Space Marines
They shall be my finest warriors, these men who give themselves to me. Like clay I shall mould them and in the furnace of war forge them. They will be of iron will and steely muscle. In great armour shall I clad them and with the mightiest guns will they be armed. They will be untouched by plague or disease, no sickness will blight them. They will have tactics, strategies and machines such that no foe can best them in battle. They are my bulwark against the Terror. They are the Defenders of Humanity. They are my Space Marines and they shall know no fear.
--The Emperor of Mankind.
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This article is about the genetically engineered Imperial troops. For other uses of Space Marine, see Space Marine (disambiguation). |
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The Adeptus Astartes (commonly known as Space Marines, and colloquially as Angels of Death) are one of the most elite and feared fighting forces in the Imperium of Man. The primary unit of organisation in the 41st millennium is the Chapter, a self-contained army fully equipped with its own transport, non-combatant support staff, etc. There are around a thousand Chapters, each comprising a thousand Space Marines. There are far too few Space Marines to form the Imperium's main military forces; instead they operate as highly mobile strike forces. They are entrusted with the most dangerous missions, such as lightning raids behind enemy lines, infiltration, and tunnel fighting.[5] Through selection, training, and conditioning, Marines are physically, mentally, and spiritually superior to any other Imperial soldier.[4]
Contents
History
Originating from the Thunder Warriors, the first Space Marines were created from the genetic material of the Primarchs after they were spirited away from the Emperor by the Gods of Chaos in the aftermath of the Unification Wars. Twenty Legions of Space Marines were created, each from the genetic material of a specific Primarch. The first Astartes were created only by the massive effort of the Emperor and countless Terran scientists of Amar Astarte's Biotechnical Division[24] who worked deep within the Himalazia Mountains. The original Astartes gene-seed was unstable and caused its subjects to degrade rapidly, but once it was stabilized by samples provided by newly rediscovered Primarchs, long-term stability was achieved.[13]
The Legions took part in the Great Crusade, during which the lost Primarchs were rediscovered and given command of their respective Legion. The Crusade, lasting for two centuries, ended with the treachery of one of the Primarchs, Horus, who led at least half of the Legions in a rebellion known as the Horus Heresy against the Emperor. In the final battle for control of the future of mankind, Horus was slain by the Emperor. With the rebellion defeated, those Legions which had sided with Horus were driven into the Eye of Terror.
The Legions which had remained loyal were eventually reorganised according to the dictates of the Codex Astartes, in the event known as the Second Founding. Each Legion was divided into several autonomous Chapters, which remain the primary unit of the Space Marines to the current day.
Successive foundings over the millennia have created new Chapters. There are now around a thousand Chapters in existence, each Chapter ultimately descending from one of the loyalist Legions. Later in the closing days of the 41st Millennium the resurrected Roboute Guilliman and his Mechanicum researchers oversaw the creation of a new generation of Astartes, known as the Primaris Space Marine.
To some extent, the Chapters maintain the traditions and character of the Legion they descend from. Chapters adhere to the Codex Astartes in differing degrees, some regarding any deviation from it as virtual heresy; others, notably the Black Templars, Blood Angels, Space Wolves, and Dark Angels, only following the Codex in the broadest matters.[1][3b][5]
Organisation
They shall be pure of both heart and strong of body, untainted by doubt and self-aggrandisement. They will be bright stars in the firmament of battle, angels of death whose shining wings bring swift annihilation to the enemies of man. So shall it be for a thousand times a thousand years, unto the very end of eternity and the extinction of mortal flesh.'
- Roboute Guilliman. [41a]
The Adeptus Astartes is comprised of autonomous Chapters, each of which is a complete army in itself, possessing its own transport, Warp-capable spacecraft, non-combatant personnel, and fortress-monastery based on a planet or fleet. There are roughly a thousand Chapters, each led by a Space Marine with the rank of Chapter Master. A Chapter's fighting force numbers a nominal 1000 Marines, divided into ten companies, each of which is commanded by a Captain. Companies are further divided into squads of ten battle-brothers, each commanded by a Sergeant.[4]
The Chapter Masters owe their allegiance to the Emperor. Ultimately, the Chapter is subject to the orders of the highest-ranking among the Adeptus Terra, although only in a general sense.[6]
Chapters are monastic communities in nature; for most of the Marines, the Chapter is their world, and the only contact they have with outsiders is in battle.
