Post by Marcus Starkiller on Feb 19, 2006 17:18:53 GMT -5
Originally, the Mandalorian clans were Taung from Coruscant, led by the warlord "Mandalore the First". Eventually they conquered a planet in the Outer Rim, which they named Mandalore after their leader. The Taung then took the name Mandalorians and were seen by many as the most skilled fighters in the Galaxy, thriving for battle. They were known for their use of cutting-edge weaponry and held to a strict code of honor. These Mandalorians wore crusader armor that differed from one soldier to the next.
For thousands of years after Mandalore's conquest, its new inhabitants would not venture far from the system they inhabited. It was not until the Great Sith War of 4,000 BBY that the Mandalorians would seek to expand their conquests and, in the process, become both famous (and infamous) to the galaxy at large.
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Mandalorian culture consisted of a very straight-forward society, influenced by many other cultures around the galaxy. As a whole, Mandalorians were not prejudice of any species, but tolerated all Mandalorians, as long as they would follow the way of the mandalorians. Many beings would be adopted into Mandalorian society, and brought up as though they were children of the Mandalorians themselves. Even the women, who were required to be very tough, had to do their part, and when not tending to children, also fought in combat.
Individual Mandalorians were independent warriors, bound together by the same culture. Created by their own hands, fitted to their liking, each piece of Mandalorian steel was chosen and customized by a Mandalorian to their level of skill. However, there is a saying in Mando'a: Verd ori'shya beskar'gam, meaning a warrior is more than his armor. However, the armor was a huge cultural sign of the Mandalorians, and each set told about the Mandalorian underneath.
Not all Mandalorians constantly fought on the front line. There were farmers, regular factory workers, engineers, and doctors too. However, all Mandalorians were warriors at heart, and all knew how to fight.
Mandalorians were considered adults at an age as low as thirteen years. This contributed to the fact that Mandalorians married and settled down earlier than most cultures. Family bonds were a huge part of the Mandalorian culture, and as a result, they felt more comfortable around each other than they did around strangers. Mandalorian weddings were brief, and meant serious commitment to each other.
The only leader of the Mandalorians was the Mandalore himself, and he held his rank as long as he commanded the respect of his fellow warriors. In battle, Mandalorians would be assigned to different squads and jobs, depending on their area of expertise. Mandalorians weren't promoted to better jobs, since they didn't have jobs—only in battle would some kind of organization need to occur.
The only exception to this would be the way Jaster Mereel ran the Mandalorians. He often diverted from the culture of the Mandalorians, but only slightly so. His armor was different from everybody else's, which was silver and red, perhaps signifying rank. His second in command, Montross, wore silver and blue armor. This armor-rank system was carried on by Jango Fett, who wore Jaster's armor, and had his second in command, Myles, wear the blue-silver armor. Like Jaster, Jango did not act like a traditional Mandalorian.
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The Mandalorian religion was a largely private affair. There were no priests, and wedding ceremonies consisted solely of the man and woman exchanging private vows with each other. Until its destruction, the planet Malachor V was considered taboo by the Mandalorians.
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Mandalorian wedding:
Marriage is expected to be for life---which is sometimes prematurely short for warriors---and usually takes place soon after Mandalorians turn 16. A couple enters into a legal commitment simply by making the following pledge to each other:
Mandalorian:
Mhi solus tome
Mhi solus dar'tome
Mhi me'dinui an
Mhi ba'juri verde
Translation into Basic (English):
We are one when together
We are one when parted
We share all
We will raise warriors
For thousands of years after Mandalore's conquest, its new inhabitants would not venture far from the system they inhabited. It was not until the Great Sith War of 4,000 BBY that the Mandalorians would seek to expand their conquests and, in the process, become both famous (and infamous) to the galaxy at large.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mandalorian culture consisted of a very straight-forward society, influenced by many other cultures around the galaxy. As a whole, Mandalorians were not prejudice of any species, but tolerated all Mandalorians, as long as they would follow the way of the mandalorians. Many beings would be adopted into Mandalorian society, and brought up as though they were children of the Mandalorians themselves. Even the women, who were required to be very tough, had to do their part, and when not tending to children, also fought in combat.
Individual Mandalorians were independent warriors, bound together by the same culture. Created by their own hands, fitted to their liking, each piece of Mandalorian steel was chosen and customized by a Mandalorian to their level of skill. However, there is a saying in Mando'a: Verd ori'shya beskar'gam, meaning a warrior is more than his armor. However, the armor was a huge cultural sign of the Mandalorians, and each set told about the Mandalorian underneath.
Not all Mandalorians constantly fought on the front line. There were farmers, regular factory workers, engineers, and doctors too. However, all Mandalorians were warriors at heart, and all knew how to fight.
Mandalorians were considered adults at an age as low as thirteen years. This contributed to the fact that Mandalorians married and settled down earlier than most cultures. Family bonds were a huge part of the Mandalorian culture, and as a result, they felt more comfortable around each other than they did around strangers. Mandalorian weddings were brief, and meant serious commitment to each other.
The only leader of the Mandalorians was the Mandalore himself, and he held his rank as long as he commanded the respect of his fellow warriors. In battle, Mandalorians would be assigned to different squads and jobs, depending on their area of expertise. Mandalorians weren't promoted to better jobs, since they didn't have jobs—only in battle would some kind of organization need to occur.
The only exception to this would be the way Jaster Mereel ran the Mandalorians. He often diverted from the culture of the Mandalorians, but only slightly so. His armor was different from everybody else's, which was silver and red, perhaps signifying rank. His second in command, Montross, wore silver and blue armor. This armor-rank system was carried on by Jango Fett, who wore Jaster's armor, and had his second in command, Myles, wear the blue-silver armor. Like Jaster, Jango did not act like a traditional Mandalorian.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Mandalorian religion was a largely private affair. There were no priests, and wedding ceremonies consisted solely of the man and woman exchanging private vows with each other. Until its destruction, the planet Malachor V was considered taboo by the Mandalorians.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mandalorian wedding:
Marriage is expected to be for life---which is sometimes prematurely short for warriors---and usually takes place soon after Mandalorians turn 16. A couple enters into a legal commitment simply by making the following pledge to each other:
Mandalorian:
Mhi solus tome
Mhi solus dar'tome
Mhi me'dinui an
Mhi ba'juri verde
Translation into Basic (English):
We are one when together
We are one when parted
We share all
We will raise warriors