Founding of the Order / The First Great Schism

The archives are somewhat devoid of information in regards to the earliest founding of the Jedi Order. Our earliest known record of the organization known as the Jedi Order was in 25,783 BBY. It suggests the Jedi Order were founded on Tython several hundred years before the founding of the Galactic Republic.

There are records of an event that was later recorded as the Force Wars. This conflict was fought between those who wanted peace and harmony and tapped into a power that was calledAshla and those who had been lured by the dark and destructive side of a power they referred to as Bogan. This conflict raged for over a decade.

From this conflict rose an early incarnation of the Jedi. These Jedi, with help from unknown and vaguely referenced off world technology, were able to freeze a laser beam. After some adaptation they were able to turn this into a weapon later to be known as the lightsaber. With the creation of this weapon a proactive group within the order was formed which left Tython to liberate other worlds. These Jedi would be later known as Jedi Knights.

During this expansion the Jedi founded a philosophical school on the planet Ossus. This school defined the light and dark side of the force as well as the concept of the Living Force and Unifying Force. This was the first recognized opportunity for those dedicated to the dark and destructive powers of the force. These darksiders were later to be known as the Sith.

Around 25,000 BBY the Jedi swore fealty to the young government known as the Galactic Republic. With aid from this government they were able to map the Perlemian Trade Route which linked Coruscant and Ossus. The Jedi then made the decision to fortify themselves on Coruscant to defend this new Galactic Republic from external threats.

There are many records on an event now known as the First Great Schism. This event occured when the so called dissidents who believed in the Dark Side of the Force rose up. They were led by a Dark Jedi General named Xendor. Xendor had an army known as the Legions of Lettow who were allied with another Dark Jedi Master, Arden Lyn, and her Followers of Palawa.

During a climactic battle at the end of the First Great Schism, General Xendor was slain by Jedi Master Awdrysta Pina. After a long duel, Pina stopped Xendor's heart with a technique known as Morichro. Arden Lyn saw an opportunity to take Pina's life and succeeded using a powerful Dark Side Artifact known as the Kashi Mer Talisman.

After the First Great Schism the Sith faded into history allowing the Jedi to believe that they had been defeated. The Sith would lurk in the shadows and continually gain power and influence to better manipulate the galaxy. For the next 20,000 years these Dark Jedi would spread their influence throughout the galaxy. Some hypothesized that they even created their own empire over those 20,000 years.

The Great Hyperspace War

The Republic has grown and expanded for many generations, encountering no worse than a few interplanetary squabbles and civil wars…but if we should confront the fabled Sith Empire, we will experience a war so great, so devastating…it can cross the fabric of hyperspace, a conflagration spanning the Galaxy…- Ooroo

In approximately 5,000 BBY, the Galactic Republic discovered the long hidden Sith Empire that many had come to believe were either a myth ora fabrication of the Jedi to help cement their place in society. This discovery started what would be known as The Great Hyperspace War.

The Sith Empire was discovered through a series of events that not even the most powerful of Sith Lords could have foreseen. On the planet of Koros, a young Jedi named Odan-Urr had a vision of Sith Lord Marka Ragnos' death and the subsequent war against the Republic. Odan-Urr traveled to Coruscant with fellow Jedi Memit Nadill and Empress Teta, the ruler of Koros, to voice their concerns to the senate. The senate, not willing to believe the young Jedi, did not take them seriously and decided to take no action.

Later on Koros, Nadill, Odan-Urr and Urr's master Ooroo were present when Jori Daragon, a young convict, burst into their chamber and informed them of an impending attack from the great Sith Empire on the Republic, Nadill gathered as much information on the Sith Empire as he could and traveled to Coruscant to rally the support of the Jedi Knights.

Nadill was correct, there was a Dark Lord of the Sith rising to take on the Jedi Order and his name was Naga Sadow.The Sith Lord had deployed his fleets to invade numerous Republic controlled worlds simultaneously. He used his Sith Magic to create thousands upon thousands of illusory soldiers to bolster the ranks of his army from his eye-shaped meditation sphere at Primus Goluud.

The Jedi Order were a boon to the Republic in the defense of Coruscant with Nadill leading a team of Jedi Knights in the defence of the planet. Other Jedi Masters and Knights defended numerous planets, Jedi Master Ooroo and his apprentice, Odan-Urr, were stationed on Kirrek where they were engaged in a heated battle with a large force of Massassi warriors. During the invasion Naga Sadow lost concentration for a few moments, causing much of the illusory Sith force to dissipate. The Jedi swiftly realized what was happening and mounted a massive counter-attack easily defeating the opposing Sith forces.

The Hyperspace War was ended when Naga Sadow was placed in suspended animation on Yavin 4 and his fleets were decimated by the Galactic Republic. Even though this was a massive blow to the Sith, the empire managed to survive.

The Reign of Freedon Nadd

In 4,400 BBY an ambitious Jedi Apprentice named Freedon Nadd was denied his knighthood by his Jedi Masters. In an effort to prove that he was worthy, Nadd confronted Jedi Master Matta Tremayne. Tremayne challenged him to prove that he was worthy to become a Jedi Knight. Nadd saw this as a threat and decided to attack Tremayne and resulted in the death ofthe Jedi Master. Freedon Nadd, furious in believing that the other Masters had made him kill Matta, turned to the Sith believing that they would be the only ones to accept his apprenticeship and teach him the ways of the Force.

During his journey to find the Sith, Nadd made his way to Yavin 4 where he discovered the Sith Lord Naga Sadow in suspended animation. Nadd awoke Sadow and managed to convince him to train him in the ways of the force. After Sadow completedtraining Nadd in the ways of the Dark Side, Nadd turned on his Sith Master and killed him.

After the death of Naga Sadow, Nadd headed to the planet Onderon located outside the control of the Republic with the aim of building a stronger Sith Empire. Nadd took over control of the City Iziz wherehe started to exile all the criminals from the city. Some of these exiles survived and organized themselves and not even Freedon Nadd could not stop them from waging a war that raged until after his death.

Third Great Schism

In 4,250 BBY the Jedi suffered the Third Great Schism. There was a civil war between the Jedi on Coruscant and a group of Dark Jedi were defeated and retreated to the Vultar system. This system was made up entirely of artificial planets. The Dark Jedi were unable to control the planet through conventional means or through use of the force and ended up annihilating themselves and the system along with them.

With the Dark Jedi destroyed, the Jedi believed that it was safe to return to their way of life without the threat of the Sith Empire looming in the shadows. The Jedi were mistaken, though it would be many years before the Dark Jedi rose to power again.

Information about the Old Sith Wars will be covered in the course, History of the Jedi Order Part 2.

Credits:

Xantros
Keth D'Jek
Kreeayt Havok