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{{SpaceMarinesPortal}}
The '''Codex Astartes''' is the doctrine of the [[Space Marine Chapter]]s, governing all aspects of Chapter organisation and battlefield tactics. For any given tactical situation, the Codex has hundreds of pages devoted to how it may be met and overcome. The wisdom of thousands of Imperial warriors has contributed to the Codex, and details on everything from unit markings to launching a full-scale planetary assault are contained within its pages.
Likewise, the [[Dark Angels]] and their successors, while dividing into chapters, have remained united in their single-minded pursuit of the [[Fallen]].{{Cite This}}
The [[Space Wolves]] Legion, however, never fully accepted the new doctrine; rather they held sacred the teachings of their Primarch, Leman Russ. For that reason, the Wolves consist of twelve [[Great Company|Great Companies]], rather than the ten mandated by the Codex, and their system of organization and promotion bears little resemblance to that of hardline Codex chapters, such as the Ultramarines. Although the Space Wolves attempted to create Successor Chapters, the genetic instability of their [[gene-seed]] made a disaster of their first (and possibly last) attempt, the ill-fated [[Wolf Brothers]].{{Fn|9}}
In the immediate aftermath of the Heresy, [[Nassir Amit]], the founder and first chapter master of the [[Flesh Tearers]], expressed little but scorn for the Codex, finding it amusing that Guilliman, who had been absent from the [[Battle of Terra]], should think himself fit to impose restrictions on the other Legions.{{Fn|13}}
[[Image:CodexOrganisation.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Codex Astartes Space Marine Chapter organisational chart.]]
The Codex states that a Space Marine [[Chapter]] should be split into 10 [[Space Marine Company|companies]] of 100 Marines each, plus a [[Space Marine Captain]], [[Apothecary]], [[Company Standard]] and [[Chaplain]] for each [[company]]one.{{Cite This}} In the reforms by [[Roboute Guilliman]] after his return to the [[Imperium]] at the end of [[M41]], two [[Lieutenant (Space Marines)|Lieutenants]] serve directly below the Company Captain, commanding two demi-companies.{{Fn|15}}
Existing outside the Company level organisation, each chapter has an [[Armoury]] consisting of the chapter's [[Techmarine]]s and tanks, a [[Librarium]] consisting of the Chapter's [[Librarian]]s, a Chapter [[Space Marine Fleet]], and the [[Chapter Master]], plus various headquarters staff (including any Honour Guard and the Chapter Champion), and the Chapter's [[servitor]]s and [[Chapter Serf|human serfs]].{{Cite This}} This means that even the most Codex-compliant chapter can have as many [[Techmarine]]s, [[Librarian]]s, and vehicle staff (pilots, gunners, etc - this includes Dreadnoughts) as it can muster.
==Sources==
*{{Endn|1}}: [http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?community=&catId=cat1290027&categoryId=600002&aId=2500035 Games Workshop Website - Ultramarines Background]
*{{Endn|2}}: ''[[The Long Games at Carcharias (Short Story)]]''*{{Endn|3}}: [[The Chapter's Due (Novel)]] by [[Graham McNeill]], Chapter Six, pg. 78
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Chaos Rising]]
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Index Astartes I]], ''Codex Astartes'', pgs. 12-16
*{{Endn|7}}: [[Codex: Black Templars (4th Edition)]], pg. 6
*{{Endn|8}}: [[Index Astartes II]]: ''Imperial Fists'', pgs. 14-15
*{{Endn|9}}: [[Codex: Space Wolves (5th Edition)]]. , pgs. 8-9*{{Endn|10}}: [[Grey Hunter (Novel)]] by [[William King]], {{Cite This}}*{{Endn|11}}: [[Deathwatch: Rites of Battle]], pg . 53
*{{Endn|12}}: [[The Emperor Expects (Novel)]], Chapter 14
*{{Endn|13}}: [[Flesh of Cretacia (Novella)]] by [[Andy Smillie]], Chapter 1
*{{Endn|14}}: [[Dark Imperium (Novel)]], Chapter 10
*{{Endn|15}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition)]] , pg.62*{{Endn|16}}: [[Codex: Vanguard Space Marines (8th Edition)]] , pg.5
===Uncited===
[[Category:Ultramarines]]
[[Category:Imperial Texts]]
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