Many fans feel the newer Star Wars films weren’t kind to Leia and Han Solo, but the older Expanded Universe stories – now called “Legends” and no longer considered official canon – treated them just as poorly, if not worse. In those stories, Leia and Han had three children. One son, Anakin Solo, died in a war, and his older brother, Jacen, endured terrible torture. However, Jacen’s most disturbing storyline came later, when the writers took his character in a shocking direction that many believe influenced the creation of Kylo Ren in the current canon.
The “Legacy of the Force” storyline took a dark turn when Jacen Solo became a Sith Lord. Later stories revealed he hadn’t willingly chosen this path, but had been subtly corrupted by a hidden Sith Master named Vergere. Jacen fell to the dark side, took on his brother’s former love, Tahiri Veila, as his apprentice, and ultimately died in a confrontation with his sister. The plot twist was shocking, and surprisingly, a fan contest was even incorporated into the story.
Jacen Solo’s Sith Name Was Decided by the Fans
In 2006, Lucasfilm held a contest called “Darth Who” to let fans name a new Sith Lord. Subscribers to the official Star Wars website in the US could each submit one name. Authors Troy Denning, Aaron Allston, and Karen Traviss narrowed the submissions down to the top five, which were revealed on January 23, 2007. Fans then had a month to vote for their favorite.
- Darth Archeron – named after the river over which Charon ferries the dead to Hades
- Darth Caedus – from a Latin word meaning cutting down, killing, or slaughter
- Darth Judicar – derived from the word Adjudicator
- Darth Paxis – a variant of pax, referencing a Sith Lord who believes he is bringing an imperial peace
- Darth Taral – a variant of tare, “in chemistry, an empty vessel similar to one being used in an experiment and placed beside it to show or counter balance any change in its weight”
Interestingly, fans weren’t aware of who they were voting to name as a Sith Lord. At the time, the Star Wars: Legacy comics presented a far-future storyline, leading many to think Jaina Solo, Jacen’s sister, would become Darth Krayt. However, that idea was quickly proven wrong when the contest launched, revealing fans had been looking at the wrong member of the Solo family.
Darth Caedus emerged as the victor, and his story has become a significant part of Star Wars lore. While the ‘Legacy of the Force’ storyline isn’t currently considered official canon, it was incredibly popular for years and had a lasting impact on that particular version of the Star Wars universe. Unfortunately, it’s also remembered as one of the darkest and most tragic stories in the franchise.
Jacen’s Fall to the Dark Side Was a Sad End for a Solo
Longtime Star Wars fans who enjoyed the older stories sometimes say the ‘Legends’ continuity was consistently well-planned. However, that’s not entirely accurate – like any long-running series, it had many changes and retcons over time. For example, the character Jacen Solo was central to a major change in Jedi beliefs, moving them away from the traditional idea of a strict light side versus dark side. The Dark Nest trilogy suggested the Jedi were starting to believe the dark side could be used for good, which wasn’t quite what earlier stories intended, and the Legacy of the Force series further emphasized this new direction.
The “Legacy of the Force” storyline dramatically changed the Jedi’s path, reverting to older ways except for Jacen, who still thought the dark side had potential. Unbeknownst to everyone, Jacen was being secretly influenced by the Sith Lord Vergere, who was grooming him to join the dark side. This change was a major rewrite of established storylines – particularly Matt Stover’s critically acclaimed novel Traitor – and frustrated many fans. It ultimately led to a devastating conclusion where Jaina Solo was forced to kill her twin brother. The ending was even more tragic than the one in The Rise of Skywalker, as it involved the death of a beloved character and a permanent loss for the Solo family.
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2026-04-05 03:10