Star Wars: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Planet Mandalore

Dec. 2, 2020, 3:30 p.m.

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Star Wars: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Planet Mandalore

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Summary Mandalore, the ancestral home of the Mandalorians, has a rich and extensive history that has shaped the galaxy's greatest warriors.

Despite being decimated by war and occupation, Mandalore is still capable of sustaining life and may hold the key to the Mandalorians' future.

Bo-Katan Kryze, the rightful heiress to Mandalore's throne, will now lead her people as they rebuild their homeworld and reclaim their legacy.

The planet Mandalore has become a large focus in Star Wars, particularly in The Mandalorian - though much of its lore is still shrouded in mystery. While detailed information about the planet and its ancient history is still held close to the beskar chest plate by the Mandalorians themselves, information about their homeworld has been slowly presented to Star Wars viewers over the last several years. Star Wars movies and TV shows, comic books, and novels have all built on Mandalorian lore, including that of their homeworld and its extensive history.

Now that Mandalore has been the focus of The Mandalorian season 3 and has made its live-action debut, the planet is as important to the future of Star Wars as ever. Whether it be the city of Sundari or the moon Concordia, this planet and its system are home to the galaxy's greatest warriors, such as Din Djarin and Bo-Katan Kryze. Gathered from the history presented in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Mandalorian, the Skywalker saga, and other source materials, here are a few things viewers may not know about Mandalore.

Related Star Wars' Mandalorian Timeline & History Explained As the greatest warriors in the Star Wars galaxy, Mandalorians have a rich and expanding history, and this is their full timeline in canon explained.

15 Mandalore Was Almost Featured In The Empire Strikes Back

The Planet Was Mentioned In The Empire Strikes Back Sketchbook

Over the course of developing his Skywalker saga, George Lucas ended up discarding many pieces of lore in favor of necessary creative choices, some of which became incorporated into other projects he had an ancillary hand in developing decades later, such as Star Wars: The Clone Wars. According to The Empire Strikes Back Sketchbook, Mandalore was a planet fans might have gotten to see in The Empire Strikes Back, but Lucas chose to feature Hoth, Dagobah, and Bespin. It's unclear whether or not Lucas would have shown Boba Fett, who made his onscreen debut in the movie, operating off Mandalore.

14 It's The Ancestral Home Of The Mandalorians

All Who Swore The Mandalorian Creed Could Call It Home

Mandalorians are very deeply tied to their ancient roots and history, whether they follow a warrior's path or not. Armor is passed down through generations, much of which can be traced back to the founding of Mandalore around roughly 10,000 BBY. This planet is where this historic and powerful society first settled and began to create a legacy that has since generated the galaxy's most renowned warriors.

Initially, only true Mandalorians could wear Mandalorian armor and helms, which changed over the course of their history.

Mandalorians were a proud and ancient race that lived in a society made up of tribal clans, each with a lengthy heritage of noble deeds. The warriors fashioned armor out of beskar and decorated it with a familial crest, as well as small ornaments from the trophies they took. Initially, only true Mandalorians could wear Mandalorian armor and helms, which changed over the course of their history. As time went on, Mandalorian foundlings like Din Djarin were allowed to study the Way, and splinter groups arose from different teachings, some more peaceful and some more aggressive.

13 It Was Beautiful Once...

Din Djarin Describes Mandalore As "Green And Beautiful, Back When The Songs Were Written"

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For thousands of years, Mandalore had been a planet known for producing superior warriors and being one of the most influential planets in the Outer Rim. The capital of Sundari was a place of pride that honored not only politics and commerce, but a noble heritage. A rich legacy of art and armaments conveyed to the galaxy the duality of the Mandalorian people; capable of great creation and even greater destruction. Once beautiful structures, statues, and artifacts would eventually become ruins after decades of conflict.

12 ... Before It Was Made Inhospitable By War

Years Of War Led To The Surface Being Destroyed

Centuries of violence and warfare turned the topography of Mandalore into inhospitable desert, forcing the remaining Mandalorians to discern a way to recover from the devastation. Pledging themselves to peaceful ways, they became known as the New Mandalorians, and they erected domed cities to live in that insulated them from the harsh environment around them. Warrior Mandalorians were sent to live on Concordia, the moon orbiting Mandalore, to live out the remainder of their days. Eventually, however, a descendant of Tarre Vizsla's led warriors on a raid to reclaim Mandalore, bolstered by Separatist involvement in the Clone Wars.

11 Its Inhabitants Were In Conflict With The Jedi Order

The Jedi Are The Ancient Enemy Of The Mandalorians

For centuries, Mandalorians clashed with the Jedi Order, their lifestyle of raids and conquest at odds with the egalitarian code of the Jedi Knights. Again and again, the Jedi Order was called upon to repel Mandalorian advancement, and their battles became the stuff of galactic legend. When the Old Republic fell, Mandalorian warriors swarmed the Jedi Temple in an attempt to reclaim a precious Mandalorian artifact - the Darksaber, a prized possession of Tarre Vizsla. He was the only Mandalorian to ever be accepted into the Jedi Order, but the Jedi had kept his blade for safekeeping.

