I’ve seen this question come up a lot, and honestly—it’s one of those deep-cut Star Wars timeline debates that really makes you think. We all know that by the time of Attack of the Clones, Count Dooku is fully in league with Darth Sidious, operating as Darth Tyranus and pulling the strings behind the Separatist movement.
But what about during The Phantom Menace?
So the big question is—was he already working with Sidious during that time? Or did he turn afterward, once Qui-Gon was killed and the Jedi’s flaws became undeniable?
Well, after digging into both Legends and Canon sources, I’ve found the answer—and yes, Dooku was already working with Palpatine before and during the events of The Phantom Menace. Here’s the full breakdown.
From the Star Wars Canon Explain
In Tales of the Jedi, specifically the episode titled “The Sith Lord,” we get one of the clearest confirmations that Count Dooku was already working with Darth Sidious during the events of The Phantom Menace. The episode overlaps directly with the timeline of The Phantom Menace—we even see Dooku walking through the Jedi Temple right after Qui-Gon’s encounter with Darth Maul on Tatooine.
In that same episode, Dooku speaks with Jedi Master Yaddle and expresses frustration that the Jedi Council isn’t taking Qui-Gon’s warning about the Sith seriously. After Qui-Gon’s death, we see Dooku visiting the ruins of the Great Tree in the Temple gardens, clearly grieving. But what really seals it is the moment when Yaddle secretly follows Dooku to an abandoned hangar—only to find him meeting with Darth Sidious.
That’s the moment it all becomes clear: Dooku had already betrayed the Jedi before TPM ended. The two talk about Maul and Qui-Gon, and Dooku even accuses Sidious of letting Maul kill Qui-Gon. When Yaddle tries to stop them, Dooku kills her—solidifying his place as Sidious’s next apprentice.
What makes this moment hit even harder is Yaddle’s attempt to bring him back. She pleads with Dooku to stop and return to the Jedi. But instead of accepting her offer, Dooku responds with a chilling line: “I’m afraid it is too late.” That one sentence confirms that Dooku had already crossed the line. He had made his choice long before Qui-Gon’s death—and now, he was too far gone.
So yes, Dooku was working with Sidious during the Phantom Menace timeline. He wasn’t yet Darth Tyranus publicly, but behind the scenes, he had already stepped into the Sith plan. He just hadn’t revealed himself yet.
Star Wars Legends Reveal Dooku Was Already Planning to Leave the Order and Join Sidious Before The Phantom Menace (32 BBY)
In Star Wars Legends, we get another confirmation that Dooku was already working with Sidious while still in the Jedi Order—specifically in the novel Darth Plagueis by James Luceno. In the book, Dooku is shown to be aware of Qui-Gon’s mission to Tatooine and even knows about the discovery of a boy with the potential to be the Chosen One. By this point, Dooku is already growing frustrated with the Jedi Council, feeling they’ve lost their way and no longer value the lives of their own.
One moment really stands out: Dooku reflects on the tragic mission that resulted in the death of several Jedi Padawans, including Komari Vosa. He tells Palpatine, “Military action was called for, not Jedi intercession. But no matter, the Council complied with the request and now Komari Vosa and the others are believed to be dead.” His frustration only grows as he continues, “At Galidraan she fought brutally against the Mandalorians, almost as if in an attempt to impress me. As a result, I told the Council she wasn’t ready for the trials and Jedi Knighthood. Compounding their initial error in dispatching Jedi, Master Yoda and the rest have refused to send reinforcements to search for survivors.”
Eventually, Dooku comes to a breaking point, telling Palpatine, “I declined to be a member of the Council in order to devote myself to diplomacy, and look how that has turned out. The Republic is sliding deeper into chaos.” And finally, he delivers the line that marks his intent to walk away from the Jedi for good: “If one more Jedi dies because of indolence on the part of the Republic and moral equivocation on the part of the Council, I will leave the Temple and refuse to look back.”
Through this conversation, we get a clear picture of why Dooku was so frustrated with the Jedi Order. He believed the Jedi had become too entangled in the politics of a crumbling Republic. Instead of acting as true guardians of peace, the Order had turned into an extension of the Senate—making decisions that put Jedi lives at risk for political gain. Dooku saw this firsthand, and it deeply affected how he viewed the Council. In his eyes, the Jedi had lost their way, and their growing loyalty to the Republic over their own principles led to unnecessary deaths and moral decay.
As you continue through the book, you’ll also see that Dooku was still part of the Jedi Order during the events of TPM. He was fully aware of Qui-Gon’s mission and even knew about the discovery of a young boy named Anakin Skywalker. When Dooku learned that Qui-Gon believed this boy might be the Chosen One from Jedi prophecy, he passed the information directly to Palpatine.
Here’s how the scene plays out in the book:
Dooku: “On the contrary, as you say. Since I’m interested in learning more about the possibility of alliance.”
Palpatine: “You’re resolved to leave the Order? Even more than when we last spoke. Because of the Council’s decision to intervene at Naboo?”
Dooku: “I can forgive them that. The blockade has to be broken. But something else has occurred. Qui-Gon returned from Tatooine with a former slave boy. According to the boy’s mother, the boy had no father.”
From this, it’s clear—Dooku was still serving as a Jedi at the time of The Phantom Menace, and he was already secretly communicating with Palpatine. The fact that he knew specific details about Qui-Gon’s mission, including Anakin’s origins, confirms he was still inside the Order while aligning with Sidious in the shadows.