The Star Wars saga chronicles the journey of the Skywalker family, which branched out differently in canon and Legends. Series creator George Lucas saw the Star Wars movies as the story of Anakin Skywalker, with the prequel trilogy focusing on his fall to the dark side and the original trilogy showing his redemption through his son, Luke Skywalker. The original Star Wars Expanded Universe, now branded as “Legends,” continued the story of the Skywalker family for over 100 years after Return of the Jedi through books, comics, video games, and more.

When Disney bought Star Wars and announced the development of the sequel trilogy, Lucasfilm ultimately decided not to tell the same story as the Expanded Universe. The Skywalker family did continue beyond Return of the Jedi in the new canon, but not in the same way as the Legends timeline, and the fates of several characters were changed. Despite these differences, there are also many similarities between each version of the Skywalker family, creating a fascinating dynasty spanning across two Star Wars timelines.

19

Shmi Skywalker

First Appearance: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

The first known member of the Skywalker bloodline, Shmi Skywalker was kidnapped into slavery as a child. She eventually married a moisture farmer named Cliegg Lars after he bought and freed her, becoming Shmi Skywalker Lars and the stepmother of Owen Lars. Shmi lived a happy life with the Lars family for several years until she was kidnapped and tortured by the Tusken Raiders, and Cliegg lost his leg trying to save her. After being held prisoner for a month, Shmi died and was brought back to the Lars homestead, where she was buried and honored by her new family.

18

Anakin Skywalker

First Appearance: A New Hope

Although she couldn’t explain what happened, Shmi gave birth to a son named Anakin Skywalker. Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn believed Anakin had no father because he was the prophesized Chosen One, conceived by the Force itself to bring balance to the galaxy. Anakin lived up to this for many years as a great Jedi and a hero of the Clone Wars, but his lust for power and fear of loss led him to the dark side. He became Darth Vader and helped Emperor Palpatine rule the galaxy, but he later sacrificed himself to defeat his master and fulfill the prophecy.

17

Padmé Amidala

First Appearance: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

As the Queen of Naboo, Padmé Amidala met Anakin Skywalker when he was a slave on Tatooine, though she was disguised as a handmaiden. The two went their separate ways after the Battle of Naboo, with Padmé becoming a Republic Senator and Anakin training to become a Jedi. 10 years later, they reunited when Anakin was assigned to protect Padmé, falling in love during their adventures. They married in secret before the start of the Clone Wars and eventually had two children, but Anakin later turned to the dark side and attempted to kill his wife, and she died after giving birth.

16

Luke Skywalker

First Appearance: A New Hope

The son of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, Luke Skywalker never knew his parents, growing up imagining what they must have been like. Obi-Wan Kenobi took the infant Luke to live with Owen Lars and his now wife, Beru Whitesun Lars, who raised the boy as their own while Obi-Wan watched over him from a distance. Obi-Wan eventually began Luke’s Jedi training, which continued under Master Yoda, culminating in the redemption of Anakin Skywalker. Although Luke lost his way after his New Jedi Order was destroyed, he eventually found his way back and sacrificed his life to save the Resistance.

15

Leia Organa

First Appearance: A New Hope

The twin sister of Luke Skywalker, Leia was adopted by Bail Prestor Organa and Breha Organa, making her a Princess of Alderaan. Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi believed she and Luke should be split up to keep the Sith from sensing their presence, but the two eventually learned they were siblings just before the Battle of Endor. Although Luke trained her as a Jedi, Leia dedicated her life to serving the New Republic and later the Resistance that opposed the First Order. Leia sacrificed herself to save her Jedi student, becoming one with the Force and reuniting with her brother.

14

Han Solo

First Appearance: A New Hope

Han Solo was a scoundrel when he met Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, not realizing he would become a cherished member of their family. Rather than leaving to pay off his debts, Han stayed with the Rebellion out of loyalty to his friends, eventually believing in the cause himself. He became a General and led the Rebel strike team at the Battle of Endor, and after the victory celebration, he and Leia were married. Han and Leia later went their separate ways after a terrible tragedy, but the two reunited and made amends before Han was killed at Starkiller Base.

