The Mandalorian Crusade was the name of an invasion of the Republic of Systems by the Mandalorian Crusaders, made up of the united warrior clans of Mandalore. The conflict began with the Mandalorian Invasion of Taris in 1040 BBY, as building tensions between the Republic and Mandalore came to a head. The Crusaders, equipped with near-indestructible beskar armor, swept aside Republic defenders, taking control of much of the Republic's northern territory in a blistering offensive.
While the Jedi Council opposed direct involvement in the war, believing it would draw many Jedi to the dark side, a contengent of rouge Jedi, led by Arek Varn, joined the Republic's war effort, turning the tide in the Republic's favor. Meanwhile, former Mandalorian Jedi Tarre Vizsla would return home, believing that a Republic victory would lead to the destruction of Mandalorian culture. He would take the title of Mand'alor the Wiser, who supported a campaign of raids to sabotage the Republic's industry.
Despite Vizsla's somewhat successful sabotage efforts, the Republic Military would drive the Crusaders back to Mandalorian Space, where they established a defensive blockade. However, Jedi scouts were able to uncover new hyperroutes through the blockade, allowing the Republic Navy to attack Mandalore itself. During the climactic battle, Varn ordered the activation a secret superweapon powered by kyber crystals on Mandalore, causing a cataclysm that devastated the planet's surface. He also defeated and killed Vizsla in a duel, taking his helmet and weapon.
With their planet and leader gone, the Mandalorians were beaten. The end of the war resulted in a Republic occupation of Mandalorian space and the confiscation of all of the Crusaders' beskar. Their defeat would leave a lasting hatred of the Republic, which would be ignited a few years later during the New Sith War, in which the remaining Mandalorians would reform as the Neo-Crusaders, and align themselves with the Sith Empire.
Prelude[]
In the centuries prior to the Mandalorian Crusade, the Republic of Systems and the Mandalorians were generally at peace. During the Sith Wars, the Mandalorians had sided with both the Republic and the Sith Empire at different times, and occasionally remained neutral. At the end of the Twelfth Sith War, the Mandalorians allied with the Empire, but were ultimately defeated by the Republic at the Battle of Dromund Kaas. Mand'alor the Relentless, the current mand'alor, was killed in battle, and the dozens of clans fell into disunity and infighting. The internal conflict would last for centuries without end.
In 1,082 BBY, a Mandalorian infant was orphaned when his parents were killed in a battle between Clan Djarin and Clan Vizsla on Mandalore. After the battle, the infant was found and adopted by members of Clan Viszla and renamed Tarre Vizsla. His adoptive parents realized that Tarre was Force-sensitive, and decided to hand him over to the Jedi Order, as they thought it would be best for him. Viszla became the first and only Mandalorian to become a Jedi, and he later became a Jedi Knight, training Arek Varn as his Padawan.
Around this time, the Sith Empire, long thought destroyed by the wider galaxy, began its final preparations for an invasion of the Republic. The Sith Emperor sought to destablize the Republic before the Imperial invasion, and found the Mandalorians a suitable tool to carry out his plans.
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1040 BBY[]
Major battles and movements in 1,040 BBY.
1039 BBY[]
Major battles and movements in 1,039 BBY.
1038 BBY[]
Major battles and movements in 1,038 BBY.