Mandalorian mercenary

Mandalorian mercenaries, known informally as Mandalorian Mercs, were some of the finest soldiers-for-hire in the Galaxy.

After the Mandalorians were defeated by the Galactic Republic during the Mandalorian Wars in the year 3,960 BBY, the Jedi Knight Revan disarmed and disbanded the Mandalorian Clans, and allowed them to scatter in disheartened groups across the Outer Rim Territories. There, devoid of leadership and honor, they degenerated. A few Mandalorian Neo-Crusader survivors returned to the Mandalore system, but many veterans, including Canderous Ordo, humbled their pride and became mercenaries for hire.

Gathering in small groups, sometimes organized by clan, the skilled Mandalorian Mercs became highly sought after in the aftermath of the Mandalorian Wars. During the Jedi Civil War and the First Jedi Purge, they gathered on Kashyyk, Dantooine, Nar Shada, Manaan, and many other worlds where they hired themselves out to the Sith, the Republic, and various criminal organizations such as the Exchange.

At some point between the years 3,955 and 3,953 BBY, Canderous Ordo returned to the former Mandalorian headquarters of Dxun and began to rebuild Clan Ordo. Through skill in arms and sheer cunning, he rose to the rank of Mandalore and began to gather the remaining Mandalorian Clans]]. While journeying with the Jedi Exile during the First Jedi Purge, he was able to convince several groups of mandalorian mercenaries to give up their independence and join themselves to his cause.

It is unknown how many mandalorians Canderous eventually managed to recruit, but in any case, Mandalorian mercenaries became a traditional part of Mandalorian society and they continued to operate for millennia.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords