We all know that Darth Sidious is often considered the most powerful Sith in Star Wars. He manipulated the entire galaxy from the shadows, wiped out the Jedi, and even found a way to cheat death. His mastery of the dark side was unmatched—at least, that’s what most people believe.
But what if I told you there was a Sith who was even more powerful? Someone who didn’t just rule an empire but consumed entire worlds, dominated the minds of thousands, and lived for over a millennium, bending the Force itself to his will. His power was so overwhelming that even Sidious, for all his cunning and ambition, couldn’t compare.
This Sith doesn’t come from the movies or current canon, but from Star Wars Legends, specifically the game Star Wars: The Old Republic. His name was Tenebrae, though history would remember him as Vitiate… and later, as Valkorion.
Valkorion Was Born as Tenebrae, a Force Prodigy With a Dark Streak
Let’s start at the very beginning. Valkorion was originally named Tenebrae, born to a peasant woman on the remote world of Medriaas. But there was nothing ordinary about this kid. His father was rumored to be a Sith Lord, and Tenebrae showed brutal Force abilities before he could even read. By age ten, he was already twisting people’s minds, torturing anyone who got in his way, and basically ruling his home village through sheer terror.
By his early teens, Tenebrae confronted and killed his own Sith Lord father, absorbing his power in the process. Word of his dark talents reached the legendary Sith Emperor Marka Ragnos, who named him “Lord Vitiate.” Even among Sith, Tenebrae was considered next-level dangerous.
Vitiate Achieved Immortality by Destroying the Planet Nathema
So, what does a megalomaniac Sith do with all that power? Vitiate decided to go bigger than anyone before him. He orchestrated the Ritual of Nathema, tricking 8,000 Sith Lords into joining a massive dark side ritual. The outcome? He sucked the life out of everyone, and everything—on the planet Nathema, turning it into a dead, Force-void wasteland. The ritual made him immortal, unaging, and basically untouchable by normal Force powers. The price? An entire world, and thousands of Sith.
He Ruled as the Secretive Sith Emperor for Over a Thousand Years
After the massacre, Vitiate claimed the title of Sith Emperor. He led the survivors into deep space, rebuilt the Sith Empire on Dromund Kaas, and began plotting galactic domination. But here’s the twist: he never really showed his face. For over a thousand years, Vitiate ruled in the shadows—possessing bodies, hiding his true nature, and manipulating history so nobody could challenge him.
This guy survived everything: Jedi crusades, Sith civil wars, even attempts on his life from his own Dark Council. All the while, he was obsessed with finding ways to become truly eternal and consume the entire galaxy’s life force. He saw everyone—Jedi and Sith alike—as pawns.
He Created a Second Empire and Became Valkorion, the Eternal Emperor
And just when you think he couldn’t get weirder, Vitiate secretly leaves the Empire behind and starts a brand-new gig as “Valkorion,” Emperor of the Eternal Empire in the Unknown Regions. Here, he plays the wise, almost benevolent ruler—building a hyper-advanced civilization on Zakuul, controlling an army of Knights and Skytroopers, and selling himself as a champion of order and progress.
But it’s all a cover. As Valkorion, he’s playing a long game, using Zakuul as a failsafe in case the Sith or the Republic ever get too close to beating him. He also creates a family—yes, a legit wife and kids—but he treats them with the same cold manipulation as everyone else, using them as pawns and testing their loyalty for his own amusement.
Valkorion Manipulated His Own Family for Power and Control
Valkorion wasn’t just content ruling from a throne—he mastered the art of splitting his consciousness, creating “Voices” and possessing hosts across the galaxy. He could jump between bodies, mess with people’s dreams, and even try to merge his essence with other Force users. He turned the Jedi Knight protagonist of The Old Republic into his personal nemesis, constantly appearing as a ghostly advisor, enemy, or sometimes even a weird mentor.
The Downfall: Finally Facing Consequences
In the end, Valkorion’s arrogance was his undoing. His plans to consume all life in the galaxy were stopped by an alliance of heroes—Jedi, Sith, smugglers, and outlanders alike. In a wild, multi-act confrontation, Valkorion’s spirit is finally destroyed inside the mind of the Outlander (the player character in Knights of the Fallen Empire/Eternal Throne). For the first time in over a millennium, the galaxy is truly free of his influence.
Even in defeat, Valkorion’s shadow lingers. He shaped Sith history, nearly broke the Republic, and created empires that lasted centuries. His rituals scarred planets, warped the Force, and turned entire generations of Sith into pawns for his schemes. Love him or hate him, there’s never been a Sith quite like Valkorion.