Elder Houses

The Great Houses, alternatively called the Elder Houses, represented the unified hereditary royal houses throughout the galaxy. Examples included House of Organa and the family of Lady Carise Sindian. In earlier times, the Elder Houses strongly upheld various monarchies, but during the era of the New Republic, the idea of hereditary nobility was largely disregarded. By that point, the Elder Houses had evolved into primarily a social institution, with most members viewing it mainly as a source for genealogical information and a reason to hold occasional formal events.

A collection of revered oaths were commonly held by most of the Elder Houses, including a vow of secrecy regarding anything protected by the sanctity of the royal seal. The most experienced members of the Elder Houses comprised a type of governing council that could enact specific resolutions. This council possessed the authority to remove titles from a noble and expel them from the Elder Houses.

The Elder Houses did not determine succession based solely on bloodline. To clarify, a child adopted by nobles and brought up as their own was considered a true aristocrat, irrespective of their birth parents. Therefore, Leia Organa was rightfully a princess of Alderaan, even though Bail and Breha Organa were only her adoptive parents.