Daemon Prince

Daemon Princes are former mortal Champion of Chaos who have been elevated to daemonhood by the Chaos Gods. They have bartered their humanity for unearthly power and immortality.^{4 5c}

Overview

Dhar'leth, Daemon Prince of the Black Legion

In order to attract the attention of their patrons, Chaos Champions have to perform great and terrible deeds. They sacrifice enemies and allies alike for their ambitions and risk their demise at the hands of both their foes and gods. The few that manage to avoid death and spawnhood are changed beyond recognition.^{4 5c}

While Daemon Princes come in various shapes, most are of hulking stature, displaying numerous mutations such as horns and wings. Even more notable are the supernatural powers they wield, some of which are associated with their patron god.^5c What they maintain of former selves are the driving ambition and ruthless cunning which helped them earn their ultimate reward.²

In the 41st millennium, most Daemon Princes hail from the ranks of the Chaos Space Marines, warriors with the capability and motivation to slay the populations of entire worlds, although the oldest managed to ascend during the savage age long before mankind left ancient earth.^5c

Daemon Princes rule supreme over mortal Chaos followers and are usually granted reign over a Daemon World of their own.^{2 3} Despite this, it is not uncommon for them to leave the material plane completely and join a daemonic legion in order to serve as right hand of a mighty Greater Daemon. For all their rank and power however, real Daemons commonly regard them as inferior due to their human origin.^{5a 6}

Daemon Primarchs

Fulgrim, Daemon Primarch of the Emperor's Children

The most infamous of the Daemon Princes come from the traitor Primarchs that turned against the Emperor during the Horus Heresy.⁷ These powerful beings are still revered by the very Legions they corrupted millennia ago, even though it is uncommon for them to personally lead them forth from their Daemon Worlds. Instead they prefer to fight against their enemies within the Eye of Terror, leaving the direction of their Legions to their loyal minions and Champions.^5c

Notable Daemon Princes

• Fulgrim - Primarch of the Emperor's Children. ⁷
• Perturabo - Primarch of the Iron Warriors. ⁷
• Angron - Primarch of the World Eaters. ⁷
• Mortarion - Primarch of the Death Guard. ⁷
• Magnus the Red - Primarch of the Thousand Sons. ⁷
• Lorgar - Primarch of the Word Bearers. ⁷
• Tallomin - the "Prince of Daemon Princes". ¹
• Doombreed - ancient servant of Khorne. ¹
• N'Kari - ancient servant of Slaanesh. ⁸
• Bubonicus - ancient servant of Nurgle. ⁹
• "The Warsmith" - unidentified Warsmith of the Iron Warriors, ascended to daemonhood after conquering the planet of Hydra Cordatus. ¹⁰
• Sindri Myr - Sorcerer of the Alpha Legion and advisor of Lord Bale. Ascended to daemonhood by using the Maledictum.¹²
• Kor Megron - Deamon Prince of the Word Bearers. Ascended to deamonhood on Rhodax.¹³

Images

• 

  Daemon Prince (metal)
  Sculpted by Juan Diaz

• 

  Nurgle Daemon Prince (metal)
  Sculpted by Seb Perbet

• 

  Daemon Prince (5th edition)
  Sculpted by Mark Harrison ⁹

Sources

• ¹:Liber Chaotica - Khorne: Black Crusades
• ²:White Dwarf 274 (UK): Index Malleus: Daemons of the Warp, p.93
• ³:Codex: Eye of Terror, p.5
• ⁴:Codex: Chaos Space Marines (3rd Edition, 1st Codex), p.8
• ⁵:Codex: Chaos Space Marines (4th Edition)
  • ^5a: Spawndom and Daemonhood, p.11
  • ^5b: The Final Battle, p.15
  • ^5c: Daemon Prince, p.32
• ⁶:Codex: Chaos Daemons (4th Edition), p.46
• ⁷:Index Astartes
• ⁸:Codex: Chaos (2nd Edition)
• ⁹:Realm of Chaos: The Lost and the Damned (1990)
• ¹⁰:Storm of Iron (Novel), p.311 by Graham McNeill
• ¹¹:White Dwarf 368 (UK), p.3
• ¹²:Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War
• ¹³:Kor Megron, the Reaper of Rhodax