In his early days, Sidious was known as Sheev Palpatine, a humble senator from Naboo who rose to become Emperor of the Galactic Empire. But what made these seemingly benign politicians become dark Sith Lords?

Palpatine, before becoming the feared Darth Sidious, was a senator who earned the trust and respect of many in the Galactic Republic. The Star Wars saga, particularly its prequels, explores his rise to power, from his time as a senator to the revelation of the Sith Lord responsible for the Skywalker family’s disasters. However, a small detail in the official history of Darth Plagueis sheds new light on this character.

The past of the Sith

In the Official Star Wars Databank, it is mentioned that “Plagueis was killed by his trainer, the former Sheev Palpatine.” This use of “the old” implies that the person we met somehow “died” when Shev adopted his new identity as Darth Sidious.

The phrase “former Sheev Palpatine” indicates a radical change in his identity. This change is not unique in the Star Wars universe. For example, Darth Vader has always maintained that Anakin Skywalker “died” to make way for the new Sith personality. The choice of words in Plagueis’ biography suggests that something similar happened to Palpatine.

In order to fully embrace the darkness of the Sith side of the senator, he had to leave Shev behind. In Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, we see Anakin’s fall to the dark side, and it is clear how this evil force can change a person both emotionally and physically.

The duplicity of the senator

Throughout the saga, Palpatine is presented as the embodiment of pure evil. However, the deliberate use of the word “ancient” suggests that the story is more complex. Before Darth became Sidious, Palpatine was a man with a different life. Becoming a Sith Lord involves leaving behind his former self, as Anakin did when he became Darth Vader.

It’s hard to imagine Palpatine as anything other than a tyrannical emperor, but he was once a man who made decisions that led him to the dark side. Although he always felt the darkness inside him, the separation of his identity was reinforced by the fact that he consciously chose to become the Sith who took over the galaxy. Unlike Anakin, Palpatine had years of experience under Darth Plagueis, allowing him to carefully plan his rise to power.

Rise to power

During the preliminary talks, Sheev was still seen as a respectable politician. This allowed him to accumulate power and influence without arousing suspicion. Using his old name served as the perfect cover, allowing him to operate in the shadows while dominating both Clone Wars.

Abandoning Palpatine allowed him to fully embrace his ambitions, ruling the Empire at will. Acting like an ordinary politician, no one suspected until it was too late.

Physical and subjective change

The Senator’s face changes dramatically after he confronts the Jedi, the physical manifestation of his transformation into Darth Sidious. The Emperor’s face was already hideous and distinct when he entered the franchise, allowing the predecessors to justify his rise to power without the attention of the Jedi.

The complexity of Palpatine’s character reminds us that even the most terrifying villains have origins and transformations that lead to who they are. The use of the “old Palpatine” not only retells the story, but also expands our understanding of the struggle between light and dark in the Star Wars universe. Palpatine’s duality, his choices, and his complete transformation into Darth Sidious are examples of how the power of the dark side can consume whatever it desires.