Noble/Legends

"Noble" was a term often used as a category for those individuals that served as the dignitaries of the galaxy. Nobles were typically members of the upper parts of galactic society. Sometimes, they were born into the upper classes and were from families of noble or similar status on their home planets. Others worked their way up the social ladder via their political, diplomatic, military, commercial, artistic, media, and sometimes even criminal careers.
Noble privileges
Privileges associated with their social state could constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or could be largely honorary, but were apparently maintained, or officially acknowledged, by law or governments. After the destruction of her homeworld, Leia Organa of Alderaan was still addressed to as "Princess", despite the de facto disparition of Alderaanian monarchy.[1]
Nobles would often use intelligence or charisma rather than brute force and direct confrontation. They were typically well-versed in the arts of rhetoric and negotiation and were highly socially skilled. Some nobles were truly honest and honorable people—as exemplified by Bail Prestor Organa[2]—while others were sly and treacherous—like the young Palpatine.[3]
They were, due to their status as dignities and their social skills, typically influential people who were well-suited for leadership. Popular conception of nobles would see them as staying as far as possible from warfare, but many nobles steeled themselves for battles, coordinating tactics and sometimes leading the charges from the front lines. In fact, many noble families had a proud history of military service, and more than a few of those houses had laid the foundations of their business empires by working as part of mercenary units. Some of them, like the Count Dooku of Serenno, even became Jedi, which had them renounce their privileges. Many Nobles worn notable rings or other artifacts that distinguished them from the common people, like the ones from the planet Kilia IV, who used Marker Rings.
History
Jedi Civil War
From 3959 to 3956 BBY, Darth Revan's Sith Empire fought the Galactic Republic. At that time, nobles were more likely to be drawn to leadership and action, due to the fewer opportunities for peaceful negotiation and rhetoric in this area. Many of them served as inspiring officers were required to bolster the spirit of the war-weary galactic citizens in their fight against the bellicose Mandalorians and the Sith. Many nobles decided to create successful careers by serving major interstellar corporations, either to keep themselves from the war, or to preserve a high degree of autonomy.[4]
The Clone Wars
The Clone Wars, a galactic conflict between the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, ran from 22 to 19 BBY. This period was a difficult one for nobles too, as their resources were likely to be drained by either the Republic or the Confederacy ; some of them even saw their homes completely destroyed and pillaged when the conflict reached their home planet. Some fled their homeworlds with nothing left to lose, hoping to find safety, while others decided to play their part in the war on either side.[5]
The Dark Times
When the Clone Wars ended, the Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, leader of the Republic, revealed his true agenda. Palpatine dismantled the government, turning it into the first Galactic Empire. Members of the nobility were urged to decide their allegiance quite quickly. Those who were close to the Imperial power would either support the New Order wholeheartedly or work in secret as rebels. For the nobles of the the fringe, that new era known as the "Dark Times" offered many new possibilities, as governmental confusion allowed more discretion for less than legal activities.[6]
Rebellion era
Following the signing of the Corellian Treaty in 2 BBY, the Rebel Alliance was created, with the intention to defeat the Empire and restore the Republic. In that era, most nobles were tempted to embrace the philosophy of the Empire, especially Human nobles, as it could be a fast track to wealth and increased power due to the Human High Culture. Privileged noble youth were expected to enroll in the New Order's programs, such as the Sub-Adult Group of COMPNOR, in order to better prepare themselves as future Imperial leaders, such as future Moffs, or join the ranks of the Imperial Military. However, some young idealistic nobles just couldn't follow the edicts of the Empire and decided to support the Rebel Alliance—often in secret, but sometimes overtly. The ones who chose the latter option would be socially disgraced, sometimes exiled or murdered.[7]
Some nobles joined the ranks of the Alliance, although for some it was more a case of believing that Palpatine was an upstart and undeserving of his place as ruler of the galaxy than being truly in line with the goals of the Rebellion. Those nobles found being in the Alliance challenging, as the notion of having members of lower classes and aliens being their equal was tiresome. However, due to the responsibilities that came with being a noble, these individuals steeled themselves to work within the system as best they could.[8]
Titles within the "true" nobility
Titles of sovereignty
Titles of other nobility
- Prince (feminine Princess)[1]
- Grand Duke[13]
- Archduke[14]
- Duke (feminine Duchess)[15]
- Margrave[16]
- Margrave-sister[16]
- Count[13] (feminine Countess)[17]
- Earl[18]
- Viscount[19] (feminine Viscountess)[20]
- Lord[21] (feminine Lady)[22]
- Baron[23] (feminine Baroness)[24]
- Vicebaron[25]
Examples of nobles
- Arani Korden
- Crueya Vandron
- Dooku
- Jabba the Hutt
- Leia Organa Solo
- Padmé Amidala
- Palpatine
- Talon Karrde
- Valenthyne Farfalla
- Whie Malreaux
- Vitiate
Behind the scenes
The "Arrogant Noble" was one of the original twenty-four character templates used by the Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, first published in the first edition rulebook.[8]
Noble is a heroic class in the Star Wars Roleplaying Game.
Appearances
- File:SWTOR mini.png Vacation on The Old Republic's official website (article) (backup link)
- Star Wars: The Old Republic
- Star Wars: The Old Republic Cartel Market
- Star Wars: The Old Republic: Rise of the Hutt Cartel
- Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire
"Mist Encounter" – Star Wars Adventure Journal 7 (Mentioned only)
- File:SWG logo sm.png Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided
"The Silent Witness" – Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game
"The Lap of Luxury" – Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game
"Graveyard of Alderaan" – Classic Adventures: Volume Two
"Seregar Turnabout" – No Disintegrations
"Elusive" – No Disintegrations
- Imperial Double-Cross
"The Mecetti File" – Tapani Sector Instant Adventures
"Lost Destiny" – Tapani Sector Instant Adventures
"Blood Inheritance" – Tapani Sector Instant Adventures
"The Event of the Season" – Tapani Sector Instant Adventures
"Galaxywide NewsNets" – Star Wars Adventure Journal 14
"Small Favors" – Star Wars Adventure Journal 12 (Mentioned only)
"Betrayal by Knight" – Star Wars Adventure Journal 12 (Mentioned only)
Sources
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Courtship of Princess Leia
- ↑ Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
- ↑ Darth Plagueis
- ↑ Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide
- ↑ The Clone Wars Campaign Guide
- ↑ The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide
- ↑ Rebellion Era Campaign Guide
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game
- ↑ Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side
- ↑ Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi — The Golden Age of the Sith
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Visual Guide
- ↑ Tales of the Jedi Companion
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron: The Warrior Princess
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars Character Encyclopedia
- ↑
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Duchess of Mandalore"
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Star Wars Missions 8: Togorian Trap
- ↑
"No Way Out"—Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures Volume 9
- ↑ Inside the Worlds of Star Wars: Episode I
- ↑ Yoda: Dark Rendezvous
- ↑
Evil Never Dies: The Sith Dynasties on Hyperspace (article) (content removed from StarWars.com; backup link)
- ↑ Imperial Sourcebook
- ↑ Lords of the Expanse
- ↑
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Senate Spy"
- ↑ Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan: Last Stand on Ord Mantell
- ↑ Vision of the Future