Founding
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A Founding is an occasion when several new Chapters of Space Marines are created. The exceptions to this were the creation of the Grey Knights who were created before the Second Founding[Needs Citation], and Sons of Medusa, who were ratified by unprecented edict7
A founding does not occur at any set interval, but is ordered when it is deemed necessary. As chapters are occasionally completely destroyed, foundings are often meant to ensure that a thousand chapters exist at a time. The latest founding was the Twenty Sixth, in 738.M41.1
The First Founding occurred at the beginning of the Great Crusade and was the creation of the original Space Marine Legions. The Second Founding, following the Horus Heresy, was the division of these Legions into the smaller Chapters, which remain the Space Marine's foremost unit of organisation to the present. One chapter of each parent Legion maintained the original colours, symbol, and name of the Legion—these are known as the Chapters of the First Founding.
A "founding" can also refer to the formation or Raising of a new regiment of the Imperial Guard.[Needs Citation]
Creation of new chapters
The creation of new chapters can only result by order of the High Lords of Terra, and it is said ultimately only from the Emperor himself, although the actual process of creation is performed by the Adeptus Mechanicus.
The gene-seed used to create new chapters is stored by the Adeptus Mechanicus, originally tithed by existing chapters. New progenoids are created using human test-slaves. Zygotes are grown from gene-seed and implanted into the slaves - the zygotes develop into progenoid organs and are removed. A single slave is used in this way to create two progenoids, which are then implanted into two more slaves, and so on. One thousand sets of organs are created, taking over half a century of constant reproduction.[Needs Citation]
Space Marine Foundings
| Founding Number | Date | Details |
| 1st Founding | M29 | The creation of the 20 Space Marine Legions. |
| 2nd Founding | 021.M31 | The huge Legions which remained loyal throughout the Horus Heresy were reorganized into smaller Chapters following the teachings of the Codex Astartes written by Roboute Guilliman. |
| 3rd Founding | 001.M32 | Unconfirmed founding of the Executioners.3 Founding of the Flesh Eaters. |
| Unstated Founding | M32 | Creation of the Marines Malevolent.4 |
| Unstated Founding | M33 | Creation of the Angels Porphyr, Howling Griffons, and Sons of Guilliman. |
| 8th Founding | mid M34 | Unconfirmed founding of the Mantis Warriors.3 |
| 10th Founding | mid M35 | Unconfirmed founding of the Astral Claws.3 |
| 13th Founding | early M36 | The Dark Founding, the only for which the Adeptus Terra does not have a gene-seed sample. |
| 19th Founding | M36 | Founding of the Avenging Sons |
| 21st Founding | M36 | The Cursed Founding created chapters which fell victim to mutation, heresy, rebellion, or simple bad luck. |
| Unstated Founding M36 Foundings | M36 | Founding of the Angels of Fire4, Celebrants4, Relictors4 and Steel Confessors. |
| 22nd Founding | M37 | |
| 23nd Founding | M37/M38 | Creation of the Marines Errant2, Imperial Harbingers2, Star Phantoms3 and Steel Cobras2.2 |
| Unstated Founding | M37 | Creation of the Disciples of Caliban. |
| Unstated Founding | M38 | Creation of the Celestial Lions.4 |
| Unstated Founding | M40 | Creation of the Omega Marines.4 |
| 25th Founding | M40 | Creation of the Star Scorpions and Fire Angels.2 |
| 26th Founding | 738.M41 | The latest founding to date.5 and 6 |
Sources
- 1: White Dwarf 98 (UK) Chapter Approved: The Origin of the Legiones Astartes by Rick Priestley (reprinted in Warhammer 40,000: Compendium)
- 2: Imperial Armour Volume Nine - The Badab War - Part One
- 3: Imperial Armour Volume Ten - The Badab War - Part Two
- 4:Index Astartes: Emperor's Shield (White Dwarf 249 (UK))
- 5: Warhammer 40,000: Compendium, p. 6
- 6: White Dwarf 98 (UK), p. 39
- 7: Imperial Armour Volume Ten - The Badab War - Part Two, p91-103
