"Such is the woe cast upon the Domains of the God-Emperor of Mankind in these times that in their wisdom and beneficence, the High Lords of Terra have this day issued this decree: Let there be a Founding of the Adeptus Astartes, and let the foes of the Emperor know that this galaxy belongs to Him, now and forever."
- — High Lord Tagus, Convenor of the 349th Congress of the Imperium
Most new Space Marine Chapters are not created piecemeal as required by the Imperium of Man's strategic needs, but rather in deliberate groups called a "Founding."
The process by which a new Founding's creation is approved by the Imperial government is mysterious and arcane, subject to solar decades or even standard centuries of planning before it is announced.
It is only by an edict of the High Lords of Terra that such an undertaking as the creation of new Chapters can be instigated, for it requires the cooperation and mobilisation of countless divisions within the Imperium's monolithic and vast governmental organisations. Establishing new Astartes Chapters on an individual basis is nigh impossible -- the mobilisation of such vast resources is beyond the ability of any single segment of the Imperium.
The Adeptus Mechanicus plays an essential role in the process of a Founding, for its highest echelons are tasked with creating, testing and developing the gene-seed samples that will provide the genetic foundation of the new Chapters. Entire Forge Worlds may be turned over to the manufacture of the mighty arsenal of weaponry, ammunition, power armour, vehicles and starships that any such force will require.
There are a myriad other concerns as well. A suitable homeworld inhabited by Humans must be identified for the new Chapter, which will likely provide not only a secure and defensible base of operations, but also a source of new recruits as well. Such worlds might have been reported by itinerant Rogue Traders and earmarked centuries before by Adeptus Mechanicus Explorators as potential Astartes homeworlds.
A degree of environmental terraforming might be required and the natives of the world (if they are to become the source of the new Chapter's aspirants) must be studied and tested by the Mechanicus' Magi Biologis and Genetors for many generations to ensure they are genetically pure and free of any strain of genetic mutation that might later affect the Chapter itself.
The construction of a Chapter's fortress-monastery may be one of the greatest undertakings of all, drawing on the genius of the Imperium's most accomplished military architects and engineers. If the Chapter is to be fleet-based, then even more work must be put into the construction of a "Chapter Barque," a mobile star fortress or unusually large battle barge to serve as the Chapter's mobile fortress-monastery and all of the related capital warships and escorts such a highly-mobile Chapter will require.
The already extant Space Marine Chapters may also have a role in this process, though to what degree can vary greatly from Founding to Founding. Many of the First Founding Chapters maintain close links with Chapters created using their own gene-seed stocks, and the Chapter Masters might have a hand in planning future Foundings using that genetic material. It is said that the Disciples of Caliban, a Dark Angels Successor Chapter, was created following the direct appeal of the Supreme Grand Master of the Dark Angels, an extremely rare request.
In the more than 10,000 standard years that have passed since the First Founding of the 20 original Space Marine Legions by the Emperor of Mankind, there have been at least 26 subsequent Foundings of new Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes; with the most recent, the Ultima Founding of the Primaris Space Marines, occurring in ca. 999.M41, just as the Great Rift was forming.
Even before a new Founding is announced, entire generations of Imperial servants may have toiled in preparation. Even once the process has been declared and is underway, it is likely to be at least a standard century before the new Chapters are ready to begin combat operations.
In times of dire need for the Imperium, faster development has been attempted, but this has often resulted in disaster. Gene-seed cultured in haste is wont to degrade or to mutate, and a great many other factors may lead the entire process astray. And there is no foe more dangerous to the Imperium of Man than a Space Marine who has been corrupted by Chaos or gone Renegade for another reason.
Not every Chapter can trace its genetic and cultural lineage to one of the primarchs. Over the millennia records have been lost, destroyed, tampered with or concealed. For some Chapters being ignorant of this part of their history is a source of immense frustration, and they take great pains to learn anything they can of their brotherhood's origins, waging entire wars for fragments of information.
Others care little. They believe that it is their task to defeat and kill the Emperor's foes, and that knowing or recovering lost parts of their history contributes little to the successful fulfilment of their purpose.
Rumours often abound around these Chapters regardless, as some demonstrate the traits of certain First Founding Chapters more than others, or even exhibit the characteristics of more than one equally.
These Unknown Founding Chapters cannot count on the brotherhood often found among Chapters descended from the same primarch. Their alliances are hard-won, and the mystery that surrounds them sees them deemed unworthy by some. Nonetheless, they are loyal Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes, and they fight furiously for the Imperium.
The creation of the original 20 Space Marine Legions by the Emperor of Mankind is known as the First Founding and it took place at the beginning of the Great Crusade in the late 30th Millennium. It consisted of 20 Legions of Space Marines each made up of roughly about 50 companies divided into various other units in the ascending hierarchy of battle, including Chapters, Great Companies or some other organisation depending on the Legion's own unique naming conventions.
The Second Founding divided the remaining 9 Loyalist Space Marine Legions into units known as "Chapters" which were each about 1,000 Astartes strong after the events of the Horus Heresy in the early 31st Millennium. The Second Founding was deemed necessary by the Primarch and Lord Commander of the Imperium Roboute Guilliman in the wake of Horus' betrayal in order to prevent any one person like Horus from ever again possessing the full power of an entire Astartes Legion and the extraordinary threat it presented to the existence of the Imperium.
One Chapter from each Loyalist Legion was permitted to retain the original colours, iconography, and name of their First Founding Legion, and these Astartes are known as the Chapters of the First Founding.
Reasons for New Foundings
The Imperium is a realm governed as much by superstition and paranoia as it is by the cyclopean bureaucracy of the Administratum. While many long-term policy decisions come about due to the work of generations of planners and strategists, just as many are the result of arcane predictions, ritual foreseeings and readings of the Emperor's Tarot.
Often, galaxy-wide strategic decisions are a bizarre combination of these two factors, interwoven over solar decades of debate and analysis until both become one and the same. In some quarters, this esoteric discipline is known as strategic prognostication.
In the case of the founding of a new Space Marine Chapter, strategic prognostication may warn of a threat approaching the Imperium from a given quarter; a threat so dire that only the establishment of a Space Marine Chapter in the region may defeat it. In many cases, the nature of the threat will be well known and linked to ongoing wars.
This was the case when twenty or so Chapters were assigned responsibility for guarding against Traitor Legion incursions through the Cadian Gate. In that case, the threat was well established, and readings of the Emperor's Tarot indicated it would greatly increase over the following centuries.
In other cases, the nature of the threat is not known at all and is only revealed much later when a previously unimagined enemy invades. Strategic prognostication may have been the reason the Scythes of the Emperor Chapter was created, its homeworld located close to the already well-defended Realm of Ultramar.
Sometimes, the Emperor's Tarot gives no indication at all with regards to the reason for a new Chapter's creation, providing no clues as to what it should guard against, what it should fight or where it should be based. The process merely indicates that the fates demand the new Chapter be created, and so, it is.
Counterthreat
Many Chapters have been created at the express order of the High Lords of Terra in order to counter a specific threat. Generally, the activities of a particular known foe have increased to such a level that one or more Chapters are created specifically to counter it.
No Space Marine Chapter ever focuses exclusively on one enemy, however, and even if the new force is initially created to counter a particular foe it will soon be carving its name in history against a myriad of enemies. Quite often a Chapter created with no specific remit develops a particular expertise in fighting a specific foe, and comes to regard doing so as a matter of honour.
The Crimson Fists are an example of this, with a great many of the Chapter's wars having been fought against the Ork empires that infest the border regions between Segmentum Tempestus and Ultima Segmentum.
Some crusading Chapters have claimed or been granted a homeworld in a region they have fought to conquer, and in so doing established a bulwark against the return of the enemy, be it secessionists, aliens or worse.
Standing Force
Some Chapters are created to operate in a specific region, though as ever their wars may take them the length and breadth of the Imperium. This is simply a case of the High Lords of Terra identifying a particular region whose defences are considered lacking, and where the stationing of a Space Marine Chapter would bolster the region's defences considerably.
Though consisting of only a thousand warriors, a Space Marine Chapter is able to project its power over a huge area, and intervene in wars for light years all around. The presence of a Chapter homeworld in a nearby cluster is often sufficient to deter invasion and insurrection in dozens of surrounding sectors, for the Space Marines can mobilise their rapid Strike Cruisers at a moment's notice and there are very few foes that cannot be suppressed, if attacked quickly and brutally enough, by a single Space Marine Strike Force.
Crusade
Many of the Imperium's wars are in fact mighty Imperial Crusades, raised from the armies of entire sectors to reclaim a lost part of the Imperium or to destroy once and for all a particular foe. Such Crusades often sweep up billions of warriors, several thousand of whom may be Space Marines.
Perhaps in the past, during a greater epoch of the Imperium, entire Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes were founded with such Crusades in mind. Perhaps future crusades will be so great that new foundings are ordered, and new legends of the Adeptus Astartes will be born.
New Chapters
New Chapters are only created by an Imperial edict of the High Lords of Terra, and, some whisper, by the sole will of the Emperor of Mankind. The task of actually assembling these Chapters always belongs to the Adeptus Mechanicus. The Adeptus Mechanicus store the gene-seed of all the Adeptus Astartes Chapters which they receive in the form of a tithe.
Using lobotomised human test-subjects (most of whom will later be converted into servitors), the Mechanicus produces new Progenoid Glands. Zygotes of the necessary Astartes gene-seed organs are grown from the gene-seed stores on Mars and implanted into the test-subjects and the zygotes then develop into Progenoids and are surgically removed.
A single test subject is used in this way to create two Progenoid Glands, which are then implanted into two more slaves, and so on. Ultimately, 1000 sets of the 19 necessary gene-seed organs to give birth to a new standard Astartes are created, taking over half a standard century of constant culturing.
A different method for the creation of the gene-seed implants of the Primaris Marines was used by Archmagos Dominus Belisarius Cawl to create the hundreds of thousands of new Astartes of the Ultima Founding. Many of these Primaris Astartes had been recruited after the end of the Horus Heresy, and had known in living memory the primarchs whose gene-seed they bore.
They were kept in stasis on Mars for over ten thousand standard years until the resurrection of Roboute Guilliman during the 13th Black Crusade. Only when he ordered Cawl to complete the process of creating the Primaris Marines in the wake of the Terran Crusade was the vast undertaking of the Ultima Founding finally initiated. It represented the largest number of new Space Marine Chapters created since the Second Founding.
Known Foundings
First Founding (Late 30th Millennium)
The First Founding of the Space Marine Legions, also originally called the Legiones Astartes in High Gothic, occurred in the late 30th Millennium after the end of the Age of Strife and during the Unification Wars that founded the Imperium of Man on Terra.
Twenty Space Marine Legions were created from the gene-seed of the 20 known primarchs engineered by the Emperor of Mankind from His own genetic code in His gene-laboratories in the Imperial Palace on Terra beneath the Himalazian (Himalayan) Mountains.
Two of those Legions and their primarchs, the IInd and the XIth, would fail to meet the Emperor's expectations and would be eliminated, with all records of their existence completely expunged from Imperial records.
At the dawn of the 31st Millennium and towards the end of the Great Crusade, the Emperor's most favoured primarch, Horus Lupercal, became corrupted by the Ruinous Powers and plunged the galaxy into a new Age of Darkness as the Horus Heresy raged across the Imperium of Man.
Fully half the Space Marine Legions fell to Chaos, becoming the Traitor Legions, who were eventually defeated and driven into the hellish warp rift, known as the Eye of Terror.
(Imperial Records Lost) |
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(Storm Walkers) |
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(Imperial Records Lost) |
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/Sons of Horus |
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(Dragon Warriors) |
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Second Founding (ca. 021.M31)
The Second Founding of the Space Marines occurred seven standard years after the end of the Horus Heresy, in ca. 021.M31.
This Founding involved the division of the existing Loyalist Space Marine Legions into the far smaller, 1,000-man autonomous Chapters of the Space Marines as decreed by the new Codex Astartes, written by the Ultramarines' primarch, Roboute Guilliman.
The remaining nine First Founding Space Marine Legions still loyal to the Emperor were divided into smaller Successor Chapters -- one Chapter maintained their parent Legion's original name, badge and colours, while the remaining Chapters of their primarch's genetic lineage took on new names and heraldry.
Angels of Absolution | Dark Angels | I | |
Angels of Redemption | Dark Angels | I | |
Angels of Vengeance | Dark Angels | I | |
Angels of Vigilance (Dark Angels' lineage suspected, unconfirmed) | Dark Angels | I | |
Lions Sable (Destroyed and forgotten) | Dark Angels | I | |
Destroyers | White Scars | V | |
Marauders | White Scars | V | |
Rampagers | White Scars | V | |
Storm Lords | White Scars | V | |
Wolf Brothers | Space Wolves | VI | |
Black Templars | Imperial Fists | VII | |
Crimson Fists | Imperial Fists | VII | |
Excoriators | Imperial Fists | VII | |
Fists Exemplar | Imperial Fists | VII | |
Angels Encarmine | Blood Angels | IX | |
Angels Sanguine | Blood Angels | IX | |
Angels Vermillion | Blood Angels | IX | |
Blood Drinkers | Blood Angels | IX | |
Flesh Tearers | Blood Angels | IX | |
Sons of Sanguinius | Blood Angels | IX | |
Brazen Claws | Iron Hands | X | |
Red Talons | Iron Hands | X | |
Aurora Chapter (Disputed) | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Black Consuls | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Doom Eagles | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Eagle Warriors | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Genesis Chapter | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Inceptors | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Iron Snakes | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Libators | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Mortifactors | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Nemesis | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Novamarines | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Obsidian Glaives | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Patriarchs of Ulixis | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Praetors of Orpheus | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Scar Lords | Pict-File Unavailable | Unknown | Unknown |
Silver Eagles | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Silver Skulls | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Viridian Consuls (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Ultramarines | XIII | |
White Consuls | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Black Guard | Raven Guard | XIX | |
Hawk Lords | Raven Guard (Suspected) | XIX | |
Raptors | Raven Guard | XIX | |
Revilers | Raven Guard | XIX | |
Grey Knights | N/A (Created from Emperor's genetic code) | N/A | |
Red Hunters | Unknown | Unknown | |
Yellow Jackets | Unknown | Unknown | |
Purple Stars | Unknown | Unknown | |
Iron Ravens | Raven Guard | XIX |
Unstated Founding (ca. M31)
- Creation of the Angels Porphyr Chapter
Unstated Founding (ca. M31)
- A Founding which occurred sometime during the Imperial expansion of the Time of Rebirth.
3rd Founding (M31)
The 3rd Founding was initiated at the suggestion of Rogal Dorn, the primarch of the Imperial Fists and the Praetorian of Terra. After more than forty standard years of preparation, the High Lords of Terra approved over a hundred writs of succession to both First and Second Founding Chapters. The Ultramarines were granted nine writs of succession alone.
Angels Erythrean | Blood Angels | IX | |
Charnel Guard | Blood Angels | IX | |
Dark Paladins | Unknown | Unknown | |
Death Wardens | Blood Angels | IX | |
Executioners | Imperial Fists | VII | |
Scythes of the Emperor | Ultramarines | XIII |
4th Founding (After 546.M32)
This Founding occurred shortly after the climax of the catastrophic events of the War of the Beast -- the massive Ork WAAAGH! Warlord known only as The Beast -- which laid waste to much of the known galaxy and threatened to destroy Terra itself.
Following the successful eradication of the massive greenskin invasion force and the defeat of its Warlord, the Lord Commander of the Imperium Maximus Thane decreed that the Imperium would raise as many new Chapters as it had gene-seed in the great vaults of Terra to sustain.
All Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes were ordered to release a portion of their Veterans to provide the initial basis for this Founding, the greatest since the First Founding.
Gene-seed tithing would be doubled for the next standard century to replenish the vaults. When it was done, there would be hundreds of Chapters to ring the Imperium in adamantium and ceramite instead of dozens.
After enough gene-seed had been collected in the vaults on Terra, the High Lords of Terra authorised the 4th Founding of the Adeptus Astartes, sometime in the latter fifth century or early sixth century of M32, to help bring order to an Imperium rife with civil strife and insurrection, and to help restore Imperial law.
Imperius Reavers | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Halo Brethren | Unknown | Unknown | |
Sable Swords | Unknown | Unknown | |
Tome Keepers | Ultramarines | XIII |
Unstated Founding (ca. 32nd Millennium)
- Creation of the Marines Malevolent
Unstated Founding (33rd Millennium)
Though the exact date of this Founding is unknown, what is known with any certainty is the Howling Griffons were created around this time, in ca. 220.M33.
