Despite being thrown into a Naboo melting pit in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Darth Maul ended up returning due to popular demand. But his time spent as Palpatine’s apprentice was crucial to his character arc in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and beyond. Unlike many of the other characters in the prequels, Maul wasn’t oblivious to Palpatine’s overarching plan for the galaxy. Maul knew of the scheme to destroy the Jedi and foresaw the signs of their destruction long before Order 66 came about. Despite Palpatine never intending for him to survive Naboo, Maul’s bitterness drove one of The Clone Wars’ most compelling arcs.
Maul was born on Dathomir in 54 BBY to one of the most powerful Nightsister magic users: Mother Talzin. From the beginning, Maul struggled with anger issues, and this caught the interest of Palpatine. Sidious singled Maul out among the Nightbrothers for his uniquely powerful connection to the Force, and—using his partnership with Mother Talzin—coerced Maul into joining him. Even though Darth Plagueis knew of Maul’s existence, he approved Palpatine training him since Maul was always meant to be cast aside. Nevertheless, Palpatine was setting Darth Maul up as his apprentice-to-be, knowing he would eventually kill Plagueis and take the Sith Master title for himself.
Darth Maul Became Palpatine's Apprentice In 40 BBY
According to the Star Wars: Timelines book by Kristin Baver, Jason Fry, Cole Horton, Amy Richau, and Clayton Sandell, Darth Maul officially became Palpatine’s apprentice in 40 BBY. This means Darth Maul was only 14 years old when he was given to the Sith. For the next 8 years until he Phantom Menace, Maul endured Palpatine’s cruel training to become the perfect Sith assassin. All the while, Palpatine fed Maul lies about his special role in the grand plan for the destruction of the Jedi.
Even after being disgraced by Palpatine, Maul tried to secure his own apprentice by attempting to convert Ahsoka Tano in The Clone Wars season 7, as well as Ezra Bridger in Star Wars Rebels. Maul clung to the lies Palpatine told him about him being destined for power and struggled to break free of his master's plan for the galaxy. Nevertheless, Palpatine had only ever given Maul the tools to perform his job: revealing the Sith to the Jedi. Though he was trained from a young age, Maul was only capable of becoming a lesser-copy of Palpatine.
Palpatine Moved On To Dooku As Soon As Maul Died
Despite Palpatine’s interest in Maul, he only ever viewed Maul as a stepping stone to a more powerful apprentice. It’s unlikely that Maul met Count Dooku, but Dooku likely suspected Palpatine had more agents than himself. Palpatine loved to play favorites among his apprentices. While he promised an important role to Maul, he was already lining up his next apprentice by converting Dooku to the dark side. Later, Palpatine would repeat this same trick by casting aside Dooku in favor of Anakin Skywalker, and again in Return of the Jedi with Luke and Vader. But Maul was Palpatine’s first apprentice, and he spent nearly a decade training for his debut in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.