The prequel trilogy represents one of the most important periods in the Star Wars timeline, but what exactly happened between Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones? THE Star Wars the prequel trilogy had a rocky reception, to say the least. In part, this was because the trilogy had huge shoes to fill following the original Star Wars trilogy, which many still consider three of the Star Wars best films.
Despite this initial reception, the prequels became beloved and their significance among Star Wars movies and TV shows has only increased. The phantom menace, Attack of the Clonesand Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith have come to define the franchise and continue to have enormous influence, even as Star Wars goes beyond the Skywalker Saga. This importance makes it even more surprising that Little is known about the 10 years between The phantom menace and Attack of the Clones. Here is everything Star Wars Canon has revealed about this period so far.
Anakin Skywalker trains under Obi-Wan Kenobi
Most of Anakin’s training wasn’t shown on screen
One of the most significant events that occurs in the period between The phantom menace and Attack of the Clones is Anakin Skywalker’s training with Obi-Wan Kenobi. At the end of The phantom menaceYoda informs Obi-Wan that he will be allowed to train Anakin as his Jedi Padawan, despite the Council initially rejecting Anakin from the Order entirely. When Attack of the Clones begins, Anakin – although still a Padawan at that point – grows up.
This means that Most of Anakin Skywalker’s training takes place off-screen in Star Wars. This is a huge aspect of Anakin Skywalker’s story Star Wars timeline, and would reveal much more about the tensions between Anakin and Obi-Wan seen throughout Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sithso it’s a little surprising that this was even minimally represented on screen. However, it is clear that during this time, Obi-Wan and Anakin form a (complicated) brotherly bond and Anakin grows even stronger in the Force.
Count Dooku kills Yaddle and becomes Darth Sidious’ new apprentice
Star Wars: Tales Of The Jedi Revealed A Lot More About Count Dooku
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi It may be a rather short animated series, but it was surprisingly enlightening. The show had two distinct arcs, one for Ahsoka Tano and one for Count Dooku. Count Dooku’s arc in Tales of the Jedi revealed more about his fall to the dark side and his feelings about the Jedimost notably in episode 4, “The Sith Lord,” which saw Count Dooku facing off against Jedi Master Yaddle.
In the episode, Dooku breaks into the Jedi archives and deletes the planet Kamino from the records – something that becomes a major plot point in Attack of the Clones. Dooku also has a secret meeting with Palpatine/Darth Sidious, during which Dooku references Sifo-Dyas, Kamino, and the creation of the clone troopers, revealing that he had betrayed “everyone and everything” he knows. This shockingly suggests that Sidious’ preparation for the Clone Wars, including the commissioning of the clones, happened simultaneously with The phantom menace.
This shockingly suggests that Sidious’ preparation for the Clone Wars, including the commissioning of the clones, happened simultaneously with The phantom menace.
Unfortunately, Jedi Master Yaddle overhears this conversation, which leads to a duel between Yaddle and Dooku. In the end, this results in Yaddle’s death and Count Dooku becoming Sidious’ new Sith apprentice. This relationship between master and apprentice would come to define the events of Attack of the Clones and the Clone Wars, changing the Star Wars galaxy forever.
The Trade Federation escapes justice thanks to Palpatine
The Trade Federation never faced true consequences for its actions in the Phantom Menace
An important part The phantom menace it was the blockade of the Trade Federation and eventual invasion of Naboo. This was in fact the catalyzing event that led Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn to become involved in the affairs of Naboo, which led to Qui-Gon finding Anakin Skywalker and unwittingly sealing the fate of the Jedi and the Republic. Despite the Trade Federation’s crimes, they have avoided facing justice – including the head of the Trade Federation, Viceroy Gunray.
Ultimately, it became clear that this was intentional on Palpatine’s part. Revenge of the Sith revealed that the Trade Federation and Sidious had an agreement, in which Sidious promised them peace for their cooperation (although this ended quickly when Palpatine had Darth Vader eliminate them on Mustafar). Even before that, the Trade Federation became an integral part of the Separatist movement, which was possible because they escaped the consequences of their actions in The phantom menace.
Padmé’s reign on Naboo ends and she becomes a senator
Padmé was the only queen of Naboo in Phantom Menace
Between The phantom menace and Attack of the ClonesPadmé’s role in the galaxy has also changed significantly. After serving as Teen Queen of Naboo in The phantom menacePadmé transitioned to a position in the Senate. Queen Jamillia was Padmé’s successor. She was also the one who convinced Padmé to become a senator, as Padmé initially intended to move away from politics.
Padmé’s role in the Senate, of course, ended up having a huge influence on the galaxy, not only because it led to her reunion with Anakin and her fateful wedding, but also because she played a key role in the dissent against Palpatine and the eventual rebel movement. Although it was never shown on screen, Padmé also prioritized ending slavery, especially on Tatooine. She sent her close friend and former servant Sabé to free Shmi Skywalker specifically, but was unable to find her.
Padmé also prioritized ending slavery, specifically on Tatooine.
Shmi Skywalker is freed from slavery and marries Cliegg Lars
As revealed in Attack of the Clones, Shmi was freed from slavery
Sabé was probably unable to find Shmi because she had already been released and married to Cliegg Larsthe father of Anakin’s half-brother, Owen Lars. While this was obviously a positive twist for Shmi Skywalker’s story, it ended up being detrimental to Shmi in the long run. It was because Shmi was at the Lars farm that the Tusken Raiders captured her, which resulted in her death at their hands.
While this was quite sad, it also became one of the defining moments in Anakin’s fall to the dark side. When Anakin lost his mother, he took advantage of her anger and murdered every man, woman, and child at the Tusken Raider camp where his mother had died. While this alone didn’t turn Anakin to the dark side, it was in many ways the beginning of the end for him.
The Confederation of Independent Systems is Established
Separatists would define the era of the Clone Wars
The Confederacy of Independent Systems, often referred to simply as the Separatists, was also established during this period. This alliance was led by Count Dooku, who acted in Sidious’s best interests, not with legitimate political intentions (although even the Jedi were fooled by this for some time). This division between the Separatists and the Republic ended up being the reason for the start of the Clone Wars, which in turn led to Order 66, the fall of the Jedi, and the fall of the Republic.
The Confederacy of Independent Systems, often referred to simply as the Separatists, was also established during this period.
Although Dooku’s intentions were anything but pure, there were many separatists who genuinely believed in the movement and had no idea that they were fueling a war intentionally created by a Sith Lord so that he could gain power and eventually rule. Star Wars: The Clone Wars made this clear, as Padmé’s close friend Mina Bonteri openly supported separatist ideology. Notably, the Republic was being fooled by Palpatine and Dooku as much as the Separatists.
The Military Creation Law is Proposed
This act changed the future of the galaxy
In addition to the establishment of the Separatist Alliance, the Military Creation Act was an important factor in the start of the Clone Wars. In fact, the two were directly related, as the Military Creation Law allowed the Republic to form an army to defend itself against the Separatists. As mentioned, the groundwork has already been laid by Palpatine for this precise change; Clearly, the clones were ordered long before the events of Attack of the Clones.
This was precisely why there was an assassination attempt on Padmé’s life at the beginning of Attack of the Clones. Padmé was very vocal in opposing the Military Creation Act as she did not want a war to break out. This made her a huge threat to Palpatine’s plans, as he needed the Clone Wars for his seizure of power to be successful. In the end, these attempts failed, but they brought Anakin and Padmé even closer together, which only cemented Palpatine’s plans.
Asajj Ventress becomes Count Dooku’s killer
Ventress became an important character in Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Although Asajj Ventress was not included in the prequel trilogy films, she is very important in Star Wars. She became an important player The Clone Warsand his return in Star Wars: The bad lot suggests that its role in the galaxy is not over yet. Ventress is a Nightsister of Dathomir, but her most significant role in The Clone Wars was the murderer of Count Dooku.
It was during this period between The phantom menace and Attack of the Clones that Dooku hired Ventress. This proved particularly interesting as Ventress already had a pretty tumultuous life, having been taken from the Nightsisters as a child only for a Jedi to find her, take her as his Padawan, and die in front of her. Interestingly, despite being Dooku’s killer, it was not Ventress who was hired to kill Padmé.
Count Dooku plans the assassination attempt on Padmé
This attempt on Padmé’s life set in motion many pivotal events in this era of Star Wars.
Immediately before Attack of the ClonesCount Dooku planned the assassination attempt on Padmé’s life in response to her opposition to the Military Creation Act. This ended up failing twice, both when her ship exploded, killing her decoy, Cordé, instead of her, and when Zam Wesell failed to kill her after being hired by Jango Fett. However, it was because there was an attempt to kill Padmé that she and Anakin ended up together on Naboowhere they finally fell in love.
Probably a lot more happened during this period in Star Wars that hasn’t been revealed yet, if it ever will be. The galaxy went from a period of relative peace to all-out war in a decade, and many factors contributed to this massive change. Even so, only the little that is currently known about this period makes it clear that the events between Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones It had a huge impact on the galaxy.