Howling Griffons | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Sons of Guilliman | Ultramarines | XIII |
Unstated Founding (831.M33)
- Founding that occurred alongside the honoured dead during the Year of Ghosts.
Unstated Founding (34th Millennium)
This Founding occurred right before The Howling in 401.M34.
Red Scorpions | Unknown | Unknown |
8th Founding (Mid-34th Millennium)
Mantis Warriors (Unconfirmed) | White Scars | V | |
Angels Revenant | Ultramarines | XIII |
9th Founding (Between 34th and 35th Millenniums)
Angels Resplendent | Blood Angels | IX |
10th Founding (Mid-35th Millennium)
Angels of Wrath (Suspected) | Dark Angels | I | |
Astral Claws | Unknown | Unknown |
Unstated Founding (35th Millennium)
- This unknown Founding occurred during the period of the Nova Terra Interregnum.
13th Founding (Dark Founding) (Early 36th Millennium)
The 13th Founding occurred sometime between the 35th and 36th Millennia and is one of the very rare Foundings of Space Marine Chapters that was not recorded in exact detail. Since the bygone days of the Horus Heresy, the Adeptus Terra has maintained a bank of original gene-seed from every single Chapter ever created, with one notable exception: the 13th Founding, also known as the "Dark Founding." There are no reliable records that indicate how many Chapters were created during the Dark Founding or what became of them. There are only two acknowledged Chapters that were created during this mysterious Founding.
Death Spectres | Raven Guard | XIX | |
Exorcists | Imperial Fists | VII | |
Crimson Sabres (Suspected) | Unknown | Unknown |
Unstated Founding (36th Millennium)
Angels of Fire | Unknown | Unknown | |
Celebrants (Suspected) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Relictors (Formerly Fire Claws - Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown |
Unstated Founding (36th Millennium)
- This Founding occurred some time after the climax of the Reign of Blood.
19th Founding (Mid-36th Millennium)
Avenging Sons | Ultramarines | XIII |
21st Founding ("Cursed Founding") (991.M35)
The Chapters created during this so-called 21st 'Cursed' Founding have all suffered from terrible misfortune or some form of genetic corruption or rampant gene-seed mutation.
This is largely because it is believed that the Adeptus Mechanicus sought to "improve" the gene-seed used in the Founding of these Chapters without authorisation from the High Lords of Terra.
Lamenters | Blood Angels | IX | |
Black Dragons | Salamanders (Allegedly) | Unknown | |
Flame Falcons | Unknown | Unknown | |
Minotaurs | Unknown | Unknown | |
Sons of Antaeus | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Blood Gorgons (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown |
Unstated Founding (Early 37th Millennium)
This Founding is known to have occurred before the Great Cull in 020.M37.
Disciples of Caliban | Dark Angels | I | |
Dark Hunters (Founded during the Occlusiad War of 555-565.M37) | White Scars | V | |
Sons of Medusa (Not part of any Founding. Chapter's creation was ratified by special Imperial Edict in 011.M37) | Iron Hands | X |
23rd Founding (Late 37th or Early 38th Millennium)
The 23rd Founding (also known as the "Sentinel Founding") may have been one of a series of linked Foundings around this tumultuous period in Imperial history.
It was intended to repair the power and reach of the Adeptus Astartes, which had suffered considerable losses in the preceding millennia.
The Celestial Lions may also have been raised as a part of the Sentinel Founding, but this would then place the Founding in the early 38th Millennium.
Star Phantoms | Dark Angels | I | |
Marines Errant | Eagle Warriors (Ultramarines Lineage) | XIII | |
Imperial Harbingers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Steel Cobras (Excommunicate Traitorus) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Celestial Lions | Imperial Fists | VII |
Unstated Founding (38th Millennium)
- This unknown Founding occurred five hundred standard years after the defeat of the Apostle of the Blind King.
Unstated Founding (39th Millennium)
- This unknown Founding occurred at the start of the period known as The Waning, a period that lasted from early in the 38th Millennium until ca. 744.M41. This Founding may be the same raising of Space Marine Chapters as the 24th Founding.
24th Founding (ca. 39th Millennium)
Hospitallers | Imperial Fists | VII |
Unstated Founding (40th Millennium)
Omega Marines | Unknown | Unknown |
25th Founding ("Bastion Founding") (Late 40th Millennium)
Emperor's Spears | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Fire Angels | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Star Scorpions | Unknown | Unknown |
26th Founding (738.M41)
Storm Giants | Salamanders (Allegedly) | Unknown | |
Mentors | Unknown | Unknown |
Unstated Founding (After 926.M41)
- The Sable Swords are raised. This Founding is disputed, as there are records that this Chapter may have been founded as early as the 4th Founding in the 32nd Millennium.
Ultima Founding (ca. 999.M41)
The Ultima Founding of Space Marine Chapters has occurred in the wake of the fall of Cadia during Abaddon the Despoiler's 13th Black Crusade. The scattered Space Marine Chapters of the galaxy have been bled dry over the millennia of ceaseless battle.
With the advent of gigantic Warp Storms that swallowed whole star systems, the formation of the Great Rift and constant attacks by the forces of Chaos, rampaging xenos and more, the Adeptus Astartes were stretched thinner than ever.
With many Chapter planets now actively under siege, some Chapters were confirmed as destroyed or lost, and even those faring relatively well suffered high casualties and were in desperate need of reinforcement.
With the resurrection of the Ultramarines Primarch Roboute Guilliman, the Avenging Son assumed command as Lord Commander of the Imperium over all of Mankind's military forces. He put into action his ultimate contingency plan, 100 Terran centuries in the making -- the Primaris Space Marines.
