The Great Jedi Purge, also known as Palpatine's Purge and the Second Jedi Purge, referred to the efforts initiated by the Sith Lord Darth Sidious upon his creation of the Galactic Empire in 19 BBY to eradicate the Jedi Order. It resulted in the near-annihilation of the Jedi, as it had been with the First Jedi Purge that occurred after the Jedi Civil War in 3,956 BBY. The purge officially began with Order 66 following a botched attempt by Mace Windu and three other Jedi to arrest the chancellor. The order declared the Jedi enemies of the Galactic Republic and ordered the Grand Army of the Republic to turn on them.