Revision as of 13:45, 18 February 2014

The Mandalorians or Mando'ade are a warrior culture found on Mandalore and neighbouring worlds. Traditionally an elective monarchy built on a system of clans that began several thousand years ago, from 738 BBY the New Mandalorians took power, ushering in an era of peace, democracy and neutrality that lasted until the Clone Wars.

In 10 ABY, the Imperial occupation was ended by Mandalore the Liberator, who has begun to lead efforts to rebuild their planet, society, and culture.

History

Several thousand years ago, a Taung known as Te Sol'yc Mand'alor ("Mandalore the First") conquered the planet Manda'yaim, exterminating the native Mythosaur population. Ever since, the Mythosaur skull has been used as a symbol of the Mandalorians, and each chosen leader has adopted the name Mand'alor.

Mandalorian Crusaders

Some time around 7000 BBY, Te Shukali Mand'alor ("Mandalore the Conqueror") established the Mandalorian Crusaders, and began the Mandalorian Crusades: a campaign of conquest lasting three thousand years, which established Mandalorian Space and led to the devastation of many other worlds and cultures. The Crusades came to an end in 3996 BBY when Te Kandosii Mand'alor ("Mandalore the Indomitable") was defeated in single combat by Ulic Qel-Droma, who forced him to swear his allegiance to Exar Kun's Sith Empire. The Mandalorians fought in the Great Sith War, until Mand'alor was slain at the Battle of Onderon.

The surviving Mandalorians made a home on Onderon's moon, Dxun, and were united under Te Ani'la Mand'alor ("Mandalore the Ultimate"), who reorganised them into the Neo-Crusaders, a much more regimented and disciplined military force. They launched a campaign of attacks on worlds left undefended in the wake of the Great Sith War, leading to a conflict against the Jedi known as the Mandalorian Wars. This ended in 3960 BBY with a devastating defeat at the Battle of Malachor V, with Mand'alor killed in single combat by the Jedi Knight Revan.

Many survivors again sought shelter on Dxun. In 3954 BBY, Canderous Ordo became Te Taylir Mand'alor ("Mandalore the Preserver"). Ordo was a controversial Mandalore, having allied both with Revan and the Jedi Exile; though in both instances he claimed it was for the greater good of the galaxy, and the Mando'ade. Despite his efforts to reunite the Mandalorians however, they remained fragmented for much of the next three centuries.

By 3661 BBY, the Mandalorians survived only as scattered warrior clans and war bands; as a code and credo rather than a united people. This changed with the return of the Sith Empire, who engineered the ascension of a gladiator from the arenas of Geonosis to become the new Mand'alor. He used his victories in the arena to gain attention, and rallied the fragmented Mandalorian clans to his banner. However he was little more than an Imperial puppet, and was remembered after his death as Mandalore the Lesser.

Mandalore the Vindicated, who became Mand'alor after defeating his corrupt predecessor, set about reuniting the clans. He was not uncontested, with some clans believing they should follow the example of Mandalore the Preserver rather than the more traditional values the current Mand'alor advocated. Worse, Mandalore the Vindicated was still willing to embrace the idea of Mandalorians as warriors for the Sith Empire, taking steps to make them even more invaluable to the darjetii. Historians generally regard the defeat of these dissenters as the death knell for traditional Mandalorian culture.

New Mandalorians

After the New Sith Wars, the Mandalorians were once again fragmented, and weakened to the point that the plague-stricken homeworlds had come under attack by raiders from the surrounding sectors. In 1058 BBY, Aga Awaud rallied the Mandalorians into the defense of their sector, and went on to become Mandalore the Uniter; under his leadership, Mandalorian Space emerged from the Republic Dark Ages as one of the most stable political regions, and a major industrial power.

The Galactic Republic found this stability alarming however, and after efforts to cripple the Mandalorian economy with taxation, they launched a pre-emptive strike in 738 BBY. The bombings - called the Mandalorian Excision by the Republic, and the Dral'Han ("Annihilation") by the Mando'ade - left vast regions of the Mandalorian homeworlds as barren desert. The Mandalorians were disarmed, and an occupation government was put in place, and out of the collaborators emerged the New Mandalorians: a faction that resented the Republic for their actions, but felt that the traditional Mandalorian warrior approach would only provoke more retaliation. They established isolated cities in the devastated areas - including their capital, the domed city Sundari - and embraced a pacifist and technologically advanced lifestyle in strict contrast to the old ways. Eventually the New Mandalorians were invited to have representation in the Republic Senate.

Traditionalist Mandalorians were forced underground and offworld, becoming known as the Aka'liit ("Faithful"), and practising their beliefs in secret until 60 BBY, when two ideologies emerged. The True Mandalorians believed that they needed to reaffirm their adherence to the Canons of Honor that dictated Mandalorian ethics and conduct, creating the Supercommando Codex to outline these new and revived principles. The Death Watch on the other hand believed that the only path to honour was war and conquest, and that only through conflict against ancient enemies like the Jedi and the Republic could they be truly Mandalorian. This philosophical divide led to a civil war, which ended in 44 BBY with the True Mandalorians all but obliterated, and the Death Watch left scattered and fragmented.

Mandalorian Occupation

In 22 BBY, the Clone Wars began: a conflict between the Galactic Republic and a group of Separatists led by the darjetii Count Dooku. The New Mandalorians went to great pains to remain neutral, much to the frustration of the Death Watch, who began a brief campaign of terrorism. With the backing of the Separatists, this became a fully fledged coup: despite Count Dooku's backing however, the coup was thwarted by the intervention of the Jedi.

Fallen from favour with the Separatists, the Death Watch was approached in 20 BBY by Darth Maul, and became one of the members of the Shadow Collective. With the backing of Black Sun and the Pyke Syndicate, the Death Watch successfully overthrew the New Mandalorians and took power; only to be betrayed by Darth Maul, who executed the Death Watch Ori'alor ("Overlord") Pre Vizsla, and installed a puppet government with him as the secret Mandalore. A brief civil war broke out between the supercommandos loyal to the Shadow Collective, and those still loyal to Death Watch ideals.

The Republic seized the opportunity to send troops to Mandalore to help quell the civil war, forcing the supercommandos on both sides to flee. Some went on to establish the Mandalorian Protectors, a rebel group that allied itself with the Separatists; a large cadre of Death Watch retreated to Shedu Maad on the edge of the Hapan Cluster, devolving into pirates. The Republic meanwhile stationed a garrison on Mandalore to safeguard the planet while a new government was established; when the Republic became the Galactic Empire, that protection quickly became an occupation, with the population enslaved and forced to help the Imperials strip mine their planet for beskar: the nigh indestructible metal known as Mandalorian iron.

Mandalorian Liberation

In 9 ABY, Beskade Goza challenged the Ori'alor of the Death Watch on Shedu Maad to single combat. Though it cost him an eye he won, and assumed leadership of the Death Watch. Leading them home to Mandalore, he formed an alliance with the Mandalorian Protectors, convincing the two groups to set aside their philosophical differences until Manda'yaim was free. When the Rebel Alliance gained access to Starkiller missiles and used them to force a cease fire with the Empire, Goza convinced the Mandalorian Protectors to endorse him as the new Mand'alor, allowing him to invoke the Resol'nare and rally Mandalorians from across the galaxy. They staged an Uprising, and successfully managed to drive the Empire out of Mandalorian Space. When the Alliance-Imperial Treaty was signed, Mandalore was declared a sovereign territory, aligned with neither government.

Dubbed Te Na'mirci Mand'alor ("Mandalore the Liberator"), Goza set about rebuilding Mandalore in the hopes that the True Mandalorians, New Mandalorians, Death Watch - and as of 10 ABY, the descendants of the Neo-Crusaders on Onderon who left Alliance space to return "home" - could coexist amicably, without having to compromise any of their beliefs.

Government

Mandalore currently possesses a tripartite government. Mand'alor leads the Mandalorian Aliite, the clans who endorse his claim to the title, and who make up the bulk of the surviving True Mandalorians. The Al'alor is Prime Minister of the Ruling Council, which represents the New Mandalorians and the general population who are not subject to the Resol'nare or Superhero Codex. The Akaan'alor leads the bulk of Mandalore's military, keeping it separate from any potential quarrels between the New and True Mandalorians.

