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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
→History
The Adeptus Custodes were known originally as the '''Legio Custodes''' or '''Custodian Guard'''. The original Custodians were the first genetically and psychologically altered warriors to appear in the Emperor's armies during the [[Terran]] [[Unification Wars]], where they served as the Emperor's personal bodyguard.{{Fn|4a}} The original recruits of the Custodes were from the offspring of Terran nobility.{{Fn|19}} The first known appearance of the Custodes was early in the Unification Wars during the fall of the [[Techno-Barbarian]] fortress at [[Wikipedia: Nassau (region)|Nas'sau]].{{Fn|17d}} However, the origins of the Custodian Guard are shrouded in myth and legend. During the Great Crusade, the Custodes always kept a contingent with the Emperor for his protection, but also traveled individually as envoys. The Emperor valued the Custodians above all his other warriors, and while he was willing to expend countless servants he was always hesitant to bleed his Praetorians.{{Fn|15}} After the Emperor's internment in the Golden Throne, the Adeptus Custodes took a limited role as protectors of the Imperial Palace, as ordered by Roboute Guilliman in the [[Edict of Restraint]].{{Fn|19}}{{Fn|22c}}
The Custodes were equipped with the best [[power armour]] of the age, and had access to the most highly advanced weaponry and vehicles of the Imperium, including designs that were not permitted to the [[Space Marine Legion]]s.{{Fn|17b}} After the end of the [[Horus Heresy]] and the enthronement of the [[Emperor]], the Custodes were said to have changed the colour of their cloaks from red to black to symbolise the darkness that had fallen over their order.{{Fn|2b}} To further mark their failure they many, such as those in the [[Hetaeron Guard]], stopped wearing all but their black helms, capes, and loincloths.{{Fn|56}} However others such as those in the [[Ephoroi]] were observed still wearing standard power armour.{{Fn|22d}} By the end of the [[41st Millennium]] with the reappearance of [[Roboute Guilliman]], the Custodes abandoned their shrouds of shame and were seen again wearing their traditional red garments and power armour.{{Fn|19}}
[[File:Emperor Imperial Palace Rogue Trader.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Custodians ring the [[Golden Throne]].]]
