Palpatine

Sheev Palpatine, also known by his Sith title Darth Sidious, is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. Created by George Lucas, he appears in films from The Phantom Menace (1999) onward and in novels, comics, and television. Portrayed by Ian McDiarmid, the character is the central architect of the fall of the Galactic Republic and the rise of the Galactic Empire.

In the canonical timeline, Palpatine begins as a covert political figure from Naboo who manipulates events to become Supreme Chancellor. As Sidious, he orchestrates the Clone Wars to consolidate power, reveals himself as the Sith behind the war, and transforms the Republic into the Empire. He orders the purge of the Jedi and appoints Anakin Skywalker as his apprentice, Darth Vader. He is ultimately defeated when Vader turns on him to save his son, and Palpatine dies in Return of the Jedi.

In the sequel trilogy, Palpatine is revealed to have survived in some manner and returns in The Rise of Skywalker, guiding the First Order’s remnants and the Final Order from Exegol. The film portrays his survival as the result of dark science and Sith ritual, with his influence continuing to shape events. In the Legends (Expanded Universe) continuity, Palpatine pursues immortality through clones and related schemes, maintaining influence across generations.

Powers and abilities attributed to Palpatine include mastery of the Dark Side of the Force, political cunning, manipulation, and the use of Force lightning. As Darth Sidious, he operates as the mastermind behind a vast secret network, shaping galactic history through deception and strategic planning.