What was the Siege of Mandalore and what did Ahsoka do?
Mandalore has a tragic history.
Warning: Spoilers for Ahsoka episode 5 ahead.
Fans of Ahsoka have been left stunned by a powerful episode 5, which saw a young Ahsoka (played by Ariana Greenblatt) confronting her former master, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen).
The dramatic scenes showed Ahsoka (usually played by Rosario Dawson) in the World Between Worlds and being taken back to crucial moments in her past, including the Siege of Mandalore.
It's certainly not the first time fans have heard about the siege, with the new instalment also showing a new look at the brutal battle and foreshadowing Anakin's future as Darth Vader.
So, what exactly happened on Mandalore, and what was Ahsoka's role in it?
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What happened during the Siege of Mandalore?
The Siege of Mandalore happened around 19 BBY in the Star Wars timeline, when Darth Maul had claimed Mandalore.
Bo-Katan Kryze (played in The Mandalorian by Katee Sackhoff) enlisted the help of the Republic to claim back her home planet, joining forces with Ahsoka Tano and Captain Rex.
The battle was shown during The Clone Wars season 7 and revisited in Ahsoka episode 5, and resulted in Darth Maul being arrested. Bo-Katan was then instated as regent on Mandalore.
During Ahsoka episode 5, Ahsoka and Anakin visit the Siege of Mandalore. He tells her he doesn't recognise the battle, with Ahsoka explaining that they had "parted ways" by then (as it took place at the same time as Revenge of the Sith).
What happened during the Great Purge of Mandalore?
However, Bo-Katan's reign wasn't to last for long, as she refused to follow Emperor Palpatine - with Gar Saxon being instated as governor.
A few years later, following resistance from Mandalorian factions, the Great Purge of Mandalore happened, which all but wiped out Mandalorian culture.
In The Mandalorian season 3, Bo-Katan explains that Mandalore was once a thriving society. When Bo-Katan became ruler after wielding the Darksaber, shortly after the Empire rose to power, she and a united Mandalore announced independence from the Empire - something that, predictably, did not go down too well.
The Empire attacked Mandalore with full force - an attack referred to as The Great Purge. While some individual Mandalorians survived, including Bo-Katan, the majority of them were wiped out, and their culture was all but gone in just one night.
Some believed the planet to be cursed, but either way, millions of Mandalorians were killed. From then on, the Mandalorians were forced to operate in secrecy.
In The Mandalorian season 3, we see what's left of Mandalore including some creatures (such as Alamites and the epic Mythosaur) that clearly survived the Great Purge when Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu arrive there.
Despite taking the Creed, Djarin had never actually been to Mandalore before, instead growing up on the nearby Concordia as a foundling of the Children of the Watch.
Djarin had been told that Mandalore was "cursed" and "poisoned" but when he and Grogu arrived, he was surprised to discover the air was breathable. But, to people who grew up there, like Bo-Katan, the place is unrecognisable.
Djarin and Bo-Katan also visit the Living Waters of Mandalore, which are preserved in the ruins. Bo-Katan tells Djarin about the history of Mandalore, saying: "It wasn't that long ago. You'd never know it looking at all this destruction."
Djarin establishes that it "looks like it's been centuries", with Bo-Katan adding: "The Empire set out to punish us, to wipe away our memory."
"It must pain you to see it like this after witnessing its beauty," Djarin tells her, with Bo-Katan calling for the unification of the Mandalorians and saying, "What pains me is seeing our own kind fight one another time and time again, killing each other for reasons too confusing to explain. It made us weak. We had no hope to resist being smashed by the fist of the Empire."
The episode ends with the reveal that the Mythosaur, the legendary creature of Mandalore, is not just the stuff of myths, but alive and real.
New episodes of The Mandalorian season 3 are available to stream on Disney Plus every Wednesday, while seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream now. Sign up to Disney+ now for £7.99 per month or £79.90 for a full year and check out our list of the best movies on Disney Plus and best shows on Disney Plus.
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