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The Adeptus Astartes is divided into roughly a thousand Chapters.{{Fn|19}} Each constituent Chapter is autonomous and constitutes a complete army, with its own leadership, support and administrative staff, reliant only on its own Chapter members. Each chapter has its own traditions, specialties, its own cult, beliefs and practices.

*{{Main|Founding}}

A Chapter cult is a body of beliefs and practices integral to every single Space Marine Chapter, each being unique and specific to the chapter and can often wildly vary between each other.{{fnFn|20}}{{fnFn|21}}{{fnFn|22a}} Indeed, two successor chapters spawned from the same chapter during the very same founding might, after several centuries, present with radically divergent religious practices.{{fnFn|22a}} Broadly speaking though, every chapter cult in general venerates the Emperor, their Primarch (if known), as well as their own heroes{{fnFn|23b}} and will typically emphasize martial virtues such as honour, strength, and comradeship.{{fn|20}} Every Space Marine belongs to the Chapter's cult, and accordingly, every Marine of a Chapter is a spiritual brother as well as a brother in arms. Each cult is typically ministered by an inner priesthood of warriors known as [[Chaplain]]s.{{fnFn|20}}

Conflict has always existed between the Adeptus Astartes and the [[Ecclesiarchy| Adeptus Ministorum]], going back all the way to the very start of the [[Imperial Creed]] on Terra. Though rivalry is ever present between and among all the factions within the [[Adeptus Terra]], this friction goes to an even deeper level. Space Marines can rightfully be called the "Sons of the Emperor" - they are the Emperor's direct creation, carrying his blood, as well as being undying loyal defenders of humanity, the Imperium, and the Emperor's honour. Despite all this, conflict arises in that they do not adhere to the Imperial Creed nor (typically) worship the Emperor as a divine god as preached by the Ecclesiarchy, instead venerating him as a gifted, powerful man. Indeed, given the wide variation of chapter cults some chapter cult practices are very barbaric - many including blood sacrifices - and some traditions could easily be considered [[Heresy| heretical]]{{Fn|21}} in comparison to the orderly masses of the Ecclesiarchy. Added to this, the sheer differences between baseline humans and these genetically engineered monstrous giants capable of spitting acid or crushing men's skulls, are enough for some consider them as separate race entirely.{{Fn|21}}{{Fn|29}} Staunch puritans of the Ecclesiarchy preach the adage "suffer not the mutant to live", and in the Imperium the purity of the human form is lauded as much as all other species are reviled. {{Fn|24}}

{{Main|Incursion of Fools}}*The '''[[Incursion of Fools''' ]] - also known as the '''Fenris Incident.''' Learning of the [[Rune Priest|shamanic]] practices of the [[Space Wolves]] and deeming them heretical, [[Cardinal Astra]] [[Leon ­Chirastes]] invaded their [[Adeptus Astartes Homeworld| Homeworld]], [[Fenris]], with a force of his own Ecclesiarchal Warships as well as other ships and forces of the [[Adepta Sororitas]]' Orders of the [[Order of the Wounded Heart|Wounded Heart]], [[Order of the White Rose|White Rose]] and the [[Order of the Fiery Tear|Fiery Tear]]. The Ecclesiarchal force was bloodily repulsed, and detailed records of the battle suppressed and sealed by the Ecclesiarchy while giving the Space Wolves little cause to celebrate. Leon Chariastes officially left in disgrace, but retained his badge of office, vowing revenge.{{Main|War of Flames}}*In the '''The [[War of Flames''' ]] - [[Cardinal|Arch-Cardinal]] [[Perigno]] declared the [[Salamanders]] [[Promethean Cult]] heretical and attacked them with a force of three [[Orders Militant|Orders]] and a massive [[Frateris Militia|army of faith]]. This was ultimately halted after news of Peringo's death at the hands of the Inquisition.*During the The '''[[Kaurava]] Campaign''', - During the campaign the [[Order of the Sacred Rose]] declared a purge of the entire [[Kaurava system]], irreconcilably at odds with the [[Blood Ravens]]' mission to reclaim the system, resulting in the two forces being hostile to each other to the point of war throughout the campaign.{{Fn|26}} This incident, along with other notorious actions by the Blood Ravens, would contribute to the [[Ordo Malleus]] declaring an [[Exterminatus]] of them and the entire [[Subsector Aurelia]], which was only halted by the timely intervention of [[Space Marine Captain| Captain]] [[Apollo Diomedes]] and [[Inquisitor]] [[Adrastia]] in killing the Blood Ravens turncoat Chapter Master [[Azariah Kyras]].{{Fn|27}}{{Main|Months of Shame}}*During '''The [[Months of Shame''' the ]] - The [[Space Wolves]] fought the [[Ordo Malleus]] and [[Grey Knights]] who sought to purge the survivors and veterans of the [[First War for Armageddon]].

