Introduction
In Warhammer 40,000 lore, the Primarchs are twenty genetically engineered superhumans created by the Emperor of Mankind. They are his “sons” and were designed to lead the Legiones Astartes (Space Marine Legions) in the Great Crusade to reunite humanity.
Each Primarch towers above mortal men, with immense strength, intelligence, and charisma, embodying different facets of the Emperor’s design. They were scattered across the galaxy as infants by the dark powers of Chaos, and each grew up on a different world before being rediscovered by the Emperor.
As generals and leaders, the Primarchs played central roles in the Horus Heresy, a galactic civil war that shaped the Imperium’s fate. Today, millennia later, some Primarchs are venerated as saints and martyrs, others have become dreaded Daemon Princes, and a few even walk the galaxy once more. Two Primarchs remain mysterious “lost sons” whose names and deeds were purged from Imperial records by order of the Emperor.
This article introduces each of the Primarchs, explaining who they are, their Legion, and their fates. We’ll keep it light, lore-accurate, and accessible – perfect for newcomers. By the end, you’ll know the key facts about all (known) twenty Primarchs (or to be more accurate twenty-one) and where they stand in the current Warhammer 40K storyline.
List of Primarchs
Here are the twenty Primarchs and their Legions (in original Legion numerical order):
- Lion El’Jonson – I Legion, Dark Angels
- [Name Unknown] – II Legion, Lost Primarch (records expunged)
- Fulgrim – III Legion, Emperor’s Children
- Perturabo – IV Legion, Iron Warriors
- Jaghatai Khan – V Legion, White Scars
- Leman Russ – VI Legion, Space Wolves
- Rogal Dorn – VII Legion, Imperial Fists
- Konrad Curze – VIII Legion, Night Lords
- Sanguinius – IX Legion, Blood Angels
- Ferrus Manus – X Legion, Iron Hands
- [Name Unknown] – XI Legion, Lost Primarch (records expunged)
- Angron – XII Legion, World Eaters
- Roboute Guilliman – XIII Legion, Ultramarines
- Mortarion – XIV Legion, Death Guard
- Magnus the Red – XV Legion, Thousand Sons
- Horus Lupercal – XVI Legion, Luna Wolves/Sons of Horus
- Lorgar Aurelian – XVII Legion, Word Bearers
- Vulkan – XVIII Legion, Salamanders
- Corvus Corax – XIX Legion, Raven Guard
- Alpharius Omegon – XX Legion, Alpha Legion
(Legions II and XI are the “lost” Primarchs deleted from Imperial history. All others are well documented in official lore.)
Primarch II & XI – The Lost Primarchs
Legions: II and XI (names unknown)
Current Status: All records purged; presumed destroyed or lost
Home Worlds: Classified/unknown
Both IInd and XIth Primarchs are mysterious – even their names are forbidden.
The Lost Primarchs’ Origins
These two Primarchs suffered fates so dire that the Emperor ordered them erased from history. Hints in the lore imply their Legions were “lost” or destroyed before or during the Horus Heresy. Other Primarchs speak of them only with regret and never openly.
Where The Lost Primarchs Are Now
Unknown. In official canon, the lost Primarchs are a tantalizing blank. Some hints suggest the surviving warriors of one lost Legion may have been folded into the Ultramarines Legion long ago, but nothing is confirmed. For all intents and purposes, Primarchs II and XI no longer influence the current setting – they are a mystery the Emperor took to his grave. The Imperium’s historians refer to them only as a cautionary tale of “aberrations” that were hushed up and never spoken of.
(With the lost Primarchs covered, we now continue with the known eighteen.)
Lion El’Jonson – I Legion (Dark Angels)
Legion Name & Number: Dark Angels – 1st Legion
Current Status: Alive (reawakened in the 41st Millennium)
Home World: Caliban (forest Death World)
A regal, brooding knight-commander. The Lion is known for his strategic genius and reserved, secretive nature. He was utterly loyal (if aloof) and possessed a knightly sense of honor. In battle he was a master swordsman and tactician, preferring meticulous plans and decisive strikes. Other Primarchs sometimes found him taciturn and unsettlingly secretive.
Origins & Discovery Of The Lion
As an infant, Lion El’Jonson’s incubation pod landed on Caliban, a world of dense forests and deadly beasts. He survived alone in Caliban’s wilds for a decade – a feral child killing great monsters – until noble knights found him.
Adopted by the knight Luther, young Lion rose to lead the Knights of Caliban, ridding the planet of monstrous Great Beasts. When the Emperor arrived, he found a world pacified by the Lion’s hand. Impressed, the Emperor made El’Jonson Primarch of the Dark Angels, the first Legion.
Where Is The Lion Now
After fighting in the Horus Heresy, Lion El’Jonson disappeared for thousands of years following a conflict on Caliban that ended in the planet’s destruction. For ten millennia the Lion lay in enchanted slumber, hidden deep within The Rock (the Dark Angels’ fortress-monastery).
In recent lore, he has awakened in the Era Indomitus and is once again actively leading forces of the Imperium Nihilus (the Imperium’s sundered half). As of the current 41st Millennium storyline, Lion El’Jonson has returned and roams the galaxy as a living legend, striking against the enemies of Humanity once more.
Fulgrim – III Legion (Emperor’s Children)
Legion Name & Number: Emperor’s Children – 3rd Legion
Current Status: Daemon Primarch of Slaanesh (Chaos Traitor)
Home World: Chemos (mining world)
Fulgrim is the ultimate perfectionist. Dubbed “the Phoenician,” he was elegant, proud, and pursued perfection in all things. He was a peerless swordsman and aesthete, delighting in art and luxury. However, Fulgrim’s drive for perfection led to pride and vanity. During the Great Crusade he demanded flawless excellence from himself and his Emperor’s Children Legion. This obsessive idealism would become his downfall.
Origins & Discovery Of Fulgrim
Fulgrim grew up on Chemos, a resource-depleted mining planet. He was found as a baby by factory workers and raised among Chemos’ downtrodden people. Despite the harsh environment, the young Primarch exhibited phenomenal skill – he revived Chemos’ industry and culture, saving the world from collapse in mere decades. When the Emperor eventually arrived, Fulgrim pledged fealty eagerly, taking command of the Emperor’s Children. He famously declared that his Legion would strive for absolute perfection in war and all things.
Notable Events from Fulgrim’s Life
Fulgrim fought with great renown in the Great Crusade, becoming dear friends with his brother Ferrus Manus of the Iron Hands – a friendship later tragically shattered. During the Horus Heresy, Fulgrim was seduced by the Chaos god Slaanesh. His obsession with surpassing all others made him vulnerable to corruption. Fulgrim took up a daemonic sword that slowly corrupted his mind. In the Drop Site Massacre at Isstvan V, Fulgrim faced Ferrus Manus in single combat and killed his brother – an act that horrified Fulgrim (temporarily) as the daemon within the sword pushed him to strike the killing blow. Ultimately, Fulgrim fully surrendered to Chaos and ascended, body and soul, into a Slaaneshi Daemon Prince.
Where Is Fulgrim Now
Fulgrim now exists as a serpentine Daemon Primarch, a champion of Slaanesh. He is functionally immortal and resides in the Eye of Terror, indulging in unimaginable excess and cruelty. For most of the 41st millennium he has been quiet, pursuing his own twisted pleasures. Recently, Fulgrim has reemerged from the shadows – in late M41 he is said to have returned at the head of his Emperor’s Children to once again threaten the Imperium. His current activities bode ill for the galaxy, as the decadent Primarch seeks new perfection through pain and dark revels. Loyalist forces stand on high alert, for Fulgrim’s “terrible glory” has returned to realspace.
Perturabo – IV Legion (Iron Warriors)
Legion Name & Number: Iron Warriors – 4th Legion
Current Status: Daemon Primarch of Chaos Undivided (Traitor)
Home World: Olympia (mountainous civilized world)
Perturabo is the master of siegecraft and bitter pragmatism. He had a genius for technology, fortifications, and logistics, but also a cold, logical demeanor. Often feeling unappreciated and burdened with thankless tasks, Perturabo grew resentful and cynical. He lacked the “strength of faith” or empathy of some brothers, favoring calculation over compassion. In war, Perturabo was methodical and ruthlessly efficient, known for breaking the toughest fortresses and never shying from brutal necessities. His Iron Warriors became infamous for their relentless iron will (and willingness to employ mass bombardment and attrition tactics).
Origins & Discovery Of Perturabo
Perturabo landed on the rich but fractious world of Olympia. He was taken in by the Tyrant of Lochos and raised as a prince. From youth, Perturabo’s technological aptitude and strategic brilliance were evident – he could design grand fortresses, decipher any puzzle, and had an instinctive grasp of science and architecture. He never truly felt at home on Olympia, seeing the local religion and politics as small-minded. When the Emperor found him, Perturabo readily joined the Great Crusade and was given command of the Iron Warriors Legion.
Notable Events From Perturabo’s Life
Perturabo fought loyally for decades, but his grudge against the Imperium’s higher-ups grew when he and his Iron Warriors were often assigned gruelling siege wars and garrison duty, earning little glory. During the Horus Heresy, this simmering bitterness made Perturabo susceptible to Horus’s promises. He sided with Horus and led the Iron Warriors in tearing down the Imperium he had helped build. After the Heresy, Perturabo was rewarded by Chaos with ascension to daemonhood. As a Daemon Prince of Chaos Undivided, he claimed a demonic fortress-world as his own, ruling over an iron kingdom of eternal war.
Where Is Perturabo Now
Perturabo remains an active force of Chaos, though an elusive one. He is alive as a Daemon Primarch, virtually unkillable, and still honing his craft of destruction. Perturabo rules the daemon world of Medrengard in the Eye of Terror – a nightmare fortress planet constructed to his exacting standards. From this Iron Fortress, he occasionally unleashes his Iron Warriors to besiege Imperial strongholds or to punish those who displease him. He is bitterly remembered as the “Lord of Iron” who never forgave the Imperium. In the current lore, Perturabo mostly lurks in the shadows of the Warp, fortifying his domain, but his malice endures. Should the Imperium face another grand siege, the daemon Perturabo may well emerge to personally crush its defenses once more.
Jaghatai Khan – V Legion (White Scars)
Legion Name & Number: White Scars – 5th Legion
Current Status: Missing – Presumed alive in the Webway
Home World: Mundus Planus (Chogoris) – a steppe world
Jaghatai Khan, known as the “Warhawk,” is a peerless cavalry commander and free-spirited warrior. He and his White Scars Legion embody speed, maneuver warfare, and a fierce love of freedom. The Khan was often quiet and kept his counsel, earning a reputation as an outsider among his brothers. He was nevertheless honorable and valued personal loyalty deeply. In battle Jaghatai was an unstoppable lancer, favoring hit-and-run tactics and lightning strikes from the saddle of a hoverbike or atop his gene-crafted steed. He had a wild side—both lethal and laughing—finding joy in the thrill of the hunt. Despite his ferocity, Jaghatai also had a philosophical, introspective side informed by his tribal upbringing.
Origins & Discovery of Jaghatai Khan
The Khan grew up on Chogoris, a fertile steppe world (which he knew as Mundus Planus). He was raised by nomadic tribes after allegedly being found as an infant after a battle. Jaghatai united the wandering tribes of the steppe by overthrowing the corrupt ruler of a city called Quan Zhou. Within 20 years, young Jaghatai had conquered all the warring factions of his world and became Great Khan of Chogoris. When the Emperor arrived, Jaghatai immediately recognized Him as the powerful leader he had foreseen in dreams and willingly knelt, swearing allegiance. He took command of the V Legion, which he named the White Scars, and incorporated his lightning-fast steppe warfare into their tactics.
Notable Events Of Jaghatai Khan’s Life
During the Great Crusade, Jaghatai earned respect for his Legion’s swift victories. He kept the White Scars somewhat aloof, fostering friendships only with a few Primarchs (notably Horus and Magnus). In the Horus Heresy, the Khan initially stayed non-aligned until he confirmed Horus’s treachery, upon which he threw the White Scars’ might behind the loyalists. After the Heresy, Jaghatai’s fate took a mysterious turn. About 70 years later, while defending his homeworld from Dark Eldar (Drukhari) raiders, Jaghatai Khan vanished. He pursued a Drukhari leader into a shimmering portal known as a Webway gate and was “lost within the Webway” in M31.
Where Is Jaghatai Khan Now
The Khan’s disappearance has become legend. Jaghatai Khan is believed to be alive, wandering the endless Webway (the labyrinthine dimension used by the Eldar) in pursuit of his prey. For ten thousand years, the Primarch has not been seen in realspace. The White Scars Chapter fervently maintains that their Khan will return “in the hour of greatest need.” In the meantime, they harbor a special hatred for the Dark Eldar, hunting them at every opportunity in vengeance for their Primarch’s fate. In current lore, Jaghatai remains missing – a restless spirit racing through alien shadows. If the Khan ever escapes the Webway, the Imperium will regain a formidable (and very unexpected) ally.
Leman Russ – VI Legion (Space Wolves)
Legion Name & Number: Space Wolves – 6th Legion
Current Status: Missing – Believed alive in the Eye of Terror
Home World: Fenris (ice-covered death world)
Leman Russ, the Primarch of the Space Wolves, is the Emperor’s feral warrior – fierce, boisterous, and utterly loyal. Nicknamed the “Wolf King,” Russ is depicted as a shaggy-haired, fanged barbarian king commanding a Legion of techno-vikings. He had a barbaric sense of honor and a savage joy in battle, coupled with a surprisingly cunning mind for strategy. Russ was known for his fierce and sometimes barbaric personality, proudly embodying the wild spirit of Fenris. He often acted as the Emperor’s executioner when harsh deeds were needed, a role he embraced as the Allfather’s most loyal son. Despite his rough edges (or perhaps because of them), Leman Russ was deeply respected by his Legion and feared by the enemies of Mankind. He famously hated sorcery and psykers, which put him at odds with more mystically inclined brothers like Magnus.
Origins & Discovery Of Leman Russ
Leman Russ’s saga began on Fenris, a deadly world of frozen seas and volcanic ash. As a child, he was adopted by a Fenrisian wolf pack (according to legend) and later taken in by a human tribe. He grew to lead the Fenrisian tribes to many victories. When the Emperor arrived on Fenris, Russ – ever boastful – challenged the Emperor himself to a series of tests! Russ lost (eventually) and, impressed by the Emperor’s might, swore fealty. Taking command of the Space Wolves, Leman Russ fought through the Great Crusade as a force of nature. He earned renown for his “cunning and fierce” leadership, tempered by a readiness to do the Imperium’s grim tasks that others balked at.
Notable Events Of Leman Russ’s Life
Leman Russ played a controversial role in the Horus Heresy: the Emperor dispatched Russ to apprehend Magnus the Red after Magnus’s catastrophic misuse of sorcery. Horus secretly twisted those orders, convincing Russ to attack instead of negotiate. Russ led the Space Wolves in the Burning of Prospero, the Thousand Sons’ homeworld, which he devastated. In personal combat, Russ shattered Magnus’s body, unwittingly driving his brother into the arms of Chaos. Russ later fought valiantly on Terra during the Siege. After the Heresy, one of the strangest Primarch mysteries unfolded: in 211.M31, during a victory feast, Leman Russ abruptly stood and announced he was departing for a final mission. He proclaimed, “In the end I will return. For the final battle. For the Wolf Time.”. Russ then vanished with his closest companions into the Eye of Terror, on some unknown quest, leaving his Chapter behind. This event is known as the “Wolf Time” prophecy.
Where Is Leman Russ Now
For over 10,000 years, Leman Russ has been missing. The Space Wolves believe their Primarch still lives in the Eye of Terror, battling the Forces of Chaos and seeking a way to cure or aid the Emperor. Being a Primarch (and according to some sources, a Perpetual like Vulkan), Russ could indeed still be alive despite the passage of time. The Chapter holds periodic “Great Hunts” to search for the Wolf King, but to no avail. Hints in lore suggest Russ might reappear in the apocalyptic future when the “Wolf Time” – the final battle at the end of the universe – arrives. Until then, he remains a legendary missing hero. Notably, Magnus the Red knows Russ’s fate but isn’t telling. In the current timeline, Leman Russ is effectively a mythic figure – not active on the galactic stage, but his return is eagerly awaited by the Space Wolves, who believe their howling king will emerge from the Warp for the End Times.
Rogal Dorn – VII Legion (Imperial Fists)
Legion Name & Number: Imperial Fists – 7th Legion
Current Status: Dead (body missing; only hand recovered)
Home World: Inwit (ice world in Segmentum Solar)
Rogal Dorn is the consummate castle-builder and stoic defender. Known as the Praetorian of Terra, Dorn was utterly loyal, honest, and uncompromising. He had a genius for fortifications and strategy rivaling Perturabo’s, but coupled with personal bravery and a sense of honor. Rogal Dorn was said to be unable to tell a lie – he “exemplified the truth”. Stalwart and serious, he demanded discipline and reliability. Yet Dorn also showed compassion to civilians and the innocent, which set him apart from some of his harsher brothers. In war, he and his Imperial Fists were experts at defensive warfare and siegecraft, holding fortresses against any odds. Dorn’s temperament was that of a noble crusader – proud, dutiful, and fiercely protective of the Emperor and Terra.
Origins & Discovery
Dorn grew up on the frigid ice-hive world of Inwit. He was adopted into the House of Dorn, the ruling clan of Inwit’s ice cities. Under the tutelage of his adopted grandfather, Dorn became a masterful tactician and leader early on, even reactivating an ancient star fort (the Phalanx) which he found in orbit. When the Emperor discovered Rogal Dorn (Dorn was the seventh Primarch found), the Emperor arrived to find Dorn awaiting him aboard the colossal star-fort Phalanx – a gesture that impressed the Emperor greatly. Rogal Dorn was given command of the Imperial Fists Legion, and he made Phalanx their mobile fortress-monastery.
