Sunday, February 3, 2008

Jedi High Council


"With all of us may the Force be, and may the peace of this temple be ours, a place open to thought and speech, a realm of mutual respect, and a haven of shared noble purpose, let us take these seats together with no one above the others, may we work together free from restraints of ego and jealousy at this gathering, and all others to come."
―Jedi Council members

The Jedi High Council, less formally known simply as the Jedi Council, was the primary Jedi Council of the Jedi Order during the rule of the Galactic Republic. The High Council met in the southeast tower of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.

The High Council was a group of twelve wise and powerful Jedi Masters who were elected to guide the Jedi Order as well as to serve as an advisory body for the Supreme Chancellor. The Council was made up of five lifetime members, four long-term members, and three limited-term members. This organizational structure had evolved from the earlier assemblies of Jedi Masters, and during the Great Hyperspace War may have been nothing more than an "inner circle" within the assembly. The Council originally had no set meeting place, and met irregularly on planets such as Ossus, Alderaan, and Chandrila. With the relocation of the Order from Ossus to Coruscant, the Council was permanently established on that world.


The members of the Jedi Council alone chose promising Jedi to join them. No outside body attempted to appoint a member to the Council against its wishes until the Clone Wars, when Supreme Chancellor Palpatine appointed Anakin Skywalker to the Council.

Early history

The Jedi High Council just after the Mandalorian Wars.
The Jedi High Council just after the Mandalorian Wars.

The origins of the High Council could be traced back to the Jedi Assembly established in approximately 4,700 BBY. This assembly, a meeting of several trusted Jedi Masters, was set up to create a loose hierarchy in the Jedi Order. As of the time of the Great Droid Revolution, a Jedi Council had been formally created. After the Great Sith War, Nomi Sunrider was acknowledged as overall leader of the Jedi Order and held the title of Councilor on Coruscant, indicating she may have served on the Jedi Council.

There were also many other councils on Jedi training worlds, including at the Jedi Enclave on Dantooine. When Duron Qel-Droma and his associates were tasked with the Great Hunt by the enclave council on Dantooine, the Dantooine Council itself already answered to the Jedi High Council on Coruscant. At this point, the High Council existed in its permanent, twelve-member form, headquartered in the High Council Chamber in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.

Some decades later, during the Mandalorian Wars, the High Council contained such notables as:

They preached patience and restraint against the Mandalorian threat to the Republic, urging other Jedi not to follow the example of Revan and Malak, who impetuously went off to fight the invaders. The Council later decided on the fate of the only Jedi participant of the war who returned to face their judgment—the Jedi Exile. Nearly unanimously they decided to excommunicate her from the Order, with Atris pushing for a harsher penalty.

In the ensuing Jedi Civil War, the Council dispersed, and their members hid throughout the galaxy. When Sith Lord Darth Traya, who was responsible for the elimination of most of the old Council, was defeated by the Exile on Malachor V, the Jedi High Council was re-established. It was at this time that some of the Exile's companions, who had received basic Jedi and Force training from her during their adventures, eventually became Jedi Masters and rebuilt the Council.

When the Brotherhood of Darkness was defeated, the Council was ordered by the Senate to disband the Army of Light. Valenthyne Farfalla, now a member of the Council, complied and the Jedi returned to its peacekeeping duties. The Council also was asked to show its support in the Ruusan Reformation.

[edit] Towards the Republic's end

Over the next few thousand years the Council continued to govern the Jedi. Many famous members served in its ranks, including Jocasta Nu, Micah Giiett, Thame Cerulian, Tor Difusal, Tyvokka, the mysterious Sifo-Dyas and possibly T'un.

By 32 BBY, during the events of the Battle of Naboo and the re-emergence of the Sith, Plo Koon had replaced his former Master, Tyvokka, and Ki-Adi Mundi had replaced Micah Giett. The Council now consisted of:

High Council members during the Yinchorri Uprising.
High Council members during the Yinchorri Uprising.

Ten years later, the roster had changed slightly. In the decade of unrest, Yaddle and Yarael Poof had both died and were replaced by Shaak Ti and Coleman Trebor. The council consisted of:

Jedi High Council in 22 BBY
Jedi High Council in 22 BBY

The Battle of Geonosis was a bad battle for the Jedi. Among the 200 that died were Eeth Koth as he was killed by the explosion of his gunship and was replaced by Agen Kolar, Coleman Trebor was killed by Jango Fett when Coleman attempted to confront Count Dooku and was replaced by Kit Fisto. The Council after the Battle of Geonosis consisted of:

High Council members in 19 BBY—Ki-Adi-Mundi, Plo Koon, Agen Kolar, Saesee Tiin and Kit Fisto.
High Council members in 19 BBY—Ki-Adi-Mundi, Plo Koon, Agen Kolar, Saesee Tiin and Kit Fisto.

As the Clone Wars passed many councilors died. Depa Billaba fell to the dark side and was replaced by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Adi Gallia was killed by General Grievous during the Clone Wars and was replaced by her cousin Stass Allie, Oppo Rancisis was killed by Dark Jedi Sora Bulq on the planet of Saleucami and was replaced by Coleman Kcaj and Even Piell was no longer on the Council. It should be noted that as this occurred, the Council seating arrangement seemed to become less formalized, with Shaak Ti and Saesee Tiin changing seats, just as Eeth Koth (seat 11) was replaced with Agen Kolar (seat 6) and Depa Billaba (12) was replaced by Obi-Wan Kenobi.

During the war, many Council members were temporary. A Gran Council member and a purple-skinned Council member sat in 20 BBY. They would eventually leave the Council to be replaced by others.

During the final days of the Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker, who was the first and last Jedi to acquire his membership by the Supreme Chancellor's will, was on the Council as a replacement for Even Piell. During this time the council consisted of:

This was the final makeup of the High Council, and it did not last long. Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, Agen Kolar, and Saesee Tiin were all killed fighting Darth Sidious. Anakin Skywalker fell to the dark side and became Darth Vader. Ki-Adi-Mundi, Plo Koon, and Stass Allie were all killed during Order 66. Shaak Ti escaped Operation Knightfall, lived into the early years of the Empire, exiled herself to planet Felucia where she was training Force-sensitives for a confrontation with the Sith. Nineteen years after the initial dissolution of the Council, Obi-Wan Kenobi was killed onboard the Death Star by Darth Vader. Yoda died of age four years later on Dagobah. The death of the redeemed Anakin Skywalker days later onboard the Second Death Star saw the end of the last surviving member of the last High Council (assuming that Shaak Ti died before this). Coleman Kcaj was most likely killed during Operation Knightfall due to the fact that he was known to be on Coruscant at the time of Anakin's initiation as a Council member.

[edit] Master's Council

With the reestablishment of the Jedi Order, Luke Skywalker assembled the ancient ruling body to once more watch over the Jedi Knights of the New Republic.


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