One of the darkest events in the Star Wars canon, Order 66 was a massively pivotal moment that changed the entire course of galactic history. Also known as the Jedi Purge, Order 66 marked the tragic end of the Clone Wars while also laying the groundwork for Star Wars' original trilogy. Although it was first seen in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Order 66 has since been depicted from multiple narrative angles and different planets across various Star Wars projects.
The culmination of a Sith plot a millennium in the making, Order 66 was a protocol enacted by Chancellor Palpatine (secretly Darth Sidious). Palpatine orchestrated both sides of the Clone Wars to bring forth the rise of his Empire and the end of the Jedi, and Order 66 was the masterstroke. Countless Jedi were taken completely by surprise with a galaxy-wide betrayal in the final days of the Clone Wars. Here's what happened after the issuing of Order 66 and how it affected the galaxy in its aftermath.
What Happened When Palpatine Issued Order 66
Shortly after Anakin Skywalker was corrupted to the dark side as Sidious' new apprentice, Darth Vader, Palpatine sent transmissions to clone commanders across the galaxy. The Sith Lord issued the execution of Order 66, a highly classified protocol identifying all Jedi as traitors to the Republic. Across multiple battlefields, clones turned on their Jedi generals, murdering countless Jedi who had been serving on the front lines.
Meanwhile, plenty of Jedi and their Padawans were still living in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Palpatine sent his new apprentice Anakin Skywalker - newly christened Darth Vader - in command of the 501st Legion. Palpatine's new apprentice proved his loyalty to his master, slaughtering nearly all the Jedi in the Temple, including the younglings. The command to slaughter Jedi, and indeed to kill any Force-sensitive, remained in effect through the Empire's rule. This became known as the Dark Times, signifying that the light of the Jedi had been extinguished.
Why The Clone Troopers Obeyed Order 66
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith appeared to suggest the clones simply obeyed Order 66 of their own free will. Star Wars has retconned Order 66, however, stripping the clones of their agency by revealing the Kaminoans who created the clones had implanted behavioral modification biochips in the brains of every clone. The Kaminoans believed this was for an emergency contingency, unaware it was actually a Sith plot to wipe out the entire Jedi Order.
The clones' inhibitor chips meant it was nearly impossible for them to disobey Order 66. The dark conspiracy was discovered prior to the end of the Clone Wars by the ARC Trooper named "Fives" after a fellow clone's biochip prematurely activated, resulting in a Jedi's death. However, Fives himself was tragically shot dead by Palpatine's Coruscant Guard before he could fully reveal what he had uncovered. This tragic story is told in Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 6, episodes 1-4.
Why The Jedi Didn't Sense Order 66 Coming
Under normal circumstances, the attuned senses of the Jedi would have allowed them to sense the dark emotions and ill intent of the clones, had the troopers played more of an active role in the Sith conspiracy with Order 66. However, the biochips essentially flipped a switch where the clones became nothing more than living weapons to carry out Palpatine's dark plan. Most Jedi Knights were caught completely unaware, becoming some of the final casualties of the Clone Wars which, itself was simply the means by which Palpatine turned the fallen Republic into his very own Empire.
How Many Jedi Died In Order 66?
There were 10,000 active Jedi Knights at the beginning of the Clone Wars. Although many died during the conflict, and others left, these numbers had not dropped significantly by their end. George Lucas imagined 50-100 Order 66 survivors, meaning the Jedi Purge would have killed roughly 99 percent of the Jedi. Naturally, only a few of these deaths have been shown in Star Wars canon, with scenes showing the executions of Jedi Masters such as Plo Koon, Stass Allie, Ayala Secura, Ki-Adi Mundi, Jaro Tapal, Shaak Ti, and Depa Billaba.
It's also important to note that many Jedi who might have survived the initial Jedi Purge with Order 66 were still hunted down and killed. This was largely carried out by Darth Vader and his Imperial Inquisitors, former Jedi seduced to the dark side by Palpatine. Order 66 and its aftermath resulted in thousands of Jedi deaths, eradicating all memory of the religion within a generation. According to Charles Soule and Steven Cummings' Crimson Reign #3, Palpatine issued codicils (amendments) to Order 66 that subsequently expanded its influence, with any Force-related items becoming contraband to be seized by the Empire.
How Many Jedi Survived Order 66
There were Jedi who survived Order 66, and some even became instrumental in the Empire's eventual fall, ensuring the legacy of the Jedi would live on despite Palpatine's best efforts. No two Jedi did this more than Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda. Both Jedi Masters became hermits to protect and one day train Luke Skywalker, the son of Anakin who ultimately redeemed his father in fulfilment of the Chosen One prophecy that the Sith would be destroyed.
The Mandalorian season 3, episode 4 confirmed a Jedi Master named Kelleran Beq survived Order 66, rescuing the youngling Grogu. As seen in Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor, the Jedi Cal Kestis, Cere Junda, and Eno Cordova all survived, becoming key players in a resistance movement during the Dark Times. The Obi-Wan Kenobi series referenced the survival of Jedi Master Quinlan Vos and several more Jedi, while young Padawan Caleb Dume would become Kanan Jarrus in Star Wars Rebels.
The former Jedi Ahsoka Tano also survived Order 66 as seen in the final episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, having removed the biochip from Commander Rex, which allowed the two of them to escape the 332nd Company. The two went on to become heroes of the Rebellion and beyond. However, it's worth noting that some of the Jedi who survived Order 66 only did so because of their corruption to the dark side, such as the Imperial Inquisitors or Taron Malicos, not to mention Darth Vader himself.
Every Time Star Wars Has Revisited Order 66
Following its initial appearance in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Order 66 has been featured in multiple on-screen projects in the new Disney era, particularly with its streaming series. Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 7 culminated in "The Siege of Mandalore," an arc concurrent with Revenge of the Sith that ultimately saw the clones turn on Ahsoka after Order 66 was issued (this story is told in The Clone Wars season 7, episodes 9-12). Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 1, episode 1 revealed the mutant clones known as the Bad Batch resisted Order 66, sparing Caleb Dume as they watched their follow clones slaughter Jedi. Jedi: Fallen Order revisited Order 66 in a flashback, showing Cal Kestis' escape as a Padawan.
Obi-Wan Kenobi featured another Order 66 survivor, Reva, who became an Inquisitor to seek revenge against Darth Vader. Flashbacks to Grogu's survival are shown in The Book of Boba Fett episode 5 began to explore Grogu's experiences through flashbacks, with The Mandalorian season 3, episode 4 showing more of his escape from the Jedi Temple with Kelleran Beq. Meanwhile, there have been countless mentions and references to Order 66 and the Jedi Purge in Star Wars novels and comics; it is likely to play a particularly important part in Delilah S. Dawson's Rise of the Red Blade, which explores how a Jedi Padawan became one of Darth Vader's Inquisitors.
How Order 66 Changed The Star Wars Galaxy Forever
In its aftermath, Order 66 definitively brought about the Dark Times and the rise of the Empire. As such, it was almost 20 years before any kind of substantial resistance was formed against Palpatine's Empire with the formation of the Rebel Alliance. During these Dark Times, many of the few remaining Jedi were in hiding, and even fewer chose to keep fighting. The centuries-old Jedi Order was eradicated, as was its legacy in the eyes of the Star Wars galaxy. This is what made Anakin Skywalker's children so important during the original trilogy, providing a new hope for the galaxy that would help bring balance back to the Force through Darth Vader's redemption.