Notable Events From Rogal Dorn’s Life
During the Great Crusade, Dorn and his VII Legion gained renown for their purity of purpose and unbreakable defenses. Horus, before turning traitor, once said that if he had to assault a fortress manned by Dorn and the Imperial Fists, it would result in an “everlasting stalemate” – a testament to Dorn’s skill. In the Horus Heresy, Rogal Dorn was chosen by the Emperor to lead the defense of Terra. He fortified the Imperial Palace, creating the mighty walls and defenses that stalled Horus’s armies in the siege. After the Heresy, Dorn was deeply grieved by the Emperor’s internment in the Golden Throne. He eventually agreed (begrudgingly) to Roboute Guilliman’s Codex Astartes reforms, though with some protest. Rogal Dorn met his end fighting a renegade Iron Warriors fleet not long after the Heresy: in a desperate boarding action, Dorn was last seen battling hordes of Chaos Marines. Only his hand was recovered afterwards, returned to his Chapter as a sacred relic. The rest of his body was never found, and Dorn is officially listed as “missing, presumed dead”.
Where Is Rogal Dorn Now
Rogal Dorn is remembered as a martyr of the Imperium. His skeletal hand is preserved in amber and kept aboard Phalanx, ritually inscribed with the names of Imperial Fists Chapter Masters through the centuries. Some Imperial legends claim Dorn’s full skeletal remains are kept in stasis, but the official Imperial records (as of the latest Codex) say only the hand was ever recovered. Thus, Dorn is effectively dead in modern lore. His leadership lives on in his successors – notably, the Imperial Fists and their descendant Chapters still venerate Dorn’s example of duty and sacrifice. In spirit, Rogal Dorn “stands eternal vigil” over Terra. Unlike some Primarchs, no miraculous resurrection is on the horizon for Dorn; he did his duty unto death. Should the final battle come, perhaps Dorn’s ghost will be there on the walls of the Imperial Palace, unyielding to the last.
Konrad Curze – VIII Legion (Night Lords)
Legion Name & Number: Night Lords – 8th Legion
Current Status: Dead (Killed at end of Heresy)
Home World: Nostramo (gloomy hive world)
Konrad Curze, who named himself Night Haunter, is the darkest figure among the Primarchs. He was haunted by prophetic visions and had a ruthless sense of justice. Curze’s hallmark was the use of terror as a weapon – he believed in stamping out criminality through fear. On Nostramo he became a vigilante executioner, killing crime lords and corrupt officials in horrific ways to scare the population into obedience. Physically, Curze was pale, gaunt, and had a predatory aura. His personality was unstable: capable of thoughtful melancholy one moment and murderous rage the next. Many compare him to a nihilistic avenger, punishing others for the misery he saw in his visions. Despite his sadism, Curze genuinely thought he was enforcing a form of justice (albeit a horrific one). He foresaw terrible futures – including his own doom – which drove him toward madness.
Origins & Discovery Of Konrad Curze
Konrad Curze’s pod came to ground on Nostramo, a world shrouded in perpetual night and rampant with crime. As an orphan in the city of Nostramo Quintus, young Curze lived feral in the streets, using his precognitive visions to hunt the wicked. Over time, the being who would be called Night Haunter took control of Nostramo’s capital by fear, brutally executing wrongdoers and bringing a sort of harsh order. When the Emperor arrived with other Primarchs, Curze actually anticipated the Emperor’s coming – and at the moment of introduction, Curze was overcome by a vision of the horrific fate awaiting himself and his brothers. He accepted the Emperor as his father but warned that destiny was inevitable. Brought into the Great Crusade, Curze renamed the VIII Legion the Night Lords and employed his fear tactics on a galactic scale.
Notable Events From Konrad Curze’s Life
Curze’s methods grew ever more gruesome, decorating conquered worlds with flayed corpses to spread fear. This earned the Emperor’s censure, and several Primarchs (like Dorn and Guilliman) distrusted Curze. During the Horus Heresy, Curze sided with Horus out of spite for the Emperor’s ideals (and perhaps because he believed his fall was preordained). He fought on Terra, but his most pivotal act came after the war: tormented by guilt and convinced that he had proven the Emperor’s point about mankind’s darkness, Curze essentially arranged his own death. Hiding on a remote world, Konrad Curze allowed a Callidus Assassin named M’Shen to find him. In late M31, Night Haunter confronted this Imperial assassin and did not resist. He was fatally stabbed, reportedly saying he “knew this would happen” and that he died vindicated that the Emperor had sanctioned murder to silence him. Curze’s last moments were captured on vid-log, confirming he accepted his execution as just.
Where Is Konrad Curze They Now
Dead by assassination. Uniquely among traitor Primarchs, Konrad Curze did not become a Daemon Prince and truly died at the end of the Heresy. His Legion, the Night Lords, fractured into Chaos warbands without a daemon Primarch to guide them. Curze’s memory is reviled by the Imperium (as a murderous traitor) and practically worshipped by his Night Lords, who still emulate his tactics of terror. Interestingly, his corpse was retrieved and placed in stasis by the Night Lords – they kept it as a morbid relic for a time, but its current whereabouts are unclear in lore. In the Warp, there is no known presence of Curze; it is said his soul might have been at peace because he believed his death proved his philosophy. In the current timeline, Curze’s legacy lives on only in the nightmares he inspired. (Notably, years later, the daemon Primarch Lorgar was literally haunted by a vengeful spectral Curze during a duel – proof that even in death, the Night Haunter’s “shade” might roam the Warp to torment his brothers !)
Sanguinius – IX Legion (Blood Angels)
Legion Name & Number: Blood Angels – 9th Legion
Current Status: Dead (Killed during the Horus Heresy)
Home World: Baal (radiation-blasted desert moon)
Sanguinius, the Primarch of the Blood Angels, is adored as a divine hero – the Angel Primarch. He was physically unique among his brothers for the angelic wings sprouting from his back. Sanguinius was noble, compassionate, and virtuous, known for his warmth and optimism. He inspired those around him with his charisma and genuine empathy. But in battle, the Angel could unleash a fearsome wrath, especially against the enemies of humanity. He was a brilliant warrior who fought with a graceful but brutally effective style, often taking to the skies on his white pinions to strike foes from above. Sanguinius also had a measure of psychic foresight – he experienced prophetic visions of the future, including foreknowledge of certain tragic events (like his own death). Throughout the Great Crusade, Sanguinius was the brightest exemplification of all that was good in the Primarchs – making the darkness of his fate all the more tragic.
Origins & Discovery Of Sanguinius
The infant Sanguinius came to rest on Baal Secundus, one of the irradiated moons of Baal. Despite deadly radiation and mutants prowling the wastes, the baby Primarch was taken in by a tribe called “The Blood”. He grew strong and kind among them. His mutation – angelic wings – was either by the Emperor’s design or due to Baal’s radiation, but it led the superstitious tribe to regard him as a savior. Sanguinius indeed delivered Baal Secundus from terror, protecting his people from mutant hordes and becoming their benevolent leader. When the Emperor arrived, Sanguinius greeted Him openly. Legend says Sanguinius had foreseen the Emperor’s coming and immediately knelt, but not before making the Emperor promise to spare his people from Imperial reprisal. Impressed by the angelic Primarch’s nobility, the Emperor welcomed Sanguinius and gave him command of the Blood Angels Legion (which soon reflected Sanguinius’s own honor and refinement).
Notable Events From Sanguinius’s Life
Sanguinius was a linchpin of the Imperium’s victories. He saved countless worlds and was Horus’s closest friend among the Primarchs. During the Horus Heresy, Sanguinius led the Blood Angels against the traitors. Critically, he was present at the final battle aboard Horus’s flagship. In the climactic moment of the Siege of Terra, Sanguinius confronted Horus in single combat. Though weakened from prior battles (and knowing he was fated to die), Sanguinius did not hesitate to face the Warmaster. He fought bravely but Horus – empowered by Chaos – ultimately struck Sanguinius down and killed him. It’s said Sanguinius did manage to crack Horus’s armor or inflict a wound, creating an opening that allowed the Emperor to defeat Horus shortly after. The death of Sanguinius was a turning point: in Imperial legend, the Emperor’s grief and rage at seeing his beloved son murdered fueled Him to finally destroy Horus.
Where Is Sanguinius Now
Sanguinius is dead, but his legacy looms enormous in Warhammer 40K. After the Heresy, the Blood Angels recovered his body and interred Sanguinius in a magnificent tomb on their homeworld Baal. He is venerated as a martyred saint. His sacrifice at Terra is commemorated every year by the Imperium. Uniquely, Sanguinius’s genetic curse – the “Red Thirst” and “Black Rage” (flaws in Blood Angels gene-seed) – causes his Chapter’s Space Marines to sometimes believe they are Sanguinius in the final moments, re-enacting his death frenzy. In a sense, Sanguinius’s spirit lives on in the Blood Angels’ psyche. In current 41st millennium lore, Sanguinius has not resurrected (and likely never will – he was a mortal demigod, not a Warp-entity). However, there are spiritual manifestations: the Blood Angels have an enigmatic protector figure called the Sanguinor, believed by some to be Sanguinius’s spirit aiding his sons in times of need. Whether that is true or just a myth, the angelic Primarch’s example continues to guide the Blood Angels. He remains the symbol of noble sacrifice – the angel who gave his life to stop the arch-traitor.
Ferrus Manus – X Legion (Iron Hands)
Legion Name & Number: Iron Hands – 10th Legion
Current Status: Dead (Killed during the Horus Heresy)
Home World: Medusa (industrial wasteland world)
Ferrus Manus was a grim and unyielding Primarch, famed for his metallic hands and relentless pursuit of strength. His name, “Manus”, literally means “hand”, and indeed his forearms were encased in a living metal silver after a youthful battle – a hallmark of his appearance. Ferrus was the ultimate pragmatist: he believed the weak must be purged to make Humanity strong. He had little patience for anything except improvement of martial might. Despite this austere outlook, Ferrus had deep bonds of brotherhood with a few Primarchs he respected – notably Fulgrim. He was a master weaponsmith and craftsman, forging fantastical devices and arms (he even forged Fulgrim’s sword and received Fulgrim’s hammer in exchange ). In combat, Ferrus Manus was like an implacable machine – he would wade into the toughest fight, trusting in his strength and cybernetic enhancements to crush the foe. His Iron Hands Legion reflected his attitude: they excised weakness (even replacing their own body parts with bionics to become as “unbreakable” as iron).
Origins & Discovery Of Ferrus Manus
Ferrus Manus’s journey began on Medusa, a harsh world of storms and tech-barbarian clans. As an infant Primarch he survived on his own, and one famous legend tells of Ferrus fighting the great Silver Wyrm Asirnoth. Ferrus supposedly slew this magma-spitting dragon by drowning it in lava; its molten silvery flesh cooled and bonded to his arms, giving him his signature metal hands. After this, Ferrus roamed Medusa teaching its wandering clans and testing himself against every challenge. He never attempted to rule Medusa’s clans directly – instead he believed in survival of the fittest, allowing the clans to thrive through competition. When the Emperor arrived, Ferrus Manus actually wrestled the Emperor in a test of strength that flattened mountains. Once Ferrus realized the Emperor was the one being in the galaxy who could match him, he humbled himself and accepted the Emperor’s authority. He took command of the Iron Hands Legion, which quickly embraced Ferrus’s ruthless drive for improvement.
Notable Events From Ferrus Manus’s Life
Ferrus Manus led the Iron Hands to great victories, and notably forged strong friendship with Fulgrim of the Emperor’s Children – a bond of contrasting personalities (the dour smith and the flamboyant artist) that nevertheless ran deep. Tragically, during the Horus Heresy, Fulgrim’s betrayal led to Ferrus Manus’s doom. In the initial battle of the Heresy – the Drop Site Massacre on Isstvan V – Ferrus Manus and his Iron Hands were ambushed by traitors. Ferrus, blinded by rage at Fulgrim’s treason, charged to confront his brother. In an epic duel, Ferrus Manus fought Fulgrim blade to hammer. In the end, Fulgrim (aided by a Chaos-possessed laer blade) decapitated Ferrus Manus, killing him outright. Ferrus Manus thus became the first loyalist Primarch to die in the Heresy. His death shattered his Legion, who recovered only his severed head (according to some sources) after the battle – the rest of Ferrus’s body was lost amidst the carnage.
Where Is Ferrus Manus Now
Ferrus Manus is deceased and did not become a martyr in the way Sanguinius did (largely because his fall occurred early and amidst betrayal). The Iron Hands Legion splintered into Chapters after the Heresy, and they to this day carry Ferrus’s legacy: an aversion to weakness and a preference for bionic augmentation (the Iron Hands’ mantra is “The flesh is weak”). Ferrus’s actual remains are a subject of grim rumor – Fulgrim kept Ferrus Manus’s head as a macabre trophy for a time, though some accounts suggest loyalists later reclaimed it. In the current era, Ferrus Manus’s influence is felt in the unforgiving doctrines of the Iron Hands Chapter. Unlike some Primarchs, Ferrus is truly gone (his soul did not become a daemon). Interestingly, in one Horus Heresy vision, the Emperor is said to have intervened to prevent Ferrus’s soul from being stolen by Chaos at death – so Ferrus might be at peace. To his Iron Hands, Ferrus Manus is almost a god of iron whose teachings guide them. But physically and spiritually, the Gorgon Primarch no longer participates in the 41st millennium – his chapter fights on in his name, their bodies part metal, just as their Primarch had “hands of iron.”
Angron – XII Legion (World Eaters)
Legion Name & Number: World Eaters – 12th Legion
Current Status: Daemon Primarch of Khorne (Traitor)
Home World: Nuceria (gladiatorial high-gravity world)
Angron is wrath incarnate – the blood-mad Primarch also known as the Red Angel. He is utterly defined by rage and brutality. Angron’s early life as a slave-gladiator left him implanted with the Butcher’s Nails, cranial devices that amplify aggression and pain. As a result, even as a Primarch, Angron is in a constant state of simmering fury and agony. He despises weakness and has little in the way of patience or mercy. In combat, Angron was one of the most physically powerful Primarchs – a close-quarters whirlwind with his chain-axes, capable of tearing through armies in berserk fury. His Legion, the World Eaters, mirrored this bloodlust (quite literally, after many adopted the same Butcher’s Nails implants). Despite his uncontrollable anger, Angron’s story is tragic: he was a once noble warrior-hero broken by cruelty. There are hints of a lost honor in him, but Khorne’s influence has long since buried any compassion under mountains of skulls.
Origins & Discovery Of Angron
As an infant, Angron crashed on Nuceria, a planet where high-riders staged brutal gladiator games. The young Primarch was captured and forced to fight in the arenas. Angron endured a life of constant death matches, even having the Butcher’s Nails surgically hammered into his brain by his masters to heighten his ferocity. Despite this horror, Angron inspired fellow gladiators and led a revolt. When the Emperor came to reclaim Angron, Angron shockingly refused to abandon his gladiator comrades to die – but the Emperor teleported Angron away at the last moment, essentially “saving” him against his will. This left Angron bitter and heartbroken, as his adopted gladiator family was massacred in his absence. Angron took command of the War Hounds Legion, which he renamed the World Eaters, and he imposed the Nails implants on them so they could share his rage.
Notable Events From Angron’s Life
Angron’s World Eaters became infamous for their savage assaults during the Great Crusade – but also for growing instability. By the time of the Heresy, Angron had all but succumbed to uncontrollable bloodlust. He followed Horus eagerly (resentful of the Emperor and hungry for slaughter). Angron and his World Eaters carved a path of carnage across the galaxy. At the height of the Horus Heresy, on Terra, Angron was so deep in the grip of Chaos that he actually ascended into a Daemon Prince of Khorne during the siege. Skulls and rivers of blood marked his passage. After Horus’s defeat, Angron was banished back into the Warp by the Emperor’s psychic shockwave. In M41, Angron is remembered for incidents like the First War for Armageddon, where he materialized with a Daemon horde – an Angron so frenzied that a team of Grey Knights had to banish him, at great cost.
Where Is Angron Now
As a daemon Primarch, Angron lives on, an immortal embodiment of rage. He exists primarily in the Eye of Terror, on a Daemon world-slaughterhouse gifted by Khorne. But Angron does not sit idle – he has repeatedly erupted into the mortal galaxy to lead berserker wars. In the current era (post-Great Rift), Angron has again reemerged, spearheading a renewed World Eaters campaign of terror. For example, Angron led his Legion in a massive war around the planet Malakbael, clashing even with the returned Lion El’Jonson. Angron’s appearances are cataclysms of violence: entire systems are depopulated when the Red Angel comes. Though he can be banished (the Grey Knights famously banished Angron for 100 years after Armageddon’s war), he always returns, hunger for slaughter unabated. In summary, Angron is one of the three active Daemon Primarchs in the 41st Millennium (alongside Magnus and Mortarion). He embodies Chaos’s wrath and remains one of the most dangerous creatures in existence – a former demigod reduced to Khorne’s attack dog, unleashed upon the Imperium whenever the Blood God desires skulls.
Roboute Guilliman – XIII Legion (Ultramarines)
Legion Name & Number: Ultramarines – 13th Legion
Current Status: Alive (Reborn in the 41st Millennium, Lord Commander of the Imperium)
Home World: Macragge (civilized productive world)
Roboute Guilliman is the statesman of the Primarchs – a brilliant administrator, strategist, and warrior, often called the Avenging Son of the Imperium. He is known for his rational, pragmatic outlook and adherence to order and efficiency. Guilliman wrote the Codex Astartes, the seminal book on Space Marine organization and tactics, exemplifying his methodical approach. Personality-wise, Guilliman was measured, just, and somewhat reserved. He lacked the fiery passions of some brothers or the eccentricities of others; instead he showed balance and “cool, rational judgment”. That said, Guilliman was not emotionless – he deeply cared for the citizens of his realm of Ultramar and believed in building civilizations, not just winning battles. He was often seen as the “ideal son,” ever dutiful and level-headed. In combat, Guilliman was a master tactician who could win any conventional war through superior logistics and strategy. While not the outright strongest or fastest Primarch physically, he was among the most skilled in planning and coordination, making the Ultramarines exceedingly effective.
Origins & Discovery Of Roboute Guilliman
Roboute Guilliman was raised on Macragge, a wealthy world with a tradition of meritocracy. Adopted by the planet’s Consul (Governor) Konor Guilliman, Roboute received a top-tier education in governance and war. As a youth he ended a civil war on Macragge by crushing a corrupt rebellion and reorganizing society to reward talent over nobility. By the time the Emperor reached Macragge, Guilliman had turned it into a just and prosperous world — so much so that the Emperor was impressed to find a thriving civilization that Guilliman had built in His absence. Guilliman was the thirteenth Primarch to be found. Upon meeting the Emperor, he gladly swore service. He took command of the Ultramarines and established his empire of Ultramar: a collection of efficient, well-governed human worlds exemplifying the ideals of the Imperium (these worlds later formed the realm of Ultramarines Chapter).
Notable Events From Roboute Guilliman’s Life
During the Great Crusade, Guilliman and his Ultramarines brought more worlds into Imperial compliance than any other Legion. However, they were caught far from Terra during the Horus Heresy. Guilliman did create the temporary “Imperium Secundus” in Ultramar when warp storms cut off Terra – a contingency plan where he even considered making Sanguinius Emperor, until the Heresy’s outcome became clear. After Horus’s defeat, Guilliman became the driving force in rebuilding the Imperium. He penned the Codex Astartes that broke the Legions into smaller Chapters (to prevent any one Space Marine force from turning traitor at Heresy-scale again). For the next few centuries, Guilliman was Lord Commander of the Imperium, leading it through the tumultuous Scouring period. Guilliman’s fate took a turn in M41: he was poisoned to near-death by Fulgrim (now a Daemon Prince) during the Battle of Thessala. Guilliman’s throat was slashed by Fulgrim’s daemonic blade, and he was put into stasis – effectively frozen at the brink of death. For 10,000 years Guilliman lay in stasis, known as the “Avenging Son in repose.” Finally, in 999.M41, Belisarius Cawl (Archmagos of the Adeptus Mechanicus) and the Eldar of Biel-Tan performed an extraordinary ritual using the technology of the Ynnari. They resurrected Roboute Guilliman – his mortal wound healed by a sophisticated armor known as the Armor of Fate. Guilliman awakened to find the galaxy in dire straits (the Imperium in decay and Chaos rampant). Despite culture shock and even questioning the Emperor’s “godhood” status, Guilliman took up the mantle of Imperial Regent.
Where Is Roboute Guilliman Now
Roboute Guilliman lives and currently leads the Imperium’s defense. He is Lord Commander of the Imperium and Regent to the throne, effectively the Emperor’s proxy in this new age. Since his resurrection, Guilliman spearheaded the Indomitus Crusade to reclaim worlds lost to Chaos after the Great Rift’s opening. He has also traveled to Terra and even had an audience with the Emperor (a mysterious, soul-shaking experience that left him determined yet deeply disturbed ). In the present timeline (the Era Indomitus), Guilliman divides his time between war and governance: rallying Imperial forces against threats like the Chaos invasion of Ultramar (the Plague Wars against Mortarion), and reforming the bureaucracy of the Imperium where he can. He is one of only two loyalist Primarchs active in the 41st millennium (the other being the recently returned Lion El’Jonson). Guilliman struggles with the worship of the Emperor as a god, but he puts aside his doubts to do what must be done. As of now, he stands as Humanity’s greatest military leader, fighting desperately to hold the Imperium together. It’s a role he never sought, thrust upon him by fate and the Emperor’s grand design. Roboute Guilliman, the Avenging Son, now fights a battle on two fronts: war against external enemies and war against the entropy of the Imperium’s soul. In both, his resolve remains as strong as the day he wrote in the Codex: “We March for Macragge – and we shall know no fear!”
Mortarion – XIV Legion (Death Guard)
Legion Name & Number: Death Guard – 14th Legion
Current Status: Daemon Primarch of Nurgle (Traitor)
Home World: Barbarus (toxic fog-world)
Mortarion, the Primarch of the Death Guard, is a gloomy and resilient figure – known as the Death Lord or the Pale King. He has an extreme resistance to poisons and hardship, and he imparted this hardiness to his Legion. Mortarion has a grim determination and a hatred of weakness (much like Ferrus or Angron in that regard). However, he also harbored a special hatred for psykers and sorcery, stemming from his upbringing under an alien sorcerer-tyrant. Mortarion is characterized by melancholy and bitterness; even before turning traitor, he was taciturn and carried a chip on his shoulder regarding the Emperor’s use of psychic powers. In battle, Mortarion wielded his colossal scythe Silence and was accompanied by a cloud of poisonous gas – he excelled at attritional warfare, enduring any suffering to outlast his foes. His Death Guard were known for enduring the worst conditions (radiation, contagions) without flinching, a direct reflection of Mortarion’s ethos that “strength comes from suffering”. After falling to Chaos, Mortarion became the chosen of Nurgle, the Chaos God of plague and decay, which horribly fulfilled Mortarion’s affinity for toxins in the darkest way.
Origins & Discovery Of Mortarion
Mortarion’s pod landed on Barbarus, a planet perpetually cloaked in poisonous fog. Barbarus was ruled by undead warlords – powerful alien necromancers – who enslaved human villagers. An alien warlord (often called Necare) raised Mortarion, but the young Primarch eventually learned of the oppressed humans living in the lower valleys out of the fog. Mortarion was revolted by the warlord’s cruelty and left to join the human resistance. He trained the villagers into an army and led a revolution against the xenos warlords. In his ultimate test, Mortarion attempted to climb the toxic mountain to slay his foster father necromancer, but the poison air nearly killed even him. The Emperor arrived at that critical moment and slew the warlord, saving Mortarion – a deed that secretly embittered Mortarion (who wished to do it himself). Nonetheless, Mortarion recognized the Emperor’s power and agreed to command the Death Guard Legion. He brought with him the mindset forged on Barbarus: endurance above all.
Notable Events From Mortarion’s Life
Mortarion fought honorably for much of the Crusade but always felt uneasy with the Emperor’s psychic projects (like the Webway project). When Horus rebelled, Mortarion – who had always been a bit of an outsider – was seduced by promises that “the witchcraft of the Emperor” would be overthrown. Tragically, Mortarion and the Death Guard were caught in the Warp en route to Terra, and Nurgle struck. The Legion was infected with an unstoppable plague; Mortarion, facing doom, gave in to the plague lord to save his sons. This transformed Mortarion and his Marines into grotesque plague-ridden forms. He ascended as a Daemon Prince of Nurgle by the time of the Siege of Terra. After the Heresy, Mortarion retreated to the Eye of Terror, ruling a demon world as Nurgle’s champion – effectively recreating Barbarus’s nightmare tyranny, with Mortarion now the immortal plague-tyrant.
Where Is Mortarion Now
Mortarion remains one of the main active Chaos Primarchs. From his Plague Planet in the Eye of Terror, he frequently launches contagion wars against the Imperium. In the current timeline, Mortarion led the massive Plague Wars in Ultramar, invading his brother Guilliman’s realm with disease and demon cohorts. This campaign saw Mortarion duel Guilliman; Mortarion even managed to infect Guilliman with the cursed Godblight plague (by breathing foul spores directly into Guilliman’s face). However, Guilliman was miraculously cured by the Emperor’s intervention, and Mortarion’s forces were eventually driven back. In the climactic battle on Iax, Guilliman struck Mortarion down with the Emperor’s psychic aid, banishing the Daemon Primarch back to the Warp (though not permanently). Now, Mortarion licks his wounds in the Warp, but as a daemon Primarch he cannot be permanently killed by normal means. He doubtless plots new plagues to unleash. Thus, Mortarion is an ever-present plague upon the Imperium – defeated for now, but still very much alive as a daemon. His hatred for the “weak” Emperor and love of Nurgle’s gifts ensure he will return to blight the galaxy again. In sum, Mortarion is one of Chaos’s greatest champions in the 41st Millennium, and only the Emperor’s chosen (like Guilliman and the Grey Knights) have managed to thwart him when he manifests. The Death Lord’s shadow lies long over any world infected by Chaos, and his rancid breath still carries the promise of death and despair to the foes of Nurgle.
Magnus the Red – XV Legion (Thousand Sons)
Legion Name & Number: Thousand Sons – 15th Legion
Current Status: Daemon Primarch of Tzeentch (Traitor)
Home World: Prospero (psyker-shaman world)
Magnus the Red is the most powerful psyker among the Primarchs, often called the Crimson King or the Cyclopean Primarch (he has one central eye). Magnus is towering, red-skinned, and intellectually beyond brilliant – his pursuit of knowledge was unmatched. He had a genuine love of learning and thirst for understanding the Warp’s secrets. Personality-wise, Magnus was proud but not malicious; he truly adored the Emperor and strove to please Him. However, Magnus’s fatal flaw was hubris in his sorcerous ability – he believed he could master any knowledge, and this overconfidence led to disaster. Magnus was also somewhat idealistic, preferring enlightenment over brute force. On Prospero he built a civilization of scholars. In war, Magnus wielded devastating psychic powers to protect his Legion and annihilate foes with sorcery rather than brute strength. He could incinerate armies or teleport at will. Despite his current daemon-Primarch status, there is a saying among some Imperial scholars: “Magnus did nothing wrong” – a sympathetic nod to the tragedy that befell him.
