Jedi Order

A noble order of protectors unified by their ability to tap into the power of the Force, the **Jedi Order** united Jedi in their devotion to the light side of the Force. With a history dating back thousands of years before the rise of the Galactic Empire, the Jedi Knights, who were noted for their lightsabers and natural ability to harness the powers of the Force, stood as the guardians of peace and justice in the Galactic Republic. During the late years of the Republic and the rise of the Empire, the Jedi Order would be purged, almost wiping out the entire order.

However 30 years after the fall of the Jedi Order, when the Galactic Empire fell, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker would go onto rebuild the Jedi under the New Jedi Order.

## **Overview**

The Jedi Knights were a noble order of Force-sensitive protectors who upheld peace and justice in the Galactic Republic for over a thousand generations. As keepers of the peace, the Jedi Order undertook diplomatic missions on behalf of the Galactic Senate, and pursued interplanetary criminals across the galaxy.

In late years of the Republic, the Jedi Grand Temple on the Core World Coruscant served as the hub of all Jedi activity in the galaxy. The Temple was also a training school for younglings and Padawans, who learned the ways of the Force under the supervision of Jedi Masters, twelve of whom were elected to serve on the Jedi High Council—the Order's highest governing authority. The High Council's staff officers were the Grand Master, who functioned as the leader of the Order and was a title reserved for the wisest Jedi Master, and the Master of the Order, who served as the Council's appointed leader. The Jedi Code governed the Order's way of life; therefore, every Jedi was duty-bound to observe and uphold the Code or else risk banishment from the Order's ranks.

As the Jedi were instructed in the ways of the Order and the Force; as their knowledge grew, each member progressed through several different ranks. With the exception of Anakin Skywalker, prospective Jedi were identified a short time after birth by the quantity of midi-chlorians in their blood, a factor which indicated the level of a subject's Force-sensitivity. Many of these children were listed within Jedi holocrons before being identified by the order. Training began at the level of the Jedi youngling; at some point in their training, younglings were expected to find their own Kyber crystal, the heart of the lightsaber, in order to pass an ancient rite of passage known as The Gathering.

Younglings who succeeded in their trials graduated to the level of Padawan, the apprentice of a more experienced member of the Order. In accordance with the Jedi Code, a Master could instruct only one student in the ways of the Force at any given time. The Padawan braid, a symbol that represented a Jedi apprentice's status in the Order, was worn in the hair or head, depending on the Padawan's species.

The Jedi Trials were a series of tests that ultimately determined whether a Padawan was worthy of the rank of Jedi Knight. After becoming a full-fledged member of the Order, a Jedi could choose to adopt a Padawan of their own as part of the Order's tradition in training the next generation of Jedi. The most powerful and legendary Jedi held the rank of Jedi Master. Again with exception of Skywalker, the Jedi High Council—the highest governing body of the Order—consisted of Masters throughout the history of the Order. Among the Council, the title of Grand Master was conferred on the oldest and wisest member of their group, while Council's leadership rested with the Master of the Order.