Mand'alor

Originally, Mand'alor was the title adopted by the leader of the Mandalorian Crusaders. Over time however, as the Mandalorians evolved into a clan society, it became the title bestowed upon an individual chosen by the Aliite as a "high chieftain" of the clans. The Mand'alor is both a military and a political leader; obedience to Mandalore is deeply ingrained in the Mandalorian warrior philosophy.

After the end of the Crusader era, the rise of the New Mandalorians took power away from the clans. The True Mandalorians still continued to appoint a "secret" Mand'alor, though it was a largely ceremonial gesture. After the True Mandalorians were defeated in the civil war in 60 BBY, the Death Watch began to regard their Ori'alor in the same way, throughout the Clone Wars and the Imperial Occupation of Mandalore.

Mandalore the Liberator was the first Mand'alor to openly lead the Mandalorians for nearly 750 years, following the Uprising of 9 ABY. To foster cooperation between the New Mandalorians and True Mandalorians, he formed a government that shared power between the Ruling Council and the Aliite, with the bulk of the military independent of both to "add obstacles" to the factions' ability to go to war over their disagreements. He also implemented a number of symbolic gestures and changes, such as:

• The Ruling Council meet in the traditional capital, Keldabe, rather than the New Mandalorian capital, Sundari.
• The Aliit'tsad meet on "neutral ground" in the New Mandalorian capital, Sundari, to "keep politics out of Keldabe".
• Wearing armour decorated to echo the darjetii Darth Maul, whose coup overthrew the New Mandalorians; a reminder of the dangers of alliances with Sith.
• Carrying the black-bladed Darksaber favoured by the Death Watch Ori'alor; a reminder of the difference between a just crusade and a dishonourable one.

Previous Mandalores

• Mandalore the First - Te Sol'yc Mand'alor; a Taung who conquered Mandalore.
• Mandalore the Conqueror - Te Shukali Mand'alor; a Taung who founded the Mandalorian Crusaders.
• Mandalore the Indomitable - Te Kandosii Mand'alor; a Taung who first allied the Mandalorians with the Sith.
• Mandalore the Ultimate - Te Ani'la Mand'alor; a Taung who established the Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders.
• Mandalore the Preserver - Te Taylir Mand'alor; Canderous Ordo, the first Human Mandalore.
• Mandalore the Lesser - a Human gladiator made into a puppet Mandalore by the Sith Empire.
• Mandalore the Vindicated - Artus Lok, a Human blamed for the "downfall" of the Mandalorian Crusaders.
• Mandalore the Unifier - Aga Awaud, the Mand'alor during the New Sith Wars
  • Jaster Mereel, the founder of the True Mandalorians, and the scribe of the Supercommando Codex.
  • Jango Fett, a True Mandalorian and the genetic template for the Clone Army of the Republic.
  • Pre Vizsla, the Ori'alor of the Death Watch until 20 BBY.
  • Darth Maul, a Sith whose Shadow Collective backed a Death Watch coup against the New Mandalorians, which he then seized control of.
  • Lorka Gedyc, the Ori'alor of the Death Watch on Mandalore during the Imperial Occupation, and a collaborator.
• Mandalore the Liberator - Te Na'mirci Mand'alor; Beskade Goza, leader of the Uprising that ended the Imperial Occupation in 9 ABY.

Mandalorian Ruling Council

Under the New Mandalorians, the Ruling Council was a democratically selected committee of ministers who advised the Duke or Duchess of Sundari.

When Mandalore the Liberator ascended to power, the New Mandalorian government was no more, but much of the Mandalore's formerly enslaved population did not want to embrace the warrior culture of the True Mandalorians. To avoid civil war, Mand'alor proposed that both the Aliite and the Ruling Council would both play an active part in government, with the Ruling Council advising him as they had advised the Dukes and Duchesses in the past. To emphasise this power sharing, Mand'alor moved the Ruling Council to the traditional capital of Keldabe, while the Aliite would hold their audiences and summits in the New Mandalorian capital, Sundari.

