Mon Mothma is a character most Star Wars fans are familiar with. Although she doesn't have the biggest role in the Original Trilogy, her simple presence and leadership made her one of the figureheads of the Rebellion. Then, her importance in the Star Wars universe only grew bigger from there, as the character went on to appear during the prequel era, as well as in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

The character would also appear in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels -- and it's in the latter series that we would come to understand how crucial Mon Mothma was to the Rebellion.

RELATED: Star Wars: The Clone Wars' Most Tragic Arc Didn't Involve Anakin Skywalker

Star Wars Rebels took place roughly 15 years after the fall of the Jedi and the rise of the Empire. We first followed the crew of the Ghost as they traveled the galaxy, doing their best to help people and fight the iron fist of the Empire. While they acted as rebels, over time, we learned that they were just one of many factions of freedom fighters scattered all across the galaxy. One of the most prominent rebel cells was Phoenix Squadron, which the Ghost was a part of.

Throughout the series' first three seasons, we got a sense that there were more rebels out there, but they still lacked the union that would one day make them the military force we meet in A New Hope.

However, this all changed in the Season 3 episode "Secret Cargo," a chapter which essentially gave Mon Mothma an origin story of her own. As we learned in this episode, Mon Mothma served as a Senator in the Emperor's Galactic Senate. However, she knew that this Senate was nothing more than a facade, a front for the Empire's tyrannical rule. After speaking out against Palpatine, Mon Mothma went on the run, eventually crossing paths with the crew of the Ghost and Phoenix Squadron.

RELATED: Star Wars: The Bad Batch Should Connect To The Early Days Of The Rebellion

Mon Mothma Rebels

Mon Mothma revealed she had no intention of going back to the Senate. In truth, she had officially become a rebel, and she made it her mission to coalesce the various rebel cells together and form a single united front. Mon Mothma sent out a message pleading with all rebels in the galaxy to meet at the same rendezvous point, and she insisted on being present. She was, after all, the public face of this movement, and she insisted on inspiring others to rise up and fight back against the Empire.

While Phoenix Squadron wasn't certain any other rebels would actually show up, both they and Mon Mothma were pleasantly surprised to see that every cell in the galaxy listened. There, dozens and dozens of ships appeared to meet with Mon Mothma, ready to unite into the Rebellion.

RELATED: Star Wars: Whatever Happened to Luke Skywalker's Clone?

There were many contributing factors to the birth of the Rebellion before A New Hope, and many important figures. The movement simply wouldn't have been what it became without the likes of Ahsoka Tano, Princess Leia, Ezra Bridger and even Saw Gerrera. But as Star Wars Rebels revealed, it was Mon Mothma who inspired the rebels to become... well, the Rebels.

Streaming on Disney+, the final season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars stars Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker, Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano, Dee Bradley Baker as Captain Rex and the clone troopers, James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Katee Sackhoff as Bo-Katan and Sam Witwer as Maul. All four seasons of Star Wars Rebels are also available on Disney+.

KEEP READING: Star Wars: The Clone Wars' Bad Batch, Explained