Bo-Katan Kryze's Star Wars Timeline & History Explained: From Death Watch To Mandalore's Next Ruler

Summary Bo-Katan Kryze's Star Wars timeline includes joining Death Watch, leading the Nite Owls, and rejecting Maul's rule.

Bo-Katan becomes Mandalore's regent, suffers the Night of a Thousand Tears, and finally earns the Darksaber in The Mandalorian season 3.

With the help of Din Djarin, Bo-Katan leads the Liberation of Mandalore, defeats Moff Gideon, and becomes the new Mand'alor.

Bo-Katan Kryze is a key Star Wars character whose history spans multiple eras of the galaxy far, far away. Originally debuting in the animated Clone Wars television show voiced by Katee Sackhoff, Bo-Katan Kryze has since made her way from animation to live-action with Sackhoff continuing to portray the iconic Mandalorian warrior. To that end, Bo-Katan's entire Star Wars timeline is quite impressive, filled with equal amounts of both tragedy and victory.

Originally introduced as more of a villain in The Clone Wars animated series, Bo-Katan Kryze has evolved across eras to the point where she's now one of the Star Wars franchise's most popular heroes. This is thanks to subsequent appearances beyond Clone Wars such as Star Wars Rebels and, most recently, her live-action roles in the second and third seasons of The Mandalorian. To that end, here's the entire timeline and history of Bo-Katan Kryze in the Star Wars canon.

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A Member Of Clan Kryze And The Royal Family

Sister To Duchess Satine Kryze

Born on the planet Mandalore, Bo-Katan was a member of Clan Kryze and the royal family. Receiving her own set of ancestral armor handed down from generation to generation, Bo-Katan was a firm believer in Mandalore's strong warrior culture. This put Bo-Katan in key opposition with her sister Satine who eventually became Duchess of Mandalore. Under Satine's leadership, Mandalore experienced a strong pacifist movement across the planet that saw Mandalore electing to stay out of the Clone Wars and the conflict between the Republic and the Separatist Alliance, aligning with likeminded worlds who also wanted to stay out of the war.

Joining Death Watch And Leading The Nite Owls

Pre Vizsla's Right Hand

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Rather than supporting her sister, Bo-Katan joins the Death Watch, a group of Mandalorians who refuse to abandon the warrior ways of their people. Led by Pre Vizsla, the Death Watch initially allied themselves with Count Dooku and the Separatists during the Clone Wars in a bid to reintroduce the old ways back to Mandalore, only for the alliance to fall apart and the Death Watch exiled from the entire Mandalore system. During this time, Bo-Katan served as Vizsla's right-hand lieutenant and led the elite squad known as the Nite Owls, having first appeared in The Clone Wars season 4.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars The animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars takes place between Episodes 2 and 3 of the Star Wars film saga. The fan-favorite series expands the story of the prequel trilogy through characters including Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, and more fan-favorite jedi. 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 Network Disney Channel Streaming Service(s) Disney+ Franchise(s) Star Wars Writers Dave Filoni , George Lucas Directors Dave Filoni Showrunner Dave Filoni Expand

Death Watch Helps Darth Maul Form His Shadow Collective

A Major Takeover Of Mandalore

Eventually, The Death Watch encounters Maul and his brother Savage Oppress. Seeking both power and revenge on Obi-Wan Kenobi for his defeat in The Phantom Menace, Maul and Vizsla agree to join forces and build a Shadow Collective made up of various crime syndicates. Taking over Mandalore and imprisoning Bo-Katan's sister Satine, Death Watch "saves" Mandalore from a fake attack from Maul's Shadow Collective, appearing to the public as liberators. Death Watch then betrays Maul and Oppress, imprisoning them as well.

Bo-Katan Rejects Maul's Rule

Outsiders Ruling Mandalore

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After breaking out from their cells, Maul challenges Pre Vizla in single combat. Executing Vizsla and claiming the legendary Darksaber for himself, members of the Death Watch bend the knee to Maul as their new leader. However, Bo-Katan and her Nite Owls refuse, rejecting the notion that an outsider could ever rule Mandalore. Escaping the throne room, Bo-Katan would later help Satine escape who subsequently sends a distress signal to Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Jedi Order.

