Ever since Star Wars first hit theaters in 1977, the story of a galaxy far, far away has captured the imaginations of millions. And while the movies have mainly focused on the Skywalker Saga, the rich history of the Star Wars universe has been expanded through books, comics, and TV shows – most notably The Mandalorian.
In the second season of The Mandalorian, Din Djarin met many well-established characters in Star Wars lore, including Ahsoka Tano, Boba Fett, and Bo-Katan. While Bo-Katan may not be as well known as Ahsoka or Boba, she is a character who has played a major part in the story of Star Wars, most notably in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels. It looks like her story will only become more important as the Outer Rim of Star Wars and the history of Mandalore are further explored in more shows.
10 Bo-Katan Was Born On Mandalore
While Din Djarin is a Mandalorian, he was not born on Mandalore, but was found on another planet and brought into a group called The Watch. Bo-Katan, of the House Kryze, was born on Mandalore, making her a true Mandalorian. Bo-Katan's family, including her sister Satine, was part of the ruling class and one of the main political houses of Mandalore.
Under Satine's rule as the Duchess of Mandalore, the New Mandalorian government would be formed, though it would not last long. Unlike her sister, who wanted to bring peace to Mandalore, Bo-Katan believed that the planet should be under military rule.
9 She Is The Leader Of The Nite Owls
Following her belief in a strong military, Bo-Katan led the Nite Owls, an elite Mandalorian warrior unit. Bo-Katan prided herself on her talents as a warrior, something that her sister was less interested in. Both sisters were great leaders, though where Satine preferred to rule through peace, Bo-Katan believed strength was most important.
Satine's relationship with Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi was something Bo-Katan struggled with. The Jedi Order and the Mandalorians had long been enemies, and seeing Satine work alongside the Jedi Order went against everything Bo-Katan believed.
8 She Was A Lieutenant In Death Watch
Enraged by her sister's form of rule, Bo-Katan joined the Death Watch, a Mandalorian terrorist organization that worked to take down Duchess Satine's pacifist government. Led by Pre Vizsla, the wielder of the Darksaber, Death Watch turned the moon of Concordia into their base of operations and struck at Mandalore from there.
The Death Watch allied itself with the Separatist leader Count Dooku during the Galactic Civil War and was used by Dooku and Darth Sidious to cause chaos across the galaxy through bombings and assassinations. After a failed attempt on the life of Duchess Satine, the Death Watch ended its alliance with the Separatists.
7 Helped Form The Shadow Collective
Exiled from the Separatists, Bo-Katan and Death Watch relocated to the moon of Zanbar and soon came into contact with Darth Maul and his brother Savage Opress. Death Watch agreed to work with Maul, forming a new army – the Shadow Collective – and a plan to "liberate" Mandalore from Duchess Satine.
Believing that working with Shadow Collective would lead to the end of Death Watch and Mandalore, Pre Vizsla, and Bo-Katan quietly worked on a plan to kill Darth Maul once they had taken Mandalore. But before the invasion of Mandalore began, Bo-Katan was tasked with forcing the Hutt families of Tatooine to support the Shadow Collective.
6 Participated In The Invasion Of Mandalore
Using the Pyke Syndicate and Black Sun as the opening attack, Death Watch quickly took over Mandalore by claiming to be there to save everyone from the Shadow Collective. Bo-Katan personally led the group that arrested her sister, Duchess Satine. With the Death Watch in control of Mandalore, Bo-Katan and Pre Vizsla launched the second part of their plan; arresting Darth Maul and Savage Opress.
Darth Maul challenged Pre Vizsla to a duel for the control of Mandalore, and following Mandalorian tradition, Pre Vizsla accepted. This was a terrible mistake; Darth Maul quickly killed Pre Vizsla, making the Sith Lord the owner of the Darksaber and ruler of Mandalore.
5 The Last Of The House Kryze
Realizing her tragic mistake, Bo-Katan and the remaining members of the Nite Owls went into action and quickly freed Satine from her prison cell. Satine was able to send out a message to Obi-Wan Kenobi, telling the Jedi that Darth Maul had taken command of Mandalore, but in the ensuing battle, the Nite Owls were forced to flee, and Satine was captured again.
When Obi-Wan arrived on Mandalore, he was quickly captured by Darth Maul's forces. As Bo-Katan watched from the shadows, Darth Maul killed her sister in front of Obi-Wan, leaving Bo-Katan as the last of her house. Being the last of her line led Bo-Katan to focus on taking down Darth Maul.
4 Fought In The Siege Of Mandalore
Distraught over her sister's death and her role in it, Bo-Katan put aside her feelings about Jedi and helped free Obi-Wan Kenobi. While Obi-Wan fled Mandalore, Bo-Katan and the Nite Owls stayed behind to fight against Darth Maul in the second Mandalorian Civil War.
While searching for Darth Maul off-planet, Bo-Katan came into contact with Anakin Skywalker's former padawan Ahsoka Tano. Ahsoka agreed to go to Mandalore with Bo-Katan, and together they led the Siege of Mandalore, freeing the planet from Darth Maul's rule. The Darksaber went missing in the battle, leaving Mandalore with no true leader for a time.
3 Stood Up Against Emperor Palpatine
With Darth Maul defeated – thanks to the help of Ahsoka Tano and the Galactic Federation – Bo-Katan was named the Regent of Mandalore. Sadly, Bo-Katan's rule over Mandalore would quickly be tested, as just days after the Siege of Mandalore came to an end, Order 66 was initiated, launching the Great Jedi Purge and beginning the rise of the Galactic Empire.
Bo-Katan refused to hand control of Mandalore over to Emperor Palpatine, leading to yet another war on the planet. At first, the Mandalorians were able to repel the imperial forces, but their victory would not last long as Emperor Palpatine had a surprise ally.
2 Bo-Katan Was Overthrown And Her Rule Was Short-Lived
Bo-Katan's rule over Mandalore was short-lived. While she was able to lead her people in a victory against Emperor Palpatine and his army at the start of the Galactic Empire, the Sith Lord was already working behind the scenes to take Bo-Katan out. Following orders from Palpatine, Clan Saxon turned against Bo-Katan and forced her to abdicate her rule over Mandalore.
Defeated but not broken, Bo-Katan left Mandalore and began her search for a way to save her home world from the Empire. While Bo-Katan lived in exile, the Clan Wren plotted to save Mandalore from within. Bo-Katan's plans to save Mandalore were further explored in The Mandalorian.
1 Last Known Owner Of The Darksaber Before Moff Gideon
Nearly twenty years after the Empire put Clan Saxon in control of Mandalore, Clan Wren, led by Countess Ursa Wren, was able to overthrow the government in the third Mandalorian Civil War. Although they were able to free Mandalore from Clan Saxon rule, Clan Wren suffered a tragic defeat when the Empire used a weapon called "The Duchess" to wipe out the majority of their forces.
Looking for someone who could unite Mandalore, Ursa Wren offered Bo-Katan the rediscovered Darksaber, which Bo-Katan accepted. How Bo-Katan lost the Darksaber, how Grand Moff Gideon got it, and exactly what the Great Purge that destroyed Mandalore was, has yet to be revealed. After the Mandolorian defeated Moff Gideon, he offered the Darksaber to Bo-Katan, who refused. With Bo-Katan taking a more prominent role in Season 3 of The Mandalorian, more answers are expected about why she lost possession of the Darksaber in the first place.