Padmé Amidala

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Padmé Amidala
Biographical information
Homeworld	Naboo[1]
Born	46 BBY (11BrS), Naboo [2]
Died	19 BBY (16:5:26), Polis Massa[3]
Physical description
Species	Human[1]
Gender	Female[1]
Height	1.65 meters[2]
Hair color	Brown[1]
Eye color	Brown[1]
Chronological and political information
Era(s)	Rise of the Empire era[3]
Affiliation	Royal House of Naboo[1] Galactic Republic[1] Delegation of 2000[3] Galactic Empire[3] Alliance to Restore the Republic[3]

[Source]

Padmé Amidala of Naboo (born Padmé Naberrie, known as Her Royal Highness, Queen Amidala of Naboo, from 33 BBY to 24 BBY, and as Her Excellency, Senator Padmé Amidala of Naboo, from 24 BBY until her death) was the younger daughter of Ruwee and Jobal Thule Naberrie, and the sister of Sola Naberrie. Later in her life, Amidala became the secret wife of Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and the mother of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa Solo, two of the most important figures in Galactic history. She was also the grandmother of Jaina, Jacen, and Anakin Solo, as well as Ben Skywalker. This relationship made her great-grandmother of Allana, Jacen Solo's daughter, and an ancestor of Nat, Kol, and Cade Skywalker.

Amidala was the democratically elected Queen of Naboo before representing the Chommell sector as a Senator in the Galactic Senate. As Queen of Naboo, Amidala helped liberate her people during the Trade Federation's invasion in 32 BBY, thus becoming one of the most respected political figures in the galaxy. Throughout her relatively short life, she played a vital role in the politics and events surrounding the Clone Wars, where Amidala and other senators were responsible for creating the foundation for any chance of rebellion.

Biography

Early life (46 BBY–33 BBY)

A young Princess Amidala.

Padmé was the youngest daughter of Ruwee and Jobal Thule Naberrie, and the sister of Sola Naberrie.^[4] Born Padmé Naberrie in 46 BBY,^[5] Amidala grew up in an isolated mountain village where her parents instilled in their children high virtues like self-sacrifice and care for the socially weak.^[4] Her family moved to Theed when she was young, and Padmé attended the best schools available to her, enjoying occasional class retreats to Naboo's lake country. In her youth she volunteered for the Refugee Relief Movement, like her father had before her, and journeyed to Shadda-Bi-Boran to aid in the relocation efforts of the natives. Sadly, many of these refugees died when they were unable to adapt to life on another world. Following this, she entered the Legislative Youth Program, where she met a young man named Palo. A brief, innocent relationship followed, but the pair parted ways when Palo became an artist, and Padmé continued in politics.^[4] She never did forget her past or her heritage, however; even after she reached the top, Amidala still maintained her village's tradition of painting her fingernails stark white, a small but notable sign of her dedication to her family.^[6]

Amidala's rise was meteoric—she had joined the Apprentice Legislature at age eight and became a full Apprentice Legislator by age eleven.^[4] During this time, she first met Silya Shessaun, her workshop mentor. The two would meet again as senators, and share a close bond.^[7] By 33 BBY, at the age of thirteen, Padmé Naberrie had become Princess of Theed, where she was a magnet for personalities opposed to the rule of King Veruna.^[source?]

She became involved in a relationship with Ian Lago, the young son of Veruna's chief counselor. Both families opposed the match, but it ended of its own accord when Veruna abdicated and Amidala was persuaded to enter the race to succeed the King. Her personal popularity and opposition to Veruna's policies ensured her landslide victory and she never saw Ian again.^[8]

Although prodigiously talented, Amidala was still not the youngest Queen of Naboo to ever be elected.^[9] Her birth name was Padmé Naberrie; Amidala was actually a regnal name. In her guise as Queen Amidala, she appeared regal and austere but as Padmé, she was headstrong and compassionate.^[10]

During her tenures as Queen and later as a Senator, Amidala cultivated a cadre of handmaidens, young women of a similar age and with a striking similarity to her. These handmaidens acted as bodyguards, decoys, and confidantes to their mistress, roles devised by Amidala's head of security, Captain Panaka, who insisted the new Queen be trained in self-defense and weapons usage.^[10] While Amidala was Queen her handmaidens included Sabé, Eirtaé, Rabé, Yané and Saché.^[10] During her term as Senator, Amidala's handmaidens included Dormé, Cordé, Versé, and later Moteé and Ellé.^[9]

Once elected Queen, Padmé took the name Amidala, and amended the constitution to limit the rule of elected monarchs to two terms, in light of Veruna's tyrannical rule.^[8]

Queen (33 BBY–24 BBY)

Invasion of Naboo

Queen Amidala during the Trade Federation crisis.