Bo-Katan And Obi-Wan Kenobi Join Forces After Satine's Death

United In Their Grief

Having successfully lured Kenobi to Mandalore, Maul brutally executes Satine right in front of the Jedi Master, having recognized the feelings Kenobi and the Duchess had for one another. Despite her grief over losing her sister, Bo-Katan and her Nite Owls rescued Obi-Wan Kenobi and helped him get off-world to warn the Republic. During the resulting conflict between Mandalorian factions and Maul facing the vengeance of his old master Darth Sidious, Kenobi was able to flee Mandalore while Bo-Katan stayed with her Nite Owls to keep fighting for her homeworld.

The Siege of Mandalore

The End of the Clone Wars

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Despite a brief period where Maul was absent following his capture and Sidious' murder of his brother Savage, the former Sith eventually returns to Mandalore to resume his takeover of the world. Having allied with the former Jedi Ahsoka Tano, Bo-Katan Kryze and Ahsoka request the aid of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi in the final episodes of The Clone Wars season 7. Despite being called back to Coruscant to save Chancellor Palpatine, Anakin splits the 501st Legion, placing one half under the command of Captain Rex.

With support from the new 332nd Company, the Siege of Mandalore truly begins with the Republic and Nite Owls taking on the Mandalorian warriors still loyal to Maul. Likewise, Ahsoka Tano herself duels Maul directly who was ultimately defeated and captured. As a result, Bo-Katan and her fellow Mandalorians were successfully able to retake their home with Kryze serving as the planet's new regent. However, it wasn't long before Bo-Katan and her people would face their next great challenge.

The Empire Occupies Mandalore

Allied With Clan Saxon

Following the end of the Clone Wars and the Republic's reformation into Palpatine's Galactic Empire, Mandalore quickly faced an extensive Imperial occupation spearheaded by Clan Gaxon who allied themselves with the Empire. This was the very same clan that had been loyal to Maul's power during the Clone Wars. As a result, several years passed before the various warrior clans would unify to oust the Empire from Mandalore, an alliance largely motivated by Sabine Wren as seen in Star Wars Rebels.

Star Wars Rebels Set between Episodes III and IV of the Star Wars film franchise, Star Wars Rebels is a canon animated series that follows a group of ragtag heroes who band together to face the Empire. In an age where the Galactic Empire is hunting down the last of the Jedi, a teenage outcast named Ezra Bridger is discovered to be force sensitive by a surviving Jedi known as Kanan Jarrus. Agreeing to join them and accept Jedi training, Ezra becomes a part of a small but growing crew of rebels determined to destroy the empire covertly. Cast David Oyelowo , Steve Blum , Freddie Prinze Jr. , Tiya Sircar , Vanessa Marshall , Jason Isaacs , Taylor Gray Seasons 4 Network Disney Channel Streaming Service(s) Disney+ Franchise(s) Star Wars Writers Dave Filoni , Greg Weisman Directors Dave Filoni Showrunner Dave Filoni , Simon Kinberg Expand

Bo-Katan Becomes Regent Of Mandalore

Wielding The Darksaber Thanks to Sabine Wren

Following the defeats of both the Empire's Mandalorian "regents" Gar and Tiber Saxon, Sabine believed Bo-Katan had proven herself as a worthy leader and wielder of the legendary Darksaber. Having taken the weapon from Maul on Dathomir, Sabine hands the Darksaber over to Bo-Katan after the Empire was driven back, a symbol of her support for Bo-Katan as Mandalore's regent once more. However, clans such as the Children of the Watch didn't support Kryze's new role as the new Mand'alor, citing that receiving the Darksaber sans a trial through combat was meaningless and would curse their people.

