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'The Mandalorian': The Darksaber from 'Star Wars' and its significance in Mandalorian culture explained

The ancient Mandalorian weapon has a legendary history and has been around for centuries

Spoiler alert for Episode 8 of 'The Mandalorian' 

Longtime 'Star Wars' fans, particularly fans of 'Star Wars: Clone Wars' and 'Star Wars: Rebels' were in for a surprise treat in the season finale of 'The Mandalorian'.

In its final moments, Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) carves his way out of a damaged TIE fighter using none other than the legendary Mandalorian weapon: the Darksaber. 

It is a dramatic enough weapon on its own — even the most basic 'Star Wars' fan is aware of the significance of lightsabers in the 'Star Wars' universe, and the black, buzzing blade surrounded by silver static sets it apart from all of them.

What they might not be aware of, however, is just how important that weapon is to the legacy of the Mandalorians.

According to legend, the weapon was first forged over a millennium ago by Tarre Vizsla, who was the first Mandalorian Jedi in the history of the Jedi Order.

The weapon was stored in a Jedi Temple for centuries but was stolen by the Vizsla clan many centuries later after the Jedi Order fell. It grew to be a symbol of Mandalorian power and authority and was used by many to unite Mandalorian clans through its long history of cultural civil wars. 

For a while, it was wielded by Darth Maul, who took control of Mandalore after the rise of the Empire. Sometime after the Empire had established a hold over the galaxy, the Darksaber was stolen by a Mandalorian weapons expert named Sabine Wren, who would later pass the weapon on to Bo-Katan Kryze. 

Bo-Katan Kryze was the last person to be seen wielding the Darksaber, and she used it to reunite all of Mandalore. The fact that Moff Gideon is in possession of it now does not bode well for Mandalore.

The Darksaber may be one of the weapons retrieved by the Empire in "The Purge" that the show continues to refer to, which sent the Mandalorians into hiding and saw the Empire take control of its Beskar Steel. 

It is possible that Din Djarin, Mandalorian's protagonist, does not even know of the Darksaber's existence, given how little he knows of the existence of Jedi warriors and the weapons they wielded.

If he does, however, then it is just another reason to mark Moff Gideon as an enemy, as the weapon so sacred to Mandalore is once again in the hands of its enemies.