The Fate of Darth Vader’s Inquisitors: Surprising Star Wars Theory Uncovers a Hidden Order 66

Within the vast Star Wars universe, Imperial Inquisitors served as significant enforcers under the command of Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. However, their relevance diminished by the time the original trilogy unfolded. The notion of Imperial Inquisitors can be traced back to the original Star Wars Legends continuity; these characters were depicted as dark side practitioners trained to detect and eliminate Jedi. A notable figure from this earlier era was Jerec, a former Jedi who transformed into a formidable antagonist for the New Republic shortly after the events of Return of the Jedi.

The animated series Star Wars Rebels reintroduced the Inquisitors into the modern canon while preserving some of their crucial characteristics from the Legends. These contemporary Inquisitors were still dark side-empowered agents working for the Empire, assisting their masters in the relentless pursuit of the remaining Jedi following Order 66. Distinctly separated from Imperial Intelligence, these Inquisitors displayed limited training, rendering them significantly weaker and posing less considerable risks to the formidable Sith Lords. Unfortunately, the Inquisitorius Program concluded by the time of the original trilogy, leaving the ultimate fates of these agents largely unanswered.

The Original Inquisitors Were All Former Jedi

The original canon depicted notable Inquisitors, such as Jerec and Maw, many of whom were once Jedi. In contrast, the modern canon establishes that the majority, if not all, of the Empire’s Inquisitors began as Jedi who evaded death in the Purge by surrendering to the Empire. Subsequently, they were subjected to relentless abuse until they ultimately succumbed to the dark side. Although they were equipped to harness dark side powers, they were technically not classified as true Sith.

Unlike their predecessors who had the potential to rival even Sith in strength—Jerec himself being a candidate for Darth Vader’s successor—the newly conceptualized Inquisitors were intentionally restrained. This strategic limitation was designed to prevent them from challenging the Sith Lords directly. Should an Inquisitor encounter a Jedi who proved to be an exceptional threat, the formidable Darth Vader would intervene. Collectively, the efforts of the Imperial Military, the Inquisitorius Program, and Vader himself contributed to the tragic eradication of most surviving Jedi.

Star Wars Has Revealed Why The Inquisitors Were Kidnapping Children…

Maul, Ahsoka, and Kanan face off against the Inquisitors in Star Wars Rebels.

The dark legacy of the Imperial Inquisitors was compounded by their horrific practice of abducting children, a grim initiative known as Project Harvester. This project aimed to capture young Force-sensitive individuals to transform them into agents loyal to Emperor Palpatine. Notably, the roots of this scheme trace back even before the formation of the Galactic Empire itself. During the Clone Wars, infamous bounty hunter Cad Bane was commissioned to abduct Force-sensitive infants, although most were rescued by Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano.

In Marvel’s modern canon, one tragic case involves the child of Jedi Master Eeth Koth, who was taken by the Inquisitorius, with her fate shrouded in mystery. The topic of Project Harvester was further explored in Rebels, particularly in the episode titled “The Future of the Force,” where a rescue of two Force-sensitive infants from the Empire highlighted the ongoing plight of many others left behind. The whereabouts of these younglings remain unknown, further emphasizing the perilous circumstances for those entangled in the Inquisitors’ grasp, especially with the program’s abrupt termination prior to the events depicted in the original trilogy.

But What Happened To The Inquisitors By The Time Of A New Hope?

Before the climax of A New Hope, the Galactic Empire reached a point where it perceived the Jedi Purge to be complete and regarded the Jedi as extinct. This conclusion marked the operational end of the Inquisitorius Program. However, the fates of the Inquisitors remained uncertain, as most – save for Marrok – vanished before the Death Star plans were seized. Many Inquisitors met their demise on various missions, while others may have simply outlived their usefulness in a regime that quickly shifts its priorities.

Investigator and galactic historian Beaumont Kin pondered the eventual fates of the Inquisitors as the program concluded. Aware of Emperor Palpatine’s ruthless measures for handling loose ends, he speculated that the term “obsolete” in reference to the Inquisitorius Program may have foreshadowed a grim destiny. Kin theorized that Palpatine likely ordered the execution of remaining Inquisitors, potentially with Vader personally overseeing their demise, as he viewed them as threats to his own agendas.

Did Palpatine Conduct Another Order 66 – On His Own Inquisitors?

The eventual dismantling of the Inquisitorius Program has yet to be depicted comprehensively in any Star Wars narrative. However, the unsettling reality remains that surviving Inquisitors may have been eliminated through mass assaults akin to Order 66. It is conceivable that Darth Vader, along with the Stormtrooper Corps and other Imperial forces, received orders to eliminate all Inquisitors, culminating in surprise ambushes.

Unlike the clone troopers, who had mind control chips implanted to execute their betrayal during Order 66, stormtroopers were fervently loyal to Emperor Palpatine and would not require similar manipulation to turn on the Inquisitors. Thus, their actions would not only stem from loyalty, but also from a lack of personal bonds with the Inquisitors.

Marrok may represent a unique case where he survived both a Jedi purge and the downfall of the Inquisitorius Program, potentially forcing him into a life as a mercenary evading the Empire’s wrath. Additionally, the fate of the abducted younglings from Project Harvester raises questions; were they executed, or might they have been sent to Exegol for nefarious purposes related to Palpatine’s plans? The conclusion to the Inquisitorius saga presents a riveting plotline that future Star Wars media could delve into.