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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
→Great Crusade and Horus Heresy
During the [[Great Crusade]] and ensuing [[Horus Heresy]], the Word Bearers Legion, 100,000 strong,{{Fn|7a}} was divided into many different Chapters, each bearing a name and icon representing one of the constellations of [[Colchis]]. Typically a Chapter consisted of several companies with an overall strength of 500-3,000 warriors. While each Chapter maintained a formal military structure consisting of a [[Chapter Master]], [[Space Marine Captain|Captains]] and so on there was also a parallel hierarchy based around [[Chaplain]]s and spiritual authority.{{Fn|49}} The Word Bearers had recruited swiftly in the decades leading up to the Horus Heresy, and while nominally their strength at that point numbered 140,000, the opening actions of the Heresy indicated far greater numbers - potentially rivalling even the [[Ultramarines]], and with few others able to rival them.{{Fn|18c}}
During the Great Crusade the legion fleet was known to be composed of an armada of a mere 116 warships.{{Fn|7k}} However , by the time of the Horus heresy Heresy and in the aftermath of the titanic void battles that had taken place at Isstvan, by some accounts the Word Bearers fleet numbered over a hundred capital class ships, including nine [[Gloriana class battleship]]s, several of which had once borne the colours of other Legionslegions, and the three Abyss class kingships.{{Fn|61}}
====Known Chapters====
