Jedi Council
From the Encyclopedia of Speculative Fiction - http://encyclopedia.wizards.pro
At the time of the Clone Wars, the Jedi Order had four Jedi Councils. The Jedi Temple had five spires, and while the tallest spire (the Temple Spire) contained the texts of the founding Jedi, the four smaller spires each contained one council.
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Jedi High Council
During the Old Republic, the Jedi High Council, less formally known just as the Jedi Council, was the group of twelve wise and powerful Jedi Masters and/or Jedi Knights elected to guide the Jedi, as well as serve as an advisory body for the Chancellor (a sage governance). 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.
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.
History of the High Council
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. This is the earliest known time at which the Jedi High Council in its permanent, twelve-member form, headquartered in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, is known to have existed.
Some decades later, during the Mandalorian Wars, the Council contained such notables as Atris, Zez-Kai Ell, Kavar, Vrook Lamar, Vandar Tokare, and Lonna Vash. 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 judgement—the Jedi Exile. Nearly unanimously they decided to excommunicate him 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 Lady 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 Force training from him during their adventures, eventually became Jedi Masters and rebuilt the Council.
By 32 BBY, during the events of the Battle of Naboo and the re-emergence of the Sith, the council consisted of:
Lifetime Members
- Mace Windu
- Yoda
- Oppo Rancisis (later replaced by Coleman Kcaj)
- Plo Koon (who had replaced his own master, Tyvokka)
- Yarael Poof (later replaced by Coleman Trebor, then replaced by Kit Fisto)
Long-Term Members
- Eeth Koth (later replaced by Agen Kolar)
- Even Piell (later replaced by Anakin Skywalker)
- Depa Billaba (later replaced by Obi-Wan Kenobi)
- Saesee Tiin
Limited-Term Members
- Ki-Adi-Mundi (who had replaced Micah Giett)
- Yaddle (later replaced by Shaak Ti)
- Adi Gallia (later replaced by Stass Allie)
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.
During the Clone Wars, the heavy losses suffered by the Jedi led to further changes in the membership of the Council. Many Jedi held temporary positions in the body and its membership seemed to be totally in flux.
By the time of the final months of the war, Eeth Koth, Adi Gallia, Coleman Trebor, Oppo Rancisis, and Depa Billaba had been replaced by Agen Kolar, Stass Allie, Kit Fisto, Coleman Kcaj, and Obi-Wan Kenobi respectively.
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In the final days of the war, per the request of Chancellor Palpatine, Anakin Skywalker was placed on the Council replacing Even Piell, however much to Anakin's disappointment he was not given the rank of Jedi Master.
With relations between the Council and the Supreme Chancellor increasingly strained, the Council members asked Anakin to report on Palpatine's dealings. The decision to have Skywalker spy on the Chancellor was not reached unanimously, however, with Obi-Wan Kenobi dissenting from the decision.
Believing that Palpatine was becoming a dictator (but not yet aware that he was the Sith Lord Darth Sidious), the Council decided to remove him from power and suspend the Galactic Senate, planning to act as rulers of the galaxy until a peaceful transition of power could be arranged. Such plans were not well publicized, as they would have made it easier for Palpatine to paint the Jedi in an unfavorable light.
In the Great Jedi Purge, the Council members were targeted for assassination first by the Galactic Empire. The only survivors were Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker—who became the Sith Lord Darth Vader.
The Alliance High Council
Following the establishment of the New Jedi Order, Luke Skywalker considered establishing a new Jedi Council. When the Galactic Alliance was founded, a decision was made to form a High Council consisting in part of Jedi and in part of Alliance government officials, to ensure the Jedi and government would cooperate rather than be at odds, as happened with the New Republic during the Yuuzhan Vong War.
The Masters' Council
By 35 ABY, the New Jedi Order had established a Masters' council. Unlike the High Council, which was essentially a body of the Alliance government serving in an advisory role to the Chief of State, the Masters' council was the leading body of the Order, dealing with strictly Jedi matters. It was (supposedly) autonomous from the Alliance government. The absoluteness of its control over the Jedi Knights was a matter of debate. The Masters' council alternately assembled either at the new Jedi Temple on Coruscant or at the new Jedi Praxeum on Ossus. Membership included:
- Cilghal
- Corran Horn
- Kam Solusar
- Kenth Hamner
- Kyle Katarn
- Kyp Durron
- Luke Skywalker
- Mara Jade Skywalker
- Octa Ramis
- Saba Sebatyne
- Tionne Solusar
Beyond Coruscant
While the main Jedi Council resided on Coruscant, other planets had their own Jedi academies throughout history, governed by their own councils. It is possible some of these councils were subsets of the High Council.
Dantooine
Prior to the Exar Kun War, the praxeum on Dantooine was presided over by Master Vodo Siosk-Baas, whom Exar Kun murdered. During the Great Hunt, the praxeum was goverened by a four-member Council subservient to the High Council on Coruscant; the members of this Council were Aleco Stusea (a near-human female), Bala (a human female), Qual (a Selkath male), and Vrook Lamar (a human male).
During the Jedi Civil War, the Dantooine enclave council consisted of Masters Dorak, Vandar Tokare, Vrook Lamar, and Zhar Lestin. The fact that both Vrook Lamar and Vandar Tokare were also members of the Jedi High Council may indicate the Dantooine enclave council was a subset of the High Council. This council, as well as Padawan Bastila Shan, was responsible for wiping Revan's memory and, after the destruction of Taris, retraining him in the ways of the Jedi.
The council was dissolved after Darth Malak's bombardment of the Jedi Enclave on Dantooine. Dorak, Vandar and Zhar escaped only to find death a few years later on Katarr.
Vrook, having also survived the attack, eventually returned to Dantooine and, along with two other Jedi Masters who managed to escape the Jedi purge that followed the Jedi Civil War—Kavar and Zez-Kai Ell—held a High Council meeting within the rebuilt Enclave. The three Masters, however, were slain by Darth Traya when they attempted to cut the Jedi Exile off from the Force. It is unknown whether the Enclave was ever inhabited again.
Katarr
After the Jedi Civil War, Master Atris gathered the remaining Jedi in a secret assembly on Katarr, a Miraluka world. Unbeknownst to the other Jedi, Atris revealed the assembly's location hoping that the Sith Lord Darth Nihilus would reveal himself. However, his power was much greater than the Jedi expected; Nihilus consumed the Force from the entire planet, causing the death of all the Jedi on Katarr, except Visas Marr.
Telos
Atris' secret academy on Telos had a round room with seats, similar to one in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. It is unknown whether a council was ever held there.
Almas
The Almas Academy was overseen by the Almas Council, which over time include Nerra Ziveri, Lanius Qel-Bertuk, Kirlocca, Jurahi, Ti-Amun Tiro, Devan For'deschel, and Darrus Jeht. This Council consisted of all the Masters who were instructors at the Academy. The Council was subject to the orders of the High Council on Coruscant.
Other Councils
Council of First Knowledge
This council took care of matters requiring the wisdom of past Jedi Masters or Council members, and gave advice to the High Council and any Jedi who requested it.
Council of Reconciliation
This council sought after peaceful settlements to political disputes on Coruscant or other worlds in the Republic.
Reassignment Council
This council handled the organization of work for young Jedi who had not been chosen by Jedi Masters to be Padawan apprentices.
See also
Appearances
- Cloak of Deception
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith