The Sith (which formed in the Republic's early years) returns to their original strength and invade Malachor. The first Sith War begins, which leads to the demise of the first Republic. The power of the new Sith Empire increases as the Republic's decreases. The Republic and Jedi forces fail to keep the Empire's Forces out of Republic Space. Soon, the Sith become a second superpower. Around this time, an ancestor of Pre Vizsla steals the darksaber from the Jedi Temple. Around 1000 years prior to "Star Wars", the Dark Age begins and the Republic finally collapses. Right before the collapse, though, the Liberation of Coruscant occurs, and the Empire collapses. Soon the Republic reforms and demilitarizes at the Ruusan Reformation, shortly after the Seventh Battle of Ruusan.