Daemon Princes are former mortal Champions of Chaos who have been elevated to daemonhood by the Gods of Chaos. They have bartered their humanity for unearthly power and immortality.[4a][5b]
Overview
In order to attract the attention of their patrons, Chaos Champions have to perform great and terrible deeds. They sacrifice enemies and allies alike for their ambitions and risk their demise at the hands of both their foes and gods. The few that manage to avoid death and spawndom are changed beyond recognition.[4a][5b]
While Daemon Princes come in various shapes, most are of hulking stature, displaying numerous mutations such as horns and wings. Even more notable are the supernatural powers they wield, some of which are associated with their patron god.[5b] What they maintain of former selves are the driving ambition and ruthless cunning which helped them earn their ultimate reward.[2]
In the 41st millennium, most Daemon Princes hail from the ranks of the Chaos Space Marines, warriors with the capability and motivation to slay the populations of entire worlds, although the oldest managed to ascend during the savage age long before mankind left ancient Earth.[5b]
Daemon Princes rule supreme over mortal Chaos followers and are usually granted reign over a Daemon World of their own.[2][3] Despite this, it is not uncommon for them to leave the material plane completely and join a daemonic legion in order to serve as right hand of a mighty Greater Daemon or even as that daemon's commander. For all their rank and power however, real Daemons commonly regard them as inferior due to their human origin, a belief that is very rarely proven, as many Princes have slain powerful Daemons long before joining their immortal ranks.[5a][6]
Daemon Princes frequently wield Hellforged Swords and Daemonic Axes in battle.[8]
Daemon Primarchs
The most infamous of the Daemon Princes come from the traitor Primarchs that turned against the Emperor during the Horus Heresy.[Needs Citation] These powerful beings are still revered by the very Legions they corrupted millennia ago, even though it is uncommon for them to personally lead them forth from their Daemon Worlds. Instead they prefer to fight against their enemies within the Eye of Terror, leaving the direction of their Legions to their loyal minions and Champions. Arguably greater in power than any other Daemon Prince or Greater Daemon, they are feared and respected by all who worship chaos and are looked upon as personal champions by their gods.[5b]
Notable Daemon Princes
- Angron — Daemon Prince of Khorne
- Be'lakor — The first Daemon Prince
- Bubonicus — Daemon Prince of Nurgle
- Cherubael — Unknown Patron God
- Doombreed — Daemon Prince of Khorne
- Doomrider — Daemon Prince of Slaanesh
- Fulgrim — Daemon Prince of Slaanesh
- Lorgar — Daemon Prince of Chaos Undivided
- Perturabo — Daemon Prince of Chaos Undivided
- Mortarion — Daemon Prince of Nurgle
- Magnus the Red — Daemon Prince of Tzeentch
- M'Kar the Reborn — Daemon Prince of Chaos Undivided
- N'Kari — Daemon Prince of Slaanesh
- Tallomin — Daemon Prince of Khorne
- The Witness — Daemon Prince of Nurgle and Khorne
Images
Daemon Prince (2nd Edition - metal)[4b]
Daemon Prince (2nd Edition - metal)
Daemon Prince (3rd Edition - metal)
Sculpted by Juan Diaz
Nurgle Daemon Prince (4th Edition - metal)
Sculpted by Seb Perbet
Daemon Prince (5th edition)
Sculpted by Mark Harrison[Needs Citation]
Daemon Prince (5th Edition)
Daemon Prince (9th Edition)
Daemon Prince (9th Edition)[9]
A Daemon Prince from Dawn of War[7]
Sources
- 1: Chaos Space Marines Collector's Guide, pg. 7
- 2: White Dwarf 274 (UK), pg. 93 — Index Malleus: Daemons of the Warp
- 3: Codex: Eye of Terror (3rd Edition), pg. 5
- 4: Codex: Chaos Space Marines (3rd Edition, 1st Codex)
- 5: Codex: Chaos Space Marines (4th Edition)
- 6: Codex: Chaos Daemons (4th Edition), pg. 46
- 7: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War
- 8: Codex: Chaos Daemons (8th Edition), pg. 102
- 9: Warhammer Community: Warhammer Fest online all the massive reveals right here (posted 4/5/2022) (last accessed 4/5/2022)
- 10: Warhammer Community: Saturday Pre-orders – The Slaves to Darkness Arrive and Horus Ascends (posted 14/1/2023) (last accessed 14/1/2023)
- 11: Realms of Chaos: The Lost and the Damned, pg. 83