The Ruling Council currently consists of five individuals:

• Prime Minister - or Al'alor, is the chief advocate for the common populace, and is the man trusted by Mand'alor to be one of his key advisors and to administrate matters of state on a day-to-day basis.
• Minister of Law - responsible for rationalising the New Mandalorian and True Mandalorian legal systems, settling disputes over land rights, breaches of the Supercommando Codex by those beholden to it, distinguishing between legal killings and illegal murders; and a host of other complicated judicial issues.
• Minister of Labor - oversees the transition of the Mandalorians from a slave population to a paid population, working with labor unions and worker's guilds to ensure fair wages, safe conditions, and maximum employment, while also ensuring that Mandalore produces enough food and resources to sustain itself.
• Minister of Finance - oversees the treasury and the economy, sourcing money through trade and from taxation of the Aliit, and assuring it is distributed fairly to the general populace and the various government budgets; as well as ensuring that vital commodities from offworld can be afforded and are sourced.
• Minister of the Interior - ensures the safety and welfare of the population, through education, healthcare, security, transportation, and other such services and projects.

Though not formally a member of the Ruling Council, the Aran'alor of the Mandalorian Guard is usually in attendance. The Prime Minister is usually addressed as Sol'yc ("first"), while the other Ministers are addressed as Alor' ("leader", "sir").

Ruling Council

• Prime Minister - Falcris Ordo
• Minister of Law
• Minister of Labor
• Minister of Finance
• Minister of the Interior

Mandalorian Aliite

Those who follow the tenets of the Supercommando Codex, and the beliefs of the True Mandalorians are largely organised into the Aliite, usually translated into Basic as "Clans". Similar to noble houses on other worlds, an aliit are semi-autonomous and center around bloodlines and family groups; but most Mandalorians think of their comrades as siblings, and adoption is common practice in Mandalorian culture. As the saying goes, Aliit ori'shya tal'din - family doesn't end with blood.

The leader of an aliit is known as the Aliit'alor - the "clan chieftain" or "clan commander", depending on the translator's preference; their usual form of address is Alor ("leader"). Each aliit has it's own sigil or aliik, which is worn on the armour of all it's members. The aliit is expect to provide for the education, accommodation, and wellbeing of it's members, and are granted certain special privileges and freedoms to practice their beliefs; in return they are expected to adhere strictly to the Resol'nare and the Supercommando Codex, and risk excommunication from their clan and from Manda'yaim if they fail to do so.

Under Mandalore the Liberator, the largest and most politically powerful clans have been assembled into the Aliit'tsad: a Clan Council to provide a forum for grievances to be aired and resolved, and where important issues can be discussed. For the duration of Aliit'tsad meetings, all participants - even the Mand'alor - are considered of equal status and equal voice. The Council meets in the Sundari Royal Palace in the old New Mandalorian capital: a symbolic gesture to have the Aliite meet on "neutral ground", and to "keep politics out of Keldabe".

Mandalorian Clans

• Clan Awaud - The clan of Mandalore the Uniter (Aga Awaud).
  • Aga Awaud
• Clan Cadera - The clan of Jicoln Cadera, who led the (failed) uprising against Mandalore the Vindicated.
  • Jicoln Cadera, Torian Cadera
• Clan Goza - The clan of Mandalore the Liberator (Beskade Goza).
  • Beskade Goza, Beviin Goza
• Clan Jendri - A clan from Rekkiad in the Outer Rim, which returned to Mandalore after the Liberation.
• Clan Koine - A clan known for it's willingness to adopt new members.
  • Amaros Koine, Alec Tallen, Mackenzie Tallen, Mara Tallen, Amos Iakona
• Clan Kryze - A clan from Kalevala with ties to the New Mandalorians; Satine Kryze was Duchess of Mandalore during the Clone Wars.
  • Satine Kryze, Bo-Katan Kryze, Korkie Kryze
• Clan Lok - The clan of Mandalore the Vindicated (Artus Lok).
  • Artus Lok
• Clan Ordo - The clan of Mandalore the Preserver (Canderous Ordo), from Ordo. Known for it's involvement in progressive politics.
  • Tegris Ordo, Canderous Ordo, Veela Ordo, Edric Ordo, Falcris Ordo
• Clan Priest - A clan split between True Mandalorians and New Mandalorians after the Dral'Han.
  • Dred Priest
• Clan Rodarch - A clan who in antiquity trained asharl panthers as war beasts, and painted their armour to emulate them.
• Clan Sornell - A clan from Halthor, which historically consisted mostly of Devaronians.
  • Koblus Sornell, Haarm Sornell, Gheedor Sornell
• Clan Verad - A clan from the Tamarin Sector. Notoriously aggressive and violent.

Defunct / Exiled Clans

• Clan Fett - A clan of farmers from Concord Dawn. Jango Fett was the template for the Clone Army of the Republic. It's last member died in 4 ABY.
  • Cassius Fett, Vorten Fett, Jango Fett, Boba Fett, Clone Troopers (genetically)
• Clan Gedyc - The clan of Lorka Gedyc, who led the Death Watch on Mandalore after the Clone Wars, and collaborated with the Imperial Occupation.
  • Lorka Gedyc
• Clan Lone - A clan excommunicated in antiquity for breaking the Resol'nare by not aiding Clan Spar.
  • Zadik Lone
• Clan Skirata - The clan of Kal Skirata, who adopted many of the clone troopers he had trained; wiped out by the Empire.
  • Munin Skirata, Kal Skirata, several clones
• Clan Spar - A clan wiped out in antiquity by pirates; Clan Lone was excommunicated for not rallying to their aid.
  • Akaavi Spar
• Clan Tallen - A clan wiped out during the Clone Wars; the survivors were adopted by Clan Koine.
• Clan Vizsla - A clan from Concordia. Responsible for founding the Death Watch, which bore Clan Vizsla's aliik. It's last member died in 20 BBY.
  • Tor Vizsla, Pre Vizsla

MandalMotors and Mandal Hypernautics

Military

Most of the Mandalorian military is organised into the Mandalorian Crusaders, who operate Mandalore's defensive fleet, and comprise the majority of it's supercommando forces. The Mandalorian Protectors are supercommandos of the Aliite, who earn the rights and privileges of their status by defending those incapable of or unwilling to defend themselves. The Mandalorian Guard is a security militia drawn mostly from the general populace, which answers to the Ruling Council and is responsible for peacekeeping and law enforcement.

Mandalorian Supercommando

Anyone with a weapon can be a verde ("warrior"). To a Mandalorian, a ramikad - a raider, crusader, or commando - is the kind of elite, mobile soldier that made the Mandalorian Crusaders infamous seven thousand years ago. As with the rest of the galaxy, the term "commando" implies skill and discipline; to be a Crusader, a Mandalorian needed to be better than the mere soldier they were to fight against.

The concept of the Ori'ramikad or "supercommando" took that concept further: it was about not only being a more skilled soldier, but also being a better and more honourable soldier, keeping to a code of ethics and protocol beyond the mere basics that the Crusaders had already established with the Resol'nare and the Canons of Honor. The concept originated with Mandalore the Preserver and the Mandalorians on Dxun and Onderon, but did not gain much attention within the rest of Mandalorian culture until Jaster Mereel of the True Mandalorians composed his Supercommando Codex, which provided hundreds of rules and guidelines on how to be that better soldier.

Mandalorian Crusaders

Mandalorian Protectors

Mandalorian Guard

Bounty Hunters' Guild

Culture

Resol'nare

Rather than a race, the Mando'ade are a set of cultural beliefs, summed up as the Resol'nare or "Six Actions". These beliefs were fundamental, and held religious significance: those who kept to the Resol'nare would pass into Manda, the collective spiritual soul of the Mando'ade upon death; those who did not were "faithless", and damned.

• Raise your sons and daughters with a knowledge of their Mandalorian heritage and history.
• Respect your Mandalorian armour, and wear it proudly.
• Develop the skills to defend yourself.
• Be loyal to your clan, your family, and your bloodline; defend them as you would defend yourself.
• Speak and respect the language of the Mandalorians.
• Obey and respect the Mand'alor, and rally to him when called.

Abandoning the Resol'nare was the biggest point of contention between the New Mandalorians and the True Mandalorians, more so than their political allegiances and ideologies.

New Mandalorians

The New Mandalorians formed while Mandalorian Space was under Republic occupation in 738 BBY, after the Mandalorian Excision. They were born out of the sentiment that conflict begets conflict, and that by setting aside their warrior past

True Mandalorians

Death Watch

Language

The language of the Consortium is Hapan. Few people are able to speak any other language, due to the Hapes Cluster's relative isolation from the rest of the Galaxy. See Mando'a Terms for more information.