Difference between revisions of "Imperial Army"

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|cellpadding=2 cellspacing=1 style="font-size:95%;font:95%"|'''Sub-Branches'''
 
|cellpadding=2 cellspacing=1 style="font-size:95%;font:95%"|'''Sub-Branches'''
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|cellpadding=2 cellspacing=1 style="font-size:95%;font:95%"|[[Solar Auxilia]]<br>[[Imperialis Militia]]<br>[[Imperialis Armada]]
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|cellpadding=2 cellspacing=1 style="font-size:95%;font:95%"|[[Solar Auxilia]]<br>[[Imperialis Militia]]<br>[[Imperialis Armada]]<br>[[Divisio Aeronautica]]
 
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|cellpadding=2 cellspacing=1 style="font-size:95%;font:95%"|'''Established'''
 
|cellpadding=2 cellspacing=1 style="font-size:95%;font:95%"|'''Established'''
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|cellpadding=2 cellspacing=1 style="font-size:95%;font:95%"|Post-[[Horus Heresy]]
 
|cellpadding=2 cellspacing=1 style="font-size:95%;font:95%"|Post-[[Horus Heresy]]
 
|}
 
|}
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[[Image:ImperialArmy.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A soldier of the Imperial Army{{Fn|12a}}]]
+
The '''Imperial Army''' (also known as the '''Imperialis Auxilia''' in [[High Gothic]]{{Fn|20}}) was the largest military force in the early Imperium, and was founded during the early [[Great Crusade]] to fill the need for more manpower to support the [[Space Marine Legion|Astartes Legions]], and quickly was used to garrison worlds and to perform sieges and mass invasions{{Fn|1}}. The '''[[Imperialis Armada]]''' was the fleet subset of the Imperial Army and was subordinate to it, while its aerial warfare branch was known as the [[Divisio Aeronautica]].{{Fn|44}} These units were in turn subordinate to the [[Space Marines|Astartes]] command structure{{Fn|1}}. The Imperial Army itself was part of the [[Excertus Imperialis]], constituting one of its many divisions.{{Fn|41a}}
−
The '''Imperial Army''' (also known as the '''Imperialis Auxilia''' in [[High Gothic]]{{Fn|20}}) was the largest military force in the early Imperium, and was founded during the early [[Great Crusade]] to fill the need for more manpower to support the [[Space Marine Legion|Astartes Legions]], and quickly was used to garrison worlds and to perform sieges and mass invasions{{Fn|1}}. The '''[[Imperialis Armada]]''' was the fleet subset of the Imperial Army and was subordinate to it{{Fn|2x}}, and both of them were subordinate to the [[Space Marines|Astartes]] command structure{{Fn|1}}. The Imperial Army itself was part of the [[Excertus Imperialis]], constituting one of its many divisions.{{Fn|41a}}
 
  
 
The fighting elite of the Imperial Army was the [[Solar Auxilia]], which comprised about 20-25% of the Army's strength by the end of the Great Crusade.{{Fn|21}} The whole strength of the Imperial Army numbered in the many billions.{{Fn|41b}} The Imperial Army also maintained a force of auxiliaries known as the [[Imperialis Militia]].
 
The fighting elite of the Imperial Army was the [[Solar Auxilia]], which comprised about 20-25% of the Army's strength by the end of the Great Crusade.{{Fn|21}} The whole strength of the Imperial Army numbered in the many billions.{{Fn|41b}} The Imperial Army also maintained a force of auxiliaries known as the [[Imperialis Militia]].
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
 +
[[Image:ImperialArmy.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A soldier of the Imperial Army{{Fn|12a}}]]
 
The genus of the armed force that was to become the Imperial Army was on [[Terra]], in the form of the few Strife-era military formations that the [[Emperor of Mankind|Emperor]] allowed to continue in his service after the end of the Unification Wars. These surviving units in time became referred to as the '''[[Old Hundred]]''', and formed the initial nucleus of [[human]] soldiery at the very beginning of the Great Crusade{{Fn|3}}.
 
The genus of the armed force that was to become the Imperial Army was on [[Terra]], in the form of the few Strife-era military formations that the [[Emperor of Mankind|Emperor]] allowed to continue in his service after the end of the Unification Wars. These surviving units in time became referred to as the '''[[Old Hundred]]''', and formed the initial nucleus of [[human]] soldiery at the very beginning of the Great Crusade{{Fn|3}}.
  
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The Imperial Army was recruited from each world in the Imperium unless exempted (such as Astartes home worlds, [[Forge World]]s and planets in the [[Sol System]], though some of the regiments from the [[Unification Wars]] of Terra were allowed to fight in the Great Crusade), but the size of the tithed forces was dependent on the population of the planet, and Imperial administrators determined the amount of soldiers and war materiel demanded{{Fn|1}}. If all else failed or in times of desperation, the Imperial Army would utilise inducted levy militia, troops with little to no training and poor equipment.{{Fn|43}}
 
The Imperial Army was recruited from each world in the Imperium unless exempted (such as Astartes home worlds, [[Forge World]]s and planets in the [[Sol System]], though some of the regiments from the [[Unification Wars]] of Terra were allowed to fight in the Great Crusade), but the size of the tithed forces was dependent on the population of the planet, and Imperial administrators determined the amount of soldiers and war materiel demanded{{Fn|1}}. If all else failed or in times of desperation, the Imperial Army would utilise inducted levy militia, troops with little to no training and poor equipment.{{Fn|43}}
  
