Mandalorians

File:Mandskull.jpg

Symbol of the Mandalorians, "Mythosaur Skull" Insignia

Mandalorians are a fictional race in the Star Wars universe. According to Expanded Universe lore, they are the descendents of the Taung. The leader of the Mandalorians typically takes on the title of "Mandalore". They have been the subject of various books and action figure sets, including The Mandalorian Armor (Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars, Book 1) by K.W. Jeter (Mass Market Paperback - Jun 1, 1998), and STAR WARS ELITE FORCES FIGURE SET MANDALORIANS & OMEGA by Hasbro, STAR WARS ELITE FORCES REPUBLIC MANDALORIANS & CLONE TROOPERS by Hasbro. Karen Traviss, author of Hard Contact (Star Wars: Republic Commando) (Mass Market Paperback - Oct 26, 2004), explains how she expanded "the Mandalorian culture" in Star Wars on Trial: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Debate the Most Popular Science Fiction Films of All Time.

Hierarchy

The Mandalorians, being a culture of warriors, are ranked based upon their combat experience and skill. Higher ranking society members train the lower ones, and when the current leader, usually referred to as 'Mandalore', dies, the next high ranking member succeeds him in the event he has not hand picked a new one to take his place. They are also tightly based on family values. Only a Mandalorian can officially lead the Mandalorians, not a Jedi or a Sith; however, many times in Star Wars history see the Mandalorians drawn into the armies of the Sith, most notably during the Great Sith War.

History

Originally, the Mandalorian clans are led by the general "Mandalore the First" and are ranked among the best fighters in the galaxy, thriving on battle. They are known for their cutting-edge weaponry and strict code of honor. These Mandalorians wear crusader armor that differs from one soldier to the next.

Mandalore itself is a temperate, albeit desolate, world located in a rather overlooked and inconspicuous area at the edge of the Outer Rim. Making a living upon its surface takes on a battle of survival, and thus, the Mandalorians know no other way of succession. Most importantly, however, is the rare metal that is only found on this planet to date. It is called Mandalorian Iron or beskar in the Mandalorian language, but more commonly known as Manda-metal. It is one of the few known substances that can resist the focused energy output of a weapon such as a lightsaber (the others being cortosis ore, vibro and phrik alloy).

• (*)The original mention of Mandalorian Iron is invariably Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith. In the series, The Sith Lord Exar Kun goes to the tomb of Freedon Nadd on Onderon's moon, Dxun. Nadd's grave is said to be made of Mandalorian Iron and Exar Kun attempts to pierce the metal at first and it is noted that his lightsaber's blow barely even scorches the surface. Kun increases the intensity of his lightsaber and succeeds in entering Nadd's tomb..

The Mandalorians play a large role in the Great Sith War, which is portrayed in the Jedi vs. Sith series. During the war between the Sith and the Republic, Mandalore and his forces attack and raid the Empress Teta system, drawing the attention of Ulic Qel-Droma. After being defeated in single combat by Ulic, the Mandalore pledges complete loyalty to the Sith apprentice. He and his warriors participate in many devastating raids and attacks on the Republic, including an attempted invasion of Coruscant. However, Mandalore is finally defeated at Onderon by local military forces and Republic reinforcements. With his mighty army defeated and shattered, Mandalore flees to Dxun but is killed by one of the many monsters that inhabit Onderon's moon. A Mandalorian warrior finds his fallen mask and inherits the position of Mandalore.

After their defeat in the Mandalorian Wars at the hands of the Jedi Revan and Malak, Mandalorian society is slowly reformed, gradually evolving and changing into a culture of mercenaries, rather than conquerors. Revan later tells his friend Canderous Ordo to unite the Mandalorians after he leaves for the Unknown Regions. Ordo then takes the mantle of "Mandalore" and gathers a new Mandalorian army on Dxun. Recruiting and training Mandalorians across the Galaxy, he eventually encounters the Jedi Exile, whom he continues traveling with. During this time, the Jedi Exile's group finally visits Malachor V, a planet bearing scars of the most atrocious battle of the Mandalorian Wars; Malachor V is the site of the single largest loss of life during the Mandalorian Wars, killing the majority of Mandalorian and Republic soldiers, due to an Iridonian technician, Bao-Dur, who creates and deploys a weapon called the Mass Shadow Generator. While attempting to enter the Malachor V, the party's ship, Ebon Hawk, is downed due to Malachor's unusual gravity and vicious storms, it is thought that all of the members survived, including Canderous.

