Showdown on Coruscant

The showdown on Coruscant was a confrontation that took place in the Supreme Chancellor's Suite of the Galactic Senate on the afternoon of 16:5:22 GrS in 19 BBY. It began after Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker informed Master Mace Windu that Supreme Chancellor Palpatine had revealed his identity as a Sith Lord to him. Windu then gathered a team of Jedi Masters consisting of Kit Fisto, Agen Kolar, and Saesee Tiin, and attempted to arrest Palpatine in his own Suite. Palpatine was initially polite to the group, but when they insisted on taking him into custody, he dropped his facade, activated his lightsaber, and lunged at them in a violent fury. All but Windu and Fisto quickly fell to the Dark Lord of the Sith and the three masters of the Force clashed. Palpatine eliminated Fisto as Skywalker was arriving. Windu alone cornered Darth Sidious, Palpatine's true identity, as Skywalker arrived in the room.

Skywalker pleaded with Windu not to kill the Chancellor. Sidious fired a volley of Force lightning at the Jedi Master, who deflected it back at him. The electric currents flowing through Sidious exposed the almost reptilian features of his true form. After the lightning faded, Windu raised his blade to strike a killing blow and Skywalker panicked, cutting off Windu's sword hand with his lightsaber. The writhing Sidious then blasted Windu with another torrent of lightning and sent him through the window—to his death—into the streets of Galactic City. Skywalker was ashamed of his participation in Windu's murder and knew that the Jedi would never allow him to remain with the Order; out of options, Skywalker knelt before Darth Sidious and was dubbed his apprentice, Darth Vader. Sidious later labeled this action a Jedi Rebellion, alternatively a Jedi Revolt, with the ultimate goal of taking over the galaxy. With this justification, Palpatine called for the extermination of the Jedi across all systems, beginning the Great Jedi Purge.

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