Padmé Amidala was a pivotal figure in the final days of the Galactic Republic. As the secret wife of Anakin Skywalker and a highly influential Senator, her death had major repercussions across the galaxy. But the question remains – who ordered the hit on Padmé that eventually led to her death? In this article, we will examine the key suspects and motives behind this fateful assassination attempt.
Key Questions
– Who had the means and opportunity to order Padmé’s assassination?
– What potential motives did they have for wanting her dead?
– How might her death have benefitted them politically or personally?
– What evidence exists to implicate the prime suspects?
Suspect Profile: Chancellor Palpatine
As Chancellor of the Republic, Palpatine certainly had the political connections required to order such a brazen assassination. He also had ample motivation – with Padmé leading the opposition to his increased executive powers, her death would conveniently remove a major rival.
There is significant circumstantial evidence for Palpatine’s involvement. He knew of Anakin’s affection for Padmé, and that her death would likely push him closer to the dark side. The assassination attempt also enabled Palpatine to further increase his wartime powers, with the Senate granting him direct control of the Jedi Council – exactly as he had planned.
Motive
– Padmé presented a major obstacle to Palpatine’s plans for unlimited power. Her death gave him a clear path to establish the Empire.
– He knew Anakin’s emotional attachment to Padmé could be exploited through her demise. This drove Anakin closer to embracing the dark side.
Means & Opportunity
– As Chancellor, Palpatine had ample means and political connections to order the hit.
– He was in a perfect position to scheme against his opponents in the Senate.
Counter Evidence
– No definitive evidence exists directly linking Palpatine to the assassination attempt. His involvement remains circumstantial.
– As a clever political operator, Palpatine was careful to cover his tracks. Any orders may have been conveyed indirectly through proxies.
Suspect Profile: Count Dooku
The political idealist turned Sith Lord certainly had no love for Senator Amidala. Dooku may have independently ordered her assassination to strike a blow against the Republic. However, it is more likely he acted on the wishes of his own Sith Master – Darth Sidious, aka Palpatine.
Motive
– Dooku saw Padmé as an enemy of the Separatist cause and a key supporter of the Republic war effort. Her death could help the Separatists politically.
– He may have been attempting to please his master Darth Sidious by eliminating one of his major rivals.
Means & Opportunity
– As the public leader of the Separatists, Dooku had the connections and resources to finance a bounty hunter for the assassination.
– His role as a Sith Lord gave him strong motivations to destroy the Chancellor’s opponents.
Counter Evidence
– No direct evidence links Dooku himself to the assassination attempt.
– It’s possible Sidious alone ordered the hit, without Dooku’s knowledge.
Suspect Profile: Nute Gunray & The Separatists
The Viceroy of the Trade Federation clearly harbored a strong grudge against Padmé Amidala for her actions blockading his home planet of Naboo years earlier. This gave Gunray and his Separatist allies motive to assassinate the Senator.
Motive
– Gunray held Padmé responsible for his defeat and humiliation during the Naboo blockade. He held a strong personal vendetta against her.
– The Separatists saw her as a leader of the Republic war effort. Removing her could help their cause.
Means & Opportunity
– The vast financial resources of the Trade Federation and Corporate Alliance gave Gunray the means to hire bounty hunters like Jango Fett.
– As Separatist leaders they had opportunity and connections to order the hit.
Counter Evidence
– While the Separatists had clear motive and means, there remains no solid evidence of their direct involvement.
– Gunray’s previous failures against Amidala suggest he may not have been capable of arranging a successful assassination plot alone.
Suspect Profile: Zam Wesell & Jango Fett
The directly involved bounty hunter assassins clearly acted on orders from a third party. But who hired them for the hit? Their trail unfortunately leads back to the planet Kamino, and no further.
Motive
– As bounty hunters, their only motive was the price on Padmé’s head. Nothing personal.
– Jango Fett had a pre-existing working relationship with Count Dooku.
Means & Opportunity
– Expert bounty hunters like Zam Wesell and Jango Fett clearly had the necessary means and skills to carry out such an assassination.
– With freedom of movement as bounty hunters they had clear opportunity to infiltrate Coruscant and target Amidala.
Counter Evidence
– Both bounty hunters were killed before they could expose whoever had hired them. This may have been deliberate by their employer to cover tracks.
– There is no evidence either bounty hunter knew the identity of their client. The job was likely arranged anonymously.
Investigation Dead Ends
Unfortunately, the known leads in Padmé’s assassination all ultimately hit dead ends. Who hired Zam Wesell and Jango Fett remains shrouded in mystery. Jango Fett’s home planet of Kamino offers few clues, and both bounty hunters were conveniently killed early on. All evidence towards the true mastermind remains circumstantial. They covered their tracks well.
Conclusion
Padmé’s assassination attempt was clearly orchestrated by a powerful third party with vast resources and political connections. The most likely ultimate suspect is Chancellor Palpatine, although definitive evidence remains lacking. Count Dooku and Nute Gunray also had clear motives, but less political clout to actually arrange such an audacious hit.
Ultimately, the trail goes cold with the deceased bounty hunters. But the beneficiary is clear – Chancellor Palpatine stood to gain the most from Padmé’s death. All arrows point suspiciously towards him being the mastermind, using proxies like Dooku and bounty hunters to do the dirty work. Whoever ordered the hit clearly used their networks to cover their involvement. Justice remains elusive for Senator Amidala.