10 Things You Didn’t Know About General Grievous
Throughout the time of the Clone Wars, there was an enemy who was feared by clones and Jedi alike. That, of course, was none other than the fearless supreme commander of the Droid Army, General Grievous. Here are ten things you didn’t know about the great general:
10. His Homeworld
Grievous was a Kaleesh, originally from the planet Kalee. His real name was Qymaen jai Sheelal, yet renamed Grievous due to his extreme and barbaric actions in war. The Kaleesh were a race of warriors, bred for combat since birth. They resembled a humanoid-reptilian species, with several bat features on their faces. They also usually did not display their faces during war, as they wore masks for combat.
9. The Lair of Grievous
During the first season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, we were introduced to a very mysterious place. While on a mission, Kit Fisto and his apprentice managed to wander inside General Grievous’ mysterious lair. Within the lair, Fisto and his apprentice discovered a little bit of Grievous’ past, and his mighty lightsaber collection.
8. When Did He Become A Cyborg?
As discussed before, Grievous was originally a Kaleesh from the planet Kalee. And in the Star Wars Ultimate Visual Guide, we discover his cyborg origins. Palpatine and Dooku saw him as a threat, so they blew up his ship and recovered his body. With most of his body destroyed, Grievous was taken to Geonosis, and assembled to be a cyborg. Then he was given the title to rule over the Separatists' Droid Army.
7. Grievous’s First Appearance
Many believe that the mysterious General was first introduced in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. However, he was actually introduced in the 2003’s animated series Clone Wars, as a silent, yet deadly Jedi killer.
6. Did He Enjoy His Cybernetic Body?
Although Grievous never knew that it was Dooku himself who turned him into a machine, he hated his new body. Only his brain and several internal organs were left of his Kaleesh body. Grievous hated this body so much, he reveled by using a cloak from his home world, as well as dressing his guards with Kaleesh cloaks.
5. His Lightsaber Collection
Grievous was famous for being the only non-Force sensitive being in the whole Skywalker saga to duel with lightsabers. He carried four sabers in total all the time. These sabers were trophies for him, as they represented all the Jedi and Padawans he had killed.
4. First Lightsaber
After his transformation, Grievous was assigned to command the Droid Army. He was also given his very first lightsaber, which belonged to the deceased Sifo-Dyas. After receiving his first saber, Grievous was trained in the Jedi arts by Count Dooku himself, in order to continue his duty as a merciless assassin.
3. The Fate of His Mask After His Death
According to Legends' The Story of General Grievous: Lord of War, years after Grievous was defeated in Utapau by Obi-Wan Kenobi, his face/mask was recovered by the Empire, and sent as an art piece for none other than Grand Admiral Thrawn, who was famous for collecting old war relics and displaying them as a fine art piece.
2. Grievous’ Cough
The general’s signature coughing was recognized by any soldier and Jedi in the Clone Wars era, yet many still don’t know where it came from. In the last episode of Clone Wars (2003), before Grievous takes Chancellor Palpatine away, Mace Windu uses the Force to crush Grievous’s chest, permanently damaging his lungs, and giving him his signature cough. However, in canon, he has the cough as early as his first appearance in the 2008 The Clone Wars TV show.
1. The creation of Grievous’ cough
During production of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, George Lucas wanted to give Grievous a special characteristic. So one day, he has the idea that maybe Grievous could have an old man’s cough. Matthew Wood (the voice of General Grievous) was walking by the recording booth one day, and saw George in the sound booth, coughing. The sound was recorded and altered. Now, every time you hear Grievous’ coughs, you’ll be hearing George Lucas’ coughs.
General Grievous was not only one of the best antagonists of the Clone Wars era, but also a force to be reckoned with. He was a skilled opponent, and even before Order 66, many Jedi fell to his blade.
Source(s): Wookieepedia