−
The best equipped and trained Imperial Army troops were known as '''Grenadiers'''.{{Fn|22}} The fighting elite, made up of 20-25%, were known as the [[Solar Auxilia]]
+
The best equipped and trained regular Imperial Army troops were known as '''[[Imperialis Militia Grenadiers|Grenadiers]]'''.{{Fn|22}} The fighting elite, made up of 20-25%, were known as the [[Solar Auxilia]]
 
[[Image:Sallan11th.jpg|thumb|right|Imperial Army troops of the Sallan 11th Regiment]]
 
[[Image:Sallan11th.jpg|thumb|right|Imperial Army troops of the Sallan 11th Regiment]]
  
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Overall command of the Imperial Army was overseen by two [[Lord Militant]]s who at the end of the [[Great Crusade]] were [[Tabor Ludovicia]] and [[Haldane Ma'lon]].{{Fn|24}} Like the Imperial Guard of the 41st Millennium, the Imperial Army relied on the [[Departmento Munitorum]] for administrative duties.{{Fn|25}} This in turn answered to the [[Officio Militaris]], an umbrella organisation including all of the many mortal soldiers, labourers and bureaucrats dedicated to the Great Crusade. However, operational command for the Imperial Army fell to the [[War Council]].{{Fn|34}}
 
Overall command of the Imperial Army was overseen by two [[Lord Militant]]s who at the end of the [[Great Crusade]] were [[Tabor Ludovicia]] and [[Haldane Ma'lon]].{{Fn|24}} Like the Imperial Guard of the 41st Millennium, the Imperial Army relied on the [[Departmento Munitorum]] for administrative duties.{{Fn|25}} This in turn answered to the [[Officio Militaris]], an umbrella organisation including all of the many mortal soldiers, labourers and bureaucrats dedicated to the Great Crusade. However, operational command for the Imperial Army fell to the [[War Council]].{{Fn|34}}
  
−
The Imperial Army was broadly organised into three groupings. The First Echelon consisted of around 25% of the Army, was a leading edge of the [[Great Crusade]] and fought in direct support of the [[Legiones Astartes]] or independently in areas where [[Space Marine]]s could not be spared. These included the famed [[Solar Auxilia]] as well as other Elite [[Regiments]] such as the [[Old Hundred]]. Upon achieving victory, the First Echelon would leave the warzone with the rest of the [[Expeditionary Fleet]]. The Second Echelon, a strategic reserve formation of regular army troops, would then begin its duties in the form of mopping up, occupation and the overseeing compliance of the conquered world into the new Imperium. When necessary, these troops would also be used in protracted sieges and anti-insurgency operations.{{Fn|42}}
+
The Imperial Army was broadly organised into three groupings. The First Echelon consisted of around 25% of the Army, was a leading edge of the [[Great Crusade]] and fought in direct support of the [[Legiones Astartes]] or independently in areas where [[Space Marine]]s could not be spared. These included the famed [[Solar Auxilia]] as well as other elite [[Regiments]] such as the [[Old Hundred]]. Upon achieving victory, the First Echelon would leave the warzone with the rest of the [[Expeditionary Fleet]]. The Second Echelon, a strategic reserve formation of regular army troops, would then begin its duties in the form of mopping up, occupation and the overseeing compliance of the conquered world into the new Imperium. When necessary, these troops would also be used in protracted sieges and anti-insurgency operations.{{Fn|42}}
  
 
Only once a world was declared fully compliant would the Third Echelon, or [[Imperialis Militia]], be deployed. These troops often were formed for a core of former Second Echelon troops as well as many new locally raised personnel. The duty of the Third Echelon was to combat piracy, civil unrest and to act as the first line of defense against any new threats that may emerge despite often being woefully outmatched against more formidable enemies. Unlike the first and second echelons, these troops had no standardisation with regards to equipment, technology levels or training. Rarely deployed off-world and not particularly loyal to the [[Imperial Truth]], during the subsequent [[Horus Heresy]] Third Echelon troops were often used as cannon fodder, especially by the Traitor Legions.{{Fn|42}}
 
Only once a world was declared fully compliant would the Third Echelon, or [[Imperialis Militia]], be deployed. These troops often were formed for a core of former Second Echelon troops as well as many new locally raised personnel. The duty of the Third Echelon was to combat piracy, civil unrest and to act as the first line of defense against any new threats that may emerge despite often being woefully outmatched against more formidable enemies. Unlike the first and second echelons, these troops had no standardisation with regards to equipment, technology levels or training. Rarely deployed off-world and not particularly loyal to the [[Imperial Truth]], during the subsequent [[Horus Heresy]] Third Echelon troops were often used as cannon fodder, especially by the Traitor Legions.{{Fn|42}}
  
 +
[[File:Horus Heresy Collected Visions - Discipline Master.jpg|thumb|120px|right|A [[Discipline Master]].{{Fn|12c}}]]
 