As history goes on, the two groups become more and more at peace with one another, despite being ancient enemies.

This part of this history has since changed. The Mandalorians began to create some small alliances with various Jedi at the end of the Clone Wars, most notably Bo-Katan Kryze allying with Ahsoka Tano to overthrow Maul in the Siege of Mandalore. Din Djarin is also now close allies with Ahsoka Tano and, to a point, Luke Skywalker, as Din's bond with Grogu has aided in the relations between the Jedi and the Mandalorians. As history goes on, the two groups become more and more at peace with one another, despite being ancient enemies.

Related All 17 Major Groups In Star Wars Explained: Jedi, Sith, Mandalorians, & More The Star Wars galaxy continues to expand, and there are far more key groups than just Jedi and Sith. Here are all the most important ones...

10 It Declared Neutrality During The Clone Wars

Duchess Satine Kryze Renounced The Mandalorians' Ancient Warrior Ways

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Cast Matt Lanter , james arnold taylor , Ashley Eckstein , Dee Bradley Baker , Matthew Wood , Tom Kane , Catherine Taber , Terrence Carson , Corey Burton , Nika Futterman , Katee Sackhoff , Sam Witwer Release Date October 3, 2008 Seasons 7 Streaming Service(s) Disney+ Writers Dave Filoni , George Lucas Directors Dave Filoni

While the rest of the galaxy was locked in the conflict between the Grand Army of the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, which eventually burgeoned into the Clone Wars, Mandalore decided that it would remain neutral. Inhabitants of the main world weren't aware that Pre Vizsla and the other members of the splinter group Death Watch were secretly preparing to reclaim the planet and return it to its old warmongering ways. Not even the presence of mighty Jedi like Obi-Wan Kenobi could deter them.

This unrest eventually led to Death Watch allying itself with Maul, who ended up betraying Pre Vizsla and killing him in a duel for the right to rule Mandalore once they had overthrown it. Bo-Katan Kryze, who was a part of Death Watch at the time, broke away with her Nite Owls and sought help in overthrowing Maul. This led to the death of Satine Kryze, who was killed by Maul with the Darksaber right in front of her long-time lover, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Mandalore's neutrality died with her.

9 It Was Eventually Occupied By The Empire

The Mandalorians Could Not Maintain Control Of Their Homeworld

Following the Siege of Mandalore, Imperial forces forcibly took occupation of the planet from the then appointed Regent Bo-Katan Kryze, who openly refused to obey any form of Imperial rule. This resulted in Gar Saxon being made Viceroy as a means to further Imperial control. The Empire, then, was granted the power to keep Mandalore as its martial warden for decades, and they held on to this power as long as they could.

This was made possible by Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious' execution of Order 66, which turned the 501st Legion of the Grand Army of the Republic against its Jedi generals. With the Republic brought to its knees and the Empire rising from its destruction, Mandalore became a shadow of its former glory. Many Mandalorians went into hiding or left the planet to go offworld and make their way as bounty hunters and mercenaries.

8 Civil War Erupted Over Local Control

Clan Wren & Clan Kryze Led The Effort To Bring Peace To Mandalore Once Again

Even occupied by the Empire, Mandalore was a planet that suffered from the shifting sands of petty political machinations, which broke out between Clan Saxon and Clan Wren shortly before the Battle of Yavin. Viceroy Saxon was a puppet of the Empire until Ursa Wren destroyed him, but the affront caused a civil war between the two powerful clans. As Tiber Saxon scrambled to become Governor, Clan Wren bolstered its power by allying with Clan Kryze, led by Lady Bo-Katan. Eventually, more clans provided aid, poised to stop the madness that was plunging the planet once more into turmoil.

7 The Empire Plundered The Planet For Its Resources

Mandalore Was Laid To Waste In The Night Of A Thousand Tears

Referenced in the first season of The Mandalorian, the Great Purge occurred when the Empire decided to take for itself all the beskar from the planet and kill anyone who opposed it. This resulted in thousands of Mandalorians being slaughtered, and forced those who survived the Great Purge to operate in secrecy, like Din Djarin. Beskar then became even rarer than it already was, compelling the Mandalorian to seek it out wherever he could, but also for interested parties to try to steal it from him.

Their kind became nearly extinct, with most people around the galaxy presuming all Mandalorians to be dead.

This event was nothing short of devastating for all Mandalorians. Their kind became nearly extinct, with most people around the galaxy presuming all Mandalorians to be dead - mostly because of the way some of them only went above ground one at a time to conceal their numbers. Mandalorians were scattered throughout the galaxy, and few survivors remained on-world. Some of those who did survive the bombings succumbed to their circumstances, with cyborg creatures and more feasting upon the survivors.

6 The Planet Was Thought To Be Cursed

Many Mandalorians Thought The Air Was No Longer Breathable

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Following the events of the Great Purge, some Mandalorians thought their planet was cursed - not only because of the toxic fumes from the fusion rays of the bombings, but also because of the planet's history of destruction. The Armorer tells Din Djarin that it was Bo-Katan's friendly reception of the Darksaber from Sabine Wren that cursed the planet, while Bo-Katan insists later on that the planet is merely "poisoned." Din Djarin himself believed it was cursed, which is what led him to recruit a droid for spelunking upon his return to the ancestral homeworld.

