Summary
- Leia Organa's story in the Star Wars saga showcases her growth and resilience, as she remained strong even when faced with adversity.
- Leia's role expanded significantly in the New Republic, where she served as a Senator and became a high-ranking member of the Populists, advocating for individual world sovereignty.
- Leia's sacrifice and eventual death led to Kylo Ren's redemption, highlighting her role in shaping the destiny of the Skywalker legacy.
Leia Organa is best known for her adventures in the original Star Wars trilogy, but her story continued long after Return of the Jedi. From the Battle of Endor to the First Order-Resistance War, Leia dedicated her life to helping the people of the galaxy and protecting the people she cared about most. Leia's various accomplishments make her one of the Star Wars saga's greatest heroes, while her many trials highlight how much she sacrificed for the greater good.
What's most impressive about Leia's story is how many roles she filled during the time of the New Republic. Her life was full of countless adventures that tested her in new ways and saw her grow more powerful than she ever believed she could in Return of the Jedi. No matter what she suffered or how many people abandoned her when she tried to do the right thing, Leia remained one of the strongest characters in Star Wars after the original trilogy ended.
10 Leia & Han Married Shortly After Return Of The Jedi
Han Solo proposed to Leia just a few days after the Battle of Endor, and the two were married in the Bright Tree Village at a ceremony attended by their closest friends and family. The two departed on a honeymoon aboard the Halcyon, encountering a group of Imperials on their journey.
9 Leia Became A Senator In The New Republic
When the Rebel Alliance became the New Republic after the Battle of Endor, Leia continued to serve as a Senator just as she had in the Imperial Senate. She remained in the New Republic Senate for 24 years, during which she became a high-ranking member of the Populists, who favored the sovereignty of individual worlds over a strong centralized government.
8 Leia Gave Birth To Ben A Year After Return Of The Jedi
A year after the Battle of Endor, Leia gave birth to her son, Ben Solo. He was born on Chandrila, then the capital of the New Republic, and he eventually became Luke's Jedi student when he was 10 years old.
7 Leia Completed Her Jedi Training With Luke - But Surrendered Her Lightsaber To Save Her Son
Although Leia completed her Jedi training with Luke, she chose to commit her life to the New Republic Senate instead. She had a vision on the last night of her training that led her to believe Ben would die at the end of her Jedi path, and she hoped that leaving that life behind would save him.
6 Leia Campaigned To Become First Senator - And Was Forced Out Of Politics
Leia campaigned to be the first person to hold the office of First Senator, only for her reputation to be destroyed when the galaxy learned that Darth Vader was her father. With her political career in ruins, the New Republic wouldn't listen to her about the First Order.
5 Leia Established The Resistance To Oppose The First Order
In 24 ABY, Leia learned about the First Order and realized they would eventually target the rest of the galaxy. Now that she was no longer a senator, Leia recruited allies from her days in the Rebellion and created the Resistance to keep the rising First Order in check.
4 Han & Leia's Marriage Failed After Ben Fell To The Dark Side
Around the same time that Leia formed the Resistance, Ben finally succumbed to the dark side and destroyed Luke's Jedi Temple. Luke blamed himself for what happened and went into exile on Ahch-To, the birthplace of the Jedi Order. Han and Leia's marriage fell apart shortly after, with Han returning to a life of smuggling while Leia continued to serve as General of the Resistance.
3 Leia Ordered A Search For Her Brother, Luke Skywalker
Leia tasked the Resistance with finding her lost brother, believing he could restore hope to the galaxy again. Unfortunately, Luke was committed to ending the Jedi Order and refused to leave with Rey.
2 Leia Was Badly Injured In The Last Jedi
Although Leia survived being blown into space by using the Force, she was seriously injured and ended up in a temporary coma. Luke connected with her when he opened himself to the Force again, prompting Leia to wake up and motivating Luke to return. Luke sacrificed himself to save the Resistance on Crait and ignited a spark of hope throughout the galaxy, just as Leia believed he would.
1 Rise Of Skywalker Told The Story Of Leia's Death - And Her Part In Kylo Ren's Redemption
The events of Star Wars: The Last Jedi took a toll on Leia, but she refused to back down when Rey needed her. Even though it took all the strength she had left, Leia reached out to Ben through the Force just as he was about to kill Rey, calling her son's name as she died peacefully. Leia's death led to Kylo Ren's redemption, and after the galaxy was saved, she and Luke looked at Rey with pride as she embraced the Skywalker legacy.
