Taris Siege

The Taris Siege was the name given to the Mandalorian invasion of the Outer Rim planet of Taris in 3963 BBY, one of the first major offensives in the Mandalorian Wars between the Galactic Republic and the Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders. A world filled with Republic business interests, Taris was threatened by the growing Mandalorian empire on the Outer Rim and was subsequently granted full Republic membership and an unreasonably long, undermanned security cordon in the months leading up to the battle. Taris' security situation was untenable, and after the massacre of several Jedi Padawans at Taris' Jedi Tower led to the removal of Jedi presence on the world and the breakdown of social order, Mandalore the Ultimate finally took the initiative to attack. After opening a path to Taris by invading nearby Vanquo as a diversionary tactic, the Mandalorian forces met a reformed, weakened Republic armada hurriedly put together by Admirals Jimas Veltraa and Noma Sommos over Taris. Veltraa was killed and Sommos grievously wounded in the failed Republic defense—no further Republic help ever came, and the Mandalorian force commenced with a massive bombardment of Taris' Upper and Middle Cities.

Weeks of bombing were followed by a full-scale ground invasion personally coordinated by chief Mandalorian strategist Cassus Fett, as the invaders captured the Upper and Middle Cities without serious opposition. They faced much greater difficulty in trying to seize the Lower City, where local swoop gangs such as the Hidden Beks used their familiarity with the environment to their advantage, and Senator Haydel Goravvus went to battle with his owned armed resistance force, which had aid from surviving law enforcement and a Jedi Master, Raana Tey. Goravvus' resistance and the Hidden Beks wound up joining forces with the help of Republic fugitives Zayne Carrick and Marn Hierogryph, and together plotted to assassinate Fett—however, Fett beat them to the punch, launching a devastating surprise attack on the Resistance's base in the Lower City and effectively crushing Goravvus' band. Left without serious resistance, the Mandalorians succeeded in conquering Taris and occupied the planet for several years, until the Jedi Knight Revan liberated the planet in a Republic counteroffensive in 3961–3960 BBY.

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