Five months after her election in 33 BBY, Queen Amidala was faced with what would become one of the most significant problems in Naboo history. In protest of the Galactic Senate's decision to tax users of the galaxy's trade routes, Viceroy Nute Gunray of the Trade Federation enforced a blockade on Amidala's home world, Naboo. With few resources of its own, Naboo relied on imports, and the blockade served as the perfect example of the Republic's reliance on trade.^[10]

Amidala tried to use diplomatic and political means to rid her planet of the Trade Federation, yet it was all in vain. The Viceroy—secretly following the orders of Darth Sidious—avoided direct diplomatic efforts, going so far as to order his troops to assassinate the Republic ambassadors that Supreme Chancellor Valorum had secretly dispatched. Unfortunately for him, the ambassadors were Jedi, and shortly after their escape Gunray was ordered to both sabotage all of Naboo's communications systems and deploy his troops for invasion. Amidala refused to condone a course of war for her planet, but the Federation invaded anyway and swept away the RSF defense. When the Federation took Theed, Amidala was hereafter captured at the Palace, but in the guise of a handmaiden; her double, Sabé, assumed the guise of the Queen during this time. Acting on instructions, the decoy refused to sign the treaty authorizing a Federation occupation of Naboo, and they were sentenced to be placed in detention camps. On their way to detention facilities, the retinue—consisting of the false Amidala, her handmaidens, Governor Sio Bibble and Captain Panaka—was soon freed by the Jedi ambassadors Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi, as well as a Gungan named Jar Jar Binks. Though reluctant to leave her people, Amidala (via Sabé) accepted the Jedi's offer to escort her to Coruscant, leaving Bibble and two handmaidens behind.^[10]

Engaging the blockade as the Naboo Royal Starship escaped, total destruction was avoided thanks to the droid R2-D2, whom Amidala commended. However, significant damage was inflicted in the escape, and the ship was forced to land on the remote planet Tatooine. Disguised as the Handmaiden Padmé, Amidala accompanied Jinn, Binks, and R2-D2 into the small town of Mos Espa to search for parts needed to rebuild the ship. It was there that she met a nine-year-old slave, Anakin Skywalker, and formed a close bond with him that would last her entire life. Skywalker offered to take part in the Boonta Eve Classic, a podrace, to win the group enough money to acquire new parts and leave for Coruscant. Though she liked Skywalker, Amidala doubted Jinn's wisdom in placing her planet's fate in a little boy's hands. She reconsidered, however, when Skywalker won.^[10]

The fight for Theed

Arriving on Coruscant, Amidala once again resumed her role as Queen. In preparation for her appearance in the Senate, Senator Palpatine, her planet's representative, warned her of the Senate's corrupt nature, and was proved right when Amidala was unable to acquire immediate help for her people. Following Palpatine's advice, Amidala called for a Vote of No Confidence in the Senate's leader, Finis Valorum. Soon after, Palpatine himself was nominated to succeed Valorum, and eventually won.^[10]

Amidala and Captain Panaka infiltrate Theed's Royal Palace.

However, Amidala decided to ignore his pleas for her to remain on Coruscant until that time, choosing instead to return to Naboo. En route, Amidala revealed to a concerned Qui-Gon Jinn that she planned to unite with the native Gungans, with whom the Naboo had had somewhat bad relations in the past.^[10] Amidala journeyed through the swamps of Naboo, escorted by a the two Jedi and a small posse of Naboo security guards. En route, her party encountered several other droids, as well as Royal Security Force personnel scattered through the swamp. Eventually, Amidala and her party boarded a group of naval transports, which took them to the Gungan sacred place.^[11] Appearing before the Gungan leader Boss Nass, Sabé (still acting as Amidala’s decoy) attempted to convince the Gungans to unify in a bid to oust the Trade Federation. Seeing that this attempt was going nowhere, Amidala decided to reveal her secret identity as a signification of trust. Nass agreed, and the two warring cultures hastily put an end to their dispute to concentrate on a more pressing issue: the occupation of Naboo. Amidala presented her formulated plan to the group, which would consist of her leading a strike team into the Royal Palace and capture the Viceroy, while at the same time the Gungan Grand Army would lead a ground assault to distract the droid armies. Though the plan eventually worked—thanks mostly to Skywalker's effort in destroying the Droid Control Ship and Sabé's distraction—it did not come about without loss, with Qui-Gon Jinn being killed by Darth Maul, who had been sent to help the Neimoidians on Naboo.^[10]

Her actions throughout the crisis earned her immense popularity with the people, and the Naboo and Gungans became officially unified during a celebration in Theed, attended by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and the Jedi Council.^[10]

In 24 BBY, Amidala ended her second term as Queen. Though some on Naboo suggested amending the constitution to allow her to serve a third term, she stayed true to her belief that "popular rule is not democracy". Hereafter, Amidala gave up the throne to her elected successor, Queen Jamillia.^[4]

Senator (24 BBY–19 BBY)

Amidala, during her term as Senator.

