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Darth Plagueis

Darth Plagueis is a fictional Sith Lord in the Star Wars franchise, best known as the master of Darth Sidious (Sheev Palpatine).

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Darth Plagueis is a fictional Sith Lord in the Star Wars franchise, best known as the master of Darth Sidious. In Star Wars canon, he is described in legend as a powerful Sith who studied how to influence midi-chlorians to create life and evade death. The character is referenced in *Revenge of the Sith* and appears in related canon material, while a fuller backstory exists in Legends continuity.

Canon portrayal

In current Star Wars canon, Darth Plagueis is primarily known through legend and references rather than direct on-screen appearance. Official material says he was a Sith Lord who trained Palpatine and was said to have knowledge of creating life and avoiding death.

Legends continuity

In Legends, Darth Plagueis has a detailed biography in James Luceno’s novel *Darth Plagueis*. This version identifies him as Hego Damask, a Muun connected to the Intergalactic Banking Clan and trained by Darth Tenebrous.

Relationship to Palpatine

Plagueis’s best-known narrative function is as Palpatine’s Sith master. Palpatine recounts Plagueis’s story to Anakin Skywalker to explore fears about death and loss.

Themes and abilities

Plagueis is associated with dark-side experimentation, especially midi-chlorian manipulation, immortality research, and unnatural life creation. These ideas make him one of the franchise’s central figures in discussions of the Force and life-death mythology.

Key facts

  • Plagueis is known as the Sith master of Darth Sidious.
  • In canon, he is associated with the legend of using the Force to influence midi-chlorians and prevent death.
  • He is mentioned by Palpatine in *Revenge of the Sith* as part of a story intended to tempt Anakin Skywalker.
  • Canon sources indicate he was active during the High Republic era and worked against the Jedi.
  • In the Sith Rule of Two tradition, he was ultimately killed by his apprentice, Darth Sidious.
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Canadian context

Star Wars has a strong Canadian fan base, and Darth Plagueis remains a widely discussed character in popular culture, especially through *Revenge of the Sith* and later canon references.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Darth Plagueis?
He is a fictional Sith Lord in Star Wars, best known as the master of Darth Sidious and the subject of a Sith legend about life and death.
Was Darth Plagueis a Muun?
In Legends, yes. Canon does not definitively establish his species, although some official and fan sources describe him as a Muun.
Did Darth Plagueis create life?
Star Wars canon says he was said to be able to influence midi-chlorians to create life, but this is presented as legend rather than a fully shown event.
Who killed Darth Plagueis?
According to canon and Legends, he was killed by his apprentice, Darth Sidious, while he slept.
What is Darth Plagueis’s real name?
In Legends, his public identity is Hego Damask, often rendered as Hego Damask II or Hego Damask II in related material.

References

  1. StarWars.com — https://www.starwars.com/databank/darth-plagueis
    Supports: Canon description of Darth Plagueis as Palpatine's master, the midi-chlorian legend, High Republic-era activity, and his death by Sidious.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darth_Plagueis
    Supports: General identification of the character, first on-screen mention in *Revenge of the Sith*, and role as Palpatine's mentor.
  3. Wookieepedia — https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Darth_Plagueis/Legends
    Supports: Legends biography including Hego Damask, Muun identity, and background details.
  4. Wookieepedia — https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Darth_Plagueis
    Supports: Additional character traits and abilities attributed to Plagueis in expanded material.
  5. Wookieepedia — https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Darth_Plagueis_(novel)
    Supports: Details of the Legends novel and its depiction of Plagueis's ambitions and relationship with Sidious.