Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of the Star Wars universe’s most popular Jedi.
He’s one of a few Jedi in the Canon that fans watched train as a Padawan under a Jedi Master, become a Jedi Knight, and ultimately a Jedi Master, before becoming one with the Force.
Obi-Wan became a Jedi Master in 22 BBY, after successfully training Anakin Skywalker to Knighthood. During his time as a Jedi Master, the Clone Wars were ending, as were the days of the Republic and the Jedi Order.
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Early Training
Born on the planet Stewjon, Obi-Wan Kenobi displayed his Force-Sensitivity and was taken into the Jedi Temple on Coruscant at age three.
Like most young Jedi, he trained under Grand Master Yoda before rising to the rank of Padawan to continue his training under Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn.
Early Padawan Training
During his Padawan days, he and Jinn embarked on several missions before the events of The Phantom Menace. One notable mission came when the Jedi Order tasked them with protecting Duchess Satine Kryze on Mandalore when insurgents threatened the planet.
It was during this time Obi-Wan fell in love with Satine, something that went against the Jedi Code. Unlike his future Padawan, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan did not give into temptation and ended up leaving Satine. However, leaving her became his biggest regret.
Before the events of The Phantom Menace, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn embarked on a few more notable missions. These included a mission to Teth in 40 BBY to investigate disappearing agricultural shipments.
Also in 40 BBY, he accompanied Qui-Gon to Pijal to end a political dispute. Following the dispute on Pijal, they were sent to Bri’n, whose priestess, Th’er, found herself in a dispute with a Metal Clan.
Rather than fight, Qui-Gon opted to escape the planet with Th’er, despite her objections.
In their last major acts before The Phantom Menace, Obi-Wan assisted Qui-Gon in helping Yoda rescue a Force-sensitive child from a group of Pirates.
The Phantom Menace
Obi-Wan still trained as a Padawan by the time the events of The Phantom Menace rolled around. And although Qui-Gon Jinn felt Obi-Wan was ready to face his Jedi trials and become a Jedi Knight, he had one more outing with his soon-to-be former Master.
During the early events in The Phantom Menace, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gonn were to negotiate with the Trade Federation, who blockaded the planet Naboo. The negotiations were “quick,” as Qui-Gon projected. However, they rescued Queen Amidala and intended to take her Coruscant.
Unfortunately, their ship needed repairs, prompting an emergency landing on Tatooine. Obi-Wan remained on board while Qui-Gon and Padamé searched for the part needed to repair the ship.
However, Qui-Gon sent the data of a Force-sensitive boy’s blood sample back, and Obi-Wan discovered the boy’s midi-chlorians were the highest ever recorded.
He then met Anakin Skywalker, who would become his future Padawan and later, enemy. After a mysterious Sith Lord named Darth Maul chased them from Tatooine, they landed on Coruscant and Obi-Wan accompanied Qui-Gon to present Skywalker to the Jedi Council.
The Council refused Qui-Gon’s request to train Anakin, with Yoda denying he could have two apprentices. Here, Qui-Gon stated Obi-Wan was ready to face his trials. And Obi-Wan later proved himself ready during the epic duel with Darth Maul.
While Maul killed Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan’s anger and grief propelled him to defeat the Sith Lord. At the time, Obi-Wan thought he killed his Master’s assassin, but he would later be proven wrong.
Becoming a Jedi Knight
Following Kenobi’s heroics during the Battle of Naboo, Yoda promoted the 25-year-old to the rank of Jedi Knight in 32 BBY. Yoda also approved Obi-Wan to train Anakin, albeit reluctantly.
He and Anakin grew close during their early days. Obi-Wan led Anakin on many missions, a few of which he never would have survived had his new Padawan not been there, such as when he fell into a nest of gundarks.