The largest single organisational unit in the Imperial Army was the [[Expedition Fleet]], each of which was controlled by a [[Lord Commander#Imperial Army|Lord Commander]] unless an Astartes officer was attached{{Fn|3}}. By the time of the Ullanor campaign and the inauguration of Warmaster Horus, there were 4,659 Primary Expedition Fleets (with 372 of those in refit at the time) and more than sixty thousand Secondary Expedition Fleets{{Fn|4}}. Expedition Fleets each had hundreds of thousands of ships and a large amount of Army personnel for ground warfare, the entirety of the Imperialis Armada transporting and supplying many billions of troops.{{Fn|41b}}
 
The largest single organisational unit in the Imperial Army was the [[Expedition Fleet]], each of which was controlled by a [[Lord Commander#Imperial Army|Lord Commander]] unless an Astartes officer was attached{{Fn|3}}. By the time of the Ullanor campaign and the inauguration of Warmaster Horus, there were 4,659 Primary Expedition Fleets (with 372 of those in refit at the time) and more than sixty thousand Secondary Expedition Fleets{{Fn|4}}. Expedition Fleets each had hundreds of thousands of ships and a large amount of Army personnel for ground warfare, the entirety of the Imperialis Armada transporting and supplying many billions of troops.{{Fn|41b}}
  
−
For garrisoning and occupying worlds, the Imperial Army organised local [[Imperialis Militia]] units.
+
Imperial Army personnel were watched over by [[Discipline Master]]s, precursors of the modern [[Commissar]]s.{{Fn|12c}}
  
 
====Organisation of Imperial Army Regiments====
 
====Organisation of Imperial Army Regiments====
 +
[[Image:Fasadian.jpg|thumb|right|Imperial Army troops of the [[Fasadian Heavy Infantry]] ]]
 
The largest ''permanent'' organisational unit during the Horus Heresy for the Imperial Army was the '''regiment''' and to take a typical example, regiments could be divided into three or more '''battalions''', with each battalion made up of two or more '''companies''' and '''Platoons''', with additional support units attached at the battalion and regimental level{{Fn|6}}.
 
The largest ''permanent'' organisational unit during the Horus Heresy for the Imperial Army was the '''regiment''' and to take a typical example, regiments could be divided into three or more '''battalions''', with each battalion made up of two or more '''companies''' and '''Platoons''', with additional support units attached at the battalion and regimental level{{Fn|6}}.
  
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Regiments were usually assigned to individual ships, with Army personnel commanding both elements.{{Fn|2a}} In the fleet, the highest rank was the '''Master of the Fleet''', who was under the authority of the Lord Commander or Astartes officer in the Expedition Fleet. Other common ranks included Shipmaster (in control of a ship), Executive Officer (second in command){{Fn|4}}, First Master{{Fn|11a}} and Master (other ship officers){{Fn|11b}}. Some fleets, like the [[Saturnine Fleet]], retained their old ranks from before the Unification Wars.
 
Regiments were usually assigned to individual ships, with Army personnel commanding both elements.{{Fn|2a}} In the fleet, the highest rank was the '''Master of the Fleet''', who was under the authority of the Lord Commander or Astartes officer in the Expedition Fleet. Other common ranks included Shipmaster (in control of a ship), Executive Officer (second in command){{Fn|4}}, First Master{{Fn|11a}} and Master (other ship officers){{Fn|11b}}. Some fleets, like the [[Saturnine Fleet]], retained their old ranks from before the Unification Wars.
−
 
−
[[Image:Fasadian.jpg|thumb|right|Imperial Army troops of the [[Fasadian Heavy Infantry]] ]]
 
  
 
==Equipment==
 
==Equipment==
−
The Imperial Army of the [[Great Crusade]] was much more well-equipped than the [[Astra Militarum]] of [[M41|the 41st Millennia]].{{Fn|13x}} Vehicles that are considered rare or lost technology in M41 were common, such as the [[Testudo]], [[Dracosan]], [[Aurox]], [[Gorgon Armoured Assault Transport|Gorgon]], [[Carnodon (Tank)|Carnodon]], [[Malcador Heavy Tank|Malcador]], [[Leman Russ Incinerator]], [[Leman Russ Vanquisher]]{{Fn|13a}}, [[Leman Russ Executioner]]{{Fn|13b}}, [[Destroyer Tank Hunter]]{{Fn|13c}}, or [[Scurrier]]{{Fn|3}}. Advanced walkers such as the [[Hermes Light Sentinel]] and [[Aethon Heavy Sentinel]] were fielded{{Fn|37}}. Entire divisions were equipped with [[Baneblade]] and [[Stormhammer]] Super-Heavy Tanks and [[Valdor (Heavy Tank)|Valdor Heavy Tank]]s{{Fn|14}} and fleets were equipped with multitudes of [[Battleship]]s and [[Grand Cruiser]]s, all now considered a rarity.{{Fn|13d}} In the ten thousand years since the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy, [[STC]]s have been lost, [[Forge World]]s destroyed, and the technology has been treated with far more superstition by the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]].{{Fn|13e}}{{Fn|22 - needs confirmation}}
+
{{Main|Astra Militarum Vehicles_#Retired}}
 +
The Imperial Army of the [[Great Crusade]] was much more well-equipped than the [[Astra Militarum]] of [[M41|the 41st Millennia]].{{Fn|13x}} Vehicles that are considered rare or lost technology in M41 were common, such as the [[Testudo]], [[Dracosan]], [[Aurox]], [[Gorgon Armoured Assault Transport|Gorgon]], [[Carnodon (Tank)|Carnodon]], [[Malcador Heavy Tank|Malcador]], [[Leman Russ Incinerator]], [[Leman Russ Vanquisher]]{{Fn|13a}}, [[Leman Russ Executioner]]{{Fn|13b}}, [[Destroyer Tank Hunter]]{{Fn|13c}}, or [[Scurrier]]{{Fn|3}}. Advanced walkers such as the [[Hermes Light Sentinel]] and [[Aethon Heavy Sentinel]] were fielded{{Fn|37}}. Entire divisions were equipped with [[Baneblade]] and [[Stormhammer]] Super-Heavy Tanks and [[Valdor (Heavy Tank)|Valdor Heavy Tank]]s{{Fn|14}} and fleets were equipped with multitudes of [[Battleship]]s and [[Grand Cruiser]]s, all now considered a rarity.{{Fn|13d}} In the ten thousand years since the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy, [[STC]]s have been lost, [[Forge World]]s destroyed, and the technology has been treated with far more superstition by the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]].{{Fn|13e}}
  
