Did Obi-Wan Know Palpatine Was Darth Sidious Before the Battle of Mustafar?

The plot of the Star Wars saga is filled with twists and turns that keep fans guessing. One of the more intriguing questions revolves around the timeline and knowledge of the true identity of Darth Sidious. Did Obi-Wan Kenobi know that Palpatine was Darth Sidious before the climactic battle on Mustafar? This article delves into the evidence and conjecture surrounding this pivotal moment in the story.

The Evidence

Yes, Obi-Wan had multiple clues that suggested Palpatine's true identity. The evidence can be traced back to several key moments in the narrative:

The Naming of Darth Vader

One of the most crucial pieces of evidence is the security records that Obi-Wan witnessed prior to the Battle of Mustafar. According to these records, on the day of the Battle of Mustafar, Obi-Wan saw Anakin Skywalker kneel before Palpatine and become Darth Vader. This moment was a clear indication that something sinister was afoot. (Star Wars Fandom)

Suspicion Evident in the Senate

Before the events of the Battle of Mustafar, Obi-Wan and other Jedi had been suspicious of Palpatine's actions. In the early days of Rogue One: Star Wars Story and in Season 7 of The Clone Wars, we see that the Jedi began to suspect that the Chancellor was the true Sith Lord, known as Darth Sidious. For instance, Obi-Wan was told about Sidious on Geonosis, where Dooku revealed the existence of the Sith Lord through Nute Gunray. Although Dooku didn't explicitly name himself as Sidious, the revelation was enough to prompt Obi-Wan to inform the Jedi Council about the investigation into Dooku's true identity.

Timeline of Discovery

While Obi-Wan knew about the existence of Darth Sidious, he didn't know specifically that Palpatine was Sidious until after Order 66. Following the events of Order 66, when the Jedi were targeted for extermination, Obi-Wan and Yoda discovered the truth. This realization came when they viewed the security footage from the Jedi Temple, witnessing the moment Anakin became Darth Vader. At this point, it was too late for Obi-Wan to intervene or alter the course of events. (Star Wars Fandom)

Conclusion

It is clear that Obi-Wan Kenobi had suspicions about Palpatine's true identity, as evidenced by the security records and the revelations on Geonosis. However, he did not know for certain that Palpatine was Darth Sidious until after the Order 66. The Battle of Mustafar was the culmination of a long and dark journey for Anakin Skywalker, where he fully embraced his dark side and became Darth Vader under the tutelage of Palpatine.

The traditional Sith pairing of Master and Apprentice played out with Dooku serving as Sidious' Apprentice, and Anakin fulfilling the role on Coruscant. Similarly, Gaar was the Apprentice to Darth Mannon, creating a parallel with the Jedi Order's internal structure.

The question of whether Obi-Wan could have stopped the events leading to the Battle of Mustafar is a subject of much debate. Given Palpatine's cunning and ability to misdirect, it's likely that even if Obi-Wan had suspected both the existence of a Sith and the true identity of Palpatine, he might have struggled to act in time to prevent Anakin's transformation. Nevertheless, the knowledge of Sidious' plan and the Sith's nature explained much of the chaos that followed.