These new transhuman warriors are the next step in the evolution of the Emperor's angels of death. They have been genetically altered according to a design laid down by Archmagos Dominus Belisarius Cawl of the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Compared to their Firstborn brethren the Primaris Marines are bigger, stronger, faster and more genetically pure. The Primaris Space Marines of the Ultima Founding -- who have been added to existing Chapters as well as raised among entirely new Chapters of their own -- represent a timely and massive reinforcement for the Imperium's armies as Humanity's enemies close in for the kill.
Unknown Foundings
Not every Space Marine Chapter can trace its lineage to one of the primarchs. Over the millennia records have been lost, destroyed, tampered with or concealed. For some Chapters being ignorant of this part of their history is a source of immense frustration, and they take great pains to learn anything they can of their brotherhood's origins, waging entire wars for fragments of information.
Others care little. They believe that it is their task to defeat and kill the Emperor's foes, and that knowing or recovering lost parts of their history contributes little to the successful fulfilment of their purpose.
Rumours often abound around these Chapters regardless, as some demonstrate the personality and cultural traits of certain First Founding Chapters more than others, or even exhibit the characteristics of more than one equally.
These Unknown Founding Chapters cannot count on the brotherhood often found among Chapters descended from the same primarch. Their alliances are hard-won, and the mystery that surrounds them sees them deemed unworthy by some. Nonetheless, they are loyal Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes, and they fight furiously in defence of the Imperium.
A
Absolvers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Accipiters | Unknown | Unknown | |
Adulators | Unknown | Unknown | |
Altar Brethren (Became the Iconoclasts Chaos Warband - Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Angel Guard | Unknown | Unknown | |
Angels Eradicant | Unknown | Unknown | |
Angels of Damnation | Unknown | Unknown | |
Angels of Flame (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Angels of Fury | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Angels Puissant | Unknown | Unknown | |
Angels of Iron | Unknown | Unknown | |
Angels of Penance | Unknown | Unknown | |
Angels of Purgatory | Unknown | Unknown | |
Angels of Repentance | Unknown | Unknown | |
Angels of Retribution | Unknown | Unknown | |
Angels of the Grail | Blood Angels | IX | |
Angels Penitent | Blood Angels | IX | |
Angels Redeemed | Unknown | Unknown | |
Angels Repentant | Unknown | Unknown | |
Angels Vindicant | Unknown | Unknown | |
Annihilators (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Aquiloan Brotherhood | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Argent Hammers (Became the Talons of Anathrax Chaos Warband - Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Astral Blades (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Astral Fists | Unknown | Unknown | |
Astral Hawks | Unknown | Unknown | |
Astral Knights | Imperial Fists | VII | |
Astral Spears | Unknown | Unknown | |
Atlantian Spears | Blood Angels | IX | |
Auric Patricians | Unknown | Unknown | |
Aurora Talons | Unknown | Unknown | |
Avengers | Unknown | Unknown |
B
Benedictors | Unknown | Unknown | |
Black Crusaders | Unknown | Unknown | |
Black Inculpators | Unknown | Unknown | |
Black Ravens | Unknown | Unknown | |
Black Talons | Unknown | Unknown | |
Black Wings | Unknown | Unknown | |
Blades Eternal (Exommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Blazoned Legion | Unknown | Unknown | |
Blood Dragons | Blood Angels | IX | |
Blood Eagles | Blood Angels | IX | |
Blood Legion | Blood Angels | IX | |
Blood Knights | Unknown | Unknown | |
Blood Ravens | Unknown | Unknown | |
Blood Swords | Blood Angels | IX | |
Blood Tigers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Bone Knives | Unknown | Unknown | |
Brazen Fists | Unknown | Unknown | |
Brazen Minotaurs | Unknown | Unknown | |
Brazen Skulls (Refounded in Ultima Founding) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Bringers of Judgement | Dark Angels | I | |
Bronze Gorgons (Became the Crystal Wyverns Chaos Warband - Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Brotherhood of a Thousand | Unknown | Unknown | |
Brothers Penitent | Unknown | Unknown | |
Brothers of the Anvil (Became the Death Mongers Chaos Warband - Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Brothers of the Red | Blood Angels | IX |
C
Carcharodons | Unknown (Raven Guard suspected) | Unknown | |
Celestial Guard | Unknown | Unknown | |
Champions of Thanatos | Unknown | Unknown | |
Charnel Guard | Blood Angels | IX | |
Children of Purgatos (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Chorus of Eltain (Martyr Extremis) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Clerics of Steel (Became the Invocators Chaos Warband - Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Condemnors | Unknown | Unknown | |
Consecrators | Dark Angels | I | |
Contenders | Unknown | Unknown | |
Cowled Wardens | Dark Angels | I | |
Crimson Axes (Lost to the Warp) | Executioners (Imperial Fists' Lineage) | VII | |
Crimson Castellans | Unknown | Unknown | |
Crimson Consuls (Extinct) | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Crimson Guard | Unknown | Unknown | |
Crimson Knights | Blood Angels | IX | |
Crimson Legion (Extinct ) | Blood Angels | IX | |
Crimson Paladins | Unknown | Unknown | |
Crimson Raptors | Unknown | Unknown | |
Crimson Scions | Unknown | Unknown | |
Crimson Scythes | Unknown | Unknown | |
Crimson Shades | Unknown | Unknown | |
Crimson Talons | Unknown | Unknown | |
Crimson Templars | Unknown | Unknown | |
Crusaders | Unknown | Unknown | |
Crusaders of Dorn (Became Brotherhood of Lethe Chaos Warband - Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Cruor Blades | Blood Angels | IX |
D
Dark Crusaders | Unknown | Unknown | |
Dark Brotherhood | Unknown | Unknown | |
Dark Eagles | Raven Guard (Suspected) | XIX | |
Dark Hands | Unknown | Unknown | |
Dark Hunters | White Scars | V | |
Dark Sons | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Dark Swords | Unknown | Unknown | |
Dark Templars | Unknown | Unknown | |
Death Eagles | Raven Guard (Suspected) or Emperor's Children (Unconfirmed) | XIX or III (Respectively) | |
Death Hunters | Unknown | Unknown | |
Death Falcons (Became the Company of the Shadow Chaos Warband - Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Death Knights | Unknown | Unknown | |
