Unidentified Jedi youngling

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"Master Skywalker, there are too many of them. What are we going to do?"
―The youngling, unknowingly speaking to Darth Vader[2]

A human male Jedi youngling came to be trained by the Jedi Order sometime before the end of the Clone Wars. In 19 BBY, he was present at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant when the newly appointed Sith Lord Darth Vader led an attack against the Jedi. The young boy was slain by Vader within the Jedi Council Chamber, becoming one of the first victims of the Great Jedi Purge.

Biography

A short life

"First I want you to go to the Jedi Temple. We will catch them off-balance. Do what must be done, Lord Vader. Do not hesitate. Show no mercy."
―Darth Sidious, instructing his new apprentice to assault the Jedi Grand Temple[2]

The youngling was initiated into the Jedi Order at some point during the final years of the Republic Era and trained in the Jedi arts[3] during the Clone Wars, a pan-galactic conflict between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems. He was taught within the Jedi Temple on Coruscant shortly before the end of the war.[2] In 19 BBY,[1] the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker was turned to the dark side by Darth Sidious, who convinced the young man that all Jedi had become enemies of the Republic. He ordered Skywalker, now under the moniker of Darth Vader, to kill all members of the Order within the Jedi Temple's walls.[2]

The youngling directly before being killed by Darth Vader.

The youngling directly before being killed by Darth Vader.

Vader led the 501st Legion of the Grand Army of the Republic in a siege on the Temple, marching into the building and decimating the Jedi within. The youngling and several other initiates fled to the Jedi Council Chamber, hiding behind the chairs the Council members would sit in. Vader later entered the chamber, prompting the youngling, who recognized the Jedi hero, to reveal himself and ask Skywalker what they would do against the clone troopers that outnumbered them. To the child's shock, however, the Sith Lord ignited his lightsaber and proceeded to slaughter the younglings.[2]

Legacy

"All of the Jedi? Even the Younglings?"
"All of them"
―Darth Sidious and Vader discuss the extermination of the Jedi, including Younglings.[4]

Afterwards, Vader, visibly distraught, informed Sidious that all of the Jedi, including the Jedi Younglings, had been killed. Sidious, pleased, then ordered Vader to "go and bring peace" to his new Empire.[4]

Vader's murder of the youngling and his comrades would be uncovered by Jedi Masters Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi. After Sidious declared himself leader of a newly christened Galactic Empire, Kenobi informed Skywalker's wife, Padmé Amidala, of the crimes her husband had committed. Initially refusing to believe that he was capable of killing children, Amidala later confronted Vader on Mustafar, where she discovered that the man she loved had indeed fallen to the dark side.[2]

The youngling's death would go on to be one of many counted among the Great Jedi Purge, Sidious' quest to eradicate the galaxy of the Jedi Order, though some Jedi managed to survive.[2] By 18 BBY,[5] the renegade Padawan Ferren Barr had learned of Skywalker's betrayal, including his murder of the younglings, and kept files about the Purge within his R1-series astromech droid Endee. He later informed his disciples of the children's death at Vader's hand during the Invasion of Mon Cala.[6]

In 3 ABY,[7] while he was injured on Mustafar and hunted by Sith assassin Ochi of Bestoon on Sidious's orders, Vader had a vision of him killing the Younglings and informing Sidious about their deaths. After the vision, he declared that neither Sidious, nor he, nor anyone else would know peace ever again.[4]

Later in 3 ABY,[8] on Gabredor III, Vader and the former Naboo Handmaiden Sabé mounted an attack on the science colony of the corrupt Governor Tauntaza. During the attack, the pair freed several conscripts, who expressed guilt over working for Tauntaza. While Sabé reassured the conscripts they were innocent of Tauntaza's crimes, Vader experienced several flashbacks to his own violent actions, including the slaughter of the Youngling.[9]

Personality and traits

The youngling was a human male child with blond hair and blue eyes. He had fair skin and, shortly before his death, red cheeks. He was trusting of Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, looking to the older individual to guide the younglings against the clone trooper threat.[2]

Equipment

Like other Jedi initiates, the youngling dressed in standard Jedi apparel,[10] including a sandy-colored tunic and a brown belt and boots. He also had a Padawan braid draped from his head. When he was threatened by Lord Vader on Coruscant, he held a lightsaber.[2]

Behind the scenes

"The youngling scene – you know the one – was added during pick-ups."
―Pablo Hidalgo[11]

The youngling first appeared in the 2005 film Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, the final installment of the Star Wars prequel trilogy,[2] in a scene shot during pick-ups.[11] Although unnamed in Star Wars canon, he was identified as Sors Bandeam in the Legends continuity. He was portrayed in an uncredited performance by Ross Beadman, whose name served as the basis for the character's in-universe title.[12] The youngling scene has taken on a degree of infamy since release.[11]

Appearances

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Sources

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Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Jedi youngling's death is depicted within the film Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, the events of which Star Wars: Galactic Atlas dates to 19 BBY.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 StarWars-DatabankII Jedi Youngling in the Databank (backup link)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Darth Vader (2020) 7
  5. ↑ According to Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition, the occupation of Mon Cala took place a year into the Emperor's rule. Since Star Wars: Galactic Atlas dates the beginning of Imperial rule to 19 BBY, the occupation of Mon Cala took place in 18 BBY.
  6. ↑ Darth Vader (2017) 14
  7. ↑ Star Wars: Timelines
  8. ↑ Darth Vader (2020) 24 takes place after the Escape from Cloud City, which is dated to 3 ABY by Star Wars: Timelines. Additionally, Sliro Barsha dies during the events of Star Wars Outlaws, which Premium-Era-real Visit a Galaxy Far, Far Away with our Star Wars liveblog direct from San Diego Comic-Con 2024! on Popverse (backup link archived on August 5, 2024) dates to 3 ABY. As he is alive during Crimson Reign 5, and the events of Darth Vader (2020) 24 precede the comic, it must also take place during that year.
  9. ↑ Darth Vader (2020) 24
  10. ↑ Star Wars: The Secrets of the Jedi
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 TwitterLogo Pablo Hidalgo (@pabl0hidalgo) on Twitter (post): "The youngling scene – you know the one – was added during pick-ups." (original link is obsolete)
  12. ↑ YouTube Star Wars Exclusive Interview: Sors Bandeam on the Spicy Coconut Productions YouTube channel (backup link)
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