Execute Order 66. Yes my Lord/Yes, Lord Sidious/It will be done my lord.
„
~ Emperor Palpatine executing Order 66 while Clone trooper is obeying the order
Order 66, also known as Clone Protocol 66, was a series of contingency orders of the Clone Troopers of the Grand Army of the Republic. The order was programmed into the clones through inhibitor chips, in order to compel them to view the Jedi Commanders and Generals of the Republic military as traitors that needed to be executed. The order was formally carried out by Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine (also known as Darth Sidious) in 19 BBY at the very end of the Clone Wars and led to the destruction of the Jedi Order and the deaths of the majority of the Jedi and this very act led to the rise of the Galactic Empire with Sheev Palpatine as its founding "Emperor".
Order 66: In the event of Jedi officers acting against the interests of the Republic, and after receiving specific orders verified as coming directly from the Supreme Commander (Chancellor), GAR commanders will remove those officers by lethal force, and command of the GAR will revert to the Supreme Commander (Chancellor) until a new command structure is established.
„
~ Log description of Order 666.
Order 66 was one of the various orders that was programmed into the minds of all clone troopers that were bread as one of the various contingency orders that were programmed into the minds of the clone troopers that were to be carried out upon its execution. It branded all Jedi Knights and members of the order as traitors and were to be executed as well. The command was placed within the inhibitor chips that all clone troopers had placed within them in order to make sure that all active clone troopers were to carry them out without hesitation. The issuance of the command by Palpatine would activate the chip, which would immediately brainwash the clones into turning against the Jedi without question. The order came after Order 65 which branded the Supreme Chancellor as a traitor and was to be removed and executed as well.
History
First Report
Tiplar was killed when Order 66 was prematurely activated within Tup as seen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
The first report of Order 66 being carried out was in 19 BBY when clone trooper Tup, had his chip malfunction and carried out the order prematurally. During the Battle of Ringo Vindo, Tup saw Jedi General Tiplar and walked towards her where he put up his weapon, and betrayed and shot her without hesitation. Her death led to the loss of Republic momentum and forced the Republic forces to withdraw from the combat zone. Tup was later brought onboard a ship to be brought back to Kamino for investigation but was captured by the Separatist forces but later liberated by the Republic. ARC trooper Fives and 501st Captain Rex had launched their own private investigation and later found out what was really happening. Fives got the chip out of Tup, but it was too late, as the malfunctioned chip deteriorated Tups health, and Tup died shortly after the removal of the chip. Fives continued his investigation after Tup's death, and discovered that the chip was implanted in every clone trooper in the Grand Army of The Republic. He later attempted to tell Anakin Skywalker about what was going on but he was shot by Fox before he could do so and Rex became one of the only few clones to know about the order before its ordered execution.
Execution of the Order
After the attempted coup by Mace Windu and the Jedi Council against Palpatine, he would later use it as a justification to carry out the order citing it as an act against the Republic. After Anakin Skywalker came in and Palpatine made him his apprentice, he would later order the execution of Order 66 to Commander Cody of the 212th Attack Batallion while he was on Utapau. The issuance of the order activated the inhibitor chip implanted in Cody, who was brainwashed into believing the Jedi were traitors to the Republic that needed to be executed. He followed through with the order and ordered an AT-TE to fire upon Jedi General Obi Wan Kenobi which nearly killed him but did not. This would soon began Order 66 as other commanders would be given the same order all across the galaxy, which led to their inhibitor chips brainwashing them into viewing the Jedi as traitors to the Republic and executing them immediately. Many Jedi across the galaxy were betrayed and/or killed by their now formerly loyal soldiers.
After the attempt on Obi Wan's life, Commander Bacara and the Galactic Marines were also given the order. During the Battle of Mygeeto, the longest battle of the Clone Wars, Ki-Adi Mundi was leading a small detachment of Marines against the forces of the Separatist Droid Army on a bridge when the order was carried out. He charged at the Separatist forces but stopped after he saw Bacara and a small group of Galactic Marines raise their arms on him. Confused, he quickly began deflecting the blasts after the clones began to fire on him but it was too much and Mundi was shot down and killed by his forces.
Aayla Secura is killed during Clone Protocol 66
On the planet of Felucia, Aayla Secura became the next victim as her forces, lead by Commander Bly, turned on her as well. During the Battle of Felucia in an attempt to rescue Barris Offe and push the Separatist forces off the world, Secura stared down a convoy of Homing Spider Droids and Armoured Assault Tanks when she saw her troops raise their weapons at her. She tried to stop it but they were too fast and she was shot down and killed. According to records, her forces admired her greatly and wanted to give her a quick death as they were unable to deal with the pain because of how she saved them from certain death during the war.
Clone Protocol 66
Plo Koon became the next victim following Secura. During the Battle of Cato Nemoidia, Plo Koon was in his starfighter and was accompanied by three ARC-170s during an air battle where they were flying over the bridge cities. Palpatine gave out the order and Captain Jag carried it out. Without hesitation, Jag and the other pilots opened fire on Plo Koon and was quickly shot down and crashed on a nearby building on one of the bridge cities.
During the Siege of Selucami, Jedi General Stass Allie was on a BARC speeder bike and was accompanied by two clone troopers. Commander Neyo, one of the troopers present, had gotten the order and he and the other clone had backed up their bikes and fired on their Jedi Commander. The bike was destroyed and she was killed in the process with the remnants of the bike landing into the swamps of Selucami littered with the remains of fallen clones and droids during the battle.
Jedi Grand Master Yoda had sensed the deaths of all the Jedi and was horrified at what he sensed nearly collapsing as a result. He was present on the planet of Kashyyk during the Separatist invasion of the Wookiee homeworld and oversaw a battle where Separatist forces attacked a beach outpost and engaged the joint Republic-Wookiee forces in their defense. Luminara Unduli was killed by her clone forces but Yoda sensed what was happening and killed both Commander Gree and another trooper during their attempt on his life.
Raid on the Jedi Temple
On Coruscant, a state of emergency was declared and the planet was placed under martial law. During this time, Anakin Skywalker, now known as Darth Vader, lead a large detachment of 501st Legion soldiers marched into the Jedi Temple. After killing a nearby Jedi Knight, Anakin and his forces marched forward in what would become Operation: Knightfall. Their orders were to eradicate every single Jedi that was present including knights, padawans, and even younglings. This lead to a long and grueling battle which saw the destruction of the entire Jedi Order and the deaths of the majority of the Jedi.
Afterwards, a beacon was activated telling all surviving Jedi to return to the temple as a trap set up to kill any Jedi who escaped execution. Clone soldiers were stationed at the temple to kill all surviving Jedi who would return. The bodies of all slain Jedi were then brought up front of the temple where they were burned and the public was told that the Jedi had attempted to overthrow the Republic and this was the response to their supposed treason. This would later help eliminate most positive views of the Jedi amongst the public.
Post-Knightfall
After Operation: Knightfall had been completed, Jedi Knights Obi Wan and Yoda had returned to the temple where they fought off and cleared out the temple of the clone forces stationed there. The two Jedi Knights would patrol the ruins of the temple where they had seen the bodies of all the slain Jedi and were horrified, especially after knowing that not even the younglings made it out alive. They then saw footage of Anakin leading the clone forces, killing the Jedi, and becoming the apprentice of Darth Sidious as well. Obi Wan was devastated but knew what he had to do. He later de-activated the beacon and activated a new one instead ordering all surviving Jedi to stay away from the temple and went to confront Anakin on Mustafar.
Immediately after Order 66 and Knightfall, Obi-Wan and Yoda organized a last-ditch effort to defeat the Sith. Yoda was to kill Sidious on Coruscant, while Obi-Wan would go to Mustafar and kill Darth Vader. Both attempts failed. Yoda dueled Sidious to a draw but was forced to flee, knowing that h could not defeat Sidious. Obi-Wan was more successful, severing Vader's organic limbs and leaving him to burn by a river of lava. Vader survived, but was so terribly wounded that he had to be placed in the iconic suit of armor, which he would wear for the rest of his life.
Survivors
There were some Jedi, however, who survived Order 66. Notable survivors include:
Yoda
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Cal Kestis
Ahsoka Tano
Taron Malicos
Jocasta Nu
Kelleran Beq
Quinlan Vos
Caleb Dume aka Kanan Jarrus
Cere Junda
Grogu
Ferren Barr
Gungi
Jedi Master Coleman Kcaj
Kanan Jarrus
Kirak Infil'a
Zubain Ankonori
Barriss Offee
Baylan Skoll
Eeth Koth
Grand Inquisitor
K' Kruhk
Mill Alibeth
Reva Sevander
Known Victims
“
Good soldiers follow orders, Good soldiers follow orders, Good soldiers follow orders...
