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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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==Number of Legionaries==
The Legions were massive armies, and the size of each could vary tremendously. A precise number was never truly achieved and maintained. Even during the Great Crusade, some Legions were very numerous, while others were not. The numbers would always vary with new recruits and inevitable battle-losses, and also important was the availability of potential recruits and the administrative skills of the Primarch and his officers.
The most numerous Legion of all was the [[Ultramarines]]. The [[Thousand Sons]] of [[Magnus]] were of a small number as many of them had developed mutations or uncontrollable levels of psychic powers. [[Fulgrim]]'s samples had been largely lost, and this left the Legion of the [[Emperor's Children]] also with a very small number. Both of these Legions would increase their numbers to acceptable standards only after their Primarchs were found.
===Notes===The legion size issue is contentious, with several types of numbers mentioned in separate sources meant to reflect a general or nominally-sized legion. As well as numbers directly given in sources themselves, several [[authors]] have commented on the issue.Pressed with questions about pre-heresy organization - although declaring there is not any real information about it - [[Andy Chambers]] answered that "Space Marines started out in Legions of approximately 10,000 strong (or more, depending on the specific legion), which were broken down into Chapter-sized Great Companies rather like the [[Space Wolves]] (who are renowned for not adopting the [[Codex Astartes]] alterations made by [[Roboute Guilliman|Guilliman]] post-heresy and who thus follow pre-heresy organization more closely"<sup>5</sup>.
==Original names==
One should not forget that the Legions were for a very long time under the direct command of the Emperor and that originally all recruits were from [[Terra]]. The '''Terran Marines''' would always remember these times and the Legions had Terran traditions. Later, as the Primarchs were found, the new recruits would have very strong loyalties towards them, and some of the Primarchs would rename their Legions. The Emperor saw no problems with this development; the loyalty of the Primarchs to him was believed to be unshakable. This reasoning would be proven to be sadly mistaken.
