Since Qui-Gon Jinn used the new term for the first time in Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace, The term Padawan has come to mean a young pupil, apprentice, or learner of the Jedi arts. Nevertheless, what does “Padawan” mean to the Jedi?
Youngling, Padawan, Knight, Master. A Jedi is always developing and investigating their connection to the Force.
Let us explore the history and future of Jedi apprentices. From the inception of the Jedi Order until the formation of the New Republic, Force-users pass on their expertise to the next generation.
What Is A Padawan?
Padawan is the rank attained by a youngling when they are ready for more complex and demanding study. A Padawan is an apprentice partnered with either a Jedi Knight or Master for instruction. The majority of Padawans had a braid as a marker of their status within the Jedi order.
During the affluent period of the High Republic, the Jedi Temple was overflowing with Padawan students. In the common room of the Temple, they enjoyed one another’s company during a well-earned study break. Even Padawans sometimes joined in celebrations.
Padawans may teach one another a great deal, and when their masters are not there, they are significantly more capable.
Padawans have diverse roles. In temple groups, global teachings pertaining to meditation and lightsaber training were investigated.
Padawans got additional training and responsibilities specific to their masters. Reath Silas was thrilled to be assigned to investigate the Jedi Archives, while Bell Zettifar’s training emphasized riskier endeavors.
Throughout the great majority of Jedi history, Padawans were handpicked by their masters. Due to their obligations, Jedi Masters on the Jedi Council have seldom taken Padawans throughout the years, although a handful has done so.
The Council may have nominated Padawans during the last years of the Republic. Anakin Skywalker was appointed an apprentice during the Clone Wars so that he and his learner might learn from one another.
Jedi have selected students for special teaching at the Temple for millennia. A master never had many trainees at the same time.
There were no codified criteria or processes for selecting Padawans except the will of the Force. Others, like Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, possessed personalities that were nearly diametrically opposed.
Padawans often accompanied their masters on missions in order to acquire experience.
What Were The Jedi Trials?
Padawans judged ready to become Jedi Knights participated in the Jedi Trials, an initiation ceremony. The trials were meant to uncover the Jedi’s strengths and shortcomings via tests of physical and mental skills. The experiments differed from one another.
Padawans were normally young adults at the time of their trials, however, prodigies like the High Republic’s Vernestra Rwoh were as young as 15 years old. Obi-Wan Kenobi acquired the rank of Jedi Knight after completing a series of field-based tests.
Padawan In Star Wars History
During the era of the High Republic, it was usual for Padawans to be stationed alongside their master at a Jedi outpost in the Outer Rim Territories, where they administered justice in the unexplored territory.
However, they were sometimes assigned off-world duties that required them to leave the outpost. The Elphrona Outpost was where Padawan Bell Zettifar and his master, Loden Greatstorm, were stationed.
Supreme Chancellor Lina Soh instituted a hyperspace embargo in response to the Emergences, forcing the two Jedi to remain on Elphrona for some time when they were due to return to Coruscant.
During the Nihil pirates’ assault on Elphrona, Greatstorm persuaded Zettifar that he deserved to be a Jedi Knight. However, when Greatstorm was caught by the Nihil, Zettifar refused to take part in the Jedi Trials because he wanted his master to be present at the ceremony.
During the Clone Wars, the Jedi High Council started assigning Padawans to Jedi Knights rather than letting them select.
Throughout the length of the fight, Padawans were taught in combat and molded into officers of the Republic Military due in part to a scarcity of military commanders. Padawans were able to command clone army regiments and held the title of Jedi Commander.
Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine, who was actually the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, issued Clone Protocol 66 in 19 BBY, instructing the troopers to turn against their Jedi Generals and Commanders.
A few ex-Padawans who had survived Order 66 or had left the Jedi Order prior to the purge joined the fledgling Rebel Alliance after the foundation of the Galactic Empire.
This was true of Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker’s former Padawan, and Caleb Dume, Depa Billaba’s former Padawan, who later became Kanan Jarrus and took on Ezra Bridger as his Padawan.
Luke Skywalker sought to rebuild the Jedi Order in 4 BBY, after the death of Emperor Palpatine and
Rey, a scavenger from Jakku, traveled to the island in 34 BBY to join
After communicating with Yoda’s Force ghost, Skywalker’s trust in the Jedi Order was restored, and he proceeded to train Mara on Temple Island despite his doubts about the Jedi Order.
Final Thoughts
In the age of the New Republic, both the Jedi Order and the Jedi Temple on Coruscant vanished.
In a Padawan-like role, Leia finally taught Rey the ways of the Force. Leia forced her through hard obstacle courses, meditation, and the study of ancient Jedi texts to complete her training.
Rey continues to be schooled in the ways of the Force as she moves further in her Jedi training.
Brad Burnie is the founder of Starships.com. He loves all video game genres. In his spare time, he loves reading, watching movies, and gaming