Star Wars: A Brief History of Obi-Wan Kenobi

The Fantasy Review‘s brief history of Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars.

Early Life & Apprenticeship

Obi-Wan Kenobi was taken as an infant to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant after being identified by the Jedi within six months of his birth. There, he was trained in the ways of the Force by Master Qui-Gon Jinn.

At this point in time. the Jedi had become entrenched in politics, so many of Kenobi’s adventures included peacekeeping missions like the one we see at the start of The Phantom Menace.

Obi-Wan Kenobi’s final mission with his Master is to help free Naboo from an invading force from the Trade Federation. Qui-Gon Jinn is killed by the Sith, Darth Maul, but Kenobi slices the Sith in half, defeating him.

Qui-Gon Jinn’s final request is that Kenobi trains the boy, Anakin Skywalker, as a Jedi.

The Clone Wars

Ten years after the events of The Phantom Menace, Obi-Wan Kenobi is a master to Anakin Skywalker, just as Qui-Gon Jinn had wanted. In the Battle of Geonosis, Kenobi and Skywalker fight Count Dooku and lose. This marks the beginning of a civil war, known as The Cone Wars.

Obi-Wan Kenobi was a General for the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars, alongside his former Padwan, Anakin Skywalker. During the war, Kenobi wins many decicive victories, but not all with force. He earns the title “The Negotiator” because of his fantastic diplomatic skills.

Towards the end of The Clone Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi manages to survive Order 66 (which is when the Clones recieve an order from Palpatine to kill all the Jedi). He discovers the truth of what happened in the Jedi Temple with Anakin, and goes to Mustafar to kill his former Padawan.

Anakin Skywaker, now apprenticed to the Sith lord and known as Darth Vader, is defeated on Mustafar by Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Exile on Tatooine

Following the Jedi Purge, Obi-Wan went into hiding on Tatooine with one of Anakin and Padme’s twin children, Luke Skywalker. In his protection over Luke, he had one final battle with Maul and killed him.

A New Hope

When Luke has grown up, Obi-Wan Kenobi is known as “Ben” and has been watching over the young Skywalker boy for all his life, ensuring no one knows the boy is Anakin’s son.

At the start of A New Hope, Luke Skywalker is forced into hiding with Ben Kenobi after the destruction of his home and death of his family when Stormtroopers come looking for R2-D2 and the information the droid has about the Death Star.

Ben teaches Luke the ways of the Force and gives Luke Anakin’s Lightsaber. Ben’s guidance helped Luke start his journey in helping eventually defeat the Empire, and help Anakin fulfill his destiny as the Chosen One.

However, before he can teach Luke everything, Obi-Wan Kenobi becomes one with the Force during his final duel with Darth Vader. As one with the Force, Kenobi sends Luke to seek out Yoda on Dagobah to complete his training.