73
edits
Changes
From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
cleanup
{{AgesImperium}}
{{cite}}
The '''Age of Apostasy''' was one of the largest and most destabilising events destabilizing periods in the history of the [[Imperium]], occurring in [[M36]], five millennia after the [[Horus Heresy]]. It grew out of the power struggle between two Imperial organizations, the [[Ecclesiarchy]] and the [[Administratum]].
==Early Confrontations==
The Ecclesiarchy is the ruler of the [[Imperial Cult]], the bearer of the sacred word of the [[Emperor]]. It spread into the lives of every citizen and servant of the Imperium, from the most humble miner and scribe, to the greatest heroes and the most influential officials, including the [[High Lords of Terra]]. The High Lords, believing, like every other citizen, that the Ecclesiarchy was speaking for the Emperor, would often follow their words in directing the Imperium. Though they did not actually speak the words of the Emperor, the Ministorum Ecclesiarchy did little to retract this image, and soon they were indirectly controlling the fate of the Imperium, influencing legal changes, military deployments and organization, threat priority decision-making and where Imperial resources should be directed, often towards themselves.
Eventually, the power of the Ecclesiarchy grew too much and the [[Fabricator-General]] of the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]], along with a group of [[Space Marine]] [[Chapter Master]]s rallied together, and eventually the [[Administratum]] joined, to fight against the strength, will and control of the Ecclesiarchy.
The Administratum, often thought of as the centre of the Imperium, was angered at its loss of power. This began a feud that lasted for at least 7,000 years, has continued to the present day, and is likely to continue far into the future. The Administratum began to use its position to undermine the power of the Ecclesiarchy. They could influence voting and position its own loyal followers in other departments. From [[M34]] to [[M35]], the power of the Ecclesiarchy waned and, following the election of a series of weak [[Ecclesiarch]]s, the Administratum managed to wrestle back control of the Imperium. They continued to gain power at the expense of the Ecclesiarchy, although allowing them to keep their external image as dictating the words of the Emperor and ruling the Imperium, while the Administratum actually had the power.
In a desperate attempt to escape the iron grip of the Administratum, the entire Ecclesiarchy was moved from [[Terra]] to [[Ophelia VII]] in the [[Segmentum Tempestus]]. The Ecclesiarch at the time was [[Benedin IV]] and he moved here for two reasons: it was his [[diocese]] when he was a [[Cardinal]], and it was probably the wealthiest planet in the Imperium, after [[Mars]] and Terra. The magnificent Ecclesiarchal Palaces on Ophelia covered 90,000 square miles of surface and soared 4,000 miles into the sky, rivaled rivalled only by the palaces on Terra. As they were separated from the Administratum by sheer distance, the power of the Ecclesiarchy grew again and they raised huge [[tithes]] to pay for massive works commissioned by Cardinals across the galaxy, a breakneck competition to build the greatest monuments. Also, purges of [[heretical]] cults increased significantly, and any resistance to the Ecclesiarchy was viciously put down.
The Ecclesiarchy also began to form its own armies and naval fleets. These forces became known as the [[Frateris Templars]], and they contained fleets of commercial transports and warships, and armies which rivaled rivalled the [[Imperial Guard]] in strength. As the Ecclesiarchy rebuilt its power base on Ophelia, the monuments on Terra withered and crumbled.
Nearly three hundred years after the Ecclesiarchy left Terra, [[Greigor XI]] was elected Ecclesiarch and one of his first commandments was to move the Ecclesiarchy back to Terra again. None could dissuade him, as he thought the home of the Imperial Cult should be at the Emperor's side. It took twelve years to bring about the move, but the doors to the [[Ecclesiarchal Palace]]s on Terra were finally opened again. The move stretched the funds of the Ecclesiarchy, and the refurbishment of the palaces did so even further. The Ecclesiarchy was forced to raise tithes again to pay for it all.
The Ecclesiarchy responded violently. They dispatched the Frateris Templar to crush the revolts and executed the higher-ranking officials as heretics. Ecclesiarch [[Alexis XXI]] used the [[Officio Assassinorum]] to remove several governors who redirected their tithes to arming their [[Planetary Defence Forces]] in an attempt to hold back the Frateris Templars. Even with the revolts, the palaces and temples grew bigger and more elaborate, the funds lined the roads of entire planets with statues of past Ecclesiarchs and decorated the biggest temples with gems. The uprisings continued in massive swathes through the Imperium, only for the Frateris Templars to put them down. All who disobeyed the Ecclesiarchy were declared heretics and executed. Some questioned the methods used but kept quiet, fearing those methods they spoke out against.
Even while the Imperium was collapsing under the weight of rebellion, further dangers befell humanity. In early [[M36]], [[warp storm]] instances increased and warp travel became impossible between most planets. With the resources of the Administratum and Ecclesiarchy centred on the power struggle, massive areas fell to anarchy as they were cut off. Those planets which could still be reached by starship were patrolled and controlled by the Ecclesiarchy with an iron fist. Burnings and executions became commonplace of all but the most faithful.
[[Chaos]] raiders poured from the [[Eye of Terror]], Ork [[Warboss|Warlords]] rampaged across the galaxy and nobody could halt them. On the isolated worlds, Chaos and [[Genestealer Cult]]s grew up, overthrowing the governments. Those worlds not overrun struggled to survive and eventually even the greatest of the planets collapsed. Even worship of the Emperor collapsed without direct leadership, most people splitting into cults that worshipped the Emperor in their own way and tried to force their ideas on the other cults forcefully.
[[Goge Vandire]] is the name most closely associated with the Age of Apostasy, and the Reign of Blood. He was the 361st [[High Lord of the Administratum]] and had a reputation as a staunch resistor to the dominance of the [[Ecclesiarchy]]. It is said he used assassins to gain his position, but any who spoke out against him mysteriously disappeared or were found dead, so none dared oppose him. Shortly before his rise, Vandire was instrumental in the rise of Ecclesiarch [[Paulis III]], an incompetent who was easily controlled by Vandire and his followers.
Once he had taken full control of the Administratum, he used his powers to undermine the Ecclesiarchy, while he led a group of Imperial Guard officers into the Ecclesiarcal Ecclesiarchal Palace and overthrew Paulis III in what can only be described as a military coup. He declared Paulis a heretic and had him shot. He then moved in and took control of the Ecclesiarchy, effectively controlling both at once as High Lord of the Administratum and Ecclesiarch.
The Ecclesiarchy could do nothing to stop Vandire, shaken and battered as they were. Vandire purged the Ecclesiarchy of any who opposed him. Those [[Cardinal]]s who had not already fled gathered onto a single ship and set off for [[Ophelia VII]] in an attempt to escape Vandire. Their ship was, however, engulfed by a gigantic [[warp storm]] and never seen again just as they entered the warp. Vandire used this as evidence to claim that it was the Emperor's will that they should die and that he himself should lead the faith of the Imperium. Vandire then elected Cardinals of his own choosing to fill the benches, including many weak-minded fools and several brilliant geniuses who were just cruel enough to follow Vandire. He now had total control of the two most powerful facets of the Imperium.
Soon after the war fleet jumped into the [[warp]] from the base on [[Clax]], it was destroyed by a gigantic [[Warp Storm]]. The last [[astropath]] reported white arcs of light tearing the ships apart, literally, as well as the soldiers on board. The Clax system has been cut off since, by the [[Storm of the Emperor's Wrath]].
With the death of a vast fleet, the whole of [[Segmentum Obscurus]] burst into rebellion. The [[Cardinal Palace]]s were stormed and the beautiful hangings were destroyed. No one knew who Thor was, and many suspected him to be a [[daemon|daemonic]]ic entity, but he was just a man, born in a Dimmamar [[Schola Progenium]] habitat. Thor claimed also to have had visions from the Emperor and warned that humanity was falling. He had an eloquence and charisma that none could match or understand and could reach into the hearts and minds of the people.
Quickly, thousands travelled to hear Thor speak and preach and went away again, spreading the message themselves. [[Governor]] [[Gaius Welkonnen]] of Dimmamar was so impressed that he placed the army of Dimmamar at Thor's command. Anarchy followed. Most of the Segmentum Obscurus fell and many of Vandire's spies were sought out and driven away, although he still knew that Thor's army had grown to at least five million. He also knew it was slowly making its way to Terra.
