Battle of Arantara

Date

Place

Combatants
Galactic Republic^[3] Jedi Order^[3]

Commanders
Jedi General Anakin Skywalker^[3] Clone Captain Rex^[3]

Units
501st Legion^[3]

Strength
Clone troopers^[4]

"A true leader always leads from the front."

―Jedi General Anakin Skywalker^[3]

The Battle of Arantara was an engagement fought in 22 BBY on the astronomical object Arantara during the ongoing Clone Wars between the Confederacy of Independent Systems and Galactic Republic. Jedi General Anakin Skywalker and Clone Captain Rex participated in the battle, with the latter becoming injured in the fighting before being rescued by Skywalker.

The battle

"You…came for me."
"It should have been me who went in the first place."

―Captain Rex and General Anakin Skywalker^[3]

Although he was injured, Rex fought with excellence in the Battle of Arantara.

The battle for the astronomical object Arantara was fought^[3] in 22 BBY, during the opening assaults of the galaxy-wide Clone Wars between the Confederacy of Independent Systems and Galactic Republic.^[2] Members of the^[3] elite 501st Legion^[5]—including Clone Captain Rex^[3] and his newly assigned^[4] Jedi General, Anakin Skywalker—took part in the battle.^[3]

During the battle,^[3] Rex's skills were put to the test. Leading from the front,^[4] he fought with merit^[6] and bravely led his fellow clone troopers forward^[4] without Skywalker, but he was wounded and knocked unconscious. Rex's armor was damaged in the battle as well,^[3] with even his helmet faceplate shattering. Rescuing Rex,^[4] Skywalker arrived and saved the life of his captain.^[2] Hidden behind cover in a rocky terrain, the clone awoke to Skywalker standing over him. The Jedi apologized for not leading his soldiers into the fray; Skywalker told Rex that a real leader always led at the front,^[3] a message that reinforced lessons Rex already knew and became the basis of trust, and a growing friendship, between the captain and the Jedi.^[4]

Aftermath

"'A true leader always leads from the front.'"
"Whosa told you dat?"
"A friend."

―Captain Rex and Junior Representative Jar Jar Binks during the Battle of Mimban^[3]

As the Clone Wars continued, Anakin Skywalker and Rex continued to work together as trusted friends and leaders of the 501st Legion.

Beyond being one of several post-First Battle of Geonosis engagements that saw the true level of Rex's skills put to the test,^[4] the Battle of Arantara became one of the many battles in which Rex fought with excellence.^[6] Skywalker and Rex continued to work together as leaders of the 501st^[7] and soon developed a mutual respect, even forming a friendship, despite their differences: while Rex acted by-the-book, Skywalker was far more brash.^[2] Becoming far less rigid over time,^[7] Rex would come to admire and emulate some of Skywalker's mannerisms.^[8]

During a battle on^[3] the Expansion Region planet^[9] Mimban, Rex remembered Skywalker's lesson about leading from the front, using the example to fight battle droids alone while his clone troopers evacuated. After he was saved from B1-series units by^[3] Junior Representative^[6] Jar Jar Binks, Rex explained his philosophy, noting that a friend had given him the lesson.^[3]