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The Imperium was founded by the Emperor, also called '''The Immortal Emperor''', '''God-Emperor''', and the '''Master of Mankind''', at the end of the [[Age of Strife]] — a very long period of anarchy, war, and destructive regression which brought humanity to the brink of destruction and reversed the technological progression made during the [[Dark Age of Technology]]. In the [[Unification Wars]], the Emperor led his proto-[[Astartes]] known as [[Thunder Warriors]] to victory in unifying Terra for the first time in millennia.{{citethisFn|58}}

As the [[Warp storm]]s of the Age of Strife subsided, after having secured the scientific posts and spacedocks of [[Luna]], along with the factories and scientists on [[Mars]], the Emperor began to unite mankind under his rule. A vast navy was built, with which his armies undertook the [[Great Crusade]], which lasted for about two centuries. During this two hundred year-long military campaign, the Emperor employed his most potent military units, the [[Space Marine Legion]]s, led by their leaders, the [[Primarch]]s. These, combined with the might of the [[Imperial Army]] (which was later separated into the [[Imperial Guard]] and the [[Imperial Navy]]), [[Custodian Guard]], [[Sisters of Silence]], and [[Martian Mechanicum]] forces that included the [[Collegia Titanica]] and [[Legio Cybernetica]] saw thousands of human worlds brought together under the Imperium. The Great Crusade ended with the corruption and treachery of the Primarch [[Horus]], the instigator of the [[Horus Heresy]].{{citethisFn|59}}

The rebellion was fought across the galaxy. Horus, seeking to achieve a swift and decisive victory, led most of the traitor forces in a direct strike at the capital of humanity, in the [[Battle of Terra]]. In the final decisive battle between the Emperor and the Arch-Traitor, Horus was slain, leading to the breakup of the rebellion and the exile of the traitors to the [[Eye of Terror]]. However the Master of Mankind was himself mortally wounded. According to his instructions he was placed on the life-preserving [[Golden Throne]], where, for nearly ten thousand years, he has remained. Though physically a carcass incapable of movement or communication, his omnipotent will extends across the million worlds of the Imperium, beaming the psychic energy of the [[Astronomican]], soul-binding psychic humans and struggling against the [[daemon]]s of the Warp. He endures by his undying will, and by the sustenance that only the souls of sacrificial [[psyker]]s can provide. By the numberless masses of humanity he is worshiped as a god.{{citethisFn|42a}}

The effects of The Waning ultimately culminated in late [[M41]], known as the [[Time of Ending]]. Here the exhausted Imperium not only faced rejuvenated old threats, but also terrifying new enemies like the [[Tyranid]]s and [[Necron]]s as well new smaller but dynamic alien empires such as the [[Tau]], [[Noisome Reek]], and [[Ulumeathic League]]. Beset on all sides by [[heresy]] and alien invasion, the future of the Imperium seems bleak.{{Fn|3e}} The Black Crusade saw both the destruction of [[Cadia]] and the formation of the [[Great Rift]], which has effectively split the Imperium in two. However some hope has been renewed thanks to the rebirth of the Primarch [[Roboute Guilliman]], who has launched the [[Indomitus Crusade]] to reclaim worlds lost within the [[Imperium Nihilus|Dark Imperium]].{{citethisFn|61}} During the [[Arks of Omen Campaign]] another Primarch, [[Lion El'Jonson]], returned and became the Knight of the [[Imperium Nihilus]].{{Fn|60}}

The Imperium is still nominally ruled by the Emperor of Mankind. However, since his ascension to the [[Golden Throne]], the duty of actually ruling the Imperium falls to the '''Senatorum Imperialis''' — the Imperial Senate, led by the twelve [[High Lords of Terra]]. The identities and responsibilities of these High Lords may vary, as individuals inevitably die and their influence grows and wanes, but its members are always the leaders and representatives of the most powerful Imperial organisations.{{citethisFn|42c}}

***The [[League of Black Ships]] — Psyker-gatherers.{{Fn|4242b}}***The [[Scholastia Psykana]] — Trains [[Sanctioned Psyker]]s{{Fn|4242b}}

*{{Endn|42}}: [[Codex Imperialis (Background Book)]], **{{Endn|42a}}: pgs. 6-7**{{Endn|42b}}: pgs. 36-37**{{Endn|42c}}: pg. 14