Sio Bibble/Legends

"This invasion will gain you nothing. We're a democracy. The people have decided&hellip;"

- Governor Sio Bibble

Sio Bibble was governor of Theed, the capital of Naboo during the reigns of Queens Amidala, Jamillia and Apailana. During the Invasion of Naboo in 32 BBY, he stayed behind and allowed himself to be taken captive by the Trade Federation, while Queen Amidala traveled to Coruscant to appeal to the Galactic Senate.

Bibble was an advisor to his respective monarch, and he would often lend his experience and knowledge in heated debates. He was defiant in the face of oppression, but was a devout pacifist, and his motives often conflicted with that of Captain Panaka, Theed's head of security.

Early career
Sio Bibble was a learned man, a philosopher and outspoken pacifist who refused to carry weapons. Not much is known of his rise to power in Theed, however, it is known that he was one of Amidala's strongest supporters during her election—preparing her for rule before even the previous ruler, Veruna, had abdicated. He offered sound advice to the naive young Queen and was a leading member of the Advisory Council. His task would be to deal with regional representatives from the outlying areas of Theed, and he would meet with town officials as a part of the day-to-day administration of the capital.

Invasion of Naboo


"A communications disruption can mean only one thing—invasion."

- Sio Bibble

Bibble's worst fears were realized when the Trade Federation blockaded Naboo due to a trade dispute in the Galactic Senate. During a holo-conference with the planet's senator, Palpatine, the transmission winked out. Bibble suspected that the Federation had knocked out communications as preparation for an invasion. He was right. Federation forces, led by OOM-9, had occupied the cities of New Centrif, Parrlay, and Vis, and were moving in on the larger settlements of Harte Secur and Spinnaker. The Queen, to Bibble's relief, refused to declare war on the Federation; however, that meant that OOM-9 could merely walk into Theed with little resistance.

Occupation of Theed
"The death toll is catastrophic. We must bow to their wishes. You must contact me!"

- Sio Bibble

Bibble was arrested, along with the Queen, and brought before the Trade Federation Viceroy, Nute Gunray. After the Queen refused to sign the Federation's proposed "treaty", they were escorted away from the Palace by a squad of battle droids. Presumably on the way to a transport that would take them to one of the Federation's war camps, the group was rescued by two Jedi: Master Qui-Gon Jinn, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, the ambassadors that had been sent by the Supreme Chancellor to deal with the dispute. They offered to take the Queen to Coruscant, to allow her to plead her case to the Senate, a move which Bibble supported. Claiming that he could do more on Naboo to help his people than he could by going to Coruscant, Bibble elected to stay.



He was arrested again, and brought before a fuming Gunray. He forced Bibble to send a transmission to Amidala, wherever she was, pleading her to return, citing a catastrophic death-toll. Whether or not this was true is not known, but a reply to the message was never received. Bibble then tried to negotiate with Gunray, only to be met with Gunray's derision. Bibble was taken away to one of the prisoner camps and forgotten. He was eventually saved when the Queen returned and liberated Naboo.

After the Invasion
During the Separatist Crisis, he continued to serve the Queen, now Jamillia. He feared that the crisis would expand into a full-scale war, something not seen since the Ruusan Reformation. He also expressed outrage at Nute Gunray's punishment for the Invasion, which had amounted to little more than a slap on the wrist.

Bibble's predictions turned out to be accurate as the Separatist Crisis evolved into the Clone Wars. During this time, he was an advisor to Queen Apailana, and attended the funeral of one of his former Queens, Amidala. What happened to him after the Subjugation of Naboo by the new Galactic Empire is not known.

Personality and traits
Bibble was a very passive man—not wanting to openly defy others, rather, he preferred to sit back and let others argue. However, he was dedicated to his work, and would often lend his experience to the meetings of the Royal Advisory Council. He believed in the Republic, although his faith was shaken when Gunray's sentence was passed. He was also brave for a man of his position—when faced with death during the Invasion of Naboo, his concern was for his people, not for himself.

Behind the scenes

 * Governor Sio Bibble was portrayed by Oliver Ford Davies in all three movies of the prequel trilogy. He was voiced by Jamie Alcroft in the game Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds.
 * Since the acclaimed British actor was unable to attend the shooting of the Episode II Naboo court scenes in Italy, his part was reshot on bluescreen and reinserted later.
 * Thus far, Bibble's fate as of the Rebellion era has been unexplored in canon material. Considering his age, though, he is almost certainly deceased by the events of the New Jedi Order book series.

Appearances

 * A Summer's Dream
 * The Starfighter Trap
 * Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith