The Monarch of Naboo was the elected king or queen of the Royal House of Naboo, the monarchy that governed the human denizens of the planet. They served for two-year terms which were renewable once. The people of Naboo often elected young women, believing they possessed a form of pure, childlike wisdom that the adults lacked. Theoretically, however, virtually anyone could be elected the new king or queen. Due to tradition and to protect their loved ones, Naboo monarchs adopted new identities when they began to campaign for the position, changing at least their last name. Even so, some monarchs proved to be less protective of their anonymity than others. They could return to their previous identity after their term ended or chose to retain their new name.
Queens of Naboo included Padmé Amidala, who served two terms, the first of which included the Invasion of Naboo; Jamillia, who served shortly before the outbreak of the Clone Wars; Neeyutnee, who served during the war; Apailana, who served during the early days of the Galactic Empire, Dalné, who served around 3 BBY; and Sosha Soruna, who served around the time following the Battle of Endor.
Around 382 BBY, a served as the monarch of Naboo. That queen owned a yacht, which the gambler Axel Greylark wanted to buy with his inheritance. Amidala was preceded by Queen Sanandrassa, who was herself preceded by Réillata, who served one term before successfully running again to serve a second term after Amidala's tenure. The monarch was aided by the Naboo Royal Advisory Council. The proper form of address for a former queen of Naboo was "M'Lady."
Whilst the position of monarch carried with it actual power and an active role in governing the planet and its people, the establishment of the Galactic Empire saw the position reduced to that of a mere figurehead as all meaningful authority was transferred to the newly appointed Moff Quarsh Panaka. Queen Dalné, though, heavily resentful of her reduced authority, nevertheless reluctantly went along with it rather than challenge the Empire and risk Imperial retribution for defiance.
The title of Monarch of Naboo first appeared in the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace.
The 2016 reference book Star Wars Character Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded states that King Ars Veruna preceded Padmé Amidala as monarch of Naboo, with Star Wars: Complete Locations adding that he ruled for 13 years. The novel Tarkin further states that Naboo was ruled by a king fifteen years before the rise of the Galactic Empire. However, the novel Queen's Shadow states that monarchs are limited to two two-year terms, and its prequel Queen's Peril instead names Amidala's predecessors as Queens Sanandrassa and Réillata, who both served for one term.
Queen's Shadow established that monarchs of Naboo serve for two-year terms. However, "Naboo," an issue of the French Star Wars Encyclopedia, states that a term was four years. This article assumes that the previously defined term length of two years is correct.
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