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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
→History
==History==
[[Image:KnightWorldsMap.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Knight Worlds across the galaxy]]
The original [[Knight World]]s were founded during the [[Dark Age of Technology]], settled by [[Humanity]] in its first great stellar exodus. In an event dubbed the '''[[Long March]]''', over the course of decades colonization ships reached their pre-chosen worlds. When they arrived however, they found often lethal wildlife and plant-life alike, or devastating meteorological conditions. The founding materials for the colonists were the ship themselves, while they were able to flourish and expand thanks to [[STC]] machines. Among the creations of the STC during this time were the first [[Knight]] suits to defend against predators and hostile [[Xenos]]. The pilots for these suits were carefully chosen, but over extended exposure to their [[Throne Mechanicum]] console their concepts of practical self-defense and communal survival was replaced by ideas of authoritarianism, chivalry, and martial honor. Over the decades a feudal system formed, and those protected by the Knights increasingly became vassals to their masters.{{Fn|11a}}
Later during the [[Age of Strife]], [[Mars]] sent out many expeditions of spacecraft, hoping to find remnants of human knowledge on other worlds. They found an anarchic galaxy where the ancient confederacy of interdependent human planets no longer existed. The human worlds discovered retained little of their old technology. They had devolved into feudal states ruled by aristocratic nobles who welcomed the [[Techpriests]] as long-awaited saviours. The Tech-priests settled among these feudal empires, or [[Knight Worlds]], choosing planets that were mineral rich where they could rebuild their industries. They established contacts with the Knights, trading with their worlds and investigating the ancient ruins where surviving technology could still sometimes be found. The Knights provided manpower and security against enemies such as marauding [[Ork]]s and land-hungry Eldar [[Exodite]]s. In return the Tech-priests provided technical expertise and help rebuilding their planets.{{Fn|13}}
