 |
This Article Contains Spoilers -
WARNING: This article contains major spoilers. If you do not wish to know vital information on plot / character elements in a story, you may not wish to read beyond this warning: We hold no responsibility for any negative effects these facts may have on your enjoyment of said media should you continue. That is all. |
The story of the powerful and malevolent Emperor Palpatine, the main antagonist of the Star Wars franchise.
- NOTE: This is in chronological order consisting of the original films, as well as the Clone Wars animated TV show and are canon in both Legends and Canon continuities.
Early life
Darth Plagueis oversees the training of his young apprentice.
NOTE: The following paragraph here contains information exclusive to Legends, therefore making it non-canon to the current canon.
Palpatine was born on Naboo and very early on showed himself to be a violent, spoiled, and misanthropic sociopath who used his rich family's connections to get him out of trouble even when he indulged in reckless driving that hurt others and killed two people. Palpatine was expelled from one of the highest education institutions in Naboo and possibly the entire galaxy. Palpatine also despised his father, Cosinga Palpatine, whom he viewed as a weakling and a coward. This resentment would come to a head when the younger Palpatine, now under the name Darth Sidious killed everyone he's ever known in his own family, including his parents, his two younger brothers and his two sisters, and in his later master's words "baptized himself in the dark side."
Darth Sidious after killing his master.
In his thirties, he was the Senator of Naboo. As Darth Sidious, he subsequently became the apprentice to Darth Plagueis the Wise, a Sith Lord who was a master of arcane and unnatural knowledge. In true Sith tradition Palpatine betrayed and killed his Master after he "became unnecessary" due to teaching Sidious too much too quickly and achieving the ability to do so. It was during his apprenticeship to Plagueis that Darth Sidious took on his first apprentice Darth Maul, who he decided to turn him into the ultimate living weapon with one purpose, kill the Jedi. Sidious continued the Sith Order in absolute secrecy, right under the noses of the Republic and the Jedi.
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
Darth Sidious, as he appears in The Phantom Menace.
| “ | Wipe them out. All of them! | „ |
| ~ Darth Sidious authorizing the Battle of Naboo. |
Glimpsed mostly as a cloaked holographic figure, Darth Sidious conspired with the Neimoidians to carry out his 1,000-year-old plan to wipe out the Jedi for good, by setting up a war against the Republic as the secret leader of the Trade Federation. The invasion of the planet Naboo was the first step to a vaster more ambitious plan Sidious had sent in motion, a plan secretly involving Republic Senator Palpatine. When Palpatine eventually leads the Republic, he becomes a leader on both sides, ensuring that neither side gains enough upper hand to win the war. This, in turn, causes countless deaths of fighters in the Galactic War, including Jedi. Using the Trade Federation to cause conflict with the planet Naboo, Palpatine ordered a blockade around the planet. Hoping to resolve the conflict swiftly, Supreme Chancellor Valorum sends Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi to the Trade Federation Control ship in order to negotiate, as requested from the Queen of Naboo.
After their arrival, the Neimoidians discovered they were Jedi and contacted Darth Sidious. Appearing through hologram robed and face obscured by a hood, Sidious made contact with the scheming Viceroy Gunray ordering him to assassinate the ambassadors, interrupting their mission. When the Jedi escape, the Dark Lord has the viceroy end all communication down to the planet.
As part of Darth Sidious' plan to become the new Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, he promises Queen Amidala that he will "end the corruption," as her people were suffering while the Trade Federation's control on the Naboo system increased. Delegates and other members of the Senate continued to argue, and even the Chancellor, failed to make any decisive action. During a Senate meeting, Amidala finally agrees with the senator to "call for a vote of no confidence" in Chancellor Valorum's leadership, and elect a new, stronger Chancellor, to stop the tragedy. The crisis on Naboo prompted a strong sympathy vote for Palpatine in the election.
Following Darth Maul's supposed death, Palpatine successfully becomes the new Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. His future apprentice Anakin Skywalker was a child at the time and the decision was made that he would be trained to become a Jedi. At that point, he officially began his schematics for upcoming warfare; even assuring to the young Anakin that he would be watching his incoming career with 'great interest'.
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
Palpatine is given emergency powers by the Senate.
| “ | Count Dooku: I have good news for you, my Lord. The war has begun. Darth Sidious: Excellent. Everything is going as planned. |
„ |
| ~ Count Dooku and Darth Sidious. |
A decade after his nomination, Palpatine was faced with the challenge of a popular Separatist Movement led by the charismatic leader, Count Dooku (secretly his Sith apprentice Darth Tyranus). Many in the galaxy feared that the conflict would escalate, starting a larger-scale war (known as the Clone Wars), but Palpatine was adamant that the crisis would be resolved by negotiations, but the Separatists didn't agree. Palpatine, however, had planned Dooku's rebellion from the beginning. As Sidious lured Dooku to the dark side encouraging him to rally corporations and systems to breakaway from the Republic and become the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Palpatine, as the Chancellor held meetings with Senators and the Jedi hoping to resolve the conflict peacefully. Both parties were unaware that the evil Sith Lord lurked beneath the politician.
Upon discovery of a secret droid army, it became apparent that the Separatists were on the verge of declaring war against the Republic. The Republic countered this by needing a military, and Palpatine required the authority to activate a newly forged army of clones, that were discovered by Obi-Wan on the planet Kamino, an ocean-planet with a cloning facility holding thousands of trained human clones. Palpatine had secretly set in motion the clone army many years ago.
On Geonosis, Count Dooku tells a captured Obi-Wan Kenobi that the Republic was now under the control of the Dark Lord of the Sith. Kenobi claims the Jedi would be aware of that but Dooku states the dark side of the Force has clouded the Jedi's vision. Dooku says that hundreds of senators were now under the influence of a Sith Lord called Darth Sidious. Kenobi thinks he's lying but counters that Nute Gunray was once in league with Sidious but then claims the viceroy was betrayed by the Sith Lord, which was actually a lie as Gunray and Sidious still worked together. Dooku asked Obi-Wan to join him and together they would destroy the Sith but Kenobi refused the offer.
Senators loyal to Palpatine motioned that the Chancellor be given emergency powers to deal with the Separatist threat. In the Senate, Representative Binks nominated the motion that allowed Palpatine to use the Kamino clone troopers in open warfare. With spoken regrets, Palpatine accepted the new mantle of power and promised to return his absolute authority back to the Senate after the emergency subsided. As the Senate cheered, the Chancellor announced the formation of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Darth Sidious welcomes Lord Tyranus to Coruscant.
