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Alderaan
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- "While Coruscant has always been considered the heart of the Republic, to some extent, Alderaan has been its soul."
- ―A HoloNet dossier on Alderaan[9]
Alderaan, located in theCore Worlds, was the secondplanet in theAlderaan system and the home of many famous heroes, includingLeia Organa Solo,Bail Organa, andUlic Qel-Droma. Renownedgalaxy-wide for their planet's unspoiled beauty, refined culture, and commitment to peace, Alderaanians worked with and around the land to preserve as much of the natural surroundings as they could.
Originally the home of theKilliks, Alderaan was later conquered by Humans. Despite abattle during theGreat Galactic War and acivil war during the subsequentCold War, Alderaan remained peaceful during much of galactic history. However, in attempt to force the Galaxy into submission,Grand MoffTarkin and theGalactic Empiredestroyed the unarmed and peaceful planet using thefirst Death Star'ssuperlaser in0 BBY.
History[]
Pre-Republic[]
The Petrified mounds of theKilliks in theCastle Lands.
A lush, mountainous world, the nativeKilliks evolved from the most intelligentnon-sentient species on the planet circa1,000,000 BBY.[27] Constructing massive hives, such as in theCastle Lands near Oroboro, the Killiks ruled the planet until departing the world and colonizing nearbyAlsakan, and later departing for deep space after consuming all of Alderaan's natural resources.[3]Human colonists came to the planet fromCoruscant, via theHerglic Trade Empire, in27,500 BBY and built a peaceful civilization in harmony with nature. Settlers were attracted from across theCore Worlds, drawn by Alderaan's natural beauty. Eventually the Alderaanian monarchy came into existence, and with it the implementation of many laws designed to preserve the environment.[11]
Old Republic[]
Alderaan was afounder of theGalactic Republic.[3]
During theMandalorian Wars, the planet was threatened with invasion by the forces ofCassus Fett, but the entire invasion force was prematurelyobliterated due to misuse of theMuur Talisman, an ancientSith artifact, which transformed the Mandalorians intorakghouls.[28]
Alderaan's picturesque landscape just prior to the Battle of Alderaan
During the peak of theGreat Galactic War, the planet's peace and tranquility was shattered by a full-scaleSith Empireinvasion. The Sith quickly overwhelmed the local defense forces and took the entireroyal family hostage. In response, a Republic and Jedi task force launched a swift counter-offensive against the Sith; recapturing the planet and inflicting a heavy defeat on the Sith.[9]
As a consequence of the Sith invasion, the Alderaanian leadership adopted a hardline militarist stance towards the Sith Empire in theGalactic Senate.[9] In3653 BBY,[8] theTreaty of Coruscant ended the decades-long conflict in favor of the Sith Empire, which had earlier launched adevastating attack on the galactic capitalCoruscant. In protest,SenatorGaul Panteer, the AlderaanianCrown Prince, walked out of the Senate and withdrew Alderaan from the Republic.[9]
The crown prince's actions created much division in Alderaan. While many supported his actions, others were outraged by the secession from the Republic. The crisis worsened with the assassination of the prince and the death of hismother a few days later. TheAlderaanian Parliament was quickly torn apart by infighting between rival houses. Abloody civil war quickly ensued when one of these houses attempted a military coup.[9]
Alderaan during theCold War
In the subsequentInterstellar Cold War between the Republic and the Sith, the planet was the site of a number of border skirmishes and proxy battles between Republic and Sith forces. The Republic backedHouse of Organa while the Sith backed the formerly exiledHouse of Thul, which sought to reclaim the throne. Neither side had military forces on Alderaan.[9] Around the same time, theMuseum of Antiquities ordered a shipment of rare artworks which was however intercepted and replaced with worthless copies of the paintings made by the famous commercial artistOrnas Lodin.[12]
During the conflict with theEternal Empire,Malika Sturm hosted the cenntenialthranta race in the upperatmosphere of Alderaan.[29] Alderaan was also one of the worlds where there was aStar Fortress put in orbit, but it was destroyed in3631 BBY.[30]
During the last five centuries of the Old Republic, Alderaan nobility was known to enjoy the seafood fromLamaredd distributed byBartyn Gourmet Delicacies.[31]
In27 BBY, Alderaan was personally protected byJedi MasterEeth Koth during theAshaar Khorda crisis.[32]
Clone Wars[]
TheSundered Heart lands inAldera in19 BBY, right after the end of theClone Wars.
