The Sith Bear Responsibility for the Rise of the Empire in Star Wars

The Big Picture

The Jedi forsook their principles, instead embracing a life of combat, aiding a corrupt regime, and ignorant of the Sith's manipulations. These miscalculations precipitated their downfall, thereby paving the way for the ascension of the Empire.

The clone army was misused by the Jedi, who lacked comprehension of their programming and went against their principle of valuing life by utilizing expendable soldiers.

Palpatine, the actual adversary, cunningly manipulated the Jedi and ultimately engineered the establishment of the Empire. However, the Jedi's ignorance allowed his ascension to power and facilitated the galaxy's downfall.

Star Wars is renowned for its iconic villains, particularly in the original trilogy. These antagonists became so widely recognized that the prequel films didn't even attempt to surpass them. This story delves into the origins of Darth Vader (James Earl Jones), tracing Anakin Skywalker's (Hayden Christensen) transformation to the Dark Side and the emergence of the Empire as an even greater evil. The films also shed light on the fall of the Jedi, as the Empire's rise necessitated their destruction. While it's easy to view the Jedi as victims due to their annihilation by the Empire, they are not entirely innocent.

During what is known as the Fall of the Jedi, the Order deviated from their ideals, as demonstrated clearly in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. Instead of acting as peacemakers, the Jedi picked up weapons and took on roles as generals in the Republic's army. They uncharacteristically accepted a Clone army of mysterious origins without proper investigation. While the Jedi vigorously opposed the Separatists during the Clone Wars, who sought to combat government corruption denied by the Jedi, the Separatists were indeed correct. The Jedi's downfall and the subsequent rise of the Empire can be attributed to Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), who grasped for power and dealt the decisive blow with Order 66. However, the Jedi allowed the Sith Lord to amass power right under their noses, even providing support. Their arrogance led them to believe the Sith were eradicated, rendering them complacent. While the Jedi Order did not directly create the Empire, Palpatine was always bound to cause trouble, and they allowed themselves to be manipulated. By failing to take precautions against known dangers and becoming more entangled in violent conflict, the Jedi Order enabled the Empire and suffered the severe consequences.

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

This film, directed by George Lucas, was released on May 16, 2002. The cast includes Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Christopher Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, and Frank Oz. It falls under the main genre of Sci-Fi and has a rating of PG.

The Jedi Were Supposed to Keep Peace in 'Star Wars'

Image via Disney+

The galaxy is fraught with peril, ranging from tyrannical warlords to relentless bounty hunters. Even during times of relative peace, the Jedi faced their own set of challenges. Their primary focus was meant to be on peaceful negotiation, reserving combat as a measure of last resort. This expectation had been upheld for generations, but times inevitably changed. As the government of the Republic became divided, the Jedi Order chose to remain loyal and assume the role of warriors. This shift is explored in the recent Disney+ series Ahsoka, where Padawan Ahsoka (portrayed by Ariana Greenblatt) reflects on her legacy during a flashback to the Clone Wars. Her master, Anakin, advises her to adapt to the evolving circumstances. While Anakin was instructed in maintaining order, Ahsoka and her generation were raised as soldiers. This stark contrast in the Jedi's duties at this time demonstrates that they deviated from their original path, becoming something they were never intended to be and initiating their eventual decline.

It is notable that the Jedi were not the sole participants in the warfare, for they commanded the Clone Troopers. Bred in secrecy on Kamino from the genetically modified DNA of Jango Fett (played by Temuera Morrison), these Clones were deemed the epitome of an ideal army. However, when Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by Ewan McGregor) happened upon them in Star Wars – Episode II: Attack of the Clones, the Jedi possessed no prior knowledge of their creation. Kenobi later discovers that the Clones were fabricated under the orders of Sifo-Dyas, a former member of the Jedi Council, but the details were concealed. After Sifo-Dyas's untimely demise, the project fell under the supervision of the Sith, who uncovered the truth. Though Emperor Palpatine adeptly covered his tracks, it is prudent to thoroughly investigate an enigmatic force of soldiers secretly initiated by a dismissed Jedi Council member. In fact, it was highly irresponsible of the Jedi to deploy this army across the galaxy without comprehensive knowledge of every directive programmed into them, particularly Order 66, which, if uncovered, could have potentially prevented the Jedi massacre. The employment of the Clones goes against the Jedi's core belief in the sanctity of all life. These genetically engineered soldiers were designed to be expendable and obedient, contradicting the Jedi's ethical framework. While the Jedi may have treated their troops with compassion and respect, allowing the Republic to coerce living beings into becoming soldiers already defied this belief. The Jedi's departure from their traditional values ultimately proves detrimental to their society.

In 'Star Wars' the Jedi Support the Emperor

As the Jedi became an aggressive force aligned with the government, they failed to choose the right side of the conflict. The issues arose when several planets seceded from the Republic and formed the Confederacy of Independent Systems, also known as the Separatists. Dissatisfied with the Republic's corruption, the Separatists cited this as their main reason for leaving. The situation worsened when Palpatine was elected Chancellor, turning the division into a full-blown war. The Jedi fought for Palpatine and the Republic, mistakenly siding with a corrupt government instead of addressing the underlying issues. While the Separatists initiated the conflict, the Jedi escalated it by becoming an army they were never meant to be. However, it's important to note that there was no side free from corruption.

Although the Separatists acknowledged the Republic's problems, they had Count Dooku, a Sith Lord, hiding within their ranks. This allowed the Sith to manipulate both sides of the war in secret. The Jedi, as enemies of the Sith, unwittingly became the Republic's pawns. They became complacent until the appearance of Darth Maul, which made them more cautious. However, they were not alert enough to uncover Dooku's true allegiances. Furthermore, they completely failed to realize the true intentions of Palpatine. This ignorance gave the Sith the perfect opportunity to manipulate and betray the Jedi, ultimately leading to their downfall. Despite the Jedi's close association with Palpatine over the years, they failed to recognize his true nature. While Palpatine was undoubtedly a master deceiver, the Jedi should have been more vigilant. Their lack of action and failure to see through Palpatine's facade allowed him to accumulate power and establish the Empire that ultimately destroyed the Jedi and brought chaos to the galaxy. The true enemy lies in Palpatine, who not only created the Empire but also manipulated and killed the Jedi. The Jedi compromised their principles, supported a power-hungry politician, and unintentionally paved the way for the Empire's rise. Had they not been so blinded by their own beliefs, the galaxy would have taken a better path.

All Star Wars films, including Star Wars – Episode II: Attack of the Clones, are available for streaming on Disney+.