Order 66 is one of the most tragic events in the Star Wars franchise, as it saw the deaths of countless Jedi across the galaxy. Indeed, there’s a reason why it is also referred to as the Great Jedi Purge (primarily in Legends continuity). Before Order 66, there were roughly 10,000 active Jedi in the galaxy. Afterward, however, only about one percent of that number remained.
While a horrific tragedy, to be sure, Order 66 was far from an overwhelming success. Sure, there’s only about one percent of the Jedi left in the galaxy, but one percent of 10,000 is still 100 Jedi. That means the door has been left wide open for Star Wars to introduce no shortage of Jedi who survived Order 66, and it’s something the franchise has not shied away from in the past.
While fans know of a few Jedi who survived the Great Jedi Purge (like Obi-Wan, Kanan, and Ahsoka), there are plenty more where they came from. Here are 10 Jedi that Star Wars fans likely didn’t know survived Order 66.
10
Grandea
Grandea was a Jedi Knight who fought in the Clone Wars with an aptitude for one Force-ability in particular: the Jedi Mind Trick. In fact, it was her skill in that specific ability that helped her survive not only Order 66, but also for many years after. When the Clone Troopers attacked, Grandea used the Jedi Mind Trick to force the clones to attack each other, allowing her to escape.
Grandea continued using the Jedi Mind Trick throughout her life, surviving through the Empire’s reign, the era of the New Republic, and even the tyranny of the First Order. Her latest appearance has her going toe-to-toe with Kylo Ren in Star Wars: Legacy of Vader, and only time will tell if her Jedi Mind Trick skills will save her this time.
9
Kirak Infil’a
Kirak Infil’a survived Order 66 simply because he was not an active member of the Jedi Order at that point in time. He was an active Jedi from the High Republic era to just before the Clone Wars began. However, just because Kirak survived Order 66 didn’t mean he was safe. In the early days of the Empire’s reign, Darth Vader made it his mission to find and kill all surviving Jedi, and Kirak Infil’a was one of his first targets.
Kirak Infil’a will go down in Star Wars history as one of the few Jedi who actually almost killed Darth Vader, as he reduced Vader to a broken jumble of mechanical parts before throwing him off a mountain. Unfortunately, Kirak didn’t finish off Darth Vader, and Vader killed him shortly after his initial defeat.
8
Ferren Barr
Only a padawan during the Clone Wars, Ferren Barr barely escaped execution, and vowed to enact vengeance upon the Empire. Barr positioned himself as the advisor to the King of the Mon Calamari and orchestrated a conflict between the planet and the Empire as a way to undermine Darth Sidious and Darth Vader, and ultimately kill the Sith rulers of the galaxy.
In the end, Ferren Barr was killed by Darth Vader. However, his actions laid the groundwork for Mon Calamari’s eventual involvement in the Rebel Alliance, which proved crucial in the Rebellion’s ultimate victory.
7
Iskat Akaris and Tualon Yaluna
Iskat Akaris and Tualon Yaluna are Jedi survivors of Order 66 who are two sides of the same coin, as both former Jedi Knights joined the Empire as Inquisitors. Not only that, but the two formed a romantic relationship, which was utterly forbidden to members of the Inquisitorius. Once Vader found out, Akaris and Yaluna tried to murder their Sith master and escape the Empire with their lives, just as they escaped Order 66.
Unfortunately, Iskat Akaris and Tualon Yaluna were no match for Darth Vader, who murdered both of them in arguably the worst way imaginable. Vader used the Force to telekinetically make Akaris and Yaluna stab each other with their lightsabers, allowing them to die just as they chose to live: together.
6
Mill Alibeth and Vivert Stag
Mill Alibeth and Vivert Stag were still younglings when the Clone Wars broke out, and hadn’t even participated in The Gathering yet (which is when Jedi Initiates travel to Ilum to find their kyber crystal and ultimately get their lightsabers). Once Order 66 happened and the Galactic Republic became the Empire, Alibeth and Stag flew under the radar since they weren’t active Jedi Knights at that time.