Death Strike | Imperial Fists | VII | |
Desert Lions | Unknown | Unknown | |
Desolate Brotherhood (Became Chaos Warband Company of Misery - Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Desolators | Unknown | Unknown | |
Dictators | Unknown | Unknown | |
Doom Griffons | Unknown | Unknown | |
Doom Legion | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Doom Warriors | Unknown | Unknown | |
Doomsayers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Dragon Lords | Unknown | Unknown |
E
Ebon Knights (Destroyed) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Emperor's Hands | Unknown | Unknown | |
Emperor's Hawks | Unknown | Unknown | |
Emperor's Scythes | Unknown | Unknown | |
Emperor's Shadows | Unknown | Unknown | |
Emperor's Shields | Unknown | Unknown | |
Emperor's Storm | Unknown | Unknown | |
Emperor's Swords | Unknown | Unknown | |
Emperor's Warbringers | Imperial Fists | VII | |
Emperor's Wolves | Unknown | Unknown | |
Emperor's Wrath | Unknown | Unknown | |
Espandors | Unknown | Unknown | |
Excubants | Unknown | Unknown | |
Execrators | Unknown | Unknown | |
Exemplars | Unknown | Unknown | |
Exsanguinators | Blood Angels | IX | |
Extinction Angels (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown |
F
Farstalkers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Firebreathers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Fire Lords | Unknown (Imperial Fists Suspected) | Unknown (VII Suspected) | |
Fists of Olchis (Perditas) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Flame Eagles | Raven Guard (Suspected) | XIX | |
Flesh Eaters | Blood Angels | IX |
G
Golden Blades (Became the Khorne Daemonkin warband, The Brazen Beasts - Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Golden Gryphons | Unknown | Unknown | |
Golden Halos | Unknown | Unknown | |
Golden Sons (Extinct) | Blood Angels | IX | |
Gore Golems | Unknown | Unknown | |
Gorgons | Unknown | Unknown | |
Graven Fists (Became the Twisted Blades Chaos Warband - Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Graven Spectres (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Grey Giants | Unknown | Unknown | |
Grey Slayers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Grief Bringers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Griffon Lords | White Scars (Disputed) or Ultramarines (Disputed) |
V & XIII (Respectively) | |
Guardians of the Covenant | Dark Angels | I | |
Guardians of Celeres | Unknown | Unknown |
H
Halo Dragons | Unknown | Unknown | |
Hammers of Dhrex | unknown | unknown | |
Hammers of Dorn | Imperial Fists | VII | |
Hammers of Retribution | Unknown | Unknown | |
Harbingers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Helion Legion | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Heralds of Ultramar | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Heralds of Vengeance | Unknown | Unknown | |
Honoured Sons | Imperial Fists (Unconfirmed) | Unknown | |
Hounds of Demos | Unknown | Unknown |
I
Illustrians (Became The Black Psalm Chaos Warband - Exommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Immortal Hearts | Unknown | Unknown | |
Imperial Castellans | Unknown | Unknown | |
Imperial Hawks | Unknown | Unknown | |
Imperial Paladins | Unknown | Unknown | |
Imperial Ravagers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Imperial Stars | Unknown | Unknown | |
Imperial Talons | Raven Guard (Suspected) | XIX | |
Inculcators | Unknown | Unknown | |
Interceptors | Unknown | Unknown | |
Invaders | Imperial Fists | VII | |
Invictors (Became The Unhallowed Chaos Warband - Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Inviolators | Unknown | Unknown | |
Iron Crusaders | Unknown | Unknown | |
Iron Drakes (Became the Grey Death Chaos Warband - Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Iron Fists | Iron Hands | X | |
Iron Hawks | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Iron Hearts | Unknown | Unknown | |
Iron Knights | Imperial Fists | VII | |
Iron Lords | Iron Hands | X | |
Iron Scepters | Unknown | Unknown | |
Iron Shades | Unknown | Unknown | |
Iron Shield | Unknown | Unknown | |
Iron Talons | White Scars | V |
J
Jade Scorpions | White Scars | V | |
Justicars (Became The Fractured Chaos Warband - Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown |
K
Knights of Abhorrence | Dark Angels | I | |
Knights of Blood (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Blood Angels | IX | |
Knights of Dorn | Imperial Fists | VII | |
Knights of Eternity | Unknown | Unknown | |
Knights of Gryphonne | Unknown | Unknown | |
Knights of the Covenant | Unknown | Unknown | |
Knights of the Crimson Order | Dark Angels | I | |
Knights of the Raven | Raven Guard | XIX | |
Knights Excelsior (Became the Magma Hounds Chaos Warband - Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Knights Sanguine | Blood Angels | IX | |
Knights Unyielding | Unknown | Unknown |
L
Legion of Night | Unknown | Unknown | |
Liberators | Unknown | Unknown | |
Lionguard (Became the Death Shadows Chaos Warband - Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Lions Azure | Unknown | Unknown | |
Lions Defiant | Unknown | Unknown | |
Lions Sable (Extinct) | Dark Angels | I | |
Lion Warriors | Unknown | Unknown | |
Lords of Wrath | Unknown | Unknown |
M
Malevolent | Unknown | Unknown | |
Marines August | Unknown | Unknown | |
Marines Errantor | Unknown | Unknown | |
Marines Exemplar | Unknown | Unknown | |
Marines Mordant | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Marines Vindicant | Unknown | Unknown | |
Masters of Protelus | Unknown | Unknown | |
Metamarines | Unknown | Unknown |
N
The Nameless | Unknown | Unknown | |
Night Hawks | Unknown | Unknown | |
Night Reapers (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Night Sentinels | Unknown | Unknown | |
Night Swords | Imperial Fists | VII | |
Night Watch | Unknown | Unknown | |
Nova Legion | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Nova Wings | Unknown | Unknown |
O
Oblators | Unknown | Unknown | |
Obsidian Jaguars | Ultramarines | Unknown |
P
Pain Bringers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Panthers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Penitents | Unknown | Unknown | |
Penitent Blades | Dark Angels | I | |
Persecutors of Darkness | Dark Angels | I | |
Prophets of Mercury (Martyr Extremis) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Purgators | Unknown | Unknown | |
The Pyre (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown |
Q
There are no known Chapters that begin with the letter 'Q' in this category.
