Ki-Adi-Mundi, The History Behind The Cerean Jedi Master
Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi, wielder of the Force and a binary brain, was a respected member of the Jedi Council. Much like the majority of the Jedi Order, Master Mundi tragically lost his life at the hands of the clones after the emperor ordered the execution of Order 66. Before that, however, he lived a life full of adversity, triumph, and shortcomings that helped shape him into the Jedi he was, for better or worse.
Born on the planet Cerea, Ki-Adi-Mundi faced hardships right from birth. As a male of a species that produced females at a much higher rate, Mundi’s birth was considered rare. Due to this his family lived in a constant fear that their child would be taken from them by a band of raiders that terrorized the planet. The Force however had different plans for Mundi and after raiders beat his father within inches of his life, his parents agreed to let their son, who happened to be very in tune with the Force, be taken by An’ya Kuro and trained as a Jedi in the hope he would return as the planets savior. With an early childhood reminiscent of a young Anakin Skywalker (minus the slavery), the similarities only grow as Mundi too was originally rejected by the Council as being too old. Again, like Anakin, the Council’s decision was overturned and in addition, Mundi was given the honor of being Padawan to Yoda himself. Ki-Adi-Mundi was the last to have that honor.
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It took Mundi twenty years as Master Yoda’s apprentice to be named a Jedi Knight, and his first action under his new title was to return home, to liberate Cerea from the tyranny of the raiders. Regarded by his peers as a powerful warrior, Mundi sought to retake his planet in style and taunted the leader of the raiders. He claimed he could best her in single combat with his arms behind his back. Unfortunately, he drastically overestimated his strength in the Force and was defeated. But, true to a Jedi’s resolve, he did not forfeit his endeavors. Breaking free, Mundi faced the raiders again but with no restrictions and dispatched them, saving his people.
With his planet safe, Ki-Adi-Mundi was assigned to the Jedi Watchmen and resided in the Cerean sector. Mundi preferred Cerea due to its isolation from the rest of the galaxy and often was outspoken against off-world technology. Mundi even opposed Cerea joining the republic and advised they remain independent. The most noteworthy aspect of Master Mundi’s life during this time is perhaps his exemption from the Jedi Code's strict rules against marriage. Because of his species’ irregular birth patterns and rates, Ki-Adi-Mundi was allowed to marry and have kids. So for the greater good of his species, Master Mundi had five wives and fathered seven children, all daughters.
As for Master Mundi’s shortcomings, his biggest one was one he shared with many of his brothers in the Order. He was loyal to the Jedi way to a fault. Being a highly intelligent and logical being, Ki-Adi-Mundi truly bought into the Jedi concept of detachment from emotions, people, and worldly possessions. In his eyes, death was the way of the Force and not something to be mourned. A point he illustrated to Anakin when speaking about his wives and children all perishing in the battle of Cerea.
It was because of this rigid line of thinking and other stubborn Jedi beliefs that their downfall was all but ensured and Mast Ki-Adi-Mundi demonstrated it many times throughout the prequel trilogy and the clone wars. He was against Anakin being trained despite relating to his situation, he dismissed the return of the Sith calling it impossible and denied Count Dooku (a former Jedi) was capable of making assassination attempts. He may have been strong in the Force and a mighty wielder of a lightsaber, but in some respects, he was the embodiment of all that doomed the Jedi.
Some other honorable highlights of Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi’s life are his duels with General Grievous and Asajj Ventress, as well as the fact that he, for a brief period, acted as Anakin’s master after Obi-Wan was captured and thought to be dead.
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Source(s): Wookieepedia