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I guess I should explain myself a little here. I am putting together a series of models who represent one man as he rises through the ranks of the Emperors Children Legion during the Great Crusade and Heresy eras. You can check out the plog in my signature, if you’re interested.
As part of me plotting out his career, I basically pulled together any scrap of information I could find regarding the Emperors Children, and wrote it all down, and I thought I’d share it here, in case it is of interest to anyone else. Unfortunately, I broke the first & second rule of research,
· I didn’t note my references, and
· I made some assumptions (i.e. The keel of the Pride of the Emperor is known to have been laid down 160 years before the Ullanor Campaign, so I have it dated as 840.M30)
So, I thought I’d put it all down here, and try and edit these first posts (so that it is always up-to-date) as I re-discover references, (hopefully) update according to the community here on Warseer when/if you guys chip in with more info, and correct me where I’ve stumbled!
There are five “activities” that I’m going to log on here,
· Timelines,
· Significant events & campaigns,
· Legion organisation,
· Legion strength, and
· Notable characters.
Each of these activities will now have their own post for future editing etc.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Emperors Children Legion Timelines
So, I’ll start with the first timeline I’ve created, from the end of the unification wars, to the Triumph of Ullanor.

And now the Triumph of Ullanor up until the Slave wars. Not much info from Fulgrim's ascension to daemonhood and the Siege of Terra, or the subsequent flight to the Eye of Terror and the Legion Wars.

Emperors Children Legion Timelines
So, I’ll start with the first timeline I’ve created, from the end of the unification wars, to the Triumph of Ullanor.



And now the Triumph of Ullanor up until the Slave wars. Not much info from Fulgrim's ascension to daemonhood and the Siege of Terra, or the subsequent flight to the Eye of Terror and the Legion Wars.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Emperors Children Legion Significant events & campaigns
You can see the events on the timeline, but below you can see a list with a bit more detail.
Circa 810.M30 - Proxima insurrection sees the III Legion save the Emperors life, earning the right to bear the Palatine Aquilla on their breast plates, XVI Cohort wiped out (Sullas assumption: with the exception of Aetius Loculus, see my plog!)
Circa 811.M30 - Emperors Children gene-seed lost en-route to Luna whilst the stock held on Terra is obliterated by an artificial pathogen.
Circa 811.M30 - The Emperor arrives at Chemos, Fulgrim officially names the remaining 200 legionaries the Emperors Children.
811 - 900.M30 ("several decades") - Legion begins to rebuild strength with recruits from both Terra & Chemos.
Circa 815.M30 The purge of the Dalinite Nebula, all 500 Emperor’s Children Legionaries (along with The Luna Wolves, under the command of Horus) assigned to the defend Tranquility
840.M30 - Pride of the Emperor (Fulgrims flagship) keel is laid down on the Jupiter shipyards.
Circa 900.M30 Battle with Eldar, Rylanor mortally wounded
Circa 946.M30 - Brotherhood of the Phoenix (Officer warrior lodge) established for Lord Commanders & Company Captains.
Circa 950.M30 - 28th expedition launches out on it's own
Circa 960.M30 - Katara (Sullas assumption: designation: Twenty-Eight-One) brought to compliance: Acting Lieutenant Commander Abdemon orders invasion of the largest Kataran city complex, leading to the duel between himself & the Kataran Champion, and the establishment of Katara as a Mortuary World.
Circa 975.M30 - Praxil (Sullas assumption: designation:Twenty-Eight-Two) brought to compliance. Lead by Lord Commander Iddinam had to be reinforced by the Blood Angels & Imperial Fists
000.M31 - Triumph of Ullanor: Action with the V, VII, IX, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII & XX Legions. Also when Mark IV Power Armour & Umbra pattern bolters were issued.
000.M31 - Laeran: designation: Twenty-Eight-Three brought to compliance.
001.M31 - Compliance of Murder: Action with the IX & XVII Legions performed by Eidolon and the I Millenial.
001.M31 - The Diasporex persecution: action with the Iron Warriors.
004.M31 - Fulgrim meets with Eldrad Ulthran on Tarsus.
004.M31 - Battle of Deep Orbital DS191: Near-destruction of the Second Company under the command of Solomon Demeter.
004.M31 - Fulgrim executes Lord Commander Vespasian.
004.M31 - Fulgrim goes to meet Ferrus Manus to try and win him to Horus' side. The rest of the Legion head to Istvaan.
005.M31 - Battle of Istvaan Extremis.
005.M31 - Istvaan III atrocity
566.006.M31 - Drop-site Massacre.
006.M31 - Traitors Conclave.
006.M31 - Fulgrim orders the attack of Prismatica V. Eidolon executed for insubordination, but later revived by Fabius.
885.006.M31 - The first performance of the Maravaglia.
006.M31 - Emperors Children rendez-vous with the Iron Warriors at Hydra Cordata.
006.M31 - Fulgrim ascends to daemonhood after finding the Angel Exterminatus with the aid of the Iron Warriors.
014.M31 - Siege of Terra.

