Black Lightsaber Meaning and Users

Around 1050 BBY, Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian to join the Jedi Order, invented the black lightsaber, also called the Dark saber. Several owners, including Din Djarin, Darth Maul, and Pre Vizsla, have inherited it.

The Dark saber evolved into a potent emblem of Mandalorian leadership over time. Because of its turbulent past and numerous ownership changes, it is a legendary weapon in the Star Wars universe.

What Does a Black Lightsaber Mean?

The black lightsaber symbolizes the Dark Side of the Force's power, the Mandalorian's unity and might, and their leadership and authority.

The following are the salient features of the black lightsaber's meaning:

Strength and Unity: For the Mandalorian's, the black lightsaber represents strength and unity. Since it is a potent weapon that has been successfully used in combat, it represents strength and the leader's capacity to defend the Mandalorian's.
Dark Side Connection: The Dark Side of the Force, which is frequently connected to authority, fear, and power, is intimately related to the black lightsaber.
Leadership and Authority: Among the Mandalorian's, the black lightsaber represents authority and leadership. It is inherited from one leader to the next, and conflicts over control and power frequently involve its possession.
Historical Significance: The black lightsaber has been used by Mandalorian leaders for generations. Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian, invented it to become a Jedi. It represents the Mandalorian culture and their longstanding martial arts tradition.

Read our post 17 Lightsaber Color Meanings Explained to find out more about the significance of lightsaber colors.

Who Are the Users of the Black Lightsaber in Star Wars?

In Star Wars, the following people wield the black lightsaber:

Tarre Vizsla
House Vizsla
Pre Vizsla
Darth Maul
Sabine Wren
Bo-Katan Kryze
Moff Gideon
Din Djarin

1. Tarre Vizsla

Male human Mandalorian Tarre Vizsla was a Force user. He was the first Mandalorian Jedi to join the Jedi Order, around 1050 BBY. Using premium bear, Tarre developed the Dark saber and rose to fame as a Jedi Knight.

Tarre Vizsla founded the Mandalorian group House Vizsla on the planet Mandalore, and the Dark saber came to represent leadership for this group. Tarre commanded his people with the Dark saber and rose to become the ruler of Mandalore or Mand'alor. Clan Vizsla later evolved from House Vizsla.

Following Vizsla's death, the Dark saber was stored in the Jedi Temple until House Vizsla members seized it following the fall of the Old Republic and used it to bring Mandalore together. In his honor, a large statue was erected on Mandalore after his passing.

2. House Vizsla

House Vizsla was one of the houses of Mandalorian society under Clan Vizsla's leadership. Other Mandalorian clans, including Clan Saxon and Clan Wren, were also members of the house.

House Vizsla was instrumental in several significant Mandalorian battles, including the unification of Mandalore following the passing of Tarre Vizsla, a civil war during the Clone Wars, and another civil war during the Imperial Era. The Mandalorian shriek-hawk served as the house's emblem.

The Jedi Temple housed the Dark saber following Vizsla's passing. The Dark saber was taken from the temple by members of House Vizsla during the fall of the Old Republic.

House Vizsla was able to subjugate and temporarily unite all of Mandalore by using the Dark saber as a symbol of authority.

3. Pre Vizsla

Pre Vizsla, a Mandalorian warrior, was the leader of the terrorist organization Death Watch in the last years of the Galactic Republic.

His goal was to overthrow the pacifist Duchess Satine Kryze and restore Mandalore's military legacy. He was descended from Tarre Vizsla. While he was officially the governor of Concordia, he established the Death Watch in secret to resist her.

During the Clone Wars, Vizsla formed an alliance with the Confederacy of Independent Systems to garner help. Nevertheless, the Confederacy withdrew its backing because of Duchess Satine's political maneuvers, which maintained Mandalore's neutrality. Vizsla was forced to retreat, and his beleaguered army took up residence at Carlac.

When he allied with Savage Opress and Darth Maul, his fortunes drastically shifted. They attacked Mandalore successfully under Maul's leadership. Vizsla temporarily served as prime minister of Mandalore after overthrowing Satine. But when Maul challenged him and killed him in a duel, his reign came to an end. Vizsla's efforts terminated Mandalore's period of peace, but the world saw more strife and destruction as a result.

During the Clone Wars, the Dark saber belonged to Pre Vizsla. He acquired it during the Dark saber's transmission through Clan Vizsla's generations, who had successfully reclaimed it from the Jedi Order following Tarre Vizsla's passing.

4. Darth Maul

During the reign of the Galactic Empire, Maul, a male Dathomirian Zabrak who used Force, rose to prominence as a crime lord. When he was Darth Sidious' apprentice, he was known as Darth Maul.

Maul was a formidable warrior with lightsaber skills who had received training in the ways of the Force. He continued to be a crafty intellect, constantly scheming to increase his influence, even after losing his position as Sidious' apprentice.

In the run-up to the Invasion of Naboo, Maul was first shown to the Jedi. He engaged in combat and killed Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, but Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi overcame him and seriously wounded him.

Maul, who was thought to be dead, lived during the Clone Wars and returned to pursue dominance and retribution throughout the galaxy.

During the Clone Wars, Darth Maul obtained the Dark saber. When he defeated Pre Vizsla in battle, he accepted the Dark saber. Maul asserted his command of the Death Watch and utilized the Dark saber to bolster his hold on Mandalore. In a number of conflicts, he brandished the Dark saber as a representation of his authority over the world.

During his battles with the forces that opposed his rule, Maul lost the Dark saber, and it ultimately ended up in the hands of Rebel Alliance member Sabine Wren.

5. Sabine Wren

A human female Mandalorian warrior and Force User, Sabine Wren was instrumental in the struggle against the Galactic Empire in the Galactic Civil War.

A talented warrior who later became a Jedi student, Sabine is well-known for her vibrant armor and graffiti art.

Along with other prominent rebels like Hera Syndulla and Ezra Bridger, Sabine was a member of the Ghost crew. Many were moved by her deeds and artwork to rebel against the Empire.

When Sabine Wren discovered the Dark saber on Dathomir in 2 BBY while looking for the former Sith Lord Maul, she obtained it. Despite her initial reluctance, Fenn Rau and Kanan Jarrus persuaded her to utilize the weapon in order to bring the Mandalorian people together.

In order to mobilize her family and other Mandalorian clans against the Empire, Sabine utilized the Dark saber to beat Gar Saxon, the Imperial Viceroy of Mandalore. Believing she was the legitimate leader to wield the Dark saber and bring Mandalore together, she eventually handed it to Bo-Katan Kryze.

6. Bo-Katan Kryze

A human female Mandalorian princess from House Kryze, Bo-Katan Kryze rose to prominence in Mandalore during the New Republic Era. She was the leader of the Nite Owls and a member of the Death Watch.

To depose Satine and seize Mandalore, Bo-Katan and Death Watch chief Pre Vizsla joined forces with Darth Maul and Savage Oppress. But after killing Vizsla, Maul seized power, sparking a civil war.

After releasing Satine, Bo-Katan sought assistance from Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi; however, Maul killed Satine. Bo-Katan became the Regent of Mandalore after the Galactic Republic attacked the planet and drove Maul out.

Clan Saxon took over after Bo-Katan lost her job for defying Emperor Palpatine. Another civil war resulted from Mandalore's suffering under Imperial authority. By stealing the Dark saber from Sabine Wren, a representation of Mandalorian authority, Bo-Katan eventually won the loyalty of multiple clans, albeit not all of them welcomed her since she was unable to defeat her opponent.

The Empire destroyed Mandalore in spite of her efforts. In an attempt to stop the Empire from destroying Mandalore, Bo-Katan handed the Dark saber to Moff Gideon. She then intended to take Mandalore and the Dark saber back. To save Grogu from Gideon, she teamed up with Din Djarin and other individuals. However, Din Djarin is the valid owner of the Dark saber because he defeated Gideon in battle.

In the end, Bo-Katan brought the dispersed Mandalorian's together to retake their home world and retrieved the Dark saber by rescuing Djarin. Bo-Katan rekindled the Great Forge as they started to rebuild after defeating the remaining Imperial forces on Mandalore.

7. Moff Gideon

In the early years of the New Republic, a human male warlord named Gideon ruled over a splinter of the Galactic Empire. He served as an Imperial Security Bureau official with the title of Moff and was instrumental in the Great Purge of Mandalore.