The Night of A Thousand Tears

A Brutal Mandalorian Purge

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Not long after Bo-Katan became Mandalore's regent, the Empire retaliated with a vengeance against the planet's resistance. This leads to the Mandalorian purge known as The Night of a Thousand Tears. After the Empire relentlessly bombs the planet and the vast majority of Kryze's forces are defeated, Bo-Katan meets with ISB Officer Gideon to negotiate a surrender. However, Gideon ultimately betrays Kryze and claims the Darksaber. Countless Mandalorian lives were lost in a mass genocide with the few surviving clans scattered across the galaxy, as the planet was believed to have become uninhabitable and cursed for years after the Great Purge.

Joining Forces With Din Djarin

Their First Encounter

During the New Republic Era, Bo-Katan attempts to rebuild her forces to reclaim Mandalore. However, she's also seeking Moff Gideon and the Darksaber to unify the remaining clans, though this time determined to win it through combat. Encountering Din Djarin during his mission to return the child Grogu to a Jedi in The Mandalorian season 2, Bo-Katan offers Djarin the whereabouts of Ahsoka Tano in exchange for his help in commandeering an Imperial cruiser.

Battle With Moff Gideon

Helping Djarin Save Grogu

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Bo-Katan and her Nite Owls are eventually found by Djarin once more after Grogu is captured by Moff Gideon. In exchange for her help, Djarin agrees that the Darksaber will be Bo-Katan's once Gideon is defeated. However, Djarin was unaware the blade had to be won in combat. With Gideon having been defeated by Djarin, Bo-Katan no longer had a claim to the legendary blade. This leads to Kryze's retirement on Kalevala in the aftermath of The Mandalorian season 2, believing she was no longer meant to fulfill her dream of reclaiming Mandalore.

Return To Mandalore

Witnessing The Mythosaur

Despite her retirement, The Mandalorian season 3 sees Bo-Katan renewing the fight for Mandalore after Djarin visits the seemingly poisoned world, seeking to bathe in the planet's Living Waters to redeem himself in the eyes of his clan. Following Djarin's capture by a cyborg scavenger, Grogu flees Mandalore and seeks Bo-Katan's aid on Kalevala. Finding Djarin, Bo-Katan uses the Darksaber to defeat the cyborg, saving her fellow Mandalorian before leading him to the Living Waters below the Mines of Mandalore. While under the waters, Kryze herself came face-to-face with an ancient Mythosaur, a revered and ancient creature believed to have been extinct.

Bo-Katan Finally Earns The Darksaber

Uniting Mandalorians Once More

Thanks to Kryze's support of Dajrin and later helping save a foundling, Bo-Katan was seen as worthy by the Children of the Watch. Together, they then helped the Greef Karga and the planet Nevarro which was under siege by pirates. Liberating the world, the Children of the Watch's Armorer declared that Bo-Katan was destined to lead their people, sending Bo-Katan and Djarin on a quest to unify more Mandalorians together under a single banner following Djarin's confirmation that Mandalore was indeed habitable.

Finding her former Nite Owls on Plazir-15, Bo-Katan reclaims her unit and fleet after fighting Axe Woves. Likewise, her authority is cemented when Djarin gives her the Darksaber, confirming that she'd already earned it through combat when Bo-Katan used it to save him from the cyborg on Mandalore. Having united the Nite Owls and Children of the Watch, Bo-Katan is finally ready to retake Mandalore with Darksaber in hand.

The Liberation Of Mandalore

Bo-Katan Becomes The New Regent

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The end of The Mandalorian season 3 reveals the successful reclamation of Mandalore. Rather than being poisoned and uninhabitable as the galaxy had been led to believe, Moff Gideon's Imperial Remnant forces had long used the world as a secret staging ground. Led by Bo-Katan, Moff Gideon and his Imperial Supercommandos are successfully defeated along with the complete destruction of their base. Although the Darksaber was destroyed, Bo-Katan becomes Mandalore's new regent as work begins to restore the Mandalorians' long-lost homeworld.