Though Amidala had planned to retire into a family life, as her sister Sola had, at Queen Jamillia's urging she was appointed Naboo's representative in the Galactic Senate, succeeding Horace Vancil as the Galactic Senator from the 36th regional state space system. Surprisingly, given her career change, she retained an elaborate fashion sense and a constantly-changing wardrobe. Indeed, due to her enormous support on Naboo, Amidala continued to be granted all the formalities usually restricted to the elected monarch, including distinctive chrome-plating on all of her starships.^[4]

Though she preferred to remain on Naboo, when on the capital Padmé lived in a small penthouse apartment in the Senate Apartment Complex. Though the interior was modest in size and decor compared to other Senatorial residences, the apartment's large veranda boasted a private landing platform as well as a number of luxurious Naboo artifacts.^[3]

Soon, she was one of the leaders of a faction opposed to the establishment of an army to quell the growing Separatist movement. She believed that signaling violence only invited violence in return. Padmé Amidala was also appointed by the Supreme Chancellor to the Loyalist Committee, an exclusive group of Senators who would act as advisers to the Chancellor during the Separatist Crisis. She also served on a team of Republic diplomats that attempted to negotiate a peace with the Separatists, but unfortunately a number of terrorist attacks thwarted the negotiations. Amidala suspected that Dooku, the Count of Serenno,leader of the Separatists, and a former Jedi Master, was behind attacks that ended the negotiations.^[4]

Assassination attempts

Amidala in disguise on Coruscant before the assassination attempt.

In 22 BBY, Amidala was targeted for assassination by an unknown enemy, which she firmly believed to be Count Dooku. An attempt on her life was made by the Clawdite bounty hunter Zam Wesell, resulting in the deaths of Amidala's decoy Cordé, handmaiden Versé, and numerous other security guards on a Coruscant landing platform. Hours later, Amidala appeared in the Senate both to thwart reports of her death and openly criticize her enemies as well as supporters of the Military Creation Act, which she strongly opposed. After a brief conference with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, members of the Loyalist Committee and numerous members of the Jedi Council (including Yoda and Mace Windu), it was decided that Amidala be placed under protection of the Jedi while the matter was being investigated. Padmé held firm her belief that Dooku was behind the attack, but the Jedi—believing a former Jedi to be incapable of murder—remained against that claim.^[4]

Later that day, Amidala was reunited with Anakin Skywalker, now a Padawan to Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, who had been assigned to protect her. After a second assassination attempt by Zam Wesell—who had, under the orders of Jango Fett, placed poisonous kouhuns in her bedroom—which Skywalker and Kenobi were able to prevent from killing her, the Jedi Council determined that Skywalker would escort Amidala to her home world of Naboo for protection while Obi-Wan continued the investigation. As the vote on the Military Creation Act was fast approaching, Chancellor Palpatine had to issue an executive order to an irritated Amidala to return to Naboo. Disguised as a refugee couple from the Thousand Moons system, Amidala and Skywalker traveled discreetly on a freighter ship to Naboo. During the trip they discussed the sacrifice that Anakin's mother made by letting him go to train with the Jedi. Hoping to make him feel better and without knowing she would make the same sacrifice for her own children, Padmé said that what a parent needed for her child was to know that he had been given a chance of a better life.^[4]

To maintain the illusion that the Senator was still on the capital, Captain Typho and handmaiden Dormé stayed behind, with the latter acting as Amidala's decoy. After a meeting with Queen Jamillia, as well as a meal with Amidala's family, she and Anakin took refuge at Varykino, the Naberrie family lake retreat, where the two began to fall in love. It was a forbidden romance, a love that could not be denied. Padmé attempted to dismiss the notion, fearing the repercussions on both her and Anakin's careers. It was against the Jedi Code, and Amidala was not willing to take that risk.^[4]

The nightmares

Amidala on Tatooine.

After Skywalker had a dream of his mother dying, Amidala accompanied him to Tatooine to help find and rescue her. While on Tatooine, they learned that Shmi Skywalker had married a moisture farmer named Cliegg Lars during Anakin's ten-year absence. Lars sadly informed Anakin that Shmi had been kidnapped by Tusken Raiders, and that, after a disastrous search party, all hope for her was lost. Upset and unwilling to give up, Skywalker traveled into the desert to rescue her, leaving Amidala in the care of the Lars family. While there, she got to know Anakin's step-brother Owen Lars and his girlfriend, Beru Whitesun. The couple that would eventually become foster parents to her son, Luke Skywalker. Anakin returned the next morning, carrying the lifeless body of his mother. Skywalker deeply grieved for Shmi's death, and confessed to Amidala his massacre of the Tusken Raider village in which his mother was held captive. Though shocked, Amidala understood his grief and his guilt, attempting to comfort him with the notion that he, like anyone, was only human. During Shmi's funeral, Artoo informed Amidala of a message received by Obi-Wan Kenobi.^[9]

After saying goodbye to the Lars family, the pair viewed the message only to discover that Kenobi had been captured by droidekas on the planet of Geonosis. The message also revealed Count Dooku's involvement in the assassination attempts made on Amidala; the Count was apparently trying to fulfill a deal that would see Padmé's former enemy, Nute Gunray of the Trade Federation, officially join the Separatist movement. Twisting Mace Windu's orders for Anakin to remain with the Senator, Amidala resolved that if Anakin wished to protect her, he would have to follow her to Geonosis in her attempt to rescue Anakin's Master.^[9]