While most chapters do not venerate the Emperor as a divine being or a god, there are a handful of chapters which do. Such beliefs are thought of as "fanatical" by chapters with more conventional veneration of the Emperor as a man, with such beliefs being considered more appropriate for the "deluded masses" that Astartes are sworn to protect.{{fnFn|28}}

*The [[Adulators]]*The [[Black_Templars#Doctrines_and_Codex_Adherence| Black Templars]]*The [[Fire_Angels#Chapter_Cult|Fire Angels]]*The [[Hospitallers#Chapter_Cult|Hospitallers]]*The [[Novamarines#Chapter_Cult|Novamarines]] - Uniquely, they do not venerate the Emperor nor Roboute as gods but worship the [[Codex Astartes]] as a divine work, though they are silent as to which god inspired it.*The [[Red_Scorpions#Beliefs|Red Scorpions]]*The [[Red_Hunters#Background_.26_Chapter_Cult|Red Hunters]]

*The [[Blood Ravens#Beliefs| Blood Ravens]] believe the Emperor to be a man, yet also believe he has the power to save their souls and in the promise of an afterlife*Though the [[Silver Skulls]] do not explicitly worship the Emperor as divine, their [[Silver_Skulls#Prognosticators| Prognosticators]] consult his [[Emperor's Tarot| Tarot]] in order to divine his will.

===Size of fleetFleet===*{{main|Space Marine Fleet}}All Space Marine Chapters maintain a fleet of some sort. By the edicts of the [[Codex Astartes]], the ships of the Space Marine Chapters are to be focused on planetary assaults instead of naval combat, although some Chapters circumvent or outright ignore this rule.{{Fn|14a14}}

Most Chapters define their ships via their usage, not by class or model.{{Fn|14a14}}* [[Battle Barge]]s: Battle-Barges are the largest ships in Space Marine Fleets.{{Fn|12a}} Battle-Barges are [[Battleship]]-sized ships built to withstand heaviest firepower and to deliver troops for an assault. Its weapons are mostly short-range, though they are very dangerous in boarding-actions.{{Fn|14a14}} Most Chapters have 2 or 3 Battle-Barges, with only few having more.{{Fn|12a}}{{Fn|14a14}} They can carry 3 Companies of Space Marines, plus vehicles and supplies, and have many launch bays for deploying [[Drop Pod]]s, [[Thunderhawk]]s and [[Torpedo|boarding-torpedoes]].{{Fn|12a}}* [[Strike Cruiser]]s: Strike Cruisers are the most common type of larger warship in a Chapter Fleet. They are very fast, carry a Company of Space Marines, and are geared for planetary assaults.{{Fn|14a14}} They also carry the vehicles assigned to a Company.{{Fn|15b}}* [[Escort]]s: These are many different types of small, fast ships geared for naval combat. They are mainly used for line-of-battle escorts and patrols. They also have a very limited capacity to deliver very small forces on infiltration raids.{{Fn|14a}}  Some Chapters, in particular fleet-based Chapters, employ additional types of support-vessels, such as scout-ships, [[Forge-ship]]s, [[Chapter Barque]]s and [[Vanguard Cruisers]]. Chapter Barques are often modified [[Mass-Conveyance]]-freighters that hold a fleet-based Chapter's most precious assets, like their [[Geneseed]], so they can stay back and out of harm's way during battle. Vanguard Cruisers are modified Strike Cruisers for long-range missions and deep-space recon.{{Fn|14a}} As for Forge-Ships, for example an [[Ark-class]] [[Forge-ship]] produces Space Marine [[Power Armour]] and Space Marine infantry weaponry.{{Fn|1614}}

Some Chapters, in particular fleet-based Chapters, employ additional types of support-vessels, such as scout-ships, [[Forge-ship]]s, [[Chapter Barque]]s and [[Vanguard Cruisers]]. Chapter Barques are often modified [[Mass-Conveyance]]-freighters that hold a fleet-based Chapter's most precious assets, like their [[Geneseed]], so they can stay back and out of harm'see also: s way during battle. Vanguard Cruisers are modified Strike Cruisers for long-range missions and deep-space recon.{{Fn|14}} As for Forge-Ships, for example an [[Ark-class]] [[Forge-ship]] produces Space Marine Fleet[[Power Armour]]''and Space Marine infantry weaponry.{{Fn|16}}

*1: [[Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition)]]:

*2: [[Know No Fear (Novel)]]:

*3: [[Warhammer 40,000 6th Edition Rulebook]]:

*{{Endn|8}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2020/06/13/warhammer-40000-preview-whats-in-the-boxgw-homepage-post-1/ Warhammer Community: Warhammer 40,000 Preview – What’s in the Box? (Posted on posted 13/06/2020)] ''(Last last accessed on 13 June 2020)''

*{{Endn|11}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition)]]:

*12: [[Imperial Armour Volume Two - Space Marines and Forces of the Inquisition]]:

*13: [[Imperial Armour Volume Ten - The Badab War - Part Two]]:

*{{Endn|14}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Nine - The Badab War - Part One]]**{{Endn|14a}}. , pg. 23*15: [[Battlefleet Gothic: Armada]]:

*{{Endn|17}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (9th Edition)]]:

*{{Endn|18}}: [https://assets.warhammer-community.com/warhammer40000_imperialarmour_spacemarines_eng_24.09-lkat22ej96.pdf Astraeus Super-Heavy Tank Rules PDF] ''(last accessed 6/8/2025)''*{{Endn|19}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader]] , pg. 133

**{{Endn|22a}}: pg. 34-45 - ''Beliefs''