Codex Astartes
The Codex Astartes is the doctrine of the Space Marine Chapters, 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[25b], to religious instruction and strategic supply[33] are contained within its pages.[25b]
The Codex was written and formalised after the Horus Heresy by the Primarch of the Ultramarines, Roboute Guilliman. Some Chapters, such as the Ultramarines and their successors, regard the Codex as a holy text, and follow it without question. Many other chapters also follow the Codex, though not always as strictly as the Ultramarines; these two types of chapters are collectively known as Codex Chapters. Among the Ultramarines, each battle brother must memorise whole sections of the codex, so that within a company there exists an entire record of the text.[1]
The Codex has also seen use in some non-Adeptus Astartes organisations, such as the Ultramar Defence Auxilia. In these cases, the Codex is adapted to fit mortal infantry, but the core tactics and tenets remain the same.[36]
Contents
History
In the aftermath of the Horus Heresy, the Emperor had been incapacitated, and the Space Marines' numbers had been decimated by defections to Chaos and battle losses. With the Emperor confined to the Golden Throne the High Lords of Terra found themselves the new leaders of the Emperor's domain. Both the High Lords and surviving Primarchs became paranoid of the possibility of such events repeating themselves. The armies of the Emperor once again scoured the galaxy seeking out all forms of heresy and removing even the slightest chance of rebellion. The Ultramarines were left as the largest loyal legion, and Guilliman assumed the title of Lord Commander of the Imperium.[25] Concerned that once again their could be a threat from such a terrible force each Legion was to be divided into smaller Chapters and a new set of regulations would be created to govern them.[9]
In order to give form to the newly established Adeptus Astartes, Roboute Guilliman gathered his thoughts in the treatise known as the Codex Astartes. The original Codex was largely a work of two parts. In the first, Guilliman laid out the organisational structure of the Chapters, their insignia, officers and role. The second was a collection of strategic and tactical theses intended to provide guidance to future leaders of the Space Marines.[32a]
The Codex Astartes was a code developed by Guilliman. This tome would contain everything a member of the Astartes would need to know to function. From recruitment to organisation to tactics and beyond the Codex Astartes became a sacred text to the majority of the Chapters.[10] One of the most significant changes under the new Codex was the newly founded Chapters. Where the Legions could number more than 10,000 strong the Chapters would be limited to about a thousand. Each original Legion would be divided as many times as needed into successor Chapters. This division would come to be called the Second Founding seven years after the Horus Heresy[11b], in 021.M31. The remaining thousand bodies in the original Legion would also survive as a new Chapter of the same name. While these newly created Chapters claimed their founders origins, such as their Primarch, they would also come to develop their own culture and customs.[25a]
Rogal Dorn initially rejected the Codex Astartes and enmity developed between him and Guilliman. Dorn called Guilliman a coward, citing his lack of participation in the defence of the Imperial Palace. Guilliman accused Dorn of being a rebel for refusing the Codex. This enmity quickly involved other Space Marine Legions and a rift developed, Leman Russ of the Space Wolves stood by the Imperial Fists, while Jaghatai Khan of the White Scars and Corax of the Raven Guard supported the Ultramarines. A second civil war appeared likely when the Imperial Fists strike cruiser Terrible Angel was fired upon by the Imperial Navy in connection with Codex crisis.[7]
However, Dorn ultimately relented after spending seven days meditating in the pain glove. There, he concluded that the Legion could no longer serve the Emperor who had been and must serve the Emperor who was, which involved accepting the new order of which the Codex was a part.[8]
There is no such thing as a single version of the Codex Astartes, and the original text no longer exists in any form.[32a] The earliest known copy is the Apocrypha of Skaros.[33] Over the millennia, the work has been added to by successive hands so extensively that various competing versions have emerged. In some cases these are so divergent that chapters have gone to war over differing interpretations of the Primarch's will. Therefore, although the doctrines presented in all are invaluable, and collectively the existing versions are perhaps the single greatest work on the art of war in the Imperium, attribution of each individual part of the text is nigh impossible, even with the help of its putative author. [32a]
Recent Reformation
After the resurrection of Guilliman in late M41, he began to see many of the flaws that came from overly-strict adherence to the Codex Astartes. As a result, he has reformed much of the Codex and eliminated much of its restrictions on Space Marines. New additions include the addition of Primaris Space Marine formations such as Intercessor, Aggressor, Inceptor, and Reiver Squads, as well as the inclusion of two Lieutenants below the Company Captain, each commanding a demi-Company. Furthermore, squads in the Codex Astartes are now defined as "battleline" rather than tactical, "close support" rather than assault, or "fire support" rather than devastator. These formations exist alongside the not renamed veteran and scout squads.[15a][15b]
Additionally, the 10th company of a chapter began to include 10 "vanguard" squads alongside scout squads, acting as a permanent infiltration and reconnaissance force that could be attached to other companies.[15a][15b]
As a corollary, the maximum size of a chapter has expanded, as can be seen in the current roster of Guilliman's first founding chapter; as can be seen there, the 10th company contains a full 1,000 marines (formerly it would contain very few, as non-sergeant scouts did not count against the 1,000-man personnel limit in the old Codex Astartes); this means even before company command structure marines (such as command squads, captains, and lieutenants), chapter command structure marines, and dedicated vehicle crews (e.g. dreadnoughts), at full strength the Ultramarines have 100 marines assigned to battleline, close support, fire support, and veteran squads (i.e. 1,000 total), plus 1 marine assigned to each scout squad as its sergeant.
The new version is often still referred to simply by the name Codex Astartes, but more properly its title is the Novo Codex Astartes.[32b]
Guilliman ultimately intends to replace the Codex Astartes with the Codex Imperialis.[14]
Organisational Doctrine
Chapters
Every Chapter should be led by the Chapter Master, an accomplished warrior and strategists who coordinates the Chapter's strenght as a whole, assisted in his tasks by various headquarters staff including a Honour Guard as well the Chapter's servitors and serfs.[18]
The Codex states that a Space Marine Chapter should be split into 10 companies of 100 Marines each and led by a Captain.[15a]
Existing outside the Company level organisation, each Chapter has an Armoury consisting of the chapter's Techmarines Tanks, Gunships and vehicle staff (pilots, gunners) as it can muster, a Reclusiam hosting the Chaplains, a Librarius hosting the Librarians, an Apothecarion containing Apothecaries and guarding a Chapter's Gene-seed, and a combat-capable Chapter Fleet.[18]
Organigram of a Codex Compliant Chapter
Armoury[18]
|
CHAPTER COMMAND Master of the Chapter[18] |
Reclusiam[18]
|
Librarius[18]
|
Chapter Fleet[18]
|
Apothecarion[18]
|
| Veterans[18] | 4 Battle Companies[18] | |||
| 1st Veteran Company 
|
2nd Battle Company 
|
3rd Battle Company 
|
4th Battle Company 
|
5th Battle Company 
|
| 6th Battleline Company 
|
7th Battleline Company 
|
8th Close Support Company 
|
9th Fire Support Company 
|
10th Scout Company 
|
| 4 Reserve Companies[18] | Vanguard[18] | |||
Companies
Each Company in a Codex-compliant Chapter is led by a Space Marine Captain[18]. The Captain is supported by 2 Lieutenants, each commanding a demi-company, and a Command Squad, which often varies in composition but generally includes an Apothecary, a Chaplain, a Company Ancient, a Company Champion, and multiple (usually 2) Company Veterans.[15d]
Veteran Company
The 1st Company is the most powerful company, consisting entirely of Veteran Space Marines. In addition to having access to the Chapter's rarest and most advanced technology, the 1st Company is the only one trained in and equipped with Terminator Armour. The veterans of the 1st are attached to other Space Marine strike forces rather than the entire formation fighting as one. When serving with other formations they serve as peerless mentors and heroes of legend as well as the most experienced shock troops.[20b]
There are several types of Squads fielded by the Veteran Company. These include Terminator Squads, Sternguard Veteran Squads, Vanguard Veteran Squads, and Bladeguard Veteran Squads.[20b]
Battle Companies
The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Companies are known as Battle Companies, as they generally form the main battle force deployed for engagements. These are highly flexible formations that are the principle fighting forces of the Chapter. Each Company is led by a Captain with two supporting Lieutenants. Support staff includes a Company Champion, and Company Ancient and Company Veterans, the most experienced and peerless warriors of the Company. In times of war the Battle Company may also be accompanied by one or more Chaplain, Librarians and Techmarines. In addition to their command duties, each Company Captain also has a number of titles and duties. Examples include the 2nd Company Captain holding the title of the Master of the Watch, the 4th as the Master of the Fleet, and the 5th as the Master of the Marches.[20x]
Each Battle Company principally has ten squads:
The Codex, however, makes provisions for there to be twenty squads, for when squads from the reserve companies are attached. Additionally, a Company's squads can be split in two, forming combat squads. Each Company is in turn split into two demi-Companies, each led by a Lieutenant. The Companies go to war with their own arsenal of wargear and specialist equipment including Phobos Armour, Gravis Armour, Centurion Warsuits, Invictor Warsuits, Land Speeders, Rhinos, Impulsors, Razorbacks, Dreadnoughts, and Bikes. An entire company can fight in stealth if there is enough Phobos Armour to equip them all. The Company Captain can request additional vehicle assets from the armoury in the form of Battle Tanks and aircraft.[20x]
Even the squads themselves can be broken down into a variety of roles should their Captain require it. Should 3 brothers be detached from their fire support squad to form an Eliminator Squad, the remaining seven can be formed into a Hellblaster Squad, pilot Invictor Warsuits, or fulfil a number of other roles including operating vehicles. Should the strength of a Battle Company be deemed insufficient, he will request support from one of the Reserve Companies, the formation of which depends on the mission. For instance, if he expects he will need fast-moving forces to rapidly secure ground or counter agile enemies, he will request Close Support Squads.[20x]
Reserve Companies
The 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Companies are the Reserve Companies, designed as training and reserve formations, used to bolster the Battle Companies in combat when needed.[6]
Rather than formations of mixed squad types, Reserve Companies contain squads of the same strategic disposition.[20x]
- The 6th and 7th Companies each maintain 10 Battleline Squads[20x]
- The 8th is made of 10 Close Support squads[20x]
- The 9th is made of 10 Fire Support Squads[20x]
The Reserve Companies also embed additional specialities to provide the Chapter with the resources to fight campaigns. The 6th and 7th Companies undergo extensive training in vehicle piloting, the 8th specialize in storming defenses, and the 9th excel in providing devastating salvos of fire.[20x]
Typically squads within the Reserve Companies will fight alongside a Battle Company, enabling them to quickly plug gaps in the Battle Company.[34] However, on some occasions - particularly in a larger campaign - Reserve Companies might fight as a whole. Each Reserve Company has a leadership similar to a Battle Company, with a Captain, two Lieutenants, Chaplain, Apothecary, Ancient, and Company Veterans. Just as with the Battle Companies, the Captain of each Reserve Company also normally has an additional title and duties.[20x]
After graduating from the 10th Company, the first destination for a new Space Marine is the Reserve Companies. In the 9th they hone their understanding of wider strategy in the application of heavy firepower, in the 8th they learn the value of rapid assault and the importance of constant movement, while in the 6th and 7th they prove to their brothers and commanders that have assimilated these teachings. After mastering their aspects of war and have demonstrated enough worth will they be promoted to the Battle Companies.[20x]
Scout Company
The 10th Company, also known as the Scout Company, is the first destination for any new Neophyte of the Chapter once they have moved passed the Aspirant stage. There are no regulations dictated in the Codex as to the number of Neophytes a Chapter may have and the recruitment rate is not fixed and methods differ between Chapters. The Neophytes of the 10th have yet to earn the Black Carapace, the final implant that allows them to operate their Power Armour efficiently. Officers of the 10th all closely observe the members of the Company and teach them the way of the Bolter and blade. They also learn how to pilot Bikes and Land Speeders as well as concepts such as tactical withdrawals, target prioritizing, stealth, reconnaissance, and sabotage. Using these lessons they form the intelligence branch of the Chapter that undertake a variety of missions such as picking off sentries, cutting down enemy patrols, supply distruption, and battlefield reconnaissance. In war, they undertake these hazardous missions to measure their strength and ascertain who truly has the skill required to be a true Space Marine. Much like those of the Reserve Companies, members of the 10th are usually assigned to other Companies in war and rarely go to battle as a whole unit.[20c]
Currently, the Scout Company wields a variety of formations besides the basic Scout Squads and Scout Bike formations. It also fields a force of 100 Vanguard Space Marines that may take to the field as Infiltrators, Incursors, Suppressors, Eliminators, and Reivers as well as piloting Invictor Warsuits. Unlike the Scouts, these Vanguard Space Marines are a standing and permanent force within the Company and represent the elite special operations arm of the Chapter.[20b]
Company Markings
Each Company has a unique colour that its members wear, commonly on the shoulder plate rims, but some chapters use chest eagles, bolter cases, knee pads, helmets, or other parts of a Space Marine's Power Armour:[15b]
- 1st Company: White [15b] or Silver(members of the 1st Company should also paint their helmet the company colour).
- 2nd Company: Yellow [15b] or Gold[15b]
- 3rd Company: Red [15b]
- 4th Company: Green [15b]
- 5th Company: Black [15b]
- 6th Company: Orange [15b]
- 7th Company: Purple [15b]
- 8th Company: Grey [15b]
- 9th Company: Light Blue [15b]
- 10th Company: Company colour is not displayed on their armour, because of their need to blend with their surroundings on reconnaissance missions.[27a]
While Scouts don't have pauldron trims to display company colour, Vanguard Space Marines do. When not attached to another Company, the trim of the Vanguard marine's pauldron is painted the same colour as the rest of the armour, i.e. an Imperial Fists Infilitrator of the 10th Company would have yellow pauldron trims.[41]
Attached Units
Often, Space Marine Strike Forces consist of Marines from multiple different companies attached to one central Battle Company. Members from the 6th-9th Reserve Companies can provide reinforcements and extra firepower, Veterans from the 1st Company provide skill and wisdom to augment existing forces, and Scouts and Vanguard Space Marines from the 10th Company infilitrate, sabotage, and assassinate key targets. Additionally, forces can requisition vehicles from the Armoury, providing armoured support.[20a]
Attached units will typically take the heraldry of the company they are attached to. For example, an Intercessor Squad pulled from the 7th Company to bolster a 3rd Company force would paint their shoulder trims red in the company colour. Similarly, a Bladeguard Veteran Squad formed of Veterans from the 1st Company attached to a 4th Company Strike Force would paint their shoulder trims green, rather than white.[20e]
While a company would normally consist of ten squads, attached squads can form an additional ten, taking up designations as squads 11-20.[35a]
Apothecaries and Chaplains are usually permanently part of a Company, while Librarians and Techmarines are considered attached to the Company but ultimately belong to the Librarius and Armoury, respectively.[37]
Squads
Space Marines are generally divided into squads, semi-independent units usually consisting of six or ten marines including a Sergeant. Under the Codex Astartes, each squad has a battlefield role outlining its purpose and combat method on the battlefield. The following battlefield roles exist in a Codex-compliant Chapter:
- Close Support Squad - Melee or high mobility, such as an Assault Intercessor Squad or Inceptor Squad
- Fire Support Squad - Ranged firepower, such as a Hellblaster Squad or Desolator Squad. Note that close-ranged squads such as Aggressors are still classified as Fire Support if they primarily use ranged weapons still.
