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
Mos Espa was an expansive spaceport and rested near the Dune Sea. It 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. Locals who spoke Huttese did so with a distinct accent.

The other major activity in Mos Espa was gambling on the podraces held in the nearby grand arena. The podrace that set Anakin Skywalker free from slavery was held at Mos Espa. 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 Galactic 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.

An auction was held in 8.5 ABY for the Alderaanian moss painting, Killik Twilight. It was being sought by many bidders, in particular Commander Quenton on behalf of the Galactic Empire and Captain Han Solo and Leia Organa Solo on behalf of the New Republic. It was stolen from the auction by Kitster Banai. The Solos, C-3PO and Chewbacca with the assistance of a Weequay, Grunts, searched through Mos Espa for the painting.

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 Mos Espa residents

 * Amee (resident slave - 32 BBY)
 * Anabar (resident merchant - 32 BBY)
 * Kitster Banai (resident slave - 32 BBY, 8 ABY)
 * Barbo (resident merchant - 32 BBY)
 * Benkudi (resident criminal - sometime before 26 BBY)
 * C-3PO (resident - 32 BBY, visitor - 8 ABY)
 * Celia (resident - 8 ABY)
 * Titi Chronelle (resident slave)
 * Lana Dobreed (resident merchant - 32 BBY)
 * Vek Drow (resident merchant - 32 BBY)
 * D'zor (resident criminal - 32 BBY)
 * Emala (resident merchant - 8 ABY)
 * Erdan (resident slave - 32 BBY)
 * Diva Funquita (resident slave of Gardulla the Hutt, podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Gardulla the Elder (resident crimelord, podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Gragra (resident merchant - 32 BBY)
 * Greedo the Elder (resident - 32 BBY)
 * Grees (resident merchant - 8 ABY)
 * Grendle (resident merchant - 32 BBY)
 * Grunts (resident slave, bodyguard - 8 ABY)
 * Jabba the Hutt (resident crimelord, podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Jira (resident merchant - 32 BBY)
 * Graxol Kelvyyn (resident slavemaster, podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Mawbo Kem (resident merchant - 8 ABY)
 * Klepti (resident scavenger - 0 BBY)
 * Televan Koreyy (resident merchant - 32 BBY)
 * Yade M'rak (resident bum, - 32 BBY)
 * Ody Mandrell (podracer - 32 BBY, resident - 8 ABY)
 * Melee (resident slave - 32 BBY)
 * Yor Millto (resident slavemaster - 32 BBY)
 * Elza Monimi (resident slave - 32 BBY)
 * Neg (resident bounty hunter - 32 BBY)
 * Nobot (resident ghost story - 32 BBY)
 * Wohe Omosp (resident bartender - 1 ABY)
 * Teemto Pagalies (podracer - 32 BBY, resident - 8 ABY)
 * Mat Rags (resident hunter - 32 BBY)
 * "Dusty" Rengo (resident criminal)
 * Seek (resident slave - 32 BBY)
 * Shakka (resident slave, podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Anakin Skywalker (resident slave, podracer - 32 BBY)
 * Shmi Skywalker (resident slave - 32 BBY)
 * Sligh (resident merchant - 8 ABY)
 * Tamora Spice (resident - 8 ABY)
 * Taieb (resident artisan - 32 BBY)
 * Reike Th'san (resident criminal - 32 BBY)
 * Tomo (resident captive - 32 BBY)
 * Ulda (maintainer of the Mos Espa Grand Arena - 8 ABY)
 * Corix Venne {resident musician - 32 BBY)
 * Wald (resident slave 32 BBY, resident merchant - 8 ABY)
 * Watto (resident slavemaster - 32 BBY, 22 BBY)
 * Weazel (resident, podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Grotto Werribee (resident merchant, podrace spectator - 32 BBY)
 * Bryyn Woolery (resident slavemaster - 32 BBY)

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.

In the first printing of The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader, Mos Espa is misspelled "Mos Epsa" on page 19.

Non-canonical appearances

 * LEGO Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
 * Old Wounds
 * The Revenge of Tag & Bink
 * Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi