It’s Really Frustrating To See So Many Posts About Jango Fett And The True Mandalorians That Paint

It’s really frustrating to see so many posts about Jango Fett and the True Mandalorians that paint them as crazed and irredeemably violent for the way they responded to the Jedi at Galidraan. I’m pro-Jedi myself, and I understand the impulse to be defensive, but people often ignore literally all the historical context behind why they reacted the way they did to the sight of Jedi.

So, because if I see one more “hey guys Jango shot first so they all deserved what they got” post I’m going to scream I just want to do a little lore overview going over the historical context & reasons the True Mandalorians were so defensive for anyone interested:

Centuries prior to Galidraan, there was an event called the Mandalorian Excision, or Annihilation (this is canon). The Mandalorian Excision of 738 BBY was a severe response by the Republic to Mandalorian growth, leaving Concord Dawn devastated and its people under prolonged occupation by Republic and Jedi forces. This event is the reason the Mandalorians live in domes in TCW.

This harsh treatment fostered deep mistrust and hostility towards the Jedi, who were seen not as protectors but as enforcers of oppressive policies. While the Jedi likely followed the Republic's directives, intended to maintain stability, these actions inadvertently created long-term resentment among the Mandalorians.

The Jedi's role in enforcing Republic policies only deepened this rift, making reconciliation difficult. It is crucial to understand that while the Jedi believed they were acting in the best interest of peace and stability, their actions had unintended consequences that contributed to the cycle of mistrust and conflict.

The constant surveillance, harsh restrictions, and frequent conflicts with the occupying forces deeply ingrained a sense of oppression and injustice. This led to a pervasive distrust and resentment towards the Jedi, who were viewed as the enforcers of the Republic's oppressive regime.

The people of Concord Dawn endured immense trauma from the loss of their homes and loved ones, leading them to view the Jedi as oppressors. Despite these hardships, they clung to their warrior traditions, seeing themselves as defenders of their heritage.

The prolonged occupation by the Republic and Jedi forces had a profound impact on the people of Concord Dawn, particularly the True Mandalorians.

The occupying Republic actively repressed Mandalorian culture in an attempt to suppress independence and growth. Many Mandalorians were exiled, and many were forced to escape and disperse throughout the galaxy to practice their culture and resume their traditional trades.

The Jedi, typically seen as peacekeepers, were now perceived as oppressors. The prolonged occupation colored the Mandalorians' view of the Jedi as not just participants, but active enforcers of their suffering. This historical trauma made any interaction with the Jedi fraught with distrust and hostility.

At Galidraan, the True Mandalorians were manipulated into conflict by the governor and Death Watch, leading the Jedi to act on false information.

The True Mandalorians, already traumatized and distrustful from their history with the Republic and Jedi, were understandably fearful and defensive. They had been hunted and oppressed for generations, and seeing Jedi approach likely triggered their instinct for survival. Seeing Jedi surround them was something out of a Concord Dawn-native Mandalorian’s worst nightmare. The worst possible scenario.

Even if Jango Fett fired the first shot, the Jedi's near-total extermination of the True Mandalorians was a disproportionate response. The Jedi acknowledged this. This severe reaction was a significant departure from the Jedi's values of justice and restraint. As Count Dooku later reflected, the Jedi sent were not culturally competent regarding Mandalorians, having been sent to Galidraan because of their proximity to the planet rather than their diplomacy skills. A diplomacy team could have been sent, but the Jedi opted for a rapid response. The Jedi were tragically misled into committing an atrocity, which contributed to his disillusionment with the Jedi Order.

Because I see the “Jango shot first” argument so often, I also want to add that collective punishment and genocide are morally indefensible and contradict the core principles of justice and human rights that the Jedi are historically known to uphold. Acknowledging the complexity of the situation is fundamental to understanding the tragic consequences that followed. The actions taken at Galidraan, however intentioned, unfortunately perpetuated cycles of violence rather than promoting peace.

I’ve made some posts mentioning the topics I talked about here in the past, so if anyone wants to read more or look at some source excerpts for themselves, here’s some links: Galidraan Lore - Occupation & Civil War - The Excision