Obi-Wan later led Anakin on a mission to Dallenor. Which nearly became Anakin’s last, as he garnered second thoughts about his Jedi training and returned his lightsaber to Obi-Wan. However, a distress signal from Carnelian IV prompted both Obi-Wan and Anakin to intervene.
During the chaos, Anakin again rescued Obi-Wan before sending a signal for Jedi and Republic forces to take over.
Yoda then tested both Obi-Wan and Anakin when he feigned being held hostage on Glee Anselm. Upon locating Yoda, he informed the duo they passed. This was the final major event during the early days of Obi-Wan’s time as a Jedi Knight.
Separatist Crisis
In 22 BBY, the 35-year-old Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin embarked on a mission from Senator Palpaine to protect Padamé Amidala after an assassination attempt.
Later, Kenobi went solo to Kamino, where he discovered the clone army. Here, he was told the bounty hunter Jango Fett served as the clones’ original template. Obi-Wan wished to interrogate Jango, but the latter tried to flee with his son, Boba.
Obi-Wan was too quick, and he ended up dueling the bounty hunter on the ship’s platform. Jango won when Obi-Wan fell, only to latch onto a bridge and hit Jango’s ship with a tracking device.
The device allowed Obi-Wan to follow the ship to Geonosis, where he discovered a horde of Trade Federation ships. He caught word of Amidala’s aggressors via a Separatist Council meeting. However, the Separatists caught and imprisoned him.
Here, the Jedi Knight faced a revelation from Sith Lord Count Dooku, who “warned” him that another Sith Lord, Darth Sidious, was secretly controlling the Republic. Naturally, Obi-Wan did not believe Dooku, who knew what Obi-Wan’s reaction would be before his revelation.
Clone Wars
Obi-Wan discovered the Separatists also captured Anakin and Padamé when they tried to rescue him. The capture led to the First Battle of Geonosis, when Mace Windu led a team of Jedi into the arena while Yoda reinforced with the clone army.
Obi-Wan and Anakin caught up to and engaged in a duel with Count Dooku. The Count won, despite Yoda’s interference, and fled the vicinity.
Become a Jedi Master
Obi-Wan became a Jedi Master shortly after the Clone Wars ignited in 22 BBY. He also became the High Jedi General in the Grand Army of the Republic during this time, and he took part in countless missions during the Wars.
Perhaps his most notable came toward the end of the Age of the Republic when he and Anakin were first sent to rescue Senator Palpatine (Darth Sidious). Unknown to Obi-Wan at the time, Palpatine was the Sith Lord responsible for controlling both sides of the war.
During the rescue attempt, Obi-Wan and Anakin dueled Count Dooku, who once again gained the upper hand. However, Anakin overpowered the Count, and adhered to Palpatine’s order to kill him, further leading Anakin down a dark and dangerous path.
Final Clashes and Exile
During the events in Revenge of the Sith, Obi-Wan’s friendship with his old Padawan became strained.
Things further deteriorated between the two following Anakin’s appointment with the Jedi Council where he requested the ability to represent Palpatine after the Council refused to grant him the rank of Jedi Master.
Obi-Wan also stated to Anakin the Council granted him a seat only so he could spy on Palpatine, which Anakin considered treason.
Kenobi later clashed with and defeated General Grievous in an epic duel. Not long after, Palpatine, now revealed as Darth Sidious, relayed Order 66, which Obi-Wan barely survived.
Not long after, he learned of Anakin’s betrayal to the Dark Side and his subsequent slaying of the younglings at the Jedi Temple. He confessed his former apprentice’s actions to Padamè, who initially refused to believe him.
However, when she went to confront Anakin, now known as Darth Vader, Obi-Wan snuck onto her ship and dueled the fallen Jedi. Kenobi emerged victorious, but was unable to slay Vader, despite the latter’s turn to the dark side.
He then took Padamè, where she gave birth to Luke and Leia Skywalker. Obi-Wan took Luke while Bail Organa took Leia, and would watch over him until the time was right to take on the Empire.