We all remember the tense moment in Revenge of the Sith when Mace Windu strides into Chancellor Palpatine’s office, flanked by three of the Jedi’s finest: Kit Fisto, Agen Kolar, and Saesee Tiin.
The Jedi are there on a mission—arrest Palpatine, who they’ve finally uncovered as the Sith Lord manipulating the galaxy from behind the scenes.
But what starts as a calculated confrontation quickly turns into a massacre, as Palpatine draws his crimson lightsaber and, with terrifying speed, cuts down the Jedi Masters one by one.
It’s a moment that leaves us wondering: was Agen Kolar—the first to fall in this scene—the first Jedi Palpatine ever killed himself?
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Was Agen Kolar the First Jedi Palpatine Ever Killed?
So, here’s the big question—was this really the first time Palpatine killed a Jedi with his own hands? Believe it or not, yes. Canon suggests that moment in Revenge of the Sith was the first time he actually struck down a Jedi himself.
Up until then, Palpatine had always played the long game. He was the ultimate puppet master, pulling strings and orchestrating Jedi deaths from the shadows. Whether it was Maul, Dooku, or Grievous, he always had someone else handling the dirty work. The entire Clone Wars? Just one big setup to weaken the Jedi without ever having to get directly involved.
But that moment in his office changed everything. When Mace Windu and his team showed up to arrest him, Palpatine didn’t have time for deception or manipulation—he had to act. And for the first time, he did it himself.
That’s what makes his attack on Agen Kolar such a huge moment. It wasn’t just a shocking twist—it was the moment Palpatine decided to stop hiding and fully embrace his power. No more proxies, no more pawns. If he didn’t strike first, everything he had planned for years could have unraveled right there.
Palpatine’s Killing of the Jedi Marks the Beginning of the Sith’s Rise
Palpatine kills Kolar almost effortlessly, followed by Saesee Tiin and Kit Fisto shortly after. By the time he’s facing Mace Windu alone, we’re left with a clear impression: this is a Sith Lord at the height of his power.
The casual way he dispatches these Jedi Masters is both terrifying and eye-opening. He’s not simply a mastermind pulling strings—he’s also a warrior who can hold his own against the best of the Jedi Order.
For the first time, the Jedi know the full extent of Palpatine’s deceit and his power. And yet, it’s already too late.
By killing Agen Kolar, Palpatine sends a clear message: the Jedi are no longer safe, not even within the corridors of the Republic they’ve sworn to protect.
Kolar’s death isn’t just the start of Palpatine’s assault on these Jedi—it marks the beginning of the brutal Jedi Purge that will soon sweep across the galaxy with Order 66.
Agen Kolar’s Death Wasn’t the First Time a Jedi Died in Front of Palpatine
In Revenge of the Sith, we see Agen Kolar, Kit Fisto, and Saesee Tiin quickly fall under Palpatine’s blade.
But did you know this wasn’t the first time Palpatine watched a Jedi die right in front of him?
Back in The Phantom Menace, after Qui-Gon Jinn’s death at the hands of Darth Maul, we get a hint of Palpatine’s earlier encounters with fallen Jedi.
Tales of the Jedi expands on this backstory by showing us a significant moment where Palpatine witnesses a Jedi’s death up close.
After Qui-Gon’s death, Count Dooku, who was still part of the Jedi Order at the time, began questioning his loyalty.
In a secret meeting between Dooku and Sidious, they are discovered by Yaddle.
In this tense encounter, Palpatine simply watches as Dooku faces a critical choice: remain loyal to the Jedi or pledge himself fully to the Sith.
Choosing the latter, Dooku kills Yaddle right in front of Palpatine, marking one of the first times Sidious witnessed a Jedi’s death firsthand.