 
==Notable regiments==
 
==Notable regiments==
 
*[[12th Austra Auxilia]]{{Fn|36}}
 
*[[12th Austra Auxilia]]{{Fn|36}}
 
*[[91st Industani]]{{Fn|35}}
 
*[[91st Industani]]{{Fn|35}}
−
*[[Addaba Free Corps]] — Defected to [[Horus]] during the [[Siege of Terra]].{{Fn|27}}
+
*[[Addaba Free Corps]] — Defected to [[Horus]] during the [[Siege of Terra]].{{Fn|27c}}
−
*[[Antioch Miles Vesperi]]{{Fn|29}}
+
*[[Antioch Miles Vesperi]]{{Fn|29a}}
 
*[[Ayliet Phalanx]] — Subordinate to the [[Luna Wolves]]
 
*[[Ayliet Phalanx]] — Subordinate to the [[Luna Wolves]]
 
*[[Archite Palatines]] — Attached to the [[28th Expedition Fleet]].{{Fn|7}}
 
*[[Archite Palatines]] — Attached to the [[28th Expedition Fleet]].{{Fn|7}}
−
*[[Angkorian Dragoons]] — Part of the [[Old Hundred]].{{Fn|27a}}
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*[[Angkorian Dragoons]] — Part of the [[Old Hundred]].{{Fn|27b}}
 
*[[Byzant Janizars]] — Attached to the [[63rd Expedition Fleet]], rebelled during the Horus Heresy.{{Fn|4}}
 
*[[Byzant Janizars]] — Attached to the [[63rd Expedition Fleet]], rebelled during the Horus Heresy.{{Fn|4}}
 
*[[Caliban Jaegers]] — Assigned to the [[4th Expeditionary Fleet]] serving the [[Dark Angels]] Legion.
 
*[[Caliban Jaegers]] — Assigned to the [[4th Expeditionary Fleet]] serving the [[Dark Angels]] Legion.
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*'''Geno Ten Sairus'''{{Fn|36}}
 
*'''Geno Ten Sairus'''{{Fn|36}}
 
*[[Geno Seven-Sixty Spartocid]]{{Fn|18a}}
 
*[[Geno Seven-Sixty Spartocid]]{{Fn|18a}}
−
*[[Golden Hegera]] — Part of the [[Old Hundred]].{{Fn|27a}}
+
*[[Golden Hegera]] — Part of the [[Old Hundred]].{{Fn|27b}}
 
*[[Harkon Geno]].{{Fn|40}}
 
*[[Harkon Geno]].{{Fn|40}}
 
*[[12th Helian Rifles]]{{Fn|35}}
 
*[[12th Helian Rifles]]{{Fn|35}}
 
*[[Host of Brass]]
 
*[[Host of Brass]]
−
*[[Hundred and Fifth Tercio Upland Grenadiers]]{{Fn|29}}
+
*[[Hundred and Fifth Tercio Upland Grenadiers]]{{Fn|29a}}
 
*[[Inferallti Hussars]] — Assigned to guard [[Pluto]]
 
*[[Inferallti Hussars]] — Assigned to guard [[Pluto]]
 
*[[Iterian 234th]]{{Fn|39}}
 
*[[Iterian 234th]]{{Fn|39}}
 
*[[Jovian Grenadiers]]
 
*[[Jovian Grenadiers]]
−
*[[Kimmerine Corps Bellum]]{{Fn|29}}
+
*[[Kimmerine Corps Bellum]]{{Fn|29a}}
 
*[[Kushtun Naganda]] — One of the [[Old Hundred]].{{Fn|26}}
 
*[[Kushtun Naganda]] — One of the [[Old Hundred]].{{Fn|26}}
 
*[[13th/5th Imperial Army|13th/5th Hylgar's Hell-Raisers]] — A formation likely to be from early M31.{{Fn|2x}}
 
*[[13th/5th Imperial Army|13th/5th Hylgar's Hell-Raisers]] — A formation likely to be from early M31.{{Fn|2x}}
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==Notable fleets==
 
==Notable fleets==
−
*{{Main|Expedition Fleet}}
+
{{Main|Expedition Fleet}}
 
*The [[63rd Expedition Fleet]] — the Expedition Fleet of the [[Warmaster]] [[Horus]].{{Fn|4}}
 
