Jedi academy

For other uses, see Jedi Academy.

The on as seen in the final years of the Old Republic — The Jedi Temple on Coruscant as seen in the final years of the Old Republic

Jedi academies were established to train Force-sensitive beings accepted into the Jedi Order in the ways of the Force.

Description

Overseen by the Council of First Knowledge, each academy was governed by an advisory Council appointed by their superiors on Coruscant. Mainstreaming the majority of teachings at the Temple, certain practices were permitted to vary from world to world. However, at all sanctioned academies, a group of Jedi Masters would instruct Initiates to the Order in the ways of the Force. The size of the school varied from world to world: some as small as a single clan of younglings, others as large as the main academy housed within the Jedi Temple of Coruscant. Many academies had been established during the Old Sith Wars and were located in the Galactic Rim. Some were located on or near Force wellsprings or places significant to the Order like crystal caves or nexuses of dark-side energies that needed constant monitoring.^[1]

The terms "academy" and "enclave" were sometimes used interchangeably, though traditionally academies were educational facilities focused on training Jedi, while enclaves provided living quarters and support for fully trained Jedi. Many enclaves maintained their own local councils and, in some cases, included attached academies.^[2]

In addition to the traditional academies established by the Order, the Exploration Corps maintained several spacefaring mobile academies such as the Chu'unthor so that roaming the galaxy and exploring new worlds could be achieved while still teaching traditional doctrine.^[1]

History

After leaving Tython, the early Jedi settled on the planet Ossus, which became the center of Jedi lore and teaching. Ossus remained a vital hub for the Jedi Order until it was devastated by a supernova induced by the Sith during the Great Sith War. Following the destruction of Ossus, the Jedi relocated to Coruscant, where they had already pledged themselves to the ideals and security of the Galactic Republic. There, they established a Jedi Temple and a Jedi enclave. However, the teaching of Padawans remained largely decentralized.^[3]

During the times of the Jedi Civil War, Jedi training continued to occur at academies and enclaves scattered across the galaxy. Although these institutions generally recognized the authority of the Jedi High Council on Coruscant, they often operated independently and promoted their own interpretations of the Force. Over the centuries, as the fortunes of the Jedi rose and fell alongside those of the Republic, many of these distant centers were destroyed, abandoned, or closed. Eventually, after the end of the New Sith Wars, Jedi training and organization became increasingly centralized around the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.^[2] ^[3]

By the fall of the Galactic Republic in 19 BBY, many of the ancient academies had been shut down for decades, with the Council of First Knowledge preferring the central teachings of the Coruscant Temple. After the dissolution of the Order during the Great Jedi Purge, all orthodox Temples and academies were routed and burned in order to prevent any more Jedi from learning the secrets of the Force. However, the Galactic Empire's choke hold on Force-education did not last and the Order was reformed following the conclusion of the Galactic Civil War. When Grand Master Luke Skywalker began to expand his Order from a single class to the size of the old Order, he opened several old academies, as well as new facilities to promote growth within the Order.^[1]

Warning: The following section is non-canon within the Star Wars Legends continuity. It contains information explicitly released under the Infinities brand and/or confirmed to be non-canon by the author or Lucasfilm. Information exclusive to this section did not happen in the "proper" Star Wars Legends continuity.

In an era of peace approximately 200 years before the Battle of Yavin,^[4] extensive facilities were in place within the Jedi Temple academy for training. These included extensive student dorms, a cafeteria, and numerous training rooms for activities such as gym class and mock lightsaber dueling. Students trained in a wide variety of subjects under Jedi Masters such as Yoda and Mr. Garfield. Visits from parents and family were occasionally permitted, and students were allowed spring and summer breaks.^[5]^[6]