He maintained a base on Mandalore and conducted covert operations in the Outer Rim following the Galactic Civil War. Gideon was willing to kill in order to establish his order throughout the cosmos because he valued knowledge and power.

Gideon massacred millions of people during the Great Purge and obtained the Dark saber by deceiving Lady Bo-Katan Kryze into giving it up. Although he survived and commanded his forces, it was believed that he had been hanged for war crimes.

For his experiments, Gideon sought out a youngling with Force sensitivity named Grogu. Grogu was first saved from Gideon's army by Din Djarin, but Gideon was able to retake him. Djarin defeated Gideon and took the Dark saber in a later rescue attempt.

Imperial commandos released Gideon after he was taken to the New Republic for trial. When the Mandalorian resistance returned to retake their home world, he was slain. His goal was to take over the galaxy and defeat the Shadow Council and Grand Admiral Thrawn.

8. Din Djarin

Known as "The Mandalorian," Din Djarin was a masculine human warrior who lived during the New Republic. He had a bear helmet, an Amban sniper rifle, an IB-94 blaster pistol, and Mandalorian armor.

He felt that all Mandalorian's adhered to the rigorous code set down by the Children of the Watch, who raised him. Djarin became a proficient hunter who hunted in silence.

After the Galactic Empire fell, Djarin became well-known in the Bounty Hunters' Guild and traveled the Outer Rim in his ship, the Razor Crest.

He was engaged in 9 ABY to locate a valuable asset on Arvala-7, which turned out to be Grogu, a kid with Force sensitivity. Djarin rescued Grogu rather than giving him to the Imperials, and they became close.

During their numerous travels, Djarin and Grogu encountered foes like Moff Gideon and allies like Cara Dune. With the assistance of Boba Fett and others, Djarin managed to free Grogu from Gideon's captivity. Djarin won the Dark saber after defeating Gideon in battle.

Later, Grogu decided to go back to Djarin, but he eventually opted to train with Jedi Luke Skywalker. Djarin went back to his old companions, picked up bounty hunting, and aided Boba Fett in his fight against the Pyke Syndicate. Following the battle, Grogu and Djarin carried on with their travels, getting ready to go to Mandalore.

See the following article for additional information about Din Djarin: How Old is Din Djarin in The Mandalorian? Another article that discusses his relationship with the Dark saber is Din Djarin and the Dark saber.

Which Characters Briefly Wielded the Black Lightsaber in Star Wars?

Ezra Bridger and Kanan Jarrus were the only two Star Wars characters to use the Dark saber. Both Ezra and Kanan used the Dark saber at crucial points in its history, although neither actually owned it.

1. Ezra Bridger

A young Jedi from the planet Lothal named Ezra Bridger rises to prominence in the Rebel Alliance. Ezra receives training from Kanan Jarrus on how to use the Force and fights the terrible Galactic Empire with a lightsaber.

Throughout his adventure, he transforms from a streetwise orphan into a fearless leader committed to defending freedom and assisting others.

On a trip to Dathomir, Ezra Bridger came across the Dark saber. He first showed off his ability to utilize two blades at once by destroying an altar of the Night sister spirits with the Dark saber and lightsaber.

By assisting Sabine Wren in discovering the weapon, Ezra continues to play an essential part in the Dark saber tale. He encouraged her to become proficient with it and assisted her in training.

2. Kanan Jarrus

After surviving the Jedi Purge, Kanan Jarrus, a human male Jedi Knight with Force abilities, joined the Rebel Alliance.

Jedi Master Depa Billaba trained him until Order 66 forced him into hiding. He was born "Caleb Dume." After living as a fugitive under the identity of Kanan Jarrus, he eventually teamed up with Hera Syndulla to establish the Ghost crew. Kanan greatly aided Ezra Bridger's training and resistance to the Empire.

Additionally, Kanan played a big part in Sabine Wren's training, especially with the Dark saber. After she discovered it, Kanan decided to teach Sabine how to use it.

Sabine reluctantly consented to practice with the Dark saber under Kanan's tutelage. This instruction greatly aided her voyage and the Mandalorian's' support for the rebel cause.