R
Rainbow Warriors | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Raven Covenant | Unknown | Unknown | |
Raven's Watch | Raven Guard (Suspected) | XIX | |
Reborn | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Reclaimers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Red Consuls | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Red Dragons | Unknown | Unknown | |
Red Legion | Unknown | Unknown | |
Red Seraphs | Blood Angels | IX | |
Red Scimitars | Unknown | Unknown | |
Red Templars | Imperial Fists | VII | |
Red Wings | Blood Angels | IX | |
Red Wolves | Unknown | Unknown | |
Redeemers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Redeemed | Unknown | Unknown | |
Regents of Gheren | Unknown | Unknown | |
Reparators | Unknown | Unknown | |
Retractors | Unknown | Unknown | |
Retributors | Unknown | Unknown | |
Revilers | Raven Guard | XIX | |
Rhetors | Unknown | Unknown | |
Ruby Crescents | Blood Angels | IX |
S
Sable Swords | Blood Angels | IX | |
Sanctors of Terra (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Savage Swords (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Scions of Iron | Unknown | Unknown | |
Scions of Sanguinius | Blood Angels | IX | |
Selenarchs | Unknown | Unknown | |
Sentinels (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Serpents of Light (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Shadow Falcons | Unknown | Unknown | |
Shadow Griffons | Unknown | Unknown | |
Shadow Haunters | Raven Guard | XIX | |
Shadowhawks | Unknown | Unknown | |
Shadow Wolves | Imperial Fists | VII | |
Shining Blades (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Sigilites (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Silver Phoenixes | Unknown | Unknown | |
Silver Guard | Unknown | Unknown | |
Silver Guards (Excommunicate Traitoris) | center>Pict-File Unavailable | Unknown | Unknown |
Silver Sabres | Unknown | Unknown | |
Silver Stars (Martyr Extremis) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Skull Bearers | Executioners (Allegedly) (Imperial Fists Lineage) | VII | |
Sky Sentinels | Unknown | Unknown | |
Solar Hawks | White Scars | V | |
Sons of Dorn | Imperial Fists | VII | |
Sons of Galathor | Unknown | Unknown | |
Sons of Gideon (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Sons of Gorgax (Martyr Extremis) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Sons of Jaghatai | White Scars | V | |
Sons of Malice (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Sons of Orar | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Sons of Orpheus | Unknown | Unknown | |
Sons of Vengeance (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Sons of Ulthunas (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Sons of the Kraken | Unknown | Unknown | |
Sons of the Raven (Martyr Extremis) | Raven Guard (Unconfirmed) | XIX | |
Soul Drinkers (Originally thought to be Second Founding; Refounded in Ultima Founding) | Unknown (Originally believed to be Imperial Fists) | Unknown | |
Spears of Olympus (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Star Dragons | Unknown | Unknown | |
Star Gryphons (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Star Leopards | Unknown | Unknown | |
Star Scorpions (Extinct) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Stone Gauntlets | Unknown | Unknown | |
Stone Hearts | Unknown | Unknown | |
Storm Callers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Storm Falcons | Unknown | Unknown | |
Storm Hawks | Raven Guard | XIX | |
Stormwalkers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Stormwatchers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Storm Ravens | Unknown | Unknown | |
Storm Wardens | Unknown | Unknown | |
Storm Warriors | Unknown | Unknown | |
Storm Wings | Raven Guard | XIX | |
Subjugators | Imperial Fists | VII | |
Supplicators | Unknown | Unknown | |
Swords of Praesium | Unknown | Unknown | |
Swords of the Emperor | Unknown | Unknown |
T
Tarantulas | Unknown | Unknown | |
Taurans | Unknown | Unknown | |
Tempestors | Unknown | Unknown | |
Tempest Guard | Unknown | Unknown | |
Tempest Legion (Became The Revelation of Gore Chaos Warband - Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Templars of Blood | Blood Angels | IX | |
Templars of the Covenant | Unknown | Unknown | |
Terror Tigers | Unknown | Unknown | |
The Remnants | Blood Angels | IX | |
Thunder Barons (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Tiger Claws | Astral Claws (Lineage Unknown) | Unknown | |
Tigers Argent (Possibly founded in M39) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Tormentors | Unknown | Unknown | |
Tributors | Unknown | Unknown |
U
Umbral Titans | Unknown | Unknown |
V
Valedictors | Unknown | Unknown | |
