Mandalorians!!! ❤

The Basics:

Mandalorians are a cultural group that are not actually a singular species, rather anyone can be Mandalorian if they abide by the common creed and code of honor, and speak the common language, Mando'a! They're a clan-based culture that holds combat and the ability to fight well as a major component of their society. Mandalorians are known for their iconic beskar armor (which dont even get me started on their armor design omggg) and of course their skills in battle. Some of the most popular Mandos such as Boba Fett, Jango Fett, and Din Djarin are all bounty hunters, which is a super common career among Mandalorians.

Throughout their history Mandalorians tend to shift between siding with the Sith, working with the Republic, and even being conquerors of the galaxy themselves! There's even a point in time during the Clone Wars where the planet of Mandalore was pacifist and didn't wear armor, in complete opposition to their usual warrior ways. There was also tons of infighting between clans, especially when the Darksaber was involved. The Darksaber is a weapon, almost like the opposite to a lightsaber in a way, that was used to indicate who the Mand'alor (leader of the Mandalorians) was.

Also while the planet of Mandalore is where the original Mandalorians came from, you don't have to be from Mandalore to be Mandalorian in the cultural sense. They often would adopt lost or abandoned children into their clans (like what happened with Grogu), and raise them as their own, called Foundlings.

Why I Love them??

Attack of the Clones was always my fav movie as a kid because I loved how cool Jango and the clones looked. I remember loving the Death Watch episodes of the Clone Wars because I thought their designs were amazing! I remember trying to draw mandos before I even knew how to draw humans lol. Their overall design and presence were always a huge draw for me, but as I got older and then The Mandalorian came out, I found myself really resonating with the character of Din and wanting to learn more about the mando culture and history! For such a small part of Star Wars they actually have tons and tons of factions, amazing characters, and lore that is just so interesting! They even have a language that people irl have learned which is so so cool!

I also definitely really enjoy the aspect of a society that isn't neccessarily gendered at all. Even in the language Mando'a the words for both partner and parent are not gendered and are actually the same! People are not treated worse based on their gender because what really matters to Mandalorians is how good of a fighter you are / if you follow the creed/code. The armor itself isn't even gendered (of course theres the Bo Katan styled helmet and armor that for some reason was then used to signify every fem mando.. Dave...), which I really really enjoy because I love a more gender-neutral style of armor and Mandalorian armor really fits that niche for me. It's also just so cool and absolutely peak character design!! And the best part about their armor is how versatile and full of variety it is. I've seen so many combinations of armor pieces and colors and accesories in both actual canon designs as well as in peoples' Mando OCs and it's just so fun seeing new concepts and designs that people come up with! :)) AHHH I LOVE MANDALORIAN ARMOR DESIGN IDK HOW TO EXPLAIN IT!!!

SO!! I love mandalorians because of their armor, their deep lore, the variety of characters and their moral codes, and the large fanbase of mando enjoyers who make ocs, write fanfic, and make mando cosplay! :D

MY FAV MANDOS ❤

Jango Fett

Shae Vizla

Boba Fett

Din Djarin / Mando

Jaster Mereel

The Armorer

The Beginning - Boba Fett

Boba Fett was actually the first Mandalorian created for Star Wars! Originally planned to be a new kind of stormtrooper supercommando, which I believe is why his original design is pure white (or this could've just been before colors were decided on lol). Then he was later turned into a bounty hunter and actually first showed up in the Star Wars Holiday Special (lol)! And from his appearance in Empire Strikes Back the entire idea and culture of Mandalorians was born!

Death Watch

First appearing in The Clone Wars TV series and led by Pre Vizla, the Death Watch / Kyr'tsad are a terrorist group of Mandalorian warriors operating from the Mandalorian moon of Concordia. Their goal was to overthrow the pacifist New Mandalorians that had taken control of Mandalore during the Clone Wars.

They later work with Maul to take over Mandalore, and while they succeed, Pre Vizla and Maul duel for the Darksaber with Maul winning and taking his place as Mand'alor. This divides the group between those who oppose Maul (including Bo-Katan), and those who stay loyal to him.

While their first on screen appearance was in The Clone Wars, they actually have existed in Star Wars lore since before even the Prequels take place (and before Jango Fett was even a grown adult). It was founded by Tor Vizla in direct opposition to Jaster Mereel's True Mandalorians, and their goal was to return the Mandalorian people to their ancient ways of conquering the galaxy and violence.

Death Watch propaganda poster made by in universe Mandalorian Veraslayn Kast

Nite Owls

A subgroup within Death Watch of elite warriors led by Bo-Katan Kryze. After the Maul takeover they also splinter off, most following Bo-Katan and forming the Mandalore Resistance. They actually continue to operate throughout the time of the Empire and after!

Bo-Katan Kryze

Maul-dalorians

Actually named the Mandalorian Supercommandos or Maul Loyalists, they're the Mandos that stayed loyal to Maul after he took control of Death Watch. Notable members are Gar Saxon and Rook Kast, who repainted their armor to more closely resemble Maul. The group dissolved after the Siege of Mandalore in the final season (and final days) of the Clone Wars, either dying in battle or abandoned by their leader Maul when he was captured.

From left to right: Gar Saxon, Maul, Rook Kast

True Mandalorians

Founded by Jaster Mereel, the True Mandalorians were made up of his following of Mandalorian Supercommandos (not to be confused with the Maul Loyalists... different time period and values) who followed both the Supercommando Codex and Mereel's values of honor. They fought against Death Watch (led at the time by Tor Vizla) in the Mandalorian Civil War, and were later almost completely destroyed at the Battle of Galidraan by a force of Jedi who were tricked into attacking by Death Watch. The only survivor would be Jango Fett himself, who I believe later goes on to kill Tor Vizla in revenge (I plan to potentially make Jango his own shrine in the future).

New Mandalorians

The faction who ruled over Mandalore during the time of the Clone Wars, the New Mandalorians were a pacifist group led by Duchess Satine Kryze (Bo Katan's sister). Their values are obviously in complete opposition to that of Death Watch, but they also disagree with the True Mandalorians as well, opposing all of the previous conflicts that ruined both the planet of Mandalore and their reputation. Satine also led the Council of Neutral Systems and kept Mandalore from taking sides during the Clone Wars. The New Mandos were based out of the Mandalore capital Sumdari, and unlike the rest of their counterparts they don't wear the traditional beskar armor. The faction ceased to exist after Death Watch performed a coup that ended in the death of Satine.

Children of the Watch (Din's Covert)

The Mandalorian covert that Din Djarin is a member of is known as Followers of the Way, a religious group that broke away from the more mainstream Mandalorian society. As they were located on Concordia they're actually made up of descendants of Death Watch, but don't share in their want for conquering and violence. They do have in common the want for a return to more ancient Mandalorian ways, just focused on different values and aspects I believe. They also managed to avoid most of the Great Purge due to them being based on Concordia rather than Mandalore.