Black Legion
This article is about the Chaos Space Marine Legion. For other uses of Black Legion, see Black Legion (disambiguation). |
|
The Black Legion is the current largest warband of Chaos Space Marines. Formed after the defeat of the Sons of Horus in the Horus Heresy, the Legion was founded by former Sons of Horus First Captain Ezekyle Abaddon near the conclusion of the Legion Wars. It includes a substantial portion of the former Sons of Horus[1] alongside Traitor Astartes from all walks of life.[20] The Black Legion sees itself not as the successor of Horus and his Legion, but as a new army to continue the Long War and succeed where he failed.[35b]
The Black Legion can be found operating in countless small warbands across the galaxy, except when they are called together under Abaddon's banner to spearhead one of his notorious Black Crusades.[1]
Contents
History
Origins
The Black Legion origins lay with the XVI Legion and following the First Pacification of Luna, the Luna Wolves. They were the legion of Warmaster Horus himself, said to be the most favored of the Emperor's sons. In honour of Horus's great achievements during the Great Crusade, the Emperor decreed that the legion should be renamed the Sons of Horus. However Horus later was corrupted by Chaos and rebelled against the Emperor, instigating the devastating Horus Heresy. At the Siege of Terra, Horus was slain by the Emperor and his rebellion defeated.[1]
Horus' death broke the Sons of Horus' morale, and they were the first of the Traitor Legions to retreat from Terra, an act that would earn them the hatred of all the other Traitor Legions. The Legion re-grouped on the world of Maeleum inside the Eye of Terror. There they built a fortress-tomb for the safe-keeping of the Warmaster's corpse and even in death still revered him as their commander. Nobody was appointed in his place and the Captains of the Legion would offer sacrifices and pray for guidance in his shrine.[1]
The Sons of Horus were initially the most aggressive Legion against the Imperium, as if to atone for their previous cowardice on Terra or perhaps to attempt to 're-prove' that they were still the best Legion. The Sons dedicated themselves not to one single Chaos Power but constantly shifted their allegiance to whatever god suited them at the time. Marines willingly became possessed by the Chaos Gods' daemons; with every change in loyalty, the daemons of the rejected god abandoned the hosts, leaving them lifeless husks. The once great Legion constantly dwindled in number, until they neared extinction. Eventually the desperate experimentation and research by the Legion's Sorcerer-Librarians uncovered a method of possession that did not destroy the mortal host, saving the Legion.[1]
The Traitor Legions, along with the restored but still numerically inferior Sons of Horus, then became embroiled in a series of internecine wars triggered by the Emperor's Children legion, culminating in the destruction of the Sons of Horus' fortress on Maleum. To the disgust of the Sons of Horus, the Warmaster's corpse was taken by the Emperor's Children and several clones were created by their self-styled 'Primogenitor', Fabius Bile.[1]
Rebirth - The Black Legion
It was at this point that the old Sons of Horus Justaerin Captain Falkus Kibre was able to track down the Vengeful Spirit and Abaddon deep inside the Eye of Terror. Abaddon revealed his intent to destroy the clone of Horus and reform the Sons of Horus into a Legion to finish the war Horus had begun. After smashing the Emperor's Children fortress and killing the clone of Horus, Abaddon declared himself the rightful successor of the Warmaster. Painting their armor black, Abaddon renamed his forces the Black Legion, rejecting Horus' name and all the failure that went with it.[27] Abaddon managed to reunify the bulk of the old Sons of Horus under his banner, crushing all who resisted. The founders and inner circle of his newly formed Black Legion became known as the Ezekarion. The newly christened Black Legion faced its first serious threat in the form of the Death Guard warlord Thagus Daravek, who was a chief rival to Abaddon in his rise to power and another potential Warmaster of Chaos.[35] However, Daravek was eventually defeated, and Abaddon's power grew exponentially as he gathered many allies across the Eye of Terror, most of the Daemon Primarchs included. Using Chaos rather than being enslaved by it, Abaddon has waged the Long War on the Imperium ever since, most notably during his thirteen Black Crusades.[20]
The Black Crusades
Since their formation, the Black Legion has engaged in thirteen infamous Black Crusades against the Imperium. While seemingly just major attacks from the Eye of Terror, the Black Crusaders of Abaddon have a secret and even more sinister purpose. Throughout the Millennia he has identified ancient monoliths holding back the tides of the Warp. Using his Black Crusades to sometimes conceal his true objective, Abaddon has targeted and destroyed many of these structures as part of a plan known as the Crimson Path. The ultimate objective of Abaddon's Black Crusades is to expand the Eye of Terror to envelop Terra itself.[50]
At the culmination of the 13th Black Crusade Abaddon succeeded in destroying Cadia. This set off a chain reaction that allowed for the formation of the Great Rift, effectively dividing the Imperium in half between Imperium Sanctus and Imperium Nihilus.[51] Abaddon now seeks to further isolate the Imperium with his Invasion of Vigilus[52] and through his attempts to use Blackstone to cut off Imperial Warp Routes.[53]
Notable Engagements
- ???.M31 — Eye of Terror Slave Wars — Against the Emperor's Children[1]. Culminates in the Battle of Harmony.
- 781.M31 — The 1st Black Crusade. Mass invasion of the recovering Imperium
- 597.M32 — The 2nd Black Crusade
- 909.M32 — The 3rd Black Crusade.[2x]
- 001.M34 — The 4th Black Crusade.[2x]
- 899.M34 — The Battle of Tryjon II
- 723.M36 — The 5th Black Crusade.[2x]
- 901.M36 — The 6th Black Crusade.[2x]
- 811.M37 — The 7th Black Crusade. Otherwise known as the Ghost War. Slaughter of the Blood Angels at Mackan[28]
- 999.M37 — The 8th Black Crusade.[2x]
- 537.M38 — The 9th Black Crusade.[2x]
- 001.M39 — The 10th Black Crusade.[2x]
- 301.M39 — The 11th Black Crusade.[2x]
- ???.M41 — The Kapua Uprising
- ???.M41 — Casvsarae Insurrection. The Black Legion with their abhuman rebel allies fought against the Salamanders[24]
- 143-151.M41 — The 12th Black Crusade. Otherwise known as the Gothic War. Ultimately defeated.[2x]
- 612.M41 — The War of the Wolf
- 777.M41 — The Battle of the Iron Labyrinth
- 813-830.M41 — The Siege of Vraks
- 959-961.M41 — The Pandorax Campaign
- 998.M41 — Crythe. Assault of an Adeptus Mechanicus world. Driven off.[8x]
- 999.M41 — The 13th Black Crusade. Cadia destroyed.[2x]
- Diamor Campaign
- Ultramar Campaign — Failed attempt to stop the resurrection of Roboute Guilliman
- ???.M42 - The Battle of Belis Corona[46]
- ???.M42 — The destruction of Raeddon
- ???.M42 — The Battle of Gandor's Providence
- ???.M42 — The Battle of Aralest
- ???.M42 — The Battle of Dhormet
- ???.M42 — The Battle for Isthael Beta
- ???.M42 — The Battle for the Echovault
- ???.M42 - The Drakon Crusade[40]
- ???.M42 - The War of the Spider[44]
- ???.M42 - The Battle of Saint Augustinia's Tomb[45]
- ???.M42 - The Charadon Campaign[56]
- 012.M42 — The Battle of Raukos[54]
- M42 — The War of Beasts. Haarken Worldclaimer invades Vigilus.
Gene-seed
The Black Legion consists of a large portion of former Luna Wolves Gene-seed alongside those from absorbed warbands or captured from the Imperium.[20] Though the Luna Wolves Gene-Seed was historically considered reliably pure, the regular practice of seeking Daemonic possession has accelerated its mutation. However, such mutations in the reborn Legion are seen as a mark of favour from the Gods of Chaos and are generally displayed with pride.[1]
Culture and Organization
The defeat and exile of the Traitor Astartes was a crushing blow to the collective ego of Abaddon and his initial followers, and they broke down and fragmented easily without a purpose or powerful leader to act as the point of their spear. These elements suffered significantly during the early years of exile when it was leaderless, though since Abaddon's leadership it has regained a sense of discipline and purpose. Horus' favoured doctrine of 'tearing the throat out of the enemy' by eliminating their high command in a swift strike remains a well-used tactic.[1]
All Black Legion leaders, from the remaining veterans of the Horus Heresy, to the more recently raised, are both cunning and ferocious. The Legion's tactics have been shaped by its lack of numerical strength compared to other Legions, and commanders are adept at using their troops to the best effect[1].
After the death of Horus, proper structure within the squads and companies disintegrated, and their later dispersal in various spacecraft further fragmented the Legion. Warbands of virtually any size and composition can be found following Black Legion Champions - ranking officers from older times or newly emerged leaders who have won favour through their violent deeds. At times, such warbands rally together under the banner of a greater Champion or even Abaddon himself, for a major raid or incursion into the hated Imperium. However, loyalty to differing Chaos Gods often leads to internal politics and conflict. Possession by daemons is still considered highly favourable, and many members of the Legion strive for the honour of being hosts.[1]
Two known leadership structures exist within the Black Legion. These are the Ezekarion, which are Abaddon's closest lieutenants and comrades[27] and the Chosen of Abaddon, which are his four greatest military commanders.[2x]
Known Warbands
Though the Black Legion is the largest and most organized of the Traitor Legions, it still operates a number of warbands that work in isolation and pursue their own agendas until they are called upon by their master. Others like the Thrice-Cursed Traitors may try to challenge Abaddon's authority.[20]
Known warbands include:
- The 1st Company[17]
- The 9th Company[22]
- Adamantine Beasts[56]
- The Aphotic Blade[47]
- The Ashen Dead[47]
- Athkor's Destroyers
- The Black Brethren of Eyreas — A Black Legion warband that took part in the siege of Vraks.[10]
- The Blades of the Despoiler
- The Bringers of Decay
- The Children of Torment
- The Corpsemakers
- The Crimson Claws
- The Crimson Hurricane
- The Cyclopia Cabal
- Drakkoth's Destroyers
- Heralds of the Inevitable End
- The Hounds of Abaddon
- The Ironspines
- Lord Kadros' Champions
- The Lost Lion
- The Oath-Broken
- The Oathed
- The Riven
- The Sarissan Iron Pact
- The Savage Spectres
- The Shrieking Masquerade[47]
- The Sixth Rapture
- The Skull-eaters
- The Sons of Carnage
- The Sons of the Cyclops
- The Talons of the Despoiler
- Thaskor's Chosen
- The Tormented
- The Vaithan Reaver Squad
- The Shriven[44]
Recruitment
Once considered a large legion, the Black Legion were long considered numerically inferior to other Chaos Space Marine legions since the inter-Legionary wars.[1] While the number of original Legionaries remaining is unknown, and it is unknown how or even if the Black Legion recruit new implantation candidates, it is known that they recruit Marines from other Legions and renegade Chapters.[8x]
In spite of these difficulties, by M41 the Black Legion was the largest of the Traitor Legions, having ten times the numbers of the Word Bearers.[11] This is aided by their policy of absorbing other Chaos Space Marines and their warbands into their own ranks, regardless of which God of Chaos they may follow, if any.[20]
Fleet
At the time of the 13th Black Crusade, the fleet of the Black Legion had grown enormously, comparable to Imperial Navy Battlefleets in size. These included seven Battleships, thirteen Heavy Cruisers, twenty-three Cruiser squadrons, and thirty Escort squadrons.[14] The Black Legion fleet is also in possession of a number of superweapons, such as the Planet Killer and multiple Blackstone Fortresses. The flagship of the Black Legion's fleet and of Abaddon himself remains the Battle Barge Vengeful Spirit.[8a]
Noted Elements of the Black Legion
Black Legion Armoury
Artifacts
- Drach'nyen
- The Crucible of Lies
- The Eye of Night
- The Hand of Darkness
- The Last Memory of the Yuranthos
- The Skull of Ker'ngar
- The Spineshiver Blade
- The Talon of Horus
Vessels
- Vengeful Spirit — Flagship[3i]/Gloriana Class Battleship[30]
- Planet Killer — Battleship[18]
- Harbinger of Doom — Gloriana Class Battleship[26]
- Blade of Damnation — Repulsive Class Grand Cruiser[2a]
- Well of Souls — Styx Class Heavy Cruiser[23]
- Reign of Terror — Hecate Class Heavy Cruiser[26]
- Baleful Eye — Cruiser commanded by Falkus Kibre[27]
- Will of Eternity — Blackstone Fortress[30]
- Hand of Abaddon — Slaughter Class Cruiser
- Mother of Hell — Cruiser
- Seventh Edict[49]
Notable Members
- Abaddon 'the Despoiler' - Master of the Black Legion and Warmaster of Chaos[1]
- Iskandar Khayon — Founding member. High Sorcerer of the Ezekarion, Lord-Vigilator and Master of the Ashen Dead. Originally a member of the Thousand Sons[27][29]
- Lheorvine Ukris — Founding member. Officer of the Ezekarion and Champion of the War God's Maw, originally a member of the World Eaters[27]
- Telemachon Lyras — Founding member. Officer of the Ezekarion and Herald of the Warmaster, originally a member of the Emperor's Children[27]
- Sargon Eregesh — Founding member and Ezekarion
- Ilyas — Founding member and Ezekarion
- Ygethmor — Sorcerer Lord and Chosen of Abaddon † [2x]
- Devram Korda 'the Tyrant of Sarora' — Chosen of Abaddon[2x]
- Skyrak Slaughterborn — Chosen of Abaddon[16]
- Threxos Hellbreed — Fleet commander and Chosen of Abaddon
- Urkrathos — Former Fleet commander and Chosen of Abaddon † [13]
- Zaraphiston — Sorcerer and senior adviser to Abaddon[17]
- Falkus Kibre — Founding member. Officer of the Ezekarion and Captain of the Justaerin.[27]
- Araghast 'the Pillager' — Champion of the Black Legion † [9]
- Corpulax — Warband Leader
- Uvrik Khravos - Commander[46]
- Zagthean the Broken — Warband Leader
- Xorphas — Warland Leader and Sorcerer
- Ghordar Bann - Master of Executions
- Vex Machinator - Arch-Lord Discordant
- Dhar'leth — Daemon Prince[15]
- Xyn'Goran — Daemon Prince of Tzeentch
- Sylathrax - Daemon Prince
- Drecarth the Sightless — Warband Leader †
- Vorash Soulflayer - Master of Possession
- Eralak — Raptor Commander
- Faenroc the Forgotten — Warband Leader
- Eliphas 'the Inheritor' — Champion of the Black Legion. Originally a Dark Apostle of the Word Bearers[9]
- Malgar Irongrasp — Fleet commander
- Amalaxis Godslayer — Warband leader
- Haarken Worldclaimer — Warband Leader
- Delvarus † - Former member of the World Eaters, became guardian of the Vengeful Spirit.[35a]
- Hadrexus — Chaos Lord
- Zufur — Chaos Lord
- Sikai — Chaos Lord
- Ragged King
- Voidheart — Lieutenant
- Amurael — Chaos Dreadnought
- Valicar — Originally a member of the Iron Warriors
- Ashur-Kai Qezremah — Sorcerer
- Tenebrus - Sorcerer[55]
- Verzekh — Chosen †
- Dorzgogh the Slaughterman — Terminator Champion, took part in the Diamor Campaign.[34]
- Octorian — Warpsmith
- Vortigern — Ezekarion
- Ilyaster Faylech — Ezekarion
- Hakk'an'graah — Bloodthirster allied to the Black Legion.
- Chariz Terenoch — Sorcerer
- Tsevosk — Warlord
- Haxul - Warpsmith
- Ar'baal - Daemon Prince[45]
- Beraddon - Sorcerer[49]
- Akhorath Zeid - Lord Discordant[56]
Affiliated Chaos Cults
While there exists countless Chaos cults all over the Galaxy, some of them associate themselves with a certain Chaos Space Marine Legion.
- The Unworthy Inheritors
- The Warmaster's Blades
- The Cults of Dessah[44]
- Scions of Hatred[45]
- Crimson Horde[45]
- The Hand of Abaddon and his followers[48]
Unique Troops
Additional Information
Related Articles
Sources
- 1: Index Astartes IV, The Black Legion
- 2: Codex: Chaos Space Marines (3rd Edition, 2nd Codex)
- 2a: pg. 10
- 2x: [Needs Citation]
- 3: Horus Rising (Novel)
- 3a: Part Two, Chapter Five, pg. 289
- 3b: Part Two, Chapter Seven, pg. 343
- 3c: Part One, Chapter Four, pg. 80
- 3d: Part One, Chapter Two, pg. 39, Chapter Six, pg. 127, Chapter Eight, pg. 153
- 3e: Part One, Chapter Six, pg. 132
- 3f: Part One, Chapter Six, pg. 119
- 3g: Part One, Chapter Three, pg. 67
- 3h: Part Two, Chapter Three, pg. 245
- 3i: Part One, Chapter One
- 3j: Part One, Chapter Ten
- 3k: Part Three, Chapter Four
- 3x: [Needs Citation]
- 4: False Gods (Novel)
- 4a: Chapter Twelve, pg. 236
- 4x: [Needs Citation]
- 5: Galaxy In Flames (Novel)[Needs Citation]
- 5a: Chapter Thirteen, pg. 306
- 5x: [Needs Citation]
- 6: The Flight of the Eisenstein (Novel), Chapter Nine, pg. 229 and Chapter Seventeen, pg. 400
- 7: Fulgrim (Novel)[Needs Citation]
- 8: Soul Hunter (Novel)
- 8a: [Needs Citation], pgs. 93–127
- 8x: [Needs Citation]
- 9: Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising
- 10: Imperial Armour Volume Seven - The Siege of Vraks - Part Three, pg. 53
- 11: Dark Creed (Novel) — The Word Bearers Omnibus, Chapter Four, pg. 539
- 12: Nemesis (Novel)[Needs Citation]
- 13: Dark Adeptus (Novel) — The Grey Knights Omnibus, Chapter Seven, pg. 355
- 14: Codex: Eye of Terror (3rd Edition), pg. 9
- 15: Warhammer 40,000 5th Edition Rulebook, pg. 148 - The Antecanis Massacre
- 16: White Dwarf 391 (UK), pg. 61
- 17: White Dwarf 286 (UK), pg. 71
- 18: White Dwarf 239 (UK), pgs. 39-45 - The Slayer of Worlds
- 19: The Horus Heresy Book One - Betrayal
- 20: Black Legion - A Codex: Chaos Space Marines Supplement (E-Book), pg. 55
- 21: Codex: Chaos Space Marines (4th Edition), pg. 22
- 22: White Dwarf 287 (UK), pg. 38 - Death by a Thousand Cuts - Cadia
- 23: Champions of Fenris - A Codex: Space Wolves Supplement — The Shadow of Russ
- 24: Imperial Armour Volume Ten - The Badab War - Part Two, pg. 172
- 25: Vengeful Spirit (Novel)[Needs Citation]
- 25a: Chapters 9–11
- 26: Battlefleet Gothic 2010 Compendium, pg. 115
- 27: Talon of Horus (Novel)[Needs Citation]
- 28: Imperial Armour Volume Two - Second Edition: War Machines of the Adeptus Astartes, pg. 18
- 29: Ahriman: Unchanged (Novel)[Needs Citation]
- 30: Gathering Storm: Fall of Cadia[Needs Citation]
- 31: The Horus Heresy Book Four - Conquest, pg. 43
- 32: The Horus Heresy Book Six - Retribution, pg. 30
- 33: The Horus Heresy Book Seven - Inferno
- 34: Black Crusade: Traitor's Hate, pg. 75
- 35: Black Legion (Novel)[Needs Citation]
- 36: Wolfsbane (Novel), Chapter 27
- 37: Slaves to Darkness (Novel), Chapters 17–Epilogue
- 38: Old Earth (Novel), Chapter 9
- 39: The Solar War (Novel), Chapter 3
- 40: Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition, 2nd Codex) pg.15
- 41: Sons of Selenar (Novella)
- 42: Saturnine (Novel)
- 43: White Dwarf 99 (2015), Parade Ground - Sons of Horus
- 44: Psychic Awakening: War of the Spider pg.5-6
- 45: Warhammer Community: We're on Crusade – Part 4 (Posted on 16/07/2020) (Last accessed on 17 July 2020)
- 46: Killzone: Sector Munitorum (Sourcebook), pg. 4 - Industrial Death
- 47: Warhammer 40,000 9th Edition Rulebook pg.130
- 48: Avenging Son (Novel) Epilogue
- 49: Assassinorum: Execution Force (Novel) Prologue
- 50: Codex: Chaos Space Marines (8th Edition) pg. 16
- 51: Warhammer 40,000 9th Edition Rulebook pg.25-26
- 52: Vigilus Ablaze pgs. 37–49
- 52a: Cover interior
- 53: Watchers of the Throne: The Emperor's Legion (Novel) Chapters 25-29
- 54: Warhammer Community: Warhammer Preview Online: Black Library (posted 12/5/2020 – Interview with Guy Haley (last accessed 12/5/2020)
- 55: The Gates of Bone (Novel) - Dramatis Personae
- 56: War Zone Charadon - Act I: The Book of Rust, pg. 11