Space Marine Standards
Standards are ceremonial objects of the Space Marine Chapters, marked with sacred motifs and battle honours gained in past wars.
Contents
History
The carrying of a Standard is an old military tradition, dating back to the early days of Terran warfare. During the Horus Heresy, each Space Marine Legion maintained the ancient military tradition of the Legion Standard as a symbol of unity and inspiration. Whatever form they may take, it was beneath the shadow of these banners and icons that the tides of victory and defeat were determined.[12]
Present Day
They are revered as the embodiments of the honour and fighting spirit of the Companies and the Chapter. Standards are sometimes carried into battle.
Normally they are hung in the Reclusiam of the Chapter's fortress-monastery. Many of these standards are ancient, having been carried in battle by generations of Marines.[1]
Types of Standard
Chapter Banner
The Chapter Banner is the physical manifestation of Chapter's honour. Marines accompanying the standard bearer will furiously prevent the banner from falling to the enemy. Chapter banners are a source of fierce pride for any chapter, taken into battle only when the Space Marine Chapter Master takes to the field, or when a large part of a chapter is deployed to battle. Chapter banners are said to be created on Holy Terra and given to a chapter upon its founding.
A Chapter Banner is carried into battle by a Chapter Ancient, typically part of an Honour Guard.[5a]
Company Standard
Similar to the Chapter banner, the Company Standard represents the honour of a particular company and will bolster the morale abilities of nearby Space Marines. A Company Standard is carried into battle by a Company Ancient, typically part of a Command Squad.[6]
Sacred Standard
The sacred standard embodies the faith and resolution of the Space Marines, bolstering the resolve of nearby Marines. A Sacred Standard is carried by standard bearers within a Reclusiam squad.[7]
Notable Standards
- Angel of Sacrifice - Imperial Fists 3rd Company Banner. Reforged into a Crozius Arcanum.[8]
- Banner of Macragge - Ultramarines Chapter Banner.
- Guilliman's First Oath - Ultramarines Honour Standard (Heresy-era).[9]
- Shroud of Yrnax - Doom Eagles.[4]
- Standard of Devastation - one of the three Dark Angels Chapter Banners.[2]
- Standard of Fortitude - one of the three Dark Angels Chapter Banners.[2]
- Standard of Meridian - Blood Ravens.[11]
- Standard of Retribution - one of the three Dark Angels Chapter Banners.[2]
- Standard of Sacrifice - Blood Angels battle standard.[10]
- Standard of the Emperor Ascendant
- Stigmartyr - Excoriators Chapter Banner.[3]
Images
Blood Angels Chapter Banner
Dark Angels Chapter Banner
Space Wolves Chapter Banner
Imperial Fists Chapter Banner
Iron Hands Chapter Banner
Raven Guard Chapter Banner
Salamanders Chapter Banner
Ultramarines Chapter Banner
White Scar Chapter Banner
Crimson Fists Chapter Banner
Related articles
Sources
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- 1: Warhammer 40,000: Compendium, pg. 137
- 2: Codex: Angels of Death (2nd Edition), pg. 44
- 3: Legion of the Damned (Novel), Chapter One, pg. 34
- 4: Deathwatch: Honour the Chapter, pg. 133
- 5: Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition)
- 6: Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition, 2nd Codex), pg. 63
- 7: White Dwarf 405 (UK) - Reclusiam Command Squad
- 8: Sentinels of Terra - A Codex: Space Marines Supplement (6th Edition) - Relics of the 3rd Company
- 9: White Dwarf 94 (2015) — Betrayal at Calth: At Any Cost
- 10: Codex: Blood Angels (8th Edition), pg. 139 — Relics of Baal
- 11: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Standard of Meridian, (wargear selection screen)
- 12: Liber Astartes, pg. 144
Uncited
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