Naboo (MissIzzy)

Naboo was a planet located in the Chommell Sector near the Outer Rim territories, mostly known as the homeworld of notable historical figures who played major roles in the downfall of the Old Republic and the rise of the Galactic Empire.

Society
During the time of the Old Republic, Naboo had a suprisingly well-defined class structure. Although there was a division in rank between the noble class and common folk, the ranking of the middle classes in relation to each other was never clearly defined. In most of the upper classes, class definition was applied to families rather than individuals, producing more flexibility than many class systems, and as time went on, it gradually became easier and easier to move between classes, culminating in the election of the peasant-born Padme Amidala to the throne in the first century BBY. The classes included:

Greater Nobles: These were Naboo's most powerful families. Most of them married into King Jafan's royal line more than once, and until the 2nd century BBY it was very difficult to be elected to the planet's other highest positions without being born into one of these families. Most also passed down a "Name of State" through the family for their sucessful politicians to adopt. Such families included the Costils, Excenils, and Yelninas.

Special Nobles: These, nearly equal in social rank to the greater noble families, held some sort of specialization as their particular sphere of influence, such as the politics of the less inhabited side of Naboo(example: the Minnel family and Alakas). One particularly remarkable subgroup of this class were families known for their Force sensitivity, such as the Klistorins and the Sensaris. Rarely giving their young to the Jedi, they instead produced unusually perceptive and intuitive politicians.

Lesser Nobles: These families typically held power in a particular section on Naboo, often handing down rulership of a particular town. After the Naboo/Gungun conflict of the 2nd Century BBY, these families often rose in power; examples include the Lasaras and Harjorils.

Landed Farmers: These farmers owned substantial amount of land, enough to be very well-off and mingle with those officially higher-ranking than them, though they often shared local power with lesser nobles. They too were in a position to benefit by the opening of political positions to the lower ranking, and many families, such as the Rabierre family, did rise very high, though others, such as the Corderrie family, found thier power declining within a couple of generations. Other examples include the Vederrie and Andierre families.

Rich Merchants: These families controlled most of Naboo's commerce, and managed most of the plasma trade. As with the rich farmers, they often gained power through influence on local nobles, though as a rule, they were less interested than the farmers in politics. Both families also often married into even the greater noble families. Examples include the Borreno family.

The Moneychangers: A peculiar class, most of its members are descended from a second group of human settlers that came to Naboo about a century after the first, and more than any other class, they bear similar surnames, ending in -ine. They handle most of Naboo's banking. For many centuries they were considered "outsiders" and looked down upon by the rest of the population, and they often suffered very heavy losses in times of war, but by the time of the Empire, they had paradoxically earned a certain respect from most people for enduring in the face of persecution. They rarely hold any power of their own, but their members have often married into more powerful families on account of their wealth.

The Artisans: The members of this class and those below it are more likely to identify themselves as individuals rather than family members. These people form part of Naboo's middle class, and are highly valued by everyone for their skills.

Lesser Merchants: Individuals much like the richer merchants, only not as successful. An enterprising and fortunate individual, however, could move up into the richer merchant class and establish a new family.

Peasant Farmers: The majority of Naboo farmers owned only enough land to support themselves on, and the poorer members of this class often pooled their land in a commune-style system. A very few individuals, again, managed to accumulate more wealth and rise into the richer class, but this was more difficult than in the merchant classes. Others, such as the Amidala's family, attempted to break out of the class by moving to the city, but this too was very difficult, and often resulted only in in the loss of their social respect as farmers.

Menial Workers: The lowest ranking of Naboo, with neither money, power, or respect, though through the majority of the ages the government of Naboo has been socially aware, and has used "safety net" programs to spare this class the worst of the squalor seen elsewhere in the galaxy.