Star Wars Sets Up A Major Mandalorian Retcon That Rewrites The Galaxy’s Ancient History

Star Wars may have just set up an exciting Mandalorian retcon, one that effectively rewrites the galaxy’s ancient history in some pretty fascinating ways. As seen in The Mandalorian series on Disney+, a large focus was on the Darksaber, the iconic weapon that first appeared in The Clone Wars and Rebels animated series. However, what we currently know about its origins and its first wielder may only be half the story.

At present, it’s been confirmed in the established Star Wars canon that the Darksaber dates back to the days of the Old Republic. The unique weapon was forged by Tarre Vizsla, the first (and rare) Mandalorian Jedi Knight. However, new details about the Star Wars galaxy’s ancient history may have laid the foundation for a fascinating retcon, one that could help explain Vizsla’s somewhat confusing history as both Mandalorian and Jedi, and what the Darksaber fully represents.

There’s Always Been Something Strange About Tarre Vizsla

Both Mandalorian Leader and Jedi?

In short, we only know a few things about Tarre Vizsla in the current Star Wars canon, the first Mandalorian to ever be inducted into the Jedi Order, just over 1000 years before the start of the Skywalker saga. During his time among the Jedi Order, Vizsla forged the unique Darksaber, a black-bladed saber unlike any lightsaber wielded by his fellow Jedi with a hilt forged from beskar. However, we also know that the Darksaber was the symbol of Mandalore’s Clan Vizsla which Tarre founded, and that Tarre himself also became Mand’alor, the planet’s ruler.

When Vizsla passed, the Darksaber was kept in the halls of the Jedi Temple until it was “stolen” by members of his house during the “Fall of the Old Republic”. Statues were erected in his name, and Tarre Vizsla’s legacy lived on through the Darksaber, a symbol of leadership throughout the generations. However, Vizsla’s history has never quite made sense as it’s short on some key details.

Some key questions about Tarre Vizsla are still in need of answering. Why would the Jedi induct a Mandalorian into their ranks, given the recorded hostilities between the two groups during the Old Republic? Also, why would both the Jedi and the Mandalorians venerate the Darksaber? After all, the Jedi keeping it in the Temple after his death does seem somewhat odd, given its significance to Mandalore as a whole.

Star Wars Is Finally Revealing What Happened A Thousand Years Before The Skywalker Saga

A Dark Age Of Sith Conquerors

Surprisingly, some of the answers to the above questions about Tarre Vizla may lie in a recent reveal about the canonical Old Republic and the Sith Lords. Thanks to the recently published Star Wars: The Acolyte Visual Guide by Pablo Hidalgo, we now know how bad the dark age known as the “Fall of the Old Republic” really was. According to the new guide, the Sith actually conquered the galaxy during this period, explaining why the Old Republic ultimately came to an end.

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It’s also notable that newer Star Wars materials have established that the subsequent High Republic Era began once Darth Bane’s reign was brought to an end. This suggests Darth Bane once ruled an empire, a major deviation from the Sith Lord’s story in pre-Disney stories, which are now non-canonical Legends. Essentially, the idea is that the Old and High Republic Eras were marked by a major Sith takeover. Likewise, this would better explain Palpatine’s Revenge of the Sith line with the rise of his own Empire: “Once more the Sith shall rule the galaxy” (giving the Sith a specific period in which they did indeed rule).

I Think Tarre Vizsla Led The Mandalorians Against The Sith

Ending The Jedi/Mandalorian Rivalry

The “Fall of the Old Republic” involving the rise of a Sith Empire could help fill in the gaps in Tarre Vizsla’s story in a few key ways. In the face of dark forces, perhaps the Jedi were more desperate to increase their ranks. This would explain their first-ever induction of a Mandalorian despite past tensions.

This could also help explain Tarre’s bizarre and unique status as simultaneously being both a Jedi Knight and Mandalore’s planetary ruler. Perhaps Vizsla ended up unifying the Mandalorian clans in an alliance with the Jedi Order against the Sith. Not only would this give Mandalore some key galactic significance for the first time in Star Wars history, but Tarre Vizsla would also be credited with ending the old rivalry between Jedi and Mandalorians, having turned them against a far greater galactic threat.

If I’m Right, Tarre Vizsla Fell In Battle Against The Sith

Changing The Darksaber Theft Story

The last piece of the puzzle is the Darksaber being “stolen” by House Vizsla from the Jedi Temple once Vizsla died during the Old Republic’s fall. This was first claimed by Mandalorian Death Watch leader Pre Vizsla in Clone Wars’ “The Mandalore Plot” and was later corroborated by Mandalorian Fenn Rau and Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus in Rebels‘ “Trials of the Darksaber”. If the above theory is true and the Jedi and Mandalorians were united against the Sith, perhaps the Darksaber was removed from the Temple as the Sith were taking over Coruscant, forcing the Jedi to flee.

In this new proposed context, Mandalorians taking the blade from the Jedi Temple would instead be more of a noble act. Keeping the blade out of the hands of Darth Bane and his empire would ensure that it could still be used as a symbol of continued unity against the Sith conquerors. While just a theory, there does seem to be some solid evidence behind it that could very well be true. One can only hope we may see something along those lines on screen one day, whenever Lucasfilm finally decides to properly and canonically explore the Old Republic Era.

This Would Explain Why The Darksaber Became So Important To The Mandalorians

A Symbol of Unity In The Face of Great Danger

The concept of Tarre Vizsla wielding the Darksaber and dying during a time when the Sith were conquering the galaxy is fascinating. This would provide even greater meaning to the Darksaber’s symbolism, having been wielded by their leaders at times when the galaxy was darkest, and first at a period when the Sith were dominant, a symbol of their unity in the face of greater danger. With that in mind, the Darksaber resurfacing during the Clone Wars and the Dark Times of Palpatine’s Empire becomes even more significant in the established Star Wars canon.

First Episode Air Date

November 12, 2019

Spin-offs

The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew