The heroes of Star Wars always seem to be the stars of the show, even if fans beg for movies and series that focus on the darker side of the Force. Occasionally, lucky fans get to experience glimpses into the lives of the darker aspects of the Star Wars universe, and one of the more interesting groups to do so is the Inquisitors. Originally introduced in Star Wars: Rebels, the Inquisitors have become a fan-favorite villainous force for more than one reason.
The program that all those great villains stem from is the Inquisitorius Program, one of the darkest ideas Emperor Palpatine and the rest of the Empire ever came up with. Creating a fighting force capable of rivaling the Jedi was a stroke of genius, even if the Inquisitors wouldn’t end up posing a major threat to the best-trained Jedi. Despite how new the characters and their program are, there is a wealth of knowledge about the Inquisitorius Program.
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What Is the Inquisitorius Program?
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The Inquisitorius Program |
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Creators |
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Purpose |
Hunt Jedi in hiding |
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Leaders |
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Members |
Inquisitors known as Brothers and Sisters |
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Base Of Operations |
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Affiliations |
The Empire |
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Date Founded |
19 BBY |
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End Date |
Sometime between 3 BBY – 0 BBY |
The Inquisitorius Program was a scheme of the Empire to create a force of dark Jedi-like beings capable of assisting Darth Vader in the hunt for whatever Jedi survived Order 66. Those within the force were never given the distinction of Jedi or Sith, instead being referred to as Force Adepts or simply as Red Blades. The program’s purpose was to find any remaining Jedi and identify potentially problematic Force-sensitivity wherever it existed. As a result, as soon as the remaining Jedi in the galaxy could be said to be extinct, the group was either disbanded or allowed to fade into other ranks of the Empire. The last thing Palpatine would have wanted was a rebellious group of Force-users coming after him.
Led by the Grand Inquisitor and Darth Vader, the relatively small group was quite powerful. There’s no way yet to know how many Inquisitors were active at any point, but most estimates put the total number lower than twenty. With the groups being split between the identifications of Brother and Sister, each Inquisitor was given nothing more than a number to differentiate between them. In Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, the Ninth Sister describes just how twisted those within the Inquisitorius Program are:
You know, I was a Jedi. It’d be fun to bring you in, watch you crack like the rest of us! What angers you? Just wait until the isolation, torture, mutilation, and your friends…
How Are Inquisitors Recruited?
Named Inquisitors
- The Grand Inquisitor
- Trilla Suduri (Second Sister)
- Reva Sevander (Third Sister)
- Masana Tide (Ninth Sister)
- Iskat Akaris (Thirteenth Sister)
- Bil Valen (Sixth Brother)
- Prosset Dibs (Tenth Brother)
- Marrok (Unknown Identification)
- Tualon Yaluna (Unknown Identification)
While the specifics behind the recruitment of Inquisitors are not fully known, there are some harrowing and surprising aspects that are. One of the most surprising facts is that Emperor Palpatine had planted spies in the Jedi Order, which allowed him to gather information on potential dark Jedi. With that in mind, it seems clear that Palpatine was looking to find young Jedi hopefuls who struggled to fully grasp the Light Side of the Force. Those who couldn’t fully shake their anger would make for great recruits to the Empire’s cause.
Whenever a potential recruit was identified as someone who could be turned to the Dark Side, they were sent to be tortured. This was intended to shatter the being that the victim once was, and turn them into a tool of the Empire. Some were forced into the Inquisitorius Program, while others would volunteer. All would undergo strenuous torture and training to hone them into Jedi-hunting machines.
Once a potential Inquisitor was deemed ready for service, they would be sent out on a unique mission by the Grand Inquisitor. Success meant a full induction into the Inquisitrius force, while a failed mission would mean brutal execution if they hadn’t been slain on their mission.
What Are Some Notable Jedi The Inquisitors Have Hunted?
Which Jedi Have Been Hunted?
- Obi-Wan Kenobi
- Ahsoka Tano
- Ezra Bridger
- Kanan Jarrus
- Cal Kestis
- Eeth Koth
- *Darth Maul (Not a Jedi, but a former Sith)
While the success rate of the Inquisitors is a bit iffy, they have hunted a few major Jedi over the years, heading out on missions when they hear rumors of potential beings who are sensitive to the Force. The Jedi alone aren’t their singular focus. Despite that, the Inquisitors have been at odds with the likes of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Eeth Koth, Ezra Bridger, Kanan Jarrus, Cal Kestis, and even the notorious rival of Obi-Wan, Darth Maul.
In the Darth Vader comic, Grand Moff Tarkin describes the efficient brutality of the Inquisitors on their hunt for the Jedi:
I’ve read the reports from the Inquisitorius. Vader and his monsters have done their job well. Few Jedi remain, if any.
Interestingly, it seems that the Inquisitors’ struggle against the Jedi has a deeper history in the Jedi Order. Pretty much anyone of the rank Jedi Knight or above that managed to survive Order 66 was capable of handling an Inquisitor in a one-on-one fight. This is demonstrated by Kanan Jarrus’ ability to contend with the Grand Inquisitor, and Darth Maul’s ability to handle multiple Inquisitors on his own. Ahsoka Tano deserves mention as well, having been directly trained by two of the greatest Jedi of the Star Wars series, Anakin Skywalker, and by proxy, Obi-Wan Kenobi. She was able to beat an Inquisitor without even holding a lightsaber.
This is not to say that the Inquisitors are pushovers either. Ahsoka, Obi-Wan, and Darth Maul have been in some of the toughest duels in the Star Wars universe. Similar to Ahsoka post Order 66, Cal Kestis spent much of his life in hiding and still maintained a strong connection to the Force. He is not nearly as skilled as any of the previously named Jedi, but he is a fast learner who is willing to meet adversity head-on. That very quality led him to eventually defeat a number of Inquisitors in the Star Wars Jedi line of games.
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