The Jedi Order, also known as the New Jedi Order under Luke Skywalker and poetically referred to as the Knights of the Republic, was an ancient monastic religious and peacekeeping order united in their devotion and observance of the Force, specifically the light side. During most of Galactic Republic's history, the Jedi Order aided the Republic in keeping order and harmony in the galaxy. The Jedi Order was perhaps the organization devoted to studying the Force most well-known by the general public. Led by a series of Jedi Councils, during its long history the Order experienced ages of prosperity and ages of decline or collapse. The Sith were considered the mortal enemies of the Jedi, as they aspired to rid the galaxy of the Order and the Republic to achieve their goal of galactic domination.