In an effort to stay hidden, Mill Alibeth and Vivert Stag became bounty hunters and remained active through the reign of the First Order. The two Order 66 survivors even nearly crossed paths with Rey and Chewbacca, as they and another bounty hunter tried to turn them over to Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, thankfully to no avail.
5
Tensu Run
Tensu Run was a Jedi Knight who fought in the Clone Wars and survived Order 66, and he nearly played the role that Luke Skywalker would later fill as the new hope for the Jedi Order and the galaxy at large.
Immediately following the rise of the Empire, Tensu Run tried to reestablish the Jedi Order while undermining the Empire at every turn. He bombed Imperial outposts, freed those who the Empire had imprisoned, and even tangled with the Inquisitors on numerous occasions.
While Tensu Run was nearly the new hope that Luke Skywalker would eventually become, he was tragically murdered by Darth Vader himself, as Vader knew exactly how detrimental someone like this could be to the then-new Empire.
4
Elan Rast
Elan Rast was the Jedi Master of Tensu Run, who completed Run’s training following the tragedy of Order 66. It was Rast who gave Run the skills and confidence he needed to pursue rebuilding the Jedi Order so soon after it was snuffed out. Not only that, but Rast was a key figure in this Jedi-led pre-Rebellion against the Empire, ultimately being killed during his service.
The ship belonging to Rast, along with a few other Jedi survivors, was boarded by the Grand Inquisitor, who had been ordered by Vader himself to find and kill Tensu Run. When Run wasn’t there, the Grand Inquisitor questioned Rast. But the Jedi Master gave the Sith nothing, and the Grand Inquisitor killed him as a result.
3
Shadday Potkin (Legends)
Similar to Elan Rast and Tensu Run in Star Wars canon continuity, Shadday Potkin attempted to lead a Jedi rebellion against the Empire in Star Wars’ Legends continuity in the months following the Great Jedi Purge. Potkin and a few other Jedi lured Vader into a trap after broadcasting the fake location of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Unfortunately, Potkin’s prideful confidence in her power would lead to her brutal downfall.
Darth Vader not only murdered Potkins with his bare hands, but he also killed all the Jedi who dared try to catch him in a trap. In fact, this massacre created the infamous legend of Darth Vader that rippled throughout the galaxy, positioning him as a seemingly unbeatable Jedi killer.
2
Zao (Legends)
Unlike most of the other Jedi survivors of Order 66, Zao didn’t try to rebuild the Jedi Order or even seek vengeance against the Empire for the overwhelming evil it brought upon the galaxy. Instead, Zao more or less remained the same after surviving Order 66 as he was before and during the Clone Wars.
Zao was a pacifist through and through, and while he was proficient in lightsaber combat (despite being blind), he used his mastery in the Force in another (decidedly peculiar) way: cooking.
The meals Zao made for people, whether good or bad, reflected their mental states and helped them get through whatever challenges they faced. Zao traveled the galaxy dressed as a beggar, cooking meals for people that would help them through times of struggle, and only followed the guiding push of the Force.
1
Dass Jennir (Legends)
Dass Jennir was a general during the Clone Wars who evaded the Clone Trooper attackers after Order 66 was executed by Emperor Palpatine. However, Jennir didn’t quietly go into exile or lead a failed rebellion against the Empire just as so many other Jedi survivors had done. Instead, Jennir continued to act as a Jedi general, crippling the Empire wherever he could while working with other military forces from several systems.
Arguably, Jennir’s greatest stand against the Empire happened during the Battle of Half-Axe Pass, though that did end in tragedy for his forces and nearly cost Jennir his life. From there, Jennir did whatever he needed to do to survive, but ultimately allowed the Force to guide him on his journey through the Star Wars universe post-Order 66.
- Created by
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George Lucas
- First Film
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Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
- Cast
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Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- TV Show(s)
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The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
- Movie(s)
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Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
- Character(s)
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Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
