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During the battle for the Oligarchy High Palace on Balhaut, Slaydo was killed in single combat with [[Archon (Chaos)|Archon]] [[Nadzybar]]. On his deathbed, Slaydo declared Macaroth his successor as Warmaster of the Crusade. This decision upset many of his [[Lords Militant]], who regarded Macaroth as too young and too junior an officer to ascend to the position. A period of political in-fighting amongst the highest echelons of the Imperial Crusade force would take place over much of the next year. That Macaroth survived it and retained his position is a tribute to the rank-and-file of the Guard's great affection for and faith in Slaydo, but also Macaroth's surprising ability as a leader.{{Fn|1c}}
Immediately after the Imperial victory on Balhaut, Macaroth launched a further advance into the [[Cabal Worlds]], determined to keep up the momentum of the Crusade that Slaydo began. He gained a reputation as a gambler which worried many of his subordinates, but many of his gambits turned out successfully. Like many leading commanders, Macaroth was a somewhat inscrutable figure, and his actions were the source of heated debate among [[Imperial Tactician]]s and historians alike, but what they see saw as recklessness may simply have indicated Macaroth's talent for strategy and out-thinking his opponents, which Slaydo recognised.{{Fn|1d}}
Warmaster Macaroth led Imperial forces to many great victories, most notably at the fortress-world [[Morlond]]. The Crusade under his command also succeeded in the capture and/or destruction of many of the [[Magister (Chaos)|Magister]]s who escaped Balhaut after Nadzybar's defeat, including [[Sholen Skara]], and [[Heritor Asphodel]].{{Fn|1e}}
However, the Crusade was stalled by the rise of [[Urlock Gaur]], a brutal Chaos warlord in command of a disciplined army, the [[Blood Pact]]. Macaroth also knew he could not afford to underestimate the abilities of [[Anakwanar Sek]], the most brilliant of Nadzybar's former lieutenants, who continued to plague the Crusade in the years after Balhaut.{{Fn|1f}}
==Sources==