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The Star Wars universe is full of characters who only appear on screen for a minute or two but manage to leave a lasting impression. From the ill-fated Greedo in Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope to the Crimson Corsair featured briefly in Star Wars: Episode VII-The Force Awakens, no Star Wars character is too minor to get an action figure and their own book or comic. One such character is the mysterious Jedi Master Yaddle.
Who is Yaddle?
Yaddle is a female member of the same species as fellow Jedi Master Yoda and Grogu. She is only the third member of the small green humanoids—often referred to simply as “Yoda’s species”—ever to be observed in the Star Wars universe. She claimed to have no relation to Master Yoda outside of the Jedi Order but looked up to the older Jedi regardless and even considered him a mentor.
Yaddle’s features were almost identical to Yoda’s, with the only exception being a mane of red hair starting from the top of her head and continuing past her shoulders.
Yaddle was considered wise even among the Jedi and was revered for her patience and kindness. She was known for spending a large chunk of her time studying in the Jedi Archives, but despite her bookish demeanor, Yaddle was more than capable of operating out in the field. To date, Yaddle’s sole live-action appearance in the Star Wars universe was a scene in Star Wars: Episode I-The Phantom Menace, where she appeared as a member of the Jedi High Council on Coruscant.
History of Yaddle
Early Life
Yaddle was born on an undisclosed planet in the year 509 BBY—or 509 years before the battle of Yavin. She was much younger than Jedi Grand Master Yoda, who was born several hundred years earlier in 896 BBY. However, she still displayed her species’ signature longevity, as evidenced by the fact that she was 477 years old when she appeared in The Phantom Menace.
At some point, like most children who end up training with the Jedi, Yaddle was found to be Force-sensitive and brought to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant for training. She excelled in her training and eventually earned the rank of Jedi Master.
Role as Jedi Master
Yaddle was active during a period in the Star Wars Galaxy known as the High Republic Era. During this golden age of the Republic, she tutored a promising youngling called Cippa Tarko. In 382 BBY, Yaddle and Cippa Tarko fought together against a threat known as the Path of the Open Hand, a Jedi-hating cult that despised anyone with the ability to wield the force.
Later, during the High Republic Era, Yaddle became the Jedi in charge of training all the younglings at the Jedi temple.
Jedi High Council Member
In the waning years of the Galactic Republic, Yaddle sat on the Jedi High Council along with her mentor, Yoda, and a Jedi known as Oppo Rancisis, a Thisspiasian that Yaddle trained as a Padawan. Yaddle was a part of the Jedi High Council during the events of The Phantom Menace when Qui-Gon Jinn brought a young boy named Anakin Skywalker to Coruscant, claiming that he was the chosen one of Jedi legend.
Following Qui-Gon’s death at the Battle of Naboo, she observed the Jedi’s former master, Count Dooku, acting suspiciously and decided to pursue him secretly to determine what he was up to, leading to her death.
Powers and Abilities
Yaddle was skilled in the usual Jedi arts, such as telekinesis, but was also known to dabble in some lesser-known Force powers. She was proficient in morichro—a seldom used ancient Jedi art that allowed the user to slow an opponent’s bodily functions to the point of death. She utilized lightsaber forms III and IV when dueling and preferred a fighting style similar to Master Yoda’s, where she would leap and twist about quickly during lightsaber combat. Also, like Master Yoda, she wielded a green lightsaber with a shorter-than-normal blade, known as a shoto lightsaber.
How did Yaddle die?
During her pursuit of Count Dooku, Yaddle stumbled across the Sith plot to overthrow the Jedi order. In the 4th episode of the Disney+ animated anthology Tales of the Jedi, “The Sith Lord,” Yaddle discovers the existence of Darth Sidious, who commands his new Sith apprentice, Count Dooku, to kill Master Yaddle so he can complete his journey to the dark side. Yaddle fought bravely against Dooku, but in the end, the Count proved too powerful for her, and she met her end at his hands.
Behind the Scenes
Yaddle first appeared as a concept sketch Iain McCaig did for The Phantom Menace as a possible design for a younger Yoda. George Lucas liked it enough to have a puppet built and included in the Jedi Council scene. Though she is never named onscreen, the credits for The Phantom Menace identify her as Yaddle. Phil Eason operated the original Yaddle puppet, while actress Bryce Dallas Howard voiced Yaddle in Tales of the Jedi.
Notable Appearances
- Star Wars: Episode I-The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi — “The Sith Lord” (2022)
- The High Republic: Out of the Shadows (2021)
- The High Republic: Cataclysm (2023)
