Jedi High Council The Jedi High Council , simply referred to as the Jedi Council , was the ruling body of the Jedi Order . Situated in one of the four towers of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant , the Council consisted of twelve Jedi Master s who oversaw and governed the Order as a whole . Though the Council possessed the autonomy to govern the affairs of the Jedi without interference from the political establishment , the Order ' s allegiance was to the Galactic Senate , the primary government of the Galactic Republic . Prior to the rise of the Galactic Empire , the Jedi served as guardians of the Republic for over a thousand years with the Council dealing directly with the office of the Senate ' s elected leader , the Supreme Chancellor . During the time of the Clone Wars , the Jedi Council led the war effort to defend the Republic and end the conflict that had spread across the galaxy . Ultimately , the Jedi fell while in service to the Republic through betrayal , leading to the dissolution of both the Order and its ruling council . As a result , the Sith reclaimed dominance through the formation of the Galactic Empire . Despite the fall of the Jedi Order , two survivors of the Council — Grand Master Yoda and Obi - Wan Kenobi — lived long enough to train Luke Skywalker in the ways of the Force , resulting in the final defeat of the Sith and the return of the Jedi . History . Age of the Jedi . In the latter days of the Galactic Republic , the upper tier of the Jedi High Council consisted of legendary Jedi Master s such as Ki - Adi - Mundi , a Cerean alien with a binary brain ; Mace Windu , the staunch traditionalist and champion of the Jedi Order ; and Yoda , the oldest and wisest of the Jedi . In 32 BBY , thirteen years before the dawn of the Age of the Empire , Qui - Gon Jinn reported two revelations to the Council : the return of the Sith , an ancient order of dark side wielders that the Jedi had not encountered for over a millennium ; and the discovery of Anakin Skywalker , a prodigy of the Force whom Jinn deemed the Chosen One of Jedi prophecy . The Council was skeptical of the maverick Jedi ' s claims , however . Nevertheless , they decided to commit their resources to discovering the identity of the dark warrior who attacked Jinn on Tatooine . Moreover , they agreed to meet with Skywalker in order to gauge his abilities in the Force . Though the former slave proved exceptionally powerful with the Force , Yoda sensed a considerable degree of fear within him , noting that fear was a path to the dark side of the Force . Windu also felt that Skywalker was too old to commit himself to the ways of the Jedi and the Force without being distracted by his emotional attachments . As a result , the Council turned down Jinn ' s request to train Skywalker . The Council ultimately reversed their decision after Jinn perished in a duel against Darth Maul , the Sith Lord who attacked him on Tatooine . In addition , Skywalker ' s heroic actions at the Battle of Naboo convinced the Council to accept him into their ranks as the Padawan of the newly - promoted Jedi Knight Obi - Wan Kenobi , Jinn ' s former apprentice . Despite this , Windu remained wary of Skywalker , as did Yoda who feared that Skywalker ' s training posed great danger to the future of the Jedi Order . The Clone Wars . In the aftermath of the Battle of Naboo , the galaxy was cast into an era of political turmoil and instability as thousands of star system s joined a growing secessionist movement in opposition to the rule of the Galactic Republic . As both sides drew inexorably towards war , the Jedi Council consulted with Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine . Owing allegiance to the Galactic Senate , the Jedi were duty - bound to protect the citizens of the Republic . However , Windu noted that the Jedi did not possess the adequate manpower to defend the entire Republic in a pan - galactic war . Around the same time , the life of Naboo Senator Padmé Amidala was threatened by an assassination plot , leading the Council to assign Kenobi and Skywalker to her protection detail at the chancellor ' s request . This action ultimately set off a chain of events that led Kenobi to discover the clone army , which had been developed in secret on Kamino at the request of the late Sifo - Dyas , a former leading member of the Jedi Council . After reporting his findings to Yoda and Windu , Kenobi pursued the clone template Jango Fett to the Separatist world of Geonosis where he then discovered the creation of the Confederacy of Independent Systems — led by the former Jedi Master and Separatist Head of State Count Dooku — and its droid army . As a result , the Senate granted emergency powers to the chancellor , who used his new authority to approve the Republic ' s adoption of the Kamino clone trooper s . The newly - formed Grand Army of the Republic launched a pre - emptive strike on the Separatist forces of Geonosis , where the clones achieved air and ground supremacy against formidable odds under the skillful leadership of the Jedi Council . Although the Republic succeeded in driving the Separatists into a full retreat , the Battle of Geonosis only marked the beginning of the Clone Wars . Throughout the conflict , the Council led the war effort in their capacity as Jedi General s of the Republic ' s new military . Members of the Council , such as Windu , spent much of their time on Coruscant , directing the Jedi in their new role as military leaders while simultaneously coordinating strategy with the Office of the Chancellor . At times they also participated