A captivating Star Wars story called Tarre Vizsla has the potential to inspire countless IP tie-ins, books, comics, and multi-chapter fanfictions (this writer here attempted and failed that endeavor). When the Armorer informs the titular Din Djarin about the Darksaber’s initial user and creator in Chapter 5 of “The Book of Boba Fett,” she invokes the a thousand-year-old legend of Mandalorian Jedi Tarre Vizsla. This legend is recognisable to viewers of the live-action Star Wars TV universe.
Viewers of “Star Wars: Rebels” have previously heard the legend of Tarre Vizsla. Its inclusion in a recent episode of “The Book of Boba Fett”—which is actually a not-so-subtle extended teaser for “The Mandalorian”—is intriguing.
In conclusion, Din Djarin is now the owner of Tarre Vizsla’s blade after unintentionally defeating Imperial Moff Gideon in combat and winning the Darksaber. Tradition holds that the only way to take the Darksaber from him is through a fair fight, which Tarre’s ancestor Paz Vizsla attempted but failed to do. What do we know about the Darksaber’s original maker and wielder, though, despite the fact that it is the focal point of Mandalorian conflict?
The Haze of History
Tarre Vizsla, who lived during the time of the Old Republic, originally appeared as a parrying silhouette in the “Rebels” season three episode “Trials of the Darksaber,” which is regarded as one of the best animated Star Wars scenes and highlights the legendary malleability of history.
Like many Padawans, Tarre Vizsla drew inspiration from his past when creating his lightsaber. The revelation made in “Book of Boba Fett” is that the Darksaber hilt is made of beskar, the Mandalorian metal that is smelted into the Mandalorian sigil armour. Another revelation is made when Tarre reappears as a statue in a “Forces of Destiny” short: he is considered as the monarch of Mandalore, explaining how the Darksaber came to be associated with leadership. His administration’s elaborate specifics are largely kept a secret.
Tarre appeared to have built his sabre (whether intentionally or unintentionally; it’s unknown if he ever intended for a legacy to carry his sabre) for a person of mental toughness. The sabre will literally weigh down the user and make it difficult for them to fight for people who struggle with self-worth. In “Rebels,” Sabine Wren experiences its weight, which exemplifies it. When it slows Din Djarin down in battle, he also receives a painful leg burn as retribution.
It is significant to note that the Darksaber is a remnant of contested ownership, its purpose having been altered, appropriated, reshaped, and corrupted by a line of owners. After Tarre’s death, Tarre’s own House Vizsla (a group of devoted clans) broke into the Jedi Temple, liberated (the Mandalorian Protector Fenn Rau’s use of the word “liberated” here is significant), and unleashed the Darksaber on their enemies. This occurred during the Fall of the Old Republic.
The Bloody Legacy of the Darksaber
Tarre wouldn’t be pleased with his kin. His ancestor Pre Vizsla, later leader of House Vizsla and the Death Watch terrorist group, would flaunt the blade to kill Jedi, ambush Obi-Wan Kenobi, and commit atrocities on Carlac, as seen in “The Clone Wars” television series. Fallen Sith Maul would later defeat Pre in a duel for the blade, seizing control of Mandalore for a brief period of time. The blade was later recovered from Maul’s lair on Dathomir by Sabine Wren of Clan Wren during the Galactic Empire’s rule. Bo-Katan Kryze was then given it by Sabine using her judgement based on the latter’s experience as a leader and the promises of support from the Mandalorian warrior clans. However, Kryze would misplace the Darksaber after the Night of a Thousand Tears, and it would end up in Gideon’s evil hands.
Tarre Vizsla finds himself in an intriguing intersection because of his dual identities as a Mandalorian warrior and a Jedi. The conflicts between Jedi and Mandalorians that existed prior to his induction into the Jedi Temple continued even after his passing. To match or rival the abilities of the Jedi “enemy sorcerers,” as Djarin perceives them in the Armorer’s tale, Mandalorians forged and smelted the beskar armour and weapons. This brings up some issues that could prove to be a gold (beskar) mine for anyone attempting the IP novel. How did Jedi spy on young Tarre? A clan of Mandalorians wouldn’t likely approve of a kid joining their rival sorcerers. Tarre was a member of a reputed clan. Tarre is acknowledged by Paz Vizsla as a “founder” of the mighty House Vizsla. Was he a child?
How did Tarre get around inside a Jedi Temple? He harvested the kyber crystal needed to power the Darksaber, but how? How much support did Tarre ultimately receive from the Jedi Council to participate in the politics of his homeworld and eventually become its ruler? It’s possible to speculate that Vizsla’s admission into the Jedi Order and her arrival in Mandalore served to ease tensions between the Jedi and Mandalorians.
The legacy of Tarre Vizsla on Mandalorian history is immeasurable. However, other from the much contested Darksaber, there is still no in-universe discussion of Tarre Vizsla’s politics or behaviours. The extremist Death Watch (which may have ties to the Children of the Watch as indicated by the armour insignia of Mandos who rescued a young Djarin), Bo-Katan Kryze’s splintered Nite Owls from Death Watch, and New Mandalorians under Satine Kryze’s pacifist rule which renounced weapons and beskar armor—all of these Mandalorians sects and practises were illuminated by “Star Wars.” Ask any Mandalorian their extensive view on Tarre Vizsla’s historical influence, and you can be sure to get different responses.
Tarre Vizsla’s Eyes on the Future
Even though Tarre Vizsla is a ghost, he is the ghost who lights up people who are close to the Darksaber. Notably, adoptive father figures are usually the ones who absorb Tarre Vizsla’s story anytime his name has been mentioned so far (apart from “Forces of Destiny”). On-screen, Kanan Jarrus, the Jedi who taught Sabine Wren to use the sabre, was the one who originally received the legend of Tarre Vizsla. The Armorer now relays the information to Djarin, Grogu’s Mandalorian protector.
One of the best “Rebels” episodes, “Trials of the Darksaber,” makes the point that your perspective and ethos in the galaxy are shaped by your family, whether by blood or by adoption. Sabine is a misfit Mandalorian who was unofficially “adopted” by a Jedi and trained with a lightsaber despite not being Force-sensitive. Grogu is a Force-sensitive non-human Jedi youngling who is adopted by a Mando in beskar, in a reversal of Sabine’s upbringing. Djarin bestows Mandalorian heirlooms, including his Mando pendant and later, the beskar chainmail armour crafted by the Armorer, as a result of Grogu and Djarin’s very strong bond. Although Djarin has paired Grogu with the Jedi Luke Skywalker, Djarin is determined to keep Grogu’s Mandalorian connections in the forefront of his mind.
The weapon of Tarre Vizsla is put on a cloudy course as season 1 of “The Book of Boba Fett” ends and season 3 of “The Mandalorian” looms in the distance. The biggest difficulty is that Djarin has yet to develop the mental focus necessary to successfully use the Darksaber. The Armorer preaches, “Your body is strong, but your mind is preoccupied.” This is probably related to his internal struggles with his Mandalorian identity, including the fact that the Children of the Watch reject him despite the fact that he still upholds the beskar’s beliefs. Fans believe that the noble Din Djarin, a Mando who was not descended from a powerful bloodline, is the perfect person to unite the different types of divided Mandalorians in order to reconstruct Mandalore. He cherishes solidarity, for one, while being a loner. Two, he might be able to learn more about Mandalorian history if he lives up to the Darksaber’s symbolism of Mandalorian leadership. Din’s background undermines the nobility ties that frequently go along with the Vizslas’ claim to the sword and leadership, much to Paz Vizsla’s dismay.
If Moff Gideon’s taunt serves as any indication, Grogu might be the protagonist’s choice to use the Darksaber (hopefully not involving him defeating Djarin). Thematically, it makes sense. One Mandalorian’s cohesive Mando-Jedi history is represented by the Darksaber. Luke Skywalker presents Grogu with two options in Chapter 6 of “The Book of Boba Fett”: the conventional lightsaber or the beskar chainmail armour. Grogu may be reconciling his Mandalorian upbringing with his Jedi heritage as he matures, and the Darksaber would be the ideal emblem to represent this.
Can you imagine Tarre having to learn how to use his own blade while travelling between two worlds? He continues to be omnipresent, a historical influence, and a treasure store of interest. Even though he joined the Cosmic Force, his connection to Grogu and Din Djarin is important. He is the ghost who keeps an ever-changing future for the two Djarin clans in check. He is a Jedi, a Mandalorian, a king, and an ancestor.
