Years after the premiere ofStar Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones,Star Warsstill continues to flesh outJango Fett’s backstory in canon, and it has recently done so again. As the genetic template of theGalactic Republic’s revered clone army, Jango had amassed quite a reputation for himself by becoming a warrior worth replicating by the million. Now that hisStar WarsLegendsbackstory is no longer canon,Star Warshas been working to reveal more and more about his life in the years before the clone army’s creation.
Marc Sumerak’sStar Wars: The Secrets of the Clone Troopersis the most recent resource that has collected information about Jango Fett’s backstory, confirming events that may have otherwise been thought to be either rooted solely in Legends or simply hinted at in other media. As a book told from the clone Captain Rex’s perspective, Jango’s history is reflected upon with plenty of admiration, though it still doesn’t shy away from the uglier parts of it too. Here’s everythingStar Warshas revealed and confirmed about Jango Fett’s backstory inThe Secrets of the Clone Troopers.
Jango Fett Was A Mandalorian Foundling
He Was Adopted By A Mandalorian Clan
The earliest part of Jango’s history goes back to when he was adopted into a Mandalorian clan as a child and thus became aMandalorian foundling. This information was first confirmed inStar Warscanon inThe Mandalorianseason 2, when Boba Fett was able to pull up his family history via his chain code forDin Djarinto see after retrieving his armor from the Mandalorian’s ship. Din Djarin, also a Mandalorian foundling, was quick to spot Jango’s foundling origin, though this was far from the only thing in Jango’s past that was included in this display.
Jango Fett’s Star Wars History In Canon & Legends Explained
Jango Fett has a dark and intriguing history in the Star Wars canon and Legends continuities, expanding his role in the Star Wars saga.
Though not specified inThe Secrets of the Clone Troopersbook, as Rex likely wouldn’t have known this information,Boba’s chain code inThe Mandalorianalso displayed the name of Jaster Mereel, the man who saved Jango after his parents diedand became his Mandalorian mentor and father inStar WarsLegends. It’s more than likely, then, that Jaster Mereel remains this figure in Jango’s life as a foundling inStar Warscanon. While this aspect of Jango’s canon backstory may still be awaiting confirmation, it still stands that Jango began his Mandalorian life as a foundling.
Jango Fett Earned His Mandalorian Armor
It Wasn’t Freely Given
Another aspect of Jango’s backstory that’s confirmed inThe Secrets of the Clone Troopersis the fact that Jango had to earn the Mandalorian armor he wears inAttack of the Clones. Rex says that this happened on account of Jango’s participation in the Mandalorian Civil Wars, which follows along with Mandalorian culture and history that have already been detailed in shows likeThe Mandalorian. BecauseMandalorian beskaris so sacred,it cannot be worn by just anyone, and it sounds as if Jango proved himself worthy of it during this major conflict.
Wearing beskar without taking the Mandalorian Creed was considered disrespectful enough in Mandalorian culture to warrant death, as seen with Din Djarin and Cobb Vanth’s initial meeting inThe Mandalorianseason 2.
Though the importance of beskar armor in Mandalorian culture has long since been established inStar WarsLegends,The Mandalorianprovides a clear look at what it might have been like for Jango to earn his armor during this conflict. Jango would likely have sustained great damage to whatever armor he wore during this conflict, and whatever had happened to cause that damage would have been revered enough by the Mandalorians for him to earn a fitting beskar replacement (and, in some cases, a signet). This was exemplified by Din Djarin’s fight against the mudhorn inThe Mandalorianseason 1.
Jango Fett Fought In The Mandalorian Civil Wars
He Became A True Warrior
If Jango earned his Mandalorian armor during the Mandalorian Civil Wars, then he obviously must have fought during that conflict. There isn’t much that’s known about the Mandalorian Civil Wars in canon just yet, but Legends can help to supplement that missing information with the story it tells. In Legends, the Mandalorian Civil War saw the True Mandalorians, formed by Jaster Mereel, facing off against the brutal Death Watch terrorist group. This is the same group that rose again during the Clone Wars, though this conflict preceded that by many years.
The Mandalorian Civil War & Death Watch Cult Explained
The Mandalorian Civil War is a key event in the history of the Mandalorians and their Death Watch splinter group in both Star Wars canon and Legends.
Jango lost a lot to the Death Watch in Legends, from his original birth parents and older sister to his adoptive father, Jaster Mereel. If this continues to be the case in canon later on, then it makes his achievements during this conflict even more impressive, and certainly explains how his contributions earned him Mandalorian beskar. Fighting in such brutal battles is hard enough, but to do so amidst such heavy loss and devastation is even more difficult.Jango’s resilience during this time no doubt cemented his warrior strength, which he went on to use in another area.
Jango Fett Was The Galaxy’s Best Bounty Hunter
His Reputation Proceeded Him
After the Mandalorian Civil Wars, Jango had the chance to use his warrior skills to build up his career as a bounty hunter.Rex insists that Jango became “one of the galaxy’s premier bounty hunters,“which is what ultimately led to Jango being approached with the offer to become the genetic template of the clone army. According to Rex, Jango’s reputation dictated that there wasn’t a single target he couldn’t either track or take down, though - as any good bounty hunter would agree - that still depended on how good the price was for the work he was doing.
This canon information still aligns with Jango’s bounty hunting career inStar WarsLegends, maintaining the belief that Jango was truly one of thebest bounty huntersof his time prior toAttack of the Clones. It does seem that, closer to the events ofAttack of the Clones, Jango focused more on raising Boba in Tipoca City and overseeing the development of the training programs used to prepare the clone army than he did his bounty hunting career. Perhaps this hiatus can be used to help explain whyJango Fetthired various levels of help in assassinating Padmé Amidala.
Purchase Marc Sumerak’s Star Wars: The Secrets of the Clone Troopers on Amazon
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
