Summary
Darth Sidioushas been one ofStar Wars’ biggest and baddest villains from the beginning, but a new addition to aStar Warscharacter’s backstory has redefined what that might actually mean. Known in the original trilogy as the galaxy’s fearsome and shadowy Emperor, Palpatine’s past and quest for power are explored in greater detail in the prequels. The soon-to-be Emperor was then a humble senator from the planet of Naboo, climbing his way to Chancellor. By the end of the trilogy, he is fully revealed to be the Sith Lord responsible for all the Skywalkers' troubles.
Darth Plagueis made his live-action debut inThe Acolyte, prompting his official character background to be expanded. TheStar Warsdatabank’s official information on Darth Plagueis includes a specific mention of his traitorous pupil, Darth Sidious, saying, “Plagueis was killed by his apprentice, the former Sheev Palpatine.” This curious turn of phrase used in his backstory suddenly sheds a new light on who the Emperor really was before he became Darth Sidious.
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Star Wars Hints Palpatine “Died” When Darth Sidious Was Born
An Old Identity Makes Way For A New One
The use of the words “the former” before Palpatine’s full name implies that Sheev Palpatine no longer exists in earnest. The idea that a good man has to be eliminated before the dark side can take hold of him is not a new one. Darth Vader has made many on-screen comments alluding to his belief that Anakin Skywalker was dead, that he had to perish to make way for his new Sith persona.Star Wars’ choice of words in Darth Plagueis’ character bio implies that the same is true of Palpatine.
The man that Palpatine once was had to “die” in order for him to become Darth Sidious.
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the SithfollowsAnakin’s fall to the dark side, and the separation between Anakin and Vader is clear. The power of the dark side is so palpable that it can trigger a change within a person, both emotionally and physically. It’s easy to see how such a change could make a person feel like they’ve forfeited their previous life in exchange for that new power.
Though his role inStar Warspaints him as pure evil, the intentional use of the word “former” when referring to him as Sheev Palpatine seems to create the idea that he is much more complicated than that. The man that Palpatine once was had to “die” in order for him to become Darth Sidious. Just like Anakin Skywalker,Palpatine seems to consider there to be two sides to his identity. Once he was entrenched in the dark side enough to slay his own master, Palpatine appears to have committed to his aspirations as Darth Sidious.
Even Palpatine Wasn’t Always Lost To The Dark Side
His Choices Led Him To The Sith
Though he’s known throughout the franchise as the despicable and evil Emperor, the specification that Sidious was onlyformerlySheev Palpatine sheds light on his past that has yet to be fully explored in the franchise. It’s hard to imagine Palpatine as anything but the tyrannical Sith Lord, but he clearly had a life apart from that at one point in his past. When he chose to take on the mantle of a Sith Lord and become Darth Sidious, he left Sheev Palpatine behind. From then on, the persona of Sheev Palpatine became a mask for Sidious to hide behind.
While Palpatine must have felt the darkness within him all along, this separation of his identities drives home the fact that he made choices that allowed him to become the Sith Lord who eventually took control of the entire galaxy.Star Warsis very keen on the idea that no man is born evil, a sentiment highlighted by Darth Vader’s twisted and tragic story of loss and eventual redemption. Palpatine was no different, though he had many more years devoted to studying the ways of the Sith from his master, Darth Plagueis.
Sheev Palpatine might not have been trained with the Jedi before falling to the dark side, but he still once had the capacity to choose what kind of man he would be. Training in the ways of the Sith was a conscious choice made by Sheev Palpatine at some point in his life, but he wasn’t always the evil Emperor introduced inThe Empire Strikes Back. Fully becoming Darth Sidious came at a price, and whatever humanity still existed within Palpatine was buried beneath his thirst for power. All that was left was Darth Sidious.
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Revenge Of The Sith Stripped Away The Mask Of Palpatine
He Fully Embodied His New Identity
During theStar Warsprequel trilogy, Sheev Palpatine still existed in the eyes of theGalactic Republic. That was how he was able to secure the power and influence he used to create the Empire despite working against both the Republic and the Jedi in secret. With his dual personalities, he was able to control both sides of the Clone Wars without even those closest to him catching onto his true movements.Using his old name despite having already given it up for his new role as a Sith Lord provided him with the perfect camouflage.
Leaving Sheev Palpatine behind allowed him to fully embrace his ambitions, ruling the Empire however he liked.
Disguised as a regular politician, no one could have guessed Palpatine’s true motives until it was too late. Even when the Jedi did become suspicious of Palpatine, they still had no actual proof of his treachery. By the time of the Empire, however, Darth Sidious had become his only identity. Leaving Sheev Palpatine behind allowed him to fully embrace his ambitions, ruling the Empire however he liked. After all, once he’d secured the most powerful position in the galaxy, there was no need to concern himself with optics.
The persona of Sheev Palpatine was more than a secret identity that he could shed at the end of his scheme. Even in a physical manner of speaking,Palpatine’s appearance changesdrastically after the Jedi confront him about his true identity. When he was introduced into theStar Warsfranchise, the Emperor’s face was incredibly sinister and distinct. This provided the perfect opportunity for the prequels to elaborate on how he rose to power without drawing attention from the Jedi, but it also served as a physical representation ofDarth Sidiousletting go of Sheev Palpatine once and for all.
Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious
The senator for Naboo, Palpatine rose to power and influence during the dying days of the Republic. In reality, his public persona was just a mask; he was really Darth Sidious, greatest of the Sith Lords, and he used his political skills and Machiavellian cunning to bring down both the Republic and the Jedi. Palpatine ruled his Galactic Empire for decades, until he was betrayed by his apprentice, Darth Vader. Even this wasn’t enough to stop the Emperor, however, as he was resurrected by his followers - only to be defeated once again.
