The office of the handmaiden on Naboo dated back from before King Jafan. It was believed to have evolved in response to the pressure on female monarchs to live in considerable isolation, and their heightened risk of assassination. Thus they required special companionship and protection. In the time of Jafan, they served only Queens, but since the 7th Century BBY, they had served senators and ambassadors as well. A Queen would traditionally have had at least five and up to thirteen handmaidens, a senator two or three, and an ambassador one or two.