Heresy of Horus

The Hérésie of Horus is an element founder of the history of the Univers of fiction of Warhammer 40,000. Absent at the time of the exit of Rogue Trader , the first edition of the play, it thereafter became the element founder of the universe of fiction such as it is currently described. It puts in scene the treason of the chief of wire of humanity by her more faithful lieutenant, treason which will generate a vast fratricidal war and will work the human world in two large camps: followers of the order and those of chaos.

This history clearly points out the biblical episode of the treason of Lucifer, tinted references to the worlds of Michael Moorcock of share her great oppositions between order and chaos, and not between good and badly.

The situation of Imperium

The Imperium was founded during the Grande Crusade by the Empereur and his troops. It had created 20 generals, the Primarque S, entrusting each one to them a legion of space marine. The primarque one preferred of the Emperor was also endowed the most with all, Horus. When the Emperor turned over on Terra to consolidate the political power of Imperium, he entrusted the direction of the Great Crusade to him and the title of Master of War gave him. However the gods of Chaos had not said their last word and worked to corrupt the troops of Imperium.

Istvaan

Gradually Chaos influenced the troops of Imperium as well as the soutients, nearly 50% of the Adeptus Mechanicus was corrupted for example. But all the corrumpus were not aware to be influenced by Chaos, much thought their creditable intentions. The turning of the events took place in the system of Istvaan. The commander of Istvaan III declared his system independent and Horus was elected to pacify the situation. But Horus was under chaotic influence and destroyed planet with blow of bacteriological bombardments with large scales followed by an eradication of the last possible survivors. Some space marine captured a vessel and warned the Emperor. This last was shocked and sent 7 legions to fight Horus where it had been cut off from Istvaan V. During this unquestionable time benefitted from agitation to declare their independence or then to adopt Chaos openly.

The marine space loyal supporters sent to fight Horus knew a defeat cuisante. Little accustomed to fight others space marine, they was almost destroyed when four of the 7 legions sent betrayed in their turn the Emperor. 5 of the marine space envoys to only fight Horus returned (they succeeded in carrying genetic implants sufficient so that the legions are reconstituted later). In all and for all, Horus controlled 9 of the marine legions space, 1/3 of the imperial fleet and as a Master of war, had placed the legions in the most advantageous way for him. For example, the Ultramarines were far from Terra.

The battle for Terra

Chaos advances

While the war made rage in Imperium everywhere, the preparations of a seat took place on Terra. The Emperor carried out to him even the preparations. Rogal Dorn (primarque of the Imperial Fists and Sanguinius (primarque of the Blood Angels) was at its sides while Jaghataï Khan (primarque of the White Scars) prepared its troops with the confrontation. The various traitors ended up arriving for palate of the Emperor. At the time when the engagements started defenders of the imperial palace also passed to Chaos. The battle made rage and the loyal supporters were losing, the more so as the chaotic Titans unloaded and that the major demons pullulated. The defenders were horrified to see their adversaries, their old completely corrupted allies, now that Chaos had invaded their hearts and their bodies. It was to kill or be killed.

Angron advanced then and summoned the loyal supporters to go, informant who the Emperor was too weak and who Chaos could not be overcome. Some felt their determination to fail but Sanguinius and its troops arrived. The two primarques ones measured glance and finally Angron turned over to see them his saying that nobody would go. The engagements began again while Horus looked at them top of its barge of battle. This last was to finish the combat before the other troops loyal supporters do not arrive in reinforcement. The days passed and the troops of Chaos advanced gradually, the engagements making rage in the palate. The defenders moved back gradually, and Sanguinius defended even one of the doors against a drinker of blood. The primarque one, exhausted by days of engagements, failed to lose the combat but successful all the same to push back the demon then closing again the last main door of the interior of the palate. Rogal Dorn was téléporté with its troops in the Palate to defend the Emperor. The barge in question wanted to seek the primarque one of White Scars but was cut down front. The captain then made plunge his vessel to the right in the middle of the chaotic troops, digging a crater 300 kilometers in diameter when the engines with plasma exploded. But in spite of that, Horus was about to triumph.

The turning

Horus learned that the Space Wolves and the Dark Angels were going to arrive. Horus knew that if they arrived in time, the attack could be stopped. To prevent that, Horus made cut all the physical and psychic lines of communication so that the Emperor does not know anything of it. Then it lowered the shields of its barge. Immediately the Emperor was with the current of his presence. It was a challenge. Each one knew that if one or the other would die, its troops would lose courage and the other camp would gain the war. The emperor raised demolished it and with of Blood Angels and Sanguinius, téléporta on the barge of battle. But they were separate while arriving and Sanguinius was the first to find Horus. It seems that the primarque winged one knew that to face his/her deposed brother the life thanks to its gifts of clairvoyance would cost him. Horus offered to Sanguinius to join it but this last refused and the combat started. But the exit was not a doubt and the primarque deposed one killed his/her brother in singular combat.

The Emperor arrived shortly after and fights it between the two chiefs started. It was terrible, as well physical as psychic, inflicting Horus of terrible wounds to the Emperor who made in the same way in Horus. But finally the Master of war was overcome. The shock wave of its death was enormous, the demons left material space, the legions corrupted fought or fled realizing that it was the end. Certain chaotic troops little influenced by Chaos were released and fought their old allies to repurchase their treason. The troops of primarques corrupted left letting their allies be made exterminate by the troops loyal supporters. The Emperor was then placed on the Gold Throne to maintain it in life.

Consequences

It taken 7 years so that the last troops heretics of the four corners of Imperium are driven out, it took refuge in the Œil of Terror but humanity was too weak to continue them. They were unobtrusive as much as possible imperial files.

So that nobody any more has as a great power of striking as Horus, the marine legions space were divided into chapters of approximately 1000 navy, without counting the other changes registered in the Codex Astartes.

Adeptus Ministorum (Ecclésiarchie) was founded, in order to fight vis-a-vis the corruption of Chaos, and the Emperor became the only god of humanity.

Primarques took the things in hands, and was created the council of the High Lords of Terra.

Novels recalling this history

the Heresy of Horus, Volume 1 - the rise of Horus per daN Abnett
(Transl. Julien Drouet) - Prohibited Library - 06/2006 -
DaN Abnett, The Horus Heresy - Horus Rising - The Black Library - 04/2006 -

the Heresy of Horus, Volume 2 - the false Gods by Graham McNeill
(Transl. Julien Drouet) - Prohibited Library - 01/2007 -
Graham McNeill, The Horus Heresy - False Gods - The Black Library - 07/2006 -

the Heresy of Horus, Volume 3 - the galaxy in flames by Ben Counter
(Transl. Julien Drouet) - Prohibited Library - 06/2007 -
Ben Counter, The Horus Heresy - Galaxy in Flames - The Black Library - 10/2006 -

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