The Star Wars universe has its fair share of tragedies, but the Expanded Universe (now called Legends) material was the source of plenty of them. Throughout the wealth of content that had spanned over two decades, fan favorites had died, entire worlds had perished, and darkness crept into every corner of the Star Wars universe.
Some of the saddest tragedies took place in the pages of books, comics and other material that continued the adventures of a galaxy far, far away. There are several grueling and tragic moments in Legends material that caused big shockwaves throughout the fandom.
10 When Chewbacca Died
During the first few months of the Yuuzhan Vong invasion, the planet Sernpidal served as one of the locations for the initial battle between their forces, and the Republic. At the time, little was known of the Vong, except that they possessed bio-weapons of natural origin that were more than a match for the Republic’s technology.
Their first order of business was to use a dovin basal to draw the moon Dobido towards the planet’s surface. Evacuations took place, but Chewbacca died in the process in one of the most shocking losses in all of Legends history. Han Solo was permanently affected by the loss, and it took him years to get over it.
9 When Anakin Solo Died
When the Vong invasion was in full swing, the Republic became aware of a dangerous creature known as a Voxyn, which was especially proficient at hunting and killing Jedi. Anakin Solo led a strike team consisting of a group of young Jedi to slaughter the Voxyn Queen.
He was eventually overwhelmed by Yuuzhan Vong forces, fighting many of them before dying in one last display of pure Force power. This was an incredibly tragic death that would have farther reaching negative implications for the Solo family as time went on.
8 When Jaina Kills Her Twin Brother
After so much death, destruction and pain from the conflict with the Yuuzhan Vong, Jacen Solo was already at the breaking point. Under Vong imprisonment, he was subjected to physical and psychological torture that left him susceptible to the grey-area teachings of Vergere, a former member of the Jedi Order, and Sith double agent.
Eventually, these influences culminated in Jacen falling to the dark side of the Force and becoming Darth Caedus. His path of destruction was too much to bear, and it got so bad that his twin sister Jaina had to step in and duel him to the death. She eventually won the battle, having lost two of her brothers due to war.
7 The Death Of Mara Jade
When Jacen Solo fell to the dark side and became Darth Caedus, his goal was to save the galaxy from itself. He saw himself as a benefactor working on behalf of its best interests, as he believed the fragile Galactic Alliance would inevitably tear itself apart due to infighting and other conflicts.
A number of individuals stood in his way, including Luke Skywalker’s beloved wife Mara Jade Skywalker. He cut her down unceremoniously, which left a deep wound on his entire family. Luke and Mara’s son Ben tried to take matters into his own hands, slaying the Sith Lady Lumiya in the process.
6 Coruscant Falls To The Yuuzhan Vong
For years, Coruscant was known to Star Wars fans as the most famous of planets, next to Tatooine. It was the seat of both the Republic, and the Empire for thousands of years, and was trademarked by its entire surface being covered in technology and man-made structures.
Coruscant eventually fell to the Yuuzhan Vong, and became the most destructive battle in the planet’s history. It was then terraformed, and turned into Yuuzhan’tar, named after their long lost homeworld. The fall of the planet signaled the end of the New Republic, and shifted the war in a dark direction.
5 When Ulic Qel-Droma Is Murdered
The Jedi Knight known as Ulic Qel-Droma had a rough life, and it ended on an even sadder note. He began as an esteemed Jedi who eventually fell to the dark side of the Force, and joined forces with the fearsome Exar Kun. He waged a path of destruction before finally being cut off from the Force, and rejecting the dark side.
When it was all over, he spent a decade trying to live in peace and find redemption for his actions. His efforts were rewarded with murder when a spacer seeking fame shot and killed him so that he could claim he killed a major intergalactic war criminal. Nonetheless, he Qel-Droma remained steadfast in rejecting the dark side.
4 When Ganner Rhysode Sacrificed Himself
This Jedi Knight became a hero and a legend due to the method of his own demise. He trained with Luke Skywalker’s New Jedi Order, but broke away to fight the Yuuzhan Vong during the early days of the invasion. He led a mission to try and rescue a captured Jacen Solo from the clutches of the Vong, which is where his fate ultimately lay.
While Jacen sabotaged the World Brain, Ganner held off hundreds of Vong who were attempting to stop them. Jacen escaped, while Ganner literally became one with the Force in that instant, dying for a worthy cause. His sacrifice was so honorable that the Yuuzhan Vong revered him, giving him the immortal title “the Ganner.”
3 When Kyp Durron Went On A Rampage
Kyp Durron was one of the first new recruits of Luke Skywalker’s fledgling Jedi Order, and he was a man of great skill and promise. Unfortunately, his hatred of the Empire sent him down a dark path which was eventually capitalized on by the spirit of the centuries-long dead Sith Lord Exar Kun.
Under his tutelage, Durron fell to the dark side and stole a superweapon known as the Sun Crusher. He attacked a number of Imperial targets and murdered his own brother in the process. It was a sad moment for both the Order, and Durron himself, though he would repent for his actions after Kun was defeated.
2 The Tragedy Of Etain Tur-Makan
It’s hard to imagine a Jedi falling for a Clone Trooper, of all people, but that’s precisely what happened to Etain Tur-Makan. During her missions, Etain fell in love with Omega Squad member Darman, otherwise known as RC-1136. They escaped the war, became pregnant, and were married in secret as per Mandalorian tradition.
She was later killed post-Order 66 when a group of Padawans was discovered at a security checkpoint by Imperial forces. During the scuffle, she instinctively jumped in front of a Padawan’s lightsaber blade which was meant for a Clone Trooper, and took the brunt of the hit. Darman nearly lost his composure, but managed to keep it together, even though he missed his own wife’s funeral when it was all over.
1 When Leia Learns About Her Father
Princess Leia’s only interactions with her father were antagonistic and hostile. For years, neither one realized that they were father and daughter. Leia had seen the evil that Darth Vader was capable of inflicting, including his condoning of the destruction of Alderaan by the first Death Star.
In the novel Tatooine Ghost, Leia learns much more about her family lineage, including the path Anakin Skywalker walked from his time as a young boy, to the Jedi Knight he would later become. Anakin finally made contact as a Force ghost with Leia, though she was reluctant to forgive him for his past deeds. It was a heartbreaking moment for the Skywalker family.
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