The Star Wars saga follows several characters striving to become Jedi, but what that means changes over time, as shown by the Order’s complex history. The basic definition of a Jedi has been fairly consistent since A New Hope: a guardian of peace and justice in the galaxy who wields the Force as their ally. With subsequent Star Wars movies and TV shows, the franchise revealed more about Jedi philosophy and how they adhered to a strict code.

The full history of the Jedi Order was fleshed out in greater detail outside the movies and shows, both in the Star Wars Legends Expanded Universe and the current Disney canon. Each distinct era of the Star Wars timeline presents unique versions of the Jedi Order, showing how their traditions evolved and how they affected their understanding of the Force. Examining each incarnation offers a fascinating analysis of what it really means to be a Jedi in Star Wars.

The Je’Daii Order (Legends)

The precursor to the Jedi Order

The earliest version of the Jedi in the Legends timeline is the Je’Daii Order, the name derived from the Dai Bendu words je (mystic) and dai (center). Over 36,000 years before the Star Wars movies, eight pyramid ships known as the Tho Yor traveled the galaxy and took Force-sensitive beings from several planets. They were brought to the planet Tython, and over the next 10,000 years, they grew into the Je’Daii Order.

The biggest difference between the Je’Daii and the later Jedi Order was how they viewed balance in the Force. The Je’Daii believed in a more literal definition of balance, using the Ashla (Light) and the Bogan (Dark) without going too far to either side. This philosophy did seem to work for most of the Order’s history, and the Je’Daii defeated the invading Rakatan Infinite Empire, whose technology eventually led to the first lightsabers.

READ STAR WARS: DAWN OF THE JEDI (COMIC)

READ STAR WARS: DAWN OF THE JEDI – INTO THE VOID

However, a schism in the Je’Daii Order led to a devastating war between those who adhered solely to the light or dark side of the Force. This led to a new version of the Jedi Order, many of whom left the Tython system to settle on Ossus. When the Galactic Republic was founded around 25,000 BBY, the Jedi became the guardians of this new society, and Tython eventually faded into history.

Dawn Of The Jedi (Canon)

The beginning of the Jedi Order

James Mangold will direct a new Star Wars film set in the Dawn of the Jedi era, exploring the origin of the Jedi Order in canon. While it may share a name with the Dawn of the Jedi era from Legends, the film must adhere to key differences established in canon. The Star Wars sequel trilogy revealed that the first Jedi Temple was on Ahch-To, not Tython, so the island will likely appear in the movie.

Of course, the mural of the Prime Jedi may imply that the first Jedi in canon were similar to the Je’Daii Order. The mural is inspired by the Yin-Yang symbol, with light and dark perfectly in balance, so maybe the first Jedi used both sides of the Force. It would be fascinating if Mangold’s film took this approach, but for now, little else is known about the earliest version of the Jedi Order.

The Jedi Of The Old Republic Era

A long era when the Jedi defended the Republic from threats like the Sith

The next version of the Jedi Order was during the Old Republic era, from 25,000 BBY to 1,000 BBY. The Jedi came out of isolation and swore to serve the newly formed Galactic Republic, defending peace and justice throughout the galaxy. Despite the length of this era, only 5,000 BBY onward was explored in any great detail in the Legends timeline. The current canon hasn’t touched this era at all, so any significant differences between these continuities are unknown.

In addition to the rebirth of the Jedi to solely embody the light, this was also the era that gave birth to the Sith, who served the dark. There were many incarnations of the Sith over the millennia, sometimes as fallen Jedi and sometimes the Sith species the Order was named after. Eventually, the Sith were defeated around 1,000 BBY, and the Galactic Republic was reformed as the galaxy believed the Sith were extinct.

The Jedi Of The High Republic Era (Canon)

A prosperous age for the Jedi and the galaxy

The High Republic era was a golden age for the Jedi Order, a time of great expansion and enlightenment that lasted from 500 BBY to 100 BBY. However, the Jedi faced many challenges in this era, including a war against a dangerous faction called the Nihil. By the end of this era, the Order had begun to show signs of being overly detached, secretive, and stagnant, which would have severe consequences in the next era of the Order.

The Jedi Of The Prequel Trilogy Era

The fall of the Jedi Order

The Star Wars prequel trilogy was the final chapter of the old Jedi Order, 25,000 years of history brought to a close. While the Jedi still served the galaxy and lived virtuously, many believed they had become too detached from the people and blindly followed the will of the Senate. Unknown to the Jedi, the Sith had survived in hiding for a thousand years, knowing the time had come to conquer the Republic from within.

Darth Sidious, in his role as Chancellor Palpatine, manipulated the Jedi into fighting for the Republic in the Clone Wars. When he was secure in office, Palpatine executed Order 66 and commanded the clones to kill their Jedi generals, leaving no one to oppose him as he declared himself Emperor. Palpatine even converted Anakin Skywalker, who the Jedi believed was the Chosen One, to the dark side as Darth Vader.

During the dark times that followed, the remaining Jedi had to train new students in the wild, called “Bokken Jedi” by some. One of these students was Luke Skywalker, son of Anakin, who trained to be a Jedi despite being far too old by traditional Jedi standards. Luke eventually inspires his father to return to the light in his final moments and turn on Emperor Palpatine, fulfilling the Chosen One prophecy and restoring balance to the Force.

Luke Skywalker’s New Jedi Order (Legends)

A reborn Jedi Order with new traditions and challenges

With the Empire defeated, Luke found himself as the last of the Jedi, and each Star Wars timeline took very different approaches to his story after Return of the Jedi. In Legends, Luke successfully created a New Jedi Order that grew to at least 100 members within the first 15 years. This Jedi Order defended the galaxy from many threats, including the Imperial Remnant, the Yuuzhan Vong Invasion, and the Lost Tribe of the Sith.

Due to his non-traditional training and limited knowledge of Jedi history, Luke’s New Jedi Order was very different from the old. Luke was more than willing to train students of any age, and Jedi were no longer forbidden to form emotional attachments. Luke himself married Mara Jade and had a son named Ben Skywalker, and his descendants led the New Jedi Order long after Luke was gone.

Luke Skywalker’s New Jedi Order (Canon)

A reborn Jedi Order brought to a premature end

The Star Wars sequel trilogy took Luke’s story in the opposite direction, changing the fate of his New Jedi Order. In canon, Luke spent years traveling the galaxy in search of knowledge that would help him rebuild the Order. Two of his first students were his sister, Leia Organa, and Grogu, though both chose not to continue their training. Luke’s Jedi academy truly began when he took his nephew, Ben Solo, and a dozen students under his tutelage.

Luke’s order continued to grow for many years, but Ben was seduced to the dark side, destroying Luke’s temple and killing all his students. Blaming himself for what happened, Luke exiled himself to the first Jedi temple on Ahch-To and swore never to train a new generation. However, he reluctantly trained Rey, who helped him realize he was wrong, and he sacrificed himself to help the Resistance escape.

Rey’s New Jedi Order (Canon)

A new era that will take the Jedi into the future

With Luke gone, Rey will carry on the Skywalker legacy in the forthcoming New Jedi Order era. This will begin with Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Star Wars film, which will follow Rey 15 years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Nothing is known about the story or what Rey’s New Jedi Order will look like, but a brand-new era presents a new opportunity for Star Wars to continue exploring what it really means to be a Jedi.

Star Wars

Created by

George Lucas

First Film

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

Cast

Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal

TV Show(s)

The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions

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