Star Wars: Princess, Senator, General – The Princess Leia Breakdown
Whether she’s your princess, senator, or general, Princess Leia Organa is one of the most influential and loved characters in Star Wars.
If you’re looking for the Star Wars character with the soundest head on her shoulders, it’s undoubtedly going to be Leia Organa. She’s a diplomat, a rebel fighter, and will read you like a ratty old library book. Don’t be a nerf-herder — brush up on the history of the galaxy’s most badass politician and Disney’s most fearsome princess.
The Early Life of Leia Organa
Though she was born to biological parents Padme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker, after her mother’s death and the fall of her father to the Dark Side, Leia was immediately adopted by Breha and Bail Organa of Alderaan. As Queen and Senator, she was given a childhood of privilege and education. But they were also sure to teach her to appreciate the importance and struggles of the average citizens of Alderaan. In short, from infancy, Princess Leia was brought up to be a strong, fair, and mindful leader.
Still, despite years of etiquette training, young Leia was strong-willed and at times, trouble. She would periodically run away from home, listen in on private conversations regarding matters of state, and learn combat skills alongside leadership and language ones.
In her teens she followed her fathers (and biological mother) into politics, becoming a Junior Legislator at fourteen. This, and her strong feelings about justice, quickly led her to the Rebellion. Despite her parents being leading members, they forbid Princess Leia from becoming involved in their anti-Imperial efforts. But she was soon more knowledgeable and more involved in matters of the Rebel Alliance than her parents would have liked.
Princess Leia and the Rebel Alliance
One of Leia’s first missions involved meeting with Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger on Lothal. The trip was officially called a relief mission as part of the Imperial Senate. In reality it the mission was to facilitate the Rebellion stealing Imperial cruisers.
Her role as a member of the Imperial Senate gave Leia allies and cover in her jobs for the Rebellion. That is, until the Rebel Alliance succeeded in stealing the plans to the Death Star. Caught red-handed taking the plans and passing them off to her droid R2-D2 to deliver to Obi-Wan Kenobi, Leia’s cover was blown and she was apprehended by the Empire before having her home world of Alderaan destroyed.
The resulting rescue by Luke Skywalker and Han Solo as well as the assault on the Death Star are some of the most famous pieces of Star Wars lore. With her involvement with the Rebellion no longer a secret, Leia was able to take on a larger leadership role. She rallied and led surviving Alderaanians, went on missions that required a diplomat’s touch and jumped into the middle of the fighting whenever she was needed. Leia was directly involved in rescue missions, espionage, investigations, and military skirmishes, all with the same level of dignified and thoughtful leadership.
New Republic
Shortly after the Battle of Endor and the fall of the Empire, Princess Leia married Han Solo. She also took this time to hone her own connection to the force and trained to be a Jedi with her brother, Luke Skywalker. Princess Leia took to Jedi training as quickly and successfully as everything else. She constructed her own Lightsaber and was quickly a duelist on par with her brother. But she didn’t see herself as a Jedi and saw a calling to help the galaxy in another way. So Leia took another leadership role, this time with the budding New Republic.
This time, too, was filled with uncertainty. Government disagreements and family emergencies were peppered with successes. But things like the Liberation of Kashyyyk and peace talks with former Imperial leadership kept progress moving slowly forward. The Empire’s official surrender to the New Republic shared a day with the birth of Leia and Han’s son, Ben. In time Ben’s natural force abilities grew strong and he left to train with his uncle. And for a while, the New Republic and family life worked out for Leia.
Rise of the First Order
When the First Order began to rise, Ben turned to the Dark Side like his grandfather. So Princess Leia once again had to take on a military role, now acting as General Organa. Even after the death of Han, Leia continued leading the Resistance. She also attempted to reach out to Ben through the Force to bring him back to the light. But with her health in decline, she passed away before he could attempt to redeem himself or the First Order could be defeated.
Princess Leia is one of the most popular characters in Star Wars for a reason. She’s smart, snappy, lethal, and professional. But she is also compassionate and kind. And of course, it doesn’t hurt that she was portrayed by the legendary late Carrie Fisher.
What is your favorite Princess Leia moment? Do you think she should have continued her Jedi training or gone back to public service? Have you read any of the books or comics in which she’s featured? Let us know in the comments!
May the Force be with you, adventurers!