Arriving on Geonosis, Skywalker and Amidala were chased through a droid factory, where Amidala would have no doubt been killed if R2-D2 had not intervened. Captured by battle droids, the pair were sentenced to execution. As they were brought into the Geonosian execution arena, Amidala finally admitted her love for Anakin and the pair shared an intimate kiss. While watched by the Separatist and the Geonosian people, Amidala, Skywalker and Kenobi continually did all they could to fight back against the beasts brought out to kill them. In her own attempts, Amidala was slashed across the back by a nexu. The execution was put on hold as Mace Windu and a Jedi strike team aided in their rescue. The three prisoners together fought in the Battle of Geonosis, where Amidala again proved herself in combat.^[9]

After being separated from the two Jedi during the battle, Amidala pursued them with a squad of clone troopers, only to find both men injured from their duel with Count Dooku, who had escaped. Skywalker himself lost his right forearm in the fight. Though the battle was a victory for the Republic, it was but the first battle in the Clone Wars.^[9]

Marriage (22 BBY)

Amidala and Anakin Skywalker marry in secret on Naboo.

Shortly after the Battle of Geonosis, Amidala married Skywalker at Varykino on Naboo in a secret ceremony performed by Maxiron Agolerga, the Pontifex of the Brotherhood of Cognizance.^[12] R2-D2 and C-3PO were the only witnesses to the wedding. From that moment on, Amidala was also called Padmé Amidala Skywalker, though she never publicly took her new husband's name.^[4]

The only evidence of Amidala's marriage to Skywalker was an official scroll containing their names, which Agolerga placed within the archives of the Brotherhood.^[12] However, Amidala's former head of security during her reign as queen, Panaka, discovered the marriage. He then informed Palpatine of it, who used the information to his advantage in the coming years.^[13]

Clone Wars

With the beginning of hostilities, Amidala's message of diplomacy and restraint was drowned out by the guns of war. She continued to find herself the target of Separatist assassins, which forced her to remain on the capital world. Amidala rarely saw her husband, Anakin Skywalker, who was constantly at the front line, leading clone troopers with Obi-Wan Kenobi.^[14] She maintained a secret correspondence with her husband, and, although she was thrilled about his exploits, Amidala also feared for his safety.^[15]

Four months into the war, Amidala was traveling with Jedi Master Yoda aboard her Naboo yacht when the ancient Jedi sensed a disturbance in the Force, coming from the planet Ilum. Despite Captain Typho's protests, she accompanied Yoda to the world and assisted in the rescue of the Jedi Luminara Unduli and her Padawan Barriss Offee, after battling against three chameleon droids, with some help from R2-D2 and C-3PO.^[16]

Amidala searches for Yoda on Ilum.

Throughout the Clone Wars, Amidala was a source of diplomacy in a decaying Republic. One such example was during the Outer Rim Sieges in which she and Captain Typho travelled to the planet of Bri'ahl to persuade the natives to join the Republic. Coincidentally, Amidala's diplomatic solution would have failed miserably had C-3PO, in his clumsiness, not accidentally crushed a resistance and a contingent of fake clone troopers attempting to murder both the Senator and the planet's President, Vuul, so Bri'ahl would not be carried into the Clone Wars.^[17]

Believing that she could not simply sit back and allow others to defend the Republic's freedoms, Amidala, at the behest of Bail Organa, joined with Sheltay Retrac to reveal the Separatist sympathies of Senator Bezz Drexx.^[18]

During the Clone Wars, Amidala was disliked by many who believed her to be responsible for starting the Clone Wars by her illegal presence on Geonosis.^[source?]

In 20 BBY, Amidala went with Skywalker, Kenobi, and Jedi Siri Tachi to the planet Genian, a neutral planet in the war. The Separatists were pursuing an important codebreaking mechanism invented by Talesan Fry, whom Siri and Kenobi had met decades earlier. Talesan was now the founder of a very wealthy business on Genian. After persuading Talesan to give the device to the Republic, the group was attacked by the bounty hunter Magus.^[19]

Talesan accompanied the Jedi and Amidala to Azure, where the Republic was fighting off more Separatists. Tachi and Amidala took a starfighter to pursue Magus, while Kenobi, Skywalker, and Talesan fought off the attack led by Magus (who was working for the Corporate Alliance). Upon reaching Magus, Amidala was left to fly the ship herself, while Tachi made a desperate leap and landed on Magus’ starfighter. In the end, Amidala and the Jedi were successful, with Magus becoming a prisoner of war, but Tachi died in the effort.^[19]

Separation

Amidala receives her husband's Padawan braid as a gift.

