Sith

The Sith is a name applied to certain characters in the Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...

universe

Fictional universe

A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....

. In the films they are the central antagonist

Antagonist

An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...

s. They are capable of using the dark side

Dark side (Star Wars)

The dark side of the Force is a prominent moral, philosophical, and psychic concept in the Star Wars universe. It is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, and appears in all subsequent Star Wars fiction...

of the Force

Force (Star Wars)

The Force is a binding, metaphysical and ubiquitous power in the fictional universe of the Star Wars galaxy created by George Lucas. Mentioned in the first film in the series, it is integral to all subsequent incarnations of Star Wars, including the expanded universe of comic books, novels, and...

The Invention of the Sith

Star Wars creator George Lucas

George Lucas

George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones...

took the name "Sith" from Edgar Rice Burroughs

Edgar Rice Burroughs

Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.-Biography:...

' John Carter of Mars

John Carter (character)

John Carter is a fictional character, created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, who appears in the Barsoom series of novels. Though actually a Virginian from Earth and a visitor to Mars, he is often referred to as "John Carter of Mars" in reference to the general setting in which his deeds are recorded, in...

series in which the sith are giant, venomous, hornet-like insects that are difficult to kill. The first use of the word "Sith" is in the Star Wars novelization for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...

, as a title for Darth Vader

Darth Vader

Darth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....

, the "Dark Lord of the Sith." The Sith are never formally introduced as such on-screen until The Phantom Menace.

History

The Star Wars

Star Wars

Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...

series began with the film Star Wars which was released in 1977. However since 1977, books, computer games, comics, and films have been released all set in the fictional universe

Fictional universe

A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....

of Star Wars. This has expanded the history of the Sith within the stories told in the Star Wars Universe.

Early dark side users were called The Dark Jedi

Dark Jedi

Dark Jedi is the name given in the Star Wars universe to fictional characters attuned to the Force and adept in its dark side. They exist by that name only in the Expanded Universe, including video games such as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and the Jedi Knight series; the term is never...

not the Sith. They were exiled to the planet Korriban, where they conquered a powerful but malleable indigenous species known as the sith race. Treated like

Apotheosis

Apotheosis is the glorification of a subject to divine level. The term has meanings in theology, where it refers to a belief, and in art, where it refers to a genre.In theology, the term apotheosis refers to the idea that an individual has been raised to godlike stature...

gods

Ancient astronauts

Some writers have proposed that intelligent extraterrestrial beings have visited Earth in antiquity or prehistory and made contact with humans. Such visitors are called ancient astronauts or ancient aliens. Proponents suggest that this contact influenced the development of human cultures,...

by their conquered people, they proclaimed themselves "Lords of the Sith". As time progressed The Sith ruled an isolated part of the galaxy. They called this the Sith Empire. The capital was on the planet Ziost. The Empire fell because of the battle for supremacy between two Sith Lords: Ludo Kressh and Naga Sadow. This period was called The Great Hyperspace War.
Eventually a Sith named Darth Bane

Darth Bane

Darth Bane is a fictional character in the Star Wars Expanded Universe. He is first mentioned in the novelization of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, and is thereafter consistently referenced in Expanded Universe material. He is a major character in the Jedi vs...

creates something called the Rule of Two. He is responsible for the destruction of all the Sith save him and his apprentice, Darth Zannah. He manages to trick the Jedi

Jedi

The Jedi are characters in the Star Wars universe and the series's main protagonists. The Jedi use a power called the Force and weapons called lightsabers, which emit a controlled energy flow in the shape of a sword, in order to serve and protect the Republic and the galaxy at large from conflict...

Council

-In politics:* Borough council, a form of local government* City council, a form of local government* Community council, the most local official representative bodies in Scotland and Wales...

into believing that the Sith are completely gone. The Rule of Two states: "Two there shall there be...a master and an apprentice: one to embody power and the other to crave it." Darth Bane is the first Sith to use the title of Darth a tradition the Sith keep.
Centuries Later Darth Sidious' schemes lead to the clone wars

Clone Wars

-Star Wars:*Clone Wars , a series of simultaneous conflicts in the fictional Star Wars universe- Film :*Star Wars: The Clone Wars , a 2008 CGI animated science fiction/action film that takes place within the Star Wars saga, leading into the TV series of the same name- Television :*Star Wars: Clone...

, the destruction of the Jedi

Jedi

Council

-In politics:* Borough council, a form of local government* City council, a form of local government* Community council, the most local official representative bodies in Scotland and Wales...

and the transformation of the republic

Republic

A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...

into the Empire

Empire

The term empire derives from the Latin imperium . Politically, an empire is a geographically extensive group of states and peoples united and ruled either by a monarch or an oligarchy....

. However the Sith are not completely victorious, Darth Vader

Darth Vader

Darth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....

and the Emperor attempt to turn Luke Skywalker

Luke Skywalker

Luke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, where he is portrayed by Mark Hamill. He is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which he is forced to leave home, and finds himself apprenticed to the Jedi master...

to the dark side but they fail and are defeated. In the end Darth Vader choses the path of the Jedi

Jedi

once again and becomes one with the force. He appears with Obi Wan Kenobi at the end of The Return of The Jedi.

Darth Vader

Darth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....

was the first Sith Lord to appear to the general public, appearing in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...

. As a Jedi Knight

Jedi

, he was known as Anakin Skywalker and fought in the Clone Wars

Clone Wars (Star Wars)

The Clone Wars are a series of fictional intragalactic battles in George Lucas's science fiction saga Star Wars. The conflict is first mentioned in the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope , but no details are given , and the wars themselves are not featured until the series' fifth and sixth...

against the Separatists. He turned slowly to the Dark Side

Dark side (Star Wars)

with the help of Darth Sidious. After killing Mace Windu

Mace Windu

Mace Windu is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, most famously portrayed by actor Samuel L. Jackson in the prequel films. However, Windu has also been voiced by other actors in assorted video game and animated projects....

, he swore allegiance to the Emperor and became his pupil. As the Galactic Empire

Galactic Empire (Star Wars)

The Galactic Empire is one of the main factions in the fictional universe of Star Wars. It is a galaxy-spanning regime established by the series' lead villain, Palpatine, to replace the Galactic Republic in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The Galactic Empire is introduced in Star Wars...

continued to grow, Darth Vader became the Emperor’s enforcer and was put in command of the task to find the Rebel Alliance’s

Rebel Alliance

The Alliance to Restore the Republic is an interstellar faction of the fictional universe of Star Wars....

base. After the destruction of the Death Star

Death Star

The Death Star is a fictional moon-sized space station and superweapon appearing in the Star Wars movies and expanded universe. It is capable of destroying a planet with a single destructive super charged energy beam.-Origin and design:...

, Vader was in charge of tracking the Rebel Alliance down and destroying their headquarters. However, the actions of Luke Skywalker

Luke Skywalker

, Vader’s son, eventually turned Vader against his master, resulting in both Darth Sidious and Darth Vader's death.

Darth Sidious

Darth Sidious rose to power from a Senator of Naboo

Naboo

Naboo is a fictitious planet in the fictional Star Wars universe with a mostly green terrain and which is the homeworld of two societies: the Gungans who dwell in underwater cities and the humans who live in colonies on the surface...

, to Supreme Chancellor, to self-proclaimed Emperor of the Galactic Empire

Galactic Empire (Star Wars)

. This was a cleverly orchestrated sequence of events done under his alternate identity, Palpatine

Palpatine

Palpatine is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the Star Wars saga, portrayed by Ian McDiarmid in the feature films.Palpatine first appeared as the unnamed Emperor of the Galactic Empire in the 1980 film Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back...

, who gained respect in the Old Republic

Star Wars: The Old Republic

Star Wars: The Old Republic, abbreviated as TOR or SWTOR, is an upcoming massively multiplayer online role-playing game based in the Star Wars universe. Currently in development by BioWare Austin and a supplemental team at BioWare Edmonton, the game was first announced on October 21, 2008, at an...

while secretly participating in Sith

Sith

-Sith:The Sith is a name applied to certain characters in the Star Wars universe. In the films they are the central antagonists. They are capable of using the dark side of the Force.-The Invention of the Sith:...

practices and planning an end to the Jedi Order

Jedi

. Darth Sidious' reign was in the time of the Rule of Two

Star Wars: Darth Bane: Rule of Two

Darth Bane: Rule of Two, the sequel to the novel Darth Bane: Path of Destruction, is part of the Star Wars Expanded Universe. It was written by Drew Karpyshyn, and was released on December 26, 2007. The novel centers around the young Sith apprentice Darth Zannah, recently taken under the wing of...

. He had three pupils, Darth Maul

Darth Maul

Darth Maul is a fictional character in the science fiction saga Star Wars. He is one of the main antagonists of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, portrayed by martial artist Ray Park and voiced by Peter Serafinowicz....

, Darth Tyranus and Darth Vader

Darth Vader

Darth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....

who eventually kills Darth Sidious at the end of Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi.

Darth Maul

Unlike his master Darth Sidious, Darth Maul

Darth Maul

did not crave power to rule over the galaxy. He wanted nothing but revenge against the Jedi

Jedi

for their actions against him and his people on his home planet, Dathomir. With this in mind, Darth Maul reaches notable status as probably the most deadly warrior the Sith

Sith

had ever created. Wielding a dual-bladed lightsaber

Lightsaber

A lightsaber is a fictional weapon in the Star Wars universe, a "laser sword." It consists of a polished metal hilt which projects a blade of light about 1.33 metres long. The lightsaber is the signature weapon of the Jedi order and their Sith counterparts, both of whom can use them for close...

in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is a 1999 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It is the fourth film to be released in the Star Wars saga, as the first of a three-part prequel to the original Star Wars trilogy, as well as the first film in the saga in terms...

, Darth Maul wreaks havoc for the Jedi Order and kills Obi-Wan Kenobi's

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Obi-Wan Kenobi is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe. He is one of several primary characters in the Star Wars series. Along with Darth Vader, R2-D2, and C-3PO, he is one of the few major characters to appear in all six Star Wars films...

master and friend, Qui-Gon Jinn

Qui-Gon Jinn

Qui-Gon Jinn is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, and a main protagonist of the 1999 film Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, portrayed by Liam Neeson. He also appears in the Star Wars Expanded Universe of comic books, video games, and novels...

before falling to Obi-Wan Kenobi in the same lightsaber battle.

Darth Tyranus

Referred to more as Count Dooku in Episodes II

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones is a 2002 American epic space opera film directed by George Lucas and written by Lucas and Jonathan Hales. It is the fifth film to be released in the Star Wars saga and the second in terms of the series' internal chronology...

and III

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is a 2005 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It is the sixth and final film released in the Star Wars saga and the third in terms of the series' internal chronology....

of the Star Wars movies, Darth Tyranus is really only a notable Sith

Sith

character because of his relationship with Darth Sidious and his role in the Clone Wars

Clone Wars

where he led the Separatist Alliance. Many Star Wars fans may argue that Count Dooku's lightsaber

Lightsaber

battle against three Jedi

Jedi

, Anakin Skywalker

Darth Vader

Darth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....

, Obi-Wan Kenobi

Obi-Wan Kenobi

and Yoda

Yoda

Yoda is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, appearing in the second and third original films, as well as all three prequel trilogy films. A renowned Jedi master, Yoda made his first on-screen appearance in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back where he is responsible for...

in Episode II, is reason enough to put Dooku on this list.

Darth Bane

In a time when Sith Lords

Sith

were very few due to their near extinction by the Jedi Order

Jedi

, Darth Bane

Darth Bane

rose to lead the Sith and established the Rule of Two to replace the Brotherhood of Darkness. The Rule of Two stated that there must be two Sith Lords, one to embody the power of the Dark Side

Dark side (Star Wars)

, and one to crave that power and eventually overthrow his master and adopt an apprentice of his own.

Sith Appearances Throughout Media

Expanded Universe Novels

The first Expanded Universe

Expanded Universe

The term Expanded Universe is generally used to denote the 'extension' of a media franchise with other media...

novel was written by Alan Dean Foster

Alan Dean Foster

Alan Dean Foster is an American author of fantasy and science fiction. He currently resides in Prescott, Arizona, with his wife, and is also known for his novelizations of film scripts...

titled the Splinter of the Mind's Eye

Splinter of the Mind's Eye

Splinter of the Mind's Eye is a 1978 science fiction novel written by Alan Dean Foster. It is a sequel to both Star Wars and its novelization Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker...

in 1978.The setting for this novel takes place between Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

and Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner. The screenplay, based on a story by George Lucas, was written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan...

. It provides further adventures that include Princess Leia, R2-D2

R2-D2

R2-D2 , is a character in the Star Wars universe. An astromech droid, R2-D2 is a major character throughout all six Star Wars films. Along with his droid companion C-3PO, he joins or supports Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Obi-Wan Kenobi in various points in the saga...

, C-3P0, Luke Skywalker

Luke Skywalker

and Darth Vader

Darth Vader

Darth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....

.In the story, Darth Vader tries to get the Kaiburr Crystal to use it for his evil schemes.

Other novels that depicted Sith characters were Darth Maul:Saboteur

Darth Maul: Saboteur

Darth Maul: Saboteur is a short story by James Luceno, set in the Star Wars universe. It was released in ebook form, with a length equivalent to about 55 printed pages, on February 1, 2001....

and Cloak of Deception

Cloak of Deception

Cloak of Deception is a 2002 novel set in the Star Wars galaxy. It is a prequel novel occurring before the events of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. The book was written by James Luceno. The cover art was by Steven Anderson...

by James Luceno

James Luceno

James Luceno is The New York Times bestselling author of three Star Wars: The New Jedi Order novels, Agents of Chaos: Hero's Trial, Agents of Chaos: Jedi Eclipse and The Unifying Force....

