Fierce and often a forgotten part of Star Wars lore, Padmé Amidala is a powerhouse on her own. She’s a daughter, sister, and aunt. She’s also a wife, mother, and grandmother. Also, she’s a Queen and Senator to her beloved planet of Naboo. Plus, she is a friend to those who stand on equal footing. In her short life, the political powerhouse met her husband when she was fourteen, married him a decade later at the start of the Clone Wars, and gave birth to his twin children three years later moments, before her passing.
The legacy Padmé left behind continued in her children and those who knew her. She allowed them to follow their own paths of self-exploration and discovery. Despite being a fictional character, she is a real inspiration for women and girls in reality.
In this post, we’ll explore how Padmé influenced those around her and the impact she had.
Padmé The Headstrong
Known for being headstrong and incredibly stubborn, Padmé fought the good fight. As the wife of a Jedi and friend to many of Anakin’s fellow subordinates, the senator knew when a battle was lost and was willing to accept it. However, if her life was the one in harm’s way, she’d continue, even if her husband became protective.
The Clone Wars episode, Destroy Malevolence, highlights her headstrong nature – a clear indication – that you don’t mess with her. Ever. When Padmé and C-3PO fall into a trap set by Count Dooku and General Grievous, their adventure becomes perilous as Anakin – with Obi-Wan reluctantly trailing after him – rushes to save them, despite his wife’s objections not to do so. In layman’s terms, she refuses to be “a Separatist bargaining chip.”
An earlier example of her headstrongness is the Battle of Geonosis in Attack of the Clones when she jokes with Anakin about “aggressive negotiations.” Also, she was not willing to get eaten by the beasts sent to execute them, so she literally broke free and fought for her own survival. Talk about epic girl power! No wonder Leia was such a badass.
Anyway, Padmé’s headstrongness is something that is admired by Ahsoka Tano, Anakin’s student, who became firm friends with the senator. This is evident in The Clone Wars episode, Assassin, when Aurra Sing attempts to assassinate Padmé.
When her life is threatened on the eve of a big speech on Alderaan, Padmé soldiers on, despite Ahsoka and Captain Typho’s protests. Knowing her chief of security, and friend, want her safe, the senator doesn’t hide away, hoping the threat disappears. No, she delivers the speech, managing to fool Sing in the process. Though, this only happens when the assassin tries to kill her, wounding her.
The Husband Doesn’t Rule The Roost
Despite never seeing much of her husband during the war, Padmé loved Anakin unconditionally and supported him however she could. While she worried, she knew too well he could handle himself on a battlefield and that his friends would protect him. However, there were times were the senator had to save him from his own stupidity.
In The Clone Wars episode, Hostage Crisis, we get a sense of how Anakin’s love for his wife often overshadowed his thought progress. After sharing a kiss in Padmé’s office, Anakin is forced to hide under the desk upon the arrival of Bail Organa he accidentally leaves his lightsaber with Padmé when he hides. She leaves the office without returning it.
The situation becomes dangerous when the senators are held hostage, and Padmé is forced to hide her husband’s lightsaber up her sleeve. She tells Bail she can’t let the bounty hunters search her and reveals the weapon to him. While he questions how she came to have it on her person, she can’t exactly give him a straight answer. Sometime later, Anakin dragged unconscious to the group of senators. When he awakes, Padmé uses his lightsaber to free him from his restraints.
Padmé also tended to side with Ahsoka over Anakin on political matters, which became something that annoyed him. She also defied his orders not to get Ahsoka wrapped up in her schemes. Ultimately, this includes, sneaking across enemy lines to speak with Mina Bonteri, an old friend who sided with the Separatists.
When Anakin discovered that Padmé had convinced Ahsoka to help her, he was not impressed. However, everything fell back into place rather quickly between the three of them.
Devoted To Naboo
Padmé had a fierce devotion to her home planet of Naboo. Whenever the planet came under fire, she was always there to fight. Two situations come to mind. The first was during her reign as Queen of Naboo. She had to choose between her people and fighting the emerging threat of the Separatists. She and her handmaiden, Sabé, switch places to make it appear like she is facing Nute Gunray the entire time.
The switch is revealed to Gungan leader Boss Nass and much to the surprise of a preteen Anakin. Though, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon aren’t the least bit shocked. After the battle has ceased and Qui-Gon has been laid to rest, Padmé secures a permanent peace with the Gungans.
A decade later and now married to Anakin, Padmé is summoned back to Naboo on a mission by Queen Neeyutnee. However, when she and Jar Jar Bink suddenly disappear, Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and Rex are called in to find them. What they find next almost costs the entirety of Naboo dearly. A mad scientist plans to unleash a deadly virus across the planet.
The Jedi discover Padmé and Jar Jar were investigating the deaths of a herd of Shaaks when they disappeared. After a series of incidences, Padmé, Ahsoka, Rex, an and assortment of clones become infected.
Anakin and Obi-Wan rush to find an antidote, ending up on Iego. They end up getting the ingredients just as Padmé and Ahsoka report back. Their conditions worsen. Ahsoka passes out as the toxin courses through her body. Padmé attempts to tell Anakin she loves him, but the holo cuts out before she can finish.
Frantic, Anakin unintentionally explodes at Obi-Wan. Kenobi is unsure why he is worked up over the potential death of a friend. Returning to Naboo, the group is healed.
Wife And Friend
Padmé’s devotion to Anakin was unwavering. Not once did she allow herself to be told by him what she could and couldn’t do. While he only acted out of concern, his jealousy often peaked to the point of it being blinding.
The senator from Naboo doesn’t bat an eyelid when her ex, Rush Clovis, reenters her life. She knows where her loyalty lies, and that is with her husband. Anakin is put in the uncomfortable position of having to watch her flirt with the guy to maintain her cover.
Anakin had no idea that Clovis and Padmé had a shared history. When he brings it up with her, she shrugs it off, saying it was long before they were together, and it was in the past.
Padmé was also a noteworthy friend. When Ahsoka is framed for the Jedi Temple bombing by her so-called friend, Barriss Offee. Anakin goes to her and explains the allegations, the senator, like her husband, knows their friend would NEVER murder anyone. She’s quick to jump on her case and defend her, long enough for Anakin to track down the real perpetrator.
The undying loyalty Padmé displayed towards Ahsoka shows she doesn’t jump to conclusions. She had come to know the teenager well enough to understand how she operated. What’s more, is she didn’t just take Anakin’s word for it. She had enough sense to put the pieces together herself that killing innocent people isn’t something Ahsoka would’ve done.