Several months later, on Coruscant, Amidala followed Skywalker into the depths of the city planet, concealing her identity in a blue hooded cloak. Skywalker sensed someone following him and assumed she was someone attempting to attack him. He pulled her into a darkened alleyway and engaged his lightsaber before realizing who she was. They shared an intimate kiss, but with sentients nearby, Amidala shied away. Angered, Skywalker exclaimed that he was tired of hiding their love. She assured him that even in the lowest, darkest levels, she would love him; to which he quipped she did look good in the dark. They shared another kiss, but were interrupted by the cries of C-3PO, who was searching for his mistress. When Skywalker noticed something different about the droid, Amidala pointed out his new gold plating. Skywalker was then called away by Kenobi to, unknown to Anakin, finally be granted the rank of Jedi Knight by the Jedi Council. Soon after, Amidala received Skywalker's severed Padawan braid as a keepsake. She placed it in a box next to the carved japor snippet Skywalker had made for her as a young boy. She sent R2-D2 to deliver a recording of her presenting the astromech droid as a gift to Skywalker.^[20]

Later on in the war, during Skywalker's brief break from the war (granted by the Jedi Council due to his and Kenobi's extended service in the Outer Rim), Amidala reunited with her husband on Naboo. This reunion did not last long, as the couple were shortly interrupted by a suspicious Kenobi, who wanted his former Padawan to help him hunt down Asajj Ventress, one of Count Dooku's dark disciples. Skywalker, believing himself to have killed the Dark Jedi, was offended, but he was persuaded by Amidala to accompany his master. This would be the last time Amidala would see her husband until the war came to the capital.^[21] At some point, when he received his scar, Anakin came to Naboo to be with his wife, where they spent the night together.^[22]

While Anakin and his new Padawan learner Ahsoka Tano, were searching for Jabba's son, Rotta on Teth, Amidala went to meet with Jabba's uncle Ziro at his palace on Coruscant.Her objective was to convince Ziro to side with the Jedi, and let her contact Jabba, himself, who believed the Jedi kidnapped Rotta and had him killed. But Ziro had no interest in what she had to say, and had Padme ushered out. But she escaped her IG-unit guard and eavesdropped on Ziro's conversation with Dooku, who were conspiring to take over Jabba's empire, and spoke of themselves being Rotta's kidnappers. But she was discovered and locked away. Battle droids took her comlink and blaster, but Padme outwitted them and tricked one into activating her comlink as Threepio was trying to contact her. She quickly explained her predicament before a droid smashed the device. Because of this, Ziro planned her disposed of in an "accident". But at the last moment, Threepio led a squad of Coruscant Guard troopers to rescue her. They destroyed all of his droid guards, and captured Ziro. Amidala then contacted Jabba, just as he was about to execute Anakin and Ahsoka for allegedly kidnapping Rotta. Amidala showed him Ziro's confession. She then negotiated Republic passage through Hutt space.

Reunion

In 19 BBY, Amidala was present on Coruscant when General Grievous and the Separatist army made an attack on the capital, kidnapping Chancellor Palpatine in the process. Though now pregnant with Skywalker's children, the Senator still proved able in combat, helping to lead the evacuation of the Senate Apartment Complex. Later, assisted by Jedi Council members Shaak Ti and Stass Allie, Amidala and Senators Bail Organa and Mon Mothma were able to acquire a small transport to take them to one of the Senate Complex’s bomb shelters. En route, the trio of Senators were forced to engage in combat with droid starfighters, with Amidala again proving extremely efficient with a blaster.^[23]

Once Palpatine had been rescued and Grievous' capital ship crash-landed on Coruscant by Skywalker, Kenobi, and R2-D2, Amidala was reunited with her husband in the shadows of the Republic Executive Office building. It was at this time that an anxious Amidala informed him of her pregnancy. She feared that if anyone found out, the Queen would not allow her to maintain her position in the Senate and that her husband would be cast out of the Jedi Order. Skywalker assured her that the baby was a miracle, not a problem. Soon after, Amidala began planning to raise their child on Naboo.^[3]

Democracy's end

Amidala attends a meeting with members of the Delegation of 2000.

By the end of the war in 19 BBY, the pregnant Amidala became increasingly alarmed by the changes in her husband's character as he was seduced to the dark side. Furthermore, she became disturbed by his visions of her dying in childbirth, especially when he stated that he could not see the fate of their child. When Obi-Wan left for Utapau to hunt down General Grievous, she pleaded with Skywalker to tell Palpatine to end the war and give up all the emergency powers the Senate had awarded him, but he refused to do so. After a number of meetings with various worried Senators—such as Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, Giddean Danu and Fang Zar—Amidala agreed to lead the Delegation of 2000, a group of Senators opposed to the dictatorship that Chancellor Palpatine's rule was creating. Though the spokesperson for the committee, her efforts to involve and cooperate with the Jedi (presumably Kenobi or Skywalker) were futile, as her peers felt that it was too dangerous at that point. While the petition presented by Amidala to the Chancellor would later pave the way for a resistance movement, the Rebel Alliance, its immediate effects were the reverse of what was hoped, with Palpatine first ignoring it altogether and then using it to round up what he coined "traitors to the Senate" during and after his ascension to absolute power.^[14]

