In the third episode of Ahsoka, a fan favorite character made a short appearance, as New Republic Chancellor Mon Mothma heard a report from General Hera Syndulla about a potential threat of Grand Admiral Thrawn’s return.
Mothma is a long-standing Star Wars character, and she’s received a resurgence of interest recently thanks to Andor and Ahsoka. And she remains a massively important figure in the storyline, leading a Rebellion-turned-Republic. Here are five things to know about her, in case you’re unfamiliar or need reminding.
1. Mothma was a Republic Senator from Chandrila who grew increasingly wary of Palpatine’s powers
Slorda: “If you’re doing nothing wrong, what is there to fear?”
Mon Mothma: “I’m fearing your definition of wrong.”
Andor, 1.08: “Narkina 5”
Hailing from the core world of Chandrila, Mon Mothma was elected to the Republic Senate as a teenager, marrying her husband, Perrin, around the same time (around the age of fifteen). She was a member of the Senate during the Naboo Invasion crisis (during The Phantom Menace), and she continued to serve during the waning years of the Republic. As the Clone Wars broke out, Mothma was a constant advocate for peace, and she grew increasingly distrustful of Chancellor Sheev Palpatine’s actions and accumulating emergency powers. By this time she had developed close relationships with like-minded senators such as Padmé Amidala of Naboo and Bail Organa of Alderaan, and during the final days of the war they and a select few others held secret meetings contemplating radical action, with Mothma telling the others she was forming an alliance in an effort to stop Palpatine. Before that alliance could get off the ground, however, the Clone Wars ended, the Jedi Order fell, Padmé was killed, and the Galactic Republic was reorganized into the Galactic Empire, with Palpatine as the first Emperor.
2. Mothma was an Imperial Senator actively working behind-the-scenes to undermine the Emperor
Mon Mothma: “It’s a lie. The Mon Mothma people think they know. It’s a lie, it’s a projection, it’s a front. … I’ve learned from Palpatine. I show you the stone in my hand, you miss the knife at your throat.”
Andor, 1.07: “Announcement”
Her suspicions about Palpatine having proven correct, Mothma didn’t resign herself or the galaxy to defeat. Instead she walked a fine line, putting on a face as a loyal Imperial Senator while all the while working to fuel rebellion against Palaptine. Because of this Mothma lived with the constant fear of being found out, but it didn’t stop her. She remained a thorn in Palpatine’s side, and the Imperial Security Bureau kept a very close eye on her efforts. She welcomed this scrutiny, however, telling a friend that “as long as everyone thinks I’m an irritation, there’s a good chance they’ll miss what I’m really doing.” All the while, in secret, Mothma raised money, distributed funds, aided humanitarian efforts, and formed partnerships that all aimed at fueling the fight against the Empire.
3. Mothma formed the Alliance to Restore the Republic and led it through the Galactic Civil War
Mon Mothma: “This is Senator Mon Mothma. I have been called a traitor for speaking out against a corrupt Galactic Senate, a Senate manipulated by the sinister tactics of the Emperor. For too long I’ve watched the heavy hand of the Empire strangle our liberties, stifling our freedoms in the name of ensuring our safety. No longer. Despite Imperial threats, despite the Emperor himself, I have no fear as I take new action. For I am not alone. Beginning today, we stand together as allies. I hereby resign from the Senate, to fight for you. Not from the distant halls of politics, but from the front lines. We will not rest until we bring an end to the Empire, until we restore our Republic. Are you with me?”
Rebels, 3.18: “Secret Cargo”
Mothma wouldn’t stay secret forever, though. Two years before the Battle of Yavin (seen in A New Hope), Mothma publicly spoke out against the Empire’s atrocities during the Ghorman Massacre, resigning from the Senate in protest. Her actions made her the Empire’s most wanted criminal, and she went on the run. She was aided by the crew of the Ghost, including Hera Syndulla and Ezra Bridger, who helped get her to safety. Aboard the Ghost, Mothma broadcast a defiant message of rebellion to the galaxy in hopes of stirring up an organized group to the fight. Above the planet Dantooine, Mothma watched as a whole fleet of ships arrived in answer to her call, and the Alliance to Restore the Republic (known more commonly as the Rebel Alliance) was born.
Serving as the official leader of this Rebellion, Mothma was able to pull together various rebel cells that had previously been fighting back in small ways individually into a larger coalition. She led this movement of rebels, serving as the commander-in-chief and leading the Alliance High Command. The fight escalated into open warfare when the Rebellion struck a victory at the Battle of Scarif, stealing the Death Star plans, and then destroyed the battle station during the Battle of Yavin. With the Galactic Civil War underway, Mothma remained right near the top of the Empire’s most wanted list, but she remained steadfast in the fight. Four years after the Battle of Yavin, the Rebellion learned the location of the Second Death Star, and Mothma briefed rebel leadership about the plan to take it down. The mission was successful, and both Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader were killed. Though the War would continue on for another year, the Battle of Endor provided the decisive victory.