Emperors Children Legion Organisation
I've tried to draw out the structure of the different structures within the III Legion:
First of all, a Company

Each company consisted of 90 line legionaries:

6 x Tactical squads, 3 x Support squads, each lead by a Decurion (Sergeant).

Plus the Centurion (or Captain or Herald), the command squad consisting of:
A Standard bearer,
Chaplain,
Apothecary,
Techmarine,
5 x Captains bodyguard legionaries
In some instances, the Centurions equerry

and three Lieutenants, each responsible for 2 x Tactical squads & 1 x Support squad

A Cohort (Battalion)

Each Cohort was lead by either a Lieutenant Commander (the senior 20 officers of this rank within the Legion) or a Commander and consisted of 5 Companies:

1 x Veteran Company,
3 x Line Companies, and
1 x Spcialist Company

plus the command squad consisting of:

The Cohort Vexillarius (Cohort standard bearers, subalterns and sometimes the Lieutenant Commanders equerry),
The Cohort Consuls (Advisors, Senior specialists, Chaplains, Apothecarion sections, and Techmarine covenants), and
The Cohort Command bodyguard (5 x bodyguard legionaries lead by the Tribune Ordinarii)


A Millenial (Chapter)

Each Millenial was lead by either a Lord Commander (the senior 10 officers of this rank within the Legion, collectively known as the "Princes of War") or a Commander and in theory consisted of 2 Cohorts, however, in reality, there were often many more Cohorts in each Millenial. (For example, approximatley 40,000 loyalists were killed on Istvaan III, however, only 5 Millenials were destroyed, suggesting that 16 Cohorts were in each Millenial). In addition to the Cohorts, there was a command squad consisting of:

The Millenial Vexillarius (Millenial standard bearers, subalterns and sometimes the Lord Commanders equerry),
The Millenial Consuls (Advisors & Senior specialists), and
The Millenial Command bodyguard (5 x bodyguard legionaries lead by the Tribune Palatine)


and finally, the Legion itself.

The Legion was lead by Fulgrim and consisted of 30 Millenials (at it's maximum strength prior to the Istvaan III atrocity), plus the Legion Command consisting of:

The Legion Vexillarius (Legion standard bearers & subalterns),
The Legion Consuls (Legion Armourium, Senior members of the Astropathic Chambre, Navigators-plenipotentiary, Chaplains, Legion Apothecarion, Masters of the Fleet, Castrum of Ordinance, Castellans of Doamin, Auxillary forces & the Legion support Corps),
The Pheonix Guard, 199 of Fulgrims personal bodygurad lead by the Praefector (200 members in honour of the surviving 200 Legionaries remainign after the loss of the Legions gene-seed), and
The Praetorate, made up of all the members of the Brotherhood of the Phoenix.


I have also done a promotion-tree of sorts.

Emperors Children Legion Strength
I've now made a diagram of the legion strength at known times. Not really that much info out there, but this is what I managed to find out.

Emperors Children Legion Notable characters & units

Referenced characters
Bastarnae Abranxe - 85th Company Captain, Heresy-era. (ref: HH novel, The Outcast Dead, pg 6)

Flavius Alkenex - Praefector of the Phoenix Guard, Heresy-era. (ref: HH B1: Betrayl, ppg 110 - 113)

Hasten Luthris Armanitan - Captain, Heresy-era (ref: HH novel, Deliverence Lost, pg 7)

Damas Axalian - 29th Company Captain, Heresy-era. (ref: HH novel, Aurelian)

Fabius Bile - Chief Apothicary & Lieutenant Commander, Crusade-era, Lord Commander, Hersy-era, "The Clone Lord," Post-Heresy. (ref: multiple HH novels & Codecies)

Bulle - 10th Company Legionary, Crusade-era. (ref: HH novel, Horus Rising, pg 209)

Gaius Caphen - 2nd Company Sergeant & Lieutenant, second-in-command to Solomon Demeter, Crusade-era. (ref: HH novel, Fulgrim, pg 6)

Carmine - Noise Marine Auditorix, Post-Heresy. (ref: Black Crusade: The Tome of Excess, pg 28)

Mandragore Carrion - Champion of Slaanesh, Post-Heresy, Associated with House Glaw's search for the Necroteuch. (ref: BL novels, Xenos, Hereticus & Pariah)

