Emperor's Champion
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This article is about the Black Templars' champion. For other uses of Champion, see Champion (disambiguation). |
The Emperor's Champions are elite warriors of the Black Templars. These Battle-Brothers usually seek out the enemy's champions and challenge them to single combat, just as Sigismund first did in the Battle of Terra during the Horus Heresy.[1]
Contents
Overview
The tradition of the Emperor's Champion dates back to the time of the Horus Heresy before the inception of the Black Templars. The first Emperor's Champion was First Captain Sigismund of the Imperial Fists Legion. The Primarch Rogal Dorn bestowed upon him the new title during the attack on the Imperial Palace, where he served victoriously. The practice of the tradition remained with Sigismund after his separation from the Imperial Fists to become the Black Templars first High Marshal.[Note 1] Today, the Emperor's Champion is seen as a living miracle and manifestation of the God-Emperor's will.[14]
On the eve of battle, the Black Templars spend their time in meditation. It is alleged that at this point one of their number will be visited upon by a vision of the Emperor, guiding him to victory. Their mind assailed by omens and spiritual destiny, the warrior then presents himself to the company Chaplain for scrutiny. The Chaplain hears the warriors confession before anointing him as the Emperor's Champion in a sombre ritual.[14] The Emperor's Champion is permitted to bear powerful artefacts from the armoury, namely the Armour of Faith and the Black Sword. Before battle, the Champion also leads the Templars in renewing one of the four Vows, each instilling the Black Templars with righteous fury. Those vows are: "Suffer Not The Unclean To Live," "Uphold The Honour Of The Emperor," "Abhor The Witch, Destroy The Witch," and "Accept Any Challenge, No Matter The Odds".[1]
In battle, the Emperor's Champion is most commonly used to seek out and eliminate the enemy's leaders and dueling them to the death. This is seen as honouring Sigismund's role during the Siege of Terra.[14] His presence serves as a fantastic inspiration to the rest of his battle-brothers, leading the whole battle-group to feats of prowess beyond that of even normal Space Marines and even if the champion dies on the battlefield (which is a bad omen), his name and deeds are recorded and remembered for the rest of time. By tradition, there is only one Emperor's Champion for the entire chapter, but in practice there is usually one Champion per Black Templar Crusade.[1]
Usage by other Chapters
Although the position of Emperor's Champion is most commonly associated with the Black Templars, it has also been observed in other Chapter's, particularly of the bloodline of Rogal Dorn.[14]
For the Imperial Fists, this role when it appears is something that is competed for, rather than being granted based on visions had by the Space Marines.[2] The Crimson Fists have also been recorded as using an Emperor's Champion, though far less frequently than the Black Templars. However, since the Invasion of Rynn's World, which devastated the Chapter, none amongst them have been gifted with visions of the Emperor. This may be connected with the explosion that destroyed the Chapter's Fortress Monastery, during the conflict with the Orks, and which likely destroyed the Crimson Fists' ancient and sacred vestments of the Emperor's Champion.[4]
The Blood Ravens, though not a Imperial Fists successor Chapter, also make use of the Emperor's Champion, by choosing a veteran Battle Brother within their Chapter. Their Champion wields the Thunder Hammer Deliverance and the Storm Shield Repudiation in battle, armaments known in the Chapter as the Holy Arms of the Champion.[3]
Known Emperor's Champions
- Aelius
- Alehart[5]
- Ansgar[8]
- Bayard[11a]
- Cenric[10]
- Horst
- Leinhert
- Garrein
- Gerard Frahn[9]
- Johannes Berengar
- Navarre
- Priamus[11b]
- Reinhart
- Renald
- Rynart
- Sigismund
- Torund
- Ucalegon
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Images
Trivia
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- Note 1: In the novel Fulgrim, Rogal Dorn is given the title of Emperor's Champion upon his return to Terra as head of the Emperor's guard, which might be the point of origin for the title.
See also
Sources
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- 1: Codex: Black Templars (4th Edition), pg. 15
- 2: Seventh Retribution (Novel), [Help]
- 3: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II — Holy Arms of the Champion, wargear selection screen
Classics - 4: White Dwarf 288 (UK), pgs. 48–49
- 5: Index Astartes: Emperor's Champion, pg. 8
- 6: Codex: Space Marines (6th Edition), pg. 118
- 7: Games Workshop The Emperor's Champion (last accessed 14 March 2015)
- 8: The Relic (Short Story) — Legends of the Space Marines (Anthology)
- 9: Conquest 67 - Space Marines: Company & Chapter Champions
- 10: Champions, All (Short Story)
- 11: Helsreach (Novel) — Armageddon (Anthology):
- 12: A Living Miracle for a New Era – Meet the Emperor’s Champion in All His Glory (posted 08/09/2021) (last accessed 08/09/2021)
- 13 : Warhammer Community: Designing Bayard’s Revenge – How This Stunning Commemorative Miniature Came to Life (posted 28/09/2022) (last accessed 25 March 2023)
- 14: Codex Supplement: Black Templars (10th Edition), pg. 21
Uncited
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