Minotaurs
Template:Ambiguous
The Minotaurs are a mysterious loyalist Space Marine Chapter with a particularly brutal reputation.[1a]
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Contents
History
The Minotaurs are a relatively mysterious Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes, as they are principally notable for the fact that, beyond the last thousand years, most records of them appear to have been locked away under seals so tight even members of the Inquisition find them difficult to open. In addition, other records appear to have been lost or mislaid. The matter is made even more complex by the existence of historical records relating to "a" Minotaurs Astartes chapter, but whether it is the same one as that of M41 is open to conjecture. Finally, the chapter is rumoured to possess some form of direct tie to the High Lords of Terra themselves that circumvents other forms of Imperial bureaucracy completely; a rumour that has given the Ordo Hereticus some cause for concern.[1a]
Founding
It should be noted that, as said above, the information presented concerning the Minotaurs before M41 concerns a chapter some Imperial authorities do not believe is the same one as currently bears the name.[1a]
The Minotaurs were a product of the Cursed Founding; and while they avoided the genetic mutation that occurred in other Chapters from the same Founding, they quickly achieved an unsavoury reputation for completely different reasons. For the Minotaurs were berserkers. Known for quick responses to calls upon them for aid, they were also known for ignoring command-trees and battle-plans completely and simply engaging the enemy unto their destruction. This reputation for being unreliable allies resulted in the Minotaurs being shunned by the main body Imperial. This suited the Minotaurs fine, and sometime in M38, they simply disappeared from Imperial records.[1a]
Recent Years
The Minotaurs unexpectedly reappeared at the beginning of M41, during the Macharian Heresy, where they operated in concert with larger Imperial battle-plans, while still keeping to themselves. While they attempted to remain aloof from Imperial observers, no-one was able to miss the fact that they were a fully-armed and equipped Chapter who deployed a dozen Strike Cruisers during the campaign; a notable (and curious) amount of resources for a long-missing, minor Chapter. Some observers have noted that the Minotaurs respond immediately and slavishly to directives issued by the High Lords of Terra themselves, and have linked this apparent unquestioning behaviour with their large amounts of high quality war materiel. However, this speculation cannot be proved.[1b]
The Minotaurs of M41, whilst appearing more at home within the bounds of the Imperium and seemingly enjoying the patronage of the High Lords, have still managed to acquire an unsavoury reputation amongst some of their fellow Adeptus Astartes, The Ultramarines and their allied Successor Chapters in particular have refused to fight alongside the Minotaurs as a result of both the Minotaurs' almost total eradication of the Inceptors chapter in what some saw as an over-reaction, their public insulting of Marneus Calgar and the provocation given to the Genesis Chapter during the fourteenth siege of Antigonis.[1b]
The most recently known actions of the Minotaurs came during the Badab War, which they entered on the side of the loyalist Imperial forces as part of the reinforcement wave that arrived in the Maelstrom Zone in 907.M41. The Minotaurs committed their entire chapter-strength to the campaign, and operated as a largely-independent raiding and harassment force for much of it. They achieved fame for their cold-blooded and merciless attacks on the Secessionists, and were considered the pre-eminent close-combat and shock-assault troops in the war until the arrival of the Carcharodons. Their most lauded achievement during the war was their complete defeat and forced surrender of the Lamenters Secessionist Chapter, which took the form of a 17 hour battle made up of vicious boarding-actions and close-quarter battles. While victorious, this battle did result in significant casualties for the Minotaurs and they spent most of the rest of the war on interdiction duties in the space-lanes, as well as carrying out punitive actions against previously rebel worlds. They were present at the end of the war in some small capacity due to their expertise in siegecraft, and at the war's end departed with several vessels of the Lamenters' fleet as prizes.[1c]
Chapter Timeline
- M36 - Founded[1a]
- M38 - Disappeared from Imperial Records[1a]
- M41
- c.053.M41 to 077.M41 - Reappeared and joined the Macharian Crusade; the Euxcine Incident took place at some point during this time.[1d]
- 760.M41 - The Defence of Hermetica.[1c]
- 907.M41 - Entered the Badab War.[1c]
- 912.M41 - The Badab War ends.[1c]
- 913.M41 - The Minotaurs Chapter leaves the Maelstrom Zone.[1c]
- 992.M41 - The full Minotaur Fleet deploys for the Orphean War[3]
- Reclaiming the Rynn's World from Ork menace.[6]
Organisation
The Minotaurs appear to have no particularly distinctive organisational facets on the surface, and are only really notable for two somewhat unusual factors. The first is that they seem to prefer to operate in Chapter-strength whenever possible, and do not appear to engage in small-scale campaigns. The second is that they are supremely well-equipped and seem able to replace losses of both material and personnel with little difficulty.[1d]
Because of this, the numbers of Minotaurs are reckoned to be almost always around full-strength. They do not seem to have any difficulty in recruiting initiates, and appear to have an indoctrination and conversion process that is remarkably swift. Imperial observers during the Antigonis campaign noted that the transition from neophyte to Scout to full Marine in the Chapter was remarkably fast, and also highlighted the heavy use of hypno-indoctrination and neuro-cerebral surgery involved, as well as the monitoring and 'refreshing' of these techniques in full Marines by the Apothecaries of the Chapter.[1d]
From a purely technical point of view, the Minotaurs are superbly equipped with Space Marine arms and armour, including almost full stocks of Tactical Dreadnought Armour and Mk.8 Power Armour.[1d]
Noted Elements of the Minotaurs
Notable Wars and Battles
Relics
- The Black Spear[1h]
Vessels
- Daedelos Krata - Heavy Assault Carrier/Relic-Ship[1a]
Notable Members of the Minotaurs
- Asterion Moloc - Chapter Master
- Hecaton Aiakos - Dreadnought
- Ivanus Enkomi - Reclusiarch Chaplain
- Vigilator-Sergeant Hamath Kraatos - DevastatorSergeant 9th Company
Images
Marines
- Marines
Sternguard Veteran Thoul[1g]
Vehicles and Technology
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Notes
The Minotaurs were originally depicted as possessing a unique heraldry style[2] that has not survived the transition into the updated background.
Related Articles
Sources
- 1: Imperial Armour Volume Ten - The Badab War - Part Two
- 2: Warhammer 40,000 Compendium, pg. 33
- 3: Imperial Armour Volume Twelve - The Fall of Orpheus, pgs. 33-58
- 4: Forge World (last accessed 8 June 2015)
- 5: Forge World (last accessed 8 June 2015)
- 6: Imperial Armour II - Ork, Eldar and Dark Eldar Vehicles for Warhammer 40,000, pg. 31