Charmosian - 18th Company Chaplain, Heresy-era, killed by Lucius during the Istvaan III atrocity. (ref: HH novel, Galaxy in Flames)

Abdle Comendius - Chemosian-born Apothecary, Crusade-era, loyalist killed during the Istvaan III atrocity. (ref: HH B1: Betrayl, ppg 110 - 113)

Cyrius - Lord Commander, Crusade and Heresy eras. First to kill Lucius (ref: HH novel, Fulgrim, pg 6, Codex: Chaos Space Marines (3rd Ed, 2nd Codex, pg 57))

Daimon - Captain, Heresy-era. (ref: HH novella, The Refletion Crack'd, pg 12)

Solomon Demeter - 2nd Company Captain, Crusade-era, Killed by Lucius. (ref: HH novel, Fulgrim)

Dread Carnethras - Chaos Lord, Post-Heresy. (ref: Black Crusade: The Tome of Excess, pg 26)

Eidolon - "The Risen," Senior Lord Commander, Crusade, Heresy and Post-Heresy eras, Terra-born legionary selected first by Fulgrim to lead a company. (ref: multiple HH novels)

Emmesh-Aiye - Noise Marine Lord, Post-Heresy. (ref: BL Short Story: The Masters, Bidding)

Delorial Eum - Unknown rank, Post-Heresy, Committed the "Unspeakable Acts" at the shrine of Saint Killian. (ref: Black Crusade: The Tome of Excess, pg 22)

Fulgrim - "The Pheonician," "The Illuminator," Primarch, Daemon Prince, Crusade, Heresy & Post-Heresy eras. (ref: multiple HH novels, Index Astartes)

Heliton - Captain, Crusade-era. (ref: HH novella, The Refletion Crack'd, pg 12)

Illios - Lord Commander, Crusade-era, killed in action. (ref: HH novel, Fulgrim, HH novella, The Refletion Crack'd, pg 72)

Zarghan Ironfist - Chaos Champion, Post-Heresy, Expelled from the Legion after raiding Vilius' palace. (ref: BL audio book, Garro: Sword of Truth)

Jihar - "The Lacerator," Chaos Lord, Post-Heresy. (ref: Tactica Imperialis, ppg 71 - 90)

Julius Kaesoron - "The Favoured Son," 1st Company Captain, Crusade, Heresy & Post-Heresy eras, Daemon Prince. (ref: multiple HH novels)

Kalimos - "The Whipmaster" 17th Company Captain, Crusade & Heresy-eras, died after being vented from Andronicus. Original wielder of the Lash of Torment. (ref: HH novella, The Refletion Crack'd, pg 12, HH novel, Angel Exterminatus, pg 8 & chapter 17)

Argentius Kiron - 28th Company Legionary, Crusade & Heresy-eras. (ref: Codex: Chaos Space Marines, 3rd Ed. 2nd Codex, pg 57)

Azeal Konenos - "The Silent," Centurion, Crusade, Heresy and Post-Heresy eras. Second in command to Eidolon during the Istvaan III Atrocity. (ref: HH B1: Betrayl, ppg 110 - 113)

Krysander - 9th & later 102nd Company Captain, Crusade, Heresy, & Post-Heresy eras. (ref: HH novella, The Refletion Crack'd, pg 12, HH novel, Angel Exterminatus, pg 8)

Lucius - "The Eternal," 13th Company Captain, Crusade-era, Lord Commander, Heresy & Post-Heresy eras, Favoured Champion of Slaanesh. (ref: multiple HH novels & Codecies)

Raths Luastus - Decurion, Crusade & Heresy-eras, served in one of the legions jump-pack assault companies, killed on Istvaan III by a Warsinger. (ref: HH novel, Fulgrim, pg 6)

Lycaon - 1st Company Legionary, Crusade, Heresy and Post-Heresy eras, equerry to Julius Kaesoron. (ref: HH novel, Fulgrim, pg 6)

Odovocar - Company Captain, Crusade-era, legion standard bearer and liason officer to Eidolon, killed by a Warsinger on Istvaan III. (ref: HH novel, Galaxy in Flames, chapters 5 & 7)

Pelleon - Lord Commander, Crusade-era. (ref: HH novella, The Refletion Crack'd, pg 77)

Rakatio - Captain, Crusade & Heresy eras. Killed by Captain Hakimo of the White Scars. (ref: BL audio book, Garro: Sword of Truth)

Rapturous Voice - Noise Marine, Post-Heresy era. (ref: Black Crusade: The Tome of Excess, pg 26)

