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Adepta Sororitas

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Sisters symbol.png Sisters of Battle Portal
Adepta Sororitas
Sisters symbol.png
Adepta Sororitas symbol
Parent Agency: Ecclesiarchy
Headquarters: Terra & Ophelia VII
Leader: Abbess Morvenn Vahl
Armed Forces: Sisters of Battle
Established: M36

The Adepta Sororitas (also known as "the Sisterhood" or "Daughters of the Emperor") are an all-female subdivision of the religious organisation known as the Ecclesiarchy or Ministorum. The Sisterhood's Orders Militant serve as the Ecclesiarchy's fighting arm, mercilessly rooting out corruption and heresy within humanity and every organisation of the Adeptus Terra. The terms "Adepta Sororitas" and "Sisters of Battle" are commonly assumed to mean the same thing, but the latter title technically refers only to the Orders Militant - the military arm of the organisation which is the largest and the best-known part of the Sororitas.

Overview

The Sisterhood serves as the Ministorum's only official military forces because the Decree Passive rules that the Ecclesiarchy cannot maintain any "men under arms". This was supposed to limit the power of the Ecclesiarchy. However the Ministorum were able to circumvent this decree by using the all-female force of the Sisterhood.[Needs Citation]

There is naturally some overlap between the duties of the Sisterhood and the Inquisition; for this reason, although the Inquisition and the Sisterhood remain entirely separate organisations, the Orders Militant of the Sisterhood are the go-to favoured option when an Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor needs soldiers. [17]

History

Canoness Veridyan.[1f]

Founding

Main article: Age of Apostasy

Daughters of the Emperor

The Adepta Sororitas were officially founded in the 36th Millennium, and more specifically during the later Age of Apostasy.[1a] However, they trace their origins to an older, all-female warrior cult known as the "Daughters of the Emperor". Based on the world of San Leor, this cult was dedicated to worship of the Emperor and the study of martial arts. The Daughters were fairly isolated from the wider Imperium,[25e] but there are accounts which suggest that they did not stay on San Leor all the time. For instance, Imperial scholars believe that Saint Sabbat was linked to the Daughters of the Emperor in some way.[25f] It is possibly that the Daughters fought in her war for the Sabbat Worlds.[14c][25f]

Regardless, the Daughters of the Emperor remained a small sect and mostly unknown cult until they were discovered by the spies[25f] of Goge Vandire, the High Lord of the Administratum (and also Ecclesiarch of the Adeptus Ministorum). Realizing their potential usefullness, he decided to visit San Leor and recruit the Daughters into his own private army.[25e] The Daughters at first refused to accept his authority. Vandire decided to show them that he was blessed by the Emperor - he instructed a soldier in his entourage to shoot him, which after a brief hesitation, he did. However, thanks to the protective field generated by the Rosarius of the Ecclesiarch (which no one but Vandire himself was aware of), Vandire was not harmed. The Daughters took this to be a sign, and swore allegiance to Vandire virtually on the spot. They were renamed the Brides of the Emperor, and became Vandire's most loyal followers.[1a]

Revelation and retribution

During the Siege of the Ecclesiarchal Palace, 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 reverted to the 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. Reportedly, Vandire's final words were "I don't have time to die - I'm too busy!"[1b]

Reformation

After this episode, the newly appointed Ecclesiarch Sebastian Thor proclaimed the Decree Passive which forbade the Ecclesiarchy from having "men under arms". Under the literal interpretation of the decree the Adepta Sororitas, being female, were not obligated to disband. Thor, recognising the need for the Ecclesiarchy to have some kind of force and internal regulator, allowed them to remain even if the spirit of the decree was rather blatantly disregarded.[1c]

Later History

Organisation

Adepta Sororitas Organization[25]

Structure and Hierarchy

A Battle Sister of the Adepta Sororitas[7]

The Adepta Sororitas is part of the Ecclesiarchy and is divided between two Convents - the Convent Prioris located on Terra and the Convent Sanctorum based on Ophelia VII, although in practice their forces are spread throughout the Galaxy.[1d]

The overall commander and spiritual leader of the entire Sisterhood is the Abbess of the Adepta Sororitas. As the leader of the Adepta Sororitas, the Abbess is sometimes elected into the High Lords of Terra.[2d]

Below the Abbess are the Prioresses of the two Convents who are in charge of their Convent and the various Orders based there.[1d]

The Convents of the Sisterhood are organized into several Orders. There are two different kind of Orders: The Orders Militant, or Sisters of Battle, the military arm of the Ecclesiarchy composed of the six Major Orders and countless subsidiary Lesser Orders Militant; and the Non-Militant Orders, each of which has different roles and responsibilities in the Imperium.[19a][19b]

The largest of the Non-Militant Orders rival the Sisters of Battle in size and notoriety, but there is also hundreds of other orders, the vast majority of which are unknown to the bulk of Mankind. The most well-known are the Orders Hospitaller, composed of surgeons, physicians and nurses, the Orders Dialogous, scholars dealing with languages, cyphers and translations, and the Orders Famulous, acting as diplomats, chamberlains and advisors for Imperial noble families[1d][1e]

It is not uncommon for a Sister to transfer from one of the Orders to another, particularly if a Battle Sister has become injured or is too old for combat they may transfer to one of the non-militant Orders.[3a]

Each of the major Orders follows the same basic hierarchical structure[2c]:

  • Order - Led by the head Canoness, called the Canoness Superior, who runs the entire Order.
  • Preceptory - A subsidiary convent or a large tactical detachment with up to 1,000 Sisters led by a Canoness Preceptor.
  • Commandery - Normally smaller convents or detachments of militant Sisters with up to 200 Sisters, led by a Canoness Commander.
  • Mission - The smallest organisation of Sisters, consisting of a few units and can be led by a Canoness or the lesser Palatine.

It should be noted that the non-militant Orders operate mainly at Mission and Commandery levels - Preceptory is a largely organisational tier. For example, a Commandery of the Order Hospitallier could be a staff of sisters working in a field hospital whilst a Mission of the Orders Famulous could be a handful of Sisters engaged in a trade delegation.[2c]

The Orders

Orders Militant

Main article: Sisters of Battle

Commonly known as the Sisters of Battle, the Orders Militant are the most numerous and well-known of the Adepta Soritas. They are the only official fighting force of the Ecclesiarchy and often prosecute Wars of Faith. They form the Chamber Militant of the Ordo Hereticus, often fighting alongside the Ordo's Inquisitors.[2b][2c]

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 subsidiary 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 separate Orders altogether. These smaller Orders are referred to as the Orders Minoris or Lesser Orders Militant. In theory, the leaders of the Lesser Orders are answerable to the leaders of the Major Order that spawned them.[2a]

For a full list of named Lesser Order Militants, see Orders Militant_#Lesser Orders Militant

Non-Militant Orders

Orders Hospitaller
A Sister Hospitalier[15]

The Sisters Hospitaller are surgeons, physicians and nurses. They aid the poor, and heal the sick and the wounded in many hospitals and clinics of the Sisterhood and serve in all departments of the Imperiums armed services except the Adeptus Astartes.[2c]

Orders Dialogus

The Sisters Dialogus help to translate the innumerable dialects and slangs used throughout the Imperium.[11] At the behest of the Inquisition and certain parties they also study Xenos languages[4], also translating texts obtained from Xeno artefacts. Sisters Dialogous are often employed as Sages in Ordo Hereticus Inquisitors' retinues.

Orders Famulous

The Sisters Famulous organise and maintain households of certain Imperial governors[9] and Imperial nobles, serving as advisors and by their very presence reminding them of their higher loyalties. They oppose any disloyalty with the support of faithful followers from the inside of the household itself[8].

Orders Sabine

The Sisters of the Orders Sabine accompany the Missionarius Galaxia on missions to rediscover new worlds. The Sisters specialise in infiltrating primitive societies and introduce elements of the Imperial Creed to the natives.[3b]

Orders Pronatus

Specialise in the retrieving, guarding, studying and repairing of artefacts of value to the Ecclesiarchy.[3b]

Orders Madriga

The Orders Madriga provide choirs in temples.[19b]

Orders Planxilium

The Orders Planxilium form thousand-strong processionals leading weeping and wailing pilgrims upon the remembrance and high holy days of Veneris.[19b]

Orders Vespila

The ‘dark sisters’ of the Orders Vespila are tasked by Cardinal Kregory Hestor with the sanctification of the bodies of fallen kin, and are sometimes called upon to serve as forensic specialists when a Throne Agent has recourse to disinter a long dead corpse.[19b]

Deployments of the Adepta Sororitas[25a]
Order Fenestrus

Maintain the glass paneling of Imperial shrines and cathedrals.[25b]

Orders Princeps

Monitor Ecclesiarchy laws.[30]

Orders Tarentine

Divine messages from the Emperor via the gas clouds of the Tarentia Pillars.[30]

Hagiolater

Record the deeds of Sisters upon the battlefield.[28]

Ranks and Positions

Adepta Sororitas of the Sisters of Battle battle the Black Legion[30a]
  • Abbess of the Adepta Sororitas - the commander of the Convent Sanctorum on Terra; also the overall spiritual leader of the Sisterhood. In military matters she is assisted the Prioress of the Convent Sanctorum. Although there is only a single Abbess, her full title is Abbess Sanctorum.
  • Prioress - the overall commander of a single convent.
  • Canoness - command rank, there are several subdivisions-
    • Canoness Superior - In command of an entire Order
    • Canoness Preceptor - In command of a Preceptory
    • Canoness Commander - In command of a Commandry
    • Canoness - In command of a Mission
  • Palatine - command rank below Canoness
  • Legatine[21]
  • Sister Superior
  • Sister
  • Novitiate[22]
  • Constantia[21]
  • Cantus[21]
  • Novice[21]

Notable Active Members

Main article: Known Members of the Adepta Sororitas

Heretical Adepta Sororitas

Though it is rare, Adepta Sororitas have fallen to Heresy[26] and been corrupted by Genestealer Cults,[31] despite the Imperium's public declaration that it is not possible. Once this occurs, the Sororitas' Orders go to great lengths both to prevent it from becoming known and to remove the stain on their honor. This includes hunting the heretical Sisters down and having them quietly killed, while also having their existence erased from the Imperium's history. Some Orders even have a pure Sister undergo surgery to assume a Heretic's face and identity, in order to keep the truth from being discovered.[26]

Known Chaos-corrupted Adepta Sororitas

Known Genestealer-corrupted Adepta Sororitas

Related Videos

Development History

TriviaScrollTrans.png

The following information is not to be regarded as officially sanctioned and/ or is not written from an in-universe point of view. A detailed explanation of the term "Trivia" as used in the Lexicanum can be found here.

The original depiction of the Sisters of Battle in the 1st Edition[34]

The Adepta Sororitas/Sisters of Battle are first mentioned in 1987's Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, where a Sister is depicted as killing a member of the Rainbow Warriors. They are referenced as being religiously fanatical warrior-women organized similarly to the Space Marines and administrating genetic purity tests to the Adeptus Terra to weed out any Mutants.[34] They are subsequently mentioned again in 1993's Codex Imperialis.[35]

The Sisters of Battle received their first Codex and miniature range with 1997's Codex: Sisters of Battle. This introduced most of their current lore, such as their origins in the Age of Apostasy.[1c][1g]

The Sisters of Battle miniature line remained metal and largely static until 2019's Codex: Adepta Sororitas (8th Edition), which introduced updated fully plastic miniatures.[36]

Conflicting sources

See also

Sources

Uncited


Modern Imperial Organizations
Adeptus Terra Adeptus Administratum (Adeptus Astartes • Departmento Munitorum • Astra Militarum • Ordo Tempestus • Imperial Fleet • Imperial Navy • Merchant Fleet • Praeses Mercatura • Navis Nobilite • Officio Assassinorum • Estate Imperium • Templars Psykologis • Officio Sabatorum • Officio Medicae • Officio Agricultae • Officio Logisticarum • Departmento Exacta • Astra Cartographica • Logis Strategos • Departmento Colonia • Departmento Processium • Departmento of Final Consideration • Departmento Contagio • Departmento Gradio • Questio Logisticus • Rogue Traders • Imperial Commanders) • Adeptus Astra Telepathica (Sisters of Silence • League of Black Ships • Scholastica Psykana) • Adeptus Astronomica • Adeptus Arbites • Adeptus Custodes • Questor Imperialis (House Guard) • Adeptus Fidicius • Synopticon • Officio Communicatus • Officio Propagandum
Adeptus Mechanicus Cult Mechanicus • Collegia Titanica • Legiones Skitarii • Questor Mechanicus (House Guard) • Centurio Ordinatus • Ordo Reductor • Legio Cybernetica • Auxilia Myrmidon • Prefecture Magisterium • Basilikon Astra • Divisio Linguistica • Explorator • Sect Missionarius Mechanicus • Collegiate Extremis • Astynomia • Adnector Concillium
Adeptus Ministorum Holy Synod • Adepta Sororitas (Sisters of Battle) • Schola Progenium • Missionarius Galaxia • Creed Temporal • Frateris Militia
Inquisition Ordo Malleus • Ordo Hereticus • Ordo Xenos • Ordo Minoris
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