EmpNortonII wrote:
So, a couple of months back, there was a thread on primarch rivalries where a poster proposed that Rogal Dorn and Perturabo may have been based on the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon, respectively. It was a pretty neat idea then.

 EmpNortonII wrote:
So, a couple of months back, there was a thread on primarch rivalries where a poster proposed that Rogal Dorn and Perturabo may have been based on the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon, respectively. It was a pretty neat idea then.

locarno24 wrote:

 EmpNortonII wrote:
So, a couple of months back, there was a thread on primarch rivalries where a poster proposed that Rogal Dorn and Perturabo may have been based on the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon, respectively. It was a pretty neat idea then.

Not really. Neither was noted as a siege commander or fortifier. Wellington was a noted defensive general but in the field, not from fortress walls.

If I had to pick a real-life model for Perturabo, I'd go with Sebastian de Vauban

Curze is pretty much Vlad Tepes in space.

Agreed.

Jaghatai Kahn = Genghis Kahn

Given that he wasn't given to wholesale massacre and was actually pretty civilised, plus - you know - his name, I suggest Chagatai Khan, who actually ruled (and expanded) that empire, but was a much more diplomatic and enlightened man than his father.

I'd also bet that Guilloman was based off of Germanicus or some other era-parallel general. General space-roman theme - they look somewhat similar too, and both are glory-hounds.

As an adopted son who ends up ruling after avenging a murdered father, the obvious parallel would be Gaius Octavius, AKA Augustus, the first Emperor of rome.

Perhaps Leman Russ = Vercingetorix (gaulic genral who fought romans)? I don't know many other known historical figures that lead bands of barbarians.

The Rout are pretty heavily based off the Varangii - essentially vikings sworn into byzantian imperial service as an elite guard and personal enforcers for the emperor. They were noted for excessively barbaric appearance and sometimes 'played up' the 'look at me, I'm an ignorant savage, whoops, deary me, I resorted to violence' card to cut through the politics of an empire which literally gave the world the word byzantine. The fact that they literally use the varangii term to describe wolf guard terminators is a pretty clear hint.




Angron is a pretty thinly disguised Spartacus

Perhaps Leman Russ = Vercingetorix (gaulic genral who fought romans)? I don't know many other known historical figures that lead bands of barbarians.

 EmpNortonII wrote:


Curze is pretty much Vlad Tepes in space.

 Dakka Wolf wrote:

Perhaps Leman Russ = Vercingetorix (gaulic genral who fought romans)? I don't know many other known historical figures that lead bands of barbarians.

The Rout are pretty heavily based off the Varangii - essentially vikings sworn into byzantian imperial service as an elite guard and personal enforcers for the emperor. They were noted for excessively barbaric appearance and sometimes 'played up' the 'look at me, I'm an ignorant savage, whoops, deary me, I resorted to violence' card to cut through the politics of an empire which literally gave the world the word byzantine. The fact that they literally use the varangii term to describe wolf guard terminators is a pretty clear hint.

BrianDavion wrote:

 Dakka Wolf wrote:

Perhaps Leman Russ = Vercingetorix (gaulic genral who fought romans)? I don't know many other known historical figures that lead bands of barbarians.

The Rout are pretty heavily based off the Varangii - essentially vikings sworn into byzantian imperial service as an elite guard and personal enforcers for the emperor. They were noted for excessively barbaric appearance and sometimes 'played up' the 'look at me, I'm an ignorant savage, whoops, deary me, I resorted to violence' card to cut through the politics of an empire which literally gave the world the word byzantine. The fact that they literally use the varangii term to describe wolf guard terminators is a pretty clear hint.

Good grief, the race called themselves “The Rus” you’re right, the evidence does keep piling up.

ody2002 wrote:

 EmpNortonII wrote:


Curze is pretty much Vlad Tepes in space.

Not knowing much about Curze, I just assumed he was based on Kurtz from Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness (who in turn is the inspiration for Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now) .

ody2002 wrote:

 EmpNortonII wrote:


Curze is pretty much Vlad Tepes in space.

Not knowing much about Curze, I just assumed he was based on Kurtz from Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness (who in turn is the inspiration for Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now) .

 Duskweaver wrote:
An obsession with logistics as the most important part of warfare. A statesman as much as a general. Advocating a society based on reason and meritocracy over the superstition and hereditary warlordism of the past. Devising and encoding an entire system of law that would long outlast its creator. An idealist who knew when to bow to pragmatism (e.g. despising the Church, but eventually coming to an 'understanding' with them). Presented himself as a reluctant ruler, forced into the position because there was no-one else who could do the job, but deep down secretly really wanted to rule. Came back for another go after everyone thought he was finished. Changed his troops' uniforms to blue. Guilliman is Napoleon. The historical Napoleon that is, not the ridiculous stereotype most British people think of...

 Xenomancers wrote:

 Duskweaver wrote:
An obsession with logistics as the most important part of warfare. A statesman as much as a general. Advocating a society based on reason and meritocracy over the superstition and hereditary warlordism of the past. Devising and encoding an entire system of law that would long outlast its creator. An idealist who knew when to bow to pragmatism (e.g. despising the Church, but eventually coming to an 'understanding' with them). Presented himself as a reluctant ruler, forced into the position because there was no-one else who could do the job, but deep down secretly really wanted to rule. Came back for another go after everyone thought he was finished. Changed his troops' uniforms to blue. Guilliman is Napoleon. The historical Napoleon that is, not the ridiculous stereotype most British people think of...

Brillant!

 Ishagu wrote:

 Xenomancers wrote:

 Duskweaver wrote:
An obsession with logistics as the most important part of warfare. A statesman as much as a general. Advocating a society based on reason and meritocracy over the superstition and hereditary warlordism of the past. Devising and encoding an entire system of law that would long outlast its creator. An idealist who knew when to bow to pragmatism (e.g. despising the Church, but eventually coming to an 'understanding' with them). Presented himself as a reluctant ruler, forced into the position because there was no-one else who could do the job, but deep down secretly really wanted to rule. Came back for another go after everyone thought he was finished. Changed his troops' uniforms to blue. Guilliman is Napoleon. The historical Napoleon that is, not the ridiculous stereotype most British people think of...

Brillant!

Whilst that's all true, the Empire aspect is more reminiscent of a Roman ruler, as is the inspiration for the looks and theme of the Ultras. One things for sure - they borrowed from a lot of historical leaders for Guilliman.