12
edits
Changes
From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
m
→Great Crusade and Horus Heresy: improved wording
===Great Crusade and Horus Heresy===
[[Image:Lunawolveslegion.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The [[Luna Wolves]] during the [[Great Crusade]]{{Fn|28}}{{Fn|34}}]]
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 [[Terra]] by 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 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}}
