Sabé/Legends

"This is my decoy, my protection&hellip;my loyal bodyguard."

- Padmé Amidala

Sabé was the most important handmaiden in Padmé Amidala's service during her two terms as elected Queen of Naboo. She was a skilled impersonator, often taking on the role of Amidala in times of crisis when the Queen's life was in danger.

Sabé was handpicked specifically for her close resemblance to Amidala. Before she began her service, Sabé had to undergo intense training in hand-to-hand combat, marksmanship, and Royal etiquette. While all of the handmaidens in Amidala's service could serve as her decoy in potentially dangerous situations, it was Sabé who most often assumed this role. As such, she and Amidala also underwent training in giving and understanding the discreet signals that the two would have to give each other when in swapped identities.

Early career
Sabé was a handmaiden in the service of Padmé Amidala, Queen of Naboo. Amidala's head of security, Captain Panaka, handpicked Sabé and the other handmaidens following the Queen's coronation, and had them trained in gymnastics, hand-to-hand combat, and small arms handling. Despite their ability to serve as bodyguards, the handmaidens would also serve Amidala on a more decorative level, tending to her outfits and hairstyles.

Thinking ahead, Panaka devised a scheme to ensure the Queen's safety in times of crisis. Sabé, who bore a striking resemblance to Amidala, would adopt the role of the Queen, while Amidala herself would pose as a handmaiden. The pair developed a set of signals they would use while in disguise, to convey messages without arousing suspicion. Due to her role as Amidala's decoy, Sabé was considered to be the most important of the Queen's bodyguards. During her time as a handmaiden, Sabé became close friends with Amidala. The Queen would give her dialect lessons to aid her mimicry, but Sabé was always afraid that she would give away the ruse. Though Sabé was usually first in line to play the role of "false Queen," the other handmaidens could also fill the position if needs be.

The handmaidens would constantly train at a secret compound set up by Panaka, located just outside Theed. There, they would hone their marksmanship, under the captain's supervision. The training area included an obstacle course that the handmaidens had to navigate, while constantly being harried by a floating training droid. One day, the handmaidens were joined by a newcomer named Padmé. Yané and Eirtaé successfully completed the course that day, but Rabé encountered some potentially fatal difficulties. Hit on the arm by the training droid's non-lethal blaster fire, Rabé returned fire, but even a direct hit was unable to down the droid. Padmé and Sabé also opened fire on the training device, to no avail. The duo quickly realized that something had gone amiss with the droid, and pursued the fleeing Rabé to a nearby waterfall, while Yané went to alert the compound's droid control.

While Rabé waited on the treacherous footing near the waterfall, Sabé, acting quickly, fired a cable at a nearby branch. Padmé then swung from the cable, lashing out at the training droid and knocking it wildly off course. She then retrieved the injured Rabé from her dangerous position. When everyone was save, Padmé revealed that she was in fact the Queen, and in doing so she assured her handmaidens that their loyalty to her was returned in kind.

The occupation of Naboo (32 BBY)
"I will not cooperate."

- Sabé

In 32 BBY, the forces of the Trade Federation invaded Naboo as a part of their protest of the taxation of trade routes. Knowing that the Queen would be in danger, Captain Panaka initiated his scheme to ensure the safety of Amidala. Sabé, due to her close resemblance to Amidala, took on her guise, while Amidala adopted handmaiden attire and used her birth name of Padmé Naberrie.

Sabé was able to fool Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray, although she did not have to keep up the ruse for long. Two Jedi Knights, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, rescued "Amidala" and her retinue from the Federation's forces. Jinn, fearful that the Federation might harm the Queen, insisted that she journey to Coruscant to put her case before the Galactic Senate. Amidala was able to acknowledge the decision without arousing the suspicion of the Jedi, and Sabé agreed with Jinn. As they left Naboo in the Queen's unarmed starship, they sustained heavy fire from the Federation blockade that surrounded the planet. Though they were able to safely make it out of the system, the ship's hyperdrive was critically damaged. Kenobi was able to locate a nearby planet, Tatooine, where the group of fugitives would able to purchase the repairs needed. Acting through Sabé, Amidala agreed to the plan.

Upon landing on the desert planet, Amidala herself set out for Mos Espa, a nearby city, with Jinn, the Gungan Jar Jar Binks, and the astromech droid R2-D2. While they were absent, Sabé received a message from Governor Sio Bibble, pleading her to contact him on Naboo. Kenobi cautioned against this, a warning Sabé heeded. After several days, Amidala and Jinn were able to secure the parts, and the group set off for Coruscant.

Upon reaching the capital, Sabé again swapped identities with Amidala, allowing the real Queen to deal with the critical political maneuvering that was sure to take place. To maintain the illusion, Sabé rarely ventured from the Queen's quarters, to support the claim that Padmé was out running errands. Amidala was unsuccessful in her mission, and decided to return to Naboo and take matters into her own hands.

The Battle of Naboo
"Viceroy! Your occupation here has ended."

- Sabé

On returning, Amidala and Sabé once more switched places, due to the dangerous nature of the Queen's plan. She had decided to make peace with the Gungans, and persuade them to use their army to aid in the liberation of Naboo. Sabé, in her guise as Amidala, went before Boss Rugor Nass, and pleaded with him to join their cause. When Amidala saw that this was not working, she revealed her identity as a token of trust. Nass was initially taken aback by this move, then amused, and agreed to help the Naboo.

Sabé continued to play the role of the Queen in the Second Battle of Theed, although she fought alongside Amidala. As they fought through the Theed Royal Palace, Panaka came up with the idea of using ascension guns to scale up the outside walls of the building. As Amidala and Panaka did this, Sabé continued to fight the long way through the enormous halls of the Palace, eventually reaching the Throne Room. When she got there, she found that Amidala and Panaka had been captured. Remembering that Panaka had concealed weapons in the Queen's desk, Sabé created a distraction, which caused Viceroy Gunray to send several battle droids after her. It was all the distraction Amidala needed. She was able to retrieve the weapons, destroy the droids in the room, and capture the Viceroy. Thanks to Sabé and Amidala's efforts, the battle was won, and Naboo was freed.

Personality and traits


Sabé, described as being Padmé Amidala's best friend, was relieved of her duties as decoy sometime after the Invasion of Naboo.

She was an extremely talented impersonator, fooling many in her act as Amidala. The ruse can not only be attributed to her physical similarity to Amidala, but her skilled mimicry of Amidala's voice and mannerisms. She was also a skilled combatant, fighting Federation droids at the Second Battle of Theed. Although no harm ever befell her, Sabé was usually in great danger when disguised as the Queen. She accepted this role dutifully, however.

Behind the scenes
Sabé was portrayed by Keira Knightley in The Phantom Menace, though she was incorrectly credited as Kiera Knightly.

Appearances

 * Queen in Disguise
 * Star Wars Episode I Journal: Anakin Skywalker
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace / comic / novel
 * Star Wars Episode I Journal: Queen Amidala