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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
Chapters were utilized originally by Thunder Warriors and other Legions.
==Early History==
Chapters were originally an organizational unit used by the [[Thunder Warriors]]. During the [[Great Crusade]], the Space Marines were organized into [[Legion]]s, further divided into [[Companies]]. Chapters were adopted by some of the Legions as an intermediate level of organization.{{fn|2b}} The [[Ultramarines]] Legion, led by [[Roboute Guilliman]], became the largest of all the Legions, thanks to Guilliman's tactical mastery and a steady flow of new recruits from [[Ultramar]].{{Fn|1}} The Ultramarines became so large that an upper unit of division, the '''Chapter''' was utilized. At the time of the [[Horus Heresy]], the Ultramarines Legion was divided into twenty Chapters, each composed of ten Companies, each company composed of roughly one thousand Marines.{{Fn|22a}}
Following the Heresy, Guilliman, as [[Lord Commander]] of the [[Imperium]], ordered the Space Marine Legions divided and re-organized into smaller Chapters, to ensure that no future rebel such as [[Horus]] could gain control of such a large military unit as a Legion again.{{Fn|1}} Newly formed Chapters created in this new system which originated from the remaining loyalist Legions became known as '''Successor Chapters'''.{{Fn|3}}
A so-called [[Codex Chapter]], meaning a Chapter which closely follows the doctrines of the [[Codex Astartes]], is made up of ten [[companies]], each consisting of one hundred Marines and commanded by an officer with the rank of [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]]. Generally, the [[First Company]] is made up of the Chapter's most experienced veterans, while the Second through Ninth consist of more ordinary warriors. Some individual companies are specialised assault or support companies, possessing larger proportions of [[Assault Squad|Assault]] or [[Devastator Squad]]s. The tenth company is a [[Space Marine Scout|Scout]] force, made up of [[neophyte]] Space Marines not yet proven in battle. The Chapter is further bolstered and supported by a [[Librarium]], [[Armoury]], [[Apothecarion]], [[Chaplaincy]], and [[Space Marine Fleet|Fleet]].{{Cite This}}
Each Chapter is led by a [[Chapter Master]]. Unlike the [[Imperial Guard]], the Adeptus Astartes has no leadership above the Masters of the individual Chapters. Also unlike many other Imperial military forces, the Astartes are not represented on the [[Council High Lords of Terra]].{{Cite This}}
Besides the Space Marine fighting brethren, there are many non-combat personnel, fully part of the Chapter but generally not involved directly in combat. These include the chapter's [[chapter Chapter Serf|hereditary slaves]], [[Astropath]]s, [[Navigator]]s, etc.{{Cite This}}
==Related Articles==
==Sources==
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition)]], pgs. 13-14
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Know No Fear (Novel)]] by [[Dan Abnett]], **{{Endn|2a}}: ''Dramatis Personae''**{{Endn|2b}}: Target//Acquisition, Chapter 3, pg. 39-44
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 6th Edition Rulebook]], pg. 183
===Uncited===
