Mandalorians

The Mandalorians, known as Mando’ade (“Children of Mandalore”) in their language, were a group of people from many species united by shared beliefs, language, and rules. They were famous as skilled fighters and bounty hunters, and played important roles in galactic history as legendary warriors and conquerors.

The Mandalorians started around 9991 BBY on the planet Mandalore in the Outer Rim of the galaxy. Their way of life was based on honor and war. They were led by a single ruler called the Mand’alor, whose guards kept peace among the warrior clans. Because of their warrior culture, the Mandalorians started many wars to expand their territory during the Old Republic era. They took over nearby worlds like Krownest, Ordo, and Concord Dawn, which led to the area around their home planet being called Mandalorian Space.

Throughout their history, several important groups of Mandalorian warriors were formed, such as Mandalorian crusaders, rally masters, and Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders. All of these groups fought against the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order. According to stories, many of these wars involved Mandalore the Great.

Despite their fights with the Jedi, the Mandalorians weren’t always enemies with them. Tarre Vizsla, a human Mandalorian, joined the Jedi Order as a child and created a special black lightsaber called the Darksaber around 1050 BBY. Tarre later started House Vizsla and became Mand’alor. The Darksaber became a symbol of leadership for both House Vizsla and all Mandalorians.

After Vizsla died, members of his house attacked the Jedi Temple during the fall of the Old Republic. They stole the Darksaber and used it to unite the Mandalorian people, starting another war with the Jedi Order. Sadly, the final battle between the Mandalorian warlords and the Jedi on Mandalore caused a disaster that turned much of the planet’s surface into a lifeless white desert. This made it impossible to live outside of sealed dome cities. After their defeat, the Mandalorians stayed in their own area of space well into the High Republic Era. They didn’t try to start another war with the Jedi or the Republic, and they lived together through agreements. However, the Mandalorians’ warrior ways and desire to conquer stayed alive, eventually leading to fighting among themselves and civil wars.

Even though Mandalore was still controlled by traditional Mandalorian warriors, many of the planet’s people had joined the peace-loving group called the New Mandalorians. This group was led by the young Duchess Satine Kryze of House Kryze, while the traditional warriors had to use force to keep their power. Around 42 BBY, a civil war broke out between the peaceful New Mandalorian movement and the warrior traditionalists who wanted to keep their fighting heritage. Mandalore’s capital city, Keldabe, was destroyed during this Mandalorian Civil War, and many people died, including Duke Adonai Kryze, Satine’s father. Satine herself had to be protected by the Jedi Order, as the traditionalists sent bounty hunters after her. In the end, the traditionalist minority on Mandalore was defeated and sent to Mandalore’s moon, Concordia. While Death Watch, led by Mand’alor Pre Vizsla, wanted to take back their home planet, the Old Mandalorians spread across the galaxy as hired fighters.

As the Clone Wars erupted, members of the warrior culture joined forces with both sides of the conflict. The Sith Order, who orchestrated the war from the shadows, recruited the Mandalorian bounty hunter Jango Fett to serve as the genetic template for the Republic’s clone army. Interestingly, these clones received training from the Mandalorian Protectors. At the same time, the extremist group Death Watch temporarily allied with the Separatists, aiming to regain control of Mandalore. In contrast, the planet’s official government, led by the New Mandalorians, chose to remain neutral in the galactic conflict and became a key member of the Council of Neutral Systems. However, with the assistance of the criminal group known as the Shadow Collective, Death Watch managed to overthrow the New Mandalorian government. Maul, the leader of the Collective, had plans that sparked another civil war within Death Watch, splitting the group into the Collective-backed Mandalorian super commandos and the Republic-supported Mandalore resistance. This conflict concluded with the Galactic Republic, and later the Galactic Empire, seizing control of Mandalore, while Concord Dawn, the base of the Protectors, became a protectorate.

After the Empire took power, Bo-Katan Kryze was made Regent of Mandalore, but she refused to follow Emperor Sheev Palpatine. As a result, she was replaced by Gar Saxon, a former Mandalorian super commando, who became Viceroy of Mandalore. His rule was enforced by the Imperial Super Commandos. Like many worlds in the galaxy, Mandalore was oppressed under Imperial rule. Weapons like the Arc Pulse Generator were developed to control the warlike civilization, while the Mandalorian Protectors under Fenn Rau were forced to serve the Empire on Concord Dawn. However, during the Galactic Civil War, the Empire’s rule on Mandalore was opposed by the Mandalorian resistance, which was supported by the Alliance to Restore the Republic. Fenn Rau joined the resistance after the Protectors were destroyed. After Gar Saxon and his brother and successor, Governor Tiber Saxon, died, Bo-Katan Kryze received the Darksaber from Sabine Wren of Clan Wren and became Mand’alor. Kryze united the Mandalorian resistance as another civil war broke out on Mandalore, part of the galaxy-wide fight against Imperial rule. However, Kryze’s time as Mand’alor was short, and the Empire started the Great Purge of Mandalore, killing millions of Mandalorians during the Night of a Thousand Tears. Kryze lost the Darksaber to Moff Gideon.

Following the collapse of the Empire and the rise of the New Republic, Mandalorians who survived the Empire’s Great Purge went into hiding. One such group, the Tribe, hid in a secret base on Nevarro. The Tribe, which was secretly part of the Children of the Watch, followed the Way of the Mandalore, an ancient religion that was no longer common in Mandalorian society. However, the Tribe had to move when its members revealed themselves to protect one of their own, the bounty hunter Din Djarin, from an Imperial remnant, which afterwards killed most of the Tribe’s members. Djarin, who had been given the task of returning the Force-sensitive foundling Grogu to the Jedi Order, was helped by several important people, including Bo-Katan Kryze, Mandalore’s former ruler, and Boba Fett, the son of Mandalorian bounty hunter Jango Fett.

After the search for Grogu was over, Djarin tried to return to the Tribe, which had moved to the Glavis Ringworld, but was kicked out by its members when they found out that he had removed his helmet, which went against the Way of the Mandalore. Djarin and Fett worked together again, leading Fett’s group in its war against the Pyke Syndicate, during which he was reunited with Grogu, who had decided to rejoin him. Fett and Djarin eventually defeated the Pykes, allowing Fett to become Tatooine’s ruling crime lord, while Djarin and Grogu left the planet. Afterwards, Djarin was accepted back into the Tribe after traveling to Mandalore and bathing in the Living Waters to make up for his mistake. During this adventure, Bo-Katan also bathed and was unexpectedly welcomed as a member of the Tribe. However, this development allowed Kryze to follow both the path of the Way and the more modern Mandalorian society, paving the way for her to reclaim the Darksaber and lead a united Mandalorian people in taking back Mandalore.

1. Mandalorian Way of Life

1.1 Mandalorian Society

Mandalorians were among the most feared warriors in the galaxy. As proud fighters, they saw combat as the most important part of their culture, their personal identity, and spirit. Mandalorians had a strong code of honor that could be used to settle arguments with one-on-one combat that would end with the death of one opponent. This tradition of single combat was also used for glory, such as fighting a Jedi Knight, and even to decide leadership disputes. However, some in House Vizsla refused to accept non-Mandalorians like Maul from ever becoming ruler of Mandalore through these traditions. Maul himself had Prime Minister Almec lie to the Mandalorian people by claiming that Satine Kryze had killed Pre Vizsla, Maul’s predecessor.

The Darksaber was taken by House Vizsla as a symbol of authority and leadership used to unite the Mandalorians. The weapon was respected and passed down to new leaders who defeated the previous leader in combat. Claiming the weapon in any other way was seen as wrong. As well as speaking Basic, Mandalorians spoke Mando’a, which also had a written form known as Mandalorian.

The Mandalorian clan structure resembled a pyramid, with the ruler, or Mand’alor, at the top, and the Mandalorian Protectors enforcing their authority. Below them were the political factions known as houses, which were made up of family clans. One example was House Vizsla, which included Clan Vizsla and Clan Wren. Under the rule of Duchess Satine Kryze and the New Mandalorian government during the Clone Wars, the Mandalorians had mostly given up their warrior ways but still had a police force and secret service, who used electropoles and shields.

Although Mandalorians were typically human, one did not need to be human to become one. Instead, they needed to follow the Mandalorian Creed. So, some individuals, including non-humans, could be adopted into the Mandalorian creed as foundlings, children raised to become Mandalorian warriors. Followers of the Creed saw the foundlings as the future, and any Mandalorian with a foundling in their care had to reunite it with their kind or raise them, acting as the child’s parent. When a foundling came of age, if they hadn’t been reunited with their kind, they could decide to leave or join the Mandalorians and become an apprentice. According to the Creed, saving a foundling was the highest honor.

Although Mandalorians who had been foundlings were treated the same as any other Mandalorians, having the right to wear their armor and even to form their own clans, some discrimination towards foundlings was seen within Mandalorian groups, including members of the Nite Owls, who said that former foundlings didn’t have Mandalorian blood in their veins.

Several notable foundlings included Grogu and Din Djarin, both of Clan Mudhorn, as well as the famous Mandalorian bounty hunter Jango Fett. Traditional Mandalorians, such as the Children of the Watch, followed ancient religions like the Way of the Mandalore. Mandalorians who followed the Way didn’t consider others as true Mandalorians, while mainstream Mandalorians saw the Children of the Watch as religious extremists.

1.2 Weapons, Combat, and Art

The Mandalorian Din Djarin said that weapons were part of a Mandalorian’s religion more than once. The Jedi Kanan Jarrus once complained that Mandalorians only seemed to solve problems by shooting. The young Mandalorian Sabine Wren, a friend of Jarrus’s, once declared it was a bad idea to get between “a Mandalorian and a weapons package.”

Mandalorian armor had a legendary reputation that was feared across the galaxy and was easy to recognize with its honeycomb plate patterns and scary T-shaped visors. The armor was crafted from beskar, a metal highly resistant to damage and flexible enough to be shaped into protective gear.

The Mandalorians’ special skill was mining and working beskar. The metal was found only on Mandalorian worlds. An ancient tradition and important part of Mandalorian culture was shaping the beskar into armor, which was done by Mandalorian Armorers, who could also make beskar into other gear like whistling birds. Beskar was also used to make weapons such as crushgaunts and beskads.

On top of the famous armor, Mandalorian warriors were equipped with anti-Jedi tools such as jetpacks, magnetized boots, heads-up displays, and vambraces that had weapons and tools designed to fight against the Force abilities of the Jedi. Some of this weaponry not only helped in combat but actually copied Jedi abilities, such as their wrist-mounted sonic repulsors that knocked objects away like a Force push would. They generally preferred WESTAR-35 blaster pistols and Z-6 jetpacks, which could launch missiles. The Rising Phoenix was the training Mandalorians went through to improve their jetpack skills. The typical Mandalorian starfighter design was called the Kom’rk-class fighter/transport.

The Mandalorians were very protective of their armor and the beskar, saying that it belonged only to them and refusing to give it to anyone not related to the warrior culture, as shown when the Mandalorian warrior Din Djarin only allowed Boba Fett to take back his Mandalorian armor after learning that Fett was of Mandalorian heritage.

However, despite the Mandalorians’ claim that both their armor and beskar belonged only to them, several non-Mandalorians, such as the crime lord Dryden Vos, Trandoshan big game hunter Garnac, and Tempest Runner Lourna Dee had Mandalorian armor in their possession. Furthermore, Boba Fett’s fame led to several bounty hunters copying the skilled mercenary by wearing fake Mandalorian armor, since knockoff Mandalorian gear was common in the bounty hunter profession. Despite not wearing a full set of Mandalorian armor, bounty hunter Carib Diss had a vambrace equipped with whistling birds.

Additionally, some non-Mandalorian individuals also had beskar equipment, such as Enfys Nest, who had beskar vambraces, and an unidentified Arcona bounty hunter, who wore a set of beskar armor.

Mandalorian warriors had advanced combat training from their many wars that dated before the Republic’s existence. However, it wasn’t until their conflicts with the Jedi that they developed their signature combat style. This style involved a Mandalorian using a mix of hand-to-hand, melee, and ranged techniques while using technology in their vambraces to surprise a Jedi Knight in combat, allowing the Mandalorian to finish the Jedi off. Mandalorian warriors continued to use this style of combat against the Jedi for some time as well as against other opponents. They were also known to perform headbutts known as Keldabe kisses, a term which shared its name with Mandalore’s former capital of Keldabe.

The Darksaber became a feared weapon in the days of the Old Republic as Mandalorian warriors of House Vizsla used it to kill many Jedi. When the Jedi claimed the weapon and stored it in the Jedi Temple, Mandalorian warriors would raid the Temple to reclaim the weapon that had become a symbol of their warrior ways. During the Clone Wars, the weapon also came to symbolize leadership of Death Watch as well as House Vizsla.

Cubism was a popular Mandalorian art movement during the Clone Wars. After the war, the paintings that had shown the horrors of war were used to promote and glorify it instead. Mandalorians typically preferred strong angled and hexagonal lines, such as diamond and honeycomb shapes, in their architecture, vehicles, clothing, and even haircuts. The Darksaber notably reflected this style, with an angular pommel, hand guard, and blade emitter.

Sabine Wren, a Mandalorian and a member of the Spectres, was a talented graffiti artist who personalized and painted her armor. A statue of Tarre Vizsla was built on Mandalore and became a symbol for hope and Mandalorian history. When the Empire built an outpost on the statue, some Mandalorians saw this as offensive, eventually destroying the outpost to restore the symbolic statue’s appearance. Several Mandalorians decorated their beskar armor with their clan symbols. In addition, some Mandalorian armor bore the mythosaur skull emblem, one of the traditional symbols in Mandalorian iconography.

1.3 The Mandalorian Code and Moral Foundations

The TV show “The Mandalorian” gives us a peek into the world of Mandalorian culture and their strong moral code. The main character, Din Djarin, follows this code closely in many ways.

One big rule for Mandalorians is never showing their face to others. Djarin takes this very seriously. Even when he’s badly hurt, he refuses to take off his helmet. He’d rather be left behind than let his friends see his face. He does let a robot help him once, but that’s okay because robots aren’t alive.

Mandalorians have other important beliefs too. They want to die bravely in battle if they have to die. They don’t like to shoot people who can’t fight back. They also stick together and help each other out. We see this when other Mandalorians help Djarin and his little green friend Grogu escape from danger.

Another big part of their code is taking care of young ones they find, referred to as “foundlings.” This helps keep their community going strong.

These Mandalorian values match up with five big ideas about morals:

1. Caring for others and not hurting them
2. Being fair and honest
3. Respecting leaders and rules
4. Being loyal to your group
5. Keeping things pure and living a good life

Mandalorians show all of these in different ways. They care for foundlings, try to be honorable, respect their leader, stay loyal to each other, and try to live nobly.

But here’s where it gets tricky: Djarin’s job as a bounty hunter doesn’t always fit with these values. Catching people for money isn’t very caring or noble. At the start of the show, he even says he can bring people in “warm or cold,” meaning alive or dead.

1.4 Social Identity

1.4.1 Membership (Mandalorian Group Identity)

Din Djarin and his growing group of Mandalorian friends (some of whom, like Boba Fett, might not be considered “true” Mandalorians) place great importance on what makes someone a Mandalorian. They care a lot about who can call themselves Mandalorians and who can’t. They also have strong feelings about how Mandalorians should act towards other groups in the Star Wars universe, from the Empire to the Jedi.