As a whole, Alderaan strongly opposed theMilitary Creation Act; they had their ownsecurity forces, but remained loyal to the Republic during the Clone Wars. Alderaan allowedRefugee Relief Movement settlement by displaced exiles fromAndo (includingOrogor Binn andSandi Maba and her family[25]) and otherSeparatist worlds who wished to remain Republic citizens. Due to its assistance of these exiles, Alderaan was attacked personally—nearly "being destroyed"—by GeneralGrievous.
With the rise of theNew Order,QueenBreha Organa andViceroyBail Prestor Organa adoptedLeia Amidala Skywalker.[10] TheGalactic Empire violently terminated theJedi Praxeum on the planet, though a few students escaped. Shortly afterwards,Jedi KnightYlenic It'kla led a remnant of theCaamasi people to settle on Alderaan afterPalpatine desolatedCaamas. Ylenic served asTrustant of theCaamasi Remnant and adviser to the Organas.
Galactic Civil War[]
- "For all their talk of being a peaceful planet, Alderaan had been thumbing its nose at the Empire for years."
- ―Unnamed 501st stormtrooper[33]
TheDeath Star looms over Alderaan.
Immediately after the formation of the Galactic Empire, Alderaan was wracked by anti-Imperial protests, mainly from alien refugees who were now forced to pay an exorbitant tax to return home. Alderaan eventually became a safe haven for rebellious elements who wished to fight the growing oppression of the Empire, which helped bring on the planet's very downfall. As such, Alliance popularity on the planet was massive enough that theAlderaan Guards often paid visits to families to inform them of any deaths in the service to the Alliance, at least one example beingKissek Doran.[34]
When Bail Organa,Garm Bel Iblis, andMon Mothma formally created theRebel Alliance, many Alderaanians volunteered their resources and lives, despite the still fresh memories of the Clone Wars. Many of the early warriors of the Alliance, and subsequently, many of its leaders and officers, were Alderaanian.
After the horrors of the Clone Wars, Alderaan's frigates and light cruisers were dismantled and the world's defensive armaments and superweapons were placed aboard the armory warshipAnother Chance.[35][6] The ship was programmed to continually jump though hyperspace until called home by theHigh Council. They would not have the opportunity.[36]
Destruction of Alderaan[]
- "Since you are reluctant to provide us with the location of the Rebel base, I have chosen to test this station's destructive power on your home planet of Alderaan."
"No! Alderaan is peaceful. We have no weapons! You can't possibly…!"
"You would prefer another target? A military target? Then name the system!" - ―Wilhuff Tarkin and Princess Leia[37]
Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin orders the destruction of Alderaan
Shortly after the (three-shot)destruction ofDespayre,[3] Alderaan was the first strategic target of thefirst Death Star. In a demonstration of its power to Princess Leia,Grand MoffWilhuff Tarkin ordered thedestruction of her home, despite Leia's protest. While she claimed the planet was weaponless,[37] it is said it had some of the strongest defences in the Empire.[38] When Death StargunnerTenn Graneet threw the switch to initiate primary ignition, power was channelled from the hypermatter reactor through theSuperlaser, coming out at superluminal velocity. This was the first known time the superlaser had fired a full-power beam.
