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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
→Origins
One of the Legion's most tragic episodes would come in 842.[[M30]] during the liberation of the [[Forge World]] of [[Incaladion]]: The stubborn IVth Legion used their typical tactics of heavy artillery and armoured spearheads, and suffered staggering losses in a protracted siege. Nearly 29,000 Legionaries died over the yearlong campaign, virtually annihilating the 8th Expeditionary Fleet.{{Fn|20a}}
Meanwhile, the Iron Warriors' [[Primarch]], [[Perturabo]], was raised on [[Olympia]], a mountainous planet divided into warring city-states. Because of the rugged terrain, military supremacy revolved around the construction of stone fortresses and the control of strategic mountain passes. Perturabo had an affinity for cold logic and the use of technology which made him a superb military engineer. By the time the Emperor's Great Crusade reached Olympia, Perturabo was warlord to the [[Tyrant of Lochos]]. As was his custom when one of his lost sons was found, the Emperor gave Perturabo rule over his home planet and relocated his Legion's headquarters there.{{Fn|1a}} Upon taking command of his Legion, Perturabo reviewed the war record of his new forces. After heavily extensively analysing their record, effectiveness, doctrines and practices, Perturabo found them wanting. His punishment was [[Wikipedia:Decimation (Roman army)|decimation]]. By lottery, one in every ten Legionaries was chosen to be beaten to death by his comrades. Such would be Perturabo's reign: brutal and unforgiving.{{Fn|20a}}
Even before they were reunited with their Primarch, the Space Marines of the IV Legion had inherited his military qualities. Perturabo quickly recruited new troops from Olympia and embarked [[Fall of the Black Judges|on a campaign]] against the nearby moon base known as the [[Rock of Judgement]], ruled by the [[Black Judges]]. It was a stunning success, though only fragmentary records of it survive in the aftermath of the [[Horus Heresy]].{{Fn|1a}}