The conflict between Ren and his mother came to a head whenDarth Sidious, theDark Lord of the Sith who died during theBattle of Endor,announced his return, unveiling the untappedmilitary assets ofExegol. Ren accepted the mandate to restore theSith and become the newGalactic Emperor, but Sidious' plans for Ren never came to fruition. Leia took over Skywalker's role as a mentor toRey, ascavenger who sought to become aJedi. During the lastlast duel between Ren and Rey, Leia made one last effort to reach her son before she died, calling out to him through the Force. Her sacrifice worked in conjunction with Ben's memory of his father, compelling him to renounce the dark side and take up his mother's fight.
In the end, Ben helped to prevent Sidious from achieving his goal to create a newSith Empire. After the Resistance and theirallies won theBattle of Exegol, Ben sacrificed his life toresurrect Rey. The deaths of Leia and Ben ended not only the Skywalker bloodline, but the House of Organa as well.
"I was one of the lucky Alderaanians mentored directly by your mother. She taught me much about the heritage of Alderaan. What she never taught me—what she, rather, earned—was my lifelong respect for the throne."
Raised in theRoyal Palace of Alderaan, which was located inAldera, thecapitalcity of Alderaan, Breha was the heir apparent to thethrone.[26] As such, she was introduced to Alderaanian pacifist ideals byher mother, Breha cherished peace and from a young age she became involved inpolitics. At one point prior to her reign, she assisted the previous queen in negotiating a treaty.[27] As part of Alderaanian tradition, Breha had to participate in theDay of Demand ceremony before she could claim her right to the throne of herhomeworld. In the process she sustained injuries to herheart andlungs, which had to bereplaced bypulmonodes. Although she survived her ordeal, Breha chose to consider adoption instead of attempting toconceive achild with[26] herconsort,[9]Viceroy[22]Bail Prestor Organa.[28]
"My father says they never let you leave this planet. They don't want anybody to know about you because you're not one of us. You're not even a real Organa." "You're scared of him. Your father. You want him to like you, so you repeat what he says even though you don't know what it really means. You think being like him will make people frightened of you, but really, you're the one who's scared. You've never made one decision for yourself in your entire life, and you never will. I may not have seen much, cousin, but I can see that."
The Senator of Alderaan remained loyal to the Galactic Republic during the Separatist Crisis and the Clone Wars.
Alderaan maintained its reputation as a peaceful world throughout Queen Breha's reign,[32] while Bail earned respect on thegalactic capital ofCoruscant for his honesty and commitment to justice. An idealist at heart, he served on theLoyalist Committee[9] during the administration ofSupreme ChancellorSheev Palpatine in hopes of finding a diplomatic solution to theSeparatist Crisis.[33] He retained hisloyalist principles throughout theClone Wars and, driven by hishumanitarian instincts, supported the Republic by aiding relief efforts and helpingrefugees. Chancellor Palpatine's accumulation ofwartime powers, however, conflicted with Bail's politics. While Bail represented their interests on Coruscant,[9] Breha remained on Alderaan where the queen took on additional responsibilities asMinister of Education.[34]
During the early days of the conflict, Bail led a relief mission onChristophsis to help thenative population while their planet wasbesieged by Separatist forces.[35] In addition to his relief efforts, Bail represented the Republic Senate in diplomacy and trade. At the request of theJedi High Council, he assisted theGunganrepresentativeJar Jar Binks in negotiating an agreement with theToydarians, allowing the Republic to secure its supply lines in the region and provide aid to theTwi'leks ofRyloth.[36] Bail also worked alongside his political ally, Senator Amidala, to better help the displaced citizens of theClone Wars. On one occasion, Bail and Amidala hosted theAlderaan Refugee Conference on the former's homeworld.[37]
Princess Leia Organa was the adopted daughter of Queen Breha and Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan.
The newbornPrincessLeia Organa joined the House of Organa as the adopted daughter of Bail and Breha shortly after the Republic's transformation into the Empire. Having discussed adoption in lieu of a natural heir to the throne,[2] Bail and Breha adopted Leia and raised her as their own child.[9] Knowing that Leia'sbiologicalparents were the late Amidala and the fallenJedi KnightAnakin Skywalker, Bail kept his daughter's origins secret in order to protect her from theSith.[2]
Before Leia was even involved in her adoptive parents' rebellious activities, she was groomed as heir apparent to the throne of Alderaan.[26] As a child, she had learned about the history of Amidala as told to her by Breha, although she remained unaware of her biological connection to the late senator of Naboo.[39]
By the age of ten, Leia was largely uninterested in her duties as a member of the Royal Family, nor did she seek to take her father's place in theImperial Senate. She also tried to avoid public events and family gatherings, believing her presence was purely ceremonial. Nevertheless, Bail and Breha strove to impress upon Leia the need to prepare for her responsibilities as a princess and future senator.[29]
Bail and Breha had promised that Leia would be loved in their care,[2] and they regarded her as their child in every way. However, Leia's adoptive cousin, Niano Organa, did not believe that she was part of the Organa family due to her background as an adopted child.[29]
Leia Organa's aunts[]
"Remember, my sister's whole family is coming. We need their support."
―Breha Organa, referring to her sister Celly Organa[29]
Duchess Celly was the sister of Queen Breha, and therefore an adoptive aunt of Princess Leia.
Leia had a number of adoptive aunts,[40] one of which was Breha's sister, Duchess Celly Organa.[29] These aunts doted on Leia, but treated her as if she was simply a simpering princess.[40] On one occasion, the young Leia complained to one of her aunts that being a princess had to be about more than silently doing one's duty, but her older relative simply replied, with a sad smile, that it aptly described most of a princess's job.[14]
The princess loved her aunts, even though she found their etiquette lessons frustrating and tiresome. Leia's aunts did not approve of her joining the Imperial Senate anddaydreamed of her marrying a prince. Intime, Leia did come to appreciate her aunts' lessons in public speaking, which built her confidence. Despite her aunts' antiquated views of what it meant to be a princess, they approved of Leia being trained in self-defense.[40]
When, during amission toSesid, Princess Leia was forced to crawl up avolcanic chimney, she amusingly thought that her aunts would probably chide her about her appearance if they could see her filthy, half-frozen, and covered with bites.[14]
Abduction and rescue[]
"We don't know who it was. No ransom, no leads. Whoever they are, they knew where she would be. They… They were waiting." "She needs you, Obi-Wan. We can't trust anyone else."
―Bail Organa and Breha Organa, to Obi-Wan Kenobi[29]
In9 BBY,[41] Celly Organa visited the Royal Palace of Alderaan with her entire family, which consisted of husband, Kayo Organa, and her son, Niano Organa. Breha oversaw preparations for the meeting before her sister's arrival at the palace, although Leia tried to avoid her extended family by trading places with herhandmaidenAgira, convincing theImroosian that her mother would be amused. Leia was found hiding in the forest by Breha, who compelled the princess to attend the function.[29]
While their parents discussed politics, Leia and her cousin Niano argued over the former's politeness towarddroids, which Niano viewed as "lower life forms." He also expressed his view of Leia as an interloper, regarding her as neither a true royal nor a true Organa. Leia in turn reproached her cousin for his attitude as well as his insecurity as the son of Duke Kayo. When Leia admitted that she did not consider herself a true Organa, Bail comforted her by saying that Leia was "an Organa in every way."[29]
Leia was abducted as part of a plot to lure Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi out of hiding.
Fearful of drawing the Empire's attention to their adopted daughter, Breha and Bail kept Leia's abduction a secret from the public. They contacted Kenobi for help, but theJedi fugitive was reluctant to resurface, having spent adecade inexile onTatooine where he watched over Leia'stwin brother,Luke Skywalker. Bail therefore visited Kenobi in person, convincing the Jedi torescue his daughter who had been taken toDaiyu.[29] Leia was subsequently found by Kenobi, and together, they escaped on atransport. Before leaving the planet, Kenobi learned from the Third Sister that his fallen apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, who adopted the persona of theSith LordDarth Vader, had survived theirbattle onMustafar.[42]
The road to rebellion[]
A house divided[]
"After the disaster of the Republic, the Empire is finally lining some pockets." "There are still some issues that we need to address. Slave labor, taxation of the Outer Rim…" "I didn't come here to end slavery, Bail. I came to eat your food."
Kayo Organa, the husband of Celly Organa, did not possess the same priorities as his kinsman Bail Organa.
