Darth Plagueis
Full Name | Darth Plagueis |
Home World | Unknown, Mygeeto (Legends) |
Affiliation | Sith |
Family Members | Unknown |
Darth Plagueis the Wise is a Dark Lord of the Sith and master of Darth Sidious, the Emperor Palpatine. His history and characteristics from new canon source materials are recorded below, followed by a summary of apocryphal Legends material.
Biography
Darth Plagueis was Master of the Sith sometime before the beginning of the Clone Wars. He took Sheev Palpatine under his tutelage before the events of The Phantom Menace. In accordance with the rule of Two, Plagueis' teachings shaped Palpatine's mastery of the Dark Side.
According to his apprentice, Palpatine, Plagueis was able to acquire knowledge of how to manipulate midi-chlorians. Obsessed with the ability to extend life to himself and those he loved, he became paranoid and fearful of losing his power. After teaching all he knew about the Dark Side of the Force, he was murdered by his apprentice Sidious who assumed ascendancy over the Sith. Sidious' protege Darth Maul subsequently rose to power as his Sith Apprentice.
Description
Almost nothing is known canonically about Plagueis' appearance or species. Legendary materials are far more extensive and descriptive about his life. A few hard facts are established in canonical sources. He was regarded by his former student as "The Wise" without a hint of irony. Additionally, though Palpatine claimed to have learned all Plagueis had to teach about the Force before murdering him, he later admitted to Anakin Skywalker Plagueis' power over life was lost.
Some have speculated based on these hints and now-defunct Legendary material that Plagueis might have had a role in he inexplicable birth of Anakin Skywalker, though this is not a verified canonical perspective.
Appearances
Darth Plagueis does not make any appearances throughout the current film canon, but is mentioned when Palpatine explains his story to Anakin Skywalker about how Darth Plagueis could save those he loved from death with his knowledge of midi-chlorian manipulation. Material from Ultimate Star Wars confirms his canonical relationship to Sheev Palpatine.
Legends
Darth Plagueis, born Hego Damask, was a male Muun Sith lord and magister of the Intergalactic Banking Clan. Muun's are tall and thin humanoids with elongated bald heads. Darth Plagueis wore a dark cloak and a mechanical breathing apparatus after he was injured in an assasination attempt.
Darth Plagueis was born on the planet Mygeeto to his father Caar Damask, who worked as a mid-ranking agent for the Intergalactic Banking Clan. His birth came about because of the schemes of the reigning Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Tenebrous. Tenebrous compelled a force-sensitive Muun female to seduce Caar and thus create a child strong in the force, Darth Plagueis.
Growing up on Mygeeto young Hego knew from an early age that he was unique. His mother would set him up on playdates with other younglings and then intensely grill him on his views of the other children. Hego's first major brush with the Dark Side came when he compelled a youngling he did not like to jump from a great height, resulting in the boy's death.
Eventually Darth Tenebrous would come to claim Hego as his apprentice, cultivating his Force powers including the manipulation of midi-chlorians. During his time under Darth Tenebrous, Plagueis established a powerful and influential banking corporation, Damask Holdings.
Eventually Plagueis' and Tenebrous' travels would take them to the planet Bal'demnic, home of a rich deposit of Cortosis ore. After a mining droid triggered a gas pocket nearly killing the pair, Plagueis saw an opportunity to kill his master, burying Tenebrous under tons of rock before snapping his neck.
Plagueis would eventually discover his apprentice Palpatine on Naboo and after manipulating him into killing his family. Plagueis christened him Darth Sidious.
After an assassination attempt nearly claimed his life Darth Plagueis retreated from public scrutiny, devoting himself to the study of midi-chlorians while his apprentice secured political power. His plan was to learn how to compel midi-chlorians to sustain life indefinitely so that he and Sidious could keep each other alive indefinitely. Plagueis' single-minded devotion to the study of midi-chlorians and trust in his apprentice would prove his downfall. Darth Sidious killed his master on the night of his election to the office of Supreme Chancellor of the Republic after the former drank too much and fell asleep.