Legion Standard
A Legion Standard or Vexilla[1f] was a banner reflecting the unique martial ethos of each Astartes Legion during the Horus Heresy.[1e]
Contents
Description
As the wars of the Horus Heresy spread to consume the galaxy, billions fought and died under the banners of warlords they had never seen or heard first-hand, and even among those such as the Legiones Astartes, a fervent zeal akin to religious devotion became common for those artefacts touched by Primarch, Warmaster or Regent[1d]
Each Space Marine Legion maintains the ancient military tradition of the battle standard being a symbol of unity and inspiration. Be they a tattered flag that has weathered the shot and shell of a hundred battlefields, a burning steel standard, or a trophy rack bedecked with the heads of slain xenos, it was beneath the shadow of these banners and icons that the tides of victory and defeat were determined.[1e]
After the Horus Heresy, this tradition would be maintained by loyalist chapters in the form of Space Marine Standards, while Space Marines tainted by Chaos would adopt the use of Chaos Icons to gain favours and powers from their new Chaos Gods masters.[4]
Vexillarius
The Vexillarius was an assembly of Legion Standard Bearers, their subalterns and equerries at the Legion, Chapter, and Battalion command level. They were as such part of the chain of command.[5]
Bearers
Legion Standards could be carried by Legion Standard Bearers, as part of Legion Command Squads, making them a rallying point on the battlefield for the Legion’s troops[1a], or by a Legion Herald, a chosen emissary as a sign of authority and favour.[1d] Standard Bearers were also seen in Cataphractii[1b] and Tartaros[1c] Command Squads.
Legion Standards at the time of the Horus Heresy
Dark Angels standard[2c]
Emperor's Children standard[2d]
Iron Warriors standard[2e]
White Scars standard[6a]
Space Wolves standard[2f]
Imperial Fists standard[6b]
Night Lords standard[2g]
Blood Angels standard[2h]
Iron Hands standard[2i]
World Eaters standard[2j]
Ultramarines standard[2k]
Death Guard standard[2l]
Thousand Sons standard[2m]
Word Bearers standard[2n]
Salamanders standard[2b]
Raven Guard standard[2o]
Alpha Legion standard[2p]
Sources
- 1: Liber Astartes (2nd Edition):
- 2: The Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness 2nd Edition Rulebook:
- 3: Warhammer Community : Heresy Thursday – Plant Your Flag With New Legion Command (28/03/24)
- 4: Codex: Chaos Space Marines (6th Edition), pg. 66
- 5: The Horus Heresy Book One - Betrayal, pg. 30
- 6: Liber Astartes (3rd Edition)