13

Ben Solo (Canon)

First Appearance: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Ben Solo was the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, born one year after the Battle of Endor, and trained as a Jedi by his uncle, Luke Skywalker. Sensing the darkness growing inside his nephew, Luke looked into his mind and was overwhelmed by a vision of Ben destroying everything Luke loved. Believing his master planned to kill him, Ben turned on Luke and destroyed his New Jedi Order, fleeing to serve Supreme Leader Snoke as Kylo Ren. Ben eventually rejected the dark side and returned to the light, sacrificing his own life to save another.

12

Rey Skywalker (Canon)

First Appearance: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Although not a Skywalker by blood, Rey adopted their family name and embraced their legacy. She grew up on Jakku, waiting for her parents to return and imagining they must have had a good reason for leaving her behind. However, her encounter with Kylo Ren caused her to believe that they were “nobody,” until she discovered the truth: Rey was the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine. Refusing to embrace her Sith heritage, Rey faced her grandfather on Exegol and defeated him for good. Luke and Leia’s Force Ghosts later looked on her with pride as she proclaimed herself a Skywalker.

11

Jaina Solo (Legends)

First Appearance: Star Wars: The Last Command

While Han Solo and Leia Organa only had one child in Star Wars canon, they had three in the Legends timeline, beginning with Jaina Solo. Trained as a Jedi Knight at Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Academy on Yavin 4, Jaina was eventually proclaimed the “Sword of the Jedi” by her uncle, destined to be the Order’s greatest defender. She fought bravely during the Yuuzhan Vong War, became an excellent Rogue Squadron pilot, and fell in love with Imperial Head of State Jagged Fel. The two were eventually married and Jaina was promoted to the rank of Jedi Master.

10

Jacen Solo (Legends)

First Appearance: Star Wars: The Last Command

Jacen Solo was Jaina Solo’s twin brother, raised alongside her as a Jedi. He initially disapproved of using the Force for violence, but everything changed when he was tortured during the Yuuzhan Vong War. The experience changed Jacen, causing him to pursue a more active role as a Jedi and help defeat the invaders. Having endured unspeakable trauma throughout his life, and willing to explore dark side teachings, Jacen became the Sith Lord Darth Caedus. Jaina was forced to kill Jacen to save the galaxy, but she believed he had returned to the light in his last moments.

9

Anakin Solo (Legends)

First Appearance: Star Wars: Dark Apprentice

The third child of Han Solo and Leia Organ, Anakin Solo took after his grandfather with his natural affinity for machines. Anakin felt great pressure being named after the man who became Darth Vader, worrying that he would succumb to the same fate. Anakin proved himself on many occasions, becoming a great leader during the Yuuzhan Vong War and falling in love with his childhood friend, Tahiri Veila. Leading a squad of young Jedi on a crucial mission to protect the Order, Anakin saved his siblings and friends, perishing as he fought off countless Yuuzhan Vong warriors.

8

Mara Jade (Legends)

Star Wars: Heir to the Empire

Mara Jade was the Emperor’s Hand during the reign of the Empire, and Palpatine’s last command was for her to kill Luke Skywalker. When Palpatine was defeated, Mara went into hiding and became a smuggler, eventually leading her to Luke. Although she wanted to kill him, they teamed up to defeat a common enemy and later became allies. Luke trained Mara as a Jedi, falling in love with her over time, and the two were later married. Mara was killed by Jacen Solo when he fell to the dark side, serving as a sacrifice for him to become Darth Caedus.

