When we think of Emperor Palpatine, his cunning, ruthlessness, and unmatched command of the dark side are what come to mind.
But even someone as powerful as Palpatine had figures in the Sith Order he admired and learned from.
This is the story of one such Sith Lord whose legacy left a lasting impression on Palpatine.
Let’s dive into how this Sith Lord earned Palpatine’s respect.
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Darth Malgus
One such figure is Darth Malgus, a powerful Sith Lord from the Old Republic era.
Known for his immense strength, strategic genius, and unwavering drive for power, Malgus, born as Veradun, quickly ascended the ranks of the Sith Empire due to his extraordinary abilities.
Among his most significant accomplishments were the recapture of Korriban and the devastating assault on the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.
But these feats alone aren’t what earned Palpatine’s admiration.
Here are the key reasons why Palpatine regarded Malgus as one of the strongest Sith Lords in history.
Unyielding Ambition
Credit: starwars.fandom.com
Darth Malgus was renowned for his unwavering ambition and determination, always willing to go to any lengths to achieve his goals.
This relentless drive was a defining aspect of his character and aligned closely with Emperor Palpatine’s own ambitions.
One of the most significant relationships in Malgus’s life was with Eleena Daru, a Rutian Twi’lek slave he encountered on the Outer Rim world of Geonosis.
After killing her master, Malgus claimed Eleena as his own.
Over time, their relationship deepened, and they fell in love, fighting side by side in numerous battles during the Great Galactic War.
Eleena was not just a companion but a trusted ally who played a vital role in Malgus’s military campaigns.
However, Malgus eventually sees his love for Eleena as a potential weakness.
During the Sacking of Coruscant, Eleena was injured, and Malgus realized that his attachment to her could be used against him.
In a moment of ruthless clarity, he chose to eliminate this vulnerability by killing Eleena with a single, decisive strike of his lightsaber through her heart.
Strategic Brilliance Valued by Palpatine
Perhaps the most renowned example of Malgus’s strategic brilliance was the Sacking of Coruscant in 3653 BBY.
The Sith Empire, using peace negotiations as a cover, launched a surprise attack on the Republic capital. Malgus played a pivotal role in this operation, leading a strike team to invade the Jedi Temple.
His ability to coordinate and execute such a bold assault highlighted his strategic genius and mastery of psychological warfare.
Another significant achievement was Malgus’s recapture of Korriban, the ancient Sith homeworld.
Alongside his master, Darth Vindican, Malgus led an assault on the planet, successfully reclaiming it from the Galactic Republic.
How Darth Malgus’s Legacy Influenced Palpatine’s Vision for the Sith
And that’s just how powerful Darth Malgus was. His accomplishments were so significant that they were recorded in the book “The Rule of Two” by Darth Bane, the Dark Lord of the Sith, thousands of years later.
Eventually, Darth Sidious managed to acquire surviving excerpts from Malgus’s journals through an antiquities dealer and included them in his “Book of Sith,” a collection of Sith historical writings.
Sidious was deeply impressed by Malgus’s military prowess and strength in the dark side, qualities that would later captivate his apprentice, Darth Vader.
Vader, upon studying Malgus’s writings, found striking similarities between himself and the ancient Sith Lord, especially in their shared experiences of physical transformation and their relentless pursuit of power.
Both were recognized for their immense strength, might, and influence, which made Malgus a figure of great interest to Vader.
Delving into Malgus’s journals not only provided Vader with deeper insights into the dark side but also further fueled his own ambitions.