Here's everything Star Wars has revealed - so far - about Shmi Skywalker, the mother of Anakin. The Star Wars franchise has developed something of a reputation for the depth of its immersive universe, one that runs through countless different mediums. It sometimes seems that every single character in Star Wars has a backstory, one that is ripe for telling in one medium or another; when viewers watched Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, they certainly can't have expected that one of the characters would get his own Disney+ TV show. And yet, for all that is the case, Lucasfilm has shown remarkable restraint when it comes to Shmi Skywalker, the mother of Anakin.

Little of Anakin's family history is actually known. The surname "Skywalker" probably originates from a Force power, one commonly used to navigate the Unknown Regions. This vast area of space was formed by a series of chained supernova explosions, cutting it off from hyperspace travel. There have been hints in canon that the inhabitants of the Unknown Regions continued to interact with the rest of the galaxy for some time after the initial disaster, and skywalkers were their guides and navigators. It is reasonable to assume that, just as someone in the real world with the surname "Baker" probably has a baker somewhere down the family line, so Shmi likely had a skywalker numbered among her ancestors. There is, however, no hint that Shmi herself possessed any power in the Force.

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Shmi's story has only really been explored in reference material, such as Kristin Baver's biography of the Skywalkers, Skywalker: A Family At War. Here's everything that has been revealed to date.

Shmi Skywalker Had Been A Slave For A Long Time

Shmi Skywalker

Although slavery was technically outlawed in the Republic, in reality a vast slave trade flourished across the Star Wars galaxy. It was centered in the Outer Rim, beyond the Republic's sphere of influence, but the dark trade extended even into the Galactic Core; there were vast slave markets on Coruscant's lower levels, ignored by the Jedi. Shmi Skywalker was not born a slave, but she and her family were captured by a roving band of pirates, and Shmi was sold into slavery; she never spoke about what happened to her parents. Star Wars' slave market seems to have been a terrifying place for a child, and the slavers treated their victims harshly. Years later, even towards the end of her life, the crack of an electro-whip would still cause Shmi to recoil in fear.

Shmi was sold from master to master, ultimately winding up on the desert world of Tatooine. The first master on that harsh world was the gangster Gardulla the Hutt, who had Shmi live in communal quarters among other slaves and families. It was while she was a slave of Gardulla that Shmi became mysteriously pregnant, an event she could not explain because there was no father. Gardulla eventually lost Shmi to the Toydarian Watto as a result of a bet on a pod race.

Shmi Skywalker Brings Up Her Son Anakin

Anakin and Shmi Skywalker say goodbye to one another as Anakin leaves to become a Jedi in The Phantom Menace

Watto may not have been a kind master, but he at least gave Shmi and Anakin their own home on the outskirts of Mos Espa. The Skywalkers lived in an area of densely packed slums, originally built by mining conglomerates as temporary housing for migrant workers. Still, it was the first time Shmi had anywhere to consider a home of her own, and she did her best to bring up her son Anakin there.

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Had he been born in the Republic, Anakin would have been recognized for his potential and inducted into the Jedi; but Jedi did not travel into the Outer Rim, and few would show any interest in a slum rat. As he grew, Anakin demonstrated tremendous technical skills, an intuitive grasp of electrical engineering that was probably an early development of his Force sensitivity. Daniel Jose Older's novel Race to Crashpoint Tower has revealed some Jedi relate to the Force through technology, and it is reasonable to assume the young Anakin did as well. Watto quickly realized Anakin was invaluable because of this gift, and both Shmi and Anakin benefited as a result. Anakin constructed C-3PO, a protocol droid, to help his mother around the house; he dreamed of one day travelling the stars with her in freedom, with C-3PO serving as a translator.

Shmi's Life After Anakin Left

Anakin Skywalker and Shmi.

Finally, when Anakin was nine years old, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn visited Tatooine. Qui-Gon was a maverick among the Jedi, sensitive enough to the Force to believe the Jedi had lost their way and become too embroiled in galactic politics. He stumbled upon Anakin, and recognized him as the Chosen One from an ancient Jedi prophecy; to Shmi's delight, Qui-Gon found a way to free her son and take him away to train him as a Jedi.

A few years later, E.K. Johnston's Queen's Shadow tells the story of the retirement of Naboo's Queen Padmé Amidala, who sent one of her handmaidens to Tatooine in order to find Shmi and free her. Unfortunately she was unable to do so, for Watto had sold all his slaves on in order to pay some gambling debts. It is unknown who Shmi was initially sold to, but fortunately as a slave she encountered the moisture farmer Cliegg Lars. He fell in love with her, purchased and freed her, and the two married. Shmi became a loving stepmother to his son Owen.

The Tragedy of Shmi's Death

Star Wars Tusken Raiders Respect Power Kidnapped Anakins Mother Shmi (2)

As seen in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Shmi sadly met a tragic end. 10 years after Anakin had left, she was kidnapped by a band of Tusken Raiders. They intended her to serve as bait for a trap, and sadly it was one Cliegg Lars plunged into when he led a rescue party. Cliegg and his group were ambushed, and Cliegg was the sole survivor, although he suffered a lasting injury. The Tusken Raiders tortured Shmi, prompting a number of Force visions to plague Anakin Skywalker. He returned to Tatooine too late to save his mother, and she died in his arms. A furious Anakin lashed out at the Tusken Raiders, killing them all – men, women, and children alike – in his rage. Shmi's death was a crucial step along Anakin's journey into the dark side, helping guarantee his part in the Star Wars saga.

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