Amidala was, with her retinue, present in the Senate chamber during a special session in which Chancellor Palpatine presented "proof" of a Jedi rebellion against the Senate, which in actuality was an attempt to arrest Palpatine for his allegiance with the Sith. Painting himself as a heroic survivor of such an attack, Palpatine convinced the Senate of the Republic's reliance on the protection he could offer it. With little to no resistance in the Senate—for indeed many of Amidala's fellow Delegation members began to be rounded up as the speech took place—Palpatine declared himself Emperor, much to the dismay of Amidala and Bail Organa, who was with her. Though the latter attempted to vocally oppose the declaration, Amidala assured Bail that this was not the time. Indeed, she was correct, as the future generation would testify. Amidala, having been warned by her husband to distance herself from her "friends in the Senate", well understood the need for her not to be a vocal supporter of the Resistance movement, and thus she asked Organa to continue his movement without her knowledge. Being watched by both Skywalker and Imperial spies, Amidala knew that any involvement on her part would jeopardize both Organa's efforts and his life. Knowing this, she advised Organa to support Palpatine and the Empire on the surface while covertly working to subvert his goals.^[14]

The final days

Kenobi informs Amidala of Skywalker's fall to the dark side.

It was not long after the Emperor's declaration that Amidala was visited by Kenobi. He told her of hologram evidence he had seen of Skywalker's raid on the Jedi Temple and his allegiance with the Sith. Amidala refused, at least outwardly, to believe such claims and, in order to ensure her husband's safety, did not tell Kenobi where Skywalker had gone. It was during these moments that Kenobi discovered her involvement with Skywalker and left, understanding her reservations. Upon this revelation of her husband's dark deeds, Amidala traveled to the planet Mustafar to intercept Skywalker and discover the truth, although inwardly Amidala likely understood not only the truthfulness of Kenobi's claims, but its effects on her marriage. She did not realize that before the journey, Kenobi had managed to stow away on-board her Naboo Skiff.^[3]

Shortly after the Separatist slaughter, Amidala met with Skywalker on Mustafar, revealing what Kenobi had told her. Upon discovering the truth of Kenobi's statements, she tearfully attempted to persuade him to turn back to the Light Side of the Force, to run away and raise their child. When he told her his plans to kill Palpatine and become emperor with her at his side, Amidala realized he had changed and that she could not follow him down his chosen path. It was then that Kenobi revealed himself on the ramp of Amidala's ship. Not even allowing her the time to explain herself, Skywalker succumbed to his anger and Force choked her, believing that Amidala had brought Kenobi to kill him. Intercepting him, Kenobi managed to distract Skywalker to release her, preserving Amidala's life. C-3PO and R2-D2 then moved their fallen mistress into her ship.^[14]

Death

After Kenobi defeated Skywalker (now christened Darth Vader) in a lightsaber duel, the Jedi Master took Amidala to a medical facility on the asteroid Polis Massa, where Yoda and Bail Organa awaited their arrival. There a medical team attempted to save Amidala's life. However, they discovered that she was dying, having apparently lost the will to live. It was later revealed in her autopsy reports that she died from the injuries she suffered from Vader's force choke (including a fractured hyoid bone), though because there was no visible external trauma this cause of death was initially overlooked.^[24] Before her death, Amidala gave birth to healthy twins, Luke Skywalker and Leia Amidala Skywalker. In her final breaths, she told Kenobi that good still remained in Skywalker. Amidala died at the age of twenty-seven.^[3]

Funeral

Amidala's body in her casket as it is drawn through the streets of Theed.

After her death, Amidala was laid to rest in Theed. Her casket was drawn through the streets of Theed, leading an enormous procession of mourners that included her family, Queen Apailana, the Royal Advisory Council, Boss Nass, Representative Jar Jar Binks and her former handmaidens, who acted as pallbearers. The japor snippit that Skywalker had given to her in 32 BBY rested in her hands. Thousands lined up in the streets of the city to pay their respects to the remarkable woman who had freed their world from occupation, united its people, and spoken for democracy.^[3]

Ironically, one of the first resolutions passed by Palpatine after the formation of the Empire was a national day of mourning for the "murdered" Amidala. Her old friend Senator Silya Shessaun tried to open an investigation into Amidala's death, but the effort was quickly thwarted by Palpatine due to, what he called, "security concerns".^[25]

Legacy

Shortly after her funeral, Amidala's son, Luke Skywalker, was given to the care of her husband's step-brother, Owen Lars, and his wife, Beru, on their moisture farm on Tatooine. Luke would follow in his father's footsteps, becoming a powerful Jedi.^[26] Leia, meanwhile, was formally adopted by Bail Organa and his wife, Breha, becoming the heir apparent to Alderaan as Princess Leia Organa.^[3] Her life would mirror her mother's, with Leia also serving the Senate as well as championing similar causes.^[27] However, in her later years, Leia would also take the path of her father and brother and become a Jedi as well at the end of the Swarm War.^[28]

