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Which Primarchs Turned Traitor?

Nine of the twenty Primarchs joined Horus during the Horus Heresy and turned against the Imperium. These Primarchs led their Space Marine Legions in rebellion against the Emperor of Mankind. Their betrayal divided the Imperium and caused a galaxy-wide civil war.

QUICK FACTS

ItemDetail
EventHorus Heresy
Number of Traitor PrimarchsNine
LeaderHorus Lupercal
Loyalist PrimarchsNine remained loyal
ResultCivil war across the Imperium

EXPLANATION

The Primarchs who joined Horus’s rebellion were Horus Lupercal, Angron, Mortarion, Fulgrim, Magnus the Red, Perturabo, Lorgar, Konrad Curze, and Alpharius. Each Primarch commanded a powerful Space Marine Legion that followed them into rebellion. Their motivations varied, including ideological disagreements, Chaos influence, or personal grievances against the Emperor. The betrayal of these Primarchs dramatically increased the scale of the Horus Heresy.

WHY IT MATTERS

The betrayal of half the Primarchs transformed the Horus Heresy into a massive galactic conflict. Their legions became the core military forces of Chaos in the modern Warhammer 40K setting. Many of these traitor legions still fight against the Imperium thousands of years later.

RELATED LORE

What Is the Horus Heresy
Who Was Horus Lupercal
What Happened After the Horus Heresy
Who Are the Primarchs
Who Are the Alpha Legion
Who Are the Thousand Sons

FAQ

How many Primarchs remained loyal?

Nine Primarchs remained loyal to the Emperor during the Horus Heresy.

Do the traitor Primarchs still exist?

Some traitor Primarchs survive as powerful Chaos-aligned beings.

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Baron Von Vault Founder & Gaming Systems Analyst
Baron Von Vault is the founder of the Von Vault Network and creator of D4Dead, BorderlandsHQ, and 40KFAQ. He publishes research-driven analysis of action RPG and looter shooter systems, focusing on progression loops, class mechanics, and endgame design.
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