During the Imperial Era, the House of Organa experienced a divide between members who supported the Empire and those who opposed it. Unlike Bail and Breha, who secretly rejected Imperial rule, Kayo Organa praised theNew Order, noting that the Empire was more financially profitable than the Republic that it replaced. Bail did not dispute his kinsman's statement, but remained concerned about issues that persisted in the galaxy, such asslavery or the taxation of theOuter Rim Territories. The duke did not share the senator's concerns, however.[29]
Breha's reign continued for almost two decades during the Imperial Era. She mentored students personally on Alderaan, including theX-wing starfighterpilotEvaan Verlaine.[1] As a protégé of the queen, Verlaine learned much about the culture and heritage of her homeworld. Having developed a great deal of respect for the House of Organa, Verlaine was a committed royalist and a supporter of the cause of liberty.[22] Under Breha's rule, Alderaan was one of the earliest supporters of rebellion against the Empire, although the planetary government was cautious about openly defying the Emperor.[25]
Though outwardly loyal to the New Order, Bail continued to support the cause of freedom and secretly led aresistance movement against the Empire.[12]Raymus Antilles and formerPadawanAhsoka Tano were among the first recruits to join Bail's clandestine movement.[43] As the Empire consolidated its reign over the galaxy, Bail's operation expanded to include other resistance cells,[9] includingHera Syndulla'sSpectres.[44] It was through Bail that the Spectres discovered the existence of a wider rebellion consisting of numerous smaller cells dispersed across the galaxy.[45]
Heir to the throne[]
"One day, this planet will look to you, Leia. There are many ways to lead."
Princess Leia was raised by her adoptive parents to become the next Queen of Alderaan.
As with Breha, Leia was required to undergo the Day of Demand ceremony before she could be considered worthy of the throne. The ceremony was divided into three challenges: thebody, themind, and theheart. As such, Leia would have to climb theAppenza Peak, represent Alderaan in theApprentice Legislature, and undertake charity missions to impoverished worlds.[26]
Leia, having sensed a distance grow between herself and her parents, aspired to win their approval by achieving something truly great. Requesting to use theAlderaanian diplomatic cruiserTantive IV on her first relief mission, Leia traveled toWobani which had been economically ruined by theCommodities Enhancement Program. Appalled by the sight of so many people stricken by poverty and starvation, Leia brought a hundred refugees to Alderaan. While Breha welcomed the displaced civilians to her world, she reprimanded Leia and confined her to the palace, displeased that her daughter undertook a dangerous mission without informing her parents. Though sympathetic to the plight of others, Breha felt Alderaan could not afford to be associated with actions considered dissident by the Empire.[26]
Unknown to Leia, her father and his allies in the Senate had been conducting secret negotiations to facilitate the resettlement of the people of Wobani. Their plans were destroyed, however, due to Leia's interference. Breha hoped that Leia would learn from the experience and choose her missions with more wisdom in the future. Shortly afterward, Leia attended her firstpathfinding class where she metAmilyn Holdo ofGatalenta and a fellow Alderaanian namedKier Domadi, who observed that Leia held herself to a higher standard than others because of her royal status.[26]
Rebellion and destruction[]
The rebellion against the Empire[]
"General Kenobi. Years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to convey my father's request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack, and I'm afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope."
Bail and Mon Mothma were founding members of the Alliance to Restore the Republic.
As his daughter continued to grow, Bail made Leia hisaide and entrusted her with missions to help the growing rebellion. At one point, Leia was sent by her father toLothal where she helped the Spectres procure threeSphyrna-class Hammerhead corvettes.[46] With the rebels becoming more organized, Bail and Senator Mothma officially created theAlliance to Restore the Republic. Leia, having been groomed for leadership, succeeded her father both in the Imperial Senate and the Alliance.[9]Jan Dodonna, a general in the Alliance, was considered a close friend by both Breha and Bail.[22]
Despite his retirement in favor of Leia's advancement, Bail was still involved with the Alliance and its growing conflict with the Empire. By now, Bail had lost all faith in the Imperial Senate, viewing the body as little more than a façade hiding the dictatorship of Emperor Palpatine. However, Mothma felt that a diplomatic solution was still preferable to open war while the semblance of a Senate remained intact.[47] A member ofAlliance High Command, Bail was among the Rebel leaders whomJyn Erso informed about the existence of theDS-1 Death Star Mobile Battle Station and its power to kill a planet. With open war imminent, Bail returned to his homeworld[48] and dispatched his daughter to recruit the services of an old ally from the Clone Wars, the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi.[32]
Alderaanian genocide and memorialization[]
"Let us take a moment to honor the lost souls of Alderaan. To honor Viceroy Bail Organa and Queen Breha Organa. May they forever be remembered."
Bail and Breha were killed in the destruction of Alderaan, but their memory lived on through Leia and the Rebellion.