more directly by leading clone trooper s into battle on various planets across the galaxy , including Christophsis , Ryloth , and again on Geonosis . Despite committing to their wartime responsibilities , the Council continued to serve as emissaries of the Republic ; from bringing neutral worlds such as Toydaria into the Republic ' s fold , to healing the ancient rift between Bardotta and the Jedi Order , the Council served as both diplomat s and general s in their efforts to protect and preserve the Republic . The Trial of Ahsoka Tano . At the height of the Clone Wars , the Jedi Temple on Coruscant became the target of a terrorist attack that resulted in the bombing of the Temple hangar — an act which killed several Jedi , as well as civilians and clones . Alarmed by the assault on a sacred site of the Jedi Order , the Council assigned Skywalker and his apprentice , Ahsoka Tano , to investigate the incident . However , Tano was soon framed for the death of Letta Turmond , a terrorist whom she captured during the initial investigation . After Tano was apprehended and brought back to the Temple , the Council was requested by the Senate to expel her from the Order , believing that an internal Jedi trial would lack impartiality . In addition to revoking her Jedi status , the Senate insisted on having Tano transferred to military custody so that she could be made to stand trial for acts of treason against the Republic . Following a debate , the Council concluded that there was sufficient evidence to convict Tano as a traitor to the Republic . Additionally , Windu asserted that protecting Tano could be regarded as an act of opposition to the Senate . Though it was not a unanimous decision , the Council chose to comply with the Senate and expelled Tano from the Order , turning her over to a Republic military tribunal . During the trial , Tano was defended by Senator Padmé Amidala and prosecuted by Admiral Wilhuff Tarkin , who advocated the death penalty for Tano . Ultimately , Tano was cleared of all charges after Skywalker discovered the real traitor : Barriss Offee , a fallen Jedi Padawan who believed that the Council was violent and the Republic on the verge of becoming a failed state . In light of Tano ' s innocence , the Council apologized , with Plo Koon admitting that they were wrong to accuse her of disloyalty . Mundi , Tiin and Windu observed that she had passed a great trial in her training , making her a greater Jedi in the process . The Council offered to welcome her back into the Jedi Order , but to their surprise and Skywalker ' s dismay , Tano rejected the offer and instead chose to search for a new path in life . Sith conspiracy . Later , the Council was disturbed by the revelation that the Sith participated in the creation of Sifo - Dyas ' clone army . While the Council did not understand why their enemy provided the Jedi with the means to defend the Republic , Windu noted with caution that such a revelation would undermine public confidence in the Jedi , the Republic , and the war effort . Citing the valiant service and loyalty of their clone soldier s , as well as the need to bring a swift and decisive end to the war , Yoda declared that the Council would not inform anyone , even the chancellor , of the Sith ' s involvement in the origin of the clone army . Communing with the dead . As the Council investigated the Sith ' s role in the clone army ' s creation , Yoda revealed to his colleagues that the spirit of Qui - Gon Jinn communicated with him from beyond death . However , everything the Jedi knew about the Force suggested that the ability to retain one ' s own identity after death was impossible . As such , their reactions ranged from concern to skepticism and suspicion . Kenobi believed that Yoda was simply under duress due to the war , but Mundi opined that the ancient Jedi Master was possibly falling to the influence of the dark side . With the Council unable to reach a consensus on Yoda ' s mental well - being , Windu ordered the Jedi Temple Guard to monitor his activities as a precaution . With Skywalker ' s assistance , Yoda escaped from the Jedi Temple , embarking on a quest that ultimately led to his discovery of the ability to preserve his identity after becoming one with the Force . The plan to assassinate Dooku . By 19 BBY , almost three standard years after the first battle of the Clone Wars , the Republic loyalist world of Mahranee was conquered by a Separatist invasion force . After claiming the planet and its resources for the Confederacy , Count Dooku ordered the deaths of all Mahran refugee s before they could be evacuated from their fallen homeworld . Dismayed by the recent Mahran genocide , the Jedi Council resolved to the end the conflict once and for all by assassinating Dooku . Though Kenobi initially objected to the method of assassination , Windu stressed that it was the Council ' s obligation to utilize every option at their disposal for the sake of the Republic and its citizens . Windu ' s argument , combined with the Jedi ' s duty to the Republic , convinced the Council to sanction the mission . On Kenobi ' s recommendation , they assigned the task to the maverick Jedi Master Quinlan Vos due to his experience with covert assignments . In addition to Vos , the Council determined that Dooku ' s former apprentice , Asajj Ventress , was also critical to the success of the mission . To that end , Kenobi tasked Vos with gaining Ventress ' trust in order to ultimately secure her support against Dooku . However , despite earning her respect Vos ' relationship with Ventress became increasingly personal , leading