- Battleline Squad - Tactically flexible and generic, such as an Intercessor Squad or Infilitrator Squad.
- Veteran Squad - Elite units composed entirely of more experiencedVeterans, such as a Terminator Squad or Bladeguard Veteran Squad
- Command Squad - Company command squad accompanying the Captain, containing specialists including an Apothecary, a Company Ancient, a Chaplain, and Company Veterans. Honour Guard Squads are classified as Command Squads.
- Scout Squad - Trainee Space Marine unit. Scout Land Speeders and Bike Squads are still Scout Squads.[20d]
Combat Squads
While the standard number of marines in a squad is 10, a squad can be split into two groups of 5 marines known as combat squads for extra strategic versatility, such as having one combat squad acting in an "assault" role with the other providing fire support.[38] In most cases, the second-most senior member of a squad (such as a Veteran) would lead one combat squad, while the Sergeant would lead the other. Combat squads are usually named after their leader, similarly to full squads.[38][39]
Squad Markings
The left shoulder plate of a Space Marine's Power Armour usually shows the Marine's Chapter Badge, while the right displays squad markings. Squad markings in a Codex-compliant Chapter consist of a squad number laid over a battlefield role icon. Close Support Squads display a 4-way arrow to designate their battlefield role, while Fire Support Squads display an inverted V known as a chevron, and Battleline Squads use a simple upwards-facing arrow. Command Squads bear a skull, and Veteran Squads use a stylised version of the Crux Terminatus similar to a Cross Pattée. Veterans in Terminator Armour wear a real Crux Terminatus, albeit on their left shoulder pads, displacing their Chapter Badges to their right pauldron.[20a][27a]
Some Chapters choose to display squad information on other parts of the armour, e.g. on kneepads.[18b][18c]
Squads in Battle Companies are numbered so that squads 1-6 are Battleline, squads 7-8 are Close Support, and squads 9-10 are Fire Support. However, squads 11-20 from Reserve Companies attached to a Battle Company don't appear to follow any required format, meaning they could all be Close Support squads, for example.[20a] The Vanguard squads in the 10th Company also don't follow the same strict numbering scheme that the battle companies do, so it's possible to have a Battleline 10th squad in a Codex-compliant 10th Company.[41]
Vehicles and Dreadnoughts
Each Codex-compliant Space Marine Company maintains a permanent number of Dreadnoughts and transport tanks, and can requisition more from the Chapter Armoury.[20a]
Vehicles attached to a company will generally bear the company's colour and number in a small roundel somewhere on the hull, as well as an identifier number to distinguish between different attached vehicles, although the exact meaning of identifier numbers vary.[Note 2][26c] Transport vehicles attached to a specific squad also bear that squad's heraldry, including squad number and battlefield role insignia.[26c]
Aircraft are usually organised into squadrons, which are structured similarly to Space Marine squads, except with Techmarines piloting (usually 3) aircraft instead of infantry. Squadrons are led by a wing leader, who combines the function of a Sergeant and a Techmarine. Squadrons are also often attached to Companies, and bear that company's insignia. While there is no official marking scheme for squadrons, aircraft are usually marked with large blocks of colour on the wings and tail for easy identification from long distances, with the wing leader's aircraft featuring the most ornate design. Numbers applied to aircraft's hulls can also be used to differentiate between aircraft in the same squadron, with the wing leader usually being numbered 1.[40]
Battlefield roles can be given to aircraft, with some having the close support role.[40]
Aircraft can form mixed-type units, such as a Storm Wing, which contains a Stormraven Gunship escorted by two Stormtalon Gunships.[40]