In the end, neither Bail nor Breha lived to see the Alliance'svictory over the Empire.[9] Shortly before theBattle of Yavin in0 BBY,[8]Imperial forcesintercepted theTantive IV and Leia was takenprisoner by the SithLord Darth Vader, who suspected that the princess had been involved in thetheft of theDeath Star plans. While Vader had Leia in his custody, the plans continued to elude him as the princess hid them within her personalastromech droidR2-D2. Seeking to make an example of Alderaan's defiance to the rest of the galaxy, thebattle station'scommanding officer,Grand MoffWilhuff Tarkin, decided to test thesuperlaser's full power on Leia's homeworld, incinerating the entire planet along with billions of Alderaanians[32] and the Royal Family.[9]
Despite the deaths of Queen Breha[22] and her husband[9] and billions of their people duringthe Disaster,[32] the cause of freedom that they championed endured through their adopted daughter, who kept her parents' memory alive which, in turn, served aspropaganda andgalvanized support for the Rebellion.[49]
Though anguished over the loss of her family, Leia's grief did not break her resolve to fulfill Bail and Breha's dream of a galaxy restored under democratic rule. Even so, the memory of her homeworld's destruction remained with Leia for the remainder of her life, and at times she tried to imagine their final moments prior to the attack that destroyed Alderaan.[50] In the aftermath of the Empire'sdownfall, Leia used her influence as a member of theNew Republic Senate to honor the memory of her adoptive parents, their homeworld, and its people through speeches and events to ensure that Alderaan's destruction would never be forgotten. During theNew Republic Era, Bail and Breha were remembered for their commitment to peace and charity, and were considered martyrs in the cause of liberty.[5]
Rise of the New Republic[]
A son of Alderaan[]
"I knew his grandfather. And his mother. Is he…is he like her?" "He is. He'd deny it. But he's very much like her."
―Bylsma and Armitage Hux, referring to Ben Solo[51]
The House of Organa survived through Princess Leia and her son, Ben Solo, who was born after Leia's marriage to Han Solo.
After theGalactic Civil War, Leia resumed her political career under theNew Republic, hoping to lead the galaxy into a new era of liberty after decades of Imperial rule. Over the years, her personal life conflicted with her responsibilities as a public official. Leia had married theCorelliansmugglerHan Solo and gave birth to a son,Ben Solo.[5] As the son of an Alderaanian princess, Solo would have inherited the title Prince of Alderaan had his mother's adopted homeworld and its ruling family not been annihilated before his birth.[50] As members of the House of Organa, Leia and her son were both recognized by the Elder Houses as entitled to the hereditary rights of the royal house to which they belonged through adoption.[5]
Solo, in addition to being the biological grandson of Anakin Skywalker,[50] was the adoptive grandson of Bail Organa. He was very similar in personality to his mother, even after turning to thedark side of the Force asKylo Ren.[51] During his childhood, Solo was neglected by his mother and father,[52] both of whom were preoccupied with their professional lives, causing Solo to develop feelings of solitude and abandonment.[53]
A family secret[]
"Yes, you must have thought I was a fool. Because I trusted you so quickly. Because I told you the most personal and painful stories of my life, never guessing that they revolved around your father." "Only my birth father. Myreal father—the only father I ever knew or wanted—was Bail Organa of Alderaan."
Leia was a respected senator of the New Republic until her true parentage was revealed to the galaxy.
In28 ABY,[54] Lord Mellowyn died without an heir to his role as the figurehead supremegovernor of Birren. As the late governor's closest living relatives, albeit through adoption, Leia Organa and Ben Solo were next in the line of succession. Neither Leia nor her son was in a position to accept the office, however. At the time, Leia was still a senator while Solotrained with the resurgent Jedi Order under his uncle and mentor, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker. As a result, LadyCarise Sindian claimed the ceremonial governorship by default.[5]
Ultimately, Leia's political career was effectively destroyed by the revelation of hertrue family. Before his death, Bail left behind a secret recording that revealed the identities of Leia's real mother and father—that of the late Senator Padmé Amidala of Naboo and her secret husband, the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker. Furthermore, Bail confessed that Anakin had, in fact, fallen to the dark side ofthe Force, becoming the Sith Lord Darth Vader. Senator Sindian found Bail's message and passed it to her colleague, SenatorRansolm Casterfo, who displayed to the entire Galactic Senate. Leia's connection to[5] the most hated man in the galaxy[55] shattered her reputation in the Senate and caused irreparable damage to her campaign to becomeFirst Senator.[5]
A family fractured[]
"There's nothing more we could have done. There's too much Vader in him." "That's why I wanted him to train with Luke. I just never should have sent him away. That's when I lost him. That's when I lost you both."
