Espirion, situated in the Inner Rim Territories, was a planet that served as the homeworld for a sentient species. Despite its heavy militarization, Espirion was renowned as a safe place for refugees and travelers, so much so that the indigenous people developed specialized micro-ecologies to support diverse alien life forms. Well before the Battle of Yavin, some Alderaanians, the human inhabitants hailing from Alderaan, had already established a community on Espirion. These settlers eventually intermarried with the local population, resulting in the emergence of a mixed-race group known as the Alder-Espirions. Over subsequent generations, the Alderaanian descendants on Espirion largely lost touch with their original home. However, following the destruction of Alderaan by the Galactic Empire, Princess Leia Organa endeavored to reunite these half-Alderaanians with the remaining survivors.
Viewed from space, Espirion, a planet within the Inner Rim Territories, presented itself as a pale blue globe interwoven with subtle pinkish streaks. The sky, at least during certain times of the year, appeared a deep blue when observed from the planet's surface. Espirion was home to at least one city, characterized by its skyline of gently curving white structures. The planet also featured a number of carefully constructed micro-ecologies existing side by side.
The native species created a society that, while heavily armed, was very open and receptive to outsiders. This openness extended to the development of micro-ecologies designed to sustain a wide array of lifeforms. Several generations prior to the Galactic Civil War, a group of human inhabitants from Alderaan departed their planet and settled on Espirion. These Alderaanians interbred with the native population, eventually leading to the creation of a hybrid population referred to as Alder-Espirions. Other species present on Espirion included the Bith, the Rodians, and the Talz.
During the Galactic Civil War, the Galactic Empire, an autocratic regime, held sway over a significant portion of the galaxy. However, in the early years of the conflict, Espirion remained untouched by the Empire's presence. Shortly after the Battle of Yavin, Espirion was visited by representatives of Leia Organa, the Crown Princess of Alderaan. Following the recent destruction of her home planet, Organa sought to bring about a reunion with the Alder-Espirions. However, these discussions quickly broke down when one of Organa's envoys sparked a diplomatic incident by expressing disdain for hybrids. Nevertheless, when a fleet of ships carrying Alderaanians came under attack from an Imperial-class Star Destroyer in Espirion's orbit, the local population dispatched one of their ships, the Espirion Multi, to assist the fleet. The Star Destroyer was destroyed, an act that Organa feared would soon draw the Empire's attention to Espirion.
Espirion made its first appearance in the fourth issue of the Star Wars: Princess Leia comic book series from Marvel, with writing by Mark Waid and illustrations by Terry Dodson.