Darth Plagueis wasn’t just any Sith Lord; he had almost figured out how to cheat death itself, using the Force in ways that no one else had before. He was incredibly powerful and knew a lot about the dark side.
But then there was Palpatine, Plagueis’s own apprentice. Aware of the Sith’s Rule of Two, which says there should only be two Sith at a time — a master and an apprentice — Palpatine saw a different future for himself.
He didn’t just want to follow the rule; he believed he could be a better Emperor of the galaxy than Plagueis ever could. Thinking he had more to offer, Palpatine decided it was time to take Plagueis’s place and seize the power for himself.
Darth Plagueis the Wise
Darth Plagueis was one of the most powerful Sith Lords we’ve ever heard of, a true master of the dark side and the one who mentored Sheev Palpatine.
His story is a major piece of Sith history, built on an endless pursuit of knowledge and power. Plagueis and Palpatine worked side by side, obsessed with unlocking the secrets of immortality. That obsession led Plagueis to experiment with midi-chlorians, pushing the boundaries of what was possible with the Force.
But for all his wisdom and mastery, Plagueis was so consumed by his quest that he failed to see the real danger—his own apprentice. He trusted Sidious completely, believing they were working toward a shared vision of ruling the galaxy. That trust was his downfall.
Plagueis was so committed to their plan that he reportedly went without sleep for 25 years, thinking that his knowledge of the Force made him untouchable. But as Sidious later admitted, “You were far too trusting, Plagueis. No true Sith can ever really care about another.”
In the end, Plagueis’s greatest mistake wasn’t underestimating the Jedi—it was underestimating the Sith.
The Fall of Darth Plagueis & The Night Palpatine Became the Master
We all know that the Sith Rule of Two means one master trains an apprentice, only for that apprentice to eventually overthrow them. And that’s exactly what happened the night before Palpatine became Supreme Chancellor.
That night, Palpatine and Plagueis sat together in Plagueis’ apartment, celebrating their victory over the Republic with glasses of Sullustan wine. Everything had gone according to Plagueis’ plan—at least, that’s what he thought. But as the night went on, Palpatine kept refilling his master’s glass, making sure he drank more and more until he was completely intoxicated.
Plagueis, despite his discipline, had no chance to resist. He had promised himself that he would never sleep until he ruled the galaxy, a vow he had kept for 25 years. But that night, under the influence of alcohol, exhaustion finally caught up with him.
When Plagueis finally fell asleep, Palpatine hadn’t initially planned to kill him. He was about to walk out of the room when something stopped him—the dark side itself. It was as if the Force whispered to him, urging him to act.
At that moment, he knew what had to be done. Turning back, he unleashed a surge of Force lightning, not to kill Plagueis outright, but to jolt him awake. What followed wasn’t a quick execution—it was a slow, deliberate display of power. Palpatine taunted his master, mocking his entire life’s work as he kept shocking him over and over again.
With every surge of lightning, Palpatine made sure Plagueis knew exactly what was happening. His body convulsed, his breathing device cracked under the relentless attack, and the Sith Lord who had spent decades plotting to rule the galaxy suddenly found himself powerless. Plagueis had prided himself on control, on always being the one in charge. But now, as he gasped for air, all he could do was watch as his apprentice claimed everything for himself.