Throughout the series, we see several themes that relate to social identity among the Mandalorians:

1. Djarin is deeply committed to his small, secret Mandalorian community and their way of life. They often say, “This is the way,” which seems to be both a reminder and a way to keep everyone following the rules.
2. Being a Mandalorian is a big part of who Djarin is. He even says twice in the series that weapons are part of his religion as a Mandalorian.
3. The show explores how different characters see what makes a Mandalorian. For example, the rule about never taking off helmets seems to divide different Mandalorian groups (a bit like how different beliefs might divide Protestant Christian groups in our world).
4. We see Djarin’s sense of self change over time. He starts as part of a small, cult-like group, often traveling alone. Later, he becomes part of a “clan of two” family within a much larger group of Mandalorians.

This focus on group identity isn’t unusual in Star Wars or other fantasy stories. Just as group identity is important to how people see themselves in real life, it’s an easy way for stories to quickly give characters traits and backgrounds. In a universe with many different alien creatures and constant war, describing groups and how they interact is a simple way to explain things to the audience.

In fact, the mental shortcuts people use to define themselves and others by group identity in our real world are a bit like the shortcuts storytellers use in movies. Sometimes, real people who criticize entire groups of people while praising their own group can sound a lot like characters in a story.

But the social identity perspective isn’t just about recognizing that group identities are important. It also helps explain specific social issues. Since social identity is such a big part of The Mandalorian’s characters and story, we’re going to focus on some specific examples from the show that can help us understand real-world social identity issues.

1.4.2 Rejection of Deindividuation

One important idea we can understand through social identity is deindividuation. This is when people stop seeing someone as an individual with unique traits (like being kind or young) or behaviors (like having a hobby or studying a subject). Instead, they only see the person as part of a group (like a community, gender, or ethnic group).

In extreme cases, deindividuation can make people forget that others are human at all. It’s the reason we often see our own groups as better than groups we’re not part of. It’s the “us versus them” idea.

Deindividuation helps explain many negative behaviors, from disliking fans of rival sports teams to bullying people online. In The Mandalorian, like in most epic stories, we see this happen with minor characters who are just shown as part of a group, especially enemy groups like stormtroopers. This makes it easier for the audience to accept when the heroes are violent towards these characters.

But deindividuation in The Mandalorian isn’t just about violence. We also see it in casual comments and jokes that treat entire groups as all the same. For example:

1. When former Imperial sharpshooter Migs Mayfield says, “I wasn’t a stormtrooper, wise ass!” after Djarin jokes about stormtroopers being bad shots, both characters are making broad generalizations about stormtroopers.
2. Mayfield makes a rude comment suggesting Djarin might be a Gungan (another Star Wars alien race) hiding under his helmet, showing prejudice against that group.
3. Peli Motto, who owns a repair shop on Tatooine, claims she “dated a Jawa for a while” and makes suggestive comments about Jawas’ physical traits, treating the whole group as the same.

More interesting, perhaps, are the times when characters in The Mandalorian don’t engage in deindividuation. The Tuskens of Tatooine, for example, are often described as a single, primitive group in many Star Wars stories. They’re even called “Sand People” by Obi-Wan Kenobi in the first Star Wars movie.

But Djarin treats the Tuskens differently. He respects their land claims and customs, and even speaks their language. This is the first time we’ve seen a Star Wars character treat Tusken Raiders with respect on screen. As someone who’s often treated as just “a Mandalorian” rather than an individual (people often call him “Mando” instead of his name), maybe Djarin is shown as resisting the urge to lump others into groups.

Another interesting example is Bo-Katan Kryze’s changing relationship with the Children of the Watch (Djarin’s group of Mandalorians). At first, Bo-Katan sees the Children of the Watch as a cult that abandoned Mandalore by fleeing to the moon Concordia before the Empire attacked. Both Bo-Katan and the Children of the Watch reject each other as “true” Mandalorians for different reasons, even though they share many symbols and a common history.

This rejection of each other is surprising given that the Mandalorians were almost wiped out entirely, yet these two groups are arguing about what it really means to be a Mandalorian. It’s possible that both groups are trying to deal with the trauma of nearly being destroyed by blaming each other. Bo-Katan blames Djarin’s group and other splinter groups for weakening the Mandalorians. The Armorer claims Mandalore was destroyed because Bo-Katan didn’t win the Darksaber properly in combat.

Each group blames the other instead of taking responsibility, while also comparing themselves favorably to the other group.

As the story progresses, both groups come to respect each other and set aside their differences. They unite in their quest to reclaim their homeland. Bo-Katan starts to accept the Children of the Watch as fellow Mandalorians who are proud of their traditions, while the Children of the Watch accept Bo-Katan as their leader, even allowing her to go without her helmet (which goes against their traditions).

In the end, the united group reclaims Mandalore and takes a big step towards rebuilding their culture by relighting the Great Forge on their home planet. This mutual respect and acceptance shows that Bo-Katan and the Children of the Watch have overcome their tendency to lump each other into broad groups and compare themselves negatively. Their respect for one another represents new ways of thinking about their shared identity and appreciating the different perspectives among Mandalorian subgroups.

1.4.3 Armor

In the TV show Star Wars: Rebels, Alrich Wren says something important. When someone suggests changing their armor to protect against a new weapon, he says, “This armor is part of who we are. It makes us Mandalorians.” This shows how much the armor means to them.

In “The Mandalorian”, some groups of Mandalorians take this even further. They have a rule that they can’t take off their helmets around other people. If they do, they think they’re not Mandalorians anymore. This shows how the armor is more than just protection – it’s a big part of their culture and who they are as individuals.

Throughout history, groups have used symbols to bring people together. We see this in myths, religions, family crests, and even country flags. Often, a group will have a symbol that stands for their values, qualities, and history.

Some symbols are extra powerful. They’re called condensation symbols because they can hold a lot of different feelings, values, and ideas in one image or object. In Star Wars: Rebels, Sabine Wren talks about her armor in a way that shows it’s this kind of symbol. She says her armor is 500 years old, and that it holds the history of all the battles it’s been through.

For Mandalorians, their armor is a condensation symbol. It reminds them of all their past fights and struggles. It makes them feel proud of their history. Each person can change their armor to fit them, which is important. This means that even people who weren’t born Mandalorian, like the main character Din Djarin, can become part of the group by getting armor piece by piece.

Being a Mandalorian isn’t about where you’re from or what language you speak. It’s about following their way of life and accepting their symbols. When someone puts on the armor, they’re taking on all the feelings and history that come with it.

The armor became even more important to Mandalorians after the Great Purge. In the show, we learn that the evil Empire tried to destroy all memory of Mandalore. The planet was already hard to live on, but after the attack, it was impossible. The Empire also took away a lot of Beskar that Mandalorians use to make their armor.

For the Mandalorians who survived, their armor was the only thing left connecting them to their home. Even people like Din Djarin, who had never been to Mandalore, felt connected to it through the armor. This shows how the armor acts as a powerful symbol. It helps Din feel connected to a place he’s never been and to feel nostalgic for the old Mandalore he’s only heard about in stories.

The armor is the main symbol of what it means to be Mandalorian. To wear Mandalorian armor, made from Beskar from Mandalore, is what makes someone a Mandalorian. Without their armor, a person isn’t considered Mandalorian anymore.

The armor can also show even more specific things about a Mandalorian’s identity. Some Mandalorians have special symbols on their shoulder armor to show what family or clan they belong to. Din Djarin has a symbol for his “clan of two” with Grogu. Different political groups within Mandalore also have their own symbols on their armor.

The armor can even show other parts of a Mandalorian’s identity. For example, some female Mandalorians have armor that’s shaped a bit differently to show they’re women. This is different from other armored groups in Star Wars, like stormtroopers, where you can’t tell if the person inside is male or female.

Even with these differences, all Mandalorian armor looks similar enough that you can always tell it’s Mandalorian. The armor also hides who the person is underneath. This can make it easier for them to do tough things in battle, which fits with Mandalorian culture’s focus on fighting.

1.5 The Mandalorian language

The written form of the Mandalorian language was developed by Philip Metschan for the display screens of Jango Fett’s ship, the Slave I, in Attack of the Clones.

This script later reappeared in The Clone Wars and Rebels. Composer Jesse Harlin developed a spoken form of the language for the 2005 Republic Commando video game, intending it to represent an ancient language. This spoken form, named Mando’a, was extensively expanded by Karen Traviss, the author of the Republic Commando novel series.

Mando’a is primarily a spoken, agglutinative language without grammatical gender in its nouns and pronouns. It lacks a passive voice, instead predominantly using the active voice. The language has only three grammatical tenses—present, past, and future—though it is often vague, with speakers typically using only the present tense. Mando’a has a mutually intelligible dialect called Concordian, spoken on the planet Concord Dawn, as described in Traviss’ novels Order 66 and 501st. Another dialect, spoken on Mandalore’s moon Concordia, is featured in “The Mandalore Plot,” a season two episode of The Clone Wars. This language is also the basis for many Mandalorian names, which often show the culture’s warrior spirit and values.

1.6 The Mandalorian Creed

1.6.1 Description

The Mandalorian Creed is a set of rules that some Mandalorians follow. It defines what it means to be a true Mandalorian. The Creed focuses on being loyal, sticking together, helping other Mandalorians, and keeping your promises. While some Mandalorians see it as just stories for kids, others take it very seriously.

One of the most important parts of the Creed is taking care of foundlings. Foundlings are young children who have been adopted by Mandalorians. The Creed says that Mandalorians must look after these children until they can be reunited with their own people or until they grow up. Saving a foundling is seen as the highest honor in the Creed.

The Creed includes old songs and warnings about bad things that might happen if Mandalorians don’t follow the rules. When young Mandalorians grow up, they go through a special ceremony where they say the words of the Creed out loud.

The Creed teaches Mandalorians to be loyal to each other and to stick together. This is different from the Jedi, who are told not to have close personal relationships. Mandalorians who follow the Creed always help each other out. They also keep their promises, even if it might get them killed.

One of the lessons in the Creed is “don’t speak unless you know what you’re talking about.” This teaches Mandalorians to be careful about what they say.

When young Mandalorians are old enough, they go through a special ceremony to join the Creed. This ceremony includes flags with clan symbols and people playing drums. The young Mandalorian stands in water and says the words of the Creed. They promise to follow “the Way of the Mandalore.” Then, they put on a helmet and everyone says, “This is the Way.” After this, they promise to never take off their helmet in front of others.

The Creed also talks about the Darksaber. It says that whoever wins the Darksaber in a fight can lead all of Mandalore. There’s also a warning in the Creed about the Great Purge of Mandalore. The Creed says this happened because some Mandalorians stopped following the rules.

1.6.2 History of the Creed

The Creed goes back to ancient times, but by the time of the Clone Wars, some Mandalorians didn’t follow it anymore. Some people, like Bo-Katan Kryze, thought the Creed was just made-up stories for kids. When she was young, she went through the ceremony, but she didn’t really believe in it.

One Mandalorian who did follow the Creed was Din Djarin. He found Grogu and took care of him because that’s what the Creed said to do. Djarin also followed a rule about never taking off his helmet in front of others. But not all Mandalorians followed this rule.

Djarin once broke the rule about taking off his helmet. To fix this, he had to bathe in special waters on the planet Mandalore. Later, Bo-Katan Kryze saved Djarin from drowning in these waters, which made both of them “clean” according to the Creed.

1.6.3 The Creed in Action

The Creed isn’t just about rules, it affects how Mandalorians live their lives. For example, when Djarin promised to help Boba Fett in a fight, he wouldn’t back out even when things looked bad. He said that going back on his word would be against the Creed, and he was willing to die rather than break his promise.

Another time, Ragnar said the words of the Creed on a desert planet. This shows that even younger Mandalorians take the Creed seriously.

The Creed also affects how Mandalorians treat children. When Djarin wanted Grogu to join in a training session, another Mandalorian said Grogu was too young because he couldn’t say the words of the Creed yet. But Djarin used a lesson from the Creed – “don’t speak unless you know” – to argue that Grogu should be allowed to try.

Later, Bo-Katan Kryze saved Ragnar from a dangerous bird. This was seen as a great honor because the Creed says that saving foundlings is very important.

1.6.4 Different Views on the Creed

Not all Mandalorians see the Creed the same way. Some, like Djarin, follow it very strictly. They never take off their helmets and always try to do what the Creed says. Others, like Bo-Katan Kryze, think of it more as old stories and traditions. They might follow some parts of it, but they don’t take every rule seriously.

Some Mandalorians think the Creed is just for show. They might go through the ceremonies, but they don’t really believe in the deeper meanings. Others see it as a way of life that guides everything they do.

1.6.5 The Creed and Mandalorian Culture

The Creed is a big part of Mandalorian culture for those who follow it. It affects how they treat each other, how they raise children, and how they make decisions. The focus on loyalty and helping each other creates a strong sense of community among Mandalorians.

The Creed also connects Mandalorians to their history. The old songs and stories in the Creed remind them of their ancestors and where they came from. Even if not all Mandalorians believe in every part of the Creed, it still shapes their culture in many ways.

The Mandalorian Creed is more than just a set of rules. For those who follow it, it’s a way of life. It teaches them to be brave, loyal, and honorable. It gives them a sense of purpose and belonging. Whether they follow every rule or just believe in the general ideas, the Creed helps shape what it means to be a Mandalorian.

2. Mandalorian Clans, Houses, and Other Groups

Star Wars has shown us many Mandalorian characters over the years, each belonging to distinct factions known as clans or houses. These factions are characterized by their unique symbols, colors, histories, and beliefs.

Mandalore, the home planet of the Mandalorians, has seen many fights between these different factions. This idea of conflict between Mandalorians is a big part of the TV show “The Mandalorian.” In the show, the main character, Din Djarin, learns that there are many different types of Mandalorians. Another character, Bo-Katan, realizes that all the factions would be stronger if they worked together.

These different Mandalorian factions make for an interesting and changing society in the Star Wars world. From big wars on Mandalore to fighting against the evil Empire, each faction has played a different part. They change their goals and who they support as needed. This variety also makes for good stories about the characters.

Now, let’s look at some of the main Mandalorian factions we’ve seen in Star Wars:

2.1 Death Watch

Death Watch was the first Mandalorian faction we saw in Star Wars. They showed up in the TV show “The Clone Wars.” This faction didn’t like the peaceful government of Duchess Satine Kryze. They were exiled to Concordia, one of Mandalore’s moons. There, they began planning to take over Mandalore.

At first, Death Watch worked with Count Dooku and the separatists in the Clone Wars. Later, they teamed up with Darth Maul to take over Mandalore. They succeeded, but then Death Watch split into two factions, starting another war on Mandalore.

2.2 Children of the Watch

This is the faction Din Djarin, the main character in “The Mandalorian,” belongs to. Bo-Katan calls them “a group of religious extremists that left Mandalorian society.” They want to bring back old Mandalorian ways.

Members of this faction swear by the Mandalorian Creed. They never take off their helmets in front of others. They often say “This is the way” to show they believe in their rules. Other Mandalorian groups look down on them, but Bo-Katan came to respect their sense of honor. The Children of the Watch agreed to collaborate with other Mandalorians when necessary.

2.3 New Mandalorians

The New Mandalorians were a pacifist faction of Mandalorians that governed the Mandalore system in the Outer Rim. Unlike the Old Mandalorians, who valued martial prowess and military strength, the New Mandalorians emphasized pacifism, neutrality, and nonviolence. They were led by the Duchess of Mandalore until the movement’s dissolution following a coup in 19 BBY. Their pacifist ideals faced opposition from Death Watch, a group intent on reviving the violent traditions of their ancestors. Despite rejecting these old ways, the New Mandalorians adorned their capital city, Sundari, with murals depicting their historical conflicts with the Jedi Order.

2.4 House Vizsla

House Vizsla was a political faction within Mandalorian society. Among its earliest members was Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian to become a Jedi and the creator of the Darksaber.

After Tarre Vizsla died, members of House Vizsla stole the Darksaber from the Jedi Temple. They used it to unite all of Mandalore. Later, the Darksaber belonged to Pre Vizsla, the leader of Death Watch. Maul killed him and took the Darksaber. The final known members of House Vizsla were Paz Vizsla and his son Ragnar, both of whom belonged to the Children of the Watch.

2.5 House Kryze

Bo-Katan and Duchess Satine were from House Kryze, which used to be the royal family of Mandalore. They lived on the planet Kalevala, where Bo-Katan grew up. House Kryze led Mandalore during the Clone Wars.

After some big wars on Mandalore, Duchess Satine started the New Mandalorian government. Anyone who didn’t give up their warrior ways was sent away. This put the Kryze sisters on opposite sides for many years. Bo-Katan joined Death Watch, but later she promised to take back Mandalore and get revenge for her sister’s death.

2.6 House Kast

House Kast was one of the Mandalorian houses that agreed to follow Bo-Katan Kryze in the TV show “Star Wars Rebels.” Clan Rook was part of this house. Two Mandalorians named Rook Kast and Veraslayn Kast might be members, but we’re not sure.

2.7 Clan Wren

Clan Wren became important in the TV show “Star Wars Rebels” because of Sabine Wren. At first, we didn’t know much about Sabine’s past. Her family chose to support the Empire, which made Sabine leave.

Later, Sabine convinced her family to fight against the Empire. She then got other Mandalorian groups to join the fight too. This led to Bo-Katan Kryze coming back and agreeing to rule Mandalore again.

2.8 Clan Saxon

Clan Saxon was led by Gar Saxon during the Clone Wars and the Empire’s reign. The clan was part of House Vizsla. Gar Saxon was in Death Watch and supported Maul until Bo-Katan won a big battle on Mandalore.

Later, Clan Saxon controlled Mandalore with help from the Empire. This made many Mandalorians see them as traitors. After Ursa Wren killed Gar Saxon, a civil war started between Clan Saxon and Clan Wren. Gar’s brother, Tiber Saxon, took over, but he was killed when Sabine destroyed a dangerous weapon. After this, other Mandalorian groups joined Bo-Katan.

2.9 Clan Eldar

Clan Eldar was another Mandalorian faction that joined Bo-Katan to fight against the Empire. Their armor was black, orange, and dark green, with a picture of a lion-like creature. Some members later joined the Children of the Watch after the Great Purge of Mandalore.

2.10 Clan Rook

Clan Rook was part of House Kast, and they also joined Bo-Katan and the Mandalorian fight against the Empire. This clan’s armor was purple, yellow, and silver, with the same symbol as House Kast. Rook Kast has the same name as this clan, but we’re not sure if she’s part of it.

2.11 Clan Awaud

Clan Awaud split into two groups during the Clone Wars. One group, called the Old Mandalorians, lived on the planet Vlemoth Port. Unlike Death Watch, the Old Mandalorians didn’t want revenge against Duchess Satine and the New Mandalorians.

Clan Awaud was led by Chieftain Nam Beroya until his adopted daughter, Vera Beroya, took over after he died. They later helped people who supported the Rebel Alliance, fighting against the Empire in a battle on the planet Xorrn.

2.12 Clan Mudhorn

This is the newest and smallest Mandalorian clan, consisting of only two members: Grogu and Din Djarin. After Grogu saved Din from a Mudhorn, the Armorer made the Mudhorn symbol the emblem on Din’s armor. She declared that they were now a clan of two.

Even though Din and Grogu have been apart at times, Din always saw Grogu as a young Mandalorian he needed to protect and teach. Grogu chose to leave his Jedi training to stay with Din. They continue to have adventures together, with Din teaching Grogu about being a Mandalorian. We don’t know yet if Grogu will make the Mandalorian promises or get his own armor someday.

3. History

The Mandalorians have a long and complex history filled with war and conflict. They began as a warrior culture from the planet Mandalore in the Outer Rim around 9991 BBY. Over time, they became known and feared throughout the galaxy as skilled mercenaries, bounty hunters, and fighters. In their early days, Mandalorians were said to ride mythosaurs. The mythosaur skull became an important symbol for Mandalorians.

Even before the Galactic Republic was formed, the Mandalorians were constantly at war. They believed themselves to be the greatest warriors in the galaxy. The Mandalorians played big roles in galactic events for many generations.

3.1 Age of Conquest: The Mandalorian Crusades

The Mandalorian crusaders began attacking and taking over other worlds. They wore armor and used swords in battle. The crusaders were willing to destroy entire planets during their attacks. They conquered planets like Krownest and Concord Dawn. Their attacks left Concord Dawn badly damaged, with almost a third of the planet broken apart.

During the time of the Old Republic, Mandalorian rally masters led troops in battle as the Mandalorians tried to expand their territory. These rally masters wore special red armor.

Eventually, the crusaders reached the Inner Rim and attacked the planet Ubduria. They looked down on the Ubdurians as cowards without honor. Another Mandalorian group, the Neo-Crusaders, existed long ago. Stories say that at one point, Mandalorian Crusaders fought for a fallen Jedi named Ulic Qel-Droma. They rode into battle on Basilisk war droids.

Throughout Mandalorian history, when Mandalore was united, no outside enemy could defeat them. But fighting among themselves always led to their downfall.

3.2 The Mandalorian-Jedi Conflict

As the Mandalorian crusaders kept expanding, they eventually came into conflict with the Jedi Order and the Republic they protected.

When the Mandalorians first fought the Jedi Knights, they were surprised by the Jedi’s use of the Force. The Jedi’s special powers were unlike anything the Mandalorians had faced before. But the proud Mandalorians wouldn’t accept defeat. They worked to create new technology and fighting styles to overcome the Jedi’s abilities. This led to big improvements in Mandalorian weapons and armor.

With their new technology, the Mandalorians started winning battles against the Jedi. Mandalorian warriors gained a reputation for being able to fight and defeat Jedi Knights. This long conflict between Mandalorians and Jedi lasted for many wars. It was remembered by people across the galaxy even thousands of years later during the Clone Wars. The battles were shown in art displayed in Mandalore’s capital city Sundari and on its moon Concordia.

Despite often being enemies, Mandalorians and Jedi were not always fighting each other. The most famous example of this is Tarre Vizsla, who later became the sole ruler of Mandalore. He was greatly respected by his people. After he died, the Jedi took the Darksaber back to their temple on Coruscant. The Mandalorians later built a large statue of Vizsla on Mandalore to honor him.

In the last few hundred years of the Old Republic, members of House Vizsla snuck into the Jedi Temple on Coruscant and stole back the Darksaber. They used it to take control of all of Mandalore and unite the different Mandalorian groups.

3.3 The Fall of Mandalorian Power

3.3.1 The Destruction of Mandalore

Even though House Vizsla had brought the Mandalorians together, it didn’t last. The Mandalorians kept fighting wars and trying to conquer other worlds. This badly damaged Mandalore. Different Mandalorian leaders fought the Jedi, but also fought each other. The last big battle between Mandalorian warlords and the Jedi happened on Mandalore itself. It caused massive destruction that turned much of the planet’s surface into a lifeless white desert.