4. She served as the first Chancellor of the New Republic
Mon Mothma: “I’ve seen war. I know its shape. I know its margins. But I’ll never be comfortable with it. It is our fault and we must act that way to uphold our responsibilities. And it’s why the war must stop soon. We cannot keep fighting it. We are not equipped to. … War is not a state of being. It is meant to be a temporary chaos between periods of peace. Some want it to be the course of things: a default fact of existence. But I will not let that be so.”
Aftermath (by Chuck Wendig)
It was so decisive that shortly after the rebel victory, with Palpatine dead, the New Republic was formed. Almost immediately after the Battle of Endor Mothma began laying the foundation for a new government, and within a few months of Endor the New Republic was officially launched. Mothma reconvened the Republic Senate, locating it on Chandrila, and she was elected the first Chancellor of the New Republic. Much to her chagrin, however, the new Senate gave her the same emergency powers that Palpatine had during the Clone Wars, since the galaxy was still at war. Mothma set to work distancing herself from Palpatine’s power-hungry atrocities and wanted to send messages to the galaxy that this time would be different – and that the fighting was done.
Much of her time and attention was consumed by trying to govern a new galaxy-wide regime that was still at war, but the New Republic continued to gain ground on the Empire and liberate planets, who in turn joined the Republic. As victory seemed inevitable, Mothma was contacted by Imperial Grand Admiral Rae Sloane about an alleged peace treaty. Mothma met with the delegation but was seriously wounded in an assassination attempt, as unbeknownst to her the treaty was just a ploy. In the aftermath, the Imperial forces began retreating to Jakku, where they would make their last stand. Mothma tried to persuade the Senate to send the New Republic military there, but the vote failed. Aided by allies like Leia Organa and Han Solo, however, Mothma uncovered deeper motivations that lurked underneath the surface and, as a result, gave a passionate speech to the Senate. This time, the vote passed, and Admiral Ackbar led the Republic military to victory at the Battle of Jakku.
The victory ended the Civil War, and Mothma met with Imperial Grand Vizier Mas Amedda to accept the Empire’s surrender and sign the Galactic Concordance peace treaty. With these acts, Mothma ended the war, splintered any remaining Imperial friendlies, declined to prosecute the vast majority of Imperial troopers, and demilitarized the New Republic Defense Fleet by ninety percent with the Military Disarmament Act. These measures were intended to send a clear message to the galaxy that they were done fighting, and instead it was time to rebuild. Mothma continued to lead the New Republic into the future until, at some point down the road, became sick and retired from office. Her charisma had managed to keep a fledgling Republic together, but her successors as Chancellor failed to do the same, allowing various factions to form that eventually led to the First Order’s rise.
5. Mothma was a principled military leader who hated war
Saw Gerrera: “If you continue to allow this war to be fought on the Empire’s terms, not yours, you are going to lose.”
Mon Mothma: “I will not be lectured on military strategy by a man who has proven himself a criminal.”
Saw Gerrera: “The Empire considers both of us criminals. At least I act like one.”
Mon Mothma: “You target civilians! Kill those who surrender. Break every rule of engagement. If we degrade ourselves to the Empire’s level, what will we become?”
Saw Gerrera: “There she is! That’s the leader the Rebellion needs. Where is that fire, that passion, when your people need it most? I hope, Senator, after you’ve lost, and the Empire reigns over the galaxy, unopposed, you will find some comfort in the knowledge that you fought according to the rules.”
Rebels, 4.03: “In the Name of the Rebellion, Part 1”
In a political realm where many are motivated by no higher ambitions than preserving their own power and wealth above all, Mon Mothma represented a refreshing change as a principled leader driven by clear and compelling ideals. While not fully a pacifist, Mothma believed that war should be avoided if at all possible and that diplomatic, non-military solutions were preferred. During the Clone Wars she repeatedly was part of a group of senators (including Amidala and Organa) who argued against expanding the Republic military and adding emergency powers to Palpatine while advocating for explorations of diplomacy and peace. But Mothma also knew enough to know that war sometimes is necessary in order to fend off a greater evil, which is why she became a backbone of a galaxy-wide rebellion to overthrow the Empire. Yet even then, she rubbed more radical rebel leaders the wrong way (like Saw Gerrera or Luthen Rael) because she believed that it mattered how one fights. When Luthen conducted operations aimed at stirring an uprising but resulting in people suffering, Mothma was incensed, asking what they were fighting for if not to alleviate the suffering of the people. Because of this, Mothma represented an ideal vision of how the war should play out, but it also led to unintended consequences in downsizing the New Republic military, for example.
Mothma represents the kind of political leader that we can easily admire: a strong leader with noble principles who consistently seeks the good of those she serves, and who views war as a last resort but who is also willing to lead the fight against injustice and tyranny when it oppresses the people of the galaxy. In the story of the Star Wars franchise, this view plays out for much good, and some unintended harm, as Mothma leads.
Mon Mothma: “We hate the Empire’s cruelty and violence. How can we claim to be morally superior when we stoop to violence ourselves? There comes a time when refusing to stop violence can no longer be called nonviolence. We cease to be objectors and become bystanders. At some point, morality must be wedded to action, or else it’s no more than mere… vanity.”
Leia: Princess of Alderaan (by Claudia Gray)
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