Solar War
The Solar War refers to a series of battles fought in the Sol System from 010-015.M31 during the closing stages of the Horus Heresy. The war saw Horus begin his drive on Terra, capital of the Imperium.
Overview
Imperial Preparations
With the Emperor preoccupied with the War Within the Webway and Malcador the Sigillite waging the Shadow Wars, it was left with Imperial Fists Primarch Rogal Dorn to oversee the defenses of both Terra and the greater Sol System. The defenses of the Imperial Palace were significantly strengthened, and much of its aesthetic was destroyed in favor of strategic defensibly.[4] Following the Schism of Mars, Kelbor-Hal's Dark Mechanicus was victorious in claiming the Red Planet, but an Imperial blockade trapped the traitors on their own world.[1]
As Horus' forces inched closer to Terra, Dorn organized the defenses of the Sol System into a series of Spheres. Each consisted of not only Imperial Fists forces, but also loyalist Imperial Army and Mechanicum.[3]
- The First Sphere was the outermost defensive zone from Neptune to Pluto.[2a] It was commanded by Sigismund[3] at Pluto.[6a]
- The Second Sphere oversaw Uranus.[6] It was commanded by Halbrecht[3]
- The Third Sphere oversaw the Jupiter region.[6a] It was commanded by Efried.[3]
- The Fourth Sphere was commanded by Camba Diaz and oversaw the blockade of traitor-occupied Mars[2a][6a]
- The Fifth Sphere was Terra and Luna, overseen by Rogal Dorn himself.[2a]
The War
For the next several years, the loyalists would counter traitor-instigated uprisings and attempted breakouts by the Dark Mechanicus on Mars.[1]
The Alpha Legion announced its entry into the Solar War by exploding the freighter Primigenia over Terra, killing millions by raining debris. This was accompanied by Alpha Legion organized uprisings at Terra's Damocles Starport and Triton. All of this culminated in the first major battle of the Solar War, the Battle of Pluto. The battle saw the Alpha Legion drive on Pluto, linchpin of the loyalist monitoring of the Sol System. During the battle, a fleet of over 200 Alpha Legion warships assaulted the planet, but after Alpharius himself was seemingly killed by Rogal Dorn the traitors retreated.[2]
In 013.M31 Horus won the massive Battle of Beta-Garmon, giving him access to the strategically important route to Terra.[5] In 015.M31 the campaign entered its final phase, with the combined might of the Sons of Horus, Thousand Sons, Emperor's Children, Iron Warriors, World Eaters, and Word Bearers arriving in the Sol System. The traitors were able to overrun the Imperial defenses and now threatened Terra itself.[6]
Aftermath
Traitor forces eventually succeeded in driving on humanity's homeworld itself. Thus the stage was set for the climatic Siege of Terra.[1]
Sources
- 1: The Horus Heresy Book Six pg. 30
- 2: Praetorian of Dorn (Novel) Part 4, Chapters 1–6
- 2a: Part 1, Chapter 4
- 3: Secrets of the Solar War — Day 2
- 4: The Lightning Tower (Short Story)
- 5: Weregeld (Novella)
- 6: The Solar War (Novel)
- 6a: Map
Battles of the Horus Heresy | |
---|---|
005-006.M31 | Battle of Isstvan III • First Battle of Prospero • War Within the Webway • Battle of the Somnus Citadel • Unrest on Caliban • Schism of Mars • Battle of Diamat • Drop Site Massacre • Battle of the Rangda System • First Battle of Paramar • Manachean War • Signus Campaign • Treachery at Advex-Mors • Siege of Cthonia • Battle for Felweather Keep |
007-008.M31 | Battle of Phall • Battle of Ravendelve • Ruin of Maerdan • Battle of the Alaxxes Nebula • Pale Stars Campaign • Breaking of the Perfect Fortress • Chondax Campaign • Second Battle of Prospero • First Siege of Hydra Cordatus • Battle of the Furious Abyss • Battle of Calth • Battle of Armatura • Betrayal at Ithraca • Death of Canopus • Shadow Crusade • Crusade of Iron • Doom of Bormina • Defence of Tyros • Defence of the Three Planets • Battle of Ulixis • Ambush at Espandor • Battle of Aquila Atoll • Battle of Drooth II • Percepton Campaign • Battle of Iydris • Thramas Crusade • Fall of Baztel III • Battle of Vannaheim • Second Battle of Paramar • Battle of Constanix II • Mezoan Campaign • Battle of Bodt • Battle of Dwell • Erellian Subjugation • Siege of Baal |
009-010.M31 | Battle of Molech • Breaking of Anvillus • Xana Incursion • Carnage of Morox • Sangraal Campaign • Battle of Arissak • Battle of Perditus • Battle of Sotha • Drussen Atrocity • Scouring of Gilden's Star • Battle of Nyrcon • Battle of Tallarn • Cataclysm of Iron • Battle of Nocturne • War of Drakes • Battle of Pluto • Siege of Inwit • Burning of Ohmn-Mat • Bitter War |
011-014.M31 | Reaving of the Xibana Reaches • Lorin Alpha Campaign • Subjugation of Tyrinth • Malagant Conflict • Battle of the Kalium Gate • Battle of Catallus • Axandrian Incident • Battle of the Haddon System • Jarrazr Incursion • Battle of Tralsak • Tarren Suppression • Balthor Sigma Intervention • Battle of Absolom • Scouring of the Ollanz Cluster • Battle of Zepath • Second Battle of Zaramund • Battle of Anuari • Battle of Pyrrhan • Second Battle of Davin • Argolian Massacres • Battle of Trisolian • Battle of Yarant • Battle of Krade • Battle of Deluge • Battle of Heta-Gladius • Battle of the Aragna Chain • Battle of Kalleth • Battle of the Diavanos System • Battle of Desperation • Battle of Beta-Garmon • War for Agarops • Defence of Ryza • Battle of Thagria • Passage of Angels • Thassos Incident • Battle of Zhao-Arkhad • Serpent's Coil • Siege of Barbarus • Foricaan Campaign • Battle of Vezdell • Burning of Vrexor • Dawn of Desolation • Death of Chemos • Battle of Luth Tyre • Ydursk Incident • Fall of Tenzebar • Solar War • Raid on Luna • Siege of Terra • Great Scouring |
- Battles (Horus Heresy)
- Battles (Imperial Fists)
- Battles (Black Legion)
- Battles (Dark Mechanicus)
- Battles (Adeptus Mechanicus)
- Battles (Alpha Legion)
- Battles (White Scars)
- Battles (Blood Angels)
- Battles (Thousand Sons)
- Battles (Iron Warriors)
- Battles (Word Bearers)
- Anti-Imperial Rebellions
- Battles (Knights)
- Battles (Collegia Titanica)