MANDA-LORE

The Mandalorian people will have a major role to play in season three – here’s nine things you need to know

The classic Mandalorian armour was originally designed for a group of supercommando Stormtroopers ahead of The Empire Strikes Back. Their iconic look was subsequently given a paint job and reassigned to bounty hunter Boba Fett.

The Mandalorians were first mentioned in Donald F Glut’s novelisation of The Empire Strikes Back.

Despite wearing the same clothes, Boba Fett isn’t technically a Mandalorian, though his dad, Jango, was a Mandalorian foundling from the world of Concord Dawn.

The Mandalorians are famed as a warrior race, whose skill in battle is matched by the technical brilliance of the gadgets in their armour. The armour is constructed from beskar steel, which can repel a lightsaber.

The Mandalorians fought a long war against the Jedi, which left most of their home planet a wasteland.

The Darksaber, a unique lightsaber with a dark, sword-like blade, is historically brandished by the ruler of the Mandalorian people. It was crafted by Tarre Vizsla, a Mandalorian Jedi. His descendant Pre Vizsla led the militant Death Watch in The Clone Wars, where he was voiced by The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau.

Bo-katan Kryze was also a member of Death Watch. Her older sister, Satine (an old flame of Obi-wan Kenobi) was the pacifist ruler of Mandalore until she was killed by Darth Maul.

Bo-katan isn’t fussed about removing her helmet and believes she is the rightful ruler of Mandalore. She wielded the Darksaber until she lost it to Moff Gideon, though the fact she was originally gifted it by Rebel Sabine Wren (rather than winning it in combat) may have contributed to her perceived fall from grace.