Naboo may be most strongly associated with Padmé Amidala, but it was alsoEmperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious’home planet, and its importance inStar Warsshouldn’t be underestimated. Naboo was introduced in the prequel trilogy, but it has had several appearances throughoutStar Warsmovies and TV showssince then, at times in rather surprising ways. The planet has also only become more important astheStar Warstimelinehas expanded.
The culture of Naboo is particularly unique and intriguing inStar Wars, not only becausethe Naboo royaltyinvolves a complex system combining monarchy and democracy that often leads to teenage queens. The planet is also known for its art, beauty, and gentle way of life, all of which make it stand out amongStar Wars’many planets. In addition to the beauty and charming culture of the planet, though,Naboo is a critical part of theStar Warsfranchise and has had a massive influence on the galaxy for generations.
The Greatest Sith Lord Hailed From Naboo
It’s a bit difficult to imagine Palpatine coming from such a beautiful planet, butNaboo is Palpatine’s homeworld. Naboo is a world known for its beauty and a love of the arts, which suits Padmé’s personality and values quite clearly, but it couldn’t be less like the power-hungry, calculating nature of Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious. It’s arguably one of the odder aspects ofStar Warsthat one ofStar Wars’most powerful Sithcomes from one of the franchise’s most beautiful, peaceful planets.
Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious
The senator for Naboo, Palpatine rose to power and influence during the dying days of the Republic. In reality, his public persona was just a mask; he was really Darth Sidious, greatest of the Sith Lords, and he used his political skills and Machiavellian cunning to bring down both the Republic and the Jedi. Palpatine ruled his Galactic Empire for decades, until he was betrayed by his apprentice, Darth Vader. Even this wasn’t enough to stop the Emperor, however, as he was resurrected by his followers - only to be defeated once again.
Of course, villains can come from anywhere, particularly given how the dark side of the Force works. In Palpatine’s case,these origins undoubtedly even worked in his favor. His scheme required him to play the role of the well-intentioned, humble Senator from Naboo and then Supreme Chancellor, which he did quite successfully. Coming from a planet like Naboo would have helped Palpatine shape this image of himself. It also allowed him to become a mentor to Padmé, and that ended up being absolutely essential to all that came to pass in the prequels.
Coming from a planet like Naboo would have helped Palpatine shape this image of himself.
Naboo Saw A Turning Point In The Galaxy’s History
As the prequel trilogy makes clear, the events ofStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menacewere in many ways the catalyst for all the massive changes that took place by the end ofStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. Naboo is famously Padmé Amidala’s planet of origin, andThe Phantom Menaceintroduced her as the teenage Queen of Naboo. It was because of that role that Padmé encountered the Jedi and, ultimately, met Anakin Skywalker.
This attack on Naboo also allowed Palpatine to acquire additional power, as Padmé helped to oust Supreme Chancellor Valorum with her vote of no confidence.
It was only because Naboo was under attack by the Trade Federation that Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi became so involved with Padmé, setting in motion her very fraught trajectory with Anakin. This attack on Naboo also allowed Palpatine to acquire additional power, as Padmé helped to oust Supreme Chancellor Valorum with her vote of no confidence.This event paved the way for Palpatine to make a power grab, and it put the Jedi even deeper in his pocket.
Naboo was also the location of the first battle between a Jedi and a Sith in quite some time, as this is where the iconic lightsaber duel between Darth Maul, Qui-Gon, and Obi-Wan took place and ultimately claimed Qui-Gon’s life. Until Darth Maul’s emergence, the Jedi had believed the Sith to be extinct (even withThe Acolytethrowing that into question somewhat, it does seem to be the case). Naboo would have been significant enough had it just served as Palpatine and Padmé’s planet of origin, but it was clearly so much more.
Even Naboo Wasn’t Safe From The Emperor’s Destruction
Despite Naboo being Palpatine’s home planet, it still wasn’t safe from the Empire. During the Dark Times, the politics of Naboo changed quite a bit. Naboo still had an elected monarch, but they were little more than a figurehead. As was the structure throughout the Galactic Empire, it was the Moff who had real control. This was quite a change from the prequel trilogy era, as it was clear Padmé had true executive power and was able to independently make major decisions, including about war and alliances.
Despite Naboo being Palpatine’s home planet, it still wasn’t safe from the Empire.
While Naboo didn’t suffer the same brutalities many planets did during the Imperial Era, suggesting there was some preferential treatment for Palpatine’s homeworld by the Empire, the planet also suffered in unique ways.The real threat to Naboo oddly came after Palpatine’s death, with his nefariousOperation: Cinder plan. Naboo was one of many planets targeted by the plan, which set out to destroy surviving Imperials in the event of Palpatine’s death so no one else could step in to take power.
The intention was to make Naboo’s environment inhospitable, effectively wiping the planet out even without needing to fully destroy it as the Death Star did Alderaan. This was luckily unsuccessful, and Naboo survived both the Dark Times and Operation: Cinder relatively unharmed. In a beautiful full-circle moment, Leia Organa was among the people to save Naboo, connecting her to her mother’s planet.
Every Time Naboo Has Been Seen In Star Wars (So Far)
Every Star Wars Show And Movie In Which Naboo Has Appeared
Return of the Jedi (2004 DVD release)
Star Wars: Forces of Destiny
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi
While Naboo was most prominent in theStar Warsprequel trilogy, the planet has appeared in severalStar Warsmovies and shows in both live-action and animation. Naboo first appeared inThe Phantom Menaceas the location of the Trade Federation’s insidious blockade and, eventually, the Battle of Naboo. It was during this battle that Qui-Gon Jinn also lost his life.
Naboo was equally important inStar Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clonesbecause it was here that Anakin Skywalker and Padmé went to protect Padmé following the attempt on her life. This ultimately spelled significant trouble not only for Anakin and Padmé but also for the larger galaxy, as this private time together led to their fateful marriage. Anakin had already (very vocally) had feelings for Padmé, but she grew to love him during their time together.
All 15 Defining Moments In Anakin Skywalker’s Fall To The Dark Side
Anakin Skywalker’s fall to the dark side of the Force is a pivotal event in Star Wars, and 15 key moments defined how that turn happened over time.
InRevenge of the Sith, Naboo sadly became the setting for Padmé’s funeral, which took place at the end of the movie and was attended by countless citizens of Naboo, including Padmé’s family. This funeral is also the reason Naboo appeared in the animated showStar Wars: Tales of the Jedi. The show revealed that Anakin Skywalker’s former Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano had attended the funeral, and although she stayed hidden in the shadows for her own protection following Order 66, she did make contact with Bail Organa.
Naboo also appeared in animation inStar Wars: The Clone WarsandStar Wars: Forces of Destiny, although it played a lesser role in those storylines and was mainly linked to Padmé. One of the more surprising appearances of Naboo came in the 2004 DVD release ofReturn of the Jedi, which added a scene to the end of the movie in which the citizens of Naboo celebrated Palpatine’s death. This scene, known as the Rally of Naboo, made sense given the added context of the prequels, but it was unexpected nevertheless.
It’s only a matter of time before Naboo makes itsStar Warsreturn.
It’s clear that Naboo is a major player in the largerStar Warsgalaxy for reasons far beyond just Palpatine and Padmé. It also seems like it’s only a matter of time before Naboo makes itsStar Warsreturn. In canon, Naboo remained important in the New Republic era, and it would make particular sense for Leia Organa to have some sort of on-screen plot line involving the planet during this period. In all likelihood, Naboo’s prominence inStar Warswill continue in future projects.
