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Artus was a Human male Mandalorian warrior 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 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.