This event ended the war between Mandalorians and Jedi. It also ended the Mandalorians’ dreams of expanding their territory. With their homeworld badly damaged, the Mandalorians had to focus on rebuilding for a while. They couldn’t live on most of Mandalore’s surface anymore. Instead of leaving, they built sealed dome cities like the capital, Sundari. Some Mandalorian groups settled on other worlds in the Mandalore sector. Clan Wren went to the snowy planet Krownest. The Mandalorian Protectors set up a base on one of Concord Dawn’s moons.

After the Galactic Republic defeated the Sith and became the main galactic government, the Mandalorians stayed out of trouble for a while. Their warrior culture and desire to conquer remained, but they didn’t cause problems. As the High Republic Era went on, the Mandalorians were peaceful. During one battle in this time, a Republic leader noted that the Mandalorians had been quiet since before he was born.

3.3.2 Mandalore’s Age of Non-Violence

Before the Invasion of Naboo, another conflict broke out among the Great Clan Wars. This civil war was fought between traditional Mandalorians who supported their warrior past and the New Mandalorians. The New Mandalorians, led by Satine Kryze, rejected violence and wanted to be peaceful. The Mandalorian Protectors of Concord Dawn, a group of elite warriors, were also involved. When the civil war ended, Satine Kryze ruled as the Duchess of Mandalore. The warrior clans were sent away to Concordia. Some of these clans became the Death Watch that plotted to overthrow the new government. Others left Concordia and settled in other parts of the galaxy, becoming mercenaries with no interest in revenge.

At some point before 32 BBY, a series of conflicts called the Mandalorian Civil Wars took place. Jango Fett fought in these wars. He got his distinctive Mandalorian armor during this time.

Though some Mandalorians like Death Watch violently opposed her, Satine slowly rebuilt Mandalore after the damage from the war. The many deaths made Satine strongly dislike violence, and she became a firm believer in peace. She changed the Mandalorian way of life. She also set up a Mandalorian government council with ministers led by a Prime Minister. By the time of the Clone Wars, the Prime Minister was Almec. Under Satine’s rule, Mandalore became a modern and peaceful society. This new government eventually joined the Galactic Republic.

3.3.3 Mandalore’s Role in the Clone Wars

During the final years of the Republic, Jango Fett was widely regarded as the galaxy’s foremost bounty hunter. His reputation caught the attention of the Sith Order. They offered to make him the genetic template for the clone army of the Republic on Kamino. Fett accepted the offer. The Kaminoan cloners used his genetic material to create specially modified clone troopers. They also made two unmodified clones, Omega and Alpha. Jango took Alpha as his son and named him Boba Fett. He taught Boba the family trade of bounty hunting. Jango’s Mandalorian armor inspired the design of the clone troopers’ armor. The Mandalorian Protectors also helped train the clone troopers.

Fett’s clones served as the backbone of the Republic during its war with the Confederacy of Independent Systems, a galaxy-spanning conflict known as the Clone Wars. When the Clone Wars started, Satine Kryze made sure that Mandalore and the New Mandalorians stayed neutral and continued to do well. She became the leader of the Council of Neutral Systems, a group of 1,500 star systems that wanted to stay out of the conflict. Even so, both the Republic and Confederacy put a lot of pressure on Satine to try to get her to join their side.

3.4 Revival of Mandalorian Warrior Culture

Unknown to the New Mandalorians, the governor of Concordia, Pre Vizsla, brought back the Mandalorian warrior culture as the Death Watch. One of the leaders of this group was Duchess Satine’s sister, Bo-Katan Kryze. She led an elite group of female warriors called the Nite Owls. Death Watch began attacking the pacifist government, including attacks on Mandalore, a Republic cruiser, and Kalevala, another planet settled by Mandalorians. Vizsla wanted to bring back the warrior traditions of the Mandalorians. He worked with Count Dooku of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Vizsla hoped the Republic would think they needed to step in, so Death Watch could fight them off and be seen as heroes by the Mandalorians. But the plan failed, and the Galactic Senate decided not to get involved.

The defeated Death Watch members left to become mercenaries. They built a base on Carlac. The group started planning revenge. They first worked with the Separatist senator Lux Bonteri to try to bring down Dooku. Later, they joined with the rogue Sith Lord Maul and his Shadow Collective to win back support from Mandalore’s people. But after Vizsla betrayed Maul, Maul killed him and became Death Watch’s leader. This led Bo-Katan Kryze to rebel against Maul and form a Mandalore resistance group.

3.5 Mandalore’s Internal Struggle

Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi investigated the coup on Mandalore but was captured. Maul killed Satine to hurt Kenobi. Kenobi escaped and went to tell the Galactic Republic what happened. Meanwhile, Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine, who was secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, captured Maul and put him in prison on Stygeon Prime. While Maul’s loyal Mandalorian super commandos freed him, his killing of Satine united many other Mandalorians against him. They joined together to try to overthrow Maul and put Mandalore back under Mandalorian control.

After the Siege of Mandalore, Bo-Katan was named Regent of Mandalore. This caused Maul’s control of Mandalore to fall apart. Eventually, Clan Saxon forced Kryze out when she refused to follow Emperor Palpatine. The planet was then taken over by the Galactic Empire. Meanwhile, the Protectors, who saw Death Watch as traitors, helped train clone troopers for the Republic. A group of Protectors called Skull Squadron, led by Fenn Rau, trained clone pilots and fought in the Third Battle of Mygeeto.

3.6 Age of the Empire

3.6.1 Mandalorian Factions During Imperial Era

After the Empire took control of Mandalore, Fenn Rau’s Protectors set up a base on Concord Dawn’s third moon. The Empire paid them to protect the Concord Dawn system. Other Mandalorians came under the leadership of Gar Saxon. Some of them joined the Imperial military as Imperial Super Commandos. Saxon was appointed Viceroy of Mandalore by the Emperor. He served as the Emperor’s representative on Mandalore, enforcing Imperial rule alongside his Imperial Super Commandos. His brother, Tiber Saxon, was also part of this group.

During the time of the Empire, Boba Fett, the clone son of Jango Fett, became known as the best bounty hunter in the galaxy. He kept the Mandalorian legacy alive by wearing his father’s distinctive Mandalorian armor. Fett was eventually defeated by the Heroes of Yavin and fell into the Great Pit of Carkoon, but he managed to survive.

Additionally, Sabine Wren, a member of Clan Wren, worked as a bounty hunter for a while with another Mandalorian named Ketsu Onyo. Later, Sabine joined a small rebel group on the Outer Rim planet Lothal called the Spectres. They regularly stole supplies from the Empire to give to people in need. Later, this group became part of a larger rebellion, the Alliance to Restore the Republic. Years later, the Alliance would work with several Mandalorian clans during its war with the Empire. Meanwhile, Ketsu continued her career as a bounty hunter, joining the Black Sun crime group.

3.6.2 Mandalorian Involvement in the Rebellion

In 2 BBY, Gar Saxon and his Imperial Super Commandos wiped out the Mandalorian Protectors. As a result, Fenn Rau decided to join the rebellion. Later that year, Sabine Wren found the Darksaber on Dathomir after she, Kanan Jarrus, and Ezra Bridger fought a battle there against Maul. The rebel leaders and Fenn Rau encouraged Sabine to train with the Darksaber so she could bring her people together and get them to help the rebellion.

