Mandalorian

The Mandalorians—known in Mando'a as the Mando'ade, or "Children of Mandalore"—were a nomadic group of clan-based people consisting of members from multiple species, all bound by a common culture.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

As was the case with many defined cultures, the Mandalorians have a language distinct from Basic, known as Mando'a. The origins of the language are unclear, possibly drawing roots from the ancient Taung dialects, though it possessed aspects not found in other galactic languages. Mando'a is not all that complex and is easy to learn, a great benefit to a group that often takes in adults from other races. Although this is their main language, the Mandalorians are often acquainted with several others, including Huttese and Basic, and more that have been picked up while fighting on countless planets. In spite of this influence from other languages, Mandalorians prefer to draw new words for outside concepts from Mando'a's inherently flexibly vocabulary.

Culture and cultural heritage

Early Mandalorian culture, originating with the ancient Taung species, was believed to have begun as a religious warrior society, with sophisticated laws and customs that went on to become the Canons of Honor. War was practised as a form of ritual worship to their multiple gods, but following the destruction of the Nevoota, war itself became a god, personified by Kad Ha'rangir the destroyer god. In Mandalorian mythology, Kad Ha'rangir represented the opportunity for change through destruction and was eternally opposed by Arasuum, the personification of stagnation and inactivity. Because of this, many of the Mandalorians' earliest conflicts were seen as holy wars and their warriors were known as the Mandalorian Crusaders. As time went on and the majority of the Taung had perished by the end of the Great Sith War, the Mandalorians began accepting beings of other races and species into their fold, viewing those who joined them on equal footing to those who had been born into the culture, and transforming what it meant to be a Mandalorian. Having become a mixed group of beings from numerous worlds and species, those who considered themselves Mandalorian were bound by a single, unifying culture rather than any one race, and they believed that an individual was defined by their actions rather than the circumstances of birth. Central to the Mandalorian culture were the Resol'nare, or the "Six Actions". These six tenets defined what it meant to be a Mandalorian, and any who wished to be considered as such was expected to abide by them. The Resol'nare consisted of wearing armour, speaking the Mandalorian language, defending oneself along with one's family, contributing to the welfare of your clan, rallying to the Mand'alor when summoned, and raising one's children in the Mandalorian ways.
In order to retain their heritage in the face of outside influence, Mandalorians placed a high value on rigorously carrying out the Resol'nare's tenets in a daily manner. However, interpretation of the Resol'nare differed, and at least one group of Mandalorians, the New Mandalorians, potentially followed an alternate interpretation of the Resol'nare by doing away with personally-owned sets of armour and refusing to aid the Mand'alor.

Common Dress code

The thing most often associated with the Mandalorians is their armour. In Mando'a, it was known as beskar'gam, or "iron skin", a show of just how central it was to a Mandalorian's life. Armour is greatly valued, especially if made from the near-indestructible metal beskar, and is often passed down through generations. Aside from its defensive capabilities, armour serves another function: in a group formed from so many different species, often times it is only the armour that displays an outward sign of the culture that binds these individuals together. The paint scheme of a Mandalorian's armour occasionally represents a soldier's state of mind or their personal mission. For instance, sand-gold represents a quest for vengeance, while black indicates a desire for justice. This is not always the case, however, and Mandalorians sometimes decorate their armour in colours they simply hold a preference for; blue and green are common choices. Whereas many soldiers prefer the inconspicuousness afforded by camouflage, Mandalorians believe in the saying, "It's one thing to see us coming, it's another to do something about it."

Historical figures

The ancient warlord known as Mandalore from 7000 BBY is the source of their collective name.

Related Locations

• Mandalore