Monarch of Naboo

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There are two conflicting sources for this article: Tarkin and Queen's Peril. Lucasfilm has not established a cohesive timeline regarding this subject. Editor discretion is advised.

The Monarch of Naboo was the elected monarch, such as a king or queen, of the Royal House of Naboo, the monarchy that governed the human denizens of the planet.

Description

The Monarch of Naboo was an elected monarch who stood as the leader of the Royal House of Naboo, governing the human population of the planet Naboo.^[1] They served for two-year terms which were renewable once.^[6] The people of Naboo often elected young women, believing they possessed a form of pure, childlike wisdom that the adults lacked.^[8] Theoretically, however, virtually anyone could be elected the new king or queen.^[9] Due to tradition and to protect their loved ones, Naboo monarchs adopted new identities when they began to campaign for the position, changing at least their last name. Even so, some monarchs proved to be less protective of their anonymity than others. They could return to their previous identity after their term ended^[10] or chose to retain^[7] their new name.^[10] The monarch was aided by the Naboo Royal Advisory Council.^[2] The proper form of address for a former queen of Naboo was "M'Lady."^[11]

History

Republic Era

Around 382 BBY,^[12] a queen served as the monarch of Naboo. That queen owned a yacht, which the gambler Axel Greylark wanted to buy with his inheritance.^[13] Queens of Naboo included Padmé Amidala, who served two terms,^[7] the first of which included the Invasion of Naboo;^[1] Amidala's predecessor Queen Sanandrassa,^[6] who was herself preceded by Réillata, who served one term^[10] before successfully running again to serve a second term after Amidala's tenure;^[6] Jamillia, who served shortly before the outbreak of the Clone Wars;^[7] Neeyutnee, who served during the war;^[14] and Apailana, who served during the early days of the Galactic Empire.^[15] During the Invasion of Naboo, Viceroy of the Trade Federation Nute Gunray claimed the throne^[5] until he was overthrown by Amidala in the Battle of Naboo.^[1]

Imperial Era

Whilst the position of monarch carried with it actual power and an active role in governing the planet and its people, the establishment of the Galactic Empire saw the position reduced to that of a mere figurehead as all meaningful authority was transferred to the newly appointed Moff Quarsh Panaka.^[3] In the process, the Empire supplanted the authority of the planet's monarch.^[4] Queen Dalné, who served around 3 BBY^[16] and was heavily resentful of her reduced authority, nevertheless reluctantly went along with it rather than challenge the Empire and risk Imperial retribution for defiance.^[3]

Naboo continued to prosper under the Empire and did not suffer, even if its citizens knew their safety and wealth depended on accepting the loss of their freedoms. Nonetheless, Naboo did experience a moment of Imperial punishment when the Sith Lord Darth Vader—secretly the former Jedi Anakin Skywalker and husband of the deceased Amidala—descended upon Naboo, seemingly embarking on a crusade to wipe away all memory of his dead wife. Vader cut down anyone who dared reference her memory, although her legacy as a beloved queen would survive his rampage.^[4] Sosha Soruna served as queen around the time following the Battle of Endor.^[17]

New Republic Era and beyond

In the wake of the Empire's fall, some people across the galaxy—having already been well aware of the fact that Naboo did not suffer under Imperial rule—felt that the planet should be punished, accusing certain citizens of profiting from the Empire.^[4] Even though Soruna and others on Naboo regarded Palpatine with distain,^[17] the Verunas, one of the former ruling families of Naboo, did profit greatly under Imperial rule. As new factions arose and distrust spread, Naboo's galactic influence was destroyed. All the while, the Verunas began annexing territory across Naboo and charging rent for its people to continue living there, securing a new source of income and killing those who rejected their authority.^[4]

In 34 ABY,^[18] Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, the grandson of Vader and Amidala, ventured to Naboo to continue his study into his grandfather's background with Vader's former servant, Vaneé. While on world, Vaneé told Ren of the monarchy and Naboo's fall from grace, all while trying to make the Supreme Leader view the past as a fuel from which he could gather strength. Ren, however, regarded the past as a weakness and—unimpressed with how Naboo held so tightly onto the memory of its glory days—ordered a First Order attack on Naboo, declaring himself the new King of Naboo in the process. Ren declared to the people of Naboo that, under his rule, they would have no choice but to embrace the future instead of remaining stagnant.^[4]

List of known rulers of Naboo

Period	Portrait	Name
		King Jafan
		Queen Yram
		King Bon Tapalo
		King Ars Veruna
c. 382 BBY[12]		Unidentified Queen of Naboo (382 BBY)
By 132 BBY[19]		Queen Yovité
44–40 BBY[20]		Queen Ekay
40–36 BBY[20]		Queen Ameé
36–34 BBY[20]		Queen Réillata
34–32 BBY[20]		Queen Sanandrassa
32–28 BBY[20]		Queen Padmé Amidala
32 BBY[20]		Viceroy Nute Gunray (Self-appointed, briefly)
28–26 BBY[20]		Queen Réillata
26–22 BBY[20]		Queen Jamillia
22–20 BBY[20]		Queen Neeyutnee
20–18 BBY[20]		Queen Apailana
By 3 BBY[16]		Queen Dalné
By 4 ABY[21]		Queen Sosha Soruna
34 ABY[18]		King Kylo Ren (Self-appointed, briefly)

Behind the scenes

The title of Monarch of Naboo first appeared in the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace.^[1]

The 2016 reference book Star Wars Character Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded states that King Ars Veruna preceded Padmé Amidala as monarch of Naboo,^[22] with Star Wars: Complete Locations (2016) adding that he ruled for 13 years.^[23] The novel Tarkin (2014) previously stated that Naboo was ruled by a king fifteen years before the rise of the Galactic Empire,^[24] which would correspond to 34 BBY,^[25] and the the fifty-fourth issue of the magazine Star Wars Helmet Collection (2018) also lists him as monarch before being assassinated.^[26] However, the novel Queen's Shadow (2019) states that monarchs are limited to two two-year terms,^[6] and its prequel Queen's Peril (2020) instead names Amidala's predecessors as Queens Sanandrassa and Réillata, who both served for one term,^[10] placing their reigns in 34 BBY^[20] giving no room for the king mentioned in Tarkin.

The later editions of the Character Encyclopedia and Complete Locations, Star Wars: Character Encyclopedia, Updated and Expanded Edition and Star Wars: Complete Locations, New Edition remove the mentions of Veruna.^[27][28] King Ars Veruna originally served as the monarchs of Naboo for 13 years in Legends before being murdered by Darth Plagueis.^[29]

"Database," a department in the 2019 magazine Star Wars - Das offizielle Magazin 96, provides a different order for the Monarchs of Naboo. It mistakenly states that Ekay came after Réillata,^[30] when Ekay actually came before.^[20] It also places Veruna after Ekay, and maintains that he was Amidala's predecessor.^[30] It does not mention Ameé or Sanandrassa, as the magazine predates these characters.

Queen's Shadow (2019) established that monarchs of Naboo serve for two-year terms.^[6] However, "Naboo," a 2020 issue of the French Star Wars Encyclopedia, states that a term was four years^[31] as was the case in Legends. This article assumes that the previously defined term length of two years is correct.

Appearances

Non-canon appearances

• LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

Sources

Notes and references