Summary

• The Old Republic era, with its rich stories and captivating characters, remains a significant gap in the official Star Wars canon.
• The Jedi Order, founded 25,025 years ago, apparently had a stronger emphasis on balancing the light and dark sides of the Force than their later descendants.
• The Sith Order, born 5,000 years ago, waged war against the Jedi and the Republic, ruling the entire galaxy at one point. The Jedi ultimately emerged victorious.

The official Star Wars canon continues to expand through every medium, but the Old Republic era is still the most massive gap in the timeline. Before the Expanded Universe was rebranded as "Legends," the Old Republic was one of the most popular aspects of the Star Wars franchise, with countless books, comics, and especially video games captivating fans between the film and TV releases. The online game Star Wars: The Old Republic is still incredibly successful, making it the only officially licensed Star Wars content still producing new material in the Legends continuity.

This makes it curious that Disney and Lucasfilm have largely avoided tapping into the Old Republic and the rich stories that come with it. A remake of the original Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic video game was previously announced, but there have been few updates in the years since then. However, Disney and Lucasfilm made the Old Republic an official era of the timeline when more Star Wars movies were announced, making it possible that the companies have something in mind. Until then, there's still quite a bit of information about the Old Republic in canon that many continue to expand in future content.

16 The Dai Bendu Were The Precursors Of The Jedi Order

The Dai Bendu were an ancient religious order whose practices and philosophies influenced the Jedi Order. They created the first holocrons that would become a staple of the Jedi Order, and the symbol of the Galactic Republic was attributed to their study of numerology. These contributions make the Dai Bendu an essential part of the Jedi and the Republic that would define the galaxy for over 25,000 years.

15 The Jedi Order Was Founded 25,025 Years Ago

The Jedi Order was believed to have been founded in 25,025 BBY by the Prime Jedi on the Ahch-To. The first Jedi Temple was built on one of the planet's islands, with several sacred texts laying the foundation of the order's beliefs and techniques. The mural of the Prime Jedi hints that the first Jedi had a greater emphasis on balancing the light and dark sides of the Force than their descendants.

14 The Old Republic Was Founded 25,000 Years Ago

The first Galactic Republic, later known as the "Old Republic," was founded around 25,000 BBY. Alderaan and Chandrila were among its founding , with the capital established on the city planet Coruscant as the Republic continued expanding into the wider galaxy. The Jedi Order soon became the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy, pledging their loyalty to the Republic for over a thousand generations.

13 The Thisspiasian Blood Monarchy ed The Republic Around 20,000 Years Ago

The Blood Monarchy of the planet Thisspias was one of the earliest known of the Republic in approximately 20,000 BBY. The Monarchy hoped that ing the Republic would secure their reign and expand the planet's economy, and Thisspias became the site of many battles during the Great Manifest Period. Jedi Master Oppo Rancisis, born during the High Republic era, was the heir to the Thisspiasian Blood Monarchy but rejected the throne to remain a Jedi.

12 A Jedi Splinter Group Called The Ordu Aspectu Was Formed Around 20,000 Years Ago

The Jedi Order experienced its first schism when a Jedi splinter group called the Ordu Aspectu was formed around 20,000 BBY. Led by Rur, the Ordu Aspectu sought to prolong life, leading historians to debate whether they were a noble cause or a dark side group that sacrificed Padawans. The Ordu Aspectu were wiped out during a Jedi attack on their fortress on Garn, but Rur's consciousness survived as the Eternal Rur and was discovered thousands of years later.

11 The Sith Were Born 5,000 Years Ago

Another fracture in the Jedi Order came around 5,000 BBY when a rogue Jedi led a rebellion that resulted in the Hundred-Year Darkness. These dark Jedi became the Sith Order and were exiled to Korriban, later known as Moraband, where they constructed many temples and tombs. The Sith took many forms as they waged war against the Jedi and the Republic over the next 5,000 years, at one time ruling the entire galaxy.

10 The Jedi Stopped The Zygerrian Slave Empire

The Zygerrians operated a vast slave empire throughout the galaxy until the Jedi Order stopped them. Sith Empires were always built on the backs of slaves, and as long as the Zygerrians' customers prospered, their society prospered. The Zygerrians eventually tried to return their slave empire to glory during the Clone Wars but were stopped by the Jedi once again.

9 The Jedi Attacked A Sith Temple On Malachor

The Sith eventually constructed a temple on Malachor that was also a battle station, and the Jedi Order launched an attack before it became operational. A battle was waged between hundreds of Jedi and Sith, resulting in the temple's weapon going off and burning the planet's surface. This became known as the "Great Scourge of Malachor," and Jedi were forbidden to return to the planet.

8 The Jedi Won A War With Mandalore

The Jedi and the Mandalorians were historical enemies, leading to a full-scale war that the Jedi Order won. The Mandalorians were a warrior race that launched crusades to gain more territory and waged war against the Old Republic. The final battle resulted in a cataclysm that scorched the planet's surface, leaving Mandalore uninhabitable outside dome cities.

7 Tarre Vizsla Became The First Mandalorian Jedi

Despite these conflicts, Tarre Vizsla became the first Mandalorian ever inducted into the Jedi Order, wearing traditional Mandalorian armor while wielding a lightsaber. However, Vizsla's blade was one of a kind, emitting a black that became known as the Mandalorian Darksaber. After his death, of House Vizsla broke into the Jedi temple and stole the Darksaber, using it to unite the other clans and rule over Mandalore for generations.