Amidala's family and Queen Apailana were informed by Imperial Intelligence that she had been killed, along with other Senators, by rogue Jedi on Coruscant. An investigation into who had impregnated her would have gone against Naboo tradition, yet many doubted this official statement, with Apailana even going on to harbor Jedi who had escaped Order 66.^[29] In 18 BBY Amidala's maternal grandmother, Ryoo Thule, was killed by Inquisitor Malorum, who had gone to Naboo to investigate Amidala's pregnancy and uncovered that her baby had not died. Thanks to Ferus Olin, a former Jedi, this information died with him.^[30]

Additionally in 18 BBY, Amidala's head of security during her time as Senator of the Chommell sector, Gregar Typho, secretly began an investigation into her death, as whilst he served under her, he had developed an unrequited love for her. Typho discovered that Amidala had died due to trauma sustained to the throat, a fact which had been missed during her initial autopsy as there was no outward signs of injury. Typho soon discovered that Darth Vader was involved in the death of his beloved, and after luring the Dark Lord of the Sith to an abandoned location, with the bait of Jedi Knight Jax Pavan, so as to avenge the senator, Typho himself died at the hands of Amidala's former love and killer.^[24]

In the years before the Battle of Yavin, Amidala's youngest niece, Pooja Naberrie, served together with Amidala's daughter as Senators in the Imperial Senate. Neither woman, however, was informed of their biological relationship at that time.^[31]

A painting of a young Padmé Amidala hanging in the Imperial Palace during the Thrawn campaign.

Shortly before the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY, Luke asked Leia if she remembered her mother at all. From very faint recollections, Leia was able to describe her as "very beautiful, kind, but sad." Luke remarked that he had no memory of Amidala whatsoever.^[26] Unknown to either of them, a large painting of Amidala still hung in the Imperial Palace, even up to the Thrawn Crisis, twenty-eight years after her death.^[32]

Amidala was briefly seen in a hologram projected by R2-D2 while Luke was fixing him in 35 ABY. R2 showed Anakin Skywalker telling her about his dream of her death in childbirth. Until this revelation, Luke and Leia had been unaware of the identity of their mother, though they had been aware of a "Senator Amidala" who had served in the final days of the Old Republic, they had suspected she was their mother, but hadn't firmly believed it.^[33] Later, shortly before and during the Swarm War, Luke also saw recordings of his mother's conversations with Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, they also watched a recording of her death.

Sometime in 36 ABY, Leia traveled to Naboo to inform her former colleague in the Imperial Senate, Pooja Naberrie, of their biological relationship through Amidala.^[34]

In 40 ABY, Amidala's grandson, Jacen Solo, flow-walked back 59 years to see why his grandfather had fallen to the Dark Side. Once he realized that Skywalker had fallen in order to prevent Amidala's death, Solo was convinced that his reasons for becoming a Sith were more compelling than Skywalker's had been.^[35]

By 137 ABY, Amidala's penthouse apartment on Coruscant had been converted into a high-class restaurant going by the name the Naboo Queen. Moff Rulf Yage, his daughter, Gunn Yage, and her mother, Nyna Calixte, had a meal in the restaurant shortly after Cade Skywalker infiltrated the capital world.^[36]

Personality and traits

Queen Amidala at the Naboo Celebration Parade.

Amidala took to heart the lessons of self-service that had been taught her by her parents, and throughout her life she continued to do what was best for her people and the Republic she believed in, without thought of herself. Her sister sometimes scolded her for this attitude.^[4] She rarely gave in to personal desires, such as at a young age denying Ian Lago her affection, saying that Naboo needed her more than he did.^[8] She was compassionate, always considering other people before herself, and she stood firm in what she believed in.^[9] She was even willing to doubt the Republic in its later years, because of how far it had fallen short of its duty.^[3] It was partly because of her firm belief in democracy and her genuine care for her people that her election for Queen of Naboo was a landslide.^[8] Unable to deny her people's need, she accepted Queen Jamillia's invitation to become Senator after her two terms as queen ended.^[9] She was obviously well-loved by her people, as she still kept several privileges usually restricted to the monarch of Naboo during her time as a Senator, such as allowing her ships to be chrome-plated.^[4]

Amidala matured quickly, as evidenced by her quick rise to political heights at a very young age, reaching Queen at only fourteen years of age.^[5] Though responsible, she was a strong-willed person, who continued to do what she believed to be correct and right despite those closest to her standing against her. She followed her own instincts in pleading to the Senate for help as Queen, and to return to Naboo afterwards to strike out on a limb to unite with the Gungans.^[10] She also refused heightened security, even after blatant attacks on her life during her time as senator, going so far as to cover security cameras. Though her security's fears were proven true time and again, Amidala was still loathe to leave during the vote on the Military Creation Act, and only an order from the Supreme Chancellor could make her concede.

Amidala, stealing some time with Skywalker.

