Mos Espa/Legends

Mos Espa was a spaceport on Tatooine. It was the home of Anakin and Shmi Skywalker and also held the famous Mos Espa Grand Arena, at which the annual Boonta Eve Classic podrace was held, and the location of Watto's shop.

Characteristics
It was an expansive spaceport and rested near the Dune Sea.

Mos Espa consisted of the dome-roofed, adobe buildings found in cities across Tatooine, and was said to appear as a great, twisting snake, hunkered down to escape the heat. Most residents were either involved in crime business with the Hutts or were poor shop keepers and moisture farmers trying to eke out a living in the inhospitable desert. The biggest retail business in Mos Espa seems to have been junk-dealing, and even small dealers like Watto the Toydarian seemed to rake in a substantial amount of money, albeit sometimes unscrupulously.

The other major activity in Mos Espa was gambling on the podraces held in the nearby grand arena.

Jabba the Hutt may have had some sort of seasonal residence in the city.

History
Like most Tatooine settlements, it began as a mining colony. When the mining efforts failed, the dying settlement attracted the criminal Hutts, who took control and turned the city into a thriving yet dangerous spaceport.



It gained a deadly reputation for lethal podraces sponsored by the Hutts to encourage gambling. During the reign of the Hutts, the population consisted mostly of slaves, slavers and poor settlers, not including the large amount of spacers and smugglers who had a brief stay in the city before moving on to the next rock.

The town also boasted of at least two local ghost stories; the spooky and mysterious Nobot and a strange ship left deserted on the outskirts that was believed to be haunted.

Around the Trade Federation blockade of Naboo, Padmé Amidala and her Jedi escorts arrived in Mos Espa seeking a new hyperdrive. After finding a suitable one in Watto's junk dealership, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn made a deal with the Toydarian to exchange the parts and for freedom for his young slave boy Anakin. The deal went in Qui-Gon's favor and Anakin came with him to Coruscant, marking a pivotal moment in galactic history.

Years later when the Empire arrived on Tatooine, the podraces were outlawed and the city lost its illicit reputation and allure. Jabba the Hutt left for more lucrative parts unknown.

In about 1 ABY the town was invaded by Tusken Raiders led by the Tusken King, but they were soon driven out by a group of spacers.

Golden Age
Since the departure of Jabba, the city gained a new reputation: as a respectable and law-abiding, bustling town. It remained a center of trade on the planet and a welcome rest stop for travelers seeking to trek into the deadly Dune Sea nearby.