After the Battle of Geonosis, Dooku escaped to Coruscant landing in the LiMerge Building on the industrial side of the planet called The Works meeting with his Master informing the Sith Lord that their long-awaited plot was finally in motion. Sidious was pleased with these turn of events, and later with the leaders of the Senate in a viewing stand, oversaw the new Republic army marching towards war in quiet awe while others were disturbed by the recent events. What no one realized was that the galaxy would undergo further upheaval and that a state of crisis would ensure Palpatine's authority for decades.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Film
Darth Sidious tells Dooku that the war continues.
| “ | Allow the Jedi their small victory, my friend, for the engines of this war turn in our favor. | „ |
| ~ Darth Sidious assures Tyranus that victory will be theirs. |
As the Clone Wars began and raged across the galaxy, the Sith Lord Darth Sidious plotted and masterminded many events and secretly gained more and more influence and power in the Senate. Later in the war, Palpatine arranged a plot to recruit Jabba the Hutt to join the Separatists by kidnapping his son Rotta and framing the Jedi as the culprits. Asajj Ventress had brought Jabba's son to the monastery on Teth and reported to Dooku who was pleased. Sidious then entered the hologram transmission and stated the Jedi would be at war with both the Sith and the Hutt Clan.
The plan eventually failed with the rescue of Jabba's son by Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano exposing Count Dooku as the real culprit. As the Chancellor, Palpatine expressed his gratitude to the two Jedi for their help. At first, Dooku dreaded having to contact his Master reporting another setback for the Separatists in their campaign to overthrow the Republic and seize Coruscant. But the Sith Lord seemed oddly unconcerned by the losses assuring his apprentice that the tide of war still turned in their favor according with Sidious' master plan as Jabba allowed the Republic to use the Hutt Cartel hyperspace lanes.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Series
Asajj Ventress before Darth Sidious.
During the Clone Wars, Darth Sidious watched as his apprentice, Darth Tyranus engineered new battles and trained new dark siders such as the Dark Assassin Asajj Ventress. First Dooku tested Ventress' skills in both lightsaber combat and dark side of the Force abilities pleasing the Sith Lord who watched through a mobile hologram unit. Dooku introduced her to Sidious who applauded her efforts and personally gave her a task; to find Anakin Skywalker and eliminate him. As Ventress flew away, Dooku remarked confidence in her success, but the Dark Lord replied that her success or failure was irrelevant as she was only an instrument to test Skywalker, which would eventually lead to the downfall of the Jedi.
Darth Sidious tells Dooku to retrieve Gunray.
At another time, Nute Gunray was captured by Senator Amidala and taken into custody to face trial on Coruscant for his war crimes. Palpatine praised the senator, but this angered the Dark Lord. Communicating with Darth Tyranus via hologram, Darth Sidious told him how dangerous this situation was as the weak-minded viceroy would likely slip vital information and ordered him to be retrieved fast. Dooku told his master that he will send his apprentice Ventress who Sidious saw as useless but allowed him to proceed. Ventress successfully rescued Gunray without him telling the Jedi about his existence.
Darth Sidious hires Bane for a mission.
Darth Sidious' next plan would make a huge impact on the galaxy. Darth Sidious plotted to steal a Jedi holocron that contained a list of the galaxy's Force-sensitive children that he planned to kidnap and turn into his loyal spies. First the Sith Lord hired bounty hunter Cad Bane via hologram to steal a holocron from the Jedi Temple vaults with plans that he provided that allowed Bane to successfully steal the holocron. Next he required Bane to retrieve a kyber memory crystal that would activate the information hidden in the holocron from a Jedi Master named Bolla Ropal in the Mid Rim. Cad Bane captured and tortured Ropal who eventually gave Bane the crystal and had Anakin open the holocron by threatening his Padawan Ahsoka who used the Force to open it.
Darth Sidious tells Bane he needs test subjects.
Escaping from the Jedi, Cad Bane retreated to his hideout and contacted Sidious through holographic transmission and told the Sith Lord of his success. Darth Sidious next assigned Bane to kidnap four children from the list and bring them to Mustafar. Cad Bane only managed to kidnap two children before he was captured by the Jedi. The Jedi later reported to Chancellor Palpatine who discussed with Anakin if they found who was behind the plot. Anakin stated that a far more powerful being other than Bane or Dooku was behind the event and not suspecting Palpatine at all which satisfied the Chancellor who told Skywalker to have patience.
Darth Sidious looks over the children.
On Mustafar, Darth Sidious observed the children through hologram using an astromech droid. Sidious told the nanny droids of the children's natural talent and how he would harness that power for his own needs. Looking into the future, Sidious saw a vision of Force talented spies trained in the dark side that would appear in every corner of the galaxy doing his bidding. The nanny droid told the Dark Lord that subjects rarely survive the procedure at a young age but Sidious said the risk was necessary and that if the procedure failed he would lose nothing. As the surgery was about to happen, an alert from a nanny droid told the Sith Lord of an incoming shuttle that was approaching and it did not belong to the bounty hunter. This surprised Sidious as he did not foresee this and ordered the droids to evacuate the children and destroy the facility to protect his identity and ended the transmission quickly. The Jedi rescued the children and thwarted Sidious' plans.
Sidious listens to Dooku's report.
During the Republic occupation of the neutral world of Mandalore, the Death Watch hoped to reclaim the planet from pacifists and join the Separatists cause once the planet was secured. Aboard a Separatist ship, Count Dooku contacted his Master that Death Watch was prepared to fight off the Republic forces when they arrive, and the splinter group will be viewed as saviors by the people. Darth Sidious expressed concern about possible interference by the Duchess Satine, but was assured by Dooku that a Death Watch assassin would take care of her, causing the Sith Lord to smirk.
Darth Sidious tells Tyranus to eliminate Ventress.
Later in the war, Sidious felt Asajj Ventress growing stronger in the ways of the dark side of the Force. Through a hologram, Darth Sidious accused Tyranus of wanting to overthrow him as Dark Lord which shocked his apprentice who stated his loyalty belonged only to his Master. Sidious then demanded proof and ordered him to eliminate Ventress which the Count sadly obliged to. After assuming success in the death of his former disciple, Dooku contacted Sidious of his apparent success. Satisfied, Darth Sidious praised his apprentice for once again proving his loyalty.
Upon learning of Grievous' capture, Sidious commands Dooku to lure Anakin into a trap to take him hostage for a prisoner exchange.
In a second attempt to invade Naboo, the Separatists launched an assault to conquer the planet. The Gungan Army fought against the droid army and Captain Tarpals battled General Grievous and subdued him at the cost of his life. From a secret lair hidden inside an ancient Naboo structure, Count Dooku received orders from Darth Sidious. The Sith Lord stated that Grievous is an integral part of his plan for the Clone Wars and told his apprentice to lure Anakin into a trap, capture him and arrange a prisoner exchange. Sidious assured Tyranus that Senator Amidala will agree to the terms.
Sidious lectures of slaves and Sith Empires.
Darth Sidious later had his apprentice kidnap an entire colony of people from the planet Kiros and sell them into slavery that would rebuild his Sith Empire. Aligning with the Zygerrians to resurrect the slave empire, the captured people were brought to the prison planet Kadavo to await processing. En route to Zygerria aboard his solar sailor, Count Dooku communicated with his Master. Darth Sidious lectured of how long Sith Empires have been built upon the backs of slaves and told his apprentice that to carry on this tradition millions of slaves will be required. Darth Sidious ordered Dooku to gain the Zygerrian Queen Miraj Scintel's cooperation or to end her rule if she fails to comply.
During the Banking Clan crisis, the banks had become bankrupt and Palpatine sent Padmé to Scipio to deal with the matters. As the Dark Lord, Sidious hired bounty hunter Embo to originally assassinate the Banking Clan representative Rush Clovis but he managed to escape the planet with the aid of Padme and Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker. Embo contacted Sidious and was pleased to hear of the success and assured the bounty hunter that he would deal with them himself.
Sidious forms a plan with Dooku.
Later the Muun Nix Card contacted Darth Sidious and reported that Clovis had managed to escape with the evidence of the bank records. Sidious stated that Nix would be protected in the scandal. The Sith Lord later contacted Dooku on Serreno and devised a plan that would place Clovis in command of the Banking Clan as a puppet leader but first Tyranus had to entrap the senator.
Darth Sidious gains more power.
After placing Clovis in office and framing him by aligning Scipio with the Separatists and massacring the Republic forces, the Senate called for an emergency session and the Chancellor launched a mercy mission. As Dooku was leaving the planet, Sidious contacted him with an update and told him that Republic forces were on their way. Tyranus informed his Master that the deception was complete. The Dark Lord stated because of the treachery, control of the banks would be placed in the hands of the Supreme Chancellor as Sidious cackled with delight.
Sidious learns of Maul's survival.
In an unexpected turn of events, the long forgotten Sith Lord Darth Maul was discovered to be alive by the Jedi which reported back to the Chancellor startling Palpatine at this revelation. After the briefing, the Chancellor told the Jedi to ignore the Sith brothers and their focus should be on finding Dooku and bring the Clone Wars to an end then dismissed the Jedi from his office. As the Jedi left, Palpatine sat in his chair and smirked as he had plans for the rogue Sith in the future.
Palpatines senses a disturbance in the Force.
Later in the Chancellor's Office, Palpatine mediated and sensed the increasing power of the Nightbrothers on the planet Mandalore. Mas Amedda entered and was told to prepare the Chancellor's shuttle which Palpatine took to Mandalore in order to confront the brothers in his secret persona Darth Sidious. Upon arriving, a robed and hooded Sidious Force chokes two Shadow Collective members and rode a speeder to the royal palace where he confronted the brothers in the throne room. Sidious enters the throne room easily choking two guards to death and exchanges a few words with his former apprentice and looks at his brother, Savage Opress. Darth Sidious declared Maul a rival and Force pushed Maul and his brother into the wall windows cackling.
Maul and Opress fighting Sidious.
After releasing the brothers from his telekinetic grip, Maul and Savage ignited their lightsabers while Sidious summoned two from the sleeves of his robe to duel them. The battle moved from the throne room to the balcony where Savage pushed him off while Sidious Forced pulled Maul and Savage to the ground below. The Dark Lord Force pushed Maul to a wall briefly knocking him out while Sidious dueled Savage alone and in mere seconds impaled the Nightbrother in the chest, killing him. As Maul rushed to his dying brother, the Nightsisters magicks left his body and Sidious cackled telling Maul the Rule of Two and leaped to the plaza below continuing their duel. Maul charged at Sidious with both his saber and the darksaber and after a brief duel, Sidious disarmed Maul and brutally battered him against the wall and ground. Broken and exhausted Maul begged for mercy and the Dark Lord replied there was no mercy and launched a barrage of Force lightning on his former apprentice. Darth Sidious cackled with glee as he tells the defeated Nightbrother that his plans don't involve killing him, but has other uses for him.
Darth Sidious learns of a renegade clone.
Near the end of the war, Darth Sidious faced some unexpected events. During a battle of the Ringo Vinda system, a clone seemed to have a mental breakdown and shot and killed a Jedi Knight for no apparent reason. The Separatist Admiral Trench saw the event and reported the betrayal to Count Dooku. On Serenno, Lord Tyranus made contact with his Master via hologram to report the clone incident. Sidious worried that it would expose evidence of the Sith Lord's secret programming and ordered Tyranus to seize the clone for examination.
Sidious cackles as Protocol 66 remains unknown to the Jedi.
As the Supreme Chancellor, Palpatine learned the clone trooper Tup died and another clone named Fives may have discovered the conspiracy. The Chancellor than suggested the clone be brought to Coruscant for medical attention which the Jedi reluctantly agreed to. Arriving at the medical station, the Jedi Shaak Ti, Kaminoan doctor Nala Se and the Chancellor met with the clone and asked if he could speak with Fives in private. Palpatine then framed Fives for an assassination attempt and issued a manhunt for the clone. Fives eventually was killed and died without spilling a word of the conspiracy. Later in his office, Palpatine told the Jedi that his personal doctors discovered a virus that Tup and Fives had inside of them from Ringo Vinda as the source of their mental breakdowns which the Jedi believed. Darth Sidious later made contact with his apprentice that Protocol 66 has been undiscovered and the Jedi will soon learn of it as Sidious cackled.
Darth Sidious Force chokes Tyranus.
Some time later, the Jedi discovered a shipwreck on the planet Oba Diah belonging to the Jedi Master who was killed long ago, Sifo-Dyas. Darth Sidious later learned the Jedi were looking into the investigation of Dyas and worried they would uncover secrets not meant to be discovered. Sidious appeared to his apprentice as a large hologram and demanded to know why the Jedi were sniffing around the loose end that is Sifo-Dyas. The Dark Lord demanded that Tyranus and the Separatists clean up the affairs lest their plans be threatened. Sidious made sure his apprentice understood what it meant if he failed by Force choking him through the hologram then ended the transmission.
Lord Sidious telling Dooku he senses an opportunity.
During the conflict, Darth Sidious looked into the Force and saw Master Yoda was on Moraband, the ancient homeworld of the Sith, and summoned his apprentice back to Coruscant. Inside the LiMerge Building on the industrial side of the planet, Tyranus met with his Master who plotted to strike a devastating blow on the Jedi Order. In a ceremonial chamber with statues lining the room, Darth Sidious informed his apprentice of Yoda's location and that they would be exploiting Dooku's Force-bond with Yoda, which the two had established as Master and apprentice, to find out why Yoda had ventured to Moraband and to break his will.
Over a sacrificial altar basin, Sidious produced a knife cutting Dooku's hand, allowing a single drop of blood to fall into the altar filled with water. Sidious then recited an ancient Sith incantation in Balc as the Sith Lords together then jolted the basin with Force lightning, and once Dooku focused on his bond with Yoda, Sidious harnessed the power creating a dark illusion for Yoda on Moraband that would lead the Jedi into a trap. Sidious then stated he would appear as someone familiar as he dipped his face into the sacrificial altar.
Darth Sidious duels Master Yoda on the catwalk.
In the Moraband execution chamber, Sidious appeared to Yoda as Sifo-Dyas in disguise and tempted the Jedi with the knowledge of the Sith Lord's identity. But Yoda refused and suddenly Sifo-Dyas transformed into a cackling Sidious and surrounded him with chains of energy. Forced into a deeper illusion, Yoda awakened to find Anakin Skywalker along with a squad of 501st clones in the hold of a Republic Gunship flying towards the LiMerge Building in an ongoing pursuit of both Dooku and Sidious in the Works.
The gunship landed in the deserted tower hangar where they confronted the Sith Lords. Captain Rex spotted the Sith huddled over the altar basin when Dooku ignited his lightsaber and electrified the approaching clones with lightning. Anakin engaged Dooku while Yoda confronted the hooded Dark Lord who escaped while Anakin killed Dooku by severing his head. Darth Sidious ignited his lightsaber and Yoda his and both engaged in fierce whirling duel. Anakin attempted to enter the duel but was blasted unconscious by Sidious' lightning. He then blasted Yoda who blocked the lightning with the Force causing a disruption of energy sending both Jedi back.
Darth Sidious snarls as his illusion fails.
Sidious then taunted Yoda stating if he lets Anakin die it thwarts his plans of eliminating the Jedi Order. The Jedi Master was then presented with a choice: Either learn the identity of the Sith Lord once and for all or save Skywalker, whom Sidious had thrown off a catwalk. Yoda chose the latter and sacrificed himself. Yoda hurled his saber at Sidious and both plummeted to the ground below while Sidious cackled and when Yoda attempted to remove his hood, he found the robes to be empty falling into the depths of Coruscant with the vision of Sidious as the dark illusion fell apart. After the illusion ceased, Darth Sidious emerged from the glowing sacrificial altar snarling as the illusion had failed to break the Jedi Master's spirit and the Dark Lord told Tyranus they would need more time to defeat Yoda and destroy the Jedi Order.
Darth Sidious announces the final operation.
Towards the end of the Clone Wars, Darth Sidious watched through hologram a sparring session between Lord Tyranus and General Grievous. Tyranus lectured Grievous of the importance of mastering his lightsaber skills and to ensure victory not be reckless. Appearing before them on a mechno-chair, Sidious praised Dooku's counsel and asked Grievous for the report from the front. The general told the Sith Lord that the Jedi forces were stretched thin across the Outer Rim worlds which Sidious seemed pleased with. Darth Sidious then told both that the time to strike was now and to launch their final operation and asked Grievous if everything was ready for his "special mission" and Grievous affirmed the Dark Lord that everything is in place and the unsuspecting Jedi knew not what awaited.
Grievous having captured Palpatine.
Striking a devastating attack on the Republic capital, General Grievous entered with the Droid Army and launched a full scale invasion of the planet. Grievous' mission was to capture the Supreme Chancellor who was protected by a squad of clone troopers and Jedi protectors. Through the whole pursuit Palpatine seemed calm and at times sarcastic. After disposing of the clones, Grievous chased the Jedi and Chancellor all through the city-planet until finally disarming the Jedi. Grievous captured Palpatine and seemed annoyed at his charismatic nature. The Chancellor later boarded a ship that took him to the Separatist flagship The Invisible Hand and was transported to the tall spire tower of the ship and placed on a throne with shackles on the arm rests, setting the events of the third film.
Episode Appearances
| Appearances on The Show |
|---|
Season One
Season Two
Season Three
Season Four
Season Five
Season Six
Legacy
|
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
Palpatine tells Anakin to leave his master behind.
Supreme Chancellor Palpatine is first seen shackled and bound to a throne in the General's quarters of Grievous' flagship, Invisible Hand when Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker arrived to rescue him just before Count Dooku intervenes. In the ensuing lightsaber battle, Kenobi and Skywalker teamed against Dooku while Palpatine watched. The Sith Lord subdued Obi-Wan but was brutally defeated by Anakin, who cut off both his hands and was now corning Dooku with their lightsabers. Palpatine was impressed and ordered Anakin to kill Dooku at his own request, which he momentarily hesitated before complying. Anakin later regretted killing Dooku as it was not the Jedi way, but Palpatine was quick to console him. Although Grievous escaped into space, the Jedi successfully returned Palpatine to Coruscant.
Darth Sidious contacts Grievous on Utapau.
After getting rescued, Palpatine, as Sidious made contact with General Grievous who was hiding on the Outer Rim world of Utapau and ordered the droid general to relocate the Separatist Council to the planet Mustafar. Grievous obliged and Sidious informed him the conclusion of the war drew near. Grievous questioned Count Dooku's loss meaning it would be the end of the Confederacy but the Sith Lord assured the general that the loss was necessary as he soon would have a new apprentice one far younger and more powerful than Tyranus. Later Palpatine began to form an interactive friendship with Anakin by telling him important information and appointing him as his Representative on the Jedi Council. The Jedi had grown wary of the Chancellor and his decrees that redirected power away from the Senate and Constitution and into his Office. Reluctantly they agreed to the appointment but only in the hopes of turning Anakin into their spy on the Chancellor, causing much turmoil in the young Jedi.
Palpatine tells Anakin of Darth Plagueis.
The Chancellor later took in a performance at the Galaxies Opera House with Anakin as his guest. Palpatine spoke about the war's progress and of Anakin's appointment to the Council. Anakin stated his trust in the Jedi had been shaken due to his assignment which Palpatine could tell what it was. Palpatine then began to tell the tale of Darth Plaugeis the Wise where the Sith Lord used the dark side of the Force to stop loved ones from dying. Anakin was plagued with death visions of his wife Padme at the time and took an interest in the legend. Anakin asked the Chancellor if learning the power was possible, Palpatine replied "Not from a Jedi."
Palpatine reveals himself as the Sith Lord.
Anakin later visited the Chancellor in his office delivering more Jedi news about the war and Palpatine doubted the Jedi's trust in Anakin. Knowing the time was right, Palpatine dropped his guise admitting he possessed knowledge of the dark side revealing his true identity to him. Anakin realized the Chancellor was the sinister Sith Lord the Jedi had been hunting since the start of the war and drew his lightsaber. Palpatine said he was the path to the power that could save his wife from dying. Stunned by the revelation, Anakin responded by reporting him to the Jedi. Anakin was deeply conflicted realizing that he could not lose the Sith Lord as he thought he needed to learn the dark side power to "save" his wife Padmé.
Sidious duels Windu in his office.
Mace Windu ordered Anakin to remain behind in the Temple while he arranged a group of Jedi Masters to arrest the Chancellor for his crimes. In the inner recesses of the Chancellor's Office, the Jedi confronted the Chancellor announcing his arrest. Palpatine scoffed at the news that the Senate would determine his fate, and with a roar of "I AM the Senate!" Igniting a red-bladed lightsaber from the sleeve of his robe, Sidious sprang into action murdering the three Jedi Masters before engaging Windu in an intense lightsaber duel. The two dueled, transforming the office of politics into an arena of combat. Anakin, tormented by the fear of loss , traveled to the Chancellor's office and witnessed a stunning sight. Mace Windu had cornered Palpatine with his lightsaber blade extended at his heart.
Sidious unmasked by Force lightning.
Palpatine unleashed a torrent of dark Force lightning at the Jedi Master, but Windu was able to deflect it back at the Chancellor with his lightsaber blade. The evil energies twisted Sidious' face as they flowed through him, revealing his true yellow almost slug like face; his eyes burned yellow and voice grew ragged and deep his teeth yellow and gross. Palpatine slumped in the corner seemingly too weak to continue his lightning assault. Fearing the Chancellor too powerful and too well-connected, Windu decided he couldn't be taken alive. Before Windu could take justice into his own hands, though, Anakin sprung into action severing Windu's weapon hand with his lightsaber. Defenseless, Windu was then bombarded by Sidious' dark side lightning that tortured and blasted the Jedi through the window to his death.
