Star Wars Sith Secrets: The Rule of Two Explained

What Is The Rule of Two?

In Star Wars, the Sith follow a specific rule, referred to as the Rule of Two. This directive was first enforced by Darth Bane, with his apprentice Darth Zannah. They made it clear that there were to be only two Sith at any one time: the Master and the Apprentice. This served as a strategic and tactical advantage. The goal? To minimize the threat of the Sith's power, and allow for a consistent and concentrated approach toward mastering the Dark Side. In essence, they're not concerned about Sith order - but power for themselves.

However, Darth Sidious (also known as Emperor Palpatine) disregarded this directive as he established an incredibly powerful and successful Galactic Empire by the time the Prequel Trilogy concludes. The first major inconsistency is Palpatine training his apprentice Darth Maul while his master, Darth Plagueis, was alive. However, Palpatine ultimately went on to kill Darth Plagueis to usurp the Master. Even though Palpatine broke this rule a couple of times, those events still lead to a major turning point as Palpatine would dominate those who followed him.

How Does Emperor Palpatine Use the Force?

Darth Vader, Darth Maul, and Palpatine Image

Emperor Palpatine is considered one of the most well-known Star Wars villains and a prominent Sith lord in the Star Wars franchise. Throughout both the prequel trilogy and the original trilogy, Palpatine established himself as a major and seemingly unbeatable figure - wielding power and mastering the Force.

One of his key powers is the ability to control, manipulate, and even "force lightning" - often considered to be a deadly technique for dispatching his enemies. It's widely seen to be his strongest power - showcasing how he's used his mastery over the Force to achieve an unprecedented level of control, leading to his ability to orchestrate the downfall of the Jedi Order - an effort known as "Order 66" - to control the entire galaxy, and become a tyrannical figure that brings those into power.

Why Didn't The Emperor Plan His Succession?

Palpatine in the center with Hemlock on the left and Brendol Hux on the right. Image

Palpatine had ultimate control as he commanded the Galactic Empire. But after a brutal coup against the Jedi, his reign brought to him the power of the Galactic Empire. This dominance over the entire galaxy lasted for a considerable time period, but Palpatine was unable to foresee how the Empire would ultimately end.

Darth Sidious was a "control freak". He could only rule, so there is a high chance that this arrogance made it very hard to plan for what came next. As Darth Sidious failed to create a successor - it allowed for those forces of Rebel Alliance efforts to gather enough strength to make a "counter" and dismantle his rule, leaving the Empire to crumble under its own weight.

What Was The Role of The Emperor's Rule in Star Wars?

Emperor Palpatine with an army of Sith behind him. Image

Emperor Palpatine played a critical role throughout the entire Star Wars franchise , which spanned for decades, and those who watched would know that it's also tied to the Prequel Trilogy (The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith). It is an incredible arc of manipulation, cunning, and intrigue that brought him to power.

In his role as Darth Sidious, Palpatine's influence spanned decades - showcasing the depth of his evil actions. From his rise to power as Senator for Naboo - and later as Senator Palpatine, a figure within the Galactic Republic - he used these positions to implement those intricate, evil plots. It would be years later, during the events of The Clone Wars - when he'd be able to coordinate his attacks as the ultimate master behind the separatist movement - even by leveraging those who he had a deep, dark connection to - namely Count Dooku.

How Does Emperor Palpatine's Character Differ in The Star Wars Original Trilogy vs The Star Wars Prequel Trilogy?

Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars Return of the Jedi Image

Darth Sidious (also known as Emperor Palpatine) is an incredibly well-developed character in Star Wars, a fact many can attest to - and his power was evident in his rise as the Emperor. He used a wide range of skills to pull off one of the most incredible coups - establishing himself as a central power over the entire Galactic Empire.

Darth Sidious is a major force within both the Prequel Trilogy and The Original Trilogy of Star Wars. These films allowed audiences to learn about how he would leverage his mastery over the Force to influence those around him (both in politics and among the Jedi and Sith Order, using them as pieces in a dangerous game). The difference that exists for Darth Sidious as the Emperor is that, during the Prequel Trilogy he appears as Senator for Naboo - but he eventually transitions to an ultimate power as the Emperor.

Why is Darth Plagueis Such a Famous Character In Star Wars?

Darth Plagueis was the powerful, evil Master of Darth Sidious (Emperor Palpatine), but he's also an iconic character, particularly because the Darth Sidious character made a mention of Plagueis in The Revenge of the Sith to entice Anakin Skywalker into taking up the dark side. This is also when fans discovered the connection between the Sith, and specifically how they've continued to incorporate an intricate and complex set of rules within their own Order: One that highlights those rules such as the Rule of Two. The Sith are also considered to be some of the most iconic and intimidating villains to appear in Star Wars.

Fans also realize the importance of Plagueis in that it's an introduction into how the Sith can not only use lightsabers, but how they can leverage Force abilities - often seen as the ultimate tools to gain more power.

Does Darth Sidious’ Disguise in Star Wars Make Sense?

As Darth Sidious makes his entrance into the Star Wars universe - the Star Wars villain often uses several key powers. Emperor Palpatine's disguise is questioned by many fans - it has led to much debate and consideration around why, how, and when it might make sense - the character of Darth Sidious is a powerful and influential Sith lord. Throughout both the prequel and original trilogies, he makes a habit of appearing to others.

Even in The Phantom Menace, he is often shown in a hologram where it can easily be seen that Darth Sidious' disguise isn't well-placed, but those in the Trade Federation seem to not make a connection - they're often seen as being very much blinded by their ambition, not recognizing the danger that lurks ahead, allowing Darth Sidious to continue to rise and control.

How Was The Galactic Empire Established?

Darth Sidious was responsible for the rise of the Galactic Empire, often regarded as one of the biggest achievements of his evil. This shift from a democratic Republic - which was led by the Jedi, who stood to uphold a system of justice in the Star Wars universe, to a tyrannical Empire. The result created the conditions that allowed the Galactic Empire to rise.

The key moment that triggered these events: The Trade Federation blockade that took place on Naboo. This attack was all part of a plan - an event that led to the death of Qui-Gon Jinn. After those events, the seeds for a long and devastating war between the Jedi Order and the Galactic Empire were sewn, as Palpatine worked in the shadows.