Mace Windu

Mace Windu (72 BBY - 19 BBY) is a fictional character in the Star Wars Universe. He was portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson in the Star Wars prequels ', ' and '.

History

Mace Windu was originally from the planet Haruun Kal, as revealed in Matthew Stover's novel Shatterpoint. After the death of his parents when he was a mere six months old, he was turned over to the Jedi Order. He was appointed to the Jedi Council at the age of twenty-eight, at the time the youngest Jedi ever to be promoted to the Council (although, years later, the unorthodox promotion of Anakin Skywalker, then 23, broke this record.) Throughout his Jedi career, Windu trained Jedi Purge survivor Echuu Shen-Jon, fellow council member Depa Billaba, and many more, though the latter two were the most notable of his padawans.

Related Topics:
Haruun Kal - Matthew Stover's - Shatterpoint - Jedi Order - Anakin Skywalker - Echuu Shen-Jon - Depa Billaba - Padawan

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In 32 BBY, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi appeared before the Council with Anakin Skywalker, a young slave from Tatooine, whom they claimed was the Chosen One, foretold of in Jedi prophecy, who would bring balance to the Force by destroying the Sith. Along with Yoda, Windu had grave misgivings, sensing a dark cloud around the boy's future, and forbade the two Jedi to train him. They relented, however, when Jinn was killed by Darth Maul during the Battle of Naboo, and Kenobi said that he would train the boy with or without the Council's permission. Yoda and Windu were greatly disturbed by the resurface of a Sith Lord, an enemy who had not troubled the galaxy in a millennia.

Related Topics:
Qui-Gon Jinn - Obi-Wan Kenobi - Anakin Skywalker - Slave - Tatooine - Chosen One - Prophecy - Sith - Darth Maul - Battle of Naboo - Sith Lord - Galaxy

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During the ten-year period in between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, Windu constructed a special electrum lightsaber with a rare amethyst-colored crystal.

Related Topics:
Electrum - Amethyst

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In the events leading up to the Battle of Geonosis, Windu discovered, to his great dismay, that his former mentor and friend, Count Dooku, had turned against the Jedi and kidnapped Kenobi, the now-adult Skywalker, and Padmé Amidala, the former Queen of Naboo turned senator. Windu led about 200 Jedi to rescue them from a Geonosian style execution administered by Count Dooku. Windu and several Jedi confronted Dooku on a balcony overlooking the mayhem and were attacked by his bodyguard, the bounty hunter Jango Fett. During the ensuing melee, Windu quickly beheaded Fett, who had already killed several Jedi, including Coleman Trebor. Windu then confronted his former mentor at the arena on Geonosis and engaged him in a duel that had no clear winner; Windu had a chance to kill Dooku and prevent the Clone Wars, but he couldn't bring himself to kill his old friend. He would later regret his inaction.

Related Topics:
Battle of Geonosis - Kidnap - Padmé Amidala - Senator - Geonosian style execution - Jango Fett - Coleman Trebor

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With the Clone Wars in full swing, Master Windu returned to his homeworld to track down his missing former Padawan, Depa Billaba. There, he experienced firsthand the horrors of war, and was pitted against the deadly Kar Vastor. Although Windu survived, the memories of his return to Haruun Kal haunted him for a long time afterward.

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During the early months of the war, a small dissident Jedi schism, led by Sora Bulq, asked Windu to talk with them alone on the planet Ruul. Members of the schism thought that acting as generals in the war was against the Jedi Code. However, both Mace and the renegade Jedi were betrayed by Bulq, who had joined Count Dooku already. Windu confronted both Bulq and Asajj Ventress on Ruul, but failed to destroy or stop either of them. Members of the schism agreed to return to the Order afterwards.

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As a Jedi General in charge of clone forces of the Grand Army of the Republic, he also fought against and defeated many Separatist incursions, including a powerful seismic tank on Dantooine.

Related Topics:
Clone forces - Grand Army of the Republic - Separatist - Seismic tank - Dantooine

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In the second season of ' (the George Lucas/Cartoon Network animated series), wherein events mostly take place just prior to Revenge of the Sith]]), Windu briefly fought General Grievous when the general and his forces overpowered the Jedi and captured Chancellor Palpatine. Windu crushed Grievous' chest with a powerful Force push, leaving the general with the asthmatic cough that would plague him for the rest of his life. Just as the Battle of Coruscant began, Windu battled Grievous blade-to-blade on top of a train, a duel that ended in stalemate.

Related Topics:
George Lucas - Cartoon Network - General Grievous - Palpatine - Asthma - Battle of Coruscant - Stalemate

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Episode III

In the closing years of the Clone Wars, the Jedi began investigating the mysterious and elusive Sith Lord Darth Sidious. This investigation led Windu to believe that the Sith Lord was in fact a member of Chancellor Palpatine's inner circle.

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In the novelization Labyrinth of Evil, wherein events also take place just prior to Revenge of the Sith, Windu led a squad of Jedi, Republic Intelligence and Clone Troopers to storm The Works, Sidious' lair, acting on intelligence that the squad had traced the Sith Lord back to 500 Republica, residence of the most powerful people in the galaxy.

Related Topics:
Labyrinth of Evil - Intelligence

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At Palpatine's insistence, Skywalker was placed on the Jedi Council as his representative. Largely at Windu's instigation, the Council ordered Skywalker to spy on Palpatine. Windu was also instrumental in refusing Skywalker the rank of Master, which greatly angered and embittered the young Jedi, and made him more susceptible to Palpatine's denunciations of the Jedi philosophy. Palpatine also manipulated Skywalker's fear for Padmé, now his wife and pregnant, by hinting that embracing the dark side was the only way to save her from dying in childbirth.

Related Topics:
Fear for Padmé - Pregnant

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When Skywalker returned to the Council and revealed that Palpatine and Sidious were one and the same, Windu decided to take action and arrest the Chancellor. Along with Masters Kit Fisto, Saesee Tiin, and Agen Kolar, he confronted Palpatine, who then killed Kolar, Tiin and, with a bit more effort, Fisto.

Related Topics:
Kit Fisto - Saesee Tiin - Agen Kolar

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Windu was quickly forced onto the defensive by Palpatine, but was able to gain ground in the duel by falling deep into Vaapad fighting style. As their battle progressed, it seemed as if Windu was slowly gaining the upper hand, as Palpatine seemed to tire. Windu was able to momentarily distract Palpatine with a kick to his head and disarm him.

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At the apparent moment of victory, however, Skywalker arrived and insisted that Windu not destroy the seemingly "defeated" Sith Lord. Using their disagreement as a distraction, Palpatine blasted Windu with torrents of Force lightning. Windu was barely able to deflect the bolts with his lightsaber, and redirected the energy back at Palpatine, horribly scarring Palpatine's face and body. Realizing that Palpatine was too dangerous to be kept alive (he controlled the courts and the Senate), Windu decided to kill him and destroy the Sith once and for all. However, before he could deal the killing blow, an emotionally confused and weak Skywalker (believing that Palpatine was the only one with the knowledge to save Padme) cut off the Jedi Master's Lightsaber hand. Windu, howling in pain, became a sitting duck for Palpatine, who "miraculously" sprang to life and blasted him with a full dose of Force Lightning, sending the Jedi Master hurtling out the window to his death on the city street far below.

Related Topics:
Force lightning - Senate

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Realizing the full enormity of his actions, Skywalker knew there was now no turning back, and so pledged himself fully to Palpatine's teaching, thinking it was the only way to save his wife Padme. Renamed Darth Vader by his new Sith Master, Skywalker slaughtered scores of Jedi (including Youngling children) and began a reign of terror that would bring about the birth of the Galactic Empire, as well as the near extinction of the Jedi Order.

Related Topics:
Reign of terror - Galactic Empire

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