Venerators (Destroyed) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Venerators of Osiron | Unknown | Unknown | |
Vengeance Chapter (Became The Flylords Chaos Warband - Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Venom Thorns (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Imperial Fists | VII | |
Verydian Hawks | Unknown | Unknown | |
Victors | Unknown | Unknown | |
Vindicators | Ultramarines | XIII | |
Viper Legion | Unknown | Unknown | |
Void Axes | Unknown | Unknown | |
Void Daggers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Vorpal Swords | Unknown | Unknown |
W
War Bearers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Wardens of the Philae | Unknown | Unknown | |
Warhawks (Destroyed) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Warmongers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Widowmakers | Unknown | Unknown | |
Warp Ghosts (Excommunicate Traitoris) | Unknown | Unknown | |
Warrior Adepts | Unknown | Unknown | |
Warriors Tempest | Unknown | Unknown | |
White Minotaurs | Unknown | Unknown | |
White Panthers | Unknown | Unknown | |
White Sentinels | Unknown | Unknown | |
White Templars | Imperial Fists | VII |
Sources
- Adeptus Astartes: Successor Chapters (Limited Release Booklet)
- Black Crusade: Core Rulebook (RPG)
- Citadel Journal 20, "Creating a Space Marine Chapter - The Sons of Sanguinius", by Isaac Tobin, pp. 19-20
- Codex Adeptus Astartes - Space Marines (8th Edition), pp. 20-21, 30, 53
- Codex: Blood Angels (7th Edition)
- Codex: Chaos Space Marines (3rd Edition, 1st Version)
- Codex: Chaos Space Marines (3rd Edition, 2nd Version)
- Codex: Chaos Space Marines (4th Edition)
- Codex: Chaos Space Marines (6th Edition)
- Codex: Dark Angels (7th Edition)
- Codex: Khorne Daemonkin (7th Edition), pg. 30
- Codex: Grey Knights (9th Edition), pp. 12, 26-27
- Codex Heretic Astartes - Chaos Space Marines (8th Edition), "Pinnacles and Nadirs - The Primogenitor Primaris," pg. 48
- Codex: Space Marines (3rd Edition)
- Codex: Space Marines (4th Edition)
- Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition)
- Codex: Space Marines (6th Edition)
- Codex: Space Marines (7th Edition)
- Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition) (Revised Codex), pp. 22-61
- Codex: Space Marines (9th Edition), pp. 10-11, 68-73
- Codex: Space Wolves (7th Edition)
- Codex Supplement Dark Angels (9th Edition), "Successor Chapters", pg. 27
- Deathwatch: Core Rulebook (RPG)
- Deathwatch: First Founding (RPG)
- Deathwatch: Honour the Chapter (RPG)
- Horus Heresy: Collected Visions
- Index Astartes I, II, III, IV
- Deathwatch - Rites of Battle (RPG), pp. 13-16, 53
- Imperial Armour Volume Nine - The Badab War - Part I
- Imperial Armour Volume Ten - The Badab War - Part II
- Index Astartes Emperor's Spears (Limited Edition), pp. 3-5
- Farsight: Crisis of Faith (Novel) by Phil Kelley
- Deathwatch: Shadowbreaker (Novel) by Steve Parker, Ch. 36
- Sons of the Hydra (Novel) by Rob Sanders
- Spear of the Emperor (Novel) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- Warhammer 40,000: Compendium, pg. 6
- I Am Slaughter (Novel) by Dan Abnett
- White Dwarf 98 (UK), "Chapter Approved: The Origins of the Legiones Astartes" by Rick Priestley
- White Dwarf 98 (UK), "Index Astartes-The Mentor Legion" by Bryan Ansell, Alan Merrett and Paul Cockburn
- White Dwarf 249 (UK), "Index Astartes: Emperor's Shield"
- White Dwarf 305 (UK), pg. 104
- White Dwarf 458 (November 2020), "Flashpoint: Argovon Campaign", pp. 23-25, "Assault on the Nurtheos Shore," pg. 26, "Index Astartes: Tome Keepers" by Dan Harden & James Gallagher, pp. 46-59
- White Dwarf 466 (July 2021), "A Light in the Darkness" and "Torchbearers Crusade Force," pp. 52-55, 65
- Onyx (Short Story) by Chris Wraight
- Sanctus Reach: Penumbral Spike (Short Story) by Ben Counter
- Truth Is My Weapon (Short Story) by Justin D Hill
- The Aegidan Oath (Short Story) by Laurie Goulding
- Calgar's Fury (Novel) by Paul Kearny
- Headhunted (Short Story) by Steve Parker
- Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor-Martyr (Video Game), Chapter 1: Campaign Mission 5 - "Madness Incarnated"
- The Reverie (Novel) by Peter Fehervari, Ch. 19
- Warhammer 40,000 Community - The Ultima Founding
- Warhammer Community - New Warhammer 40,000: The Indomitus Crusade & the Dark Imperium
- Warhammer Community - Primaris Space Marines: Gaming
- Warhammer Community - A New Breed of Hero
- Warhammer Community - Successor Showcase: Hawks, Knights and Pointy Sticks!
- Warhammer Community - Successor Chapter Showcase: Paul Norton's Iron Ravens
- Warhammer Community - Successor Chapter Showcase: Martin Morrin's Black Vultures
- Psychic Awakening: Ritual of the Damned (8th Edition), pp. 8-9
- Psychic Awakening: The Stand of the Sabre (Short Story) By Callum Davis