Padmé Amidala

Padmé Naberrie of Naboo, publicly known by her regnal name, Padmé Amidala, was a Human female who served as the democratically elected Queen of Naboo from 33 BBY to 25 BBY and later served as Senator for the Chommell sector in the Galactic Republic from the end of her reign until her death in 19 BBY.

The younger daughter of Ruwee and Jobal Naberrie, and the sister of Sola Naberrie, Padmé was born on Naboo in 46 BBY. Joining the Apprentice Legislature at age eight and becoming a full Apprentice Legislator by age eleven, Padmé eventually found herself democratically elected Queen of Naboo in 33 BBY. Early into her reign, Padmé fought bravely to liberate her people during the Trade Federation's invasion in 32 BBY, thus becoming one of the most respected political figures in the galaxy. Following the end of her reign as queen, Padmé became the senator for the Chommell sector in the Galactic Senate of the Republic. In 22 BBY, while serving as senator, Padmé fought against the Military Creation Act before a series assassination attempts forced her to go into hiding under the protection of Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and eventually marry following the Battle of Geonosis, a battle caused by the Military Creation Act's passing in her absence.

During the subsequent Clone Wars, Padmé participated in many events both political and military related, while also eventually becoming pregnant to her husband towards the end of the war. As the war's end nearned, Padmé doubted the Galactic Republic's motives, which eventually became clear when, in 19 BBY, the Republic was reorganized into the first Galactic Empire. Appalled by this, she signed the Delegation of 2000 along with senators Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, and others. In the wake of the new Empire's creation, her husband Anakin slaughtered many Jedi, including younglings. As a result, Obi-Wan Kenobi came to tell Padmé about Anakin's transformation to the Sith Lord Darth Vader. She refused to believe him, and went to Mustafar to find Anakin. However, Kenobi had secretly hidden aboard her ship in order to find his former apprentice. When Kenobi revealed himself, the newly christened Sith Lord assumed she had betrayed him, and he strangled his wife using the dark side, knocking her unconscious.

After Kenobi defeated Vader, and left him for dead, he took Amidala to a medical facility on Polis Massa, where she gave birth to fraternal twins and named them—the boy, Luke, and the girl, Leia. However, as a result of her husband's fall to the dark side causing broken heart, Padmé lost the will to live, which, coupled with the strain of giving birth to her children, resulted in her death. In her final words, she told Kenobi of her strong belief that there was still good within Anakin. At her state funeral, thousands of Naboo gathered in the streets of Theed to pay their respects to their beloved former Queen and Senator.

Throughout her relatively short life, she played a vital role in the politics and events surrounding the Clone Wars. Amidala and other Senators were responsible for creating the foundation for any chance of rebellion against the Empire. Eventually, Padmé's children would play a major role in the fragmentation of the Empire and the redemption of Anakin.

Text and facts from the “Padmé Amidala/Legends” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.