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

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm

Sabine Wren

By the time of Star Wars: Rebels, the Mandalorians are truly a people divided. Many clans have chosen to serve the Empire, and others have fled to escape the Imperial rule of Mandalore. Showing an exceptional aptitude for weapons design, Sabine Wren joins the Imperial Academy and begins work on some genuinely breathtaking technology.

Her knowledge of the secrets of Mandalorian armor construction allows her to make tools specifically designed to bring down the rebelling factions of her people.

Mandalorian armor is more than ancient, reforged gear. It is a symbol of all the warriors who have ever donned any piece of it. Many warriors spend their lifetimes collecting lost bits of armor to craft their own version. Others spend years cleaning, preserving and protecting what they have found.

Sabine eventually rejects the Empire and becomes one of the Lothal Rebels, a decision that ultimately brings her back into the fold with her clan and her family. She obtains the darksaber after defeating the leader of the warriors of Concord Dawn but chooses not to lead the Mandalorians with it.

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm

Bo-Katan Kryze

The sister of Duchess Satine Kryze, Bo-Katan becomes Regent of Mandalore following the fall and capture of Darth Maul by his former Sith master. Her rule as Regent is exceptionally short, however, as she refuses to swear loyalty to Emperor Palpatine and is eventually forced into exile along with the remnants of the Death Watch and Clan Vizsla.

Bo-Katan and her Mandalorian rebels do not fight against the Empire as a whole, but rather against the Mandalorian clans that have become little more than a rocket trooper corps in service to the Emperor. This corruption of clan ways and honor sits very poorly with the clans that refuse to submit, and when she meets Sabine, Bo-Katan is inspired to become the leader the Mandalorians need. She wields the darksaber and leads her people in their fight against the subjugated clans.