the former to break his Jedi vows and move closer to the dark side of the Force as a result of Ventress ' influence . After losing contact with Vos for a time , the Council learned from Ventress that not only had the mission failed , but Vos was also taken as a prisoner of Dooku . Though she was regarded with suspicion by the Jedi , particularly Windu and Skywalker , who blamed her for the failure of the mission , the Council offered to grant her amnesty in return for her cooperation in the rescue of Vos . Together with Dooku ' s former acolyte , the Jedi successfully retrieved Vos , although Ventress was convinced that he had fallen to the dark side by becoming the count ' s new disciple . The Council initially did not share Ventress ' suspicions , but nonetheless pardoned her in accordance with their arrangement . Vos ' s deception did not last long , however . Yoda , who began to suspect that Vos had indeed become a traitor , came to sense the dark side within him . At Windu ' s suggestion , the Council considered having him executed , but after pleas from Kenobi , they dispatched Vos to make a second attempt on Dooku ' s life as a test of loyalty . They also reluctantly agreed to allow Ventress to participate in the mission after she revealed that the count was scheduled to travel to the planet Christophsis . At the same time , Kenobi was instructed to execute Vos if he revealed himself as a traitor to the Jedi and the Republic . While Dooku ultimately survived the Jedi ' s second assassination attempt , the Council learned that Vos had embraced the dark side and committed several acts of treason , including the murder of two Jedi — Akar - Deshu and Kav Bayons . However , Vos renounced the dark side and took responsibility for his actions after Ventress saved his life by sacrificing her own . With some persuasion from Kenobi , who argued that the decision to assassinate Dooku was morally wrong and the cause of Vos ' fall , the Council forgave Vos by welcoming him back into the fold of the Jedi Order . Fall of the Republic . During the Battle of Coruscant , Count Dooku was killed by Anakin Skywalker . With the death of the Confederate head of state , the remaining Separatist leaders fled into hiding while command of the battle droid army passed to General Grievous , making him the next high - profile target of both the Republic and the Jedi Order . Palpatine assured Windu that the Senate would vote to continue the war as long as the general remained alive and free , to which the Jedi Council responded by prioritizing the hunt for Grievous . By now , the relationship between the Council and the chancellor had grown increasingly strained ; Palpatine ' s gradual accumulation of wartime powers only raised their suspicions . Though they initially accepted the chancellor ' s empowerment in order to quickly mobilize the clone army for war , the gradual expansion of his control over the Republic caused the Council to become wary of Palpatine ' s motives . In addition to the supplementary powers given to the chancellor by the Senate , the Council was even more disturbed by Palpatine ' s decision to appoint Skywalker as his liaison to the ruling body of the Jedi Order . Skywalker ' s appointment to the Council ' s ranks at his age was unprecedented ; he would be the youngest Jedi to serve on the Council , and although he was counted among the finest warriors of the Order , he had not yet achieved the rank of Jedi Master . Despite their disdain at this move by Palpatine , the Council grudgingly accepted his decision , but on a condition — Skywalker would have a seat on the Council , but not the rank of Master , making him the only Jedi to hold this distinction throughout the history of the Order . In truth , the Council only cooperated with the chancellor so that Skywalker would be in the ideal position to monitor Palpatine ' s activities . Skywalker , however , felt insulted at not being granted the rank of Master , and was less than enthusiastic about his unofficial assignment , regarding espionage against the chancellor as an act of treason . Kenobi disagreed and asserted that the Council ' s loyalty was to the Senate rather than its leader , who managed to stay in office far beyond what his constitutional term limit would allow . After Clone Intelligence traced Grievous ' position to Utapau , Skywalker informed the Council that the chancellor wished to place him in command of the mission to kill Grievous . Windu sternly informed him that the Council would decide who among their ranks would confront Grievous , regardless of Palpatine ' s opinion . Believing that a more experienced Jedi was required to bring the war to a decisive conclusion , the Council dispatched Kenobi and the 212th Attack Battalion . Yet even as the end of the war drew near , the Council remained skeptical about Palpatine ' s post - war intentions . Windu could also feel the dark side surrounding the chancellor , which caused him to suspect that a plot to destroy the Jedi Order was close to fruition . Frustrated by the chancellor ' s accumulation of power and the consequent erosion of the democracy that the Republic stood far , the Council began to regard him as a threat to the Republic . It was at this time that the Council started contemplating the possible necessity of forcibly removing Palpatine from office , an act which would necessitate a Jedi takeover of the Senate in order to maintain political stability during the transition to a new government . In the end , the Council ' s distrust of Palpatine was vindicated when Skywalker learned of his true identity — the