The Jedi High Council was the ruling body of the Star Wars’ Jedi Order. From its place in the highest tower of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, the council made its rulings and directed the actions of Jedi across the galaxy. By the time of the Star Wars movies, the Jedi Council’s word was essentially law, with very few Jedi choosing to defy, or even question, the decisions of the esteemed group of Jedi masters.
The council was comprised of five lifetime members, four long-term members and three members with a specified term. That means there were always 12 Jedi masters on the council at any given time. Because of those extended terms, the Jedi Council doesn’t drastically change over the course of the prequel trilogy, but there are some significant changes from movie to movie. Here’s who found themselves without a seat on the Jedi Council over the course of Star Wars' prequel trilogy, and why.
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
The Phantom Menace offered the first look at the Jedi Order that Obi-Wan referenced in A New Hope, and it also showed the first look at the Jedi Council. On the council, the two most senior members were Yoda and Mace Windu. At that time, Yoda was well into his 800s and was easily the council’s most perceptive member. Master Windu was a natural leader and even developed his own lightsaber form called Vaapad.
The other 10 masters at that time are as follows: Plo Koon, a Kel Dor, was the Jedi who found Ahsoka Tano and brought her to the Temple. Ki-Adi-Mundi was a Cerean, who was skeptical of the Sith’s return and later questioned Yoda’s ability to communicate with a deceased Qui-Gon Jinn. Saesee Tinn was an Iktotchi master and one of the best pilots in the Jedi Order. Eeth Koth was an Iridonian Zabrak, who was renowned for his mental disciple even under extreme pain. Even Piell was a short Lannik Jedi master, who was not short of spirit. Yarael Poof was a Quermian, who specialized in Jedi mind tricks. Oppo Rancisis was a Thisspiasian Jedi master and expert tactician. Adi Gallia was a Tholothian, who was also known for her piloting skills. Depa Billaba was a human female from Chalacta, who was apprentice to Master Windu and later master to Caleb Dume. Yaddle, who is the same species as Yoda, added compassion and patience to the council’s proceedings.
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
Ten years later, during Attack of the Clones, there were minimal changes to the Jedi Council; only two members were different. The first change was the death of Yarael Poof, shortly before the start of the Clone Wars. The second change is the disappearance of Master Yaddle. In Legends continuity, she saved a planet from destruction by absorbing a massive bomb, but her canon fate is less definite. All that's known is that she stepped away from the Jedi Council, but many have theorized that she survived Order 66.
The two Jedi that replaced Masters Poof and Yaddle were Shaak Ti and Coleman Trebor. When the Clone Wars began, Master Ti, a Togrutan, oversaw the training of the clone army on Kamino. Master Trebor was a Vurk, who was known for his harmonious meditation skills. However, Master Trebor was killed before the end of the movie by Jango Fett, which left his seat open for another master.
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
Although there are only three years leading up to Revenge of the Sith, this is where most of the changes happen on account of the chaos and deaths during the Clone Wars. First, Kit Fisto replaced Master Trebor. Fisto was a Nautolan Jedi, who was instrumental in a number of Clone Wars conflicts. The next major change happened when Master Even Piell died. He was captured by the Separatists and sent to the Citadel prison. The Jedi mounted a rescue mission, which successfully extracted Captain Wilhuff Tarkin, but Master Piell died in the effort. The reputable and quick-witted Obi-Wan Kenobi replaced Piell on the council.
Master Depa Billaba was a general during the Clone Wars, but after receiving grave injuries in a lightsaber fight with General Grievous, she spent six months in a coma. During that time, Billaba was replaced by the Ongree Master Coleman Kcaj. Although not much is known about him, Kcaj did survive Order 66. The next council casualty was Master Gallia, who was brutally killed by Savage Opress. Her seat was taken by her cousin, the Tholothian Stass Allie.
Eeth Koth had been on the council for years, but during the Clone Wars, he started to develop some extreme ideas, possibly even connected to the Dark Side of the Force. Following this, he was removed from the council and replaced by the Zabrak Agen Kolar, who was a renowned lightsaber combatant. Another change came when Anakin Skywalker was admitted to the Jedi Council during the events of Revenge of the Sith. He took the seat of Oppo Rancisis, but the reason why the seat was vacant has not been explained. It wasn’t because of Rancisis’ death, though, because the Thisspiasian master also survived the Jedi Purge.
After Revenge of the Sith, almost all of these masters were dead – shot down by clones or killed by Darth Sidious or Darth Vader. Of the survivors, only Yoda and Obi-Wan’s fates were explained in the original Star Wars trilogy. It has been confirmed, however, that Coleman Kcaj and Oppo Rancisis survived, and maybe Yaddle as well.