Hosnian Prime, a planet situated in the Hosnian system within the Core Worlds region, was positioned along the Corellian Trade Spine. By the year 28 ABY, it functioned as both the central hub for the Galactic Senate and the designated capital of the New Republic throughout their Cold War engagement with the First Order.
In 34 ABY, the First Order, aiming to purge the galaxy of what they considered an illegitimate entity, deployed their superweapon, Starkiller Base, to annihilate Hosnian Prime alongside all other celestial bodies within the system. This action by the superweapon triggered a core ignition within Hosnian Prime, leading to its transformation into a star and the creation of a pocket nova.
Hosnian Prime was a diverse and global ecumenopolis found within the Hosnian system, located on the fringes of the Core Worlds of the galaxy. Its location was identified at coordinates M-12 on the Standard Galactic Grid, and it was strategically placed along the Corellian Trade Spine.
During the declining years of the Galactic Republic, Hosnian Prime was the site of a factory complex operated by Czerka Arms, a weapons manufacturer involved in activities such as slavery. Rahara Wick was born into slavery on the planet and worked in mines deep beneath the surface.
During the rule of the Galactic Empire, Plas Lelkot, serving as the surgeon consul of Hosnian Prime, provided sanctuary to refugees within his personal chateau. His support for the Rebel Alliance led to his imprisonment in the notorious Ashmead's Lock prison located on Kashyyyk.
Between 12 BBY and 11 BBY, the Inquisitor known as the Fifth Brother encountered Jedi Knight Cal Kestis and Nightsister Merrin on Hosnian Prime.
Around 3 BBY, Han Solo had an incident with Torrian security personnel on Hosnian Prime, resulting in a purplish stain on his shirt. Shortly thereafter, Solo and Chewbacca visited Freerago's Satellite Diner and Motel, a diner and motel in orbit around Hosnian Prime, to acquire a device known as the Phylanx Redux Transmitter for the crime lord Mozeen Parapa. With assistance from the bounty hunter Sana Starros, they successfully completed their mission.
Following his return to Imperial space after the Battle of Yavin, Imperial Senior Lieutenant Iden Versio was debriefed and spent time on Hosnian Prime to recover from injuries sustained when her TIE fighter was damaged during the Death Star's explosion before she crash landed on Yavin's fourth moon.
Imperial Captain Terisa Kerrill later dispatched Titan Squadron to extract Agent Thorn from an orbital outpost positioned above the planet. After a successful rescue, Thorn provided information on the location of a New Republic convoy near Desevro transporting personnel for Project Starhawk.
In 5 ABY, the New Republic, the successor government to the Rebel Alliance, maintained a veteran hospital in Darropolis. It was there that Dade Hetkins, a New Republic soldier, received care and a cybernetic leg to replace the one he lost during the Battle of Endor. Doctor [Arsad] oversaw Hetkins' recovery and assigned him the prototype therapy droid QT-9. Around the time of the Battle of Jakku, Yuprin Arlo served as a representative for Hosnian Prime in the New Republic's Galactic Senate. Sondiv Sella, also a native of Hosnian Prime, held a position as a councilman within the Senate.
Following the Battle of Jakku, the New Republic established a flight academy on Hosnian Prime. Wedge Antilles, a New Republic pilot, was appointed as its head instructor and extended an offer to Norra Wexley to join as an instructor, which she accepted. Norra's son, Temmin Wexley, was also slated to attend the academy as a student.
By 28 ABY, Hosnian Prime had been selected as the capital of the New Republic, accommodating individuals from diverse species, including humans, Wookiees, and Gungans. By this point, two primary factions had emerged within the Senate: the Populists, advocating for significant autonomy for individual worlds, and the Centrists, who favored a more centralized government. In that year, the senatorial complex sustained damage during the Napkin Bombing. The bomb was planted by Arliz Hadrassian, a former Imperial TIE fighter pilot and Imperial Security Bureau officer who had risen to lead the Amaxine warriors, a militia serving as a front for the First Order, a remnant of the former Empire.
It was on Hosnian Prime that the true parentage of Populist Senator Leia Organa, revealing her as the daughter of Darth Vader, was made public. This revelation was disclosed by her Centrist friend, Senator Ransolm Casterfo, who had been manipulated by Lady Carise Sindian, a covert agent of the First Order. Later, Populist Senator Tai-Lin Garr was assassinated by Hadrassian while campaigning for First Senator in one of Hosnian Prime's parks. Sindian subsequently framed Casterfo for the crime after he supported Organa's report regarding the existence of threats to the New Republic. As a result, Organa announced her intention to resign from the Senate and established the Resistance, a private military organization dedicated to safeguarding the Republic.
In 34 ABY, the First Order, viewing the Republic as an illegitimate governing body incapable of maintaining order within the galaxy, directed their superweapon, known as Starkiller Base, toward the Republic-controlled Hosnian system in an attempt to eradicate them. Starkiller targeted Hosnian Prime and obliterated it with a beam of phantom energy. Chancellor Lanever Villecham, Resistance commander Korr Sella, numerous senators, and all inhabitants of the Hosnian system were killed in the system's destruction. As a consequence of the resulting pocket nova, Hosnian Prime was transformed into a second star within its system.
The inhabitants of Hosnian Prime celebrated Equinox Day, a unique holiday on the planet marking the start of autumn.
Cities located on Hosnian Prime included its capital, Republic City, and Darropolis. In addition to the New Republic senatorial complex, other notable locations on Hosnian Prime included the hanging gardens, the offices of the Galaxy Beacon, and the Hosnian Prime Academy of Law Enforcement. Caf beans were roasted at gourmet artisanal factories on Hosnian Prime by culinary droids.
Hosnian Prime was conceived for the 2015 film Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, the initial installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Additional details about the planet and its position within the New Republic were provided in the reference book Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary.
During the development phase of Episode VII, some members of Bad Robot Productions initially proposed that the planet destroyed in the film should be Coruscant, the galactic capital that featured prominently in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. However, according to Pablo Hidalgo of the Lucasfilm Story Group, representatives from Lucasfilm were hesitant about this idea, as Coruscant was slated to appear in projects beyond The Force Awakens. As a result, Hosnian Prime was created as a compromise to fulfill the role of the New Republic capital.
In a separate tweet, Hidalgo clarified that the destruction of the Hosnian system was visible throughout the galaxy due to the immense energy released by Starkiller Base, which created a temporary tear in sub-hyperspace.