The Mandalorian resistance was a dissident group of Mandalorians formed by Lady Bo-Katan Kryze, leader of Clan Kryze and the former regent of the planet Mandalore, during the Imperial Era. Following the death of Imperial Governor Tiber Saxon, Kryze gained possession of the Darksaber and united the clans under her rule to oppose the Empire. However, their rebellion resulted in the Great Purge. Kryze's subsequent failure to retrieve the darksaber during the strike on Gideon's light cruiser resulted in the resistance refusing to obey her, disbanding into a mercenary force. Hired as protection for the world of Plazir-15, the group worked as a Mandalorian garrison in defense of the planet, until Bo-Katan returned and with the help of Din Djarin she reclaimed her forces, as well as the Darksaber.
Following the Clone Wars and the transformation of the Galactic Republic into the Galactic Empire, Lady Bo-Katan Kryze acted as Regent of Mandalore. Appointed by the Jedi, she refused to comply with the Imperial occupation of Mandalore, causing another wave of violence and was betrayed by Clan Saxon. Clan Saxon allied itself to the Galactic Empire, and Gar Saxon was placed as Viceroy and Governor of the planet.
Roughly two decades later during the Age of the Empire, a skirmish on Krownest between Imperial Super Commandos led by Saxon and members of Clan Wren left the viceroy dead and his forces defeated. As a result, a civil war erupted between the Mandalorians. By 1 BBY, Clan Kryze and the Nite Owls had joined Clan Wren, the Mandalorian Protectors represented by Fenn Rau, and members of the Rebel Alliance in combatting Clan Saxon and the Empire. Following Governor Tiber Saxon's use of the AT-DP Arc Cannon Prototype against Mandalorians and his subsequent death, Clan Eldar, Clan Vizsla, Clan Rook, and others pledged allegiance to Kryze after she was given the Darksaber and took up the title of Mand'alor. As the leader of the Mandalorians, Kryze led the newly formed Mandalorian resistance in an effort to liberate Mandalore from the Galactic Empire.
Bo-Katan Kryze led a team of the Mandalorian resistance after the Galactic Civil War.
Following two bombings and the Empire destroying ships leaving Mandalore, many Mandalorian recruits were killed during the Night of a Thousand Tears by Imperial gunships outfitted with E-Web heavy repeating blaster cannons. Kryze decided to meet with ISB officer, Moff Gideon to discuss a cease-fire. In exchange for Mandalore to disarm itself, the Mandalorians and their cities would spared. However, Gideon took the Darksaber from her.
Understanding that they would be unable to control Mandalore, the Empire launched the Great Purge of Mandalore against the Mandalorians. Kryze and her people fought against their attempted genocide, though the Imperial campaign ultimately ended with the deaths of most Mandalorians. Several scattered groups survived, including a unit led by Kryze, who sought to reunite her people, reclaim the Darksaber from Imperial Moff Gideon, and retake her throne and world. Having accepted the saber as a gift and then presided over the fall of Mandalore, Kryze was determined to win the blade by combat, thereby proving her worth as a leader.
While Kryze and two of her companions, Axe Woves and Koska Reeves, were hunting Gideon on the planet Trask, they met the Mandalorian Child of the Watch Din Djarin, who was sent by his people to return the Force-sensitive foundling Grogu to the Jedi, and saved him from a gang of Quarrens. Kryze agreed to help Djarin with his quest, if he could help the resistance in their mission to hijack a Gozanti-class Assault Carrier. Kryze tried to convince him to join them, but Djarin refused, as he was seeking a Jedi to train Grogu. Kryze told him to go to Corvus, where he could find Ahsoka Tano.
After Grogu was captured by Gideon, Djarin and his new companion Boba Fett found Kryze and Koska on Lafete and asked them to help them rescue Grogu. They accepted, because Djarin told them that they had coordinates for his light cruiser so Kryze can reclaim the Darksaber from the Moff. Kryze, Reeves with the help of Carasynthia Dune and Fennec Shand infiltrated Gideon's cruiser and made their way to the bridge, fighting against stormtroopers along the way, while Djarin alone snuck to Grogu's cell, only for Gideon to ambush him with with the Darksaber. After defeating Gideon, Djarin became the new owner of the Darksaber, inadvertently ruining Kryze's plans to reclaim the blade. Eventually the Dark Troopers, who were ejected into space earlier by Djarin, returned to the ship and trapped them on the bridge. When the Dark Troopers were about to breach the blast doors, the Mandalorians were rescued by the Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, who took Grogu to train him as his Padawan.
Because Kryze had failed to recover the Darksaber, her forces abandoned her, leading to a temporary dissolution of the Mandalorian resistance. Taking the Mandalorian fleet with them, the forces that Kryze had gathered became mercenaries and made their way through the galaxy, finding numerous jobs from various individuals who paid very well. Kryze returned to Kalevala, where she took up residence in Kryze Castle with the intention of staying there alone. Convinced to head off-world and help Djarin once more, she returned to see a massive force of TIE starfighters destroy her castle.
Kryze was able to reunite the Mandalorian privateers with the Darksaber.
The fleet assembled on Plazir-15, where they were hired to serve as the planet's standing army. While garrisoned on Plazir-15, they remained willing to take on other jobs. Some of the Mandalorians departed the planet to track down and capture a Quarren freighter helmed by Captain Shuggoth in order to bring back a Mon Calamari nobleman's son. When Kryze traveled to Plazir-15 to reclaim her fleet, she challenged Woves to single combat and emerged victorious. With Djarin forfeiting the Darksaber due to his defeat at the hands of a cyborg on Mandalore which Kryze subsequently eliminated, Kryze was able to reclaim the blade, as well as her forces.
The Mandalorian resistance united with the Tribe on Nevarro before traveling to Mandalore. Upon arrival, the Mandalorians discovered Gideon's secret base. After a battle with Imperial forces, the Mandalorians were able to reclaim their homeworld.
- Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy
- Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian — "Making of Season Two"