Skip to main content
Lore Fortress
Search

Hera Syndulla

captain of the Ghost

Hera Syndulla was a Twi'lek pilot and rebel leader who captained the starship Ghost and led the Spectres. The daughter of Ryloth resistance leader Cham Syndulla, she rose to become a general of the New Republic.

By Tom G

Hera Syndulla was a Twi'lek female pilot and rebel leader who captained the starship Ghost and led the rebel crew known as the Spectres during the early years of the struggle against the Galactic Empire. The daughter of the Twi'lek resistance leader Cham Syndulla of Ryloth, she recruited the Jedi Kanan Jarrus and others to her cause and rose through the rebellion to become a general of the New Republic. (Star Wars Rebels, "Spark of Rebellion", "Family Reunion and Farewell"; Ahsoka, "Part One: Master and Apprentice")

Daughter of Ryloth#

Hera Syndulla was the daughter of Cham Syndulla, the leader of the Twi'lek resistance on the homeworld of Ryloth. The two became estranged as Hera left Ryloth to carry the fight against the Empire across the wider galaxy, though they reconciled when Hera sought his help during a mission to steal an Imperial fighter-carrier orbiting their homeworld. (Star Wars Rebels, "Homecoming")

Captain of the Ghost#

As captain of the freighter Ghost, Syndulla assembled and led the rebel crew known as the Spectres. She recruited the fugitive Jedi Kanan Jarrus after working with him during the Gorse Conflict, and gathered around her the Mandalorian artist Sabine Wren, the Lasat warrior Garazeb Orrelios, the astromech droid Chopper, and later the young Ezra Bridger. Operating chiefly from Lothal, the crew struck at Imperial targets across the sector. Hera held the cell together through losses and setbacks, insisting that the Spectres were a family worth fighting for. (A New Dawn; Star Wars Rebels, "Spark of Rebellion")

The larger rebellion#

Syndulla's cell joined the wider Phoenix movement and the growing Rebel Alliance, and Hera became a leading commander in it, flying as Phoenix Leader. She flew the prototype starfighter known as the Blade Wing in person and led missions against forces commanded by Grand Admiral Thrawn. When Thrawn's Seventh Fleet was sent to crush the rebels on Lothal, Hera's leadership was central to the campaign that followed. (Star Wars Rebels, "Wings of the Master", "Zero Hour")

Lothal and after#

During the rescue of Hera Syndulla on Lothal in 1 BBY, Governor Arihnda Pryce ordered a walker to fire on the fuel tower beside the rebels, and Kanan Jarrus, with whom Hera had formed a romantic relationship, sacrificed himself to save her and the others. After his death, Hera gave birth to their son, whom she named Jacen Syndulla. She continued to serve the rebellion and, after the fall of the Empire, the New Republic, eventually attaining the rank of general. (Star Wars Rebels, "Jedi Night", "Family Reunion and Farewell"; Ahsoka, "Part One: Master and Apprentice")

Frequently asked questions

Who was Hera Syndulla?
Hera Syndulla was a Twi'lek female pilot and rebel leader who captained the starship Ghost and led the rebel crew known as the Spectres during the early years of the struggle against the Galactic Empire. The daughter of Ryloth resistance leader Cham Syndulla, she rose through the rebellion to become a general of the New Republic.
Who were the Spectres that Hera Syndulla led?
As captain of the Ghost, Syndulla assembled and led the rebel crew known as the Spectres. She recruited the fugitive Jedi Kanan Jarrus, the Mandalorian artist Sabine Wren, the Lasat warrior Garazeb Orrelios, the astromech droid Chopper, and later the young Ezra Bridger.
What was Hera Syndulla's relationship with her father?
Hera was the daughter of Cham Syndulla, leader of the Twi'lek resistance on Ryloth. The two became estranged as Hera left Ryloth to fight the Empire across the wider galaxy, but they reconciled when she sought his help during a mission to steal an Imperial fighter-carrier orbiting their homeworld.
How did Kanan Jarrus die?
During the rescue of Hera Syndulla on Lothal in 1 BBY, Governor Arihnda Pryce ordered a walker to fire on the fuel pod where the rebels stood, and Kanan Jarrus, with whom Hera had formed a romantic relationship, sacrificed himself to save her and the others.
What happened to Hera Syndulla after Kanan's death?
After Kanan's death, Hera gave birth to their son, whom she named Jacen Syndulla. She continued to serve the rebellion and, after the fall of the Empire, the New Republic, eventually attaining the rank of general.

Sources

  • BookA New Dawn, John Jackson Miller, novel, 2014
  • VideoSpark of Rebellion, Star Wars Rebels, season 1 episodes 1 and 2, 2014
  • VideoHomecoming, Star Wars Rebels, season 2 episode 3, 2015
  • VideoWings of the Master, Star Wars Rebels, season 2 episode 4, 2015
  • VideoZero Hour, Star Wars Rebels, season 3 episodes 21 and 22, 2017
  • VideoJedi Night, Star Wars Rebels, season 4 episode 10, 2018
  • VideoFamily Reunion and Farewell, Star Wars Rebels, season 4 episodes 15 and 16, 2018
  • VideoPart One: Master and Apprentice, Ahsoka, season 1 episode 1, 2023

Spotted a factual error or a primary source we missed? Email a correction. Every flagged claim gets reviewed.

Followed from this entry

Mentioned in9 entries

Get new articles in your inbox

No spam. New lore drops, canon conflicts, and deep dives only when they’re worth reading.

Some links on Lore Fortress are affiliate links. If you buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.