Old Republic to High Republic: A Timeline Guide to Star Wars' Most Exciting Eras

With James Mangold's Dawn of the Jedi film and multiple Old Republic games on the horizon, now's the perfect time to explore the galaxy's most legendary ancient eras.

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Introduction: Beyond the Skywalker Saga

For decades, Star Wars fans have been captivated by the Skywalker family's journey from 1977 through 2019. But the galaxy's richest stories? They happened thousands of years earlier, in eras where the Jedi and Sith weren't just at war—they were being born.

With Dave Filoni now steering Lucasfilm as Chief Creative Officer and major projects like Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: Eclipse, Fate of the Old Republic, and the long-awaited KOTOR Remake all in development, we're finally getting the ancient Star Wars content fans have craved for years. Let's break down these incredible eras and why they matter.

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THE DAWN OF THE JEDI ERA (~25,000 BBY)

What Happened:

This is where it ALL began. Not lightsabers and starfighters—but the Force itself being discovered and studied by the earliest Force-sensitives. The Je'daii Order (predecessors to the Jedi) arose on the planet Tython, practitioners who sought balance between light and dark rather than choosing one side. This was before the Sith even existed, before the Republic, before the galaxy as we know it.

Why It Matters:

James Mangold (Logan, Indiana Jones 5) is directing Dawn of the Jedi, described as a "biblical epic" exploring the origins of the Force itself. Mangold has teased it as being influenced by Ten Commandments and Ben-Hur—massive, mythological storytelling on a scale Star Wars has never attempted on screen.

What to Expect:

• The first Force users learning to wield this mysterious energy
• Ancient technology and civilizations (this is 25,000 years before Luke Skywalker)
• The philosophical split that eventually creates the Jedi/Sith divide
• Worldbuilding that makes the High Republic look modern by comparison

This film could redefine how we understand the Force, the Jedi, and the entire Star Wars mythology.

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THE OLD REPUBLIC ERA (~25,000 - 1,000 BBY)

This massive time span covers the Republic's early rise, the formation of the Jedi Order as we recognize it, and some of the galaxy's bloodiest conflicts between Jedi and Sith.

Key Periods:

The Great Hyperspace War (~5,000 BBY) The Sith Empire's first major invasion of Republic space. Think of it as the original galactic-scale war between light and dark.

The Great Sith War (~4,000 BBY) Enter Ulic Qel-Droma and Exar Kun—two fallen Jedi who nearly destroyed the Republic and the Jedi Order. This era gave us tragic heroes, Sith magic, and the devastating consequences of arrogance and corruption. The comics (Tales of the Jedi) remain some of the best Star Wars storytelling ever published.

The Mandalorian Wars & Jedi Civil War (~3,976 - 3,956 BBY) The era that gave us Revan and Darth Malak—the backbone of the legendary Knights of the Old Republic video game. Revan is arguably the most beloved Star Wars character never to appear on screen: a Jedi hero who became a Sith Lord, then returned to the light (or did he?). This era explored what happens when Jedi break their own rules to win a war, and the moral cost of victory.

The New Sith Wars & Darth Bane (~1,000 BBY) After millennia of Jedi vs. Sith conflict, the Sith kept destroying themselves through infighting. Darth Bane changed everything by creating the Rule of Two: only one Master and one Apprentice at a time. This doctrine would survive all the way to Palpatine and Vader 1,000 years later. Bane's story (from the novels) is brutal, philosophical, and shows the Sith at their most strategic.

Why It Matters:

The Old Republic era is getting MULTIPLE game adaptations:

Knights of the Old Republic Remake - The legendary 2003 RPG is being fully remade by Saber Interactive. KOTOR is widely considered one of the greatest Star Wars stories ever told, and for an entire generation of fans, Revan IS Star Wars.

Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic - A brand-new RPG from Casey Hudson (original KOTOR director) and his studio Humanoid Origin. While not directly tied to KOTOR, it's described as a spiritual successor exploring similar themes in the Old Republic timeline.

These aren't just games—they're interactive movies with 40+ hour storylines, player choice that actually matters, and the freedom to walk the line between Jedi and Sith.