Origins & Discovery Of Magnus the Red
Magnus landed on Prospero, a remote world populated by outcast human psykers. On Prospero, Magnus grew up among a community that valued psychic talent and mystical knowledge. He excelled at all forms of psychic discipline, and by the time the Emperor found him, Magnus had unified Prospero into a paradise of learning (the city of Tizca) and mastered incredible sorceries. The Emperor welcomed Magnus and for a time they enjoyed a father-son bond founded on the love of knowledge. Magnus was allowed (unique among Primarchs) to continue practicing sanctioned psyker arts, and his Legion, the Thousand Sons, were all psychic to some degree. However, signs of trouble emerged – the Thousand Sons suffered from a flesh-changing curse due to their Warp exposure. Magnus, desperate to save his Legion, made a secret deal with Tzeentch (Chaos God of sorcery) to halt the curse, not realizing the price. This sowed the seeds of corruption.
Notable Events From Magnus’s Life
The defining moment for Magnus was the Council of Nikaea, where the Emperor, swayed by other Primarchs’ fears, banned all use of sorcery. Magnus’s practices were thus forbidden. Heartbroken but obedient, Magnus intended to abide by this edict. Then he discovered Horus’s betrayal through visions. In a fateful decision, Magnus used sorcery (forbidden) to send a warning to the Emperor – he projected his astral form into Terra’s Webway project, shattering the Webway gate the Emperor was working on. This caused a calamity on Terra, and the Emperor was furious. He dispatched Leman Russ and the Space Wolves to apprehend Magnus. Russ, misled by Horus, instead invaded Prospero with lethal intent. During the Burning of Prospero, Magnus, in despair, saw his Legion and city being destroyed. In anguish, he finally gave himself to Tzeentch fully. As the Wolves advanced, Magnus transported himself and the surviving Thousand Sons into the Eye of Terror, to a new safe haven (the Planet of the Sorcerers). There, Magnus ascended into a Daemon Prince of Tzeentch – his physical body was destroyed by Russ, but Magnus was reborn as a being of pure Warp energy. During the Heresy, Magnus ironically fought against the Imperium he once loved, but his role was more behind the scenes (his Legion was badly reduced). Over the millennia, Magnus consolidated power on the Planet of the Sorcerers (Sortiarius) and nurtured his Thousand Sons into a legion of sorcerer-marines.
Where Is Magnus Now
Magnus the Red is alive as a Daemon Primarch of Tzeentch. Unlike most traitors, Magnus’s form is not monstrous – he often appears much as he did (gigantic and red-skinned, but with mystical aura). He is one of the three daemon Primarchs actively menacing the Imperium in M41. Notably, Magnus re-entered Imperial space during the 13th Black Crusade. In the contemporary storyline, Magnus attacked the Space Wolves’ homeworld Fenris in a campaign called the Wrath of Magnus, exacting revenge for Prospero. He was only narrowly defeated and banished back to the Warp by the Grey Knights and Space Wolves combined. Later, during the events of the Gathering Storm and Guilliman’s revival, Magnus ambushed Guilliman’s crusade fleet inside the Warp (the Battle of the Maelstrom) and duelled Guilliman on Luna. There, Sisters of Silence negated Magnus’s sorcery, allowing Guilliman to stab Magnus and banish him once more. But banishment is temporary – Magnus soon reappeared leading the Thousand Sons in new wars. He now rules the Planet of the Sorcerers in the Eye, continuing his pursuit of knowledge and plotting Tzeentchian schemes. In the current era, Magnus is arguably the most strategic of the Chaos Primarchs: where Angron rages and Mortarion infects, Magnus schemes. Imperial scholars list him as “one of three daemon primarchs currently alive and active in the galaxy, waging war…in his own mysterious ways.”. Magnus’s ultimate goal might be to avenge himself on the Emperor and Russ, or perhaps something more esoteric (some think Magnus still secretly longs for the Emperor’s forgiveness – a point of debate). Regardless, Magnus the Red is a major antagonist in modern 40K, as unpredictable and dangerous as the sorcerous storms he commands. The Crimson King’s war on the Imperium continues, fought not just with bolter and blade, but with warp-fire, spells, and the twisted logic of Tzeentch.
Horus Lupercal – XVI Legion (Luna Wolves / Sons of Horus)
Legion Name & Number: Luna Wolves (later Sons of Horus) – 16th Legion
Current Status: Dead (Killed by the Emperor at Siege of Terra)
Home World: Cthonia (hive gang world near Terra)
Horus is the infamous Arch-Traitor – once the noblest of Primarchs, turned into the greatest villain of the age. During his prime, Horus Lupercal was the Emperor’s favorite son and first discovered Primarch. He was charismatic, inspiring, and a brilliant commander beloved by all. As Warmaster, Horus wielded strategic genius and personal bravery that were second to none. He was generous to brothers like Leman Russ (saving Russ’s life once), and in turn many adored him. However, Horus also possessed ambition and an underlying insecurity – the seeds that Chaos eventually exploited. When corrupted, Horus’s virtues turned to vices: his charisma became manipulation, his decisiveness became ruthlessness. The Chaos gods elevated Horus’s already prodigious might, making him terrifying on the battlefield (by the time of Terra, he was empowered such that even the Emperor struggled against him ). But crucially, Horus retained his tactical brilliance to the end.
Origins & Discovery Of Horus
Horus’s early life was on Cthonia, a violent mining world with a gang culture. As a youth in Cthonia’s underhive, Horus learned to survive and lead gangs of hive-scum. When the Emperor found him (Horus was the very first Primarch retrieved, according to Imperial records ), Horus immediately joined his father in the Great Crusade. For decades, Horus was the only Primarch at the Emperor’s side, and the bond between Emperor and Horus was exceptionally strong. Horus was given command of the Luna Wolves Legion. He excelled, and upon the triumph at Ullanor, the Emperor named Horus Warmaster of all Imperial forces. This was an elevation above his brothers, and many (including Horus himself) felt he deserved it.
Notable Events From Horus’s Life
As Warmaster, Horus initially prosecuted the Crusade brilliantly. But on the planet Davin, Horus was wounded by a Chaos-tainted weapon. In his delirium, the Chaos gods convinced Horus that the Emperor had betrayed the Primarchs and ascended to godhood in arrogance. Appealing to Horus’s pride and sense of being overlooked (the Emperor had returned to Terra and left Horus to do the dirty work of war), Chaos corrupted Horus. Thus began the Horus Heresy. Horus rallied half the Legions to his side, instigating a galaxy-wide civil war. The Heresy’s climax was the Siege of Terra, where Horus’s forces reached the Imperial Palace. In the final confrontation, Horus, now swollen with Chaos power, dueled the Emperor aboard his flagship. In that epic battle, Horus slew Sanguinius (who confronted him first), and mortally wounded the Emperor. The Emperor, in turn, mustered one last cosmic blast of psychic power that utterly obliterated Horus – body, mind, and soul. Horus died in that instant, his very soul reputedly erased from existence by the Emperor’s righteous fury, so that Chaos could never resurrect him. The Heresy died with Horus; the stunned Traitor Legions fell back in disarray.
Where Is Horus Now
Horus is truly dead. Unlike other Traitor Primarchs, he did not become a Daemon Prince. In fact, the Emperor deliberately annihilated Horus so completely that no trace of his soul remained. This was the Emperor’s final act of mercy to his wayward son – preventing Chaos from ever torturing or reviving Horus. Horus’s body (what was left of it) was originally taken by the Sons of Horus, but it was later stolen and cloned by Fabius Bile. The clone(s) of Horus were destroyed by Horus’s former first captain, Abaddon, who refused to allow any pretender. Now, Horus exists only as a cautionary legend. The Luna Wolves were renamed the Black Legion by Abaddon to expunge Horus’s failure. No worship of Horus persists among traitors; even the Chaos Gods moved on to new champions. For the Imperium, Horus is the arch-traitor – the name “Horus Heresy” ensuring he is remembered as the greatest villain of history. In the current age, Horus’s legacy is carried on by Abaddon (who sees himself as finishing what Horus started, but refuses to repeat Horus’s mistakes). The Emperor remains on the Golden Throne, crippled from killing Horus. Thus, Horus’s impact reverberates eternally, but Horus himself does not. In the grim darkness of the far future, Horus is a ghost of the past – a memory of treachery that haunts the Imperium’s collective consciousness, but no more a physical threat.
