Battle of Alderaan (Galactic Civil War)

The Battle of Alderaan was a battle between the planet Alderaan and the Galactic Empire in 2 BBY, part of the Galactic Civil War. The forces of the Galactic Empire, led by the Sith Lord Darth Vader, invaded and subsequently occupied the planet in an effort to capture Alderaanian Viceroy Bail Prestor Organa. The battle was carried out under the false pretense that Alderaan was stockpiling weapons to be used against the Empire.

Prelude
In the early days of the Galactic Empire’s rule over the galaxy, the planet Alderaan signed a treaty with the Empire that stated Alderaan would rid itself of all weapons. The planet obeyed the terms of the treaty for years.

Around 2 BBY, evidence presented by the Sith Lord Darth Vader indicated that Alderaan had violated the treaty and was stockpiling weapons for use against the Empire. The intelligence, however, was fabricated. Because the Empire-at-large did not know this, Vader used the information as justification for launching an attack on Alderaan, one secretly aimed at capturing Viceroy Bail Prestor Organa alive. The goal in capturing Organa was to use him in Vader’s plot to capture the Viceroy’s daughter, Alderaanian Princess Leia Organa. Viceroy Organa himself had sensed that something dangerous was approaching Alderaan, which he saw in the form of dreams where he saw a storm over the planet.

The battle
In 2 BBY, Vader led a fleet of Star Destroyers, commanded from the Star Destroyer Avenger, to Alderaan in pursuit of the vessel Tantive IV. Also accompanying Vader in command of the fleet was Kane Starkiller, the Commander of the Guardians of Lettow.

The battle began in a field outside of Aldera, the planet’s capital city, into the streets of the city itself. A group of Imperial fighters also attacked an airbase containing civilian vessels, though Vader claimed that they were military fighters. The Imperial forces ultimately captured the capital city and placed the planet under direct Imperial occupation.

Aftermath
Following the conclusion of the battle, Vader continued in his efforts to capture Princess Organa. The princess realized that she was influenced by the dark side of the Force, which Vader attempted to use to convince Leia to become his secret Sith apprentice. This caused some animosity with Starkiller, who already considered himself Vader’s de facto apprentice.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Episode IV