The HERETICAL Jedi Splinter Groups That REJECTED The Lightsaber

The elegant simplicity of the lightsaber is often regarded as the most valuable object in the possession of a Jedi or Sith. But as we explored in a recent holocron, this was certainly not the case for the ancient Sith, with many preferring the gruesome brutality of a traditional metal sword. As for the JEdi, their reverence for the lightsaber dates back much further than the Sith. To a Jedi, the lightsaber was more than a weapon; it was an extension of their connection to the Force, a physical manifestation of their oath to use their power to protect and preserve life. Due to this deep connection, the lightsaber therefore transformed into the unofficial the symbol of the order, becoming deeply entrenched within the often dogmatic views of the high council.


The High Council of the Jedi Order held a firm stance on the use of the lightsaber, deeming it the only appropriate weapon for a Jedi. This belief was rooted in the idea that the lightsaber required a connection to the Force, promoting discipline and control. In contrast, blasters, with their destructive and impersonal nature, were considered uncivilized and were outright rejected by the Council.


But history shows that such a dogmatic adherence to the lightsaber is ironic. Unknown to most Jedi historians, the Jedi Order was literally founded on its rejection of the lightsaber. AS those of you who have watched our Star Wars legends timeline will know, the Jedi were once known as the Je’daii, adhering to a strict balance in the force. But after the invasion of their homeworld by the blood thirsty ancient infinite empire of the Rakata, many of the Je’daii embraced the Rakatas weapon, the force saber, an ancient variation of the lightsaber.


However, once the Rakata were repelled, the Je’daii descended into civil war between followers of the light, known as Ashla and followrs of the dark, known as Bogan. The causes of this war revolved around philosophy. The lightside Je’daii rejected the early lightsaber and the dark side, whilst the dark side Jedi embraced it and the greater power it granted them.


The followers of Bogan were eventuaklly defeated. The remaining lightside Je’daii reformed themselves drastically, renaming themselves the Jedi and developing the Jedi Code. Having rejected the early form of lightsaber, the Jedi reverted back to using force imbued swords: not again taking up the lightsaber for another few thousand years.


Thus, it becomes clear that the rejection of the formidable lightsaber is perhaps one of the most Jedi-like things a practitioner of the force could do. Amidst this historical backdrop, a few groups emerged that dismissed the lightsaber, or at the very least severely reduced its importance within their teachings. But as we shall see, all of these Jedi sects were rejected by the JEdi, either due to philisophical differences, or outright discrimination, often leading to violent conftro0ntations.


Let us start with the Teepo Paladins. Initially, these mavericks held a controversial belief that blasters, when used in conjunction with the force, could complement the lightsaber in battle. This ideology was not only a practical consideration but also a philosophical stance that the Force could guide a Jedi's actions regardless of the tool in hand. After some experimentation, this jedi sect came to believe that lightsabers actually werent that dependable, instead relying upon whatever weapon the practioner felt comfortable with.




The origins of these renegade Jedi unfolds during the tumultuous era of the New Sith Wars, approximately a millennium before the events of "A New Hope." A Jedi Lord known as Teepo, alongside his loyal followers, the Paladins, chose to defy conventional wisdom regarding the lightsaber. Teepo, rallied his forces to join Lord Hoth's Army of Light, a coalition formed to combat the Sith's Brotherhood of Darkness. Under Teepo's command, these Jedi Paladins not only protected countless worlds from the encroaching Sith Empire but also played a pivotal role in various battles across the galaxy. Indeed, they fought alongside the Jedi in the final few battles against the Sith.


. Driven by a desire to deepen their connection to the Force, the Teepo Paladins adorned masks designed to enhance their sensitivity to the Force's ebbs and flows. This practice was emblematic of their broader philosophy that a Jedi's prowess was not confined to traditional methods but could be augmented through various means, including force imbued technology.