Alderaan was a planet located in the Core Worlds, the second planet in the Alderaan system, and the home of many famous heroes, including Ulic Qel-Droma, and Padmé, Bail and Leia Organa. Renowned galaxy-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 the insectoid Killiks, Alderaan was later conquered by Humans. Despite a battle during the Great Galactic War, a civil war during the subsequent Cold War, and a brief invasion by the Trade Federation, Alderaan remained peaceful during much of galactic history. However, in 0 BBY, Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin and the Galactic Empire wanted to intimidate the galaxy into submission, and destroyed the unarmed and peaceful planet using the first Death Star's superlaser.