Sidious tells Vader to eliminate the Jedi and Confederacy.
Due to his part in Windu's murder, Anakin Skywalker had taken his first irreversible step to the dark side causing Sidious to grin. Skywalker knelt before Darth Sidious, and the Sith Lord bestowed upon him the title of "Darth Vader", Lord of the Sith. Concealing his true face, Sidious returned to his simple Sith robes. First he tasked his new apprentice to raze the Jedi Temple before the treacherous Jedi could strike back at them. Vader marched to the temple with a column of loyal clone troopers, gutting the sacred edifice from within.
Darth Sidious executes Order 66.
Meanwhile, Sidious, knowing the time had come, took care of the Jedi scattered across the galaxy waging the Clone Wars. Using his authority as the Supreme Chancellor, Palpatine executed Order 66, a coded command that identified the Jedi Knights as traitors to the Republic. He broadcasted this order to the clone commanders on the various different battlefronts, and the loyal soldiers killed their Jedi generals in cold blood. Only a handful of a handful of Jedi survived, including Master Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Sidious speaks to the Separatist leaders.
The next day, Darth Sidious later spoke to the Separatist Council members via hologram, with Gunray remarking confidently that their plan had gone just as Sidious had promised. Though Gunray and the other leaders did not know what was planned for them, the Dark Lord promised that his new apprentice would soon arrive to take care of them claiming that he had come to make peace, but he actually was to be sent instead to eliminate the council who had gathered on Mustafar.
Palpatine declares the Republic an Empire.
As his apprentice cut down the Separatist leaders, Palpatine called for a special session of the Galactic Senate to deliver an emergency address. With his true face hidden in the shadows of his hood, Palpatine claimed to have survived a Jedi assassination attempt. He denounced the conspiracy of the Jedi rebellion and assured the Republic that his resolve had not faltered. He delivered the good news that victory in the Clone Wars had at last been achieved. By the end of his rousing speech, supported by the thunderous applause of patriots and politicians, Palpatine declared his new order as the First Galactic Empire with himself as Emperor. Vader then slashed Gunray shortly before reuniting with his wife.
The Emperor visits the Jedi Temple after the massacre
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda eventually caught up with the betrayal and deceit, realizing that Anakin, now Vader, and his troops had slain everyone in the Jedi Temple and that Palpatine was the Dark Lord of the Sith. Viewing a security hologram, Obi-Wan saw the carnage inside the Temple, with Anakin killing everyone and Sidious traveled there where he found Vader who knelt before the Sith Lord in obedience. Palpatine praised his new apprentice and told Lord Vader to go and bring peace to the Empire. Vader left the planet to see to his second task which was dealing with the Separatists. Obi-Wan could not believe it but both were determined to stop the murderous Sith Lords. After the slaughter, Vader reported his mission's completion to Sidious who told his apprentice to send a shutdown signal to the Confederate navy and army deactivating the droid armies, effectively ending the Clone Wars.
Darth Sidious taunts Master Yoda.
While Obi Wan Kenobi confronted Vader on Mustafar, Yoda tracked down Palpatine in his office beneath the Senate Chamber, and the two began an intense battle. Sidious first blasted Yoda with Force lightning sending the Jedi Master across the room knocking him unconscious. The Sith Lord taunted Yoda stating the Jedi were all but lost but Yoda Force pushed and later stopped Sidious from escaping with both users brandishing their lightsabers. As both combatants dueled, Sidious claimed that Vader would become more powerful than either of them. Yoda remarked that his faith in Vader and the dark side was misplaced as the fight moved from the holding office into the grand Senate Chamber.
Sidious and Yoda duel in the Senate.
Sidious was nearly overpowered by Yoda in their lightsaber duel and only managed to even the field by finally beginning to use the Force to combat Yoda. The Emperor relished the chance to to destroy the legendary Jedi by using the dark side of the Force to hurl Senate pods at Yoda. However, Sidious failed to kill Yoda with his telekinetic assault and was forced to close range by Yoda once again but is able to rip the Grandmaster's lightsaber from his hand with a blast of Sith lightning forcing Yoda to absorb the attack using the Force.
Darth Sidious fires Force lightning at Yoda.
Although Sidious came quite close to overcoming Yoda with the lightning attack, Yoda was ultimately able to win their struggle by returning the lightning causing a blast so powerful that it pushed the two masters apart. Sidious fortunately was not clearly blasted off the Senate pod as Yoda was and managed to hang on the pod briefly before losing his grip and was flung all the way to the bottom of the Senate Building. Following the battle, Sidious stood with Mas Amedda on a Senatorial pod as they searched for the Jedi Master. However, the clone troops could not find any trace of a body. Deciding not to personally pursue Yoda, Sidious demanded that his shuttle be dispatched immediately and left for the planet, Mustafar, where his apprentice was battling his former master, Obi-Wan, as he had sensed that Vader was in danger of being destroyed which Vader near was.
The Emperor finds Darth Vader on Mustafar.
When Darth Sidious arrived, he found Vader's wounded almost limbless charred body lying next to a river of lava. The Emperor ordered his soldiers to prepare a medical capsule for his apprentice. As they left to obey his instructions, Sidious crouched beside his fallen apprentice, determined to find a way to keep him alive. Transporting in his Imperial Shuttle, Vader is taken to the large city-planet of Coruscant so that he could be repaired.
Sidious watches Vader's rage unfold.
Inside a medical center, Sidious oversaw the operation of Vader reconstructed as a cyborg with medical droids treating his injuries, and he is encased in the black armour and mask that will preserve his ruined body. Upon completion of the surgery, Sidious approached his apprentice asking if he could be heard, and Vader answered. Anakin asked his master what had become of Padmé if she was safe and alright, and Sidious told Vader he accidentally killed Padmé in his anger, causing the new Sith Lord to scream in heartbreaking despair using the Force to destroy the droids and facility. The Emperor appeared gleeful upon having finally plunged Anakin Skywalker into the dark side.
The Emperor and Vader watch the Death Star being built.
Unknown to both Palpatine and Vader, Padmé died giving birth to fraternal twins that she named Luke and Leia, and that Obi-Wan and Yoda separated the twins for safety; Luke was left into the care of the Lars family in Tatooine while Leia was left in the care of the Organa family in Alderaan. With the Galactic Empire now in control and the Jedi Order destroyed, Vader joined his Master on the bridge of a Star Destroyer with Governor Tarkin as the two Dark Lords oversaw the construction of the super weapon moon-sized battle station; the Death Star above Geonosis.
Star Wars Rebels
Darth Vader kneels before the Emperor's hologram.
| “ | Be patient, my old friend. For now, dispatch another Inquisitor to hunt them down. | „ |
| ~ The Emperor orders Darth Vader to pursue the Rebellion. |
Throughout his reign, the Emperor expanded his dictator's reach across the galaxy by bringing more star systems under Imperial control. Informed of a rebel cell on the planet Lothal, Palpatine had the Grand Inquisitor deal with the growing resurgent. The rebels managed to destroy a portion of the Imperial Fleet and killed the Grand Inquisitor in the process led by the renegade Jedi Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger. The Emperor sent his apprentice to handle the growing rebel threat. After the Siege of Lothal the Emperor was contacted by Darth Vader after he struck a critical blow on the rebel cell, and informed his Master that the apprentice of Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, lived and was helping the rebels. This pleased the Emperor as he saw this an opportunity to locate more surviving Jedi. Vader stated to his Master that he rather search for Obi-Wan but was told to have patience and ordered his apprentice to dispatch another Inquisitor to hunt down the rebels, Tano, and other undiscovered Jedi.
When Kanan and Ezra visited the Lothal Jedi Temple seeking answers, the Inquisitors Fifth Brother and Seventh Sister tracked them and discovered the temple. While the Jedi escaped, Imperial forces arrived and secured the Temple. The Inquisitors informed their master Darth Vader, who came to visit the site in person, of their power growing and Vader assured them it would be their undoing. Following the discovery, the Emperor directed Minister Veris Hydan to lead the excavation of the Temple and deciphering its mysteries.
The Emperor in hologram appearing to Minister Hydan.
After learning Kanan Jarrus had perished, the Emperor contacted Minister Hydan at the temple excavation site. Appearing as a large hologram, the Emperor listened as Hydan informed him that they made some miraculous discoveries and uncovered the Painting of the Mortis gods which he believed to be the key to unlocking the gateway. The Emperor told Hydan of a great disturbance in the Force and spoke of how Kanan's death had altered the fate of Lothal though how he did not know. The Minister suggested full access to the temple would give them more clarity of it. The Emperor urged Hydan to hasten his efforts of seizing the power within believing the gateway to be a conduit between the living and the dead. The Emperor then commanded Minister Hydan to proceed before ending his holographic connection.
The Emperor appears in the World Between Worlds.
Unknown to Hydan, Ezra Bridger and Sabine Wren managed to unlock the portal by moving the painted hand of the Daughter opening the gateway and Ezra jumped through entering the World Between Worlds. Inside the mystical dimension, Ezra came across a convor that led him to a portal where it showed him Ahsoka Tano dueling Darth Vader inside the Malachor Sith Temple years ago. As the Sith Lord was about to finish her off, Ezra reached through the portal and pulled Ahsoka to safety saving her life. After waking up, Ahsoka recognized the convor calling her Morai and thanked Ezra who spoke of Kanan and the Cosmic Force.
The Emperor perfoming Sith Alchemy on the portal.
The Emperor learning that Ezra Bridger had entered the World Between Worlds, went to the altar located at the Sith Shrine underneath the Imperial Palace, formerly Jedi Temple, and used Sith Alchemy to open a portal to the realm peering inside to see where Ezra and Ahsoka were. Ezra believed he could save his master and went to the portal the Emperor created where he was shown an illusion of Kanan's last moments of him saving the Ghost Crew. Ahsoka convinced Ezra to let go and honor his master's sacrifice because pulling him out of the moment would cause the deaths of the ones he saved. While walking away from the nexus, Darth Sidious appeared inside the portal while unable to to physically enter the realm cackling evilly as he found both Ezra and Ahsoka. Both see Sidious looking at them through the portal where they had seen Kanan's last stand.
The Emperor trying to capture Ezra with his sorcery.
The Emperor recited an incantation of dark side magic casting forth blue flames from his altar towards the pair and Ahsoka blocked it with the Force however the process proved too much and injured her as a result of using too much energy to repel the attack. Ezra helped her and the flames dissipated. The Emperor cackled as he unleashed another wave of dark side blue flames as Ezra and Ahsoka ran while the fire pursued them. While running, the flame caught Ezra the energy wrapping around his leg and pulled him while Sidious tried to get through the portal and the Emperor gloated. Ahsoka, however, hacked at the blue flame lasso with one of her lightsabers, causing the Emperor to howl in rage. Ahsoka told Ezra to keep running and he made her promise to find him when she returns and agreed. Ahsoka and Morai escaped back to their portal on Malachor. Ezra ran towards the Lothal Gateway as the Emperor was closing in on him with his fire magic and escaped the realm enraging the Sith Lord.
After escaping the realm, Ezra reunited with the crew and managed to seal the portal by using the painted hand of the Son and locked the Gateway to the World Between Worlds. Sealing the Gateway caused the Lothal Jedi Temple to to collapse upon itself and the temple began to sunk into the ground in a blinding flash of light. Minister Hydan lamented at losing the knowledge the Emperor wanted and fell into the chasm to his death. With the Temple lost, the Emperor was denied access to the mystical realm and the ability to control the universe.
Palpatine as a benevolent hologram with Ezra Bridger.
Shortly after, the rebels attacked the Empire to liberate Lothal, Grand Admiral Thrawn ordered Ezra to surrender, but refused. Thrawn then began a bombardment of the city, but Ezra gave in and surrendered taking himself to his ship the Chimaera. The Grand Admiral then brought Ezra into a special chamber containing a portion of the Lothal Jedi Temple, which the Emperor had ordered to be placed there. Being off-world, the Emperor appeared to Ezra as a projected hologram in his benevolent fake form. The Emperor dismissed Thrawn and spoke to Ezra explaining that he had the remains of the Temple brought aboard the ship for him.
The Emperor's hologram reveals his true form.
Attempting to unlock the portal to the mystical realm again, Darth Sidious tried to tempt Ezra with an opportunity of reuniting with his deceased parents. The Emperor took Ezra inside the Temple entrance and showed him a portal to an alternate reality where his parents were still alive. Despite his desire to reunite with his family, Ezra saw through the Sith Lord's manipulation realizing that doing so would mean he never joined the Rebellion and used the Force to tear down the structure turning it into rubble.
The Emperor orders his Royal Guards to execute Ezra.
The Emperor was infuriated by this causing his hologram projection to shift rapidly between his non-corrupted appearance and his true form. As Ezra leapt from the wreckage, Sidious emerged from the temple ruins, his hologram still changing until it landed in his scarred form. The young Jedi told Darth Sidious he had a family and didn't need anything from him. The Emperor called his decision unfortunate and, with his plans ruined, ordered three of his Imperial Royal Guards to execute Ezra before shutting off the holographic transmission. Using modified Force pikes, the guards held Ezra in the air while three stormtroopers entered and began firing at the Jedi suspended in the air. Ezra, however, used the Force to hurl boulders and rocks from the Temple ruins at his attackers, crushing the troopers and guards to death and the Jedi escaped.
Episode Appearances
| Appearances on The Show |
|---|
Season One
Season Two
Season Three
Season Four
|
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
| “ | The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us. I have just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away. | „ |
| ~ Governor Tarkin reporting Palpatine's dissolution of the Senate. |
Palpatine wasn't in the original film, but is mentioned by Governor Wilhuff Tarkin, who explains to the Death Star staff that the Emperor has dissolved the Imperial Senate (due to their secret support for the Rebel Alliance) and has given direct control to all regional governors of the systems controlled by the Empire.
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
The Emperor appears in hologram.
| “ | The son of Skywalker must not become a Jedi. | „ |
| ~ The Emperor to Darth Vader. |
Palpatine appeared in a hologram projection while communicating with Lord Vader. The Emperor felt a disturbance in the Force as Luke Skywalker, son of Anakin, Jedi powers developed and knew the boy had destroyed his space station, and foresaw that Luke could destroy him. Vader insisted that Luke was just a boy and his mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, can no longer help him as he was gone. The Emperor sensed the Force was strong with the boy and told Vader to prevent Luke from becoming a Jedi, as he could become a serious threat. When Vader suggested turning him to the dark side of the Force, the Emperor agreed and ordered Vader to capture Luke and bring the young Jedi before him. Lord Vader responded that Luke would join the dark side or be destroyed.
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
The Emperor arrives on the second Death Star.
| “ | Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design. Your friends, up there on the sanctuary moon, are walking into a trap, as is your Rebel fleet. It was I who allowed the Alliance to know the location of the shield generator. It is quite safe from your pitiful little band. An entire legion of my best troops awaits them. Oh, I'm afraid the deflector shield will be quite operational when your friends arrive. | „ |
| ~ Emperor Palpatine to Luke Skywalker. |
The Emperor arrives aboard the second Death Star to oversee the final stages of the war between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance. He has a short talk with Darth Vader about the whereabouts of Luke and their plan to make him leave his Jedi path to join the dark side. The Emperor then ordered Darth Vader to the command ship and capture Luke Skywalker and bring him before him. A band of rebels led by Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia managed to land on the forest moon of Endor and Vader sensed his son's presence reporting the find to the Emperor who found it strange that he was unable to sense it. Darth Sidious then told his apprentice to go to Endor and await his son's arrival stating he had foreseen Luke's surrender and again bring him before him.
Emperor Palpatine seated on his throne aboard the Death Star II.
Aboard the second Death Star, Luke meets Palpatine face to face and dismissed his Imperial Guards and removed his cuffs. Palpatine attempts to make Luke succumb to the dark side and join him as his new apprentice alongside his father, but Luke turns down the offer several times and keeps resisting to the attempts of both Sidious and his father of corrupting him. Afterwards, Sidious gives Luke a view of the Rebel fleets hardly battling the Empire fleets but in trouble against the second Death Star revealing it to be fully operational. The Emperor then manipulated Luke telling him of the Alliance and his friends' impending dooms. Sidious then taunted the young Jedi stating his fate is to be his apprentice as his father's was and Luke tried to resist but gave into his anger. When Luke has no choice than killing the Emperor, he used the Force to take his lightsaber back from Palpatine and Darth Vader blocked the strike and both engaged in a duel as Sidious cackled with delight. Luke dueled with Vader trying to end the Emperor's reign of terror for good.
The Emperor fires lightning at Luke.
During the duel, Luke at first managed to restrain himself until Vader probed his mind and learned that Leia was his own daughter. With this knowledge, Vader speculated that he could corrupt her instead, but the threat enraged the young Jedi and drove him to attack Vader in a frenzy. Luke nearly killed his father cutting off his mechanical hand but controlled his anger realizing he was dangerously close to the dark side he discarded his lightsaber and turned to face the Emperor. Palpatine encouraged him to kill Vader and become his new apprentice, (ironically the same way when he made Vader kill Dooku). Luke refused stating he would never turn to the dark side and that he was a Jedi, like his father before him.
The Emperor taunts Luke Skywalker.
Enraged by this, Sidious responded by attacking Luke with Force Lightning, causing him to suffer the Emperor's wrath. As Palpatine attacked Luke and taunted him, he did not realize that the shield generator protecting the second Death Star had been destroyed by the strike team with help from the Ewoks allowing Lando Calrissian and Wedge Antilles to prepare to attack the defenseless second Death Star. The Emperor proceeded to torment Luke bringing the Jedi to his knees and tearing his body with more lightning.
The Emperor falling to his death in the reactor core.
However, Darth Vader could not stand to see his own son to suffer in so much pain and reborn as Anakin Skywalker, he grabbed the Emperor from behind lifting him up in the air his arms raised and lightning firing everywhere hurling him down to his death at the bottom of the main reactor shaft, causing the Sith Lord to explode in a burst of dark side energy that seemingly destroyed him. Unfortunately, the wild lightning coming from the Emperor's hands damaged Vader's life support and Anakin died too shortly afterwards fulfilling the prophecy of old bringing balance to the Force, for a short time.
Star Wars Battlefront II
Palpatine giving out his final orders posthumously to certain individuals.
| “ | Operation Cinder is to begin at once. Resistance... rebellion... defiance... these are concepts that cannot be allowed to persist. You are but one of many tools by which these ideas shall be burned away. | „ |
| ~ Palatine posthumously ordering Admiral Garrick Versio to instigate Operation Cinder. |
Not long after the destruction of the second Death Star and the supposed death of Emperor Palpatine, the news got out and special droids, known as Sentinels, were handed out to select and elite members of the Imperial Military. These droids broadcasted orders that Palpatine pre-recorded and would have given out after his death via the droids and the orders were to initiate Operation Cinder, which was for the complete destruction of the Imperial system and its eventual reconstruction from scratch. To achieve this, major Imperial worlds such as Naboo and Vardos were to be targeted by weather-altering satellites and they would inflict major natural disasters on the worlds and reduce them to ruin. The operation was essentially a scorched earth policy where not only would the Rebellion be denied access to Imperial resources and technology, but it would also show that the Empire was still in control of the galaxy even without Emperor Palpatine.
Without Palpatine's leadership and the deaths of almost all high-ranking officers and generals of the Imperial Military, the Galactic Empire as a whole began to fragment and break apart with Imperial generals and military leaders vying for power over the potential successor to Palpatine with Gallius Rax being the closest to achieving such a goal after declaring himself Counselor to the Empire, making him the de-facto leader of what remained of the Empire at large. Infighting had persisted however and Imperial remnants were formed and Imperial governors began taking desperate measures to secure their territory. Operation Cinder was still carried out and the result was the near-destruction of the entire Empire as a whole, but it served a purpose as those chosen for the operation were also tasked with traveling out into the Unknown Regions and were to establish a new government that would rebirth the Galactic Empire as a whole. The survivors fled into the Unknown Regions and they would go on to establish the First Order (led by Supreme Leader Snoke) with the full intention on restoring the Empire and preserving Palpatine's legacy.
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens
Palpatine doesn't make an appearance in the film, but his voice is heard when a scavenger girl named Rey touched Luke's lightsaber, experiencing a vision of the past before deciding to fight against the First Order. It is also told that Snoke has corrupted Han and Leia's son Ben Solo into the dark side of the Force, christening him as Kylo Ren, similar to how Palpatine christened Anakin as Darth Vader.
Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
Just like the last film, Palpatine doesn't make an appearance in this film, but he was briefly mentioned by Luke as he explains to Rey about the fall of the Jedi Order and the rise of the Galactic Empire. Eventually, Kylo betrayed Snoke by killing him and taking over the First Order in hopes of creating a legacy far more different than that of the Jedi and the Sith.
Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker
In the final film of the saga, it is revealed that Palpatine managed to revive himself in a clone body by using his great mastery over the dark side of the Force along with the knowledge on how to cheat death by manipulating the midi-chlorians. However, the clone body is left physically impaired becuase it could not handle Palpatine's spirit, so he took refuge in the ancient Sith world of Exegol, where he had to be moved and sustained by machinery before carrying out the orders of Operation Cinder. It is also revealed that Palpatine was responsible for the creation of Snoke as a figurehead, thus making him responsible for the creation of the First Order and Ben's fall to the dark side as Kylo Ren. It also turns out that Palpatine himself is the paternal grandfather of Rey, as he fathered a clone, whom he considered as his "son". However, his son was considered a failure, due to his lack of Force Sensitivity. Despite this, Palpatine allowed his son to escape from Exegol as he wanted his bloodline to live on through natural means. His son would later marry a woman and give birth to Rey eleven years later, following the Battle of Endor.
Palpatine's "son", who is in fact his non-identical clone.
Unlike Palpatine, his son refused to bear the idea of continuing his father's Sith legacy, so he and his wife hid themselves and their daughter away from sight by living as 'nobodies'. However, Palpatine was able to track down his son and daughter-in-law and had them murdered by an assassin named Ochi, who later died of starvation in the planet Pasaana. Fortunately, Rey's parents managed to hid away Rey to safety by abandoning her in Jakku before they died. Also, during his supposed absence, Palpatine has created a group of Sith cultists called the Sith Eternal, who were tasked in creating a massive fleet of Star Destroyers (known as the Final Order) that are much more effective than the Death Stars and Starkiller Base in destroying planets.
One year following Snoke's death, Palpatine broadcasted a message to the entire galaxy of his return. Upon hearing of this, Kylo finds a wayfinder in Mustafar detailing the location to Exegol, so he heads over there, hoping to finish off Palpatine in securing his power of the First Order. However, Palpatine reveals that he was the one responsible for the creation of Snoke and the First Order, and that he was manipulating Kylo into doing his bidding the entire time. After revealing the might of his new armada, Palpatine offers Kylo a chance to prove himself by tracking down Rey and kill her. Kylo accepts the task, though in secret, he plans to use this as an opportunity in having Rey join him to take down Palpatine.
Kylo was able to track down Rey, and he explained to her about her true lineage and what happened to her parents; he was even surprised to see that Rey had actually inherited Palpatine's skills in Force lightning after she accidentally destroyed a First Order transport ship with it. Despite this revelation, Rey refused to join Kylo in overthrowing Palpatine, and engaged into a fight against Kylo in the remnants of the second Death Star in Endor. However, Rey backed away in horror after injuring Kylo when he sensed Leia's death, and upon realizing what happened to Leia that distracted Kylo into letting his guard down, a remorseful Rey heals Kylo before escaping to Ahch-To, feeling that she's becoming ruthless as Palpatine.
Completely ashamed of the fact that she's the descendant of a cruel Sith emperor who has destroyed many star systems and murdered trillions of lifeforms, Rey resolves to remain at Ahch-to in self-exile. However, Luke's spirit convinced her to defy her lineage by tracking down and facing Palpatine in order to become stronger. Around the same time, Palpatine learns from Allegiant General Pryde that General Hux has betrayed the First Order by supplying information to the Resistance, so he had Pryde to execute Hux. Palpatine also usurps full control of the First Order from Kylo and orders the destruction of the planet Kijimi through a Star Destroyer (commandeered by Pryde) as a show of force. Realizing now that he has been used by Palpatine, Kylo (on the advice of the spirit of his deceased father Han) severs his ties with the First Order and the dark side of the Force, retaining his former identity as Ben Solo and determined to help Rey and the Resistance finish off Palpatine and his forces for good.
Using Ben's wayfinder and Luke's spaceship, Rey managed to find the location of Palpatine's base of Exegol before sending out the information to the Resistance. Upon confronting Palpatine at his throne with all the Sith Eternal cultists awaiting for her arrival, Palpatine revealed to Rey that he actually intends to be killed by Rey so that his spirit will be transferred into her, and that she will become the new Empress and secure full power over the galaxy. To ensure of this, Palpatine revealed that he tricked Rey into bringing the entire Resistance to a trap in Exegol so that his entire fleet armada could wipe them all out.
At first, Rey was tempted to strike down Palpatine in desperation to save her friends, but upon sensing that Ben has renounced his ties from the dark side and came by to help her, Rey realizes that there is hope and hands over one of her lightsabers to Ben, using their Force dyad to take down the Knights of Ren. Even better, the Resistance managed to bring a powerful armada (led by Lando himself) from other systems to take down Palpatine's fleet. Unfortunately, Palpatine anticipated this move and used his powers to restrain both Ben and Rey, weakening them by siphoning their Force dyad and rejuvenating himself in the process. Casting Ben into a bottomless pit out of spite against the Skywalker family for causing his previous death, Palpatine used his powers to unleash a series of Force lightnings into Exegol's atmosphere, putting the entire Resistance armada in chaotic peril. Though Palpatine is about to accomplish his ultimate goal for power and revenge as he cackles evilly in triumph, several spirits of the deceased Jedi (such as Luke, Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, Yoda, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Kanan Jarrus, Adi Gallia, Aayla Secura and Luminara Unduli) gave their strength to Rey, allowing her to make one final stand and distract Palpatine long enough to focus his wrath on her.
Palpatine is vaporized to his final death by his own Force lightning.
Sensing Rey's newfound strength given by the deceased Jedi, Palpatine decides to finish off his granddaughter as an example to secure his power over the galaxy. To that end, he unleashed his full power of Force lightning on Rey, though she was able to fend this off with her lightsaber. With all of his rage, Palpatine angrily declared that Rey is no match for him as he represents all of the Sith. Though Rey agreed with this, she declares that she represents all of the Jedi before using her powers to grab the other lightsaber, using both lightsabers to deflect the Force lightnings back on her evil grandfather. Realizing this too late as his powers have turned against him thanks to Rey's newfound strength, Palpatine screams in complete agony as the Force lightning vaporizes his flesh before his body explodes, killing him once again, but this time for good. Palpatine's death also resulted a massive explosion that killed all of the Sith Eternal cultists, bringing the threat of the Phantom Menace to an end once and for all and thus avenging all the fallen Jedi.
With Palpatine and his cultists finally dead, the Resistance was able to take down Palpatine's entire armada, thus putting an end to the Final Order. Palpatine's death led to Rey succumbing to her injuries inflicted by the Force lightning. Ben sacrificed himself by transferring his life to her body, causing the Skywalker bloodline to become extinct just as Palpatine desired. Nevertheless, as the entire galaxy celebrates over their victory against the First Order, Rey happily repudiates the Palpatine name by renaming herself as "Rey Skywalker" in honor of the sacrifices of Ben and his family, thus leaving Palpatine's goals for conquest and power in vain.