The Legends timeline offers a sense of "lived-in" history that the current Canon is still trying to build. It allowed characters to age, fail, and eventually pass the torch. While it is no longer official, it remains a treasure trove of storytelling.
Luke Skywalker establishes a new Jedi Temple on Yavin IV, training a new generation of knights like Kyp Durron. 6. The New Jedi Order Era (25 – 40 ABY) star wars timeline legends
This is the bedrock. Zahn’s Heir to the Empire (1991) single-handedly revived Star Wars before the prequels. Grand Admiral Thrawn—a strategic genius who deduces weaknesses from art and culture—remains the gold standard for Star Wars villains. The trilogy gave us Mara Jade, the Noghri, and a believable post-RotJ struggle. The Legends timeline offers a sense of "lived-in"