Tactical Organisation
The traditional Codex Chapter is tactically organised into a number of different types of squad: Battleline Squads consist of either Tactical Squads or Primaris Intercessor Squads. Close Support Squads consist of either Assault Squads, Inceptor Squads, or Reiver Squads. Fire Support Squads consist of Devastator Squads, Desolation Squads, Hellblaster Squads, Eradicator Squads, or [29] Aggressor Squads. The squad types are equipped and trained to fulfil a specific battlefield role, each of the three types designed to complement each other on the battlefield to make a far more effective whole. In addition to these three squad types, veterans can be formed into Veteran or Terminator Squads, while the initiate Marines are formed into Scout squads.
Terminator squads are drawn from the entire chapter's best and most experienced warriors. The veterans wear the uniquely powerful Terminator Armour. These squads are formed when circumstances necessitate the concentration of the Chapter's most capable warriors and potent equipment into one or more heavily-armed and powerful units.[7]
Ranks
All Space Marine Chapters loosely utilise the same types of ranks. Many non-Codex Astartes chapters, however, will often use different names for these positions.[14b]
- Chapter Master — The highest attainable rank of Space Marine, commanding their entire Chapter.[14b] Some Chapters, like the Iron Hands, do not maintain a Chapter Master.[15]
- Captain — The second highest rank of a Chapter, they command a Company or its equivalent. Many Captains are given an honorific Master title.[14b]
- Lieutenant — These serve as the right hand to their Company Captain, typically commanding one of the Company's two demi-companies.[18b]
- Sergeant — Command Squads within each Company. Sergeants within the Chapter's 1st Company are known as Veteran Sergeants.[14b]
- Battle-Brother — Standard Space Marine rank for a fully inducted warrior. May include honorific duties such as Honour Guard, Company Champion, or Standard Bearer. The most experienced Battle-Brothers serve in the Chapter's 1st Company as Veteran Space Marines, who may wear ancient Terminator armor.[14b]
- Vanguard Space Marine - Covert-operation experts typically drawn from the 10th Scout Company. A Chapter will normally maintain 100 of these specialists.
- Neophyte — Space Marines in training who have not become fully accepted Battle-Brothers. They are utilised in a Chapter's Scout Squads as a part of their training.[3a]
- Aspirant — Humans selected to be inducted into a Chapter and undergo genetic modification.[4]
Specialist Ranks
In addition to their standard ranks, Space Marine Chapters also maintain a variety of specialist roles.[14a]
- Librarian — Psyker warriors of the Chapter.[14a] Variations include Rune Priest for the Space Wolves and Stormseer for the White Scars. Some Chapters, such as the Black Templars, do not use Librarians.[16]
- Chief Librarian — The senior most Librarian of a Chapter and the commander of its Librarium.
- Codicier — The 2nd highest rank of Librarian
- Epistolary — The 3rd highest rank of Librarian
- Lexicanium — The rank of newly-inducted Librarians
- Acolytum — Librarians in training, not yet inducted into the Librarium.[14a]
- Chaplain — Warrior-Priests of a Chapter who oversee morale, discipline, and spiritual purity.[14b] Variations include Wolf Priests of the Space Wolves and Interrogator-Chaplains of the Unforgiven.
- Master of Sanctity — The senior most Chaplain of a Chapter and commander of its Reclusium.
- Reclusiarch — Senior Chaplains
- Chaplain - Standard rank[14b]
- Judiciar - Chaplains in training[43]
- Apothecary — Battlefield medical specialists charged with not only healing their comrades, but also collecting the Gene-Seed of fallen warriors.[14b] Variations include the Sanguinary Priests of the Blood Angels and their Successor Chapters.
- Master of the Apothecarion — Senior most Apothecary and commander of their Chapter's Apothecarion.[14a]
- Apothecary — Standard Rank[14a]
- Helix Adept - Apothecary in training[42]
- Techmarines — Technology officers and engineers of a Chapter who maintain the Armoury.[14b] Variations include Iron Father for the Iron Hands and Iron Priests for the Space Wolves.
