Royal Palace of Alderaan

History

Considering the long history of the Alderaanian monarchy, the Royal Palace of Aldera was a relatively modern structure. Its construction took place in the mountains of Aldera around 719 BBY, during the initial centuries of the Great Peace of the Republic. For millennia before its construction, Alderaan's monarchs had presided over their realm from various castles, notably including the ancestral home of House Panteer situated in the Glarus Valley.

In the final years of the Galactic Republic, tensions grew among the nobles regarding the succession to the position of Viceroy, specifically whether it should fall to the House of Organa or another lineage. This conflict, known as the Alderaan Ascendancy Contention, reached its climax in 28 BBY and was resolved by Jedi Watchman Jorus C'baoth. He brought an end to the feud by uniting the Organas and the Antilles through marriage. Consequently, members of both houses resided in the Royal Palace, including Viceroy Bail Prestor Organa and his spouse, Queen Breha Organa, formerly Antilles. Nevertheless, the edifice remained the property of the Organas and was thus known as "House Organa."

Following the cataclysmic events of the three-year Clone Wars, the royal couple chose to adopt the daughter of the deceased Senator Padmé Amidala. Princess Leia Organa was raised in the Palace by her adoptive parents. As the galaxy continued to grapple with the aftermath of the war, Alderaan made the decision to completely disarm itself. The war frigate Another Chance was repurposed into an armory ship, housing all of Alderaan's military hardware. This frigate was programmed to continuously jump through hyperspace until summoned back to Alderaan by the Council of Elders. The command center for the Another Chance was concealed within the Royal Palace of Aldera. Around the same time, a series of demonstrations erupted around the Palace as the newly established Galactic Empire sought to tighten restrictions on the refugees who had sought refuge on Alderaan. However, Alderaanian law enforcement managed to confine the protestors to a designated route, preventing any damage to the Royal Palace.

In 3 BBY, the Palace was the venue for the twenty-fifth anniversary celebrations of the Ascendancy Contention, with Queen Breha and Bail Organa inviting nobles from other planets. During this event, Count Adan Dooku of Serenno was assassinated by Imperial operative Jahan Cross within the Palace walls. One year later, the Palace played a pivotal role in the genesis of the rebellion against the Empire. Following the Cantham House Meetings, Bail Organa united with Garm Bel Iblis of Corellia and Mon Mothma of Chandrila to form the Alliance to Restore the Republic. However, in 0 BBY, the Imperial Grand Moff Tarkin grew wary of Bail Organa's allegiance and resolved to make an example. Tarkin employed the devastating power of the Death Star, a moon-sized battle station armed with a planet-destroying superlaser, against Alderaan. The Aldera Royal Palace, along with the planet and its millions of inhabitants, was presumed to have been destroyed.

Partial survival

Sometime after this event, a group of Rebels intercepted a communication intended for Princess Leia Organa, which claimed that the Royal Palace had been discovered intact within the Graveyard, an asteroid belt resulting from Alderaan's destruction. Acting on this information, the Rebel operatives located Asteroid 7785, where a significant portion of the Aldera Royal Palace had indeed survived. Unbeknownst to them, this message had been sent by Darth Vader, the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Military. Vader's motive was to lure Leia Organa and other survivors of the Battle of Yavin to Alderaan, where the Imperial Captain Janus Bonn awaited them.

Vader's trap was activated, but not on its intended targets. While investigating the ruined section of the palace, the Rebels encountered unsettling holograms planted by the Imperials to instill fear in visitors. After defeating Janus Bonn and his forces, the Alliance agents discovered the hidden chamber from which the frigate Another Chance could be recalled.

Layout

External layout

Constructed at the center of the city, the Royal Palace was situated on a gentle elevation at the edge of Aldera, offering views of the expansive lake. It comprised a complex of multi-storied structures and turrets, encircled by ramparts and protective moats filled with water. The Palace presented a collection of shallow domes and towering, pointed spires that shone white and gold under the sunlight. Beautiful orchards and gardens surrounded the castle's outer perimeter, with terraces built at various levels to provide fresh air and light for the inhabitants. The North tower featured a high balcony, offering unobstructed views of the old moats and the palace's ramparts. Viceroy Bail Prestor Organa observed a series of demonstrations from this tower in 19 BBY.

The path to the main gates of the Palace wound through a flourishing garden, bordered by majestic dark golden trees. The front entrance itself was a broad wooden door adorned with intricate carvings. Additional entrances to the castle included one in the curved South wall, another in the East wall, and a separate gate used by the royal family to access their private wing at the rear of the castle.

Given Alderaan's prohibition of weapons, security measures around the palace were minimal. The palace was designed to be an accessible place, welcoming any Alderaanian who sought entry. Although the defensive moats had once been functional, they were considered outdated in the Republic's final decades. However, following the conclusion of the Clone Wars, the exterior of the Palace was guarded by the Royal Guards.

Internal layout

The multi-level structure included a network of winding corridors and a variety of bedrooms, ballrooms, and reception areas. The Palace housed a Grand Reception Room within a dome-shaped structure, a Grand Ballroom featuring a marble staircase, a throne room, a reflecting pool spanned by a bridge, and Bail Organa's study, which overlooked the lake and was surrounded by gardens.

The palace's most formal chamber was capped by a domed ceiling and paneled with wood. Devoid of furniture, it featured a massive, sun-shaped lighting fixture suspended from the ceiling. The Royal family utilized this space for their most ceremonial discussions.

One of the Palace's entrances led to the First Hall, one of the many ceremonial chambers within the Palace. The First Hall was a long hallway decorated with statues, holo-art and sculptures. It provided access to a series of offices, most of which were occupied by low-ranking bureaucrats. One of those hosted the Alderaan Department of the Arts; various holoposters and four desks with data viewers were placed in that office. By walking past the suite of offices, visitors could reach the Grand Hall, an ornately decorated chamber, the Grand Hall in which the royalty of Alderaan held court. That second hallway was lined with pillars and featured a grand staircase that led to a lower level. Down the steps of the Grand Hall lay another series of chambers, which included a map room that contained a holomap of the Republican space. There were also a meeting chamber, a steam bath room, the dining hall and the lounge of the Council of Elders and the Amphitheater. That final room not only hosted the official gatherings of the Elders, but also contained the only possible access to the castle's best kept secret: the hidden chamber from which the armory ship Another Chance could be called back.

The private wing of the Royal family was situated at the back of the Palace. This private area included a room known as the "inside-outside room." It featured transparisteel doors lining a wall, providing an unobstructed view of the surrounding gardens. The Royal family often gathered in this room during mornings and evenings, as the sunset light caused it to glow like a flower. Princess Leia's bedroom had a window overlooking the palace grounds, and a tree with low-hanging branches allowed the young girl to climb over the wall at night. Killik Twilight, a moss painting by the renowned Alderaanian artist Ob Khaddor, typically hung outside the Princess' bedroom, although it could be loaned for art exhibitions. In addition to their bedrooms, ladies of the court like Rouge Organa could also possess their own boudoir.

Honored guests were provided with their own wing, located far from the main reception area of the castle. One such guest suite was prepared for Count Adan Dooku shortly before his assassination. These particular chambers featured a balcony, scarlet floor tiles, wide windows, and a large, round bench settee.