POLL: Who’s Your Favorite Hero in Star Wars: The Clone Wars?

Times of intergalactic peace are few and far between in that far, far away galaxy we all know and love. Whether it’s Separatists causing havoc in the Outer Rim™ or the Empire extending its dark grip over the Republic, Star Wars™ has no shortage of battle-heavy history. But one Star Wars event stands out in particular: the Clone Wars™.

Rather than a single battle or duel, this event lasted years and had ongoing repercussions throughout Star Wars lore. From Star Wars: The Clone Wars™, we also met many new heroes who would become beloved favorites, as well as old friends who cemented their place in fans’ hearts.

Which of the Republic’s heroes are your favorites? Let us know below before diving into the history of the Clone Wars!

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Star Wars: The Clone Wars History

It’s not easy to pinpoint one instance which brought about the Clone Wars. Many converging forces as well as several important decisions set the Clone Wars into motion. These wars would completely alter the entire galaxy’s history, throwing the balance of the Force off track for decades.

Darth Sidious’ Rise to Power

If there’s any one person to blame for the Clone Wars, it’s Darth Sidious™, formerly known to the galaxy as Senator Sheev Palpatine™ and later as Emperor Palpatine™. On the outside, Palpatine was an ambitious senator from Naboo™ who eventually took control of the Galactic Republic when he was elected Supreme Chancellor. Behind the scenes, he was actually Darth Plagueis’™ apprentice, whom he would betray before taking on his own Sith™ apprentice, Darth Maul™.

Over the years, Sidious orchestrated the crumble of the Galactic Republic and reshaped it into what would become the Galactic Empire. With his new apprentice, Count Dooku™ (AKA Darth Tyranus™, a former Jedi Master™), Sidious caused thousands of star systems to leave the Republic under Dooku’s leadership. This new coalition was known as the Confederacy of Independent Systems, and their droid army posed a major threat to the weakened Republic.

Order 66: The Great Jedi Purge

While the Separatists and Dooku increased their power, the Republic needed stronger defense. Fortunately, a member of the Jedi Council™ had a vision of the impending war a decade earlier and secretly started a deal with the Kaminoans™ to engineer a cloned army for the Republic. Unfortunately, this Jedi, Master Sifo-Dyas™, was also friends with Dooku — and Dooku assassinated Sifo-Dyas before he could see his plans through. Dooku and Sidious then stepped in to covertly fund the cloning project.

Under their sinister eye, the Kaminoan clone army was modeled after Mandalorian™ bounty hunter Jango Fett™, the father of Boba Fett™. The Sith duo also made sure (nearly) all clones were implanted with a brain chip containing the Order 66™ code. Once the Republic and the Jedi had no choice but to employ the clone troopers™ in their fight against the Separatists, the end of the Republic was all but guaranteed. The Battle of Geonosis™ was the first battle fought with clone troopers but they would be used for four more years.

Anakin Skywalker Turns to the Dark Side

Darth Sidious set his sights on a third apprentice: the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker™. He manipulated the young man into submitting to his own dark fears. As a result, Anakin killed Dooku, became Sidious’ new apprentice, and betrayed the Jedi Order.

With Anakin on his side, Darth Sidious enacted Order 66. Clone troopers across the galaxy turned on their Jedi leaders and assassinated the Force-wielders. With Order 66, the Clone Wars came to a startling close. The Jedi were dead and the Empire (along with Darth Vader™) was born.

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Without the Clone Wars, we would have never witnessed the rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker or the return of the Sith. Their legacy lives on in the memories of our treasured heroes as well as the infamous stormtrooper™ design.

So, who did you pick as your favorite Clone Wars hero? Keep the conversation going with other Star Wars fans over at side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!