- Master of the Forge — Most senior rank who commands the Chapter Armoury.[14a]
- Master of the Signal — Battlefield communications specialists.
- Chapter Ancient — Revered Standard-bearer
- Judiciar - Executioner who works under the Chapter Master[28]
Chapter cult
A Chapter cult is an integral aspect of a Space Marine Chapter. Every Space Marine belongs to the Chapter's cult, and accordingly, every Marine of a Chapter is a spiritual brother as well as a brother in arms. These warrior cults emphasise honour, comradeship, and strength. Chapter cults, often thousands of years old, have each developed their own distinct traditions and in many cases these cults pre-date the Imperial Cult, the official religion of the Imperium. Each Space Marine cult is unique and autonomous, ministered by an inner priesthood of warriors known as Chaplains. The practices of Space Marine cults, rumored to be barbaric and bloody, serve to make Space Marines all the more feared by the mass of humanity.
Equipment
The primary individual weapons of the Space Marines is the boltgun and its pistol variant, the bolt pistol.
The distinctive Power Armour is worn by all Marines in battle. Some members of the Chapter's first company may instead be armoured in the heavier Terminator Armour. Carapace armour is worn by Scouts instead of power armour. There is also a fourth type of armour called Artificer armour, worn by most Marines who have served three centuries for the Emperor or performed a notably brave action in battle.
Each Space Marines Chapters has its own distinguished colour scheme. Unlike the Astra Militarum, Space Marines do not typically use camouflage because Adeptus Astartes combat doctrine does not incorporate concealment in battle. Bright and bold colour schemes lower enemy morale, announcing the arriving of the noble Chapter to the battlefield. The exceptions to the main colours may still exist for some of the Chapter's Companies - for example Deathwing company of the Dark Angels Chapter use white colour scheme and the Ravenwing — black.[17]
In the same time Chapter's vehicles may be painted in different colours until the large bands of areas painted in the Chapter colours.[17]
Recruitment and Training
Recruits are chosen from the best warriors among humanity. Naturally, this makes Feral Worlds prized recruitment grounds, as such harsh and primal conditions produce the best warriors. However, Hive Worlds are considered the ideal source of potential recruits, the populace of the lower levels composed of some of the most murderous scum in the human Imperium. Whole gangs of hive scum are sometimes hunted down and captured for recruitment. Among the most valued traits in a recruit are aggression and psychotic-level killer instinct. Much more rarely, certain Civilised Worlds are also recruited from.[4][6]
The potential recruit is first subjected to testing, including tissue compatibility tests and psychological screening. Relatively few get past this initial selection process. Those that do pass are termed "neophytes", and the process continues with the surgery, indoctrination, conditioning, and training that will make them Marines.
The surgical process takes a great deal of time. The recruit receives implants, along with chemical- and hypnotherapy, and training necessary for allowing the functioning and development of the implanted organs. The implants transform their bodies and minds and give them inhuman abilities - making them capable of spitting acidic venom, absorbing the memories of the dead by eating their flesh, raising them to heights of up to three metres tall[50], darkening their skin to protect it from radiation, and operating for long periods without sleep by switching off parts of their brains at a time. After this implantation process and the associated training, the recruit becomes an "initiate".
