Background: Mandalore was a planet located in the Outer
Rim Territories. It was the homeworld of the
Mandalorians, a fearsome and warmongering people who
fought the Jedi and raided their temple during the fall of
the Old Republic. Wearing distinctive armor, they were
feared throughout the galaxy, and had political influence
over two thousand other star systems.
Years of war left the planet inhospitable, forcing the
Mandalorians to live within domed cities. A pacifist regime
came to power at the end of these wars, led by Duchess
Satine Kryze, while those who refused to give up their
warrior ways were exiled to the moon Concordia. During
the Clone Wars, the New Mandalorians were overthrown
by Darth Maul's Shadow Collective, though the Galactic
Empire would rule the planet after the war's end.
Gar Saxon of Clan Saxon was made Viceroy and
Governor of the planet by the Empire with the Imperial
Super Commandos as his enforcers. The Empire
established an Imperial Academy on Mandalore for
training military cadets. Governor Saxon ruled Mandalore
on behalf of the Empire until his death at the hands of
Ursa Wren in 2 BBY. Saxon's death caused a civil war
between Clans Saxon and Wren, with the former being
backed by the Empire. Roughly one year before the Battle
of Yavin, Gar Saxon had been succeeded by his brother
Tiber Saxon as Governor. Clan Wren's insurrection had
been joined by Lady Bo-Katan's Clan Kryze, Clan Vizsla,
Clan Rook, Clan Eldar, and Fenn Rau, the last surviving
member of the Journeyman Protectors. After defeating
Saxon's forces, Clan Wren and the other Mandalorian clans
then pledged allegiance to Lady Bo-Katan, who inherited
the Darksaber and the mantle of Mandalorian leadership.