After training, Sabine, Rau, Jarrus, and Bridger went to Krownest to Clan Wren’s stronghold. Sabine tried to convince her mother, Countess Ursa Wren, to join the rebellion. At first, Ursa decided to give up the Jedi to Viceroy Saxon and his Imperial Super Commandos in exchange for the Darksaber and sparing her daughter. When Saxon declared her and Clan Wren enemies of the Empire, Ursa and her son Tristan fought Saxon and his commandos alongside Rau and the Jedi. When Saxon tried to kill Ursa with the Darksaber, Sabine took Bridger’s lightsaber and fought Saxon. Sabine reclaimed the Darksaber and defeated Saxon. When Saxon tried to shoot Sabine, Ursa killed him. His death created confusion among the Mandalorians about who should lead. Sabine decided to stay and help her mother, clan, and Rau find Mandalore’s true leader, to whom she would give the Darksaber.

Soon after, Bridger returned to Krownest after escaping from the Battle of Atollon. He asked for help from Clan Wren for the rebels against Grand Admiral Thrawn, who was attacking the rebel base on Atollon. Though they couldn’t send a full force because of their current fights against Clan Saxon, Ursa agreed to let Sabine, Tristan, and Rau lead several Mandalorian volunteers and ships to go with Ezra and Chopper back to Atollon. The Gauntlet and several Fang fighters went back to Atollon, where they destroyed the ship that was preventing the rebels from escaping. The remaining rebels were able to flee the system, while the Mandalorians returned to Krownest.

In 1 BBY, Clan Wren under Ursa and Sabine fought on Mandalore against Clan Saxon and the Empire. During the Mandalorian civil war, Sabine and her younger brother, Tristan, found that the Empire had built an outpost on the statue of Tarre Vizsla. They destroyed the outpost and fixed the statue. Clan Wren was joined by several other groups including Fenn Rau, Lady Bo-Katan’s Clan Kryze, Clan Vizsla, Clan Rook, and Clan Eldar. Sabine and the Rebel Alliance’s Spectres Jarrus and Bridger also attacked an Imperial prison hoping to find Alrich Wren, but he had been moved.

Sabine then offered the Darksaber to Bo-Katan Kryze, but she refused, knowing she wasn’t the leader her sister Satine had been. Together they attacked a convoy guarded by the super commandos and rescued Alrich. However, the commandos and the Empire then used “the Duchess” that killed many warriors from Clans Wren and Kryze. Only Tristan and Ursa survived the attack. The survivors regrouped. Sabine and Bo-Katan then planned to destroy the weapon by sneaking onto Governor Tiber Saxon’s Star Destroyer near Sundari to make up for Sabine’s role in creating it.

The combined Mandalorian and rebel forces managed to get into Saxon’s Star Destroyer. After a fight, they destroyed the Duchess and Saxon’s ship. After the battle, Lady Bo-Katan took the Darksaber and became the leader of the Mandalorian clans. The Vizslas, Wrens, Kryzes, Rooks, Eldars, and Fenn Rau, the last Protector, pledged loyalty to the new Mand’alor. However, the Children of the Watch were dismayed that Bo-Katan accepted the Darksaber as a gift rather than winning it in combat. They feared this act would bring a curse upon their world.

At some point, the Rebel Alliance got help from the Old Mandalorian group. A battalion of Mandalorians from Vlemoth Port helped Rebel forces against an Imperial task force led by Ralchio Nervi during the Battle of Xorrn. Like Fenn Rau, Mandalorians Bodica Venj and Dirk Ullodin fought for the rebels. Venj was an angry Mandalorian warrior who once flew a Fang fighter to the Wren Stronghold on Krownest while serving the rebels. Ullodin wanted to become a commando and, during his time with the rebels, took part in a space battle where he flew a Fang fighter and shot down a TIE fighter.

3.6.3 The Great Purge of Mandalore

Bo-Katan Kryze’s time as ruler of Mandalore didn’t last long. The Empire realized they would never be able to fully control Mandalore. They decided that if they couldn’t have it, no one else should either. So they launched the Great Purge of Mandalore, killing millions of Mandalorians. During the purge, Mandalore was heavily bombed in what became known as the Night of a Thousand Tears. The Children of the Watch avoided the Purge because they were hidden away on Concordia.

With most of her forces destroyed in the Night of a Thousand Tears, Bo-Katan was forced to agree to peace talks proposed by the Imperial Security Bureau. She believed surrender was the only way her people could survive. Though she didn’t trust him, Bo-Katan met with Gideon and gave up the Darksaber. She also agreed to disarm her people and submit to the Empire in exchange for an end to the fighting. However, Gideon betrayed her. The Empire continued the Purge against the now defenseless Mandalore and almost completely wiped out the Mandalorian people.

3.7 New Republic Era

3.7.1 Din Djarin’s Quest

After the Great Purge, surviving Mandalorians went into hiding. In the years after the Empire fell, there were fewer and fewer of the once-great warriors. Beskar, the special Mandalorian metal, also became very rare.

By around 9 ABY, a Mandalorian tribe connected to the Children of the Watch was hiding in a secret base on Nevarro, a world far out in the galaxy. One of its members was the bounty hunter Din Djarin. After Djarin conducted business with an Imperial remnant group, it caused problems within the tribe. Paz Vizsla of Clan Vizsla called Djarin a coward for dealing with the Imperials.

Soon after this argument and a talk with the Armorer, Djarin decided to go against the Imperial remnant and rescue Grogu, whom he had captured and given to the Imperials. However, after he rescued Grogu, he was stopped by the Bounty Hunters’ Guild, who wanted to maintain good relations with the local Imperials. Then, Mandalorians from the secret base came out of hiding and fought against the Bounty Hunters’ Guild, protecting one of their own. Djarin escaped, but because they fought openly, the tribe had to relocate their secret base.

Despite the Tribe’s attempts to relocate, most of them were killed by Moff Gideon’s Imperial remnant. The Armorer was among those who survived, and it was thought that others might have escaped Nevarro. When Djarin returned to Nevarro, the Armorer established “Clan Mudhorn” as Din Djarin’s clan, consisting of Djarin and Grogu. Djarin was then given the task of reuniting Grogu with the Jedi Order. Paz Vizsla also survived the attack.

During this time, Lady Bo-Katan Kryze and two of her followers, Koska Reeves and Axe Woves, were hijacking Imperial shipments on Trask. Their goal was to use these shipments to take back Mandalore and reinstate Bo-Katan as the ruler. Bo-Katan also got Djarin to help in exchange for information on where to find a surviving Jedi—Ahsoka Tano. With Djarin’s help, Bo-Katan and her followers were able to take over a cruiser and its cargo. Unfortunately, the cruiser’s captain refused to tell them where the Darksaber was and killed himself.

After helping Bo-Katan, Djarin continued his quest to return Grogu to the Jedi Order, protecting his foundling from several bounty hunters who were hunting the child, as well as from Gideon’s Imperial remnant. Despite Djarin’s efforts, Gideon eventually succeeded in capturing Grogu, forcing Djarin to ask his allies for help to rescue Grogu. Djarin put together a team consisting of New Republic Marshal Cara Dune, Master Assassin Fennec Shand, and Boba Fett. Djarin and Fett also met with Bo-Katan and Reeves on the desert planet of Lafete, asking the Nite Owls for help in boarding Gideon’s light cruiser. After a brief fight between Reeves and Fett, who felt insulted by the Nite Owls’ comments about his clone origin, Bo-Katan agreed to help Djarin, since she wanted to get the Darksaber back from Gideon.

With the Nite Owls’ help, Djarin’s team was able to take control of the cruiser. However, Djarin had taken the Darksaber from Gideon and couldn’t simply give it to Bo-Katan. The forces Bo-Katan had gathered, including Reeves, rejected her once she returned without the Darksaber and left to become mercenaries for hire under Woves’ leadership.

3.7.2 Conflict on Tatooine

After rescuing Grogu and reuniting him with the Jedi Order, Djarin went back to his career as a bounty hunter. Meanwhile, Boba Fett went to Tatooine to set up his own criminal organization, which brought him into conflict with the Pyke Syndicate, a powerful group in the Spice Cartel.

