Invasion of Naboo

"The situation here is not what it seems. There is something else behind all this, Your Highness. There is no logic in the Federation's move here. My feelings tell me they will destroy you."

- Qui-Gon Jinn Ten years prior to the Clone Wars, the Trade Federation invaded Naboo, launching a consequential galactic conflict that would have repercussions for years to come. During the invasion, Naboo's capital city and surrounding regions were occupied by the battle droid army of the Trade Federation. The Federation was controlled in secret by the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, who was secretly Naboo's Senator, Palpatine. The Dark Lord intended to use the crisis as a pretext to remove Supreme Chancellor Valorum for office and have Palpatine elected in his place.

During the initial blockade, Valorum sent two Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, to negotiate with the Federation, but Sidious ordered that they be killed and that the Federation deploy their forces to Naboo. The Jedi escaped and rescued Queen Padmé Amidala from the Federation, making their way to Tatooine for refuge. There, Jinn discovered a young slave named Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One destined to bring balance to the Force.

The group repaired their damaged vessel and made their way to Coruscant, where Amidala pleaded for Republic assistance before the Galactic Senate. The Republic's bureaucracy was unable to help Amidala, who called for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum, leading to an election in which Palpatine was a favorite to win. Knowing she would find no help on Coruscant, Amidala returned to Naboo with the Jedi and planned to defeat the Federation on her own.

Upon her return, Amidala met and forged an alliance with the Gungans who lived in Naboo's oceans, and the Gungans agreed to join the fight against the Federation. In the final battle, the Gungan army took on the Federation army as a diversion; a wing of starfighters attacked the droid control ship in orbit; and Amidala and the Jedi infiltrated the palace to capture Nute Gunray, the Federation viceroy. By the battle's end, Skywalker had destroyed the Federation control ship, the Gungans were victorious, Gunray was captured, and the Sith Lord Darth Maul was defeated&mdash;at the cost of Jinn's life.

The crisis ultimately allowed Palpatine to achieve his goals; with a strong sympathy vote, Palpatine was elected Supreme Chancellor. Over the next ten years, he furthered his Sith plot to take over the Republic and destroy the Jedi, launching the Clone Wars that would allow him to form a Galactic Empire and destroy the Jedi Order.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace