Battle of Meraldii III

The Battle of Meraldii III was a major battle during the Jedi Wars, and the first loss for the Jedi. It was also the first battle to see Mandalorian involvement. Shortly after the Battle of Ebyon V, where General Crantus Levoncro had secured a victory for the Jedi; Darth Drakenaereus departed Korriban with his large fleet and located to Meraldii III. The force on Ebyon V was alerted of the Sith presence on the planet and moved offworld to intervene. They rendezvoused with a Mandalorian force en route to Meraldii, but even with their bolstered force the Jedi were walking into a death trap.

The Sith fleet surrounded Meraldii III and obliterated much of the Jedi strikeforce, whereafter the battle moved onto the surface. The Jedi took a strategic position and successfully repelled the Sith for a few hours, before the Dark Lord himself joined the battle and ravaged the Jedi and Mandalorians, killing their esteemed commander Crantus Levoncro. The Jedi's attempt to protect Meraldii III had failed, the Sith absorbed it into their empire. Meanwhile another Sith force had entrenched themselves on Annith, and a large Jedi contingent lead by Alanna Durandu was dispatched to invade Annith and displace the Sith.