While the main focus of Star Wars has been on the Skywalker Saga for the last four decades, the galaxy set far far away is filled with amazing stories loaded with fantastic characters and wonderful mythology. Thanks to The Mandalorian, a much-beloved piece of Star Wars mythology is finally getting some time in the spotlight.
While Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels both touched on the history of Mandalore, there are some pieces that have remained a mystery. One important aspect of Mandalorian mythology that has been fairly well documented in recent years is the Darksaber, a lightsaber unlike any other. While the Darksaber made its live-action debut in the season one finale of The Mandalorian and played a role in the season two finale, it's history has been explored elsewhere.
10 Tarre Vizsla, a Mandalorian, joined the Jedi ranks; he is the one who built the Darksaber
In the long history of the Jedi, spanning thousands of years, there has been only one Mandalorian to join their ranks; Tarre Vizsla. A member of House Vizsla, Tarre showed signs of being Force-sensitive as a child and was taken to the Jedi for training. In time, Tarre became a Jedi Knight and, as all Jedi Knights do, he was given the chance to build his own lightsaber.
While the specifics of how Tarre Vizsla built the Darksaber remain unknown, it is clear that his weapon is unlike any other in the Jedi Order. From the shape to the color, Tarre created something special.
9 A disagreement over the darksaber led to the Mandalorian-Jedi War
After Tarre Vizsla died, the Jedi Order chose to keep the Darksaber in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, going against the wishes of House Vizsla who felt the weapon should be given to them. This disagreement led to a great rift between the Jedi and Mandalore. From that moment onward, Mandalorians would look at Jedi as enemies.
In most cases, Jedi are not afraid of their foes, but Mandalorian armor, built out of beskar, is able to withstand lightsaber strikes. This made Mandalorians a significant threat to the Jedi. The Mandalorian-Jedi War would weaken the Jedi Order, leading to a great disaster.
8 the Mandalorians fought a crusade against the Jedi Order, weakening the Jedi & opening them up to an attack by the Sith
Led by Mandalore The Great, the Mandalorians fought a crusade against the Jedi Order, weakening the Jedi and opening them up to an attack by the Sith. It was during this time that House Vizsla infiltrated the Jedi Temple on Coruscant and reclaimed the Darksaber.
A final battle between the Jedi and the Mandalorians took place on Mandalore. The battle ended in a cataclysm that turned most of Mandalore into an unlivable white desert. The Jedi won their war against Mandalore, but it left them too weak to save the First Galactic Republic.
7 With the Darksaber in hand, House Vizsla took control of their planet, forming a new Mandalorian government where might made right
While much of Mandalore was destroyed in the Mandalorian-Jedi War, the remaining Mandalorians moved into domed cities to survive. With the Darksaber in hand, House Vizsla took control of the planet, forming a new Mandalorian government where might made right. Whoever wielded the Darksaber was the ruler of Mandalore, but they could not deny any who challenged them in a duel.
In the years that followed, Mandalore became a planet of warriors and continued to attack and kill Jedi whenever they could. Mandalorians, easily recognizable by their armor, became feared across the galaxy.
6 Duchess Satine & the rebels were able to overthrow House Vizsla & began a new age on Mandalore
As the New Republic grew across the galaxy bringing about a new age of enlightenment, Mandalore was left to its own devices. A new generation of Mandalorians, led by Duchess Satine Kryze, looked to move Mandalore away from military rule and turn the planet into one that would spread peace instead of war.
Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi spent a year on the planet working with the rebels, during which time, Obi-Wan and Duchess Satine fell in love. Satine and the rebels were able to overthrow House Vizsla and begin a new age on Mandalore. For the first time in generations, the leader of Mandalore was not the owner of the Darksaber.
5 Joining Pre Vizsla in his goal to overthrow the government was Duchess Satine's own sister, Bo-Katan
Following the First Mandalorian Civil War, Pre Vizsla was the owner of the Darksaber. While he and his house had lost control of Mandalore, Pre Vizsla was not about to give up. While given a position in the new Mandalorian government as the Governor of Concordia, Pre Vizsla created The Death Watch, a terrorist organization that would strike against Duchess Satine and her rule.
Joining Pre Vizsla in his goal to overthrow the government was Duchess Satine's own sister, Bo-Katan, leader of the Nite Owls, an elite Mandalorian military unit.
4 Unable to overthrow Duchess Satine on their own, the Death Watch joined forces with the disgraced Sith Lord Darth Maul & his brother Savage Opress
Unable to overthrow Duchess Satine on their own, the Death Watch joined forces with the disgraced Sith Lord Darth Maul and his brother Savage Opress. Darth Maul used the Death Watch to take control of the Black Sun, the Pyke Syndicate, the Hutt Clan, and the Nightbrothers to form the Shadow Collective.
As the Shadow Collective plotted to take over Mandalore, Pre Vizsla and Bo-Katan realized that they could not trust Darth Maul to give control of the planet to them. The two Mandalorians planned to kill Darth Maul as soon as Duchess Satine was overthrown.
3 Darth Maul decapitated Pre Vizsla & took ownership of the Darksaber
The Shadow Collective was able to overthrow Duchess Satine with little trouble, and once Pre Vizsla was placed as the rightful ruler of Mandalore, he had Darth Maul and Savage Opress detained and scheduled for execution. Not one to give up, Darth Maul challenged Pre Vizsla to a duel, with the winner becoming the owner of the Darksaber and ruler of Mandalore. Having no other choice, Pre Vizsla accepted the challenge.
While Pre Vizsla was a great fighter, he was no match for Darth Maul. After a short fight, Darth Maul decapitated Pre Vizsla and took ownership of the Darksaber. Maul then waited for Obi-Wan to arrive on Mandalore so that he could kill Satine in front of the Jedi.
2 Bo-Katan, with the help of Ahsoka Tano & a regiment of clones from the Galactic Republic, was able to regain control of the planet, but the Darksaber had gone missing
With Darth Maul seated as ruler of Mandalore and her sister murdered, Bo-Katan vowed to save her people and, with the remaining members of the Nite Owls, started a new Civil War on the planet. During the final battle of the third Mandalorian Civil War, known as the Siege of Mandalore, Bo-Katan, with the help of Ahsoka Tano and a regiment of clones from the Galactic Republic, was able to regain control of the planet, but the Darksaber had gone missing.
Before long, Mandalore found itself in a new war after the Jedi Order was destroyed and the Galactic Republic was taken over by Emperor Palpatine. This war would lead to the Great Purge; the destruction of Mandalore.
1 The Lost Years
In truth, Darth Maul still had the Darksaber and had taken it to Dathomir where it stayed for years. It was there that the Mandalorian Sabine Wren found the Darksaber, but fearing its power she gave it to the Jedi Kanan Jarrus for safekeeping. In time, Sabine agreed to become the owner of the Darksaber, though she was never comfortable with it. Shortly after meeting Bo-Katan, Sabine gave her the Darksaber so that she could rebuild Mandalore.
What happened next is unknown. At some point, Bo-Katan lost the Darksaber, presumably to Grand Moff Gideon, who had it until Din Djarin defeated him in battle. How it ended up there, and what will happen now, is a mystery.