth Krayt. As of 137 ABY Darth Stryfe served as Krayt's Fist. At the Massacre of Ossus, Darth Nihl was the Fist, but was made a Hand when his predecessor was killed during the battle.

Hands

The Hands were Darth Krayt's most able servants, trained and existing to carry out his will. They took only his orders, and reported only to him.

By 137 ABY, Krayt's only Hand was Darth Nihl, having been given the post when his predecessor died unexpectedly. That year, he made Darth Talon into his second Hand, a fact that displeased Nihl.

Sith Intelligence and Assassination

Sith Intelligence and Assassination was an agency of the new Sith Order of Darth Krayt. It was in charge of spying, political murder, and torture. Around 130 ABY, it was headed by Darth Maladi. Jor Torlin was one of its ranking agents.

Darth Maladi's laboratory, in the Temple of the Sith, was a location of Sith Intelligence and Assassination.

Sith tattoos
Many Sith Lords adorn themselves with unique tattoos, as a symbol of their devotion to the order. The tattoos often have an alternating pattern of red and black based mostly off of Ancient Sith Holocrons. Sith tattoos are incredibly painful to have applied, as they often cover the entire body. Examples of tattooed Sith Lords include the infamous Darth Maul, as well as Darth Talon, Darth Wyyrlok, Darth Ruyn, and many other members of Darth Krayt's new Sith Order.

Weapons
"The Sith grew past the use of lightsabers, but we continue to use them, if only to humiliate the Jedi."

- Darth Sidious, to Darth Vader

Many Sith and Dark Jedi used synthetic, reengineered lightsaber crystals, also known as synth crystals, to focus the blades of their lightsabers. These crystals were red, giving the blade a red hue. Synth crystals were more powerful but were unstable, causing lightsabers to short out or die after a much shorter time than normal lightsaber crystals.

Behind the scenes
"Sith" was the name of a type of giant poisonous insect in Edgar Rice Burroughs's Barsoom novels.

An issue of Star-Lord, published by Marvel Comics in 1973, featured a villain, Rruothk'ar, who was described as a "Sith-Lord". 

Appearances
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 * Tales of the Jedi: Golden Age of the Sith
 * Tales of the Jedi: Fall of the Sith Empire
 * Tales of the Jedi: Ulic Qel-Droma and the Beast Wars of Onderon
 * Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith
 * Tales of the Jedi: The Sith War
 * Shadows and Light {{Vision}}
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 0: Crossroads {{Mo}}
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 25: Vector, Part 1 {{Vision}}
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 32: Vindication, Part 1 {{Mo}}
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * Darth Bane: Path of Destruction
 * Jedi vs Sith
 * Bane of the Sith
 * Darth Bane: Rule of Two
 * The Apprentice
 * Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader
 * Jedi Apprentice Special Edition: The Followers {{Mo}}
 * Jedi Council: Acts of War
 * Darth Maul: Saboteur
 * Cloak of Deception
 * Star Wars: Darth Maul
 * Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace junior novel
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game {{Nc}}
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga {{Nc}}
 * Star Wars: Battlefront
 * Rogue Planet {{Mo}}
 * Jedi Quest
 * Outbound Flight
 * Star Wars Republic: Rite of Passage
 * The Eyes of Revolution
 * The Approaching Storm
 * Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter {{Holo}}
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones junior novel
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars video game
 * Star Wars: Battlefront II
 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * Shatterpoint
 * Jedi: Mace Windu
 * Jedi: Count Dooku
 * The Cestus Deception
 * Star Wars Republic 63: Striking from the Shadows
 * MedStar II: Jedi Healer {{Mo}}
 * Jedi Trial
 * Yoda: Dark Rendezvous
 * Star Wars Republic: Trackdown
 * Star Wars: Obsession
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith junior novel
 * Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
 * Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight
 * Coruscant Nights II: Street of Shadows
 * The Last of the Jedi
 * Death Star Designer {{Mo}}
 * Rebel Dawn {{Imo}}
 * Death Star
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope novelization {{1st}}
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy {{Nc}}
 * Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
 * Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike
 * Allegiance
 * "Skywalkers"
 * Star Wars Rebellion: The Ahakista Gambit
 * Splinter of the Mind's Eye
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Classic Star Wars
 * Shadows of the Empire (novel)
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Dark Forces: Jedi Knight {{Flash}}
 * Lumiya: Dark Star of the Empire
 * Dark Empire
 * Dark Empire II
 * Empire's End
 * Crimson Empire
 * Dark Apprentice
 * Champions of the Force
 * Simple Tricks {{Mo}} {{C|as curse}}
 * Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial {{Mo}}
 * Edge of Victory I: Conquest {{Mo}}
 * Star by Star {{Retcon}}
 * Betrayal
 * Bloodlines
 * Tempest
 * Exile
 * Sacrifice
 * Inferno
 * Fury
 * Revelation
 * Invincible
 * Star Wars Legacy 8: Allies
 * Star Wars Legacy: Broken
 * Star Wars Legacy 4: Noob
 * Star Wars Legacy: Trust Issues
 * Star Wars Legacy 13: Ready to Die
 * Star Wars Legacy: Claws of the Dragon
 * Star Wars Legacy: Indomitable
 * Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds
 * {{LFC|Head in the Clouds}} {{Mo}}
 * {{LFC|Clouded Paths}} {{Mo}}

Non-canon appearances
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 * Star Wars: Visions of the Blade