*The [[63rd Expedition Fleet]] — the Expedition Fleet of the [[Warmaster]] [[Horus]].{{Fn|4}}
 
*The [[28th Expedition Fleet]] — the Expedition Fleet of [[Fulgrim]] and the [[Emperor's Children]].{{Fn|7}}
 
*The [[28th Expedition Fleet]] — the Expedition Fleet of [[Fulgrim]] and the [[Emperor's Children]].{{Fn|7}}
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*[[Kli-San Weia]] — Early Lord Commander Militant during the [[Unification Wars]]{{Fn|28}}
 
*[[Kli-San Weia]] — Early Lord Commander Militant during the [[Unification Wars]]{{Fn|28}}
 
*[[Pietra Veitz Gustavus]] — [[Lord Militant]]
 
*[[Pietra Veitz Gustavus]] — [[Lord Militant]]
−
*[[Saul Niborran]] — High Primary Solar [[General]]{{Fn|29}}
+
*[[Saul Niborran]] — High Primary Solar [[General]]{{Fn|29a}}
−
*[[Konas Burr]] — [[Militant General]]{{Fn|29}}
+
*[[Konas Burr]] — [[Militant General]]{{Fn|29a}}
 
*[[Ireton MaSade]] — [[Lord Marshal]]
 
*[[Ireton MaSade]] — [[Lord Marshal]]
 
*[[Teng Namatjira]] — [[Lord Commander]]
 
*[[Teng Namatjira]] — [[Lord Commander]]
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*[[Niora Su-Kassen]] — [[Admiral]]
 
*[[Niora Su-Kassen]] — [[Admiral]]
 
*[[Eodraki Hakon]] — [[Marshal (Imperial Guard)|Marshal]]
 
*[[Eodraki Hakon]] — [[Marshal (Imperial Guard)|Marshal]]
−
*[[Aldana Agathe]] — Marshal.{{Fn|29}}
+
*[[Aldana Agathe]] — Marshal.{{Fn|29a}}
 
*[[Niora Su-Kassen]] — [[Admiral]]
 
*[[Niora Su-Kassen]] — [[Admiral]]
 
*[[Tempis Lor]] — [[General]]
 
*[[Tempis Lor]] — [[General]]
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*[[Holst Lithonan]] — Traitor [[General]]
 
*[[Holst Lithonan]] — Traitor [[General]]
 
*[[Maylon Idar III]] — Traitor [[General]]
 
*[[Maylon Idar III]] — Traitor [[General]]
−
*[[Yennu Egwu]] — [[General]], defects to [[Horus]]{{Fn|27}}
+
*[[Yennu Egwu]] — [[General]], defects to [[Horus]]{{Fn|27c}}
 
*[[Hestor Navarre]] — Officer of the [[Ouranti Draks]]
 
*[[Hestor Navarre]] — Officer of the [[Ouranti Draks]]
 
*[[Marcus Valerius]] — Commander of the [[Therion Cohort]]
 
*[[Marcus Valerius]] — Commander of the [[Therion Cohort]]
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*[[Dimitar Shiban]] — [[Hetman]]
 
*[[Dimitar Shiban]] — [[Hetman]]
 
*[[Peto Soneka]] — [[Hetman]]
 
*[[Peto Soneka]] — [[Hetman]]
−
*[[Clement Brohn]] — Militant [[Colonel]] Auxilia{{Fn|29}}
+
*[[Clement Brohn]] — Militant [[Colonel]] Auxilia{{Fn|29a}}
 
*[[Fatidicus]] — Decorated veteran later key [[Imperial Cult]] religious figure
 
*[[Fatidicus]] — Decorated veteran later key [[Imperial Cult]] religious figure
 
*[[Ollanius Pius]] — Patron [[Saint]] of the [[Imperial Guard]]
 
*[[Ollanius Pius]] — Patron [[Saint]] of the [[Imperial Guard]]
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*[[Kaminska]] — [[Rear Admiral]] of the [[Imperial Armada]]
 
*[[Kaminska]] — [[Rear Admiral]] of the [[Imperial Armada]]
 
*[[Lucretia Elunnirai]] — Seneschal-Prime of the [[Prospero Spireguard]].{{Fn|30}}
 
*[[Lucretia Elunnirai]] — Seneschal-Prime of the [[Prospero Spireguard]].{{Fn|30}}
−
*[[Maigraut]] — [[Colonel]].{{Fn|27b}}
+
*[[Maigraut]] — [[Colonel]].{{Fn|27a}}
 
*[[Andrei Ornatov]] — [[Colonel]], [[Urslavik 12th Infantry]].{{Fn|31}}
 
*[[Andrei Ornatov]] — [[Colonel]], [[Urslavik 12th Infantry]].{{Fn|31}}
 
*[[Hasani Sabbyat]] — [[Stormtrooper]] Officer
 
*[[Hasani Sabbyat]] — [[Stormtrooper]] Officer
−
*[[Aevos Jovian]] — [[Medic|Medicae]] Officer
+
*[[Aevos Jovian]] — [[Medic]]ae Officer
 
*[[Khalid Hassan]] — [[Captain]] of the 4th [[Clandestine Orta]]
 
