Padmé Amidala
Padmé Amidala is a female film character who features in Star Wars.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
Padmé Amidala was a female human noble born a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away who was native to the planet Naboo.
By this point, a trade dispute erupted between her world and the intergalactic Trade Federation. This resulted in the interstellar business conglomerate placing several of their ships above Naboo to blockade the planet. The Galactic Republic was contacted to help resolve the dispute with two Jedi being dispatched to serve as negotiators. However, the Trade Federation attempted to kill the diplomats and proceeded to enact an illegal occupation of the planet. Queen Amidala was captured along with the rest of the population of Theed and placed Camp Four. It was while en route to the camp that she was rescued by two Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi. The two had been Valorum's ambassadors charged with negotiating a truce with the Trade Federation, but Gunray had tried to kill them as soon as they had arrived. The Jedi freed the queen and her entourage from the clutches of the Federation's battle droids, and the group fled the blockaded Naboo aboard Queen Amidala's royal starship. While trying to break the blockade of Federation battleships deployed around the planet, the ship was damaged. Its hyperdrive generator needed to be repaired, thanks to the astromech droid, R2-D2, the only surviving member of the group, which prompted the crew to make an emergency landing on Tatooine. The queen ventured with her companions into the spaceport of Mos Espa, which Qui-Gon Jinn described as a haven for "those who do not wish to be found." While trying to negotiate for spare parts with the junk dealer Watto, the party met Anakin Skywalker, a nine-year-old slave, along with his mother, Shmi Skywalker, and his incompletely built protocol droid, C-3PO. The human boy was immediately fascinated by Amidala's beauty, asking her whether she was an angel from the moons of Iego. In turn, the queen thought the boy was a bit odd, yet charming.
Since the Jedi and the queen could not raise the money needed to purchase the repair parts for the royal ship, Skywalker offered to compete in the incoming Boonta Eve Classic podrace so he could earn the required funds for them. Master Jinn promptly accepted the offer, but Amidala criticized his actions; although she did like Skywalker, she thought it was unwise to place the fate of Naboo in the hands of a nine-year-old boy. However, Skywalker managed to win the race, beating the reigning champion Sebulba against all odds, and Amidala joined the scenes of jubilation that followed the boy's victory in the Grand Arena of Mos Espa. Thanks to a bargain Qui-Gon Jinn had made with Watto, Skywalker was freed from slavery and allowed to accompany the Jedi in their travel. On the way to the galactic capital of Coruscant, Amidala, still in the guise of the handmaiden Padmé, helped Skywalker cope with the loss of his mother, Shmi, whom Watto had refused to let go. Once the group arrived on Coruscant, Amidala resumed her role as queen. In preparation for her public appearance before the Republic Senate, she met with Senator Palpatine, who represented the Naboo system in that governing body. While she wished to plead for the Senate to rescue her homeworld, Palpatine informed her that the assembly was too corrupt to care about their situation. The senator then encouraged Amidala to move for a Vote of No Confidence in the leadership of Chancellor Valorum. Valorum was a well-meaning politician, and the queen initially refused to move against him. However, upon witnessing the problems of politics during the Senate session in which she pleaded, Amidala ended up following Palpatine's advice, asking for Valorum's ousting from office. An election was decided, and Palpatine himself emerged as a likely candidate to succeed the disgraced Valorum. Although the senator asked to stay on Coruscant until the end of the elective process, Amidala decided to return to Naboo, intent on retaking her world without the Senate's help.
