The rivalry between the Mandalorians and the Jedi is a major part of “Star Wars” history, but it also raises an important question: Have there ever been any Mandalorian Jedi? The answer, as with most “Star Wars” stories, requires a little explanation.
Unlike other “groups” in the “Star Wars” universe, the Jedi are not a specific race belonging to a particular planet or region. Instead, they’re an organisation made up of highly Force-sensitive beings from all over the galaxy. It’s true that some species seem to be more naturally Force-sensitive than others (Yoda and Grogu’s mysterious species being one), but it’s not exclusive. Despite the fact that the Mandalorian people, in the “present day” of “The Mandalorian” and “The Book of Boba Fett,” count the Jedi among their enemies, there was a time in galactic history when Mandalorians were Jedi themselves.
In fact, the lore of Mandalorian Jedi ties closely to a major plot point that was first introduced in the animated TV shows “Clone Wars” and “Rebels” and now plays a big part in “The Mandalorian.” That would be the Darksaber – the powerful, black-bladed lightsaber that currently is in the (accidental) possession of Din Djarin. According to Mandalorian history, the Darksaber was the lightsaber of Tarre Viszla, the first Mandalorian Jedi, who became a member of the Jedi Order about a thousand years before the events of Star Wars. Eventually, the Darksaber made its way to his non-Jedi descendants and became a symbol of Mandalorian leadership.
Despite the occasional Mandalorian Jedi, for the most part, the two groups have been in conflict rather than overlapping. As ancient Mandalorians expanded and conquered throughout the galaxy, they eventually came up against the Republic and the Jedi, who were a formidable opponent. The conflict spread into a series of wars over many years. By the time of the Empire’s near-total destruction of the Mandalorians and the Jedi, they weren’t exactly at war, but the historic enmity between them is deeply embedded in Mandalorian culture, as Din Djarin finds out while he tries to protect and help Grogu.
With the Darksaber back in play and a Mandalorian having “adopted” a would-be Jedi, it will be interesting to see if the centuries-long rivalry is headed into a new stage as the next chapters of the Star Wars universe play out.