What Makes This Era Special:

• Gray morality: Jedi make terrible mistakes. Sith have understandable motivations.
• Massive scale: Entire fleets of Sith and Jedi, planets destroyed, civilizations wiped out
• Legendary characters: Revan, Bastila Shan, Darth Malak, Meetra Surik (the Exile), Kreia
• Ancient Sith lore: Sith temples, holocrons, Force techniques lost to time
• Your choices matter: In games like KOTOR, you decide if you're light, dark, or something in between

If you love lightsaber combat, epic space battles, and stories where the heroes don't always win, this is YOUR era.

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THE HIGH REPUBLIC ERA (~500 - 100 BBY)

What Happened:

Jump forward to the Republic's golden age—200-300 years before The Phantom Menace. The Jedi are at their peak: thousands strong, noble, heroic, and genuinely respected across the galaxy. There's no Sith threat (they're hiding, following Bane's Rule of Two), so the Jedi act as peacekeepers, explorers, and defenders against new threats like the nihilistic Nihil marauders and the carnivorous Drengir.

This era has been explored through novels, comics, and the Disney+ series The Acolyte (set at the tail end, ~100 BBY).

Why It Matters:

Star Wars: Eclipse - Quantic Dream's narrative-driven game set during the High Republic is one of the most ambitious Star Wars projects in development. Expect branching storylines, multiple playable characters, and a story focused on political intrigue and Jedi philosophy rather than just lightsaber duels.

The High Republic also features:

• Jedi who aren't afraid to show emotion or question the Order
• Lightwhip wielders (yes, seriously)
• Space stations like Starlight Beacon serving as Jedi hubs
• The frontier of the Outer Rim being explored for the first time

What Makes This Era Special:

• Optimistic tone: The Jedi actually WIN. They're heroes people look up to.
• Unique threats: The Nihil aren't Sith—they're anarchists who use the Force in twisted ways
• Diverse Jedi: Species, genders, personalities, and fighting styles we've never seen before
• Uncharted territory: New planets, new cultures, new Force lore

If you prefer Star Wars with hope, exploration, and Jedi at their absolute best, the High Republic delivers.

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CONNECTING THE ERAS: WHY THIS ALL MATTERS NOW

Here's the beautiful thing: Dave Filoni and Lucasfilm are finally connecting these ancient eras to the modern Star Wars we know.

Dawn of the Jedi will show us where the Force comes from. The Old Republic games will let us PLAY through Revan's journey and the Jedi Civil War. The High Republic shows the Jedi at their peak—making their fall in the Prequels even more tragic. The Acolyte bridges the High Republic to the Prequel era, showing the first cracks in the Jedi Order.

And all of it builds context for the Skywalker Saga. Why do Jedi fear attachment? Because of Ulic Qel-Droma and Revan. Why is there a Rule of Two? Because of Darth Bane. Why do the Sith hide for 1,000 years? Because they learned patience wins wars.

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WHERE TO START IF YOU'RE NEW TO THESE ERAS

For Readers:

• Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void (novel)
• Darth Bane Trilogy by Drew Karpyshyn
• The High Republic: Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule

For Gamers:

• Knights of the Old Republic (play it NOW before the remake drops)
• Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (even darker, even better writing)
• Star Wars: The Old Republic (MMORPG, free-to-play, incredible story content)

For Comic Fans:

• Tales of the Jedi series (Ulic Qel-Droma, Exar Kun era)
• Knights of the Old Republic comics (set during Mandalorian Wars)

For Viewers:

• The Acolyte (Disney+, High Republic era)
• Wait for Dawn of the Jedi (2028-2029)

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THE FUTURE IS ANCIENT

Star Wars is finally embracing its deepest lore. These aren't side stories or Legends footnotes anymore—they're becoming the foundation of the franchise's future.

With Filoni at the helm, a focus on interconnected storytelling, and fans hungry for something beyond the Skywalker Saga, the Old Republic and High Republic eras are about to define the next decade of Star Wars content.

Whether you're wielding a lightsaber on Tython 25,000 years before Luke was born, making impossible choices as Revan during the Jedi Civil War, or exploring the frontier as a High Republic Jedi, one thing is clear:

The best Star Wars stories happened a long, long time ago—and we're finally getting to experience them.