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[[Image:SMLegionOrg.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Organization of a Space Marine Legion]]
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[[Image:Lunawolveslegion.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The [[Luna Wolves]] during the [[Great Crusade]]{{Fn|28}}]]
The twenty '''Space Marine Legions''', also known as the '''Legiones Astartes''', were created by the [[Emperor of Mankind|Emperor]] to take part in the [[Great Crusade]] in what was later known as the '''First [[Founding]]'''. All the [[Space Marines]] of a Legion ("battle-brothers" amongst themselves) were modified with help of the DNA samples of a single [[Primarch]]. As a Primarch was found, he would receive the [[Legion Master|command]] of his respective Legion.
==History==
===Great Crusade and Horus Heresy===
The '''Legiones Astartes''' were originally created by the [[Emperor]] and his gene-wrights in the closing days of the [[Unification Wars]] and the extinction of their predecessors, the [[Thunder Warrior]]s. The new [[Astartes]] had superior lifespans and discipline to the Thunder Warriors, and were intended by the Emperor to spearhead his coming [[Great Crusade]].{{Fn|7a}} Each of the twenty Legions were created from [[gene-seed]] derived from a single [[Primarch]], which were themselves maturing deep under the Himalayan Mountains before they were stolen away from the Forces of [[Chaos]].{{Fn|6a}} However while the Gene-Seed was created by the Emperor, it was perfected and mass-produced by the Gene-Cults of [[Luna]] after they were [[First Pacification of Luna|pacified]] by the early Astartes.{{Fn|18}} The combat debut of the Legiones Astartes occurred towards the end of the [[Unification Wars]] when they fought rebellious [[Thunder Warrior]]s in the [[Palace Coup]].{{Fn|30}}
During the subsequent [[Great Crusade]], the twenty Legiones Astartes were the tip of the Emperor's spear in his conquest of much of the [[galaxy]]. Gradually, the twenty lost Primarchs were reunified with their respective Legion and led them to further glories, where they would begin to establish unique identities for themselves. However some point during the Great Crusade, [[Two unknown legions|two of the legions were erased from all records]] for unknown reasons.{{Fn|7b}}
During the [[Horus Heresy]], nine of the eighteen remaining Legions sided with [[Warmaster]] [[Horus]] against the Emperor. After the [[Battle of Terra]], these fled into the [[Eye of Terror]] where many fragmented into disparate warbands that continue to plague the Imperium to this day.{{Fn|19}} The remaining loyalist Legions were broken up by [[Roboute Guilliman]] as per the new [[Codex Astartes]]. The Space Marine Legions effectively ceased to exist after this act, succeeded by hundreds of new [[Chapter]]s.{{Fn|5}}
===OrganizationOrganisation===[[Image:SMLegionOrg.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Organization of a Space Marine Legion]]A significant portion of the early Legions' organization organisation was deeply rooted in the time-honored honoured [[Terra]]n models of strategy, hierarchy, and function found within the revered texts of the ''[[Principia Belicosa]]''. The [[Emperor]]'s ingenuity further enhanced this framework, providing an adaptable strategic approach that complemented the extraordinary strengths and abilities of the [[Legionaries]] themselves. The chain of command operated with clarity, with Legion officers leading their troops into battle personally.{{Fn|27a}}
At the head of the Legion was its [[Primarch]], seconded by Command structures who oversaw the Legion's organization. Below this were the '''Chapters''' of the Legion, each of which was commanded by a Lord Commander. Each Chapter in turn was divided into a number of '''Battalions''', each of which was further divided into '''Companies'''. The [[Space Marine Company|Company]], itself divided into a number of '''Squads''', was the basic military division of the Legio Astartes. Due to the varying sizes of each Legion, there was no fixed number of how many Chapters, Companies, and Squads a Legion could contain.{{Fn|7b}}
