Ancient
Ancients are the Standard Bearers in a Space Marines Chapter.[1]
Contents
Company Ancient
Company Ancients, also known as Company Standard Bearers, are Veteran Space Marines who have shown honour and combat prowess sufficient to be granted the right to carry the Company Banner into battle. They often form part of a Command Squad which fights alongside the company's Captain.[1]
One of the most common specialists found fighting alongside Veteran Squads, Company Ancients have the privilege of wielding the Company Standard into battle. Each such standard is an ancient relic, steeped in history and deeply revered by the warriors of the Company. Many have been carried over battlefields for hundreds and even thousands of years. Every Space Marine of a Company, from the most seasoned veteran to newest recruit, fights harder in the presence of a Company Ancient and his standard. Thus it is the duty of the Company Ancient to never let his banner drop while he still draws breath. Losing his banner while still living is seen as the most terrible and shameful dishonour. To this end, these individuals are invariably great warriors.[1]
Chapter variations of the Company Ancient include the Brotherhood Ancient, a title used by the Grey Knights.[2]
Notable Company Ancients
- Gadriel - Ultramarines 2nd Company.[15]
- Ortegius - Ultramarines 3rd Company.[16]
- Scirpico - Howling Griffons 5th Company.[12]
- Korelon - Silver Templars 3rd Company.[4]
- Yeku - White Scars 3rd Company.[5]
- Niko - Carcharodons 3rd Company.[13]
Bladeguard Ancient
Bladeguard Ancients are Standard Bearers assigned to Bladeguard Veteran squads which carry their Chapter's most precious standards into battle. The most revered of these incorporate the remains of fallen heroes of the Chapter.[6]
Chapter Ancient
The Chapter Ancient is the bearer of the Chapter's Banner.[9] They typically serve within the Honour Guard.[10]
One battle-brother amongst the Honour Guard may have the distinction of carrying the banner of their Chapter into battle. This is a sacred task, one borne with immense dignity and gravitas. Whether providing a rallying point to the warriors fighting around him, or racing to defiantly plant the standard upon a contested elevation and in doing so claim the battlefield for his Chapter, the Ancient serves to inspire all around him.[10]
Notable Chapter Ancients
Crusade Ancient
A variant of Ancient used by the Black Templars.[13]
Images
Terminator Ancient (10th Edition)[14]
Company Ancient (10th Edition)[8]
Company Ancient (9th Edition)[7]
Terminator Ancient
Space Wolf ancient
Grey Knights Paladin Brotherhood Ancient (5th Edition)[14]
Standard Bearer (4th edition)
Standard Bearer (3rd Edition)
Standard Bearer (2nd Edition)
A Dark Angels Standard Bearer (2nd Edition)
Sources
- 1: Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition, 2nd Codex), pg. 63
- 2: Codex: Grey Knights (7th Edition) — Chapter Organisation
- 3: Warhammer Community: Warhammer 40,000 Preview – What’s in the Box? (posted 13/06/2020) (last accessed 13 June 2020)
- 4: Silver Templars (Sourcebook), pg. 29
- 5: Hunt for Voldorius (Novel), Chapter 1
- 6: Codex: Space Marines (9th Edition), pg. 147
- 7: Warhammer Community: Wield Sword and Standard With This Imperious New Primaris Ancient (posted 27/12/2021) (last accessed 27 December 2021)
- 8: Warhammer Community: NOVA Open Previews – Codex: Space Marines and the Heroes of the Chapter (posted 30/8/2023) (last accessed 31 August 2023)
- 9: Insignium Astartes, pg. 17
- 10: Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition), pg. 66
- 11: How to Paint Space Marines, pg. 49
- 12: White Dwarf 309 (UK), pgs. 112-120
- 13: Warhammer Community: Carry the honour of the Black Templars with a new Crusade Ancient and Codex Supplement (posted 16/6/2025) (archived from the original, last accessed 16 June 2025)
- 14: Games Workshop: Grey Knights Paladin Squad (archived from the original, last accessed 10/7/2025)
- 13: Carcharodons: Red Tithe (Novel), Chapter VI
- 14: Warhammer Community: Assault Terminators are an unstoppable force and an immovable object in one indomitable package (posted 22/09/2025) (archived from the original 22 September 2022, last accessed 22 September 2025)
- 15: Warhammer Community: World Championships Preview – Captain Titus battles Nekrosor Ammentar for the Five Hundred Worlds of Ultramar (archived from the original 07 November 2025, last accessed 07 November 2025)
- 16: Ultramarines Painting Guide - Sons of Ultramar, pgs. 9-14
- 17: Codex Supplement: Ultramarines (8th Edition), pgs. 40-41 - Honour Guard
- 18: [1] (last accessed 14 January 2026)
- 19: Codex: Angels of Death (2nd Edition), pg. 81
- 20: Official Warhammer Art Store - Paul Dainton Collection
