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[[Image:Macaroth.jpg|thumb|right|Warmaster Macaroth]]'''Macaroth''' was a high-ranking [[general]] of the [[Imperial Guard]] who became the [[Warmaster]] of the [[Sabbat Worlds Crusade]] after the death of his predecessor, [[Slaydo]], on the world of [[Balhaut]].

During Young, and relatively undistinguished compared to the other senior commanders of the battle for Balhaut he led forces on Crusade, Macaroth came to Slaydo's notice during the Balopolis front after one [[ImperialBattle for Balhaut]] , assuming command of the force on the [[CommanderBalopolis]] was injured and two others front after all three of his immediate superiors were killed or incapacitated in the space of three days. He was promoted Slaydo granted him a battlefield promotion to the rank of Marshall by the Warmaster [[Marshal (Imperial Guard)|Marshal]], and Macaroth took control of that the entire front, turning what was seen as an impending Imperial defeat into a great victory.{{Fn|1a}} Before Balhaut, Macaroth appears only once in the Crusade's annals; during the initial [[Imperial]] invasion of the [[Sabbat Worlds]], Slaydo became frustrated with the slow progress of the campaign, and the heavy casualties being inflicted on his men. He exclaimed, "show me men who can fight!" and one of his subordinates is said to have retorted, "follow me to the morgue, sir, and I'll show you plenty." This remark was always attributed to one of Slaydo's generals, but on his deathbed, the general swore it had been his deputy, Macaroth who made it.{{Fn|1b}} During the battle for the Oligarchy High Palace on Balhaut, Slaydo was killed in single combat with [[Archon (Chaos)|Archon]] [[Nadzybar]]. On his deathbed, Slaydo declared Macaroth his successor as Warmaster of the Crusade. This decision upset many of his [[Lords Militant]], who regarded Macaroth as too young and too junior an officer to ascend to the position. A period of political in-fighting amongst the highest echelons of the Imperial Crusade force would take place over much of the next year. That Macaroth survived it and retained his position is a tribute to the rank-and-file of the Guard's great affection for and faith in Slaydo, but also Macaroth's surprising ability as a leader.{{Fn|1c}} Immediately after the Imperial victory on Balhaut, Macaroth launched a further advance into the [[Cabal Worlds]], determined to keep up the momentum of the Crusade that Slaydo began. He gained a reputation as a gambler which worried many of his subordinates, but many of his gambits turned out successfully. Like many leading commanders, Macaroth was a somewhat inscrutable figure, and his actions were the source of heated debate among [[Imperial Tactician]]s and historians alike, but what they see as recklessness may simply have indicated Macaroth's talent for strategy and out-thinking his opponents, which Slaydo recognised.{{Fn|1d}}

During Warmaster Macaroth led Imperial forces to many great victories, most notably at the battle for fortress-world [[Morlond]]. The Crusade under his command also succeeded in the Ogliarchy High Palace, Warmaster Slaydo was killed in battle against capture and/or destruction of many of the [[Magister (Chaos)|Magister]] Archon s who escaped Balhaut after Nadzybar's defeat, including [[NadzybarSholen Skara]] and on his deathbed had made Macaroth the Warmaster of the Crusade. This decision upset many of his Lords Militant, who regarded Macaroth as too young and too junior an officer to ascend to the position. A period of political in-fighting amongst the highest echelons of the Imperial Crusade force would take place over much of the next year[[Heritor Asphodel]]. {{Fn|1e}}

Warmaster Macaroth has since then led Imperial forces to many great victoriesHowever, the Crusade was stalled by the rise of [[Urlock Gaur]], a brutal Chaos warlord in command of a disciplined army, most notably at the fortress-world [[MorlondBlood Pact]]. The Crusade under his command has Macaroth also succeeded in knew he could not afford to underestimate the abilities of [[Anakwanar Sek]], the capture and/or destruction most brilliant of many surviving Magisters from SlaydoNadzybar's daysformer lieutenants, who continued to plague the Crusade in the years after Balhaut.{{Fn|1f}}

*1: [[Gaunt's Ghosts The Sabbat Worlds Crusade (Novel SeriesBackground Book)]] by [[Dan Abnett]]**{{Endn|1a}}: {{Cite This}}**{{Endn|1b}}: {{Cite This}}**{{Endn|1c}}: {{Cite This}}**{{Endn|1d}}: {{Cite This}}**{{Endn|1e}}: {{Cite This}}**{{Endn|1f}}: {{Cite This}}