Many Star Wars fans have already known about the Darksaber from Star Wars Legends books, and from both animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. However, new fans may not know about who previously had the Darksaber, and how it ended up in Moff Gideon’s possession.
The Darksaber was created by Tarre Vizsla over a thousand years ago. Tarre Vizsla was the first Mandalorian to be inducted into the Jedi Order. After Vizsla’s passing, the Jedi kept the saber in their temple, where it remained safe until House Vizsla came, and liberated it during the fall of the Old Republic. The saber was used to unify their people, and defeat those who were against them. It became a well-respected symbol of House Vizsla by all Mandalorian’s.
The Darksaber was passed down from generations to generations until it ended up in the hands of Pre Vizsla, leader of the Death Watch, and House Vizsla, we see this occur in The Clone Wars. Pre Vizsla used the saber in a conflict with the new Mandalorians, and took over Mandalore. Also in The Clone Wars we witness Darth Maul’s battle with Pre Vizsla, killing him in combat, and obtaining the Darksaber.
Maul was later defeated by his former master Darth Sidious, and was held at the Spire, a Separatist prison on Stygeon Prime. Maul was later rescued from the Spire by Prime Minister Almec. He was taken back to Zanbar and the Darksaber was returned to him. Maul used the Darksaber in many battles after that.
In Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Sabine Wren discovered the Darksaber in the Nightsister’s Lair on Dathomir. Sabine trained with the Darksaber with Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus. Sabine became the rightful wielder of the Darksaber after defeating Imperial Viceroy Gar Saxon. However, not wanting the conditions in which wielding the Darksaber meant, she later gave the Darksaber to Bo-Katan, so they could begin their efforts to restore Mandalore.
However, between those events to the events of Moff Gideon, Bo-Katan lost the Darksaber after the destruction of Mandalore. For those who have watched the series finale of The Mandalorian (spoilers coming), we witnessed Mando (Din Djarin), defeat Moff Gideon in combat, and therefore being the new wielder of the Darksaber, and rightful ruler of Mandalore. Din not wanting the burden of the Darksaber, attempted to yield it to Bo-Katan, who refused to accept it, making Din Djarin the rightful ruler of Mandalore. We can expect season 3 to clarify what Mando will do with this responsibility, and whether Bo-Katan will challenge him for the saber.
What happens next? The Mandalorian season 3, returns December 2021 on Disney+.