Darth Maul secretly built his own Sith Empire during the Dark Times in the Star Wars universe. In the Sith way, betrayal is common, and Maul experienced this firsthand. He was the finest apprentice of Darth Sidious. But the Sith lord cast him aside when he was no longer used to his dark schemes.
Not the first time Sidious killed off his disciple. He sent Anakin to do away with Count Dooku himself. Surprisingly, Maul taught Sidious an important lesson: even if an apprentice seems like a failure, they can still achieve great things.
How Powerful Was Darth Maul?
Maul, as Darth Sidious’ apprentice, received extensive training to become a formidable Sith weapon. His training moulded him into an agile and highly skilled warrior capable of relentless pursuit of his foes. Armed with a double-bladed lightsaber, he mastered various lightsaber combat styles.
However, his overconfidence and not picking up Jinn’s lightsaber led to his defeat. Later, after coming out of exile, he outperformed Kenobi in several fights, including one on Raydonia, but their duel on Florrum ended in a draw. He is also a classic example of how arrogance kills a warrior in one fell moment.
Undermining His Own Master
He followed the Sith playbook to undermine Palpatine. While the Jedi believed the Sith were wiped out a thousand years ago, they secretly plotted to destroy the Jedi.
This plan involved infiltrating the Republic and gradually corrupting it, turning it against its own leaders and protectors. Maul did something similar with Crimson Dawn and other crime cartels, recruiting many Empire agents as his assets.
He spent decades building these connections, even involving high-ranking generals like General Veers from The Empire Strikes Back. After all, he is a Sith in body and spirit. Darth Maul lightsaber was always up for rebellion.
A Man With His Own Legacy

He followed the Sith Rule of Two, and it’s easy to see Dryden Vos, Crimson Dawn’s leader, as his apprentice. Vos was a skilled fighter, trained in a martial art designed to stand up against Force users. What’s noticeable is that Maul had to adjust to a galaxy where Force users were rare.
Darth Vader and the Imperial Inquisitors hunted down and eliminated potential threats, leaving Maul with no Force-sensitive allies. He had to recruit and make the best of the situation. It was a grim time for him but typical of his characteristics, he survived.
The Rule of Two
When Darth Bane made the Rule of Two, he wanted to make sure the Sith would continue even after his death. He shared this goal, and Marvel Comics’ “Crimson Reign” story confirmed that his plan succeeded. Although Maul didn’t live to take revenge on the Sith, Qi’ra led a violent rebellion by the galaxy’s crime syndicates against Palpatine.
While her rebellion didn’t completely succeed, it helped the Rebel Alliance and exposed Palpatine’s true nature to many. This made it impossible for the Sith to stay hidden in the Star Wars galaxy. Darth Maul Clone Wars was a different beast altogether.
Maul’s Worthy Successor
E.K. Johnston’s Crimson Climb tells the story of how Qi’ra, Han Solo’s first love, climbed the ranks of Crimson Dawn. It follows the Rule of Two, a pattern seen throughout the organization. Qi’ra becomes Dryden Vos’ apprentice, and as she rises in power, she knows she must eventually kill her master to take his place.
This pattern always requires two individuals; one desires power, and the other wields it. As shown in Solo: A Star Wars Story, Qi’ra did indeed kill Dryden Vos and became Maul’s second-in-command. It was a wonderful continuation of his legend.
What are Some Controversial Opinions on Him?
Maul could have restarted the Sith Legacy Line. He was highly qualified among Sidious’ apprentices. If he had chosen to train a group of night brother children in another world, hidden with strong dark or light side energy, it would have been believable.
A Sith line led by Maul would have had a poetic aspect, showing that even though Anakin brought balance to the Force, peace can’t last forever. This would also teach us that there are shades of grey; people like Maul can have light side desires, such as the need for family and purpose, while individuals like Luke and Anakin can fall to the dark side if they aren’t careful. All in all, Darth Maul actor Ray Park has done a commendable job.
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