The Naboo Crisis, also known as the Invasion of Naboo, the Battle of Naboo or Battle for Naboo was a significant galactic conflict that took place on Naboo in 32 BBY. After failed negotiations, the forces of the Trade Federation invaded the planet and occupied the city of Theed.
It ended with the capture of Viceroy Nute Gunray and the destruction of the main droid control ship. The dire conflict would lead to Senator Palpatine of Naboo taking the seat of Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Senate and rising tensions ultimately leading into the Clone Wars. The events of the Naboo Crisis are often depicted as a prelude to those of the Secession Crisis.
Sieges on Naboo[]
Origins[]
Following result of the failed Eriadu Trade Summit, taxation was imposed by the Senate in the former Free Trade Zones of the Mid Rim. Viceroy Gunray built up the Federation army and occupied Naboo in retaliation for Senator Palpatine's role in the taxation. The Sith Lord Darth Sidious, who had urged Gunray to make this move, sent along his apprentice Darth Maxah to supervise the occupation.
Blockade[]
The Federation used their ships to create an impenetrable blockade, cutting off the Naboo from the rest of the galaxy. When the Federation began the blockade, Queen Nalanda contacted Palpatine who informed Supreme Chancellor Valorum. Unknown to the rest of the Senate other than Palpatine, Valorum sent the Jedi Knight Shakya Devi along with her Padawan Padmé Naberrie to mediate between the two parties.
Negotiations and First Duel on Naboo[]
When the Jedi arrived, the Federation refused to speak to the Jedi and the two continued to Theed, pursued by Darth Maxah who, at the orders of Sidious, killed Devi and then returned to the fleet, sparing the fourteen year old Padmé Naberrie for reasons unknown. With the help of Queen Nalanda, Naberrie disguised herself as a handmaiden and put out a call for Jedi assistance which was answered by Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi.
First Battle of Theed[]
The Trade Federation invades Naboo
After cutting off all communication, the invasion began in earnest and Federation ships began occupying the planet. There was minimal resistance due to the fact that the Naboo had no standing army. Jinn and Kenobi arrived during the invasion, though detected by Maxah their ship was brought down by a spear thrown by the Gungan Danta Pela who assisted them in gaining access to Theed on the backs of goff birds. When Theed fell, Nalanda was taken prisoner though her captors were soon fought off by the combined actions of Naberrie and Nalanda's Head of Security Tallam Panaka.
Escape and Duel on Tatooine[]
Darth Maxah, who relentlessly pursued Queen Nalanda and killed Shakya Devi and Qui-Gon Jinn.
I know it seems like abandoning your people, but in the end you may be forced to sign the treaty
—Padmé Naberrie
When Jinn and Kenobi arrived, Nalanda managed to flee Naboo, her ship managed to get through the blockade through the actions of the pilot Ric Olié as well as the diligence of the astromech droid, R2-D2. Maxah followed them to Tatooine where they needed to stop for repairs, the Sith found the ship and engaged Jinn in combat just as they were leaving. When he was safe on board, Naberrie confirmed that it was the assassin that had killed her Master.
Nalanda in the Senate[]
Nalanda in her blue senatorial gown
I object to these groundless allegations! I repeat, there is no proof that the Trade Federation has any presence in the Naboo system. Queen Nalanda has not only accused us of invading her world, but of murder as well!
—Lott Dod
Upon arriving on Coruscant, Palpatine played to Nalanda's fears and said that Chancellor Valroum, one of their strongest supporters, may not be able to help them as he was hemmed in by bureaucracy. at first Nalanda disagreed with him, but when her anguished pleas in the Senate were shouted down by Lott Dodd of the Trade Federation, she went along with Palpatine's plan and called for a Vote of No Confidence in Valorum, cuing an election.
Realizing that there was little for her to do, Nalanda returned to Naboo despite Palpatine's protests, she was accompanied by the three Jedi who could protect her, yet do nothing more.
Battle for Naboo[]
Gungan-Naboo Alliance[]
With Danta Pela as a guide, Nalanda managed to form an alliance between the Gungans and the Naboo that would prove critical to her victory as well as a later way forward for the two peoples. Boss Rugor Nass was at first skeptical of Nalanda's pleas, yet when the Queen proved that she did not regard herself as his superior, he agreed and committed the Gungan Grand Army to their war effort.
Battle of the Grassy Plains[]
This battle was only intended to be a distraction to draw the main droid army away from the city and hold it there for as long as possible. It was a coordinated effort of the Gungan Grand Army, commanded by General Ceel with Gungan Flyers led by Danta Pela. If it had not been for the timely destruction of the droid control ship by the young Anakin Skywalker, a former slave who had come with the Jedi from Tatooine in the hope of being trained, it would have been an utter disaster.
Second Battle of Theed[]
Nalanda and the Jedi managed to infiltrate the palace and then the parties split, Nalanda's stand-in Sanné going another direction with the Queen accompanied by the Jedi to the Theed Hangar so the pilots could be freed. The plan went well until the arrival of Darth Maxah, Jinn and Kenobi left to engage the Sith and Naberrie accompanied the Queen to the throne room, where they were taken prisoner after Nalanda told them all to throw down their weapons. Success came when, Sanné appeared, Gunray was distracted and Naberrie managed to summon her lightsaber with the Force and take the Viceroy hostage.
Second Duel on Naboo[]
On arriving in the hangar, the Sith Maxah appeared resolved to dispose of the remaining Jedi. Jinn and Kenobi engaged her in combat, the former telling Nabrerrie to protect the Queen as the Jedi realized that Maxah was even to much for himself and Kenobi. Maxah lured the Jedi away from the main fight and into the Palace reactor room to a long corridor of energy curtains where she managed to engage Jinn one-on-one, mortally wounding him before taking on the young Kenobi. After cutting her lightsaber in half, Kenobi was thrown by Maxah down a reactor shaft but managed to use the Force to launch himself out of the shaft and kill her. Jinn later died in Kenobi's arms from the wound he received.
Space Battle of Naboo[]
After the Federation secured their occupation of the planet, only one droid control ship remained in orbit. Nalanda managed to free the imprisoned pilots and the pilots moved to engage the droid ship, led by Ric Olié, which would deactivate all of the Federation battle droids. A reluctant participant in this battle was Anakin Skywalker, who stayed in the cockpit of a starfighter at the orders of Qui-Gon Jinn. Skywalker managed to activate the ship and was guided into space through the autopilot. After R2-D2 deactivated the autopilot, the nine-year-old guided his starfighter into the belly of the droid control ship and destroyed it from the inside, winning the battle for everyone.
Aftermath[]
The Naboo Crisis had long-term effects, both positive and negative. One of the positive effects was the overwhelming popularity of Nalanda, spurring some to propse she stay in office past the term limits assigned to the Monarch of Naboo, as well as the alliance between the Gungans and the Naboo, leading them to have a greater voice in the government of the planet. Another positive was that the actions of Skywalker convinced the Jedi Council to accept him for Jedi training, something that had been previously denied to him as it was deemed he was too old.
However, Gunray remained Viceroy of the Trade Federation despite four trials in the Supreme Court and the Federation army was not reduced in size. Also, the presence of Darth Maxah alerted the Jedi to the fact that the Sith, long thought extinct, had re-emerged.
It would be nearly fifteen years, after the fall of Darth Sidious, before the true reasons for the Crisis were revealed. The Clone Wars would show how influential the Naboo Crisis had really been on the galaxy.
Appearances[]
- The Phantom Menace (AU)
- Attack of the Clones (AU) (Mentioned only)]