Satine Kryze

Satine Kryze, a human female Mandalorian, was the Duchess of Kalevala and the pacifistic ruler of the New Mandalorians and the planet Mandalore during the final decades of the Galactic Republic Era. Believing that change was Mandalore's only hope for a future, she longed to move her people beyond their violent warrior history. Although Mandalore prospered under her leadership, her goals made her a controversial figure and she faced opposition from Mandalorian groups who rejected her peaceful ideology. As the widespread Clone Wars raged across the galaxy, Kryze attempted in vain to keep Mandalore out of the conflict. One of the primary and most vocal critics of the war, she fought against the rising extremism and militarism that threatened her world. The burden of peace cost Kryze nearly everything as the war continued, and she ultimately fell victim to the forces that conspired to take her down.

A major advocate of the New Mandalorian movement in her youth, Kryze became the leader of Mandalore following the Mandalorian Civil War between the reformist New Mandalorians and the Mandalorian warriors of tradition. The war cost an immense loss of life, and Kryze led Mandalore through reconstruction, helping the planet rebuild into a peaceful society. Her actions continued to face opposition from insurgent groups, most actively the terrorist group Death Watch, among whose members was Kryze's estranged sister Bo-Katan. While Mandalore maintained its peace and prospered under Kryze, the Republic began to fracture and entered war with the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Kryze chose not to choose a side in the conflict, making sure that Mandalore was neutral and becoming the leader of the Council of Neutral Systems. This move earned Kryze criticism from both the Republic and Confederacy, both of whom considered Mandalore to be a crucial asset to their war efforts.

The Clone Wars tested Kryze's leadership to its limit, with her planet facing supply shortages and an increase in terrorist activity by the Death Watch. The threat of the Death Watch led the Republic to consider occupying Mandalore, but Kryze knew that the Republic had, in reality, only wanted access to the system and that an occupation would only bring the war with it. Despite political setbacks, assassination attempts, and even an arrest warrant being levied against her, Kryze managed to appeal to the Republic Senate and halt the occupation before it could begin. Kryze's efforts also brought about the end of the Death Watch threat for a time. Mandalore continued to face issues as the war continued, with the growing presence of a black market on the planet and corruption among Kryze's fellow leaders. Kryze's defense of neutrality alienated her from the Republic and, although not many, she managed to find allies to help her deal with the crises, including her close friend, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, with whom she had a complicated past.

As the war raged on, the Death Watch became affiliated with the rogue Sith Lord Maul, who brought together several crime families to aid them in defeating Kryze once and for all. Known as the Shadow Collective, Maul led Death Watch leader Pre Vizsla and their militia to Mandalore's capital, tearing through the city and causing chaos. Kryze was deposed and arrested, though infighting among Death Watch brought about the death of Vizsla by Maul's hand as well as the defection of Bo-Katan. Bo-Katan freed Kryze from prison, and the two reconciled in order to find a way to rid Mandalore of Maul. The rescue was short-lived, though before her recapture Kryze was able to contact Kenobi on Coruscant. Maul, having a lust for revenge against Kenobi for an incident from years earlier, murdered the captive Kryze in front of the Jedi. Kryze died in Kenobi's arms, proclaiming her love for her friend as her government lay in ruin and Mandalore's era of peace and pacifism ended.

Text and facts from the “Satine Kryze” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.