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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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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 those of 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 gene-sons 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}}
===Original names and appearances ===
Originally, each Legion was known simply by its number (i.e., the Dark Angels were originally known as '''I Legion''') and had plain grey armour. However, upon rediscovering their Primarch the Legion would take his homeworld as their own, gain a name instead of just being known by their number, and change their [[Power Armour]] from grey to one consisting of a combination of battle honours and their Primarchfather's own tastes.{{Fn|7a}}
The Emperor saw no problems with this development; the loyalty of the Primarchs to him was believed to be unshakable. This reasoning would be proven to be mistaken as half of the known Legions revolted during the [[Horus Heresy]].