. In Cloak of Deception, it describes the political background surrounding the Republic in the time period before Phantom Menace. The Sith Lord at the time, Darth Sidious, plans for his blockade of Naboo.
In Darth Maul: Saboteur,the Sith Lord Darth Sidious sends Darth Maul to destroy InterGalactic Ore and Lommite Limited.Darth Maul:Shadow Hunter

Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter

Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter is a 2001 novel set in the Star Wars galaxy. It is a prequel novel occurring before the events of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. The book was written by Michael Reaves. The cover art was by David Stevenson...

by Michael Reaves

Michael Reaves

James Michael Reaves is an American writer, known for his contributions as producer and story editor to a number of 1990s animated television series, including Disney's Gargoyles and Batman: The Animated Series. He has also written media tie-in novels, children's books, and original fiction...

also showed insight into the Sith. This story is about how Darth Sidious takes his plan into action, however he soon finds out about a traitor who knows of his plan. He sends his apprentice, Darth Maul, to scope out the traitor that leaks the secret of his plan to take down the Republic.
Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back by Donald F. Glut

Donald F. Glut

Donald F. Glut is an American writer, motion picture director, screenwriter, amateur paleontologist, musician and actor....

takes place after the destruction of the Death Star. Darth Vader is in pursuit of Luke Skywalker, who is training with Yoda to become a Jedi Knight. This story depicts the fight scene between Vader and Skywalker almost exactly as it was scripted in the film.

Star Wars Comics

Dark Horse Comics

Dark Horse Comics

Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...

purchased the copyrights to several Star Wars stories. With their publication of Star Wars: Dark Empire #1 in 1991, they initiated what has become a large line of Star Wars manga and comics. The Sith appear as major antagonists throughout this story's plot.

In January 2007, Dark Horse Comics released their first of what became 5 waves of comic-pack figures. Some of the Sith action figure characters that these comic packs included were Darth Vader, Clone Commando and a Trade Federation Assassin Droid. Most of the comics that were published had to do with expanding the backstory of the characters and followed the rise of the Lords of Sith.

Star Wars T.V. Shows

Star Wars has had 3 T.V. shows titled Star Wars: Droids—The Adventures of R2-D2 and C-3PO, Star Wars:Ewoks

Star Wars: Ewoks

Star Wars: Ewoks is an American/Canadian animated television series featuring the Ewok characters introduced in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi....

and Star Wars:Clone Wars

Star Wars: Clone Wars

Star Wars: Clone Wars is an Annie Award-winning American animated television series set in the Star Wars galaxy. The series chronicles the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic under Chancellor Palpatine, and the Confederacy of Independent Systems under Count Dooku.Chronologically, the series...

.
Star Wars: Droids—The Adventures of R2-D2 and C-3PO aired their first episode in 1985. The show focused on the past history of R2-D2 and C-3PO and continuing with their future adventures throughout the galaxy.
Star Wars: Ewoks is an animated shows about the Ewoks and was aired in 1986.
Star Wars: Clone Wars first aired on Cartoon Network in 2008. This show was made to take place some time between the Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith films. During this time, Anakin Skywalker has not become Darth Vader yet and it shows how he progresses into succumbing to the Sith. There is also another (currently untitled) T.V. show who's release date will be soonaccording to the head of Lucas Licensing, Howard Roffman

Howard Roffman

Howard Roffman is an American lawyer representing Lucasfilms and a photographer who specializes in the male full frontal nude photography.-Career:...

. Each of these T.V. series has expanded on the background story of mayor and minor characters that were introduced in the original film’s plot written by George Lucas.

Star Wars Video Games

Star Wars video games have also been adapted from the films, novels, and T.V. shows plots. The games follow the basic plot of the story, but they can also include alternative endings depending on which character is being played. Most of the games range from one to two players at a time. The earliest video game for Star Wars dates back to 1982 when Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back was released for the public in the arcades.
Other video games that focus mainly on the Sith are Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords released in 2004 and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed released in 2008.
In Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, the player can choose if they want to be a Sith, Jedi or another character. The outcome of whether the character follows the dark or light side depends on what character the player chooses and with whom they end up meeting or battling with throughout the game.
In and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, the player acts as Darth Vader’s secret apprentice. Along the way, the adventures consist of several battles against the mayor and minor Jedi fighters throughout the galaxy and helping Vader achieve his master plan.

External links

The Sith Explained (Howstuffworks.com)
Who's Who of the Sith on SithOrder.com

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.