Lorgar Aurelian – XVII Legion (Word Bearers)
Legion Name & Number: Word Bearers – 17th Legion
Current Status: Daemon Primarch of Chaos Undivided (Traitor)
Home World: Colchis (desert religious world)
Lorgar is the arch-heretic, the Primarch who turned to worship and brought religion into the Legions. He is highly spiritual, fiercely religious, and prone to fanaticism. During the Great Crusade, Lorgar was actually too devoted to the Emperor – he revered the Emperor as a god, in contrast to the Imperial Truth of atheism. This tendency for devotion, once scorned by the Emperor, later made Lorgar the first to embrace Chaos worship. Lorgar’s personality is often described as sensitive, poetic, and philosophical, but also mercurial and extreme in his emotions. Guilliman once said Lorgar could be your best friend one moment and seething with resentment the next. Lorgar was not the greatest warrior (he was a capable fighter but not eager for martial glory). Instead, he was a wordsmith and visionary – author of the Lectitio Divinitatus (which proclaimed the Emperor’s divinity) and later the Book of Lorgar, the unholy tome praising Chaos. Physically, Lorgar is often depicted with a quiet, contemplative demeanor, bearing a large crozius (mace) and occasionally scriptural markings on his armor or skin. After ascension to daemonhood, Lorgar has withdrawn from the spotlight, suggesting a reflective, brooding nature even in immortality.
Origins & Discovery Of Lorgar
Lorgar was raised on Colchis, a world teeming with religious fervor. As a child, he was adopted by Kor Phaeron, a priest of the Covenant (Colchis’s old religion). Lorgar became a preacher and eventually sparked a global holy war on Colchis – he received visions of the Emperor and united the planet in worship of this coming god. When the Emperor arrived, Lorgar was overjoyed; he made the entire population of Colchis kneel to the Emperor. The Emperor did accept Lorgar’s fealty but did not endorse being worshipped as a deity. Nevertheless, Lorgar took command of the 17th Legion, which he named the Word Bearers, and set out to spread the Imperial Truth with religious zeal.
Notable Events From Lorgar’s Life
Lorgar’s overzealous behavior drew the Emperor’s ire about a century into the Great Crusade. The Word Bearers had spent too long erecting grand cathedrals and making compliance a spiritual affair rather than swiftly moving on. In a painful public rebuke on the world of Monarchia, the Emperor and Guilliman made Lorgar kneel and witness his cherished city destroyed for its Emperor-worshipping idolatry. This humiliation broke Lorgar’s faith in the Emperor. The proud, wounded Lorgar turned to seek “the truth” elsewhere. Guided by Kor Phaeron and Erebus, Lorgar secretly fell to Chaos – becoming the first Primarch to be corrupted by the Ruinous Powers. Lorgar spent years in secret preparing the Heresy: his Word Bearers planted cults, and he helped Horus’s fall by sending Erebus to Davin. Once the Heresy began, Lorgar unleashed his Legion in full, burning worlds and actively preaching the gospel of Chaos. After Horus’s death, Lorgar retreated. He achieved daemonhood sometime in the Heresy’s aftermath, ascending as a Daemon Prince of Chaos Undivided (devoted to Chaos as a whole rather than one god). But interestingly, once a daemon, Lorgar became reclusive. He isolated himself in a temple on Sicarus (the Word Bearers’ daemon world), meditating for millennia. He purposefully forbade interruptions, implying he might have felt regret or at least a need to contemplate his actions. There are few recorded instances of Lorgar’s activity after the Heresy – one is when Corvus Corax hunted him down in the Eye of Terror in M41, and Lorgar only barely escaped an enraged, mutated Corax.
Where Is Lorgar Now
Lorgar has been in self-imposed seclusion for the past 10,000 years, earning him the nickname “The Urizen,” meaning “the one who watches”. On the daemon world Sicarus, Lorgar locked himself in the Templum Inficio and meditated, possibly communing with the Chaos gods or seeking greater truths. The 8th Edition Chaos Space Marines Codex notes that Lorgar remains in solitude, refusing to lead his Legion in person. However, recent lore suggests that with the opening of the Great Rift (the galaxy-wide Warp rift in late M41), Lorgar may have stirred. Rumors whisper that Lorgar has ended his exile and walked among mortals again, leading Word Bearers in new crusades and preaching the faith of Chaos across shattered worlds. If true, this would mark the return of one of the most dangerous minds in Chaos – not for his physical might, but for his ability to convert and corrupt. In the current era, it’s ambiguous: the Word Bearers Legion still operates led by Dark Apostles (Chaos priests) in Lorgar’s name. Should Lorgar fully return to command them, the Imperium would face a resurgence of fanatical Chaos zeal. For now, the official stance is Lorgar is aDaemon Prince at large but not overtly active – lurking, praying, and slowly spreading his dark scripture through his acolytes. Given his track record, the Imperium fears the day Lorgar Aurelian finally steps forth from the shadows, for that will signal a renewed Apostasy War of faith against the Emperor’s realm.
Vulkan – XVIII Legion (Salamanders)
Legion Name & Number: Salamanders – 18th Legion
Current Status: Missing (a Perpetual – effectively immortal)
Home World: Nocturne (volcanic death world)
Vulkan is the genial giant of the Primarchs – a towering figure with dark, ash-black skin and glowing red eyes, known for his immense physical strength and his kindness toward ordinary humans. He had the strongest physique of all the Primarchs (even before one considers his Perpetual immortality). Despite his fearsome appearance, Vulkan was regarded as one of the most humane Primarchs. He cherished the lives of innocents and of his own men, always striving to protect them. He was a master craftsman and forge-master; the artifacts forged by Vulkan were of unparalleled quality, including weapons and the famed Thunder Hammer Dawnbringer. In temperament, Vulkan was courageous and empathetic, slow to anger but unstoppable once roused. On the battlefield he fought like an elemental force, wielding a massive warhammer or spear and wading through the worst enemy fire without falter. Importantly, Vulkan is a Perpetual – a rare mutant with the gift (or curse) of immortality, meaning even if he is killed, he eventually regenerates and returns to life. This trait shaped his Legion’s philosophy somewhat, emphasizing resilience and self-sacrifice (since their Primarch could literally sacrifice himself and come back).
Origins & Discovery Of Vulkan
Vulkan grew up on Nocturne, a world of constant volcanic eruptions and monstrous fauna. He was adopted by the blacksmith of a small settlement and became a tradesman and warrior. Vulkan earned renown during a festival competition when Dark Eldar raiders attacked – he united Nocturne’s people to fight off the xenos, impressing even the Emperor, who had arrived in disguise to observe. After revealing Himself, the Emperor welcomed Vulkan. The Salamanders Legion (originally the XVIII Legion) was small but elite, and Vulkan’s bonding with them was immediate and familial. He treated each of his Space Marines like a dear brother or son.
Notable Events From Vulkan’s Life
Vulkan and his Salamanders fought with distinction in the Great Crusade, often assigned to extremely hazardous warzones (due to their Primarch’s ability to survive almost anything). During the Horus Heresy, Vulkan was present at the Drop Site Massacre on Isstvan V, where he was captured by Konrad Curze. In a harrowing period, Curze tortured Vulkan repeatedly, only to find that due to Vulkan’s Perpetual nature, Vulkan could not truly die. Curze killed Vulkan countless times in horrifying ways, hoping to break his spirit, but Vulkan endured (albeit suffering greatly). Vulkan eventually escaped – some stories say with the help of the Watcher in the Dark or other mysterious allies. After the Heresy, Vulkan’s actions are a bit scattered: one major appearance was in M32 during the War of the Beast, when Orks nearly overwhelmed the Imperium. Vulkan reappeared from seclusion to help the High Lords, taking command as a “regent” temporarily. He even confronted the massive Ork warlord (the Beast) and seemingly perished alongside it in a fiery cataclysm. But as a Perpetual, Vulkan cannot stay dead. He vanished after that war, leaving behind nine treasured artifacts.
Where Is Vulkan Now
Vulkan’s current status is officially listed as “missing, presumed dead”, but the Salamanders firmly believe their Primarch lives on. In truth, as a Perpetual, Vulkan still lives (or will live again). The Salamanders have a legend that when they gather Vulkan’s nine sacred relics, it will herald their Primarch’s return. As of now, they have recovered some but not all. Vulkan has not been seen in the Imperium in the 41st Millennium. It’s possible he has chosen to remain hidden until a dire time. Because he has a gentle heart, some theories suggest Vulkan retreated from the limelight, sorrowful from the horrors of the Heresy and wishing to temper his soul through anonymity until needed. In recent lore, it’s hinted that somewhere out there, Vulkan wanders – perhaps aiding people quietly or simply waiting. Unlike other missing Primarchs, Vulkan’s eventual return is actually plausible due to his immortality. If the final battle (the prophesied End Times) comes, we can expect Vulkan to appear from the smoke and flame, to once again stand by Humanity with his mighty forge-crafted weapons. Until then, the Salamanders Space Marine Chapter carries on his legacy of compassion and strength. Vulkan’s official status in Imperial archives is “deceased”, but the wise know that Vulkan lives, as undying as the fire of Nocturne’s furnaces.
Corvus Corax – XIX Legion (Raven Guard)
Legion Name & Number: Raven Guard – 19th Legion
Current Status: Missing – In self-imposed exile in the Eye of Terror
Home World: Deliverance (moon of Kiavahr)
Corvus Corax is the stealthy, brooding Primarch of the Raven Guard. Often likened to a “shadow”, Corax was melancholy, solitary, and utterly dedicated to the ideals of freedom and justice. He had jet-black hair and eyes, and his armor was midnight black – he truly lived up to his name (Corax means “Raven”). Corax excelled in guerrilla warfare: ambush, sabotage, hit-and-run tactics. He was somewhat reserved among his brothers, and the atrocities of the Heresy weighed heavily on his soul, giving him a tragic air. That said, Corax was compassionate to oppressed humans – he led a slave uprising on Deliverance to free the downtrodden, which shaped his hatred of tyranny. In combat, Corax was swift and lethal, preferring to strike from an unexpected quarter and fade away. He wielded lightning claws and a jump pack, diving onto foes like a bird of prey. After the Heresy, guilt over his Legion’s decimation (and his own desperate measures to rebuild it) gnawed at him, influencing his ultimate fate.
Origins & Discovery Of Corvus
Corvus Corax grew up on the moon Lycaeus (later renamed Deliverance), which was a prison mining colony for the planet Kiavahr’s tech-guilds. He was taken in by imprisoned miners and became the figurehead of a rebellion. Corax taught himself tactics by studying past guerilla wars (he was extremely intelligent) and eventually led the slaves to overthrow their masters. By the time the Emperor arrived, Corax had liberated Deliverance and was deliberating how to free Kiavahr below. The Emperor, proud of Corax’s success, granted him command of the Raven Guard Legion and allowed Corax’s first request: to execute the cruel overseers of Kiavahr swiftly, freeing the entire system. This done, Corax set about molding the XIX Legion into masters of stealth and strike warfare.
Notable Events From Corvus’s Life
During the Horus Heresy, Corax and the Raven Guard were caught in the Drop Site Massacre on Istvaan V. The Raven Guard were massacred almost to extinction. Corax escaped Istvaan V badly wounded and returned to Deliverance. Determined to rebuild his Legion quickly, Corax resorted to using accelerated gene-seed cloning (with some secret help from the Emperor’s lab). The result was catastrophic: many of the new Raven Guard turned into hulking, insane monsters (the “Raptores”), a shame that Corax bore heavily. He euthanized the mutants once it was clear the gene-tech was flawed. After the Heresy, wracked by guilt and anger, Corax hunted traitors in a personal vendetta. Approximately a year after the Heresy, Corax vanished into the Eye of Terror, declaring “Nevermore” to his comrades – a somber final quote. Over the millennia, whispered tales say Corax survived in the Eye, evolving into a wraith-like avenger. One account (from the Shield of Baal campaign) describes Corax reappearing to confront Lorgar in the Eye: Corax had become a Warp-mutated shadow with vengeance in his heart, and he nearly killed Lorgar. This suggests Corax has embraced the Warp’s gifts to pursue his revenge, albeit still on the side of (twisted) justice.
Where Is Corvus Now
Corvus Corax is officially listed as “missing in the Eye of Terror” – he left the Imperium and journeyed alone into the madness of Chaos space. The Raven Guard Chapter believes their Primarch still lives in some form. In recent lore, as mentioned, it’s implied Corax is active within the Eye, assassinating traitor champions. Corax’s form has changed – exposure to the Warp amplified his intrinsic stealth ability to supernatural levels. He can become literal shadow or mist, a specter stalking the traitor Primarchs. In a confrontation during the Hunt for Lorgar, Corax was described as a mutated, shadowy creature driven by righteous fury. He forced Lorgar to flee, a testament to Corax’s newfound dread power. Despite this warp-taint, Corax remains focused on killing those who betrayed the Emperor. As of M41, Corax has not returned to realspace or the Imperium. He fights an endless guerilla war in the Immaterium itself, culling the forces of Chaos where he can. The likelihood of Corax returning to Imperial space is uncertain – if he judges that he’s become too warped, he may choose to stay hidden. However, if he does return, it could be in some dramatic final battle where his expertise at sowing terror is turned against Chaos. For now, the Ravenlord is a dark legend at the fringe of reality, striking fear into traitors’ hearts from the shadows of the warp.
Alpharius & Omegon – XX Legion (Alpha Legion)
Legion Name & Number: Alpha Legion – 20th Legion
Current Status: Alpharius – Dead (confirmed); Omegon – Unknown/Active
Home World: None (Alpharius grew in secret; the Legion was fleet-based)
The Alpha Legion’s Primarch(s) are the most enigmatic of all. Alpharius and Omegon are twin Primarchs – a fact that was kept extremely secret. They often presented themselves interchangeably as “Alpharius,” making it nigh impossible for outsiders to tell them apart. Alpharius/Omegon were somewhat smaller in stature than other Primarchs (closer to a large Space Marine), which aided their anonymity. Their defining trait was subterfuge. Masters of deception, intelligence, and asymmetrical warfare, the Alpha Legion prided itself on confusing and outwitting enemies. Alpharius (and Omegon) had chameleonic strategic minds; they lacked the straightforward nobility of a Guilliman or Dorn, instead favoring espionage, sabotage, and elaborate schemes. Personality-wise, Alpharius was witty, sly, and enjoyed the long con. The Legion’s motto could well be “Hydra Dominatus” – cut off one head, two more take its place – reflecting their cells of operatives and layered secrets. Even within their ranks, Alpharius and Omegon would disguise themselves as line troopers to fight alongside their men. This cultivated a culture where any Alpha Legionnaire could claim “I am Alpharius.” For the twin Primarchs, individuality was less important than the mission.
Origins & Discovery Of Alpharius & Omegon
Alpharius’s discovery by the Emperor is shrouded in contradiction. Official Imperial history says Alpharius was the last Primarch found (20th), discovered after the Heresy began, and that he had no settled homeworld. However, Alpharius later claimed an alternate story: he was the first Primarch found by the Emperor, but was kept secret, and that Omegon was the final “Primarch” revealed to Horus. Regardless, the Alpha Legion’s Primarch appeared later to his brothers and kept a low profile. Alpharius met Horus before meeting the Emperor (according to some sources) and was influenced by Horus greatly. Once integrated, Alpharius (with Omegon hidden in the shadows) took command of the XX Legion. They never had a single homeworld; instead they recruited from all over and operated from a mobile fleet. The Alpha Legion was known to employ many operatives, even human agents and auxiliaries, more than any other Legion.
Notable Events From Alpharius & Omegon’s Lives
During the Horus Heresy, Alpharius/Omegon turned traitor, siding with Horus – though interestingly some theorize it was “loyalty through treachery” (a convoluted plot to ultimately strengthen the Imperium by weeding out weakness). The Alpha Legion fought the Ultramarines at Eskrador where Rouboute Guilliman managed to kill Alpharius (or so it appeared). The death of “Alpharius” did not stop the Legion; if anything, Omegon simply took up the Alpharius mantle and the Alpha Legion continued to battle the Imperium in scattered cells. Another conflicting account holds that Rogal Dorn killed Alpharius aboard a space fortress near Pluto during the Siege of Terra – illustrating how deliberately confusing Alpharius’s fate is. After the Heresy, the Alpha Legion did not flee to the Eye of Terror like other traitors; instead they became an insurgency force, operating in secret across the galaxy. Omegon, possibly assuming the name Alpharius, remained at large. Over the millennia, no definitive sightings of Omegon have been confirmed – the Alpha Legion operates with decentralized command. Thus, both Primarchs of the XXth are “dead” only from a certain point of view. The Imperium believes Alpharius was slain and has no data on Omegon. The Alpha Legion themselves propagate conflicting information.
Where Are Alpharius & Omegon Now
In the current era, Alpharius is dead by all reliable accounts. Omegon’s status is unknown. The Alpha Legion warbands still vex the Imperium, carrying out clandestine operations, but they have no open Primarch figurehead. It’s possible Omegon lives and continues to direct them under deep cover. If so, he has never publicly revealed himself. The Alpha Legion’s strength is in its mystery – even in the 41st Millennium, an Inquisitor can never be sure if the operative they just caught is merely a pawn or the Primarch in disguise. For practical purposes, the Imperium treats the Alpha Legion like a headless hydra: dangerous, but without a guiding Primarch intelligence (not openly, at least). Some unusual twists in recent lore: a portion of the Alpha Legion may actually be working against Chaos (as hinted in the Praetorian of Dorn novel where Alpharius claimed to Dorn his Legion was doing what they believed was right to save humanity). If Omegon survives, he could be manipulating events from the shadows for aims only he understands. Ultimately, the Primarch(s) of the XX Legion remain an enigma – which is exactly how they’d want it. The Hydra endures, many-headed and mysterious, its masters either dead, masquerading as someone else, or pursuing some grand game far from the Imperium’s eyes. In any case, no loyalist Primarch expects an Alpharius or Omegon to stride onto the battlefield in open combat. The Alpha Legion will continue to be fought in the dark corners of the galaxy, where truth and lies are hard to distinguish – just as Alpharius Omegon intended.
Sources
The lore above is drawn from official Games Workshop sources, including Black Library novels and codex background. Key references can be found in Horus Heresy novel series and various Warhammer 40,000 codices: for example, the Horus Heresy: Collected Visions for Primarch origins, Index Astartes and Legion-specific codex entries for Legion histories, and recent 8th/9th Edition Codexes (e.g., Space Marines, Chaos Space Marines) for current status updates. Specific citations from Lexicanum and other lore compilations are provided inline for verification of major points (e.g., Primarch fates and statuses). This ensures accuracy and adherence to canon in summarizing the epic saga of the Primarchs.