n route, the queen revealed to a concerned Master Jinn that she planned to unite with the Gungans, the sentient amphibians native to Naboo. However, Jinn and his apprentice Kenobi had met the Gungans at the beginning of the invasion, and the natives had expressed their lack of interest for the fate of the Naboo humans. Having once again assumed the identity of a handmaiden, the queen journeyed through the swamps of Naboo with her party. They managed to locate the sacred place where the Gungans had taken refuge after evacuating their city of Otoh Gunga. Initially, the decoy queen Sabé tried to negotiate with Boss Nass, leader of the Gungans, but to little avail. As a sign of trust, the real Amidala decided to reveal her identity, which surprised not only the Gungans, but also all of her companions. The queen then knelt in front of Boss Nass, asking for help in battling the Federation troops. Impressed by the queen's respectful attitude, Nass heartily agreed. Amidala and her guards infiltrated the palace, using grappling hooks to avoid a force of droids before storming the throne room and capturing the deceptive Gunray. Though the queen's plan ended up working perfectly, it did not come about without loss. On the grassy plains of Naboo, there were Gungan casualties until Anakin Skywalker destroyed the Federation's Droid Control Ship. Additionally, Master Qui-Gon Jinn was killed during his duel with the Sith Lord Darth Maul. Now that Naboo was freed, Amidala greeted Palpatine, who came to announce to her that he had been elected Supreme Chancellor, since many had voted for him in an outpouring of sympathy. In the immediate aftermath of the invasion, Amidala paid her respects to Jinn at his ritual cremation in Theed's Funeral Temple. Before the Jedi funeral began, she knelt beside Kenobi when he was alone with his master's body and asked him if he was ready, then gave him more time as he requested. Finally, a huge parade was held in the Naboo capital to celebrate the official unification of the humans and Gungans. During the ceremony, which was attended by Chancellor Palpatine, the members of the Jedi Council, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Anakin Skywalker, Amidala handed over a symbolic orb to an overjoyed Boss Nass as a symbol of peace between the long-warring peoples. As the square erupted with applause, Amidala shared an unseen smile with Anakin.
In the aftermath, she vacated the position of Queen of Naboo but maintained a life in politics by being the Senator for her world. Around the next 10 years, tensions began to rise in the Galactic Senate where many worlds were becoming unsatisfied with the Old Republic. This included pressure from the corporations such as the Trade Federation who suffered after the events of the Battle of Naboo and their attempted invasion of the world. A key rising instigator was a former Jedi Order member named Count Dooku who spoke to many of the discontent groups. Senator Amidala then decided to speak to the Senate on Coruscant but as part of her protection one of her Handmaidens was disguised as her whilst Padmé instead operated as one of the fighter escort. Upon landing on Coruscant, an rigged explosion claimed the life of her double and Padmé was taken to safety where she had a meeting with Chancellor Palpatine. At the request of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, the Jedi Council assigned Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padawan Anakin Skywalker to protect Amidala and investigate the incident, though Amidala objected to the added security. That evening, Amidala met with Kenobi and Skywalker in her penthouse apartment. With several years having passed, Skywalker was nervous to meet Amidala and while she hid her feelings, Kenobi noted that the senator was pleased to see Skywalker as well. That night, Zam Wesell tried again to kill Amidala by releasing two deadly kouhuns into her apartment using a droid. Kenobi and Skywalker sensed the attack and rushed into the bedroom. Skywalker managed to kill the kouhuns, and Kenobi jumped through the bedroom window and grabbed on to the droid as security officers rushed into the apartment. Kenobi and Skywalker, after a chase through the Coruscant skylanes, were able to capture Zam Wesell. Before she could reveal the plot behind the assassination attempts on Amidala, Wesell was killed by Jango Fett using a Kamino dart. In the aftermath of continued attacks, Amidala was convinced to leave Coruscant and to return to Naboo. While Skywalker went with her to continue protecting her, Kenobi continued the investigation into the assassination attempts. She, Skywalker, and R2-D2 departed aboard the AA-9 Freighter-Liner. Upon arriving on Naboo, Amidala and Skywalker grew closer in their relationship, leading to Skywalker telling her of his love for her. However, since Skywalker was committed to the Jedi Order and Amidala to the Senate, they both agreed to forgo pursuing a more romantic relationship. While on Naboo, Skywalker started experiencing Force visions of his mother in danger.
Clone Wars
Legacy
When the Jedi discovered Palpatine's identity as the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, they attempted to arrest him. Palpatine killed three of them before being defeated by Mace Windu. However, Skywalker interfered, slicing off Windu's hand, giving Sidious the opportunity to kill the Jedi. Skywalker, seeing Sidious as the only way to save his wife, pledged himself to the dark side. Sidious then initiated Order 66, declaring the Jedi to be traitors to the Republic. Across the galaxy, Jedi were murdered by their own soldiers, while on Coruscant, Vader led the 501st to the Jedi Temple, where they slaughtered everyone within, setting the ancient structure ablaze in the process. Knowing that her husband was in the Temple, but unaware of the true circumstances of why he was there, Amidala watched fearfully and horror-stricken from her apartment as the Jedi Temple burned. When Skywalker arrived at her apartment unharmed, he informed her that the Jedi had become traitors but that his loyalties stayed with the chancellor. He then left for the planet Mustafar to put an end to the leaders of the Separatist Alliance. Amidala meanwhile attended a meeting of the Senate where the chancellor declared the formation of the Galactic Empire and himself Emperor. While thousands of her colleagues applauded, Amidala was despondent; she remarked, with tears in her eyes, that "this is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause.