Intense indoctrination and conditioning strengthens the recruit's resolve and increases mental capabilities, honing them into dedicated and merciless warriors. After more general training, they join the Chapter as full "brothers".[2]
Biology
Space Marines represent the pinnacle of Imperial bio-engineering. They are larger, stronger, faster[51b], and more durable than average humans. They also display higher cognitive abilities, such as eidetic memory.[53] Space Marines have frightening strength, which when augmented by power armour allows them to act as living battering rams capable of smashing through fast-moving light vehicles or crush human heads into pulp.[55] Space Marines also display superior vision, hearing, smell, sun/radiation resistance, and taste than standard humans. They have far greater resistances to heat and cold and can even survive for a time in the vacuum of space.[2]
Space Marines are extremely durable, capable of eventually regenerating from wounds that would quickly kill a normal human, require little sleep, and are further enhanced with an additional Black Carapace armored skeleton as the final stage of their implantation process.[2] The strength and endurance of Primaris Space Marines is even greater than those of Firstborn.[56]
Fully armoured, a Space Marine typically stands 2.1 meters (6'8") to 3.0 meters[50] (9’10") tall and weighs 500-1,000 kilograms (1,100-2,200lbs). Due to the nature of the zygotes that make up Astartes Gene-Seed, all Space Marines are male.[52] Space Marines live far longer than average humans. Dante, one of if not the oldest active currently known non-Dreadnought Space Marines, is currently over 1,100 years old.[54] A member of the Salamanders from the days of the Great Crusade, Gravius, later became stranded in space and was not rediscovered for some 10,000 years. The Marine was still alive in an inactive state, though withered and frail to the point of being given a merciful death upon rediscovery.[57] This all lends to the theory that Space Marines while subject to gradual aging are "functionally immortal", though since they all inevitably die in battle one day there is not enough sufficient data to come to any firm conclusions.[58]
Besides their base augmentations to strength, speed, endurance, etc. Space Marines also display a number of remarkable abilities due to their many implants and genetic engineering. These are outlined in detail in the Creation of a Space Marine article but most infamously include:[2]
- A secondary heart and additional lung[2]
- A far more robust digestive system and greater tolerance to poisons[2]
- An ability to spit acid[2]
- An ability to learn the memories of an organic lifeform by consuming their brain matter[2]
- An ability to enter a state of suspended animation as a means of staying alive while grievously wounded or isolated for potentially years after.[2]
Daily Routine
Space Marines have very organised daily routines including combat training, prayer, and indoctrination sessions with very little free time. This lends itself well to the disciplined and monastic nature of the Space Marines.
Primaris Space Marine
In the closing days of the 41st Millennium the Imperium was able to field a new generation of Space Marine thanks to the efforts of Roboute Guilliman and Belisarius Cawl. Known as the Primaris Space Marine, they have been distributed among the many loyalist Chapters. Since the introduction of Primaris Space Marines, the original template Space Marines are referred to as Firstborn.[21]
Notable Active Space Marines
- Ultramarines
- Marneus Calgar — Lord Macragge and Chapter Master[8a]
- Cato Sicarius — High Suzerain of Ultramar & Captain of the Victrix Guard[8b]
- Varro Tigurius — Chief Librarian[8a]
- Ortan Cassius — Master of Sanctity[8a]
- Severus Agemman - Captain of the 1st Company[31]
- Sevastus Acheran - Captain of the 2nd Company[31]
- Uriel Ventris - Captain of the 4th Company[31]
- Antaro Chronus — Tank Commander[8a]
- Torias Telion — Scout Sergeant[8a]
- Dark Angels
- Azrael — Supreme Grand Master[12b]
- Sammael — Master of the Ravenwing[12a]
- Belial — Grand Master of the Deathwing[12a]
- Asmodai — Master of the Interrogator-Chaplains[12a]
- Ezekiel — Chief Librarian[12a]
- Lazarus - Master of the 5th Company[27]
- Space Wolves
- Logan Grimnar — Great Wolf[11]
- Njal Stormcaller — Rune Priest[11]
- Ulrik the Slayer — Wolf High Priest[11]
- Ragnar Blackmane — Wolf Lord[11]
- Krom Dragongaze - Wolf Lord[32a]
- Harald Deathwolf - Wolf Lord[32a]
- Arjac Rockfist - Wolf Guard[11]
- Canis Wolfborn — Wolf Guard[11]
- Bjorn the Fell-Handed — Dreadnought[11]
- Lukas the Trickster - Blood Claw[11]
- Murderfang - Dreadnought[32b]
- Blood Angels
- Dante — Chapter Master of the Blood Angels[10]
- Mephiston — Chief Librarian[10]
- Corbulo — Sanguinary High Priest[10]
- Astorath — High Chaplain[10]
- Karlaen - Captain of the 1st Company[33]
- Lemartes — Chaplain[10]
- Imperial Fists
- Darnath Lysander — Captain of the 1st Company[8a]
- Tor Garadon - Captain of the 3rd Company.[25]
- Salamanders
- Vulkan He'stan — Forgefather[8a]
- Adrax Agatone - Captain of the 3rd Company[26]
- White Scars
- Suboden Khan - Captain of the 1st Company[59]
- Kor'sarro Khan — Captain of the 3rd Company[3]
- Iron Hands
- Kardan Stronos — Iron Father and de facto Chapter Master[34]
- Malkaan Feirros - Master of the Forge[34]
- Caanok Var - Captain of Clan Avernii[59]
- Raven Guard
- Black Templars
- Crimson Fists
- Flesh Tearers
- Grey Knights
- Deathwatch
- Blood Ravens
- Red Scorpions
- Casan Sabius - Captain and de facto co-Chapter Master[39]
- Sirae Karagon - Chapter Ancient and de facto co-Chapter Master[39]
- Carab Culln - Dreadnought and de jure Chapter Master[40]
- Minotaurs
- White Consuls
- Vitrian Messinius - Captain of the 10th Company and Fleetmaster of Indomitus Crusade Fleet Tertius.[60]
Development History
 |
Space Marines have their origins in Games Workshops 1985's LE2 (Limited Edition 2) single character miniature alongside a Space Orc which predated even the release of the 1st Edition by two years.[45]
The Space Marines were subsequently one of the original factions for 1987's Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader alongside the Imperial Army, Eldar, Orks, and Tyranids.[44a] During the 1st Edition, they were described as 100 independent Chapters collectively dubbed the Legiones Astartes.[44b] Twelve Chapters were named in the original Rogue Trader rulebook: the Dark Angels, Flesh Tearers, Flesh Eaters, Space Wolves, Ultramarines, White Scars, Blood Angels, Blood Drinkers, Crimson Fists, Iron Hands, Rainbow Warriors, and Silver Skulls.[44c]
During the earliest days of Warhammer 40,000, the Space Marines were depicted as brutal, hyper-violent, and ideologically deluded.[47] Moreover, the concepts of founding Legions and Primarchs did not yet exist, and many Chapters had radically different lore. For instance, the Ultramarines were said to have been established in the Third Founding in M32 in White Dwarf 97.[46]
1990's Realm of Chaos: The Lost and the Damned established the concept of the twenty Founding Legions, Primarchs, and Chaos Space Marines as well as containing the first concrete description of the Horus Heresy. The 2nd and 3rd Editions and later the Index Astartes articles of the early 2000s firmly established the modern idea of Space Marine lore and army makeup.[48]
Space Marine lore largely remained static from the early 2000s until the end of 7th Edition in 2017. During the Gathering Storm series of campaign books, larger and newer Primaris Space Marines were introduced[49] while prior Space Marines were designated Firstborn.[21]
See also
- Space Marine Equipment (List)
- Space Marine Weaponry (List)
- Space Marine Vehicles (List)
- Space Marine Fleet
- Space Marine Honour Badges
- Loyal Space Marine Chapters (List)
- Space Marine Forces (List)
- Renegade Space Marine Chapters (List)
- Chaos Space Marine Legions and Warbands (List)
- Space Marine Quotes
- Renegade Space Marine
- Chaos Space Marines
- Prototype Legionary
Sources
- 1: Codex: Space Marines (3rd Edition), [Needs Citation]
- 2: White Dwarf 98 (UK) — The Origins of the Legiones Astartes (reprinted in: Warhammer 40,000: Compendium)