chancellor of the Republic was the Dark Lord of the Sith ; Darth Sidious , master of the Sith apprentice s Maul and Dooku in turn , had orchestrated the entire war in an effort to gain absolute power over the galaxy . Faced with the truth , Windu moved with haste to confront Sidious in a final effort to save the Jedi Order . With the support of fellow Council members Kit Fisto , Agen Kolar and Saesee Tiin , he marched into the chancellor ' s office and declared his intention to arrest Sidious in the name of the Senate , leading to a fierce lightsaber duel between the Dark Lord and the four members of the Jedi Council . Despite their own skills in lightsaber combat , the Jedi Masters Tiin , Kolar , and Fisto were slain by Sidious in quick succession . However , Windu was able to hold his own before ultimately emerging as the victor in the duel . By then , he believed that a trial would be useless as Sidious had gained control of the government , and therefore decided to put an end to his life in order to prevent the return of Sith oppression over the galaxy . Before he could deliver the killing strike , Skywalker , who had just arrived at the Senate Office Building , disarmed Windu , leaving him defenseless against the torrent of Force lightning that Sidious unleashed on him . With the death of the Jedi Order ' s champion and the subsequent fall of Anakin Skywalker , who became Darth Vader , Sidious issued Order 66 — a secret protocol that compelled the clone troopers to betray and murder their Jedi leaders . Aside from Yoda and Kenobi , the remaining members of the Council perished along with the majority of the Order during the initial phase of the purge . Having eliminated the Jedi Order and its leadership , Sidious was free to declare an end to the Republic , allowing for the Galactic Empire to rise in its place . Legacy . The rise of the Empire forced Yoda and Kenobi into hiding on Dagobah and Tatooine , respectively . By 0 BBY , roughly two decades after the fall of the Jedi Order , Kenobi began instructing a new apprentice — Luke Skywalker , son of Anakin Skywalker , endeavored to become a Jedi Knight like his father before him . Following the death of Kenobi in a final duel with his one - time Padawan , Darth Vader , Luke was guided by the spirit of his master to seek out Yoda on Dagobah . Though critical of his temperament and impatience , the former Grand Master took to guiding Luke in honing his nascent powers in the Force . On his deathbed , Yoda deemed his final student ' s training complete , but stipulated that he would have to confront Vader before becoming a full - fledged Jedi . With his passing , and Anakin Skywalker ' s subsequent redemption and death , the last two members of the Jedi High Council became one with the Force . In the aftermath of the Battle of Endor , the spirits of Yoda , Kenobi and Anakin watched over Luke and his allies as they celebrated the Rebel victory on Endor . Organization . The Jedi High Council was the governing body of the Jedi Order . Its composition consisted of twelve Masters who were tasked with the responsibility of guiding the Order , largely by convening as a council to discuss matters of importance to the Jedi . Based in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant , the capital world of the Galactic Republic , the Council ' s chamber was located at the top of the Temple ' s High Council Tower — one of four Council Towers that surrounded the central Temple Spire , which also contained its own High Council chamber at the Spire ' s peak . Members could leave the Council at their discretion . As leaders of the guardians of peace and justice , the Council ' s tasks included the deliberation of galactic events while also pondering the will of the Force . In the waning years of the Republic , the Council ' s ranks included two notable positions : the Grand Master , an honorific bestowed on the oldest and wisest living Jedi , presided over the Council ; and Master of the Order — the elected leader of the Jedi Order . During the crisis on Naboo in 32 BBY , Yoda held the title of Grand Master while Mace Windu served as Master of the Order . By the time of the Clone Wars , Yoda chaired the Council and led the Order as both Grand Master and Master of the Order . The Council held the Jedi Code in the highest regard and required all Jedi to adhere to its principles . Members of the Council such as Yoda and Windu staunchly adhered to the Order ' s ancient traditions , whereas Qui - Gon Jinn was passed over for consideration because of his maverick views . While the Council tolerated unconventional Jedi to an extent , there were tenets in the Code that they enforced without exception . When Jinn offered to train Anakin Skywalker , the Council sternly reminded him that he already had a Padawan , Obi - Wan Kenobi , and that training more than one apprentice at a time was forbidden by the Code . Although it was known that some wayward Jedi used blaster s , their use was never condoned by the Council . Kenobi , one of the last members of the Council , held a lifelong view that blasters were unreliable and uncivilized , especially in comparison to the Jedi lightsaber . Behind the scenes . According to Dave Filoni , supervising director of both " " and " Star Wars Rebels " animated television series , one of the reasons for Anakin Skywalker ' s turn to the dark side was the lack of compassion and care of the Jedi . Ezra Bridger , the central character of " Star Wars Rebels " , however , had a very strong family support system by the people around him even though he could be tempted by the dark side .