After finishing a job on Glavis Ringworld, Djarin rejoined the survivors of his tribe at a new secret base. There, the Armorer told the story of the Purge and made a new piece of armor for Grogu out of Djarin’s beskar spear. Djarin was challenged to a duel by Paz Vizsla, a descendant of Tarre Vizsla, for ownership of the Darksaber. Djarin managed to win the fight. However, he was kicked out of the Tribe for removing his helmet, which was against their Way of the Mandalore. According to their beliefs, the only way for him to be forgiven was in the Living Waters beneath the Mines of Mandalore, which he thought had been destroyed. After this, Djarin also went to Tatooine, where Boba Fett hired him to help in his war against the Pykes.

Fett and Djarin fought together against the Pyke forces during the Battle of Mos Espa. During this battle, Djarin was reunited with Grogu, who had decided to come back to Djarin instead of continuing his Jedi training. In the end, the Pykes were defeated by Fett’s group, securing Fett’s position as the leading criminal organization of Tatooine. After this, Djarin and Grogu left the planet.

3.7.3 The Path Back to Mandalore

3.7.3.1 Establishing a New Covert

Even though Vizsla had feared that he, Djarin, and the Armorer were the only survivors of their clan, other survivors of the Tribe would reappear. The Armorer’s tribe was able to set up a new secret base at a new location on a planet, where they were again led by the Armorer. Vizsla and his foundling son Ragnar were part of this group. During Ragnar’s initiation ceremony, the covert was attacked by a giant turtle-like creature. Several Mandalorians were eaten by the turtle until Djarin killed it with his N-1 starfighter. Djarin, even though he had been kicked out, talked with the Armorer about going to Mandalore to find the mines and be forgiven. The Armorer agreed to let him go on this quest. After a run-in with some pirates belonging to Pirate King Gorian Shard’s gang, Djarin traveled to Kalevala. There, he talked to Bo-Katan about returning to Mandalore. However, she refused because she wouldn’t take the Darksaber from Djarin and had been abandoned by her forces who became mercenaries. She chose to stay in exile at her castle.

Djarin, Grogu, and R5-D4 went to Mandalore. Once there, they went into the ruins of Sundari where they ran into trouble from Alamites. Djarin was captured by a cyborg scavenger and its Spider Tank. Grogu was able to escape back to Djarin’s starfighter, which was being flown by R5. Grogu convinced Bo-Katan to help rescue Djarin. Together, they got past the Alamites and Bo-Katan used the Darksaber to kill the cyborg and its tank.

Bo-Katan then took Djarin to the Mines and the Living Waters. There, Djarin was able to be forgiven. However, he tripped and fell deep into the water. Bo-Katan jumped in after him. In the waters, Bo-Katan discovered a mythosaur, a creature thought to be extinct. After filling a flask with some of the Living Waters, Djarin, Bo-Katan, and Grogu left. Bo-Katan and Djarin went to Kalevala to get his fighter. However, Bo-Katan came under attack by several TIE fighters. Djarin and Bo-Katan were able to destroy several of them. However, another group of TIE bombers destroyed Bo-Katan’s castle. Bo-Katan, upset, went after the bombers. However, a dozen more fighters came. Djarin was able to convince her to retreat and follow him to his covert’s planet.

When they arrived at the covert, Djarin and Bo-Katan were seen as outsiders until the Armorer confirmed that they had truly been to the Living Waters of Mandalore. Djarin was accepted back and Bo-Katan, even though she didn’t believe in the Children of the Watch’s beliefs, was accepted into their covert. During the covert’s training of its children, Ragnar was taken by a bird-like creature called a shriek-hawk. Bo-Katan led Djarin, Vizsla, and several others to rescue Ragnar. They were successful and captured the shriek-hawk’s babies. During this time, the Armorer made new armor for Grogu and a new shoulder piece for Bo-Katan to mark her discovery of a mythosaur.

3.7.3.2 Battle Against the Pirate Nation at Nevarro

The covert was then approached by Captain Carson Teva of the New Republic’s Adelphi Rangers. Their location had been revealed by Djarin’s droid, R5. At first, Djarin and his covert were hesitant to listen to the captain until he told them about High Magistrate Greef Karga’s and Nevarro’s attack by Pirate King Shard’s gang. After Captain Teva left, Djarin and Bo-Katan talked with the covert’s members about helping Nevarro. Even though they had fought several of Karga’s guild hunters that forced them to move the covert before, Vizsla and the others agreed to help Djarin fight Shard’s pirates.

Using Bo-Katan’s Gauntlet starfighter and Djarin’s starfighter, the Mandalorians were able to fight the pirates and drive them away from both the city and Nevarro. To thank them for their help, High Magistrate Karga gave the Tribe lands they could call their own for the first time in years. Shortly after, Bo-Katan was called by the Armorer to the covert’s old workshop. The Armorer allowed Bo-Katan to take off her helmet, saying that because she had seen a mythosaur, the time had come for all Mandalorians to come together and take back Mandalore. So, Bo-Katan, Djarin, Grogu, and R5 set off to find Bo-Katan’s fleet and bring both Mandalorian groups together.

3.7.3.3 Mercenary Work on Plazir-15

During this time, Woves and other Mandalorians were using Gideon’s light cruiser to do mercenary work in the Mid Rim territories. One job involved Woves’ Mandalorians capturing Captain Shuggoth’s lover to return him to his parent, a Mon Calamari Viceroy.

Woves and his fellow mercenaries also took a job to protect the peaceful planet of Plazir-15, led by the Duchess and her husband, Captain Bombardier. Bo-Katan and Djarin arrived and helped the Duchess and Captain stop a former Separatist, Commissioner Helgait, from turning Plazir’s droid workers back into battle droids. Djarin and Bo-Katan met up with Woves and his Mandalorians to try to get Bo-Katan back in her leadership position. After a short fight between Bo-Katan and Woves, Djarin gave the Darksaber back to Bo-Katan. He did this because she had rescued him from a cyborg on Mandalore, which made him unworthy to hold the Darksaber according to Mandalorian rules. Woves and his fellow Mandalorians then accepted Bo-Katan as their leader again.

3.8 Reclaiming Mandalore

After bringing together Bo-Katan’s unit and Djarin’s tribe, the Mandalorian fleet traveled to Mandalore. A small scouting team led by Bo-Katan and Djarin was sent to check out the ground. On the planet’s surface, they met Mandalorians who had survived on their own since the Great Purge of Mandalore. This group of survivors led the scouting team to the Great Forge. When they got to the forge, they were ambushed by Gideon’s armored commandos and led into a trap inside a hidden Imperial base. There, Gideon, wearing Mandalorian-style beskar armor, tried to force the Mandalorians to surrender. However, they managed to escape, with Vizsla staying behind to let the rest get away. He was killed by three Imperial Praetorian Guards shortly after.

Woves went into orbit and warned the fleet about incoming TIE fighters and bombers. He ordered all the Mandalorians on their Imperial light cruiser to leave. Woves then flew the light cruiser as bait for the Imperials while the rest went to help their fellow Mandalorians on the ground. While the Mandalorians and the Imperial commandos fought in the air, Djarin, Bo-Katan, and Grogu dueled Gideon.

During the fight, Gideon managed to destroy the Darksaber using his armor’s mechanical strength. However, working together, they defeated Gideon and his forces just before their former light cruiser crashed into the base. This killed Gideon and what was left of his forces. Grogu used the Force to protect Djarin and Bo-Katan from the explosion. Shortly after the battle, Mandalorians gathered at the Living Waters to watch Ragnar Vizsla and Grogu become Mandalorian apprentices. Later, a ceremony was held to relight the Great Forge, showing that they had taken back their homeworld as a united people.

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