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Anakin Skywalker's Timeline
Key Events in Anakin Skywalker's Star Wars Story
Anakin Skywalker (Darth Vader) was born in 41 BBY and died in 4 ABY.
Anakin Skywalker was a Human Force-sensitive born into slavery on Tatooine, discovered by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and believed to be the Chosen One prophesied to bring balance to the Force. Trained by Obi-Wan Kenobi, he became one of the most powerful Jedi of his generation and, as a General during the Clone Wars, earned the nickname the "Hero With No Fear." He secretly married Senator Padmé Amidala, and fear of losing her — manipulated by Chancellor Palpatine (Darth Sidious) — drove him to the dark side. Reborn as the Sith Lord Darth Vader, he helped exterminate the Jedi Order and enforce the Galactic Empire's rule for over two decades. Ultimately, confronted by his son Luke Skywalker, he turned against the Emperor to save Luke, fulfilling the prophecy and dying redeemed as Anakin Skywalker.
41 BBY - Birth on Tatooine
Anakin is born to Shmi Skywalker, who claimed he had no father. He grows up enslaved on the desert world of Tatooine.
32 BBY - Discovered by Qui-Gon Jinn
At age nine, Anakin is found by Qui-Gon Jinn, wins his freedom by winning the Boonta Eve podrace, and travels to Coruscant. After the Battle of Naboo, Obi-Wan Kenobi vows to train him as a Jedi.
22 BBY - Reunion with Padmé and secret marriage
Now a Padawan, Anakin protects Senator Padmé Amidala, fights at the Battle of Geonosis where he loses his right forearm, and secretly marries Padmé, beginning the Clone Wars.
22-19 BBY - The Clone Wars
Anakin serves as a Jedi General and Knight, takes Ahsoka Tano as his Padawan, and becomes a celebrated war hero known as the "Hero With No Fear."
19 BBY - Fall to the dark side and rebirth as Darth Vader
Seduced by Palpatine's promise to save Padmé from death, Anakin becomes Darth Vader, participates in the destruction of the Jedi Order, is defeated by Obi-Wan on Mustafar, and is rebuilt into the armored Sith Lord.
9 BBY - Hunting the surviving Jedi
As Darth Vader, he pursues fugitive Jedi and duels his former master Obi-Wan Kenobi once more during Obi-Wan's efforts to protect the Skywalker children.
0 BBY - The Battle of Yavin
Vader oversees the Empire's efforts to recover the stolen Death Star plans and participates in the battle over Yavin, where his TIE fighter is knocked away before the station's destruction.
3 ABY - Pursuit of Luke Skywalker
At Cloud City, Vader defeats Luke in a duel, severs his hand, and reveals that he is Luke's father.
4 ABY - Redemption and death
Aboard the second Death Star, Vader turns back to the light to save Luke from Emperor Palpatine, killing the Emperor at the cost of his own life and dying redeemed as Anakin Skywalker.
~11 ABY - Force ghost
As a Force spirit, Anakin appears to his former Padawan Ahsoka Tano, guiding her through a vision of their shared past during the Clone Wars.
View Anakin Skywalker in our timeline:
- Episode I: The Phantom Menace, 32 BBY (9 years old)
- Episode II: Attack of the Clones, 22 BBY (19 years old)
- The Clone Wars (movie), 22 BBY (19 years old)
- The Clone Wars (TV series), 22 BBY (19 years old)
- Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, 19 BBY (22 years old)
- Obi-Wan Kenobi, 9 BBY (32 years old)
- Star Wars Rebels, 5 BBY (36 years old)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, 0 BBY (41 years old)
- Episode IV: A New Hope, 0 BBY (41 years old)
- Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, 3 ABY (44 years old)
- Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, 4 ABY (45 years old)
- Ahsoka, 9 ABY (50 years old)
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