List of individuals in Mos Espa

 * Amee (resident slave - 32 BBY)
 * Padmé Amidala (visitor, podrace spectator - 32 BBY, 22 BBY)
 * Kitster Banai (resident slave - 32 BBY, 8.5 ABY)
 * Barbo (resident merchant - 32 BBY)
 * Aldar Beedo (mercenary and podracer - 32 BBY)
 * Jar Jar Binks (visitor, podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Dud Bolt (podracer - 32 BBY)
 * Pax Bonkik (visitor, slave of Mars Guo - 32 BBY)
 * Trax Bonkik (visitor, slave of Mars Guo - 32 BBY)
 * C-3PO (resident - 32 BBY, visitor - 8.5 ABY)
 * Celia (resident - 8.5 ABY}
 * Chewbacca (visitor - 8.5 ABY)
 * Chokk (bodyguard of Jabba, podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Titi Chronelle (resident slave)
 * Murr Danod (podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Lana Dobreed (resident merchant - 32 BBY)
 * Freon Drevan (podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Vek Drow (resident merchant - 32 BBY)
 * Aneesa Dym (visitor, smuggler, pilot - 32 BBY)
 * Ebe E. Endocott (podracer - 32 BBY)
 * Emala (resident merchant - 8.5 ABY)
 * Erdan (resident slave - 32 BBY)
 * Fodesinbeed (podrace commentator - 32 BBY)
 * Bib Fortuna (Jabba's majordomo, podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Diva Funquita (resident slave of Gardulla the Hutt, podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Gardulla the Elder (resident crimelord, podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Gasgano (podracer - 32 BBY)
 * Ann Gella (visitor, slave of Sebulba - 32 BBY)
 * Tann Gella (visitor, slave of Sebulba - 32 BBY)
 * Big Gizz (swoop gang leader - 0 BBY)
 * Gragra (resident merchant - 32 BBY)
 * Greedo the Elder (resident - 32 BBY)
 * Grees (resident merchant - 8.5 ABY))
 * Grunts (resident slave, bodyguard - 8.5 ABY))
 * Mars Guo (podracer - 32 BBY)
 * Ygabba Hise (assistant chef, masters army - 22 BBY)
 * Gab'borah Hise (desert chef - 22 BBY)
 * Clegg Holdfast (podracer - 32 BBY)
 * Threkin Horm (visitor - 8.5 ABY)
 * Jabba the Hutt (resident crimelord, podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Qui-Gon Jinn (visitor, podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Jira (resident merchant - 32 BBY)
 * Neva Kee (podracer - 32 BBY)
 * Graxol Kelvyyn (resident slavemaster, podrace spectator - 32
 * Mawbo Kem (resident merchant - 8.5 ABY)
 * Klepti (resident scavenger - 0 BBY)
 * Televan Koreyy (resident merchant - 32 BBY)
 * Jym Lang (bounty hunter - 32 BBY)
 * Yade M'rak (resident bum, - 32 BBY)
 * Ody Mandrell (podracer - 32 BBY, resident - 8.5 ABY)
 * Mawhonic (podracer - 32 BBY)
 * Meddun (mercenary - 32 BBY)
 * Melee (resident slave - 32 BBY)
 * Yor Millto (resident slavemaster - 32 BBY)
 * Elza Monimi (resident slave - 32 BBY)
 * Kam Nale (podracer - 32 BBY)
 * Neg (resident bounty hunter - 32 BBY)
 * Nobot (resident ghost story - 32 BBY)
 * Odin Nesloor (visitor)
 * Wohe Omosp (resident bartender - 1 ABY)
 * Teemto Pagalies (podracer - 32 BBY, resident - 8.6 ABY)
 * Ben Quadinaros (podracer - 32 BBY)
 * Commander Quenton
 * D'zor (Thug - 32 BBY)
 * R2-D2 (visitor - 32 BBY, 22 BBY)
 * Mat Rags (resident hunter - 32 BBY)
 * Teyora Rekab (spacer - 32 BBY)
 * "Dusty" Rengo (resident criminal)
 * Boles Roor (podracer - 32 BBY)
 * Ark "Bumpy" Roose (podracer - 32 BBY)
 * Aehrrley Rue (freelance pilot - 32 BBY)
 * Wan Sandage (podracer - 32 BBY)
 * Sebulba (podracer - 32 BBY)
 * Seek (resident slave - 32 BBY)
 * Jedwar Seelah (explorer - 32 BBY)
 * Shakka (resident slave, podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Diva Shaliqua (slave of Jabba the Hutt, podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Aurra Sing (visitor, bounty hunter, podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Anakin Skywalker (resident slave, podracer - 32 BBY)
 * Shmi Skywalker (resident slave - 32 BBY)
 * Rum Sleg (bounty hunter - 32 BBY)
 * Sligh (resident merchant - 8.5 ABY)
 * Tamora Spice (resident - 8.5 ABY)
 * Han Solo (visitor - 8.5 ABY)
 * Leia Organa Solo (visitor - 8.5 ABY)
 * Taieb (resident artisan - 32 BBY)
 * Rango Tel (visitor, bounty hunter - 32 BBY)
 * Reike Th'san (smuggler - 32 BBY)
 * Tomo (resident captive - 32 BBY)
 * Ratts Tyerell (podracer - 32 BBY)
 * Ulda (maintainer of the Mos Espa Grand Arena - 8.5 ABY)
 * Corix Venne (musician - 32 BBY)
 * Quinlan Vos (visitor - 32 BBY)
 * Wald (resident slave 32 BBY, resident merchant - 8.5 ABY)
 * Watto (resident slavemaster - 32 BBY)
 * Weazel (resident, podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Grotto Werribee (resident merchant, podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Bryyn Woolery (resident slavemaster - 32 BBY)
 * Xizor (podrace spectator - 32 BBY)

Appearances



 * The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader
 * Urchins
 * Podracing Tales
 * Star Wars Episode I: Racer
 * Episode I: Anakin Skywalker
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace novelization
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace comic
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
 * Episode I: Qui-Gon Jinn
 * Episode I: Obi-Wan Kenobi
 * Episode I: The Phantom Menace ½
 * Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
 * Star Wars Republic: Outlander
 * The Bounty Hunters: Aurra Sing
 * Jedi Quest comic
 * Star Wars: Racer Revenge
 * Bad Business
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones novel
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones comic
 * Star Wars: The New Droid Army
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Old Wounds
 * Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided
 * Pearls in the Sand
 * The Revenge of Tag & Bink
 * Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi
 * Tatooine Ghost

Behind the scenes

 * The real-world locations of Mos Espa are in Tunisia. The sets in Oung Jmel are still standing. Ksar Hadada, Ksar Medenine and Ksar Oueld Soltane were filmed for Mos Espa's Slave Quarters Row.

Notes and references
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