The Clone Wars
Profile
The Clone Wars (22 BBY – 19 BBY) was the three-year galactic civil war between the Galactic Republic with its clone army and the Confederacy of Independent Systems (“Separatists”) with its droid armies. In truth they were Palpatine’s masterpiece — he controlled both sides.
How It Began
On Geonosis (Episode II), Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padmé uncovered the conspiracy of the Trade Federation, Banking Clans, and Techno Union under Count Dooku. Yoda arrived in time with the freshly grown clone army from Kamino — the First Battle of Geonosis started the war.
Who Fought
- Republic — Galactic Marines, clone troopers, Jedi Generals (over 2,000 Jedi on the front).
- Separatists — B1 battle droids, B2 super battle droids, droidekas, magnaguards. Leaders: Count Dooku, General Grievous, Asajj Ventress, Nute Gunray.
- Behind the Scenes — Palpatine (publicly Chancellor, privately Darth Sidious) ran both sides.
Major Battles
- Geonosis (22 BBY) — Opening battle.
- Defense of Kamino (“The Clone Wars” Season 3) — First strike on the clone source.
- Christophsis, Ryloth, Mygeeto, Cato Neimoidia — Outer Rim sieges.
- Umbara — Clone troopers under Pong Krell.
- Siege of Mandalore — Ahsoka and the 332nd clone company.
- Coruscant (Episode III) — Anakin and Obi-Wan rescue the Chancellor from Grievous.
Order 66
When the behavior chips in the clones activated, they shot their Jedi Generals. Overnight the war became the fall of the Jedi Order and the birth of the Empire (Episode III).
Legacy
The Clone Wars killed hundreds of millions, wiped out entire species (Geonosians), and effectively erased the Jedi. The animated series “The Clone Wars” and “The Bad Batch” have made the war one of the most richly illuminated phases of canon.