Her strong will and self-restraint were proven again when she firmly told herself and Skywalker that a relationship between them would go nowhere and would endanger both of their futures. She saw how difficult it would be, and how much it had the potential to ruin their lives, and, through it was difficult for her to accept, she attempted to force Skywalker to see it as well. However, when she believed she was about to die, she saw no harm in admitting her true feelings, believing that they could not come to pass. However, when they survived their 'execution,' she and Skywalker could no longer deny their love. Despite this she still tried to keep her relationship with Anakin a secret, even after they were married.^[4]

Even then, she remained loyal as a senator to her people, and continually urged Skywalker to stay loyal to the Order, even when, at times, he wanted to refuse an order because of the long periods of time away from her.^[21][3] Though pained by the long separations they had to endure, Amidala kept strong for them both, knowing the great burden placed on both of their shoulders.^[21] She believed strongly in Skywalker, and when she heard of his exploits during the Clone Wars, she was enthralled, though she remained worried for his safety.^[15] Her belief in him became even more evident when she began to believe him over the Jedi Order when he told of their manipulations of him to use him as a spy for their own purposes. She was reluctant even to believe Obi-Wan, a close friend of theirs, when he told her of Anakin's dark deeds. Partly to reassure herself that what he had said was not true, she traveled to Mustafar to ask Skywalker herself. When her husband confirmed her worst nightmares, she still refused to believe that he could not come back to the light and urged him to do so.^[14] Even at her death, Amidala continued to have faith in her husband, speaking of the good still in him—though no one believed her at the time.^[3][26] Twenty-three years later, her son would come to share this belief.

Behind the scenes

Portrayal

Concept art for Padmé Amidala.

The role of Padmé Amidala was played by Natalie Portman in the prequel trilogy.^[10][9][3] In her interview on the "Inside the Actors Studio" program, she admitted that, when her agent first mentioned the new Star Wars trilogy to her, she didn't know the difference between Star Wars and Star Trek. Portman also missed the first screening of The Phantom Menace, due to exams.^[source?] An unknown actress played Amidala in holophotos that can be seen in Episode II deleted scenes.^[9]

Voice actress Grey DeLisle portrayed Padmé in Star Wars: Clone Wars, as well as several video games. In the Star Wars: The Clone Wars series (and film), she is voiced by Catherine Taber.

Continuity

Padmé's first actual appearance in the Star Wars universe was in the comic The Last Command 5, which came out around a year before Episode I. At the time the comic was being made, the decision to cast Natalie Portman as the future mother of the twins had just been made, so the authors of the comic decided to place her likeness in the background. Although this clashes to some extent with the eventual revelation that Leia never knew her mother, The Last Command 5 nonetheless was her first appearance in the Star Wars Universe.^[32]

In Return of the Jedi, Leia tells Luke she remembered her real mother dying when Leia was very young, and described her as very kind, beautiful, and sad. Since Padmé dies, in Revenge of the Sith, while Leia is a newborn, it is not clear how Leia has these memories^[3] (it is speculated that Leia felt her mother's sadness through the Force; however, this is not confirmed. Leland Chee admitted that this inconsistency is not yet addressed in the Holocron continuity database^[37]). Another speculation is that Padmé herself was Force-sensitive while pregnant with the twins. In the novelization of Revenge of the Sith, many references are made in regard to this, most notably, when Anakin and Padmé communicate with each other across the city (he from the Jedi Temple, she from her apartment).^[14] It is possible that Leia saw a hologram or picture of sorts as well. It would seem that this problem is resolved; however, in the junior novelization of Revenge of the Sith, where it says that the newborn Leia looks around shortly after being born, as if she wanted to memorize every detail.^[38]

In the Return of the Jedi novelization, it was said that Obi-Wan took both Leia and her mother (Padmé) to Alderaan after the birth of the twins,^[39] while in Revenge of the Sith, Padmé dies shortly after child birth.^[3] In the Phantom Menace novelization, Anakin has a vision of Padmé leading an army against a dark man (Vader), foreshadowing his betrayal.^[5]

Non-canon appearances

Padmé Amidala has an easter egg in the first mission of the Wookiee campaign of Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds. Amidala can be found if the player uses cheats to create aircraft or destroys a large segment of forest to reach the east. Upon journeying far enough, a desert area with a landed Royal cruiser, Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jar Jar Binks, Captain Panaka and other characters from Episode I are sitting. The mission objectives then change to protecting Amidala from a group of marauding Tusken raiders.^[11]

Name

"Padmé" is Sanskrit for "lotus flower," while "Amidala" is a variant of "Amitabha", which means a spiritual manifestation.^[40] In Egyptian, the name "Nabirye" means "Mother of twins." Padmé's own surname, Naberrie, appears to be a homonym.^[41]

Though she married Anakin Skywalker in 22 BBY, she never took the name Skywalker, in order to keep Anakin from being expelled from the Jedi Order and to protect them both from any vulnerabilities this marriage would bring them.^[3]

Appearances