―Leia Organa and Han Solo, referring to their son, Ben Solo[20]
Ben Solo's family was torn apart by his decision to become Kylo Ren, a warrior of the dark side of the Force.
Despite his potential as the archetype of a new generation of Jedi, Ben Solo was seduced by the dark side of the Force like his grandfather before him.[55] Embracing the teachings ofSupreme LeaderSnoke, he adopted the persona of Kylo Ren, thereby severing all ties to the Jedi and his family.[56] Though a servant of the dark side, themaster of the Knights of Ren struggled to resist the pull to thelight side of the Force. Ren's efforts to reinvent himself extended to the use of acombat helmet that was reminiscent of themask worn by Vader, but beneath thehelmet's theatrics the youngwarrior was still Ben Solo, the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa.[57] Solo's fall to the dark side tore his family apart, as Han Solo and Leia went their separate ways to cope with their grief.[20]
During therise of theFirst Order,GeneralArmitage Hux used Ren's heritage to gain the trust ofBylsma while stranded on anunknown planet. Having served the royal family as apalace guard prior to the destruction of Alderaan, Bylsma knew Ren's mother and adoptive grandfather, and wondered if he was anything like Leia. Hux admitted that Ren did, in fact, have much in common with his mother, even if he would have denied it. The resemblance between Leia and Ren confirmed the latter's royal lineage, and the Alderaaniansoldier helped Hux to contact his allies in the First Order.[51]
Leia and her husband, Han Solo, reunited on Takodana after years of separation caused by their son's fall to the dark side.
Thehunt for Leia's brother, Skywalker, brought Leia and Han Solo back together after years of separation. In their time apart, Leia had founded theResistance in hopes of keeping the First Order in check, while Han returned to a life of smuggling which he considered to be the only profession he was ever truly good at. After theHosnian Cataclysm, Leia and her forcesengaged the First Order onTakodana, where Han informed the general that he had seen their son during the battle. Contrary to Han's belief that his presence reminded Leia of Ben, Leia never wanted to forget about him. She wanted their son back. She agreed with Han that Ben was too much like his grandfather, Darth Vader, which was why Leia wanted him to learn the Jedi ways from Skywalker. She regretted sending Ben away, however, believing it was a mistake that caused her to lose him as well as her husband.[20]
Ren killed his father to grow stronger with the dark side, but the act of patricide only weakened him.
Although Han believed that Ben was lost, Leia refused to give up on him and insisted that together they could break Snoke's influence over their son. Han was skeptical, not knowing how or if he could save Ben when Luke could not. Leia reassured him that while Luke was a Jedi, Han was Ben's father. Certain that there was still light within her son, Leia beseeched her husband to bring Ben home. It was the last time she saw him before his death. While infiltratingIlum in hopes of destroying the First Order'ssuperweapon, Han tried to carry out Leia's wish by confronting Kylo Ren. The dark warrior struggled with indecision, but ultimately chose to kill his own father, believing the sacrifice would end his inner conflict. Leia sensed Han die through the Force, and contrary to what Ren thought would happen, the act of patricide weakened him.[20]
Rise of the Supreme Leader[]
"The Supreme Leader is dead." "Long live the Supreme Leader."
With the death of Snoke, Ren aspired to rule the galaxy as the new Supreme Leader of the First Order.
Recovering from thedefeat onStarkiller Base, Ren redoubled his efforts tocrush the Resistance in order to prove his worth to Supreme Leader Snoke. Yet he hesitated when the opportunity to eliminate Leia presented itself,[58] having sensed her fear and concern for him.[53] However, his resolve strengthened by the time he killed Snoke, and as the new Supreme Leader, Ren deployed theFirst Order Army toCrait with orders to exterminate the remnants of his mother's movement. Determined to win theFirst Order-Resistance War, Ren was not inclined to give quarter to his enemies, and therefore, ordered his forces to kill every remaining member of the Resistance during theBattle of Crait. The First Order was unable to carry out his orders, however, due to theprojected arrival of Luke Skywalker, who sacrificed his life to ensure the survival of his sister and her movement.[55]
In spite of the Resistance's survival, Ren succeeded in consolidating his rule over the First Order.[59] During his reign, the First Order expanded across the galaxy, using its forces to conquer a large amount of territory.[60] Leia sought to rebuild the Resistance by recruiting new allies, such as theMon Calamari, which her son tried to prevent by adopting a policy of zero toleration toward sympathizers of the Resistance.[61] Believing that the dark side was in his nature, Ren was convinced that it was impossible for him to return to his mother as Ben Solo.[59]
Emperor in waiting[]
"You will rule all the galaxy as the new Emperor."
