House of Organa
The House of Organa, alternatively known as the Royal House of Alderaan, the Royal Family of Alderaan, or simply House Organa, represented an Alderaanian Noble House whose origins stretched back to the earliest days of Alderaan's initial settlement. Historically, the Organa lineage held the distinction of governing their homeworld for the longest duration. Throughout its long history spanning many thousands of years, House Organa produced numerous prominent figures in the wider galactic political arena. Among its most celebrated descendants were Viceroy Bail Prestor Organa and his adopted daughter, Princess Leia Organa. The Organa name ceased to exist following Alderaan's destruction in 0 BBY.
History
Origins
In the period immediately following the collapse of the Infinite Empire, spanning a few centuries, Humans engineered sleeper ships. These vessels transported groups of Human colonists away from Coruscant, considered the origin point of their species. By approximately 27,500 BBY, these ships had successfully established colonies on diverse planets, including Alderaan. The ancestors of the Organa family were among the initial settlers of this new world, playing a crucial role in the eventual formation of the Galactic Republic around 2,500 years later. In subsequent millennia, the founding of House Organa was commemorated with the celebration of Founding Day.
The newly established Alderaanian society adopted a political structure where a reigning monarch was selected from among several noble families. House Organa stood as one of these prominent bloodlines, alongside others like House Panteer, House Ulgo and House Alde. Being one of the more powerful houses, the Organa family extended protection to smaller, aligned houses in exchange for their loyalty and support.
Jedi Civil War
Despite the family's tendency to produce heroes, the history of the Organa family was not without dishonorable moments. At some point before the conclusion of the Jedi Civil War in 3956 BBY, the Organas held a rivalry with a Tarisian branch of House Ulgo, and were suspected of employing the assassin Selven to eliminate the entire Ulgo family. The Organas later placed a bounty on Selven, ostensibly to eliminate any potential loose ends.
Great Galactic War
In the following millennia, the Organas remained steadfast supporters of the Republic, prioritizing patient diplomacy over aggressive actions. The declaration of Alderaan's independence by Senator and Crown Prince Gaul Panteer was met with shock by many Alderaanians. Following the deaths of both Gaul Panteer and Queen Silara Panteer leading up to the Alderaan Civil War, House Organa, backed by the Galactic Republic, presented one of several claims to the Alderaanian throne. After the failure of diplomatic efforts to secure the throne, House Organa, along with other prominent houses, took matters into their own hands, resulting in the Civil War. Duke Charle Remmot Organa, the head of the House at the time, remained the Republic's strongest ally on the planet, determined to restore peace to his homeworld.
Twilight years of the Republic
In 32 BBY, the House of Organa participated in the Alderaan Ascendancy Contention against the House of Antilles, which concluded with a marriage between the two families.
Prior to his ascension as Prince, First Chairman, and Viceroy of Alderaan, Bail Organa represented Alderaan as its Senator in the Galactic Senate. He was a contemporary of Padmé Amidala of Naboo and Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. Alongside his wife Breha, who was a member of House Antilles, Bail adopted Leia, the daughter of Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker. While the adoption was publicly known within the court, Leia, even as an adopted daughter, assumed the title of Princess and became the legitimate heir. Consequently, the direct bloodline continued solely through Nial Organa.
Leading up to and during the Clone Wars, the Organa family maintained a vineyard that produced white wine. This beverage, a favorite of Bail Organa, was kept readily available in his wine cabinet at his Coruscant residence.
Sometime before the Galactic Civil War, House Organa planned an alliance with House Vandron from the Senex sector. However, the planned marriage between Tia Organa and a Vandron noble was called off due to a scandal.
According to Alderaanian royal family mythology, House Organa, like all others, was believed to be protected by Grimtaash the molator.
Family tree
Behind the scenes
"Ogana" was initially conceived as the name for a desert planet in the first draft of the script for A New Hope, which was then titled Utapau. In the rough draft, it was referred to as Aquilae, but it evolved into a distinct world in subsequent versions. By the second draft, Utapau had transformed into the planet that would eventually be named Tatooine in the final script. Ogana Major became "Organa Major" in the third draft and Alderaan in the final version. In the third draft, Organa was established as Princess Leia's surname, a decision that remained unchanged when her homeworld was named Alderaan.