Mandalorian Civil War

Shortly before the fall of the Republic, the Mandalorians became split and infighting arose. The cause was the new Mandalore, Jaster Mereel, who urged the Mandalorians to give up their mercenary ways and become honorable again. He formed the True Mandalorians faction, while those resisting Jaster's changes formed the Death Watch. During a battle on Concord Dawn, Jaster Mereel's forces were retreating and were hidden by the local "police officer", a man named Fett. For helping Jaster's men, the Death Watch killed the entire family, except the youngest son, who was spirited away by Mereel. The young boy, Jango Fett, became Mereel's protege, and was witness to Mereel's death at the hands of Vizsla shortly after the betrayal of his bloodthirsty second-in-command, Montross. Jango took command of the remaining True Mandalorians, but unkowingly led them into a trap at the Battle of Galidraan, resulting in the complete destruction of the True Mandalorians at the hands of the Jedi, greatly reducing the number of Mandalorians active in the galaxy. Fett escaped and became a bounty hunter, eventually making such a name for himself that he was chosen by a mysterious man named Tyranus as the genetic source for the clone army being created on Kamino. Moreover, clone "trooper armor and equipment is based in part on the battle gear of the Mandalorian..."

Post-Imperial Times

Twenty-three years after the Battle of Yavin, Boba Fett became Mandalore after Shysa's death on the planet Shogun and continues the tradition of leading the Mandalorian Protectors. During the Yuuzhan Vong War, Fett led the Mandalorians in the defense of Mandalore and liberates numerous planets like Tholatin and Gyndine; however, this effort came at a huge cost of the Mandalorians. The Yuuzhan Vong retaliated and attacked Mandalore and destroyed the capital city of Keldabe. Though the Vong are eventually defeated, the attack permanently scarred Mandalore and leaves over a million Mandalorians dead, nearly a third of the entire population of all Mandalorians galaxy-wide.

During the peak of Mandalorian culture, one of their production factories, MandalMotors, spawned branch plants on a few other planets, and this corporation continued to operate in limited capacity. Only two known examples of the Mandalorian battle armor existed, worn by the bounty hunters Boba Fett and Jodo Kast. Fett killed Kast for imitating him and soiling his name. Fett inherited his armor from his father's mentor, Jaster Mereel, and placed his father's into storage. Jodo Kast procured his armor when he killed the Mandallian Giant bounty hunter Feskitt Bobb, whose suit of Mandalorian armor made Kast initially mistake him for Fett.

Nevertheless, as revealed in the Legacy of the Force series, the Mandalorians still exist and maintain a presence in the galaxy. There are numerous small communities and clans scattered around the galaxy, with the majority centered around Mandalore. Also, the ending of the second book in the series, Bloodlines, implies that Boba Fett will use his position as Mandalore to restore the power and glory of the Mandalorians.

After returning to Keldabe, Boba Fett immediately begins instituting reforms to rebuild Mandalore. He begins by recalling all Mandalorians to return to Keldabe. As a result, one of the returnees, a geologist, discovers a huge vein of Beskar, a rare Mandalorian ore used to create nearly invulnerable armor. Ironically, this vein was revealed after the vicious Yuuzhan Vong attack. Fett quickly exploits the situation, using the Beskar to rearm the Mandalorians and increase their economic power. Currently, Mandalmotors can now produce the Bes'uliik, a heavy fighter that outclasses the X-Wing. Fett has also forged a mutual defense and technology deal with Roche, a major Verpine technology corporation. The Mandalorians have now become an economic and military powerhouse that could destabilize both the Galactic Alliance and Confederation.

Language

Main article: Mandalorian language

See also

• List of Mandalorians

External links

Mandalorians on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki