Why The Jedi Thought Them Extinct: The Sith's Long Game
The mythology of the Star Wars story sometimes hinges on the belief held by the Jedi Order—that the Sith is extinct. The prequel trilogy's dramatic fights and events are set up in great part by this misreading. Although viewers know the Sith is still there in the galaxy, the Jedi stayed blind thinking they had eradicated their old rivals.
The history of the Jedi-Sith War—a thousand-year-long struggle that tore across the galaxy—helps to solve this riddle. Though powerful and influential, the Jedi Order battled to stop the Sith's unrelenting strikes. The struggle finally resulted in a decisive confrontation between the Sith Brotherhood of darkness against the Jedi Army of Light on the planet Ruusan. The Jedi emerged from this fight with a clear triumph, apparently so negating the threat posed by the Sith for ever.
Rise and Reinnventions of the Sith by Darth Bane
Still, the Sith were not totally eliminated. Originally leading the Ruusan campaign, a strong Sith Lord called Darth Bane had surreptitiously escaped the fight. Understanding the shortcomings in the Sith's former government and their inclination for internal strife, Darth Bane developed a fresh concept for the Sith called the Rule of Two.
According to Darth Bane, the Sith's might rested in cunning and silence. The Rule of Two he devised said that only two Sith should be present at any one moment: a master and an apprentice. This new theory guaranteed the Sith's longevity by encouraging a direct line of succession, therefore enabling them to grow power in the darkness. Ignorant of Bane's survival and the Sith's comeback, the Jedi thought their old rivals were extinct.
The Shadow's Legacy of Silence
The Rule of Two developed by Darth Bane had a significant influence on the Sith's approach and final comeback to relevance. This new philosophy guaranteed that the Sith operated in secret, meticulously tending to their might while staying out of sight to the Jedi Order. With the events of the Prequel Trilogy, the long game of the Sith—a well-crafted scheme to subvert the Republic and grab hold—was at last implemented.
The Sith's resurrection was signaled by the return of Darth Maul in *The Phantom Menace*, therefore undermining their conviction of their demise. Their return signaled the start of the Galactic Empire's ascent and the spiral into anarchy of the galaxy. The Sith's achievement in staying under cover for millennia points to the potency of Darth Bane's fresh philosophy as well as the Jedi's ignorance of the ongoing threat their old foes represent.
Early Acolyte and Sith Influence
Set in the Star Wars world during the High Republic, the new television series The Acolyte explores the age when the Jedi thought the Sith to be extinct. The show looks at the residual impact of the Sith throughout this period, showing how their dark force kept permeating the galaxy.
While the Jedi Order prospered and kept their place as defenders of peace, the Sith subtly set the path for their final return. Though unseen, their influence looms large over the galaxy and helps the seeds of darkness to bloom into the Galactic Empire. The Acolyte provides a window into the early Sith plan, showing how their impact went much beyond what the Jedi understood to be their extermination.