Ranks
Neophyte
A Neophyte is the lowest rank of Space Marine. Neophytes are usually members of Scout Squads, and are attached to the 10th Company.[20d]
Battle-Brother
Battle-Brothers are the first rank of fully-fledged Space Marines, forming the majority of a Chapter. They are divided into a wide range of squads throughout all Companies but the First. Battle-Brother is also a term used by all Space Marines to refer to each other with.[20d]
Sergeant
A Sergeant is the leader of a squad. Sergeants paint their helmets red, a practice originally used to honour notable Sergeant Aeonid Thiel. Some Sergeants use another indicator, such as a red stripe, laurel, or skull on their helmet instead. Sergeants can also carry a squad's banner.[27a]
Veteran
A Veteran is an elite, highly experienced Space Marine. To mark their status, Veterans wear white helmets. Veterans usually form Veteran Squads, but can also be members of Command Squads or Honour Guard Squads. Some Veterans have the ability to don Terminator Armour.[20b]
Ancient
Ancients are Veterans that carry a Standard. Each Chapter has a Chapter Ancient, responsible for carrying the Chapter Standard, and 10 Company Ancients that carry Company Standards. Company Ancients are usually part of the Company Command Squad, and Chapter Ancients part of the Chapter Honour Guard.[20b]
Champion
Champions are Veterans that are master duellists. Each Company has a Company Champion in their Command Squad, while the best duellist in the Chapter is part of the Honour Guard.[20b]
Veteran Sergeant
Veteran Sergeants are both Veterans and Sergeants. Every Veteran Squad is led by a Veteran Sergeant, while some non-Veteran squads are also led by Veteran Sergeants.[27c]
Lieutenant
Lieutenants bear a red stripe bordered in white upon their helmets. A Lieutenant's right pauldron displays a skull with a red halo, similar to a Command Squad icon. There are two Lieutenants per company, serving under their Captain.[20f]
Captain
Captains are in charge of their own Companies. They wear the heraldry of their company, sometimes embellished with their own personal heraldry.[27d]
Chapter Master
A Chapter Master is the supreme commander of a Chapter. Chapter Masters wear their own personal heraldry, combined with that of their Chapter.[20f]
Librarian
Librarians are Space Marine Psykers. They belong to the Librarius and wear blue armour, regardless of Chapter.[27f]
Chaplain
Chaplains are Space Marines responsible for the spiritual health of their brothers. Chaplains are just below the command level of a Captain. They belong to the Chaplaincy and wear black armour, regardless of Chapter.[27e] Traditionally, Chaplains are not allowed to be seen by their brothers without their signature skull masks.[20f]
Judiciar
Judiciars are trainee Chaplains.[20f]
Techmarine
Techmarines are Space Marine engineers and mechanics,[27h] and can also function as pilots for some of a Chapter's larger vehicles, such as aircraft.[40] They wear red armour, irrespective of what chapter they belong to, and wear their Chapter Badge as normal.[27h]
Apothecary
Apothecaries are field medics, responsible for both the physical health of their brothers, but also safekeeping the Chapter's Gene-seed. Some Apothecaries, known as Apothecary Biologises instead study enemy Xenos biology, discovering weaknesses. They wear white armour, irrespective of what chapter they belong to, and wear their Chapter Badge as normal.[27g]
Tactics
The Codex includes many tactics to confuse the enemy, including moving deployed infantry.[34b] Additionally, it dictates that Space Marines should ignore personal honour and work together as a killing machine.[34b]
If enemies were to attack and weaken a battle line, Codex-compliant Space Marines would focus their fire on that enemy attack.[34b]
Excerpts
Known passages of the Codex Astartes:
- "They shall be my finest warriors, these men who give themselves to me. Like clay, I shall mould them, and in the furnace of war forge them. They will be of iron will and steely muscle. In great armour shall I clad them and with the mightiest guns will they be armed. They will be untouched by plague or disease, no sickness will blight them. They will have tactics, strategies, and machines such that no foe can best them in battle. They are my bulwark against the Terror. They are the Defenders of Humanity. They are my Space Marines, and they shall know no fear." - Prelude, The Codex Astartes (Apocrypha of Skaros)[21a]
- "They shall be pure of heart and strong of body, untainted by doubt and unsullied by self-aggrandisement. They will be bright stars in the firmament of battle, Angels of Death whose shining wings bring swift annihilation to the enemies of man. So it shall be for a thousand times a thousand years, unto the very end of eternity and the extinction of mortal flesh."[21b]
- "For our enemies will bring us to battle on the caprice of chance. The alien and the renegade are the vagaries of the galaxy incarnate. What can we truly know or would want to of their ways or motivations? They are to us as the rabid wolf at the closed door that knows not even its own mind. Be that door. Be the simplicity of the steadfast and unchanging: the barrier between what is known and the unknowable. Let the Imperium of Man realise its manifold destiny within while without its mindless foes dash themselves against the constancy of our adamantium. In such uniformity of practice and purpose lies the perpetuity of mankind." - Codicil CC-LXXX-IV.ii: The Coda of Balthus Dardanus, 17th Lord of Macragge, entitled Staunch Supremacies[2]
- "Gather your wits, as the traveller gauges the depth of the river crossing with the fallen branch, before wading into waters wary." - Codicil MX-VII-IX.i: The Wisdoms of Hera[2]
- "If you know both yourself and your enemy, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss. The clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him."[3]
- "With combat knife, boltgun, and grenade, the Space Marine shall assail his foe. The chainsword is the will of the Space Marine made manifest. The Space Marine shall master all weapons, and all battlefields. When harried, the Space Marine shall drive his enemies back. The Space Marine will never know defeat."[4]
- "The Tactical Squad shall draw the enemy's fire, thus allowing the Devastator Squad to attack from a position of strength."[4]
- "Know thy duty, and discharge it above all else." - Chapter IV, Verse I[11a]
- "And they shall be the Angels of Death."[11c]
- "Shells, blades, fire or claw — none shall slow the march of a power armoured Space Marine."[11d]
- "Look to your wargear, brothers, and let it never leave your sight. Your armour is your lifeward, and your boltgun is the Emperor's wrath incarnate."[22]
- "A planet's skies are a battlefield, just like any other. Understand them. Dominate them. Drive your foe from them without mercy. In this sway you will secure victory."[24]
- "To die without purpose is not a service to the Emperor. It is a heresy to waste lives entrusted to you as an Imperial officer. There is nothing shameful or disloyal in a righteous retreat. But in withdrawing from the enemy's presence, allow him no succour. That which cannot be saved must be destroyed. Leave no weapons, armour, transport, food, or water in your passing. Scorch the earth at his feet, and leave him desert and desolation as his victory gifts."[33]
Inferred teachings within the Codex:
- "The rabble has deployed heavy weapons. As the Codex demands, flank their positions and avoid their lanes of fire."
- Captain Apollo Diomedes citing instruction that space marines should not charge directly at heavy weapons.[29]
- "The Codex Astartes does not support this action."
- Then brother Leandros to then-Captain Demetrian Titus, presumably that the Codex did not support leaping from a speeding Thunderhawk mid-flight via Jump Packs to then land upon another Ork vessel also in-flight.[30] [Note 1]
- "The Codex Astartes leaves no doubt, you cannot touch the warp and remain unscathed."
