In Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious perfectly twisted the Jedi code to manipulate Anakin Skywalker into joining the dark side of the Force, and I’m convinced this one lie is why he was successful. Revenge of the Sith is undoubtedly one of the most important points in the Star Wars timeline. In this movie, not only does Anakin Skywalker fall to the dark side and become Darth Vader—one of Star Wars’ most powerful Sith—but also, the Jedi Order and the Republic both fall.

All these events were caused by Palpatine’s elaborate plan to take over the galaxy. This was no easy feat, though; even with Anakin already toeing the line of the light and the dark side, Palpatine had to find a way to push him over that edge (not to mention sticking the landing with the downfall of the Jedi and the Republic). While the latter required a meticulously orchestrated war, Palpatine used one critical lie in Revenge of the Sith to turn Anakin to the dark side—and it worked because of its connection to the Jedi code.

The Jedi Code Is About Peace… But The Sith Believe This Is A Lie

The Sith Don’t Really Believe In Peace, But That Didn’t Stop Palpatine From Using It

For thousands of years, the Jedi were known as peacekeepers in the galaxy, and peace was at the core of their beliefs. The Clone Wars threw this into question somewhat, but it remained true that a focus on fostering and defending peace was a core tenet of the Jedi Order. Unsurprisingly, the Sith don’t believe in peace whatsoever. Rather, the Sith seek only their own power, and they are repeatedly shown to be willing to go to any lengths to achieve and maintain that power throughout Star Wars movies and TV shows.

Despite that obvious divide between the Jedi and the Sith’s perception of peace, Palpatine weaponizes the Jedi’s dedication to peace to manipulate Anakin into joining him. Specifically, Palpatine promises Anakin, “Once more, the Sith will rule the galaxy, and we will have peace.” While Anakin arguably should have been able to see through this lie—given the Sith would never truly value peace—the Clone Wars themselves may have led to this problem. Anakin had seen that the Jedi weren’t prioritizing peace the way they were meant to, after all.

Palpatine’s Lie Was One Anakin Was Trained To Believe

Palpatine Knew That This Would Be A Particularly Effective Manipulation

Ultimately, this lie worked so well because it was built on something Anakin had been trained for more than a decade to believe in. Palpatine presented the supposed betrayal of the Jedi as an act of treason and convinced Anakin that what the galaxy really needed was order and structure—something Anakin had himself voiced in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. In this way, Palpatine pushed Anakin into seeing peace not as something that is found within (which is what the Jedi believe) but rather as something that can be imposed on others.

It’s clear that Palpatine knew he had to maintain this charade as well, given, following Order 66, Palpatine ᴀssures Anakin he has now brought “peace and justice” to the galaxy. The message evidently sank in, as that exact verbiage is repeated in Anakin’s famous line to Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar about bringing “peace, freedom, justice, and security” to ‘his’ new Empire. This ingenious manipulation by Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious in Revenge of the Sith therefore built directly upon Anakin Skywalker’s beliefs from the Jedi Order—making it a truly brilliant lie.