Gilead Crusade
The Gilead Crusade was an Imperial Crusade that was led by Julyanna Gilead and is notable for freeing the Gilead System from the forces of Chaos[1] at some point during or after M34.[2]
Overview
It was launched after an Adeptus Mechanicus Explorator Fleet discovered a System with numerous habitable worlds that were held by Heretics and Chaos Space Marines. Once the Imperium learned of this, Julyanna Gilead was chosen to command a Crusade to free the System. She was supported by countless Astra Militarum Regiments, two Imperial Navy Battlefleets and several Space Marine Chapters (the most notable being the deployment of nearly the entire Absolvers Chapter, who were led by its first Chapter Master Tygranus Dalir).[1]
The Crusade was ultimately successful in freeing the System and both were named in Julyanna's honour. Its forces would then go on to strike at worlds far beyond the Gilead System.[1]
Having long had a keen eye on the system, the Asuryani of Craftworld Ul-Khari aided significantly in the Imperium's success in driving out the Slaaneshi forces that took the system after the Horus Heresy. One of their most prominent seers, Farseer Idril, hoped to kill two foes with one blow by aiding the humans in their crusade without them being aware of it. Rallying many to her scheme, they subtly manipulated Navigators and Astropaths to perfect their logistics, planted effective battle plans in the minds of officers, and provided martial support such as covering fire and flanking manoeuvres against Chaos forces. This was all done in hopes that the human forces would take their crusade onto other systems, leaving Aral'dha (Ostia) and the rest of the system lightly guarded and an easy target for Eldar reconquest. However, the Imperium instead fortified the system and remained, vindicating the Ul-Khari eldar who spoke out against aiding the humans.[2]
Sources
- 1: Wrath & Glory Core Rulebook - Revised Edition, pgs. 296-297 - Gilead System
- 2: Wrath & Glory - Aeldari - Inheritance of Embers, pgs. 4-8 - An Ancient System
