Summary

Star Warshas long presented the Sith as the franchise ’s chief villains , but when was the term first used ? Be it Emperor Palpatine in the original trilogy or Darth Maul and Count Dooku in the prequels , Star Wars’most hefty Sith Lordshave often been the foils of the Jedi Order . This will undoubtedly continue inupcomingStar Warsmovies , with Palpatine position to have an influence over Rey ’s Jedi Order movie and the Dawn of the Jedi film potentially exploring the same for the Sith .

Over the form of the three movie trilogy and various TV show , there have been severalStar WarsSith Lords introduced into canon . These Sith Lords stretch back to the 24-hour interval of the Old Republic and beyond , at least inStar WarsLegends , proving just how long the dark - siders have been antagonists of the Jedi Order within a galaxy far , far off . However , an interesting question to research is when the terminal figure Sith was first used inStar Wars , and how vernacular of a moniker it has become .

Although legend provided significant history on the Sith and their descent , Star Wars canon has yet to break the specific of the very first Sith .

Darth Maul to the left, Palpatine in the middle, and Darth Revan to the right in a combined image

The Term “Sith” Was First Used In Star Wars' 1976 Novelization

The Written Passage Of A New Hope Mentioned The Dark Warrior Code

Interestingly , the term Sith predates anyStar Warsmovie ’s theatrical liberation . The firstStar Warsmovie in expiration order was , of course , A New Hopein 1977 , then just titledStar Wars . However , the terminal figure Sith was first used months before the motion-picture show ’s May 1977 release date in November 1976 . In the latter calendar month , the novelization of the motion picture was release , titledStar war : From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker .

This novelization was credit to George Lucas , despite being ghostwritten by Alan Dean Foster .

In this novelization , the word Sith can be found for the first metre . The parole is used to describe Darth Vader , with the book of account dubbing him as the Dark Lord of the Sith . Interestingly , the word Sith then somewhat disappeared from theStar Warsfranchise , until the further ontogeny of the creation in the 1990s .

A blurred image of Star Wars' TV characters behind Darth Vader

For Decades, Nobody Knew What The Sith Were

The Sith Could Have Been Anything For All Most Star Wars Creators Were Concerned

After this mention of the Sith in theStar Warsnovelization , the term all but disappeared . Fans who watch the original trilogy in the 1970s and 1980s had no approximation what the Sith were , nor what the term even meant in regard to Darth Vader . This drastically differs from their counterparts the Jedi , with Obi - Wan Kenobi providing somewhat of an explanation of what the Order stood for during his first conversation with Luke inA New Hope . Where the Sith were have-to doe with though , no one knew what they were .

This even extended beyondStar Warsfans to legitimatise creator within the enfranchisement . For model , Timothy Zahn was hired to write theHeir to the Empiretrilogy in the nineties , during which he grow a airstream called the Nohgri . Initially , Zahn planned to have the Sith be another word for the Nohgri , make them a metal money that Darth Vader had dominated . This proves how lilliputian anyone make out of the Sith , with Lucas assure Zahn not to go through with this plan without explain what the term even mean .

The Movies Didn’t Mention The Sith Again Until 1999

The Phantom Menace Marks The First Usage Of The Word Sith In A Star Wars Movie

One of the most mindblowing facts in all ofStar Warsis thatthe watchword Sith was not used in a singleStar Warsmovie beforeEpisode I - The Phantom Menace . Despite being present in the novelization forA New Hope , none of the film in the original trilogy address the intelligence Sith . Even upon Palpatine ’s introduction inReturn of the Jedi , the password Sith is not used , which partly explain why no one knew what it mean going into the eighties and 1990s .

InThe Phantom Menace , the Sith are in conclusion referred to as the antithesis of the Jedi . ..

It was only upon the release ofThe Phantom Menacein 1999 that the watchword Sith was uttered in aStar Warsmovie . Lucas course plan to have the Sith be search in the prequel trilogy , which he began mapping out in the other - to - mid-1990s . This explains why Lucas prohibit Zahn ’s theme to have the Nohgri be the Sith , as he was already planning the deeper geographic expedition of the organization for the prequel trilogy . InThe Phantom Menace , the Sith are last referred to as the antithesis of the Jedi .

Emperor Palpatine laughing maniacally in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.

The prequels delved into Sith Lords like Palpatine , Maul , Tyrannus , and Vader in a wayStar Warsnever had before . It was finally explain that the people who educate in the dark side of the Force are dubbed Sith and that they are the ancient enemies of the Jedi Order . Considering how significant the Sith are toStar Wars ' infrastructure , it is unbelievable that no one be intimate what they were between 1976 and 1999 .

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Cast

Star Wars : Episode I - The Phantom Menace is set in a galaxy present political turmoil , as Jedi Knights Qui - Gon Jinn and Obi - Wan Kenobi seek heartsease while encountering Anakin Skywalker , a hard worker with great potentiality in the Force . Meanwhile , the Sith begin their resurgence , threatening the stability of the Republic .

The Sith Have Since Become Essential To The Star Wars Story

Palpatine Alone Proves How Important The Sith Have Become To Star Wars

Ironically , view the absence of the Sith for ten inStar Wars , the saturnine side warrior have become inbuilt to the framework of the franchise . Palpatine ’s role in the Skywalker Saga proves this . In allthreeStar Warstrilogies , Palpatine has served as the basal villain . Through Palpatine , the Sith have establish to be the ultimate evil in the galaxy where the Jedi are concerned , rearing their heads in different ERA for the guardians of igniter to face off against .

Star Wars ' most compelling characters often skin between their allegiance to the Sith and the Jedi …

This alone sum up how authoritative the Sith have become toStar Wars’formula , without observe how the franchise ’s best characters are aligned with the dark side organization . Be it Anakin Skywalker in the prequel and original trilogy or Ben Solo / Kylo Ren in the sequel films , Star Wars ' most compelling persona often struggle between their fealty to the Sith and the Jedi . Darth Maul is ostensibly the key to making excellentStar WarsTV appearance , primarily driven by his tie to the Sith .

Vader from Star Wars above a blurred image of the Skywalker Saga

Custom Image by Lewis Glazebrook

Several of the best Star Wars TV episodes ever produced turn back one iconic dealership villain - and it may come as a surprisal to learn who it is .

Even recentStar WarsTV showslikeThe Acolytehave made the Sith inherent to storytelling . The show ’s exploration of a Sith warrior appoint Qimir was doubtless the good part ofThe Acolyte , with the teaser to a majorStar WarsSith Lord like Darth Plagueis raising challenging possibilities going ahead . All of this just turn out how vital the Sith now are toStar Wars , despite being an unknown amount for so many years . Only after Lucas opt to dig into the colored - siders did they become essential , changingStar Warsfor the better .

Darth Vader walking onto the Rebel ship with Stormtroopers in Star Wars: A New Hope

The Sith Lord masked in Star Wars: The Acolyte, edited with a question mark background

Custom Image by Molly Brizzell

Ray Park looking menacing as Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

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Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace is set in a galaxy facing political turmoil, as Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi seek peace while encountering Anakin Skywalker, a slave with great potential in the Force. Meanwhile, the Sith begin their resurgence, threatening the stability of the Republic.

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