7

Ben Skywalker (Legends)

First Appearance: Star Wars: The New Jedi Order – Edge of Victory II: Rebirth

The son of Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade, Ben Skywalker was born later than the Solo children, only a baby when Anakin Solo died. Despite his age, the darkness he felt during the Yuuzhan Vong War caused him to retreat from the Force until Jacen Solo helped train his cousin as a Jedi. However, as Jacen fell to the dark side and became a Sith in secret, he attempted to mold Ben into his apprentice. Thankfully, Ben refused to follow Jacen’s dark path and turned against him, going on to stand by his father as a great Jedi Knight.

6

Allana Djo Solo (Legends)

First Appearance: Star Wars: Dark Nest II – The Unseen Queen

Allana Djo was the daughter of Hapan Queen Mother Tenel Ka Djo and, unbeknownst to everyone else, Jacen Solo. To protect Allana from Hapan nobles, Tenel Ka and Jacen agreed to keep her parentage secret, even from friends and family. After becoming Darth Caedus, Jacen reached out through the Force in his last moments to warn Tenel Ka that she and Allana were in danger of an Imperial assassination attempt. Tenel Ka faked Allana’s death and had her pose as Amelia Solo for years, but she eventually returned to assume her royal heritage and train as a Jedi.

5

Nat Skywalker (Legends)

First Appearance: Star Wars: Legacy (2006) #23

A descendant of Luke Skywalker, Nat Skywalker lived over 100 years after the Battle of Endor. He left the Jedi Order and adopted the alias “Bantha” Rawk after marrying Droo Rawk and adopting her children. Nat eventually returned to the Jedi to defend the Hidden Temple from the One Sith and sacrificed himself to buy time for his fellow Jedi to escape.

4

Kol Skywalker (Legends)

First Appearance: Star Wars: Legacy (2006) #1

Kol Skywalker was the younger brother of Nat Skywalker and the leader of the Jedi High Council. He led the Ossus project that was intended to heal worlds that had been devastated during the Yuuzhan Vong Wat, but the effort was secretly sabotaged by the One Sith, leading to a war between the Fel Empire and the Galactic Alliance. Following an Imperial victory, the Jedi retreated to their Temple on Ossus and were attacked by the One Sith, nearly decimating the New Jedi Order. Kol made a valiant last stand against a pack of Sith so the younglings could escape.

3

Morrigan Corde (Legends)

First Appearance: Star Wars: Legacy (2006) #1

An Intelligence Agent of the Fel Empire, Morrigan Corde met Kol Skywalker on a mission and the two fell in love. Although they married and had a son, Morrigan left her family to serve the Empire as Nyna Calixte. She convinced the Empire to work with the One Sith to defeat the Galactic Alliance, planning to put Moff Morlish Veed on the throne, only for Darth Krayt to declare himself Emperor. She later used her former identity to undermine the Sith and feed information to the exiled Emperor Roan Fel, and Kol’s Force Ghost forgave the woman he still loved.

2

Cade Skywalker (Legends)

First Appearance: Star Wars: Legacy (2006) #1

The son of Kol Skywalker and Morrigan Corde, Cade Skywalker was raised to become a Jedi like his father. However, Cade’s world was shattered when the One Sith attacked the Jedi Temple on Ossus, killing his father and most of the Jedi. Cade was rescued by a gang of pirates, and he grew up to be a bounty hunter. Wanting nothing to do with the Force and addicted to death sticks, Cade was guided by the Force Ghost of Luke Skywalker. Cade eventually overcame his demons and fought alongside the surviving Jedi to defeat Darth Krayt and save the galaxy.

1

Ania Solo (Legends)

First Appearance: Star Wars: Legacy (2013) #1

The last known member of the Skywalker bloodline, Ania Solo was a descendant of Han Solo and Leia Organa. She was supposedly a distant cousin of Marasiah Fel, Empress of the Fel Empire, though she didn’t know the details of their family history. Ania grew up scavenging and selling parts to survive, until she found a lightsaber belonging to an Imperial Knight and became involved in a mission to defeat the Sith. One of the last main characters of the Expanded Universe timeline, Ania Solo is the final member of the Skywalker family in Star Wars canon or Legends.