Clone Wars

The Clone Wars were the start of the dark times. The war revolved around the Jedi Order and the Republic, versus the Sith and the Confederacy of Independent Systems.

Darth Sidious, who incidently controlled both sides of the conflict, enabled himself to becoming the ruler of the galaxy eliminating the unknowing Jedi, and giving him a legion of unswervering army and war machines. This war became the precedent to the establishment of the Galactic Empire.