- 3: Codex: Space Marines (4th Edition):
- 4: Warhammer 40,000: Compendium, pg. 129
- 5: Codex Imperialis (Background Book), pg. 16
- 6: Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, pgs. 133 & 153
- 7: Codex: Ultramarines (2nd Edition), [Needs Citation]
- 8: Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition):
- 9: Warhammer 40,000 6th Edition Rulebook, pg. 234
- 10: Codex: Blood Angels (5th Edition), pgs. 48–53
- 11: Codex: Space Wolves (5th Edition), pgs. 49-56
- 12: Codex: Dark Angels (4th Edition):
- 13: White Dwarf 98 (US) — Chapter Approved: The Origin of the Legiones Astartes
- 14: Codex: Space Marines (7th Edition)
- 15: Codex: Space Marines (6th Edition), pg. 224
- 16: Codex: Black Templars (4th Edition), pg. 8
- 17: Imperial Armour Volume Two (First Edition), pg. 245
- 18: Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition)
- 19: Codex: Space Marines (9th Edition):
- 20: Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition, 2nd Codex), pgs. 16-17
- 21: Spear of the Emperor (Novel), Chapter 5
- 22: Warhammer Community: A New Breed of Hero (Posted 15/5/2017) (Last Accessed 29 August 2019)
- 23: Preview: Iron Father Feirros (Posted 12/9/2019) (Last Accessed September 14 2019)
- 24: Belisarius Cawl: The Great Work (Novel), Chapter 19
- 25: Codex Supplement: Imperial Fists (8th Edition), pg. 32
- 26: Codex Supplement: Salamanders (8th Edition), pg. 37
- 27: White Dwarf September 2019, pg. 28 - Index Astartes: Dark Angels
- 28: Warhammer Community: Warhammer 40,000: More Models Revealed (24/05/2020) (Last accessed on 24 May 2020)
- 29: Warhammer Community: Warhammer 40,000 Preview – What’s in the Box? (Posted on 13/06/2020) (Last accessed on 14 June 2020)
- 30: Imperial Armour Volume Ten - The Badab War - Part Two, pgs. 176-177
- 31: Codex Supplement: Ultramarines (8th Edition) — Chapter Organisation
- 32: Codex: Space Wolves (8th Edition):
- 33: White Dwarf 44 (2014) — Heroes of the Blood
- 34: Codex Supplement: Iron Hands (8th Edition), pg. 11
- 35: Codex: Black Templars (4th Edition), pgs. 46-47
- 36: Codex: Grey Knights (8th Edition), pgs. 64-68
- 37: White Dwarf 259 (UK), pg. 83
- 38: White Dwarf July 2019 - Index Astartes: Blood Ravens
- 39: Warhammer Community: New Heroes for Warhammer 40,000 Coming Soon (posted 20/11/2017) (last accessed 3/31/2021)
- 40: Warhammer Community: Forge World Preview: The next hero for the Warhammer 40,000 Character Series announced! (posted 23/10/2017) (last accessed 3/31/2021)
- 41: Warhammer 40,000 10th Edition Rulebook
- 42: Codex: Vanguard Space Marines (8th Edition) pg.7
- 43: Codex: Space Marines (9th Edition), pg. 153
- 44: Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
- 45: White Dwarf 115 (2016), pg. 18
- 46: White Dwarf 97 (UK), pgs. 39-42
- 47: Cardboard Sandwich: Blood, dice and darkness: how Warhammer defined gaming for a generation (posted 11/12/2015) (last accessed 4/9/2024)
- 48: Warhammer 40,000 Through the Ages (posted 23/7/2020) saved page, original link: https://www.warhammer-community.com/2020/07/23/warhammer-40000-through-the-ages/ (last accessed 4/9/2024)
- 49: Warhammer Community: A New Breed of Hero (posted 15/5/2017) saved page, original link: https://www.warhammer-community.com/2017/05/15/a-new-breed-of-hero-may15gw-homepage-post-1/ (last accessed 4/9/2024)
- 50: Lion El'Jonson: Lord of the First (Novel) Chapter 2 section |
- 51: Codex: Space Marines (10th Edition)
- 52: Deathwatch Core Rulebook, pg. 28
- 53: Spear of Macragge (Novella) - Chapter 2
- 54: Dante (Novel) - Chapter 1
- 55: Secret Level - Warhammer 40,000: And They Shall Know No Fear
- 56: Dark Imperium (Novel) - Chapter 6
- 57: Salamander (Novel) - Chapter 12
- 58: Horus Rising (Novel) - Chapter 4
- 59: Warhammer Community: The Big Summer Preview – Champions of the First Founding (Saved archive page, dated 18 July 2025, last accessed 18 July 2025, original link: https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/meznaevz/the-big-summer-preview-champions-of-the-first-founding/)
- 60: The Silent King (Novel), Chapter 47