The deaths of the billions of sentient people caused a massivedisturbance in the Force.Obi-Wan Kenobi felt the disturbance while en route to the Alderaan system and toldLuke Skywalker that it felt "as if millions of voices cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced."[37] On the Death Star,Force-sensitivestormtrooperNova Stihl passed out from the shock of sensing all the deaths on Alderaan.[39]
The plan drastically backfired, driving thousands of beings to the Alliance cause, even in theCore Worlds, and sending many planets in theMid Rim into open rebellion. A number of Alderaanians serving in the Imperial military defected to the Rebel Alliance after learning of their homeworld's destruction; among the defectors was theTIE fighterpilotTycho Celchu. The Imperials attempted to pin the blame for Alderaan's destruction on the Rebels, keeping a small number of people loyal to the Empire; however, the ruse convinced few.
Post-Destruction[]
- "The defense system on Alderaan, despite the Senator's protestations to the contrary, were as strong as any in the Empire."
- ―Grand Moff Tarkin[38]
The Graveyard of Alderaan
The remains of Alderaan became known asthe Graveyard and many Alderaanians who were off-planet when Alderaan was destroyed performed a private ceremony calledthe Returning, and would shoot capsules filled with gifts for their friends and family. Some Alderaanian Exiles who called themselves theGuardians, took to patrolling the Graveyard to preventpirates from stealing the capsules. These Alderaanians were held in rather high regard among the exiles.[36]Han Solo and his crew of theMillennium Falcon, were among the first to visit it in an attempt to bringR2-D2 toBail Organa, some time before theFalcon's navicomputer even listed Alderaan as destroyed.[37]
In the months after the destruction of Alderaan, Imperial agents often lay in wait for ships performing a Returning ritual. They boarded the ships and arrested the passengers and crew. The Rebel Alliance considered quarantining the Graveyard, as these Imperial actions were too risky for the Alliance.[36]
In0 ABY, a group of Alderaanians formed a colony onEjolus, but it was wiped out by the Empire only eight months after their homeworld's destruction.[40] However, shortly after the Ejolus colony was wiped out, the remaining refugees were taken in by theAlderaan Alliance, who gave them residence onNew Alderaan discovered by theRebel Alliance.
In24 ABY, Force-sensitive individuals such asTenel Ka Djo could still feel echoes of the Force disturbance caused by the deaths of the planet's population. It was also at this time thatJacen andJaina Solo retrieved a piece of the planet's core, removed vialightsaber, as a birthday gift for their mother, Leia.[41]
After104 ABY,[42] the planet was depicted in a painting[43] titledAlderaan Refugees. The painting depicted variousrefugees on parkedstarships near an Alderaanian city.[44]
Terrain[]
Alderaan's mountains.
Alderaan was the homeworld of some of the galaxy's most famous animals, such as thenerf, thegrazer and thethranta.[3] Alderaanian cities were often built with great care taken to protect nature. One such city,Crevasse City was built on the walls of a canyon, nearly invisible from above. Others were built on stilts along the shoreline or under the polar ice. The capital,Aldera, known for its university, was built on a small island in the center of a caldera.
In theCastle Lands, the remains of Killik mounds stood as a silent testament to the indigenous species that had disappeared for unknown reasons. Philosophers, poets, and artists often visited the Castle Lands for inspiration and meditation.
A landscape of Alderaan.
Alderaan was home to eight thousand species of grass[45] and an even larger number of wildflowers. Its flora also included a massive variety of spices, herbs, and grains. The planet had no major oceans, but it had a single polar ice cap. The rest of Alderaan's surface water was composed of thousands of lakes and connecting waterways.
Society[]
Alderaanian culture valued education, the performing and fine arts, and peaceful resolutions to conflicts. They placed high value in their participation in theGalactic Senate and later, its Imperial equivalent. The Alderaanians constantly sought a harmonious existence with their surroundings, evident in their integration of their society into the natural terrain of Alderaan. Alderaanians were known for love of philosophy.
The average Alderaanian was very educated and cultured. Poets and artists thrived on Alderaan. The beauty moved the pens of poets, while the vast grasslands served as a canvas forgrass paintings. Alderaan was also famous for its cuisine. The large variety of spices and herbs allowed chefs to experiment and create some of the finest dishes in the galaxy. Steamed Alderaanian spiced wine was a favored beverage among many.
Some of the planet's major exports included wine, art, and luxury goods.[3] Alderaan was known as "Planet of Beauty,"[47]
Government[]
- "It's time Alderaan stopped resisting the Empire and started fighting it."
- ―Leia Organa's position on the Galactic Civil War[48]
Aldera, the planet's capital
Although a democratic society,[3] Alderaan was headed by a hereditary constitutional monarchy, with theHouse of Organa presiding over the High Court and legislativeHigh Council of Alderaan. Its monarchs have variously borne the titles "Prince," "First Chairman," "Queen," "King" and "Viceroy." Traditionally, the heir of the Alderaan throne also served in the High Council of Alderaan and a term as Senator of Alderaan. Avizier helped the monarch rule, and many differentNoble Houses each had considerable influence in government.
Alderaan's government deliberately halted itself from so much as questioning spacecraft leaving or arriving on the planet.
Three separate votes yielded no winner, and so the Alderaanians contacted theGalactic Senate, which sent a committee includingJorus C'baoth to resolve the contention. The participants considered the intricacies of the situation, and decided that House Organa bore the rightful claim to the throne in a month.[49]
Bail Organa was the leader of Alderaan[3] and was on the planet when it was destroyed, while his heir and (secretly-adopted) daughter Princess Leia served as Senator of Alderaan in theImperial Senate.
Behind the scenes[]
In thetreatment,rough draft,second draft, andthird draft ofA New Hope in1973-1975, Alderaan was the name of the capital of theNew Galactic Empire. At that time, it was described as agiant gasplanet that resembledBespin, with acity that resembledCloud City on it.
Alderaan as it appears inStar Wars: The Clone Wars
The original name in the second draft ofA New Hope for what would become Alderaan wasOgana Major.Aquilae,Utapau andOphuchi were also considered as names for worlds partially corresponding to Alderaan.[50]
Grindelwald inSwitzerland was scouted forStar Wars: Episode IIIRevenge of the Sith, to capture plate photography for backdrops on the planet Alderaan.
InStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, during the part whereRevan,Carth Onasi andBastila Shan are captured on theLeviathan, there is a dialog option to cite Alderaan as the location for theDantooineJedi Enclave. This was likely done as a joke, similar to howPrincess Leia of Alderaan cites Dantooine as the location of the Rebel Base.
InStar Tours: The Adventures Continue, Alderaan is featured in the queue's "advertisements" for various Star Tours packages, where it is referred to as "the safest planet in the galaxy."[51]
The song "Californication" by theRed Hot Chili Peppers includes the lyrics "Space may be the final frontier/But it's made in a Hollywood basement/And Cobain can you hear the sphere/Singing songs of Station to Station/And Alderaan's not far away, it's Californication."
Appearances[]
Non-canon appearances[]
- Choose Your Own Star Wars Adventure: A New Hope(Mentioned only)
- Star Wars Infinities: A New Hope 1(Mentioned only)
- Tag & Bink Are Dead 1
- Tag & Bink Are Dead 2
"Free Memory" — Star Wars Tales 10(Mentioned only)- "Tantive IV" —Star Wars Manga: Black(Indirect mention only)
- Tag & Bink: Revenge of the Clone Menace
- LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
- LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
- LEGO Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles — "Into Exile"(Mentioned only)
Sources[]
Notes and references[]
External links[]
- Alderaan onMemory Alpha
- Andrew Collins (@acollins) onArtStation:SWTOR Planets(backup link)
- Ognian Bonev (@ognianbonev) onArtStation:STAR WARS THE OLD REPUBLIC(backup link)
- Related categories:
- Culture of Alderaan
- Related Categories:
- Culture of Alderaan