This article is part of a series that covers Star Wars’ most recognized Mandalorians from Legends on through canon. This one specifically features famous Mandalorians from the Old Republic days into the Clone Wars era.
Among those included in this list are: Tarre Vizsla, Jango Fett, Duchess Satine Kryze, Pre Vizsla and one infamous non-Mandolorian that played an important role in their history. We hope that you enjoy going on this journey with us as we explore some of Star Wars’ most influential characters.
Most notable early Mandalorians in the Star Wars canon
1. MANDALORE THE GREAT
Group Affiliation(s): Mandalorians
Species: Human
Gender: Male
Homeworld: Mandalore
Occupation: Mand’alor, possibly a Mandalorian armorer
First Mentioned: The Mandalorian, season 1, episode 8, “Redemption”
Character History:
There is a large gap in this Mand’alor’s history but it is presumed that he was the first one among his people to teach Mandalorians how to defend themselves against the Jedi. He did so by forging beskar into an effective armor that housed several defenses — as well as, offenses — to counterattack the Jedi’s Force powers.
As a result of his efforts, the Mandalorians were able to become a formidable threat against the Jedi, along with the Sith. It is likely that his promotion to Mand’alor came from his contributions to rectifying their previous weaknesses against their superhuman foes.
Powers/Skills: Mandalore the Great was the first of his kind to devise a means to match the near-superhuman skills of the mystical Jedi. His re-imagining of the Mandalorian armor made it possible for his people to effectively stand toe-to-toe with their once unbeatable foe. Furthermore, his leadership skills also gave the Mandalorians the confidence they needed to confront the Jedi as equals, instead of as mere lightsaber fodder.
Weapon(s): Mandalore the Great designed several weapons and countermeasures to deal with the Jedi’s various powers/skills. Among these were: beskar’gam to resist the Jedi’s lightsaber blows, magnetized boots for countering the Force push, whipcord launchers for seizing hold of the enemy, flame-throwers for close combat, and miniature repulsor canons for repelling the Jedi with their own version of telekinesis. Sonic emitters were also designed to help with disorienting Jedi so they could land a killing blow.