„
~ The Galactic Empire's brainwashed victims about Order 66 while under the side-effects of the inhibitor chips on them.
The majority of the Jedi were killed during Order 66 and the order was effectively destroyed. The objectives for each type of Jedi had actually varied as members of the Jedi High Council were to be terminated on sight, Jedi Masters to be executed on sight, Jedi Knights to be arrested or executed, and Padawans were to be captured and interrogated.
Ali-Alann: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by the 501st Legion.
Stass Allie: Stationed on Saleucami; killed by Commander Neyo and CT-3423.
Cin Drallig: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
Sian Jeisel: Visiting the Bogden Jedi Training Facility; killed herself and several clone troopers.
Jurokk: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
Ki-Adi-Mundi: Stationed on Mygeeto; killed by Commander Bacara and the Galactic Marines.
Plo Koon: Stationed on Cato Neimoidia; killed by Captain Jag.
Ferroda: Stationed on Cato Neimoidia; killed by X2.
Master Saras Loorne: Stationed on Murkhana; killed by the 22nd Air Combat Wing.
Du Mahn: Stationed at the Bogden Jedi Training Facility; killed by clone troopers.
Jocasta Nu: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
Simms: Stationed on Toola; killed by Commander Keller.
Sev: Stationed above Ragmar V; killed by clone troopers.
Traavis: Stationed on Garqi; killed by Commander Sarge.
Luminara Unduli: Stationed on Kashyyyk, killed by Commander Faie (Legends, in the new canon she was captured and imprisoned in the Spire, then executed)
Group of Masters: Stationed at the Jedi Temple, killed by Darth Vader.
The master who protected the Great Holocron: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
A Zabrak Knight: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
Nem Bees: Stationed on Orto; killed by Commander Deviss.
Aayla Secura: Stationed on Felucia; killed by Commander Bly and members of the 327th Star Corps.
Olana Chion: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by the 501st Legion.
Knight Serra Keto: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
Barriss Offee: Stationed on Felucia; killed by Lieutenant Galle (Legends only)
Etain Tur-Mukan: Stationed on Coruscant; killed indirectly by another Jedi while protecting a clone trooper.
Tru Veld: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by the 501st Legion.
Two Unidentified Knights: Stationed on Murkhana; killed by clone troopers.
Padawan group: Trying to escape Coruscant, they were discovered by a checkpoint of the 501st and died in the melee. One of them accidentally killed Jedi Knight Etain Tur-Mukan in the melee.
Bene: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
Zett Jukassa: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Sergeant Fox and members of the 501st Legion.
Whie Malreaux: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader
Sors Bandeam: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
Jeswi Ele: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
Shia Letap: Stationed at the Jedi Temple; killed by Darth Vader.
Unidentified Clan: At least several more younglings hiding in the High Council Tower; killed by Darth Vader.
10 members of the Hawkbat Clan: Stationed at the Bogden Jedi Training Facility; killed by clone troopers.
Gallery
An unidentified Jedi General about to be murdered during Order 66 as seen in the Star Wars Miniatures book Ultimate Missions: Revenge of the Sith.
Protocol 66
Trivia
The events of Order 66, namely the systematic eradication of the Jedi Order, were once first mentioned in the original Star Wars movie Star Wars: A New Hope (also known as "Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope").
The destruction itself was first depicted on-screen in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (also known as "Star Wars: Episode III 'Revenge of the Sith"), while the backstory of Order 66 was provided in a four-episode arc in the animated TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
The Order 66 casualty report.
The first book of the ongoing comic series Star Wars: Kanan, featuring the eponymous Jedi Knight named Kanan Jarrus of the series Star Wars Rebels, depicts Order 66 and its aftermath. This aftermath is further explored in another Star Wars show Star Wars Rebels, as Kanan deals with passing on the legacy of the Jedi in the wake of the Order's destruction. There was once a casualty report of Order 66 compiled by the Imperial Moff Marcellin Wessel which hailed the mandate as a great Imperial success and went into detail about 15 notable Jedi victims of its execution. An image, a profile, and information about his or her termination were included for each Jedi adherents. The official but untrue records of each termination were also supplemented by Sate Pestage. These records would later be revealed to the public in a cycle of Imperial HoloVision. The document itself was only available to Emperor Palpatine himself. No else were to lay eyes on the report.
