Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic introduced the ancient history of the Republic, but another lesser-known era in Star Wars Legends reinvented the galaxy far, far away even more creatively. The Knights of the Old Republic video games and novels – as well as the Star Wars: The Old Republic MMO – are set thousands of years before the Skywalker saga. Although they are now considered Legends, they give a thrilling glimpse into the history of the Star Wars timeline.
As exciting as these stories may be, the aesthetic and technology used is a little too familiar. That was likely to ensure players and readers felt as though they were part of a familiar galaxy, but it functionally meant it felt as though the Star Wars galaxy had remained static for thousands of years. Surprisingly, there is another era in the Legends continuity – ironically set after the Old Sith Wars – that was a far more creative departure from the familiar franchise.
How To Watch Star Wars Movies In Order
Here is how to watch all Star Wars movies and TV shows chronologically and in order of release, and how each fits into the Star Wars timeline.
Star Wars’ Dark Age Is Before The Fall Of The Sith
A millennium before the events of the Star Wars saga, the Republic and Jedi Knights fought a full-scale war against the Sith in what became known as the New Sith Wars. The end of this era was explored in properties like the Star Wars: Jedi vs Sith comic series, by Darko Macan and Ramón F. Bachs; it saw the Sith seemingly meet their end in a brutal conflict on Ruusan. But the Sith’s apparent defeat saw the galaxy enter what is known as the Republic Dark Age.
With the Republic’s resources quickly waning and the various Sith factions growing in strength, the once-proud democracy had become ineffectual and almost completely reliant on the Jedi. Galactic technology had become primitive, with the Holonet shutting down outside of the Core Worlds (necessitating couriers for communication). Even the Jedi and Sith had resorted to using crude swords and polearms alongside or instead of their lightsabers.
The Jedi essentially ran the Republic, with Jedi serving in the senate and even as Supreme Chancellor at times. The Republic’s military was run and largely populated by Jedi, who formed the Army of Light to combat the Sith Brotherhood of Darkness on Ruusan. Many Jedi became Jedi Lords, ruling Republic worlds out of desperation to protect them from falling to the Sith. Once the Sith were defeated, however, the Republic was revitalized by the Ruusan Reformation, which gradually brought the Republic and Jedi Order to the states they were seen in at the start of the Star Wars prequels.
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
The beginning of the Skywalker Saga, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace sees young Anakin Skywalker put on his path to discovering his ability to influence the Force. While attempting to thwart the nefarious Trade Federation in their plans for the planet of Naboo, two Jedi discover an exceptionally-gifted slave with the ability to wield the Force. Little do they know, rescuing him is just the beginning of a saga that will span generations of the Skywalker family.
The Republic’s Dark Age Gave Star Wars A Medieval Twist
While Star Wars properties like The Old Republic in Legends and the High Republic multimedia project in modern canon have toyed with the idea of giving the Star Wars galaxy a medieval twist, the Republic Dark Age does it successfully. From a functional and aesthetic perspective, the Republic Dark Age truly gives the Star Wars franchise an ancient era of moral ambiguity and (relatively) primitive technology. However short-lived, the Republic Dark Age remains one of the Star Wars Legends continuity’s most fascinating eras.
The need to defeat the Sith and keep Republic systems safe from their conquests led the Jedi to eschew their status as peacekeepers in favor of becoming warriors. Dark Age Jedi wore armor, making them visually embody the title of “Jedi Knight.” With their new titles and authority as Jedi Lords, many Jedi established family lines to ensure that the systems they ruled over remained protected. This led to the establishment of Jedi castles and heraldry for certain Jedi factions. Notably, the Jedi Army of Light flies a banner bearing a similar symbol to the French fleur-de-lis.
Why Star Wars’ Dark Age Was Unlike Anything Ever Seen Before Or Since
While not every element of the Republic Dark Age is visually depicted, the Ruusan campaign shown in the Jedi vs Sith comics is visually unlike anything else in the Star Wars franchise. The Republic Dark Age truly combines the familiar aesthetic of the galaxy far, far away with the armor and weaponry of medieval Europe. Not only do the Jedi and Sith wear stylistically medieval armor, but they are also shown using conventional swords and polearms alongside their lightsabers. Speeder bikes have an equestrian look and even the Star Wars starships are modeled after wooden boats, if the Fairwind is any indication.
