The Orders Militant are the armed wing of the Adepta Sororitas and are sometimes known as the Sisters of Battle. The Sisters of Battle serve as the standing army of the Ecclesiarchy.
History
The Sisters of Battle, like the rest of the Adepta Sororitas, trace their history back to the troubled times of the Age of Apostasy. On a backwater world named San Leor an all-female cult dedicated to the worship of the Emperor, known as the "Daughters of the Emperor", were discovered by members of the Ecclesiarchy. Goge Vandire, the High Lord of the Administratum (and also Ecclesiarch of the Adeptus Ministorum), decided to visit San Leor and recruit the Daughters into his own private army. The Daughters were then renamed the "Brides of the Emperor" and became Lord Vandire's most loyal followers.[Needs Citation]
As the events of the Age of Apostasy progressed the Adeptus Custodes, the praetorians of the Emperor himself, tried to approach the Brides and convince them of Vandire's treachery. In a last ditch effort to convince them, the Custodes took Alicia Dominica, leader of the Brides, and her chosen bodyguards deep into the Imperial Palace where they stood before the Emperor himself. What happened there remains unknown - Dominica and her companions were sworn to secrecy - but it became clear that the Brides, who then reverted to their original title of Daughters of the Emperor, had been awakened to the evil that Vandire represented. Marching into his audience chamber, Dominica paused only to condemn Vandire for his crimes before she beheaded the power-crazed dictator.[Needs Citation]
Following these events the Adeptus Ministorum as a whole was re-organised, including the forces of the Adepta Sororitas. Along with the establishment of the non-militant Orders, the Orders Militant were divided between the two Convents on Terra and Ophelia VII with Alicia Dominica as the the Head of the entire organisation.[Needs Citation]
In 378.M36 - Ecclesiarch Alexis XXII divided the Orders Militant of the Convent Sanctorum and Convent Prioris into four Orders:[1]
- Order of the Ebon Chalice
- Order of the Valorous Heart
- Order of the Fiery Heart
- Order of the Argent Shroud
In 878.M38 - Ecclesiarch Deacis VI founded two more Orders Militant in honour of the remaining two saints who accompanied Alicia Dominica to the Golden Throne:[1]
- Order of the Bloody Rose in honour of Sister Mina.
- Order of the Sacred Rose in honour of Sister Arabella.
Overview
The Battle Sisters of the Adepta Sororitas are the mainstay of the Adeptus Ministorum's armies. Equipped and trained to the highest Imperial standards, the Sisters of Battle specialize in waging Wars of Faith and purging heresy wherever it may be found.[7] Because of this, its duties often overlap with the Ordo Hereticus of the Inquisition and as a result the Sisters of Battle maintain a close alliance with the Witch Hunters.[8] The Sisters of Battle themselves are divided into six Orders, each numbering tens of thousands of Battle Sisters, and many Orders Minoris, each containing thousands of Sisters themselves. These forces are rarely deployed in full-strength, rather being assigned to waging Wars of Faith, aiding the Inquisition, or protecting Ecclesiarchy buildings, property, and relics.[12]
Organisation
See main article Organisation of the Adepta Sororitas
Orders
Major Orders Militant | |
Convent Sanctorum (Ophelia VII) | Convent Prioris (Terra) |
Order of the Bloody Rose | Order of the Sacred Rose |
Order of Our Martyred Lady | Order of the Ebon Chalice |
Order of the Valorous Heart | Order of the Argent Shroud |
Lesser Orders Militant
Since their founding the Major Orders Militant have established a number of subsidary convents at sites significant to the Ecclesiarchy. Sometimes little more than small Garrisons, these bases have developed identities distinct from their parent Orders over time, eventually becoming seperate Orders all together. These smaller Orders are reffered to as the Lesser Orders Militant. In theory the leaders of the Lesser Orders are answerable to the leaders of the Major Order that spawned them.[2a]
Named Lesser Orders Militant
- Order of the Black Selpulchre[13]
- Order of the Bleeding Heart
- Order of the Blue Robe
- Order of the Crimson Oath
- Order of the Crimson Shroud
- Order of the Ermine Mantle[10]
- Order of the Fiery Tear
- Order of the Glowing Chalice
- Order of the Golden Light[2b]
- Order of the Piercing Thorn[14]
- Order of the Silver Shroud
- Order of the Vermilion Hand
- Order of the White Rose[3]
- Order of the Wounded Heart[10]
Forces
Armoury
Wherever possible the Sisters of Battle use the holy trinity of weapons, that of the bolter, flamer, and melta[5c]. There are few exceptions to this rule, the most notable being melee weapons, plasma pistols sometimes used by Sister Superiors[6], and the missiles of the Exorcist[5c]. The rank and file are primarily equipped with a Godwyn-De'az pattern boltgun[7] and bolt pistol[5a]. All Sisters, with the exception of the Sisters Repentia, are equipped with a suit of Adepta Sororitas Power Armour[5a]. The Sisters of Battle possess limited armoured support: the Rhino and Immolator as personnel carriers[5d], and the Exorcist to provide fire support[5b].
Notable members
- Saint Alicia Dominica, KIA
- Saint Arabella, KIA
- Saint Katherine, KIA
- Saint Silvana, KIA
- Saint Lucia, KIA
- Saint Mina, KIA
- Saint Helena
- Saint Praxedes, MIA
- Saint Celestine, KIA?
- Saint Anais[7]
- Abbess Sabrina - Missing[11]
- Canoness Agnes, KIA
- Canoness Aspira
- Canoness Magda Grace
- Canoness Praxedes, KIA
- Canoness Selena Agna
- Celestian Martika
- Celestian Miriya
- Sister Julien[4]
- Ephrael Stern
- The Geminae Superia
See Also
Sources
- 1: Codex: Sisters of Battle (2nd Edition), pg. 35
- 2: Dawn of War: Ascension by C.S. Goto
- 2a: [Needs Citation], pg. 6
- 2b: [Needs Citation], pg. 332
- 3: Duty Calls (Novel) - Ciaphas Cain: Defender of the Imperium (Omnibus) by Sandy Mitchell: Chapter 5, page 295, Endn. 1
- 4: Cain's Last Stand (Novel) - Ciaphas Cain: Defender of the Imperium (Omnibus) by Sandy Mitchell: Chapter 5, pg. 558
- 5: White Dwarf 379 (US)
- 6: Red and Black (Audio Book), Cover illustration by Slawomir Maniak
- 7: Codex: Witch Hunters (3rd Edition), pg. 19
- 8: Warhammer 40,000 6th Edition Rulebook pg. 180
- 9: The Inquisition (Background Book)
- 10: Codex: Eye of Terror (3rd Edition), pg. 16
- 11: White Dwarf 293 (UK), pg. 57
- 12: Warhammer 40,000 6th Edition Rulebook, pg. 195
- 13: Imperial Armour Volume Eight - Raid on Kastorel-Novem, pgs. 76-77
- 14: Yarrick: The Pyres of Armageddon (Novel) by David Annandale, Chapter One
Uncited