Princess Leia
Her Royal Highness, Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan (born in 19 BBY), is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe played by Aiden Barton in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, actress Carrie Fisher in Star Wars: Episodes IV-VI, and by Ann Sachs in the 1980s radio drama.
Born in Revenge of the Sith, Leia plays a major role as an adult in A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. She also plays a large role in the post-Return of the Jedi novels and other media.
History
Leia Skywalker (later Leia Organa) is the daughter and slightly younger (by just a few seconds) of the fraternal twins of the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and his secret wife, Queen and Senator Padmé Amidala, the adopted daughter of Queen (and later Minister of Education) Breha Organa and her husband, Viceroy/Prince Consort Bail Organa of Alderaan, and the twin sister of Luke Skywalker (though this is not revealed unambiguously until Return of the Jedi). A politician turned fighter and spy, she has a forceful personality and keen intellect, having accomplished much in her youth. Leia is a leader of the Rebel Alliance, formerly a senator of the Galactic Empire (many years later, Chief of State of the New Republic), and a member of the Royal Family of Alderaan. Though raised in privileged surroundings, this fiery diplomat receives martial training in order to defend herself, both with a Blaster and just her bare hands.
Early life
Her life begins in Revenge of the Sith, when Padmé Amidala gives birth to the twins at Polis Massa. Before Leia's mother dies while being comforted by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Leia looks at Padmé and gains a faint memory of her mother. She tells her older twin brother that her real mother was very beautiful, kind and gentle, yet sad. Leia Skywalker, now Organa, is sent to Alderaan with R2-D2 and C-3PO with her adoptive father, Bail Organa so she would not be found by the Empire. Leia has not learned that she is a member of the Skywalker family and, therefore, will later believe that Luke Skywalker is her only living relative.
At the age of 18, she becomes the youngest member of the Imperial Senate. She also becomes one of the driving forces behind the Rebel Alliance, the New Republic and even later, the Galactic Alliance.
Life as a rebel
In Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Senator Leia Organa is captured by the Sith Lord, Darth Vader. He accuses her of being a traitor and demands to know the location of the secret technical plans of the Death Star, the Empire's newest and most powerful weapon. Unknown to him, the young senator has hidden the plans inside an Astromech droid, R2-D2, and has sent it to find the legendary Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, on the nearby planet of Tatooine. Later, Vader has her tortured, but she resists telling him anything. Still believing she could be useful, Grand Moff Tarkin, Commander of the Death Star, threatens to destroy her homeworld with the Death Star, unless she reveals the location of the hidden Rebel base. Fortunately, she still does not give in and lies to them, as Tarkin ordered Alderaan to be destroyed anyway. Expecting to be terminated, the brave princess does not give up hope and is finally rescued by unlikely heroes: Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, the cocky smuggler Han Solo, the Wookiee Chewbacca, and the two droids, R2-D2 and C-3PO. When they finally escape, though at the expense of Obi-wan's life, they take part in the Battle of Yavin and Luke, in his one-man X-wing fighter, blows up the Empire's most dreaded weapon. Finally, in the Massassi Temple at the hidden Rebel base on Yavin 4, the radiant Princess Leia Organa presents the Alderaanian Medal of Freedom to her rescuers and the heroes of the battle.
The Empire Strikes Back
Three years later, in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Princess Leia helps with the evacuation of the rebel base on Hoth, an icy-rock planet. Despite the ongoing battle, she remains vigilant and issues commands from the crumbling base. Luckily, she is able to escape any danger and flees with C-3PO, Han Solo and Chewbacca on the Millennium Falcon. Though they are pursued by Imperial fighters, they manage to dodge their fire by flying into an asteroid field as the hyperdrive broke down. Although the Princess is constantly at odds with Han Solo, romance blossoms and while hiding in a cave (actually the mouth of a space slug), she shares her first kiss with the scruffy-looking Corellian smuggler. Later, when they stop at Bespin, Cloud City, for repairs, Han Solo's friend, Lando Calrissian, betrays them and they fall into the hands of Darth Vader. However, the Imperials at Bespin are not interested in them, but instead use Princess Leia and her friends as bait for the young Rebel Commander, Luke Skywalker. Han Solo is also used as a test subject for the carbon freezing chamber meant for Luke, and it is there Princess Leia finally confesses her love for Han. Vader then gives the frozen Han to bounty hunter Boba Fett to give to Jabba the Hutt, to whom Han owed a large debt. Later, Lando Calrissian helps the Princess, Chewbacca and the two droids escape. While escaping, she senses that Luke is in trouble and makes them go back for him. They manage to save Luke, who is badly hurt after an exhausting duel against Darth Vader.
Return of the Jedi
One year after Han is kidnapped, Leia, Chewbacca, Calrissian, Luke (now nearly a Jedi Knight), and the droids go to Tatooine to try to rescue him from Jabba the Hutt. Leia, posing as an Ubese bounty hunter called Boussh, pretends to turn Chewbacca in to Jabba, in order to infiltrate the Hutt's stronghold and free Han. Unfortunately, Leia is discovered by Jabba and his cronies just as she has freed Han from his frozen imprisonment. As punishment, Jabba forces Leia to become his newest slave girl (dressed in a gold bikini), while Luke and Han are sentenced to be fed to a Sarlacc. Luke and Calrissian overpower Jabba's guards at the last minute, creating enough of a diversion for Leia to choke Jabba to death with the chain that binds her to his throne. She is reunited with Han, and returns to the Alliance.
While preparing for a last battle with Imperial Stormtroopers on Endor, Luke reveals to her that she is actually his sister, that the hated Vader is their father, and if Luke fails, she is the only hope for the Rebels. She is stunned, but recovers sufficiently enough to lead the Rebels to victory on Endor as the Rebel Fleet destroy the second Death Star, and with it the Empire.
Leia briefly appears in the 1978 TV movie, The Star Wars Holiday Special, where she is shown as a leader and maintainer of the Rebel Alliance base. She is accompanied by C-3PO when contacting Chewbacca's wife, Mallatobuck, for assistance in finding Chewbacca and Han Solo. She also appears in the cartoon segment at a different Rebel Base, located in an asteroid field, and at the Life Day ceremony at the end of the movie.
In the books that continue the adventures of the Star Wars universe, Leia marries Han, and they have three children together: twins Jaina and Jacen, and later a son whom she named Anakin after his grandfather. Her duties include a prominent role in the new government, as the Head of State of the New Republic and later Diplomat and Chief of Defense of the New Republic. After Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Leia receives Jedi training from her brother Luke and builds a blue lightsaber and then Luke gives her a red lightsaber (not a Sith issue) as a gift to complement the one she had constructed earlier.
Leia holds her position as Princess of Alderaan although she is publicly known to be Darth Vader's biological daughter (everyone had always known she was adopted). Traditionally, the heir of the Alderaan throne also serves in the legislative High Council of Alderaan and a term as Senator of Alderaan. After Alderaan is destroyed, she leads the Alderaan survivors to New Alderaan, which is founded after the Galactic Civil War. The Royal House of Alderaan, in the person of Leia Organa Solo and her children, continues to hold sovereignty of both New Alderaan and the Alderaan system. The government on New Alderaan administers their former Alderaan system. Leia also makes significant contributions to the Yuuzhan Vong war, though she is no longer in politics.
Five years after the end of the Yuuzhan Vong war, Leia asked Jedi master Saba Sebatyne to train her, because she had decided that her place is to be with the Jedi.
Family
- Husband: Han Solo
- Sons: Jacen Solo and Anakin Solo (d.)
- Daughter: Jaina Solo
- Twin Brother: Luke Skywalker
- Sister-in-law: Mara Jade Skywalker
- Nephew: Ben Skywalker
- Granddaughter:?( yet to be named)
- Biological Parents: Anakin Skywalker (d.) and Padmé Amidala (d.)
- Adoptive parents: Bail Organa (d.) and Breha Organa (d.)
- Biological Aunts: Sola Naberrie (maternal) and Beru Lars (paternal; d.)
- Uncles: Darred Janren (maternal) and Owen Lars (paternal; d.)
- Paternal grandparent: Shmi Skywalker (d.) and Cleigg Lars(d.) (stepfather to Anakin Skywalker)
- Maternal grandparents: Ruwee Naberrie and Jobal Naberrie
Trivia
- In June 2005 Norway's Princess Märtha Louise of Norway admitted in an interview that the first name of her youngest daughter Leah Isadora Behn — 5th in succession to the Norwegian throne — was inspired by the character of Princess Leia.