After the birth of the Empire, Amidala was visited by Obi-Wan Kenobi who revealed to her that Skywalker had turned to the dark side and that he needed her help in stopping him. Amidala refused though, and Kenobi correctly identified Skywalker as the father of the baby she was carrying. He then left, but later followed Amidala into her starship as she left Coruscant for Mustafar to meet Skywalker. Upon her arrival, she was horrified to find that Obi-Wan had been correct: Skywalker had succumbed fully to the dark side and was now the Sith Lord Darth Vader. She tried to convince him to simply leave and help raise their child, but he instead went on an intense speech of how he could overthrow the Emperor and they could rule the galaxy together. Horrified at what her husband had become, Amidala implored Vader to turn back, stating that he was breaking her heart. As she begged for him to stop going down this dark path, Vader's eyes burned and he screamed out that she was lying. Unbeknownst to Amidala, Obi-Wan had stowed away on her ship knowing she would go to verify the truth of his claims, but this proved to be fatal for her. Under the impression that his wife had turned against him and brought the Jedi to kill him, Vader seized her with the Force and began to choke her. After one more desperate plea, Vader released her and she fell unconscious. After Kenobi defeated Vader in a brutal lightsaber fight, he retrieved the unconscious Amidala and brought her to a medical facility on Polis Massa, where she gave birth two days later. Despite the fact that she was completely healthy, she was dying. The medical droid didn't know why, claiming Amidala had lost the will to live, for her body began to shut down for reasons they couldn't explain. However, she held on long enough to give birth to twins, whom she named Luke and Leia. Despite all that had happened on Mustafar, Amidala still believed that Skywalker held good in him, a belief she shared with Kenobi before she died. Obi-Wan then had her body returned to Naboo so she could be laid to rest. Her funeral was attended by hundreds of people who mourned the loss of their beloved senator and former queen.
Overview
Personality and attributes
In appearance, Padmé Amidala was a slight figure and a lovely, feminine face. She was noted for her youth during the prime of her life where she was said to had been a beautiful, and serene figure.
She was noted for being remarkably solemn for one so young.
It was said that she took her responsibilities with the utmost seriousness. From a young age, she showed an interest in public service.
Padmé relied on diplomacy to resolve disputes, often appearing as a pacifist. Despite that, she was not an advocate of appeasement and was she willing to use 'aggressive negotiations' to preserve democracy.
By adulthood, she came to be romantically courted in secret by the younger Anakin Skywalker. The pair's relationship would grow in the shadows due to Skywalker's commitment to the Jedi Order that forbade emotional entanglements. In time, this led to the two getting married in secret with Padmé becoming pregnant with twin children. Anakin Skywalker though was not aware of this and in a fit of rage over perceived betrayal he came to badly injure her. The incident was said to had broken Padmé's heart and she died though had given birth to a son she named Luke Skywalker and a daughter named Leia Skywalker. Both were taken away to be raised in secret to prevent knowledge of their existence from reaching the Galactic Empire.
Powers and abilities
She was skilled in hand-to-hand combat and in the use of a blaster with her being a capable markswoman capable of outshooting some bounty hunters.
As the elected Queen of Naboo, she once served as the ruler of her world. This allowed her access to its resources including control over its military. Her position meant that she was often accompanied by her Handmaidens some of whom were chosen due to their facial features resembling Amidala. This allowed them to masquerade as her and thus serve as decoys whilst the real Amidala pretended to be a Handmaiden.
Notes
- Padmé Amidala was created by George Lucas and was portrayed by actor Natalie Portman where she made her first appearance in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999).
Alternate Versions
- In Star Wars Legends, Padmé Amidala appeared in the setting of the non-canon former Star Wars Expanded Universe.
In other media
Television
Films
Video games
Appearances
- Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace: (1999)
- Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones:
- Star Wars: Clone Wars:
- Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith:
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars:
External Links
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