Mandalore the Vindicated Artus Lok was a Human male Mandalorian warrior of Clan Lok who lived during the Great Galactic War , a galaxy - wide conflict between the Galactic Republic and the resurgent Sith Empire . Sometime after the signing of the Treaty of Coruscant , the reigning Mandalore — seeking to regain support after being defeated during the Blockade of the Hydian Way — organized a competition for glory known as the Great Hunt , which was held on a galactic scale . Artus eventually became the Grand Champion of the Great Hunt , and challenged the Mandalore to a duel in the gladiatorial arenas on the planet Geonosis . He successfully killed the Mandalorian leader and took the title of Mandalore the Vindicated . He began to consolidate his power over the Mandalorian clans , destroying an uprising led by Jicoln Cadera , who believed the Mandalorians should support the Republic . After defeating Cadera ' s faction , Mandalore the Vindicated ensured that his Mandalorians remained allies of the Sith Empire . Biography . Artus Lok , a Human male , was a Mandalorian warrior who lived during the Great Galactic War , which was a galactic conflict between the Galactic Republic and the resurgent Sith Empire . Seven years prior to the Sacking of Coruscant , the reigning Mandalore — who was a puppet ruler secretly serving the Sith Empire — was defeated during the Blockade of the Hydian Way . After this , Mandalore organized a galaxy - wide competition for glory , known as the Great Hunt . Artus fought during the competition , eventually becoming the Grand Champion of the Great Hunt . Artus challenged Mandalore to a duel in the gladiatorial arenas on the planet Geonosis . He killed the Mandalorian leader and assumed the title of Mandalore the Vindicated . After defeating the Mandalore — who became known as Mandalore the Lesser — he began to consolidate his power over the Mandalorian clans . During this time , Mandalore defeated an uprising by a faction of Mandalorians led by Jicoln Cadera , who believed that the Mandalorians should follow the ways of Mandalore the Preserver — who fought during the Mandalorian Wars and the Jedi Civil War three centuries prior — and support the Republic . After defeating Cadera ' s Mandalorians , Mandalore the Vindicated ensured that his Mandalorians remained well - paid , yet cautious , allies of the Sith Empire . Under his leadership , the Mandalorians prospered . However , several of his contemporaries believed that their Mandalore was not content with being an ally of the Sith , and secretly harbored greater ambitions . During the Cold War , Artus summoned the latest Grand Champion to his flagship , the " Spirit of Vengeance " . He commended the Hunter for avenging Hedarr Soongh , preventing the Great Hunt list from being leaked , and stopping Tarro Blood . He sent the Hunter to Dromund Kaas to kill a Sithspawn and bring its heart as a trophy . Upon his Champion ' s successful return , Artus introduced the other Grand Champions , Bloodworthy , Jewl ' a Nightbringer and the Defenestrator . He declared the Hunter worthy of gaining access to the Blacklist , a confidential list of impossible bounties reserved only to the Grand Champions . Artus then confessed that with war threatening to reignite , he wanted the Hunter to stand as his replacement among the Grand Champions , revealing that slaying the Sithspawn was a test . The Hunter gladly accepted his offer and became a Mandalorian . When a Republic strike team sent by Jun Seros assaulted the Grand Champions ' party on Nar Shaddaa to celebrate the Hunter ' s successful Blacklist kills , killing Bloodworthy , Jewl ' a , and Defenestrator , Artus sent a message to his surviving Champion , demanding that they avenge their fallen comrades upon the cowardly Republic scum . Artus was later present on Ilum as part of the emergency war council gathered to discuss Darth Malgus ' New Empire . During the Eternal Empire ' s Conquest , Mandalore summoned all of the clans to him . It was rumored that the Mandalorians continued to fight against the Eternal Empire , but no one had seen physical proof . Mandalore the Vindicated was said to have died in a battle against the Eternal Empire , members of his clan saw him being swarmed by Skytrooper s . The manner of the Mandalore ' s death would later cause a grudge to form within the clans regarding droids . Shae Vizla reluctantly took on the mantle of Mandalore sometime after Artus ' death . Personality and traits . Mandalore the Vindicated was a tall human male with dark skin and dark hair which he kept shaven . He had hardened facial features , however he was not as gruff as many other Mandalorians . Mandalore the Vindicated was respected , even revered by his people . He had once held a deep friendship with former Clan chief of Cadera , Jicoln Cadera . But when Artus defeated the puppet Mand ' alor and claimed the title , he and Jicoln fought each other for their views soon clashed . Despite having defeated his former friend and promised to destroy Torian Cadera , he never carry out his promise but left him alive , indicating there ' s possible regret in his actions . Mandalore still chose aid the Sith but not firmly as he was cautious of their allies . Artus Lok was also known for a hatred for the bloodthirsty Mandalorian clan chieftain Mavrix Varad , calling him a ' Rancor with a forming mouth ' , showing he has standards when it comes to what he expects from his warriors as shown with his dislike for the dishonorable Mandalorian , Tarro Blood . Despite the deep bloody history between Jicoln and Artus , he had shown no grudge against his son and did messaged the Grand Hunt Champion to take care of him in his travels , showing he does care about the young Mandalorian warrior . The Mand ' alor had shown a liking towards the Mandalorian drink Ne ' tra gal , drinking much of his after adopting the Great Hunt champion into his clan . Behind the scenes . Mandalore the Vindicated first appeared in the video " " , which was released on the official website of the PC video game " " . He later received an entry in the " Biographies " section of the website ' s " Holonet " feature . On Mandalore ' s biographical entry , there are several phrases in Aurebesh . When translated , they read " Mandalore the Vindicated , " " champion needed , " and " Jedi merely first " . The Bounty Hunter player character in " The Old Republic " meets Mandalore onboard his cruiser , the " Spirit of Vengeance " , at the beginning of Act II of their storyline . Mandalore calls on the Hunter , the newly - crowned Grand Champion of the Great Hunt , to slay " the Ghost in the Darkness " - a massive terentatek in the jungles of Dromund Kaas - and bring back its heart as proof . Upon doing so , Mandalore offers to induct the Hunter into his clan and requests that the Hunter replace him on the Blacklist , an exclusive group of hunters made up of other Grand Champions , in order to ensure that a Mandalorian remains among their number . With a Mandalorian taking his place , he explains , he can return to " winning the Sith ' s wars for them " . Whether the Hunter chooses to join or not is up to the player .