Angevin Crusade (Black Templars)
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This article is about the Black Templars Crusade; for the M39 Imperial Crusade, see Angevin Crusade. |
The Angevin Crusade was a Crusade of the Black Templars.[1a]
Under Marshal Angevin, the Crusade initially swore an oath of fealty to Roboute Guilliman and approved of Helbrecht's policy of accepting Primaris Space Marines. However, upon rendezvousing with a Torchbearer Fleet, mutiny broke out in the Black Templars ranks, with many declaring the new Primaris arrivals impure and heretical. A vote was held, and in the end Castellan Beorthnoth and his followers had slain Angevin, the Primaris Marines, and their accompanying Custodian, taking severe damage in the process. Beorhtnoth and his Chaplain then concocted a story that the Torchbearers had never reached them, and they had instead been assaulted and Marshal Angevin had died trying to save them. They subsequently reentered the Imperium's fold and proved instrumental to the victory in the Talledus War.[1a][1c]
After losing contact with the Torchbearer Fleet, Roboute Guilliman himself became suspicious and dispatched a new Fleet under Racej Lucerne and Fabian Guelphrain to discover the truth. Upon arrival, they discovered the Crusade now consisted only of a single Vanguard Class Strike Cruiser and 15 Battle-Brothers.[1a] The Crusade leader immediately expressed its distrust of Lucerne and his Primaris, and Beorhtnoth declared trial by combat to reveal the will of the Emperor, challenging Lucerne to an honour duel. Lucerne was victorious, but refused to slay the Castellan as tradition dictated, and while Lucerne was allowed to join the Black Templars he was informed that the rest of his Unnumbered Sons could not, for they had not earned their place in the Chapter as he had.[1b]
The Crusade remnants later took part in the Battle of Srinagar, where they were wiped out fighting the Word Bearers including Beorhtnoth. At the height of the fighting Lucerne revealed to Beorhtnoth's Chaplain Mortian he knew the truth of the Crusade, causing the Chaplain to attempt to slay him. However Mortian was instead struck down by Botho, a Neophyte and the last survivor of the Crusade. Afterwards, Lucerne had Botho join his Unnumbered Sons.[1c]
Notable Members
- Angevin - Marshal, slain by his own men for accepting Primaris Space Marines.[1c]
- Beorthnoth - Castellan and acting commander after the mutiny against Angevin. Slain by Xhokol Hruvak during the Battle of Srinagar.[1b]
- Mortian - Chaplain. A Fanatic who despised the Primaris Space Marines and pushed Beorthnoth into mutiny. Killed by Lucerne.[1c]
- Botho - Neophyte, last survivor[1c]
