Who Are the Space Marine Legions?
The Space Marine Legions were the original twenty massive armies of Space Marines created by the Emperor of Mankind during the Great Crusade. Each legion was led by a Primarch and commanded tens of thousands of genetically enhanced warriors.
QUICK FACTS
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Organization | Space Marine Legions |
| Created By | Emperor of Mankind |
| Number | 20 Legions |
| Leaders | Primarchs |
| Era | Great Crusade and Horus Heresy |
EXPLANATION
The Space Marine Legions were the earliest and largest formations of Adeptus Astartes warriors. Each legion was genetically linked to its Primarch and possessed unique combat doctrines and cultural traits shaped by their leader.
During the Great Crusade, these legions conquered worlds and expanded the Imperium across the galaxy. However, the unity of the legions collapsed during the Horus Heresy when half of the Primarchs betrayed the Emperor and joined Horus in rebellion.
After the Horus Heresy, Roboute Guilliman reorganized the surviving loyalist legions according to the Codex Astartes. The legions were divided into smaller units known as Space Marine chapters to prevent any single military force from becoming too powerful again.
LOYALIST LEGIONS
| Legion | Primarch |
|---|---|
| Dark Angels | Lion El’Jonson |
| White Scars | Jaghatai Khan |
| Space Wolves | Leman Russ |
| Imperial Fists | Rogal Dorn |
| Blood Angels | Sanguinius |
| Iron Hands | Ferrus Manus |
| Ultramarines | Roboute Guilliman |
| Salamanders | Vulkan |
| Raven Guard | Corvus Corax |
TRAITOR LEGIONS
| Legion | Primarch |
|---|---|
| Sons of Horus | Horus Lupercal |
| Emperor’s Children | Fulgrim |
| Iron Warriors | Perturabo |
| Night Lords | Konrad Curze |
| World Eaters | Angron |
| Death Guard | Mortarion |
| Thousand Sons | Magnus the Red |
| Word Bearers | Lorgar |
| Alpha Legion | Alpharius / Omegon |
Two additional legions and their Primarchs were erased from Imperial records and remain unknown.
WHY IT MATTERS
The Space Marine Legions were the most powerful military forces of the early Imperium. Their division after the Horus Heresy shaped the modern structure of the Adeptus Astartes and influenced the balance of power within the Imperium.
RELATED LORE
Who Are the Primarchs
What Is the Horus Heresy
What Is the Codex Astartes
What Is a Space Marine Chapter
FAQ
How large were the Space Marine Legions?
Some legions contained tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of warriors during the Great Crusade.
Why were the legions divided into chapters?
They were split after the Horus Heresy to prevent any single commander from controlling a massive military force again.
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