Despite how badly the surface of the planet was damaged by the fusion rays, Mandalore was never truly cursed. Din Djarin is the one who makes this discovery when his droid, R5-D4, tests the atmosphere and finds it to be breathable. While it still remains to be seen if the planet is cursed in the sense of falling to warfare time and time again, the planet is not poisoned in the way many of the Mandalorians thought, though this belief did stand for quite a while.

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5 The Empire Had A Secret Base On The Destroyed Planet

Moff Gideon Housed His Force Cloning Operations Within The Great Forge

After Mandalore was laid to waste, it was thought that the Empire picked through the destruction to plunder the beskar and then left. The Mandalorian season 3, however, revealed that this was not the case. Rather than abandoning the destroyed planet altogether, the Empire kept its own base there, hidden within the depths of the planet's ruins. It was Moff Gideon who housed himself in the Mandalorians' Great Forge, where he harbored a collection of TIE interceptors, bombers, and more.

This operation was, presumably, even kept hidden from the Empire's radar.

More importantly, what Gideon was hiding within the depths of the planet was his own cloning operation. This operation was, presumably, even kept hidden from the Empire's radar, as Gideon kept the Mandalorian foundling Grogu's Force-sensitive blood for himself to create his own army of Force-sensitive clones. This base was destroyed by Bo-Katan and Din Djarin's forces in the reclamation of Mandalore, as was Moff Gideon himself.

4 Dormant Species Awakened Once Again After The Purge

Creatures Such As Alamites Returned Close To The Surface After The Bombings

There were some species on Mandalore who retreated beneath the depths of the planet when Mandalorian society was at its peak of activity. Dangerous creatures, such as Alamites, were rarely seen before the Great Purge. In the years following, however, the inactivity on the surface of Mandalore drew them back to the light. Din Djarin and Bo-Katan Kryze both had to fight these Alamites, and another creature, a trinitaur, destroyed the Mandalorians' langskib en route to the Great Forge. Over time, it's likely these creatures will retreat back to the depths of the planet.

3 A Mythosaur Is Hiding Beneath The Living Waters

The Ancient Mandalorian Creatures Are Not Extinct After All

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The Mythosaur has long since been tied to Mandalorian culture, beginning with its appearance on Boba Fett's armor in The Empire Strikes Back. Mythosaurs were ancient creatures that were tamed by Mandalorians, who were even able to ride on the backs of the majestic beasts. These creatures, however, were believed to be extinct, as none had ever been seen since the first ancient songs of the Mandalorians were written.

This is no longer the case. Bo-Katan Kryze spotted a Mythosaur within the Living Waters, located beneath Mandalore's mines, while rescuing Din Djarin, who had fallen into its depths. While the creature has yet to emerge from the waters, its presence there is highly significant, as it links to a prophecy first mentioned by the Armorer in The Book of Boba Fett. This Mythosaur could be the one that rises to herald a new age of Mandalore, and Bo-Katan being the one to see it helped to make her efforts during the reclamation of Mandalore possible.

2 The Planet Is Still Capable Of Sustaining Life

Despite Mandalore's Destruction, The Surface Can Still Grow Grass, Plants, & More

Because the surface of Mandalore has long since been devastated by war, its surface has not been capable of sustaining life for many generations. In the words of Boba Fett, "the Empire turned that planet to glass" during the Purge, and even before then, the Mandalorians' constant wars had transformed the surface into sand. This is why the people of Mandalore had to live in domed cities, where they were able to cultivate small pockets of life.

The survivors of the Purge who remained on-world discovered that the surface could still create life. Green grass, fresh water, and beautiful plants were able to grow in one section of the Great Forge that was exposed to Mandalore's light and atmosphere. While it will no doubt be a challenge to try to continue cultivating this life throughout the planet's devastated surface, it's certainly possible to do so, and it may become a priority as the Mandalorians rebuild their homeworld.

1 Bo-Katan Kryze Will Now Rule The Planet

The Heiress Has Taken Her Place To Help Rebuild Her Homeworld

Bo-Katan Kryze has long since been the rightful heiress to the throne of Mandalore ever since her sister, the Duchess of Mandalore, was tragically murdered by Maul during the Clone Wars. Years of conflicts with the Empire, however, have kept her from taking her place for very long. There was a short time when Lady Bo-Katan led the Mandalorian people after Sabine Wren handed the Darksaber to her just before the Battle of Yavin, but the Great Purge brought a swift end to her rule. The disillusioned leader then sat on the sidelines when Din Djarin earned the Darksaber.

Bo-Katan will lead her people once again as they rebuild Mandalore.

A begrudging alliance with Din Djarin, however, helped the fallen leader to regain her confidence as she lived amongst the Children of the Watch. She earned back the Darksaber by defeating an enemy of Din Djarin's, and she used the blade to unite all remaining Mandalorian factions against the Imperial Remnant on their homeworld. Now that their endeavor has been a success, Bo-Katan will lead her people once again as they rebuild Mandalore to its former Star Wars glory.

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