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The '''Emperor of Mankind''', also referred to by the [[Imperial Cult]] and the [[Adeptus Ministorum]] as the '''God-Emperor of Mankind''', is the sovereign ruler of the [[Imperium of Man]], and Father, Guardian, and God of the [[human]] race. He has sat immobile within the [[Golden Throne]] of [[Terra]] for ten thousand years. Although once a living man, his shattered body can no longer support life, and remains intact only by a combination of ancient technology and the sheer force of his will, itself sustained by the soul-sacrifice of countless millions of [[psyker]]s.{{Fn|2}}
His will is omnipotent, extending across the hundreds of billions of worlds that comprise his Imperium. For ten thousand years the Master of Mankind has served Humanity, simultaneously carrying out a multitude of tasks vital to its survival. He simultaneously guides his race through the [[Emperor's Tarot]], [[Soul Binding|soul-binds]] psykers, holds audiences with his most important servants and directs the [[Astronomican]] beacon that guides space vessels through the [[Warp]]. His immense psychic powers constantly keep the [[Chaos Gods]] in the Warp at bay, preventing their intrusion into the material universe and protecting his people throughout the [[Galaxy]].{{Fn|11b}}
The Emperor's role as guardian of mankind seems to have been predestined for him. Without the Emperor there would be no Imperium, little space travel and no protection from the multitude of threats facing mankind. The Emperor knows that to protect his race he must survive as long as necessary for the emerging race of psychic humans to evolve sufficiently.{{Fn|2}}
==Sources==
<div style="column-width:24em;column-count:2;font-size:85%">
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 5th Edition Rulebook]]{{CME}}
**{{Endn|1a}}: pg.I
**{{Endn|1b}}: inner cover
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader]], pgs. 135–138
** {{Endn|2a}}: pg. 133-138
