The clone troopers were all clones of Jango Fett, who was a Mandalorian.
Does this mean that all clone troopers are Mandalorians as well?
Here’s what you need to know.
Are clone troopers Mandalorian?
Even though the clones came from a Mandalorian donor, they were not Mandalorians. To be considered a Mandalorian, you will need to be part of a clan, and be raised in a Mandalorian culture and live by that life. While Jango Fett was a foundling, the clones did not come from a Mandalorian way of life.
Why aren’t clones Mandalorian by blood?
Mandalorians are a subspecies of humans from the planet Mandalore. As of right now, all Mandalorians in canon have been human. In fact, not every Mandalorian is even from Mandalore.
Din Djarin, The Mandalorian, is from Aq Vetina.
Mandalorians can come from all walks of life. What makes them a Mandalorian is their vow to the Mandalorian Creed.
Moreover, they have to vow to a Mandalorian clan, the subsect of a Mandalorian house.
Thanks to The Mandalorian S2, we now know that Jango Fett was a foundling in canon. However, this does not mean that his son, Boba, is a Mandalorian as well. Although his father is a foundling, Boba is a clone that did not make any vows. Boba himself has said that he is not a Mandalorian!
Since Boba Fett is a clone of Jango, he would earn the rank of foundling as a birthright. However, Boba has not made an allegiance to a Mandalorian clan. This is considered to be the foundation of what makes a Mandalorian, a Mandalorian.
Just like Boba Fett, the clones have not made any allegiance to a Mandalorian clan. Therefore, the clones cannot be Mandalorian by blood.
Did Mandalorian armour inspire clone armour?
The clone trooper armour is iconic in many ways. From the different variations of Phase 1 to Phase 2, it is clear why this armour is a fan favourite. The Clones have their template, Jango Fett, to thank for that.
Boba Fett in the Original Trilogy was originally going to be part of an army of super troopers. In the concept art, you can see him rocking a classic white paint job. He also has Jaig Eyes, something we’ve seen on a fan-favourite clone.
Since clone troopers were a predecessor to stormtroopers, they needed to look similar. The helmets specifically share many traits, like the black mouth grilles and white paint job. However, the eye ports seem eerily similar to their template’s armour.
The visor on Phase 1 helmets is reminiscent of Mandalorian helmets. While stormtrooper armour may have heavily inspired their clone predecessors, some traits from their Mandalorian template have remained.
In fact, the stormtrooper armour may be the reason why they have such bad aim!
What does it mean to be a Mandalorian?
Boba Fett in The Empire Strikes Back created a worldwide fanbase of Mandalorians. This is largely due in part to his unique armour. However, when the Empire was created, Mandalorians were a mystery.
Mandalorians are feared galaxy-wide, notorious for their incredible skill in combat. Each Mandalorian was part of a clan, which made up even bigger houses. These houses answered to Mandalore, the leader of the Mandalorians.
The fierce skills of a Mandalorian on display.
Anyone could become a Mandalorian as long as they adhered to their creed. Those that were not born on Mandalore or its surrounding space were considered foundlings. Foundlings were seen as just as much a member as one born on Mandalore.
Mandalorians wore armour made from beskar steel. This metal was unique to the Mandalore system. Their armour is recognisable wherever they go, as shown in this scene from The Mandalorian.
In order to be a Mandalorian, one must dedicate their life to their creed. You would also represent Mandalore and your clan by donning Mandalorian armour made of beskar.
You can find out more if Mandalorians can be considered good or evil here.
Conclusion
Although their template may be a Mandalorian, clone troopers are not. Clone trooper armour does share some similarities with Mandalorian armour, however.
Clone troopers do not follow the Mandalorian creed, which is the main part of what makes you a Mandalorian.
You can find out more about why the Empire stopped using clones, and why Pong Krell hated them so much here.
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