The Unveiling of Mandalore's Timeline & its Intricate Ties to Palpatine's Secret Post-OT Agenda

Summary

At the conclusion of the Galactic Civil War, following the pivotal Battle of Endor, the event widely known as the Great Purge of Mandalore occurred, signifying a significant shift for a faction of Mandalorians who embraced religious extremism.

The Mandalore Purge is intertwined with Emperor Palpatine's contingency plans, referred to as Operation: Cinder - a scheme aimed at punishing the Empire's failures and adversaries.

The timeline of the Grand Purge clarifies the absence of any assistance for Mandalore, as it took place amidst the turmoil of Operation: Cinder. This new information presents the event as a recent happening, in contrast to the previous notion that it transpired long before the events of The Mandalorian season 1.

Ahsoka episode 8 provides an update on the timeline of the Purge of Mandalore, revealing its connection to Emperor Palpatine's contingency plans after the original trilogy. The Purge of Mandalore, which was mentioned in The Mandalorian, was a genocidal attack by the Empire that resulted in the loss of many Mandalorian lives and the Empire's control over their planet. Although Mandalore is eventually reclaimed in The Mandalorian season 3, the Great Purge permanently altered the course of Mandalore and its people.

In Ahsoka episode 4, Baylan Skoll highlights that the tension between Ahsoka and Sabine in the early episodes of the show is rooted in the Purge of Mandalore. Ahsoka episode 8 further explores this plot point by delving into Sabine and Ahsoka's relationship and connecting the show to The Mandalorian and the original trilogy. The exact timeline of the Purge of Mandalore is confirmed in Ahsoka's finale, offering important context to the event within the broader Star Wars timeline.

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The Great Purge Happened At The Very End Of The Galactic Civil War

The events of The Mandalorian season 1 frequently revolved around the significant historical event known as the Great Purge of Mandalore. Once a formidable force before the Galactic Civil War, Mandalore's decline into the religious extremist group called the Children of the Watch was attributed to this devastating event. Throughout The Mandalorian, it became evident that Bo-Katan Kryze and her allies were among the few Mandalorians who survived the Great Purge. However, the exact timing of this event remained enigmatic.

In a surprising twist, Ahsoka episode 8 sheds light on the timing of the Great Purge, clearing up any previous uncertainties. Prior to this episode, the exact placement of the Purge of Mandalore within the Star Wars timeline remained somewhat ambiguous. It was vaguely mentioned to have occurred between the events of Return of the Jedi and the first season of The Mandalorian, during the five-year period between the two projects in the Star Wars universe. However, in Ahsoka episode 8, Huyang confirms that the Great Purge actually took place immediately following the Galactic Civil War, right after the Battle of Endor in 4ABY.

In the larger Star Wars lore, it is understood that the Empire persisted in a somewhat functional state for roughly a year after the Battle of Endor. It was not until the decisive Battle of Jakku in 5ABY that the Empire was ultimately defeated, paving the way for the establishment of the New Republic. This context helps to rationalize how the Empire still possessed enough power to perpetrate such a heinous act against Mandalore at the conclusion of the war. Moreover, this revelation ties the Great Purge to a broader narrative within the Star Wars universe, involving the Emperor's posthumous plans following his defeat in Return of the Jedi.

The Great Purge Connects To Emperor Palpatine's Contingency Plans

Huyang's revelation in episode 8 of Ahsoka confirms the connection between the Purge of Mandalore and Palpatine's contingency plans following his death. These plans, known as Operation: Cinder in the Star Wars franchise, have been partially mentioned in The Mandalorian season 2, episode 7, and explored further in the video game Star Wars: Battlefront II. As a consequence of failing to prevent his demise, Emperor Palpatine implemented this operation, resulting in devastating orbital bombardments on numerous Imperial-controlled planets, claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of Imperials and even more innocent civilians.

Huyang's disclosure sheds light on the correlation between the Great Purge mentioned in Ahsoka episode 8 and Operation: Cinder. It becomes apparent that Palpatine's post-original trilogy plans were aimed at punishing those he considered failures to the Empire or his adversaries. Mandalore, having proved to be the latter on several occasions, faced the wrath of the Empire due to their inability to subdue the Mandalorians. Consequently, the destruction of the planet shortly after the Galactic Civil War can be linked to the tragic events of Operation: Cinder.

The Great Purge's Timeline Explains Why No One Helped Mandalore

The revelation in episode 8 of Ahsoka sheds light on why no one came to Mandalore's aid during the attack. The unclear timeline placement of the event made it odd that there were no allies present. However, the Great Purge, which occurred after the Galactic Civil War during Operation: Cinder, explains why Mandalore was left to defend itself. The timing of the Great Purge suggests that the rest of the galaxy was also dealing with significant crises. Operation: Cinder affected numerous planets, and the official formation of the New Republic did not come until a year later. Therefore, individual planets and Rebellion forces had to handle Palpatine's contingency plan on their own, likely stretching their resources thin. This explains why no one was able to assist Mandalore during the attack, which was conducted in secret under Moff Gideon's plan for control.

The Purge Of Mandalore's Timeline Changes How You See It

In addition to providing in-universe context to the Purge of Mandalore, Ahsoka episode 8's timeline reveal also shifts Star Wars fans' perception of it. Previously, references to the Great Purge in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett were unclear in terms of when it occurred. This ambiguity led to the belief that the Great Purge was a distant event in Mandalore's ancient history, despite the off-hand mentions. However, Ahsoka episode 8 reveals that the attack took place only a few years before the first season of The Mandalorian.

Although this aligns with what is already known about Mandalore's situation between the original trilogy and The Mandalorian, it is important to note that the Great Purge was a relatively recent occurrence. The portrayal of the Night of a Thousand Tears initially suggested that it happened much earlier, possibly during the events of the original trilogy, given the absence of Mandalorians in the Galactic Civil War. However, Ahsoka episode 8 debunks this notion, highlighting that the event transpired only a few years before The Mandalorian and reshaping our understanding of how rapidly the Star Wars galaxy can undergo immense changes.

All episodes of Ahsoka are now streaming on Disney+.