If you’ve ever wondered why the Jedi Temple Guards couldn’t protect the heart of the Jedi Order during Order 66, you’re not alone. The Jedi Temple was supposed to be the safest place for any Jedi, guarded by some of the most skilled and dedicated warriors in the galaxy.
But when everything fell apart, these legendary defenders were nowhere to be found. Let’s take a closer look at what really happened to the Jedi Temple Guards that night
The Jedi Temple Guards Were Killed by Anakin Amid Confusion
When Order 66 went down, the Jedi Temple on Coruscant was stormed by the 501st Legion, led by Darth Vader, who was still freshly turned from Anakin Skywalker.
The Jedi Temple Guards were there, doing everything they could to protect the temple. But even with all their training and courage, they just didn’t stand a chance against the sheer numbers of clone troopers and Vader himself.
That’s why you never see any Jedi Temple Guards show up later in the story—they were already gone, wiped out during the attack led by Anakin and his clones.
As soon as Vader and the 501st marched into the temple, the guards became the first line of defense. They fought hard, but the odds were impossible. Their final stand showed just how dedicated they were, but it also meant they didn’t survive.
By the time Anakin reached the younglings, it was clear: every last Jedi Temple Guard had already been killed by the 501st Legion under Vader’s command.
As further evidence, one of the canon novels actually gives us a point of view from a Jedi Temple Guard standing at the front entrance during the siege. In Star Wars: Force Collector by Kevin Shinick, we follow Karr Nuq Sin, a Force-sensitive teen from Merokia living in the New Republic era. Karr experiences visions of the past whenever he touches certain objects, and one of those visions comes from a Temple Guard’s mask.
When Karr touches the mask, he sees through the eyes of the Guard during the attack. The Guard stands watch as Anakin—someone he recognizes—approaches the Temple with the entire 501st behind him. There’s confusion, not fear. The Guard quietly mutters Skywalker’s name, still trusting him, right before Anakin—now Darth Vader—ignites his lightsaber and cuts him down.
Here’s how the novel describes it:
“Not a wall. Men. Troopers. Clone Troopers marching in formation, but divided in the middle by something black. The men moved with purpose. With precision. More like a ceremonial procession than a battle. A parade, maybe? Or an exercise? Karr could only make out their movement. The colors were sharp and then dull. Karr focused hard, concentrating for all he was worth, and left two fingers on the mask daring it to give him more and silently promising that he could take it.”
The vision continues:
“The guard wearing the mask saw them approach. But there was no feeling of danger. There was only familiarity. Karr squinted to see more, but he couldn’t. But the guard saw who led the troopers. The figure in black. The driving force. Somehow, Karr knew that, knew also that the guard was confused. Under his breath, behind the mask and for only himself to hear, except Karr could hear it, too, the guard said, ‘Skywalker?’ Skywalker ignited his lightsaber and cut the Temple Guard down.”
The Jedi Temple Guards got Lured Away
When we watch Star Wars Rebels, there’s a powerful moment where Kanan Jarrus, along with Ahsoka and Ezra, heads to the Jedi Temple looking for a way to beat the Inquisitors and the Empire. While they’re there, we see Kanan go through a vision that puts him face-to-face with the Jedi Temple Guards.
I always remember how intense that challenge felt—Kanan having to duel the Temple Guards, not knowing what was real and what was a lesson from the Force. But the real surprise comes when one of the Guards takes off his mask, and it turns out to be the Grand Inquisitor. That twist hit hard, because it revealed the Grand Inquisitor was actually a former Jedi Temple Guard.
We get even more insight into what happened to the Temple Guards during Order 66 from Henry Gilroy, one of the main writers on The Clone Wars. He explained that the Grand Inquisitor didn’t just fall to the dark side—he also tricked his fellow Guards, leading them away from the Temple during the chaos of Operation Knightfall and killing them himself. So, when we see the Grand Inquisitor hunting Jedi, we know we’re watching someone who turned on his own brothers in the Order and helped wipe them out.
