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[[File:tau_planets.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Tau Planets.]]

===Founding===

The exact date of founding of the Tau empire is unclear, however the reasons behind its foundation are. In [[Tau]] prehistory, they lived in tribes on the desert plains, hunting and gathering their food. As their race aged, they expanded to all environments of [[T'au]], adapting to each new environment. The Tau of the plains became strong and skilful hunters, larger and stronger than most other Tau. The Tau of the mountains developed the ability to soar high above the baking deserts on thermals. The Tau of the river valleys developed agriculture and metallurgy, forming the first true settlements. The development of settlements led to the need of trade, and wandering Tau began to negotiate and mediate between the disparate tribes. During the [[M35|35th Millennium]], an [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] [[Explorator]] fleet [[Land's Vision]], had discovered the Tau homeworld and determined that its population were a primitive people at the Stone Age level of development who had mastered the use of primitive weapons and fire. Before the planet could be cleansed and colonized by the Imperium, however, a violent [[Warp]]-storm erupted around the planet. This continued for 6,000 years, making the Tau's homeworld utterly inaccessible.

===Expansion and conflict===

Over the next thousand years the Tau empire experienced an unprecedented period of scientific discovery and philosophical advancement. The Tau empire continued to expand its border at a fast rate through a series of Expansion Phases. The Tau empire has gone through [[Spheres of Expansion]] These phases are a period of several Tau military campaigns during which nearby worlds are colonised, conquered, or sometimes peacefully persuaded to join the [[Greater Good]]. Therefore, apart from the star systems of the Tau, which are called [[Tau Sept|Septs]], the Tau Empire also incorporated worlds and star systems belonging to the [[Kroot]], [[Vespid]], and the [[Nicassar]], who were the first race to join the empire and survive (as plague wiped out the [[Poctroon]]){{Fn|10a}}. It is currently unknown if the [[Demiurg]] are full members, allies, or mere trading partners. The empire is composed by over twenty fully developed septs and around one hundred settled worlds, but the exact number and most of their names are unknown.

===Damocles Crusade===

The [[Damocles Crusade]], was the first major military conflict fought between the [[Imperium|Imperium of Man]] and the Tau Empire. Members of the Tau Water Caste had established trade agreements with Imperial worlds on the frontier of the Tau Empire, near the [[Damocles Gulf]] region of the [[Ultima Segmentum]], and exchanges of goods and technology were common. Alarmed by the threat of alien contamination, the Administratum readied a suitable response and almost a century later, the Damocles Crusade invaded Tau space, destroying several outlying settlements and pushing deep into the Tau Empire. When the [[Imperial fleet]] reached the Tau Sept world of [[Dal'yth]], however, the Crusade ground to a bloody stalemate as the formidable numbers and high technology of the Tau and their Kroot allies thwarted every attempt to capture the world or its star system. Many months of terrible fighting ensued with nothing gained on either side. By late 742.M41 the Crusade's commanders eventually agreed to requests from the Tau Water Caste for peace talks. The negotiations were successful and the Imperial fleet withdrew from Tau space unmolested, primarily due to the impending approach of the Tyranid Hive Fleet Behemoth. A known splinter faction are the [[Farsight Enclaves]]. Also, more recently some worlds and star systems of the Imperium have been conquered by the Tau forces, while a handful have seceded and pledged their allegiance to the Tau empire.

===Hive Fleet Gorgon===

The Tau Empire was invaded by [[Hive Fleet]] [[Gorgon (Hive Fleet)|Gorgon]] in 899.[[M41]]. Gorgon was exceptional for its ability to quickly adapt on a biological level to new circumstances of battle, such as evolving immunities to Tau weaponry. This rapid pace of adaptation may have been unique to Gorgon, or it may have been a response to conflict with the Tau, who are also highly adaptable but on a technological level. The combined forces of the Tau and the [[Imperial Guard]] destroyed Gorgon in 903.M41, albeit after losing several trading partners and colony worlds.{{Fn|3}}

===Third Sphere of Expansion===

Beginning after the Empire had united against the Orks in the Great War of Confederation, in 997.M41 [[Aun'va]] declared a beginning to the Third Sphere of Expansion, which has driven deep into Imperial territory and saw the Imperium crushed at the [[Battle of Mu'gulath Bay]].{{Fn|10}}

==Society==

Each race within the Tau empire, has a unique and different society. However all races have one common belief in the Greater Good. The '''Greater Good''', or '''Tau'va''' ([[Tau Lexicon|Tau]]), is the founding principle of [[Tau]] society. The Tau'va system is based on [[Caste System|Castes]] and is designed to allow for the advancement of the entire Tau society together towards a more successful, prosperous and easier existence in the future.

===Kroot===

[[File:kroot.jpg|thumb|100px|right|Kroot.]]

Kroot society is divided into tribes, known as [[Kindred]]s. Each Kindred is an extended family group of Kroot and is led by a Shaper, one Kroot with an intuitive understanding of the DNA absorption process all Kroot possess, and responsible for guiding the evolution of their Kindred. The Shaper, upon identifying a beneficial genetic trait, will instruct his Kindred to hunt and consume that animal, and then control the breeding of the Kindred to ensure that the offspring are born with the selected trait. Often, Kindreds will band together, and the Shapers will form a Council, of which the most influential Kindred's Shaper will be made leader of the group. On rare occasions, a Chief will unite a large number of Kindreds underneath him.

===Vespid (Mal'kor)===

[[File:Vespidwarrior.JPG|thumb|right|100px|A Vespid warrior.]]

The Vespid warriors, called ''Stingwings'', form tactical units referred to as ''Strains''. Each Strain is lead by a Strain leader.{{Fn|1}} Because the Vespid language is so complex (presumably because of their complex mouths) and only the Strain Leaders are given the apparatus to translate their language to their Tau allies, Vespid Strains are very close knit and a lot of reliance on Strain Leaders come from both sides.

===Human (Gue'vesa)===

[[File:Gue'vesa.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Gue'vesa soldiers.]]

The Tau Empire hosts a growing population of [[Human]]s or Gue'vesa ([[Tau Lexicon|Tau]]) who were once a part of the Imperium of Man. Ranging from ideological defectors to captured guardsmen and their children, they have been incorporated into the empire. While the Humans from recently conquered worlds are often bitter, they do have Tau supporters among them from the start, and the number of those only grows larger. For the most part, the Humans are content and treated well, even being allowed to worship the [[Emperor of Mankind|Emperor]].

===Other Races===

==Military==

==See Also==

[[File:Tauspace400.jpg|180px|thumb|right|The Tau empire, centred upon the world of [[T'au]].]]

==Sources==

* {{Endn|5}}: [[Kill Team (Novel)]] by [[Gav Thorpe]], {{Cite This}}

* {{Endn|6}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 3rd Edition Rulebook]], pg. 116

* {{Endn|8}}: [[Apocalypse]], pg. 157

* {{Endn|9}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 6th Edition Rulebook]], pg. 213

===Uncited===

{{Uncited}}

{{Tau}}