Ars Veruna

Veruna, formally styled as His Royal Highness, King Veruna of Naboo was the predecessor of Queen Padmé Amidala and the last known King of Naboo.

Biography
Little is known about Veruna's early life or when he was elected to the throne of naboo. What is known is that Veruna has some sort of noble lineage, due to his relation to the Earl of Vis.

His reign ended in 33 BBY, when King Veruna abdicated his throne and went into hiding after a thirteen year reign surrounded by scandal. He was found dead half a standard galactic year prior to the Invasion of Naboo, and though his death was ruled accidental, many suspected foul play, possibly related to business ventures that he and then-Senator Palpatine had been involved in.

Captain Magneta, who had been the head of Veruna's security force stepped down following Veruna's death and was replaced by Panaka. It was partly because of the mystery surrounding Veruna's death that lead Panaka to create the idea of a decoy for Queen Amidala, a measure of protection that she would continue to use well into her stint as Senator.

Veruna's reign, although coinciding with the opening up of Naboo to the outside galaxy, was not fondly remembered by the people of Naboo, and as a result, legislation limiting monarchs to two four-year terms was passed. Also during Veruna's reign, Kwilaan Starport was constructed in the city of Keren. Ironically, Veruna was succeeded by the popular Queen Amidala, who had popular support to serve past these two terms, though she ultimately refused.

It is also likely that the lack of male monarchs on Naboo since Veruna is also linked to the negative perceptions of his reign.

Queen Amidala believed that she could already out debate him by the time she was thirteen years old.

Behind the scenes
The name Veruna may be inspired by the name of the Hindu god Varuna, whose place in the Hindu pantheon is as "the supreme keeper of order and god of the law," as well as god of rivers and wind. Also, for a time, some Star Wars fans seemed to have believed that Veruna and Sith Lord Darth Plagueis were one and the same, meaning that Palpatine may have indeed killed him after all, but it was later revealed to be untrue, since Veruna and Plagueis were of different species.

Appearances

 * A Summer's Dream
 * Cloak of Deception
 * Star Wars Episode I Journal: Queen Amidala
 * Star Wars: Republic 61: Dead Ends
 * Star Wars Episode I Journal: Queen Amidala
 * Star Wars: Republic 61: Dead Ends
 * Star Wars: Republic 61: Dead Ends