Following the revelation of Darth Sidious' revival, Ren stood poised to reign over the galaxy as the next Emperor.
The war between the First Order and the Resistance was interrupted by a galaxy-widebroadcast from the late Emperor, Darth Sidious, who revealed hisresurrection years after the Empire was defeated at theBattle of Endor. Leia and Ren both sought to confirm the message's authenticity, with the latter succeeding first by locating the hidden Sith bastion ofExegol. Sidious convinced Ren to form an alliance between the First Order and theSith Eternal; and in return, he offered Ren afleet ofXyston-class Star Destroyers—theFinal Order—all of which were armed withaxial superlasers capable of destroying entire planets. As a condition, however, Sidious asked Ren to purge the last trace of the Jedi Order by killing thescavengerRey, who aspired to become a true Jedi through Leia's guidance. In addition to the Sith Armada, Sidious offered Ren his title of Emperor as an incentive to fulfill his mandate[59] as heir to the Sith legacy.[60]
Frustrated with Ren's management of the war,[62] General Hux became aspy for the Resistance in order to undermine the Supreme Leader. He supplied information to the Resistance about Ren's discovery of Exegol, confirming the Emperor's return and the existence of his new fleet. Seeking the path to Exegol as well, the Jedi apprentice Rey embarked on a journey to acquire aSith wayfinder while her mentor Leia remained onAjan Kloss overseeing the Resistance. Abattle eventually ensued between the son and the apprentice of Leia, respectively, in theDeath Star ruins onKef Bir. Assisted by heradvisor,Maz Kanata, the Resistance general devoted her remaining strength in a final concentrated effort to reach her son through the Force.[59]
Leia Organa, princess of Alderaan and general of the Resistance, died calling out to her son, Ben Solo, through the Force.
Her sacrifice was a success; across the galaxy, Ren felt his mother die, causing him to lose focus during thelightsaber duel. Although Rey capitalized on the Supreme Leader's distraction to wound him, shehealed Ren after also sensing Leia's death. As Ren contemplated on what had transpired, he found himself confronted by his memory of Han Solo. At first, Ren believed it truly was too late to change his ways, as his mother was dead, but Han told him that while Leia was gone, the cause she devoted her life to was not yet lost. Ultimately, the son of Han and Leia reclaimed his identity as Ben Solo, destroying the side of him that was Kylo Ren.[50] In accordance with Leia's wishes, the title of acting general was granted toCommanderPoe Dameron, to whom Leia had symbolically passed her legacy as an Organa by entrusting theResistance pilot with the organization's future.[62]
Solo returned to Exegol while General Dameron led the Resistance and theirallies in anattack on the forces of the Sith Eternal, determined to prevent Sidious' Final Order from conquering the galaxy. While Leia's successor led the Resistance to victory over the SithStar Destroyers, her son prevented Rey from succumbing to the temptations of the dark side which, in turn, resulted in the reborn Emperor's destruction by the hand of his granddaughter. The effort cost Rey her life, however, leading Solo to sacrifice himself in hopes of saving her. The effort resulted in Solo's death, yet succeeded in reviving Rey—hisother half in the Force—who kissed him shortly after coming back to life.[59]
Leia was mourned by the Resistance, as well as by her son Ben, who returned to the light side of the Force.
Leia Organa and Ben Solo were the last members in the royal line of Senator Bail Organa and Queen Breha Organa, as well as the Skywalker and Solo families.[50] By the end of her life, Leia had divided her various inheritances as a Skywalker, an Organa, and a Solo between the individuals whom she considered the heirs to her combined legacy. She left the Organa legacy to Dameron by making him the new leader of the Resistance; the Solo legacy passed to her son after Leia's final effort to bring Ben back to the light succeeded; and the Skywalker legacy was left to her apprentice Rey.[62] Thoughsired from theEmperor's bloodline, Rey had renounced her lineage and assumed the Skywalker name to honor the legacy of Leia's biological family.[50]