*[[Khalid Hassan]] — [[Captain]] of the 4th [[Clandestine Orta]]
 
*[[Kulok]] — Soldier
 
*[[Kulok]] — Soldier
−
*[[Ollanius Piers]] — [[Corporal]].{{Fn|29a}}
+
*[[Ollanius Piers]] — [[Corporal]].{{Fn|29b}}
 
*[[Katsuhiro]] — [[Conscript]].{{Fn|26}}
 
*[[Katsuhiro]] — [[Conscript]].{{Fn|26}}
  
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==Sources==
 
==Sources==
−
{{Cite}}
+
{{Citation issues}}
−
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Horus Heresy: Visions of Darkness]], {{Cite This}}
+
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Horus Heresy: Visions of Darkness]], {{Cite Marker End}}
 
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Codex: Imperial Guard (3rd Edition, 2nd Codex)]]
 
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Codex: Imperial Guard (3rd Edition, 2nd Codex)]]
 
**{{Endn|2a}}: pg. 4
 
**{{Endn|2a}}: pg. 4
−
**{{Endn|2x}}: {{Cite This}}
+
**{{Endn|2x}}: {{Cite Marker End}}
 
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Legion (Novel)]], Part 1: Chapter 10
 
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Legion (Novel)]], Part 1: Chapter 10
−
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Horus Rising (Novel)]], {{Cite This}}
+
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Horus Rising (Novel)]], {{Cite Marker End}}
 
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Imperial Munitorum Manual (Background Book)]], pgs. 6–8
 
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Imperial Munitorum Manual (Background Book)]], pgs. 6–8
−
*{{Endn|6}}: [[White Dwarf 125 (UK)]], {{Cite This}}
+
*{{Endn|6}}: [[White Dwarf 125 (UK)]], {{Cite Marker End}}
−
*{{Endn|7}}: [[Fulgrim (Novel)]], {{Cite This}}
+
*{{Endn|7}}: [[Fulgrim (Novel)]], {{Cite Marker End}}
−
*{{Endn|8}}: [[Battle for the Abyss (Novel)]], {{Cite This}}
+
*{{Endn|8}}: [[Battle for the Abyss (Novel)]], {{Cite Marker End}}
 
*{{Endn|9}}: [[A Thousand Sons (Novel)]], Chapter Thirteen
 
*{{Endn|9}}: [[A Thousand Sons (Novel)]], Chapter Thirteen
 
*{{Endn|10}}: [[Fallen Angels (Novel)]], Chapter Three
 
*{{Endn|10}}: [[Fallen Angels (Novel)]], Chapter Three
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**{{Endn|12a}}: pg. 64
 
**{{Endn|12a}}: pg. 64
 
**{{Endn|12b}}: pgs. 357–362
 
**{{Endn|12b}}: pgs. 357–362
 +
**{{Endn|12c}}: pg. 121
 
*{{Endn|13}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume One - Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy]]
 
*{{Endn|13}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume One - Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy]]
 
**{{Endn|13a}}: pg. 31
 
**{{Endn|13a}}: pg. 31
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**{{Endn|13d}}: pg. 79
 
**{{Endn|13d}}: pg. 79
 
**{{Endn|13e}}: pgs. 9–11
 
**{{Endn|13e}}: pgs. 9–11
−
**{{Endn|13x}}: {{Cite This}}
+
**{{Endn|13x}}: {{Cite Marker End}}
 
*{{Endn|14}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Seven - The Siege of Vraks - Part Three]], pg. 119
 
*{{Endn|14}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Seven - The Siege of Vraks - Part Three]], pg. 119
 
*{{Endn|15}}: [[Brotherhood of the Storm (Novella)]], pg. 30
 
*{{Endn|15}}: [[Brotherhood of the Storm (Novella)]], pg. 30
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*{{Endn|25}}: [[The Path of Heaven (Novel)]], Chapter 23
 
*{{Endn|25}}: [[The Path of Heaven (Novel)]], Chapter 23
 
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*27: [[The First Wall (Novel)]]:
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*{{Endn|28}}: [[Valdor: Birth of the Imperium (Novel)]] Chapter 7
 
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*{{Endn|29}}: [[Saturnine (Novel)]] Part 1 Chapters 1-2
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**{{Endn|29b}}: Part 2 chapter 5
 
*{{Endn|30}}: [[The Horus Heresy Book Eight - Malevolence]], pg. 32
 
*{{Endn|30}}: [[The Horus Heresy Book Eight - Malevolence]], pg. 32
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**{{Endn|31a}}: Andrei Ornatov card
 
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*{{Endn|32}}: [[The Iron Within (Short Story)]]
 
*{{Endn|32}}: [[The Iron Within (Short Story)]]
 
*{{Endn|33}}: [[Warhawk (Novel)]] - Chapter 4
 
*{{Endn|33}}: [[Warhawk (Novel)]] - Chapter 4
 
*{{Endn|34}}: [[The Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness]] Rulebook, pg. 24
 
*{{Endn|34}}: [[The Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness]] Rulebook, pg. 24
 
*{{Endn|35}}: [[Echoes of Eternity (Novel)]], Dramatis Personae
 
*{{Endn|35}}: [[Echoes of Eternity (Novel)]], Dramatis Personae
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*{{Endn|36}}: [[The End and the Death: Volume I (Novel)]]
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*{{Endn|36}}: [[The End and the Death: Volume I (Novel)]] {{CME}}
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*{{Endn|37}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2024/02/01/heresy-thursday-scout-fast-and-strike-hard-with-the-hot-rod-sentinel-of-the-solar-auxilia/ Warhammer Community: Heresy Thursday – Scout Fast and Strike Hard with the Hot Rod Sentinel of the Solar Auxilia (posted 01/02/2024)] (last accessed 01/02/2024)
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*{{Endn|37}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2024/02/01/heresy-thursday-scout-fast-and-strike-hard-with-the-hot-rod-sentinel-of-the-solar-auxilia/ Warhammer Community: Heresy Thursday – Scout Fast and Strike Hard with the Hot Rod Sentinel of the Solar Auxilia (posted 01/02/2024)] ''(last accessed 01/02/2024)''
 
*{{Endn|38}}: [[Codex: Astra Militarum (9th Edition)]], pg. 9 - ''A Glorious Tapestry''
 
*{{Endn|38}}: [[Codex: Astra Militarum (9th Edition)]], pg. 9 - ''A Glorious Tapestry''
 
*{{Endn|39}}: [[Of Honour and Iron (Novel)]], ''Pretext: The Thirty-First Millennium''
 
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*{{Endn|42}}: [[Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness 3rd Edition Rulebook]], pg. 27
 
*{{Endn|42}}: [[Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness 3rd Edition Rulebook]], pg. 27
 
*{{Endn|43}}: [[Macragge's Honour (Graphic Novel)]], Dramatis Personae
 
*{{Endn|43}}: [[Macragge's Honour (Graphic Novel)]], Dramatis Personae
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*{{Endn|44}}: [[Horus Heresy: Aeronautica Imperialis]], pg. 91
 
[[Category:The Great Crusade]]
 
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[[Category:Imperial Army]]
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[[Category:Imperial Army| ]]
 
[[Category:Imperial Armed Forces]]
 
[[Category:Imperial Armed Forces]]

Latest revision as of 18:44, 2 April 2026

Imperialis Auxilia (Imperial Army)
Imperial Army Symbol.jpg
Headquarters Terra
Leader Lord Commander Militant
Sub-Branches Solar Auxilia
Imperialis Militia
Imperialis Armada
Divisio Aeronautica
Established Unification Wars-era
Dissolved Post-Horus Heresy

The Imperial Army (also known as the Imperialis Auxilia in High Gothic[20]) was the largest military force in the early Imperium, and was founded during the early Great Crusade to fill the need for more manpower to support the Astartes Legions, and quickly was used to garrison worlds and to perform sieges and mass invasions[1]. The Imperialis Armada was the fleet subset of the Imperial Army and was subordinate to it, while its aerial warfare branch was known as the Divisio Aeronautica.[44] These units were in turn subordinate to the Astartes command structure[1]. The Imperial Army itself was part of the Excertus Imperialis, constituting one of its many divisions.[41a]

The fighting elite of the Imperial Army was the Solar Auxilia, which comprised about 20-25% of the Army's strength by the end of the Great Crusade.[21] The whole strength of the Imperial Army numbered in the many billions.[41b] The Imperial Army also maintained a force of auxiliaries known as the Imperialis Militia.

History

A soldier of the Imperial Army[12a]

The genus of the armed force that was to become the Imperial Army was on Terra, in the form of the few Strife-era military formations that the Emperor allowed to continue in his service after the end of the Unification Wars. These surviving units in time became referred to as the Old Hundred, and formed the initial nucleus of human soldiery at the very beginning of the Great Crusade[3].

When the Emperor left Terra on the Great Crusade, it is said that he would expect the inhabitants of the worlds he conquered to maintain defences and armed forces for their own safety, against internal rebellion and external invasion; similar to the role of Planetary Defence Forces in the 41st millennium. It is out of these forces that the Imperial Army was first formed. Initially used as garrison forces, they were quickly pushed to the forefront of the Crusade[2x].

The Imperial Army's subordination to the Astartes Legions led to the Imperial Army tearing itself apart in the Horus Heresy, when half of the legions rebelled against the Emperor, and took their Army regiments with them. Thousands of Army commanders took it upon themselves to carve themselves their own empires, with no loyalty to Horus or the Emperor, and it was centuries before the Imperium was reforged.

In the aftermath of the Horus Heresy, numerous changes were made to the structure of the Imperial armed forces. Many of these changes were made to ensure that no single individual would ever again be powerful enough to attempt to overthrow the ruling body of the Imperium if he turned traitor. It was during these post-Heresy reforms that the Imperial Army was split into two organisations: the Astra Militarum and the Imperial Navy; the link between them was severed. Astra Militarum commanders now have no authority over the Navy personnel transporting them and are forbidden from being able to command a naval force[2x].

Organisation and Recruitment of the Imperial Army

Recruitment

The Imperial Army was recruited from each world in the Imperium unless exempted (such as Astartes home worlds, Forge Worlds and planets in the Sol System, though some of the regiments from the Unification Wars of Terra were allowed to fight in the Great Crusade), but the size of the tithed forces was dependent on the population of the planet, and Imperial administrators determined the amount of soldiers and war materiel demanded[1]. If all else failed or in times of desperation, the Imperial Army would utilise inducted levy militia, troops with little to no training and poor equipment.[43]

The best equipped and trained regular Imperial Army troops were known as Grenadiers.[22] The fighting elite, made up of 20-25%, were known as the Solar Auxilia

Imperial Army troops of the Sallan 11th Regiment

Organisation

Overall command of the Imperial Army was overseen by two Lord Militants who at the end of the Great Crusade were Tabor Ludovicia and Haldane Ma'lon.[24] Like the Imperial Guard of the 41st Millennium, the Imperial Army relied on the Departmento Munitorum for administrative duties.[25] This in turn answered to the Officio Militaris, an umbrella organisation including all of the many mortal soldiers, labourers and bureaucrats dedicated to the Great Crusade. However, operational command for the Imperial Army fell to the War Council.[34]

The Imperial Army was broadly organised into three groupings. The First Echelon consisted of around 25% of the Army, was a leading edge of the Great Crusade and fought in direct support of the Legiones Astartes or independently in areas where Space Marines could not be spared. These included the famed Solar Auxilia as well as other elite Regiments such as the Old Hundred. Upon achieving victory, the First Echelon would leave the warzone with the rest of the Expeditionary Fleet. The Second Echelon, a strategic reserve formation of regular army troops, would then begin its duties in the form of mopping up, occupation and the overseeing compliance of the conquered world into the new Imperium. When necessary, these troops would also be used in protracted sieges and anti-insurgency operations.[42]

Only once a world was declared fully compliant would the Third Echelon, or Imperialis Militia, be deployed. These troops often were formed for a core of former Second Echelon troops as well as many new locally raised personnel. The duty of the Third Echelon was to combat piracy, civil unrest and to act as the first line of defense against any new threats that may emerge despite often being woefully outmatched against more formidable enemies. Unlike the first and second echelons, these troops had no standardisation with regards to equipment, technology levels or training. Rarely deployed off-world and not particularly loyal to the Imperial Truth, during the subsequent Horus Heresy Third Echelon troops were often used as cannon fodder, especially by the Traitor Legions.[42]

A Discipline Master.[12c]

The largest single organisational unit in the Imperial Army was the Expedition Fleet, each of which was controlled by a Lord Commander unless an Astartes officer was attached[3]. By the time of the Ullanor campaign and the inauguration of Warmaster Horus, there were 4,659 Primary Expedition Fleets (with 372 of those in refit at the time) and more than sixty thousand Secondary Expedition Fleets[4]. Expedition Fleets each had hundreds of thousands of ships and a large amount of Army personnel for ground warfare, the entirety of the Imperialis Armada transporting and supplying many billions of troops.[41b]

Imperial Army personnel were watched over by Discipline Masters, precursors of the modern Commissars.[12c]

Organisation of Imperial Army Regiments

Imperial Army troops of the Fasadian Heavy Infantry

The largest permanent organisational unit during the Horus Heresy for the Imperial Army was the regiment and to take a typical example, regiments could be divided into three or more battalions, with each battalion made up of two or more companies and Platoons, with additional support units attached at the battalion and regimental level[6].

The organisation of individual regiments varied immensely because of the massive lack of standardisation within the Imperial Army[2x]. Expedition Fleets were only equipped with a portion of their supply needs and were expected to re-supply themselves from conquered worlds. These issues were partially resolved with the Council of Terra's introduction of the Departmento Munitorum[5]. The Munitorum originally existed as the Corps Logisticae, a division of naval administration, but was made into a full Departmento shortly before the Ullanor Crusade.[15]

Organisation of the Imperialis Armada

The Imperialis Armada was overseen by a Grand Admiral who by the end of the Great Crusade was Constansa Suati-Falkan.[24]

Regiments were usually assigned to individual ships, with Army personnel commanding both elements.[2a] In the fleet, the highest rank was the Master of the Fleet, who was under the authority of the Lord Commander or Astartes officer in the Expedition Fleet. Other common ranks included Shipmaster (in control of a ship), Executive Officer (second in command)[4], First Master[11a] and Master (other ship officers)[11b]. Some fleets, like the Saturnine Fleet, retained their old ranks from before the Unification Wars.

Equipment

Main article: Astra Militarum Vehicles_#Retired

The Imperial Army of the Great Crusade was much more well-equipped than the Astra Militarum of the 41st Millennia.[13x] Vehicles that are considered rare or lost technology in M41 were common, such as the Testudo, Dracosan, Aurox, Gorgon, Carnodon, Malcador, Leman Russ Incinerator, Leman Russ Vanquisher[13a], Leman Russ Executioner[13b], Destroyer Tank Hunter[13c], or Scurrier[3]. Advanced walkers such as the Hermes Light Sentinel and Aethon Heavy Sentinel were fielded[37]. Entire divisions were equipped with Baneblade and Stormhammer Super-Heavy Tanks and Valdor Heavy Tanks[14] and fleets were equipped with multitudes of Battleships and Grand Cruisers, all now considered a rarity.[13d] In the ten thousand years since the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy, STCs have been lost, Forge Worlds destroyed, and the technology has been treated with far more superstition by the Adeptus Mechanicus.[13e]

Notable regiments

Notable fleets

Main article: Expedition Fleet

Notable Members of the Imperial Army

Images

Imperial Army Solar Auxilia miniatures

See also

Sources

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