- Leandros, voicing his concern over the inexplicable survival of Demetrian Titus having held Project Aurora's warp infused power source unshielded.[30]
Deviations
Imperial Fists
While the Imperial Fists are one of the most Codex-compliant Chapters, they are known to exploit a vagueness in the Codex's progression scheme. While it is taken to mean that marines are to progress from the 10th Company to the 1st in reverse numerical order by most other Chapters, this is not explicitly stated in the Codex. The Imperial Fists hence use this to direct their 10th Company initiates into the 8th Company before the 9th, meaning they purge themselves of tendency for close-range physical violence before moving onto the precision-oriented Fire Support role in the 9th, retaining this combat style throughout the higher Companies.[41]
Secretly, Rogal Dorn alsoa formulated his own protocol to possibly circumvent the Codex Astartes known as the Last Wall, a code phrase that would require the Imperial Fists and the Successor Chapters to bind together under one supreme commander.[12]
Dark Angels
Similar to the Imperial Fists, the Dark Angels and their successors, while dividing into chapters, have remained united in their single-minded pursuit of the Fallen.[26]
Space Wolves
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 Companies, rather than the ten mandated by the Codex, and their system of organisation 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 attempt, the ill-fated Wolf Brothers.[9]
Flesh Tearers
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.[13]
Notes
- Note 1: Uriel Ventris was also known to have descended from a flying Thunderhawk via jump pack, though he noted it was very rarely done is incredibly difficult to land accurately on a point on the ground. He would describe this "as dangerous a combat drop as he had ever attempted."[31]
Conflicting Sources
- Note 2: It is unclear whether vehicle identification numbers count all vehicles in a Company in one list, or whether different vehicle types are numbered differently.
- Imperial Armour Volume Two - Space Marines and Forces of the Inquisition contains conflicting evidence, with the meaning of the number differing between vehicles and Chapters.
- Black Crusade: Angel's Blade, pgs. 88-89 describes the Blood Angels 2nd Company as using identification numerals to signify a vehicle's number within its vehicle squadron.
- Insignium Astartes, pg. ~51 states that Ultramarines 2nd Company Land Raiders are numbered individually, in a separate list from other vehicles, implying that other vehicles (e.g. Predators) might also be numbered in their own lists.
- Most sources, including Black Crusade: Angel's Blade, Blood Angels Painting Guide – Sons of Sanguinius, and Insignium Astartes, pg. ~48 agree that Dreadnoughts are numbered in their own seperate list as well.
See also
Sources
 |
- 1: Games Workshop Website - Ultramarines Background
- 2: The Long Games at Carcharias (Short Story)
- 3: The Chapter's Due (Novel), Chapter Six, pg. 78
- 4: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Chaos Rising
- 5: Index Astartes I, pgs. 12-16 — Codex Astartes
- 6: Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition), pg. 16
- 7: Codex: Black Templars (4th Edition), pg. 6
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- 9: Codex: Space Wolves (5th Edition), pgs. 8-9
- 10: Grey Hunter (Novel)
[Help] - 11: Deathwatch: Rites of Battle:
- 12: The Emperor Expects (Novel), Chapter 14
- 13: Flesh of Cretacia (Novella), Chapter 1
- 14: Dark Imperium (Novel), Chapter 10
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- 16: Codex: Vanguard Space Marines (8th Edition), pg. 5
- 17: Apocalypse Mega-battle and Warhammer 40,000 Preview! (last accessed July 3rd 2019)
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- 20: Codex: Space Marines (9th Edition)
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- 22: Cepheus (Short Story) — Deathwatch: Ignition (Anthology)
- 23: Codex: Ultramarines, pg. 19
- 24: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, Skyfire loading screen
- 25: Codex: Ultramarines (2nd Edition)
- 26: Codex: Dark Angels (6th Edition), pg. 10
- 27: Insignium Astartes:
- 28: Dawn of War: Soulstorm
- 29: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Retribution
- 30: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine
- 31: The Chapter's Due (Novel) - Ch. 24 (E-Version)
- 32: First Founding (Background Book):
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- 34: Codex Supplement: Ultramarines (8th Edition), pg. 10
- 34b: pgs. 77 & 78 - Stratagems
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- 35a: pg. 22
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- 37: White Dwarf 466, pg. 26
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- 39: Imperial Armour Volume Eight - Raid on Kastorel-Novem, pg. 110
- 40: Flyers of the Dark Millennium, pgs. 4-19
- 41: Codex Supplement: Imperial Fists (8th Edition), pgs. 10 & 21
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