View source for Mordian Iron Guard

{{QuoteBox
|quote = '''''"They may spend every off-duty minute polishing their shiny boots and marching up and down the parade ground in perfect formation, but don't let that fool you. These men are steel-eyed, cold-blooded killers and I'd as soon have a platoon of them in my force as I would a company of other troops."'''''
|source = - [[Gharan O'Hen]], Army 212 Chief of Staff, on the Mordian Iron Guard{{Fn|3}}
|align = center
}}
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{{LReg
|Uniform=Mordian6th.jpg
|Name=Mordian Iron Guard
|Miniature=MordianMini.jpg
|Homeworld=[[Mordian]]
|Specialities= Discipline, Drill, Infantry and artillery{{Fn|29}}
}}
The '''Mordian Iron Guard''' are [[Regiment]]s of the [[Imperial Guard]] hailing from the planet [[Mordian]]. They are famed across the Imperium for their discipline, infantry quality, and brightly colored uniforms.{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|29}}

==Overview==
The Mordian Iron Guard are [[Imperial Guard]] [[regiment]]s, originally from the planet [[Mordian]]. A harsh and unforgiving planet given to extremes, it was ruled in the [[Emperor of Mankind|Emperor's]] name by a body known as the ''Tetrarchs''. The rule of the Tetrarchs was harsh, autocratic and above all absolute, a necessity due to planet's scarce and strictly-rationed resources. This environment bred a regimental system dedicated to the chain of command and an iron discipline at all levels. The Mordian Iron Guard are named and renowned for their iron resolve and their dour and unforgiving natures.{{Fn|29}}

As of the formation of the [[Imperium Nihilus|Dark Imperium]], the planet of Mordian had been assailed by [[Chaos]]{{Fn|15}} and in particularly the [[Thousand Sons]], who have made [[Invasion of the Stygius Sector|multiple attempts on Mordian itself]]. While the Mordians have been able to break any heretic [[Cultist]] cells discovered on their homeworld, many other worlds in their sector have not fared so well.{{Fn|29}}

==Recruitment & Training==
[[Image:Iron Guard Icon.jpg|thumb|right|Icon of the Mordian Iron Guard{{Fn|23}}]]
To be allowed to join the ranks of the Mordian Iron Guard, one must display great discipline.{{Fn|29}} Training for the Iron Guard is as rigorous as possible, instilling in each [[Guardsman]] fierce loyalty and determination to their cause: the destruction of the Emperor's enemies and the preservation of Mordian.{{Fn|3}} Training consists of endless repetition, be it the pressing of uniforms, parade drills, bayonet practice, and live-fire exercises. This instils strict indoctrination within Mordians and builds a loyalty towards their officer class that borders on fanaticism.{{Fn|29}} It is only through their legendary discipline and ruthless pursuit of the enemy that the Iron Guard can prevent their world from descending into starvation and savagery.{{Fn|1a}} 

Among the most dependable troops in the entire Imperium, a Mordian Guardsman will follow orders to the letter and without a moment's hesitation, firing and reloading his [[lasgun]] in the heat of battle until he or his enemy has been destroyed.{{Fn|3}} These die-hard soldiers are all accomplished sharpshooters and proficient in close order drills.{{Fn|2}} Incidents of insubordination are incredibly rare within the Iron Guard.{{Fn|29}}

==Doctrine and Tactics==
[[Image:Mordian Iron Guard.jpg‎‎|thumb|right|220px|A Mordian Iron Guard Trooper{{Fn|1a}}]]
A Mordian Iron Guard regiment in battle is a solid wall of brightly-uniformed, perfectly-formed soldiers who cut through the enemy's ranks with precisely-timed volleys of fire behind a hedge of polished bayonets.{{Fn|3}} Even in the face of the overwhelming [[daemon]]ic hordes of [[Chaos]], Iron Guard regiments will stand their ground, striking down their foe with disciplined fire; if forced to withdraw their lines will never break.{{Fn|1b}} They organise their support weapons into separate [[Heavy Weapons Platoon]]s and make use of both [[Ratling Snipers]] and [[Sanctioned Psykers]] on the battlefield.{{Fn|2}}

In combat, the Iron Guard relies heavily upon their infantry. Few other Regiments can match the lasgun drill of Mordian soldiery in either rate of fire or accuracy. When combined with their precise and potent artillery, these skills render the Mordians particularly effective when on the defence.{{Fn|29}}

Mordians have a reputation for following orders to the letter without hesitation, and will methodically fire and reload if they are instructed to despite their battlefield situation. This respect for the chain of command makes the Iron Guard popular amongst Imperial commanders.{{Fn|29}}

==Equipment==
[[Image:MordiansFFG.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Mordian Iron Guards in battle{{Fn|9}}]]
The Iron Guards prefer to go into combat wearing the same dress-style uniforms they do on the parade ground. The bright colors and elaborate decoration on Mordian uniforms often mislead their enemies into thinking they are facing ceremonial troops with little combat experience, though this misapprehension is usually corrected as soon as they attempt to advance in the face of the Iron Guards' precise volleys and unyielding resolve. Upon their formation each regiment is presented a lavish banner, created within the Tetrarchal Palace, during a ceremony at which every Guardsman swears to never let it fall or be captured.{{Fn|3}} Their preferred squad special weapon is the [[Grenade Launcher]] while the [[Lascannon]] is the principle heavy weapon.{{Fn|2}}

Besides their preference for infantry, the Mordians also are renowned for precise artillery.{{Fn|29}}

==Notable Engagements==
*[[Battle of Mordian]]{{Fn|1a}}
*[[Macharian Crusade]]{{Fn|1a}}
*[[Battle of the Marble Garden]]{{Fn|1c}}
*[[Battle for Sularian Gate]]{{Fn|8}}
*[[Pandorax Campaign]]{{Fn|14}}
*[[Sabbat Worlds Crusade]]{{Fn|22}}
*[[Achilus Crusade]]{{Fn|24}}
*The Fall of [[Malvolion]]{{Fn|25}}
*Pacification of the [[T'arq System]].{{Fn|16}}
*[[Third War for Armageddon]] — 6 Regiments of Iron Guard participated in the defence of [[Hive Death Mire]].{{Fn|6}}{{Fn|16}}
*[[13th Black Crusade]]{{Fn|7}}
*The [[Battle of Gathalamor]]{{Fn|26}}
*[[Invasion of the Stygius Sector|Second Relief of Mordian]]{{Fn|27}}
*[[Battle of the Stygius Gilt]]{{Fn|11a}}
*The [[War of Beasts]] on [[Vigilus]]{{Fn|28}}
*The [[Taking of the Garron Orbital]]{{Fn|17}}
*[[War Zone Chalnath]]{{Fn|10}}

==Known Regiments==
{{Main|List of Mordian Units}}
{{clear}}

==Known Named Vehicles==
*''[[Alpha Three]]'' — [[Shadowsword]].{{Fn|7}}
*''[[Mordian Honour]]'' — [[Baneblade]]. Destroyed during the [[Third War for Armageddon]].{{Fn|18}}
*''[[Steel Strider]]'' — [[Sentinel]]{{Fn|12}}

==Notable Members==
*[[Living Saint|Saint]] [[Magda Kesh]] — Originally a Sergeant of the 84th during the [[Indomitus Crusade]]{{Fn|21}}, she was later promoted to [[Captain (Imperial Guard)|Captain]] following her actions on [[Barren (Planet)|Barren]] before being declared a [[Living Saint]] by [[Inquisitor]] [[Leonid Rostov]] after manifesting wings and emitting holy light during an assault on a [[Blackstone Fortress]]{{Fn|11b}}
*[[General]] [[Darcus Heiss]] — Commander of the regiments that defended [[Hive Death Mire]] during the [[Third War for Armageddon]].{{Fn|16}}
*[[General]] [[Geinst]]{{Fn|20}}
*[[General]] [[Kraig]] — Commander of the Mordian 26th during [[the Fall of Medusa V]].{{Fn|5}}
*[[General]] [[Luthor Dvorgin]] — Commander of the 84th Mordian Iron Guard during the [[Indomitus Crusade]]{{Fn|21}}
*[[Colonel]] [[Vargrif]]{{Fn|13}}
*[[Colonel]] [[Drask (Colonel)|Drask]] — Colonel of the Mordian 10th.{{Fn|19}}
*[[Lieutenant (Imperial Guard)|Lieutenant]] [[Brusak]] — A Lieutenant of the Mordian 26th during [[the Fall of Medusa V]].{{Fn|5}}
*[[Imperial Guard Sergeant|Sergeant]] [[Kolst]] — A Sergeant of the 211th Mordian, [[Capital Garrison]].{{CME}}

==Images==
<center>
<gallery mode="nolines" heights=200 widths=200>
Image:Mordian.gif|Mordian Iron Guard{{Fn|16}}
File:Mordian Iron Guard Imperial Guard 5th Codex.jpg|Mordian Iron Guard in battle{{Fn|3}}
Image:Mordians.jpg|Various patterns of Mordian uniforms{{Fn|4}}
Image:Mordianflamer.jpg|A Mordian with a [[Flamer]]{{Fn|4}}
Mordiancmder.jpg|{{PAGENAME}} [[Lieutenant (Imperial Guard)|Commander]]
HWT-AK-Mordian.jpg|{{PAGENAME}}s with [[Autocannon]]
HWT-HB-Mordian.jpg|{{PAGENAME}}s with [[Heavy Bolter]]
HWT-LK-Mordian.jpg|{{PAGENAME}}s with [[Lascannon]]
HWT-M-Mordian.jpg|{{PAGENAME}}s with [[Mortar]]
HWT-ML-Mordian.jpg|{{PAGENAME}}s with [[Missile Launcher]]
Pegasus Command Vehicle CJ 15 Inner Cover.jpg|{{PAGENAME}} [[Commissar]] on a [[Pegasus Command Vehicle]]
</gallery>
</center>

==See also==
*[[List of Astra Militarum regiments]]

==Sources==
*1: [[Codex: Imperial Guard (2nd Edition)]]:
**{{Endn|1a}}: pg. 13
**{{Endn|1b}}: pg. 14
**{{Endn|1c}}: pgs. 15-16
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Codex: Imperial Guard (3rd Edition, 2nd Codex)]], pg. 59
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Codex: Imperial Guard (5th Edition)]], pg. 16
*{{Endn|4}}: [https://web.archive.org/web/20170109110930/http://www.games-workshop.com:80/en-GB/Mordian-Iron-Guard-Squd Games Workshop webstore : Mordian Iron Guard Squad] ''(saved archive)''
*{{Endn|5}}: [[The Fall of Medusa V (booklet)]], pg. 33
*{{Endn|6}}: [[Codex: Armageddon (3rd Edition)]], pg. 32
*{{Endn|7}}: [[Codex: Eye of Terror (3rd Edition)]], pg. 9
*{{Endn|8}} [[Codex: Dark Angels (4th Edition)]], pgs. 41-42
*{{Endn|9}}: [[Only War Core Rulebook]], pg. 27
*{{Endn|10}}: [[White Dwarf 507]], pgs. 58 — ''War Zone Chalnath - Insidious Threat'' 
*11: [[Hand of Abaddon (Novel)]]:
**{{Endn|11a}}: Chapter 39
**{{Endn|11b}}: Chapter 42
*{{Endn|12}}: [[Warhammer: Visions 16]], pg. 154 {{WHVisionsEnd}}
*{{Endn|13}}: [[Codex: Imperial Knights (6th Edition)]] — ''Knight Worlds of the Imperium - Knights at War''
*{{Endn|14}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 7th Edition Rulebook]] - ''The Pandorax Incursion''
*{{Endn|15}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 8th Edition Rulebook]], pgs. 164-165
*{{Endn|16}}: [https://web.archive.org/web/20030620194444/http://www.armageddon3.com/English/Campaign/Troops/mordians.html Third War For Armageddon - Imperial Forces: Mordian Iron Guard] ''(archived page, last accessed via Wayback Machine 11th August 2022)''
*{{Endn|17}}: [[The Imperial Infantryman's Handbook]], pg. 37
*{{Endn|18}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Escalation]], pg. 7
*{{Endn|19}}: [[Codex: Harlequins (8th Edition)]], pg. 37
*{{Endn|20}}: [[White Dwarf 453]], pg. 65
*{{Endn|21}}: [[The Gate of Bones (Novel)]], ''Dramatis Personae''
*{{Endn|22}}: [[First and Only (Novel)]] — [[The Founding (Omnibus)]], Part Six, Chapter One
*{{Endn|23}}: [[Codex: Astra Militarum (9th Edition)]], pg. 19
*{{Endn|24}}: [[Deathwatch Core Rulebook]], pgs. 331–349
*{{Endn|25}}: [[Warhammer: Visions 1]], pgs. 124-127 {{WHVisionsEnd}}
*{{Endn|26}}: [[The Gate of Bones (Novel)]], Chapter Seven
*{{Endn|27}}: [[Codex Supplement: Iron Hands (8th Edition)]], pgs. 32-33
*{{Endn|28}}: [[Imperium Nihilus: Vigilus Defiant]], pg. 73
*{{Endn|29}}: [[Codex: Astra Militarum (10th Edition)]], pg. 36

{{WHVisions}}

[[Category:Astra Militarum Regiments]]
[[Category:Mordian Iron Guard| ]]

[[de:Eiserne Garde von Mordian]]
[[fr:Garde de Fer de Mordian]]