Lonomia Ruen - 21st Company Captain, Crusade & Heresy eras, killed on Iydris. (ref: HH novel, Angel Exterminatus, pg 8, chapter 26)

Rylanor - Ancient of Rites, venerated hero mortally wounded by the Eldar decades before the Horus-heresy, Venerable Dreadnought. First Terran generation of recruits, had the battle honours Roma and Thule inscribed on his armour. First to carry the Palatine Standard alongside the new-found Primarch. (ref: multiple HH novels)

Sarancos - Ancient, Crusade, Heresy and Post-Heresy eras, former champion of the 9th Millenial, later Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought, part of Eidolons traitor command. (ref: HH B1: Betrayl, pg 115)

Gilliax Soundwarden - Warpsmith, Post-Heresy. (ref: Black Crusade: The Tome of Excess, pg 19)

Saul Tarvitz - 10th Company Captain, Crusade-era, presumed killed during the Istvaan III Atrocity. (ref: multiple HH novels)

Teliosa - Hero of the Madrivane Campaign, Lord Commander, Crusade-era, killed in action. (ref: HH novel, Fulgrim)

Grythan Thorn - Decurion, Crusade & Heresy eras, Equerry to Fulgrim during the Kobal Compliance, killed during the botched commandeering of the Sunstone in the early stages of the Istvaan III Atrocity. (ref: HH novel, The Outcast Dead, pg 6)

Marius Vairosean - 3rd Company Captain, first of the Kakophoni, Crusade & Heresy eras, killed in action on Iydris. (ref: multiple HH novels)

Vespasian - Lord Commander, Crusade-era, second of the senior Lord Commanders after Eidolon, slain by Fulgrim. (ref: HH novel, Fulgrim)

Vilius - Captain, Post-Heresy. (ref: BL novel, Farseer, pg 178)


Known characters
Abdemon - Lieutenant Commander during the Great Crusade era, prosecuted the xenocide of the Katara. Killed in action on Istvaan III by one of his own Captains.

Anteus - Lord Commander during the Great Crusade and Horus-heresy eras

Hellespon - Captain during the Great Crusade and Horus-Heresy eras.

Iddinam - Lord Commander during the Great Crusade and Horus-heresy eras. Lead the Praxil system action

Solathen - Sergeant commanded Squad Nasicae during the Great Crusade and Horus-heresy eras.

Thordorian - Ancient, dreadnought during the Great Crusade era.

Tyrion - Captain during the Great Crusade and Horus-Heresy eras.

Xiandor - Captain during the Great Crusade and Horus-Heresy eras.


Known units
Cohors Nasicae - Lucius' personal bodyguard unit

Veteran Squad Fulgerion - Heavy Support squad

This looks amazing, a lot of hours must have gone into this. Kudos, you've really put together quite the archive.

Correct me if I'm wrong.. But weren't the Emporer's Children absent from the siege of Terra. Wasn't that a big issue in the Talon of Horus. Didn't some of the Legionaires felt the Emporer's Children were too busy finding new ways to get off to show up at Terra.

Serg Rush wrote:
Correct me if I'm wrong.. But weren't the Emporer's Children absent from the siege of Terra. Wasn't that a big issue in the Talon of Horus. Didn't some of the Legionaires felt the Emporer's Children were too busy finding new ways to get off to show up at Terra.

From the original fluff, they were present at the siege but quickly got bored and decided to go off and distil the population of Terra rather than fight. I think this also takes us to the Inter Legion/Slave Wars where the Emperors Children attacked the other Legions to capture their slaves as they had exhausted all of theirs.

And OP, amazing stuff. I wouldn't know where to start on something like this!

 Pilau Rice wrote:
From the original fluff, they were present at the siege but quickly got bored and decided to go off and distil the population of Terra rather than fight. I think this also takes us to the Inter Legion/Slave Wars where the Emperors Children attacked the other Legions to capture their slaves as they had exhausted all of theirs.

And OP, amazing stuff. I wouldn't know where to start on something like this!

This. This is also why the Emperor's Children came close to winning the Legion Wars before Abbadon intervened; they didn't smash their legion organisation to bits against the walls of Dorn's fortifications like the Death Guard, Thousand Sons and World Eaters did, and unlike the Sons of Horus they didn't have every traitor legion gunning for them.


Brilliant work. Only correction: The Disasporax Persecution was fought alongside the Iron Hands, not the Iron Warriors.

Other characters:

Galerius, Palatine Blade, Held captive by the XII legion after the Siege of Terra (Kharn: Eater of Worlds)
Tiberius Angellus Anteus, Lord Emmisary from the III legion to the XII legion at Skalathrax, Shot by Dreagher of the XII (Kharn: Eater of Worlds)