Star Wars history: Mandalorian culture is vital within a galaxy far, far away

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm

Jango Fett

Most Mandalorian warriors follow the code of their ancestors. Most have a clan and their own set of values. Most would never consider letting their precious DNA be cloned into an army. Jango Fett is not most Mandalorians. The clanless “father” of Boba Fett, his unaltered clone, is also the genetic template for all of the clones in the Republic’s Clone Army.

Even though he dies at the hands of Jedi Master Mace Windu on Geonosis in Attack of the Clones, Jango’s legacy lives on in those clone troopers. Jango’s own Mandalorian armor purportedly inspires clone trooper armor, and the look continues on to stormtroopers of the Empire and the First Order.

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm

Satine Kryze

The Duchess Satine Kryze is the leader of the pacifist movement on Mandalore and serves as the political head of their government during their peaceful days between the Jedi war and the fall of Mandalore to Empire forces. Satine has a long history with the Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, and both openly admit their feelings for one another during the Clone Wars animated series.

In one of the most tragic moments of the series, Darth Maul executes Satine before Obi-Wan’s eyes, ending her rule of Mandalore and punishing the Jedi for his earlier defeat of the Sith apprentice. Satine is one of the few spotlighted Mandalorians never depicted wearing the traditional armor of the clans.

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm

Pre Vizsla

The leader of the exiled rebel warriors of the Death Watch during Satine’s rule, Pre Vizsla, is also head of Clan Vizsla. He obtains the fabled “darksaber,” a black-bladed energy sword often depicted in Mandalorian murals that serve as a symbol of authority amongst the warrior clans.

It is Pre Vizsla who works with the Separatists to undermine Satine’s authority, though he eventually becomes a pawn in the revenge plot spearheaded by Darth Maul and loses the respect of his warrior elite.