Anakin Skywalker’s Timeline Explained: From Birth to Defeat

One of the most iconic characters of all time in Star Wars and fiction is Anakin Skywalker, AKA Darth Vader. The first six Star Wars films are all about the tragedy of Anakin becoming Darth Vader. Through the films, Anakin has had a very eventful and heartbreaking life, from when he first joined the Jedi to his rise and fall as Darth Vader. There is much to cover, but don’t worry; we will simplify it all. Here is the entire timeline of Anakin Skywalker explained!

This article will contain spoilers for ‘Ahsoka‘; read at your own risk!

Anakin was born in 41 BBY

Anakin was born in 41 BBY on the desert planet of Tatooine. He is the son of Shmi Skywalker but had no father as he was conceived from the Force. Anakin and his mother were slaves owned by junk dealer Watto.  Anakin was known for being a great Pod Racer and would enter races frequently. When Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn went to Tatooine, they found Anakin and sensed he was strong with the force. Amongst all of this, Anakin falls for Padme Amidala, who is with them, which then plays a major part in his future. 

Anakin becomes Padawan in 32 BBY

Qui-Gon realizes that Anakin is the Chosen One and deals with Watto to free Anakin from slavery if he wins the Pod Race. They then discover that only Anakin can be freed, and his mother has to remain. Qui-Gon promises Shmi that  Anakin will become a Jedi, but when he takes him to the Jedi Council, they hesitate to train him as he is too old.  When Darth Maul kills Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan promises to train Anakin, resulting in young Skywalker becoming Obi-Wan’s apprentice.

Anakin marries Padme in 22 BBY

During his time as a Padawan, Anakin once again encounters Padme Amidala while on a mission with Obi-Wan Kenobi.  Due to the attempted assassination of Padme, the Jedi send Anakin to protect her, and the two of them go to her home planet, Naboo. This results in Anakin sharing his feelings with her; she initially rejects him because he is a Jedi and her title.  During this time, Anakin is haunted by dreams of his mother’s death and attempts to free her from the Sand People. 

After she dies in his arms, Anakin slaughters the Sand People and admits all of this to Padme. When Anakin and Padme discover Obi-Wan is held captive, they go to Geonosis to free him. This takes them to the Battle of Geonosis, where Padme admits her feelings to Anakin. After losing his arm to Count Dooku, Anakin and Padme get married, which also takes place at the beginning of the Clone Wars.  

Anakin takes part in Clone Wars from 22 BBY to 19 BBY 

Between 22 BBY and 19 BBY, the Clone Wars began, and Anakin became a Jedi Knight. Due to the nature of the war, many Padawans were promoted very early in their career, and Anakin Skywalker was among them.

During this time, Anakin also got his very own Padawan, Ahsoka Tano. Throughout the Clone Wars, the two of them went on many battles alongside Obi-Wan Kenobi.  Anakin was a general in the 501st Legion of Clone Troopers and became a very respected general and warrior during the war.  Near the war’s end, Anakin and Obi-Wan go on a mission to rescue Chancellor Palpatine from Count Dooku and General Grievous. After defeating Dooku, Anakin and Obi-Wan return to Coruscant when Anakin finds out Padme is pregnant. 

Anakin becomes Darth Vader in 19 BBY

After finding out Padme is pregnant, Anakin starts to get visions of her death during childbirth. This makes him want to become a Jedi Master, which the Jedi Council refuses. Chancellor Palpatine uses this to seduce Anakin to the Dark Side of the Force. Initially, Anakin rejects him and informs Mace Windu who Palpatine is. After regretting his decision, Anakin tries to convince Windu to spare Palpatine. When Mace refuses, Anakin chops his arm off to prevent him from striking Palpatine, which leads to Palpatine killing Windu. 

Anakin then pledges himself to Palpatine, who then makes him his apprentice. After wiping out the Jedi, Anakin gets into a battle with Obi-Wan on Mustafar, and he loses, which results in him losing his limbs and being engulfed in lava. He then gets his iconic suit and learns that he killed Padme, fully becoming Darth Vader.

Time between ‘Revenge of the Sith’ and ‘A New Hope’  19 BBY – 0 BBY 

Between the two trilogies, Vader hunts down the remaining Jedi and fights other Jedi like Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger. He also has a rematch with Obi-Wan, which results in his helmet being cracked and only increases his anger. Vader reunites with his old Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, and they end up in a battle in which they barely survive. 

Darth Vader killed Obi-Wan Kenobi in 0 BBY 

When Obi-Wan and Luke Skywalker learn that the Empire has Leia Organa captive, they join Han Solo and Chewbacca to save her. This takes them to the Death Star, where Obi-Wan and Vader get into a duel. Obi-Wan realizes that he must sacrifice himself for others to escape, and Vader uses this moment to take revenge and strike Kenobi down. The Death Star later gets destroyed by Luke Skywalker during the Battle of Yavin.

Darth Vader tells Luke the truth in 3 ABY

Shortly before the events of ‘Empire Strikes Back,’ Vader discovers that Luke Skywalker is his son. He then traps Leia, Han Solo, and Chewbacca to lure Luke Skywalker to him. This results in a battle when Vader reveals to Luke that he is his father. He tries to seduce Luke to the Dark Side and fails when Luke escapes.

Darth Vader comes back to the light in 4 ABY

During the Battle of Endor, Luke surrenders himself to Darth Vader and the Emperor to try to bring Anakin Skywalker back. After overpowering Vader in battle, Luke throws away his Lightsaber and refuses to kill his father. This causes the Emperor to unleash Force Lightning on Luke. Vader then steps in to save his son and kills Palpatine. Anakin returns and can talk to his son one last time before becoming one with the Force. 

Anakin teaches Ahsoka one last lesson in 9 – 10 ABY

When Ahsoka loses a battle with Baylan Skoll, Anakin returns to teach her one final time. He shows up in the World Between Worlds and takes Ahsoka through her past, teaching her to finally embrace who she is and be sure of her mission. 

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