Mara Jade: From emperors hand to jedi master in Star Wars

Mara Jade Skywalker is a multifaceted character within the Star Wars universe, whose journey from an Emperor’s Hand to a revered Jedi Master encapsulates themes of redemption, loyalty and resilience. Introduced in Timothy Zahn’s Heir to the Empire in 1991, Jade initially served as an elite operative for Emperor Palpatine, executing his will with precision and cold professionalism.

However, her life took a dramatic turn following Palpatine’s death, leading her to a new path among smugglers and eventually into the embrace of the Jedi Order. Join us as we look at her evolution from a shadowy assassin to a beacon of hope and strength within the Jedi ranks.

Who is Mara Jade?

Mara Jade is a prominent character within the Star Wars franchise, primarily featured in the now non-canon Legends series. She is best known as the wife of Luke Skywalker and the mother of Ben Skywalker.

Jade first appeared in Timothy Zahn’s “Heir to the Empire” (1991), where she was introduced as a strong and multifaceted character, filling a gap Zahn perceived in the existing Star Wars universe. Despite her competence, she is portrayed with notable flaws, adding depth to her character.

In the “Heir to the Empire”, Jade serves as the second-in-command to smuggler Talon Karrde. The narrative reveals her past as an “Emperor’s Hand”, a special agent for Emperor Palpatine. This backstory is further explored in various tales set before “Heir to the Empire”, showcasing her training under Palpatine and her execution of his commands.

One of her notable early missions is depicted in the short story: “Sleight of Hand: The Tale of Mara Jade”, where she infiltrates Jabba the Hutt’s palace disguised as a dancing girl, aiming to assassinate Luke Skywalker on the Emperor’s orders. However, her plans are thwarted when Jabba sends Luke into the Rancor’s lair, leading to his escape.

Zahn continued to develop Mara’s character throughout the Thrawn Trilogy, culminating in the book “The Last Command” (1993). Initially, Zahn believed this would be the final instalment involving Mara.

However, when invited to write another novel, he aimed to conclude the war between the New Republic and the Empire and to bring Mara and Luke together, a storyline that faced initial resistance from Lucasfilm but was eventually approved.

In 2018, Zahn disclosed that Lucasfilm granted him significant creative control over Mara Jade. Any new appearances of Jade in subsequent works require Zahn’s consent. Despite the character of Grand Admiral Thrawn, another of Zahn’s creations, successfully transitioning from legends to canon with modifications, Zahn remains hopeful about reintroducing Mara into the canon.

He insists that her reappearance should be substantial rather than a mere cameo. Zahn draws distinctions between Jade and Princess Leia, noting Jade’s sharper, more sarcastic demeanour and her difficult realisation that her service was to a malevolent cause.

Both characters, however, maintain their strength without losing their femininity. Leia’s early trust in Jade also underscores a mutual understanding between the two women.

Jade is also a playable character in various video games, including “Star Wars: Masters of Teräs Käsi,” “Star Wars Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith,” “Star Wars: Empire at War,” and “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed” (Wii version).

In addition, she narrates the Imperial campaign in “Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds” and appeared in the now-defunct MMORPG “Star Wars Galaxies.” She was portrayed by Denise Donovan in the Team Starkid musical parody “Ani.”

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Mara Jade Skywalker

Jade was characterised by her immense pride and unwavering commitment to excellence in all her endeavours, a trait that was evident during her time as the Emperor’s Hand. Her investigation of Moff Glovstoak demonstrated her remarkable efficiency and skill, as she not only brought down the corrupt Imperial but also continued to uncover deeper layers of conspiracy, pursuing the clues to their ultimate source.

Jade’s strong sense of self-worth and discernment prevented her from serving the warlords who sought power following the Emperor’s death, as she considered them unworthy of her loyalty. Her devotion was particularly notable; she remained loyal to what she believed to be Emperor Palpatine’s will even after his demise.

This loyalty of hers later extended to Talon Karrde and his organisation, to the point of risking total alienation from the Empire. Her fury at being coerced into betraying Karrde by Thrawn underscored her deep-seated sense of loyalty.

Jade’s upbringing and training under Palpatine instilled in her a remarkable ability to remain calm and composed in almost any situation. During the First Corellian Insurrection, despite her vendetta against Luke Skywalker, she prioritised the greater threat and set aside her differences, warning Leia and the Senate of a plot to destroy the New Republic.

Her composure was further tested during her brief tutelage under Kyle Katarn, where she maintained her calm even when Katarn succumbed to the dark side, eventually helping to redeem him.

Beneath her tough exterior, She was compassionate and merciful, particularly when it served the greater good. This was evident when she spared the rogue stormtrooper unit, Hand of Judgment, recognising their good intentions and the aid they had provided her.

Similarly, she allowed Governor Bidor Ferrouz to live despite his admitted treason, understanding his actions were driven by a desire to save his kidnapped family. While she had no qualms about using individuals as tools for her missions, she was willing to make exceptions for those she deemed good.

Her relationship with Luke Skywalker brought a significant transformation in her life. She realised that her life of constant conflict lacked certain essential elements, and through her love for Luke, she acknowledged the need to let someone past her defences.

Her affection for Luke was often shown through a playful nickname, “Farmboy,” highlighting a softer side to her formidable persona. The birth of her son, Ben, during the Yuuzhan Vong War, deepened her capacity for love and protectiveness. This war also made her fiercely protective of Ben, fearing that the conflict would take him from her.

Jade’s love and protectiveness towards her family persisted throughout her life, especially during the Second Galactic Civil War, where she constantly worried about Ben’s involvement in the Galactic Alliance Guard. Up until her death, her love for her husband and son remained at the forefront of her thoughts, underscoring the profound transformation her character underwent through love and family.

Mara Jade origin

Jade was born in 18 BBY during a period of significant upheaval, as the Galactic Empire was actively eradicating the remnants of the Jedi Order. As a child, she was taken from her parents by Emperor Palpatine and brought to the planet Coruscant.

There, she began her training in the Force under the Emperor’s guidance, although her official role at the time was that of a dancer at the Imperial Palace.

Her early memories of her family were faint, with one of the few clear recollections being her parents’ reluctance to let her go and her conviction that she would leave with the Emperor. Jade also remembered having a falling star globe during her childhood, which she broke in an attempt to understand how it worked, resulting in trouble.

Under the Emperor’s tutelage, she was moulded into an adept force user and became an agent of the Empire. Despite her true role, many at the Imperial court mistakenly believed her to be merely a dancer or even one of Palpatine’s concubines.

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What happened Mara Jade?

Jade, throughout various stages of her life, was an Emperor’s Hand, a smuggler, and ultimately a Jedi Master who served on the Jedi High Council. Raised as a servant to Emperor Palpatine, she became a high-level Force-sensitive operative.

In her role as an Emperor’s Hand, she executed the Emperor’s commands with cold professionalism, targeting both Rebels and corrupt Imperials, even from a young age. Her extensive training covered a wide range of disciplines, including advanced combat and the Force, the latter of which was further honed by Luke Skywalker in later years.

Following the Emperor’s demise, she received a final command to eliminate Luke Skywalker. The death of Palpatine, however, led her to go rogue. She eventually allied with smuggler chief Talon Karrde, rising to become one of his most capable smugglers and his second-in-command.

Despite initial animosity, her enforced cooperation with Luke Skywalker during Grand Admiral Thrawn’s campaign fostered a grudging respect between them. Jade’s versatile skills were evident during the Galactic Civil War, where she proved herself a proficient pilot, mechanic, and combatant, adept with both blasters and hand-to-hand combat, even without relying on the Force.

Jade continued to work for Karrde and had intermittent interactions with Skywalker, spending a brief period training at his Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4. She was groomed to lead the Smugglers’ Alliance and engaged in a feigned relationship with Lando Calrissian as part of that role.

Her connection with Skywalker deepened over time, particularly through joint missions such as the Almanian Uprising and the Corellian Crisis. Their mutual realisation of their love for each other culminated in their marriage in 19 ABY.

Adopting the surname Skywalker, Jade dedicated herself to the New Jedi Order, eventually achieving the rank of Jedi Master.

Before the Yuuzhan Vong War, she was infected with deadly coomb spores by a Yuuzhan Vong agent but she managed to slow their effects through the Force. She continued to fight valiantly against the Yuuzhan Vong on various fronts, including Dantooine and Ithor. Her illness was finally cured following the birth of her son, Ben Skywalker, in 25 ABY.

As a Jedi Master, Jade took Jaina Solo as her apprentice until Jaina reached Knighthood. She played a significant role in the Jedi’s efforts against the Yuuzhan Vong and, after the fall of Coruscant, she aided in the election of Cal Omas as Chief of State, leading to the reformation of the New Republic into the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances.

Jade’s dedication and efforts were instrumental in the war’s final victory on Coruscant, culminating in the death of Supreme Overlord Shimrra Jamaane.

In the subsequent years, Jade was active during the Dark Nest Crisis and the Swarm War, working to thwart the expansionist ambitions of Raynar Thul and the insectoid Killiks. She insisted on the withdrawal of Jedi who had joined the Killik communities, as their combat involvement against the Chiss was provoking further conflict.

Throughout the Second Galactic Civil War, she continued to serve alongside her husband as a Jedi Master, first aligning with the Galactic Alliance against the rebellious Confederation.

Who played Mara Jade?

Mara Jade was portrayed by model Shannon McRandle (credited as Shannon Baksa) in the Star Wars Expanded Universe. McRandle’s likeness was used for various illustrations and promotional material, most notably in the Star Wars Customisable Card Game by Decipher, Inc.

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