The Jedi Temple is one of the most sacred places of the Jedi Order.
It is guarded by some of the most skilled and formidable Jedi, known as the Jedi Temple Guards.
But if they were so powerful and dangerous, where exactly were they during Order 66?
I’ve discovered the reason why the Jedi Temple Guards weren’t able to defend the Jedi Temple during Order 66.
Let’s dive in and explore the details.
The Jedi Temple Guards got Lured Away
In the series Star Wars Rebels, Kanan Jarrus, along with Ahsoka and Ezra, were searching for a way to defeat the Inquisitors and the Empire.
They went to the Jedi Temple seeking answers. We won’t dive into all the answers they found, let’s focus on the Jedi Temple Guards.
During their search, Kanan faced a challenge involving the Jedi Temple Guards.
He had to engage them in a lightsaber duel.
In the end, one of the Jedi Guards removed his mask, revealing himself to be the Grand Inquisitor.
This was a surprising revelation, showing that the Grand Inquisitor was once one of the Jedi Temple Guards.
This suggests that during Order 66, the Grand Inquisitor fell to the dark side and might have been the one to lure out the other Jedi Temple Guards.
This theory was confirmed by Henry Gilroy, known for co-writing the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
He speculated that the Grand Inquisitor tricked the other Jedi Temple Guards, leading them away from Operation Knightfall and subsequently killing them.
Obvious Reason, The Jedi Temple Guards Were Killed by Anakin
During the execution of Order 66, the Jedi Temple on Coruscant was attacked by clone troopers of the 501st Legion, led by Darth Vader, formerly Anakin Skywalker.
The Jedi Temple Guards were present during this assault, fulfilling their duty to protect the temple.
Despite their skills and bravery, the Temple Guards were overwhelmed by the clone troopers and Vader.
The reason we don’t see any Jedi Temple Guards later is that they had already perished under the assault of Anakin and his 501st Legion.
When Anakin, now Darth Vader, led the 501st Legion into the Jedi Temple, the fate of the guards was sealed.
These guardians were the first to face the attack, and their commitment to defending the temple, even against overwhelming odds, highlighted their bravery but also led to their demise.
Since Anakin was able to reach the room full of younglings, it is evident that all the Jedi Temple Guards had been eliminated by Darth Vader’s 501st Legion.
