The Duchess
In "Heroes of Mandalore" (Rebels 4.1-2), Sabine Wren and Bo-Katan Kryze fight to destroy an experimental weapon that the Empire is using to target Mandalorian beskar armor. Sabine created the weapon during her time at the Imperial Academy and, provocatively, named it "The Duchess" after Bo-Katan's sister, Duchess Satine Kryze. Given what Satine stood for, the name is darkly, ironically appropriate.
In The Clone Wars, Duchess Satine's pacifist government attempted to distance Mandalore from its warlike history and traditions. She was opposed by Pre Vizsla, leader of the Death Watch, who summed up his followers' beliefs in "Eminence" (The Clone Wars 5.14): "We are the Death Watch, descendants of the true warrior faith all Mandalorians once knew. Now my people are living in exile because we will not abandon our heritage. Our people were warriors – strong, feared. Now they're ruled by the new Mandalorians who think that being a pacifist is a good thing. They've given away our honor and tradition for peace. Duchess Satine and her corrupt leadership are crushing our souls, destroying our identity."
According to Pre Vizsla, Duchess Satine's government threatened the Mandalorians' heritage, tradition, and cultural identity. When Grand Admiral Thrawn sees Sabine's "Duchess" at work, he observes: "It turns an armor legendary for its strength into a crippling weakness, and it strikes at the very heart of your people's tradition." His assessment of Sabine's "Duchess" recalls Pre Vizsla's assessment of Duchess Satine. Much like Duchess Satine's pacifist principles flew in the face of the Mandalorians' warlike traditions, Sabine's "Duchess" literally attacks their traditional beskar armor, the physical representation of their cultural identity as warriors.
EXPLORE FURTHER…
Characters: Duchess Satine Kryze / Pre Vizsla / Sabine Wren
Shows: The Clone Wars / Rebels
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Concepts: Mandalorians / names / tradition / war and peace
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