Sanctoria
| Map | Basic Data | Planetary Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Name: | Sanctoria | 
|
| Segmentum: | Ultima Segmentum | ||
| Sector: | Ultima Sector | ||
| Subsector: | Ultramar | ||
| System: | |||
| Population: | |||
| Affiliation: | Imperium (Ultramarines) | ||
| Class: | Shrine World | ||
Sanctoria is a Shrine World at the easternmost edge of Ultramar.[1a]
History
Roughly once in a millennium, the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines calls the entire chapter from whatever war zone they happen to be at in the galaxy, to travel to Sanctoria on pilgrimage for a month of holy rites dedicated to honouring the ascension of the chapter's primarch, Roboute Guilliman, leaving the many Ultramarines successor chapters to temporarily replace those called away from war.[1b]
When it came time for Marneus Calgar to issue the call to pilgrimage, it was also answered by delegations of allies from the Knights of House Terryn and a selection of titans from the Legio Astorum. It was also answered by an armada of heretic ships led by Chaos Lord Kharax the Slayer.[1b]
While the invading armada engaged the Ultramar Defence Fleet in orbit, Kharax's flagship, a space hulk called the Malefica managed to break through the defensive line and spew forth its huge compliment of drop ships.[1c] These gunships, bulk landers, drop pods and assault pods were all full to bursting with daemonkin and chaos cultists, all eager for slaughter, and slaughter they did, as Calgar gave orders that none of his space marines would be allowed to leave the planet's primary city of Angelus Prime to help the beleaguered Planetary Defence Forces. The Codex Astartes said that when facing such insurmountable numbers, the best course of action was to concentrate on defending the most defensible bulwark and to call for reinforcements. Thus, the other cities of Sanctoria quickly fell, and the mass slaughter allowed the invading forces to summon the daemons of Khorne from the Immaterium, whereupon the invaders marched upon Angelus Prime, thereby marking the start of the Battle for Angelus Prime.[1a]
Calgar's Ultramarines emerged victorious from the conflict,[1d] thanks to Calgar's tactics, the Ultramarines' allies, and the arrival of a detachment of Grey Knights from the Emperor's Hand Strike Force teleporting into the fighting at a crucial moment.[1e]
Geography
Sanctoria is a world of parched, glimmering desert sands, with cities and forts built into the bedrock
Notable Locations
- Angelus Prime - capital city and home to the Cathedrum of the Primarch
- Aurenium - city razed by the forces of Chaos[1a]
- Gloriana - city razed by the forces of Chaos[1a]
