Welcome to Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum! Log in and join the community.

Blood Angels

From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
Revision as of 23:41, 1 August 2005 by Wis (talk | contribs) (structured and added some things.)
Jump to: navigation, search

The Blood Angels are one of the First Founding Legions of the Space Marines. Their primarch is Sanguinius. They are particularly well known for their bloodthirsty nature in battle.

Basic Information

Template:Space Marine Chapter

History

The Blood Angels were created as one of the original twenty First-Founding Legions of Space Marines, and were created from the genetic material of their Primarch Sanguinius. As with all of the Primarchs, Sanguinius was genetically engineered to be a supreme super soldier but was cast into The Warp during his infancy along with his brothers, and found on the nuclear blasted world of Baal. Sanguinius was affected by the warp, and when he was found by one of the few unmutated human tribes on Baal, he had a pair of angelic wings growing from his back. As he matured quickly, he was able to use his superhuman powers and abilities to unite the humans of Baal against the mutants and become their leader.

When the Emperor found Baal in his search for the Twenty Primarchs, Sanguinius immediately recognized him for who he was, and bent down on his knee, pledging his service. In this, Sangunius was one of the few Primarchs who did not challenge the Emperor upon their reunion. The Emperor then took Sanguinius and a number of his best warriors and placed him in the command of the Blood Angels Space Marine Legion.

During the Great Crusade, the Blood Angels became known as being excellent shock assault troops, and formed a rivalry with the similarly assault-oriented World Eaters Legion. Sanguinius was said to have had psychic powers, notably the ability to see the future.

The Horus Heresy

During the Horus Heresy, the Blood Angels were one of the few Legions who stood by the Emperor during the Battle of Terra. Just prior to the Emperor's duel with the arch-traitor Horus, Sanguinius was brutally murdered in single combat with Horus. Sanguinius's violent death left a strong psychic imprint on his Legion, since they partially share his DNA. However, this was a willing sacrifice that was made in order to buy the Emperor time and to give him a weakness in Horus's armor, which was key in bringing about his defeat.

After the Heresy, as with all other loyal Legions, the Blood Angels were forced to split into many smaller Chapters.

Geneseed

Black Rage

All of the Chapters derived from the Blood Angels still suffer from the psychic imprint left by Sanguinius's death. This can cause them to go insane prior or during a battle, and they believe that they are Sanguinius himself during the Battle of Terra. The condition is irrecoverable (except for one case, where the victim is largely able to control it), and victims are locked away in the "Tower of the Lost" on the Blood Angels homeworld until they finally die. This insanity is known as the Black Rage.

Rather than face a slow, insane death, Blood Angels will form those who have newly succumbed to the Black Rage into a special unit known as the Death Company. They wear specially painted black armor, and are often led by the few Chapter officers, notably Chaplains, who are able to communicate orders to the insane troops. They are then sent out to perform the most dangerous assaults, hoping for a quick and honorable death in combat.

Red Thirst

Like many of the special, non-Codex (that is, those who don't strictly adhere to the basic rules of the Space Marines) Chapters of Space Marines, the Blood Angels have an underlying theme for the army- they bear a striking resemblance to vampires. They generally have pale skin, and a strong urge to drink the blood of their enemies, often this manifests as another flaw known as the Red Thirst. These traits have also been passed on to their successor chapters, such as the Flesh Tearers, Blood Drinkers, and Angels Sanguine. The Blood Ravens may also be a successor chapter, due to similarities in name, colors, and Iconography, but this is doubtful, as the Blood Ravens seem not to suffer from the Black Rage. One successor chapter, the Lamenters, managed by unknown means to eliminate the flaws from Sanguinius' gene-seed, but has been stricken by extraordinary bad luck in battle and as such has been nearly annihilated.


Organisation

The Death Company

Company Disposition

Like all Codex chapters, Blood Angels are divided into ten Companies. Each Company is led by a hero of the Ultramarines, who - in addition to his Company command - is in charge of a particular aspect of the Chapter's logistics. The current Company commanders are as follows:

  • First Company: Captain
  • Second Company: Captain
  • Third Company: Captain
  • Fourth Company: Captain
  • Fifth Company: Captain
  • Sixth Company: Captain
  • Seventh Company: Captain
  • Eighth Company: Captain
  • Ninth Company: Captain
  • Tenth Company: Captain


Notable Blood Angels

  • Sanguinius - Primarch of the Blood Angels
  • Dante - Current Chapter Master of the Blood Angels
  • Mephiston - Current Chief Librarian of the Blood Angels
  • Corbulo - Sanguinary High Priest and Bearer of the Red Grail
  • Tycho - Captain of the Blood Angels Third Company