Wookieepedia:Featured article queue/February 15, 2011

The Battle of Alderaan was a major conflict between the Galactic Republic and the reconstituted Sith Empire that occurred at the height of the Great Galactic War. The peaceful and verdant Core World of Alderaan was a Republic member world, and widely viewed as an embodiment of the ideals and principals upon which the Republic was founded. It was that reputation that made it a military target for the Sith Empire. As the Great Galactic War dragged on elsewhere in the galaxy, the Sith formulated a plan to crush Republic morale by invading Alderaan and shattering its serenity. The incursion was led by the Sith Lord Darth Malgus, who planned for it to coincide with a diversionary feint that would pull the ships of the Republic Navy far from Alderaan. As the planet sat undefended by the Republic fleet, it was beset by a massive Sith invasion force that quickly obliterated local defense forces and took the royal family of Alderaan hostage.

Unknown to the Sith forces, the Republic had stationed groups of Republic troopers across the planet prior to the invasion. These troopers took to the mountains and forests of Alderaan during the Sith attack and proceeded to wage a guerrilla war against the enemy. As Darth Malgus led his forces in a march toward the planet's capital city, he was ambushed by the troopers of Republic Special Forces' Havoc Squad. Much of the squad was killed during the battle, but with the timely arrival of a Jedi to aid the men of Havoc Squad, Malgus and his Sith forces were routed. Following the skirmish outside the city, the Republic fleet returned from the diversionary feint to drive the Empire off of Alderaan. The battle was a major victory for the Republic, but had grave consequences for the future of Alderaan. Although historically a voice for peace, the Alderaanian government became a vocal proponent of harsh military actions against the Empire in the aftermath of the battle. This new stance came into conflict with the peace established by the Treaty of Coruscant in 3,653 BBY, which ultimately led to a bloody planetary civil war.