The Cover of the new 4th edition Chaos Space Marines sourcebook, to be released in September 2007, Codex: Chaos Space Marines

In the table-top wargame Warhammer 40,000, the Chaos Space Marines or Chaos Marines, are Space Marines who serve the Chaos Gods. They are also referred to as the Traitor Legions, primarily in background material written from the perspective of the Imperium. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Tabletop game is a general term used to refer to card games, board games, parlor games, role-playing games, miniatures wargames, tile-based games and other games that are normally played on a table or other flat surface. ... Wargaming is the play of simulated military operations in the form of games known as wargames. ... This article is about the tabletop miniature wargame and the fictional universe in which it is set. ... The current Space Marine sourcebook (codex) cover The Space Marines are one of the major forces available in the table-top wargame Warhammer 40,000. ... In Games Workshops Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy fictional universes, Chaos refers to the often stereotypically malevolent entities which live in some sort of parallel universe, known as the Warp in Warhammer 40,000 and as the Realm of Chaos in Warhammer Fantasy. ... The Imperium of Man is a fictional galactic empire that contains the vast majority of humanity in the forty-first millennium, set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe created by Games Workshop. ...

History

The background shown in both Codex: Space Marines (Haines and McNeill, 2004) and Codex: Chaos Space Marines (Chambers et al, 2002) states that the Chaos Marine Legions were nine of the twenty original "First Founding" Legions of Space Marines who fought in the Great Crusade for the Imperium of Man. At this time Horus, Warmaster of the Imperial forces and Primarch of the Luna Wolves Legion (which was renamed the Sons of Horus in his honour), was corrupted by Chaos and instigated the galaxy-wide civil war known as the Horus Heresy. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with History of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. ... Horus during the Horus Heresy Horus (also Lupercal) was one of the twenty Space Marine Primarchs, and of them, held the title Warmaster, in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. ... It is proposed that this article be deleted, because of the following concern: There are no third party sources. ... This article or section contains a plot summary that is overly long or excessively detailed compared to the rest of the article. ...

After the death of Horus and the end of the Heresy, the remnants of the nine Legions along with the other Imperial forces that had joined Horus escaped into an area of the galaxy known as the Eye of Terror. Due to the nature of Chaos, and the temporal instability of the Warp, the very same Chaos Marines who revolted against the Emperor continue to fight against the Imperium. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Immaterium (also referred to as the Empyrean, Aether or Warp) is an alternate dimension in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. ... The Imperium is a fictional galactic empire that contains the majority of humanity, set in the Warhammer 40K meta-universe created by the Games Workshop. ...

The Legions have kept their old names, with the exception of the Sons of Horus who were renamed the Black Legion by their new leader, Abaddon the Despoiler. Besides Horus, two other Chaos Primarchs were killed during or shortly after the Heresy (those of the Alpha Legion and Night Lords). The six surviving Primarchs have since become Daemon Princes. These daemonic Primarchs rarely take part in the affairs of their Legions or any part of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Some of the Legions have pledged a particular loyalty to one of the four Great Chaos powers. The closest thing to a leader that has appeared among them is Abaddon the Despoiler. Abaddon is the only Chaos Marine since Horus to be able to command the loyalty of all nine Traitor Legions, and has led thirteen Black Crusades against the Imperium of Man. Abaddon the Despoiler In the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000 and Battlefleet Gothic, Abaddon the Despoiler is Warmaster of Chaos, captain of the Black Legion and is rumoured to be the clone-progeny of Warmaster Horus and at one time, his most favoured son. ... In the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000, the Alpha Legion are the Chaos Space Marines Legion about whom the least is known. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... In the Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40,000 fictional universes, the Daemons are malevolent spirits born out of the destructive power called Chaos. ... In the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe a Black Crusade is when the forces of Chaos manage to unite under the leadership of Abaddon the Despoiler, Warmaster of the Black Legion, and launch a massive attack from within the Eye of Terror against the Imperium. ...

Differences between Chaos Space Marines and Space Marines

The Chaos Space Marines have the same origins as the Space Marines, thus have the same physical power. Due to their allegiance to Chaos, veteran Chaos Marines can be mutated, thus making them physically stronger, faster or otherwise superior. Chaos Marines are also virtually immortal, which can allow them to learn advanced battlefield skills and tactics that Space Marines may not know. The current Space Marine sourcebook (codex) cover The Space Marines are one of the major forces available in the table-top wargame Warhammer 40,000. ...

They are equipped with the power armour and weapons they had when they initially betrayed the Imperium, which are broadly the same as those used by Space Marines (although differences now exist with jump packs etc). The current setting of the Warhammer 40,000 game is about 10,000 years after the Horus Heresy, and, while the Imperium has made some minuscule technological advancements, Chaos Marines have far more limited access to the handful of new inventions that have appeared on the galactic scene. In general, anything developed since the Heresy is unavailable to them unless it has been captured; for example, Iron Warriors are known for capturing and using Imperial tanks. While Chaos Space Marines have only older technology, they compensate for this by having access to daemons and daemonic technology. In the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000, the Iron Warriors are one of the traitorous Chaos Space Marine Legions. ... In the Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40,000 fictional universes, the Daemons are malevolent spirits born out of the destructive power called Chaos. ...

Forces of the Chaos Space Marines

Each of the Chaos Space Marine Legions fights using a different style of warfare; also, four of the nine are dedicated to one of the four major Chaos Gods. Codex: Chaos Space Marines (Chambers et al, 2002) includes the current rules for fielding a Chaos Space Marine army in a game of Warhammer 40,000; it also includes rules for fielding any of the nine specific legions.

The nine Chaos Marine Legions are (in order of Founding):

• Emperor's Children (dedicated to Slaanesh)
• Iron Warriors
• Night Lords
• World Eaters (dedicated to Khorne)
• Death Guard (dedicated to Nurgle)
• Thousand Sons (dedicated to Tzeentch)
• Black Legion
• Word Bearers (dedicated to Chaos Undivided)
• Alpha Legion

There are also many humans and mutants who serve Chaos, and they are often used by the Chaos Marines to bolster their ranks. These traitors, mutants and heretics are collectively labelled the Lost and the Damned. Rules and background for these forces can be found in Codex: Eye of Terror (Chambers et al, 2003). In the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000, the Emperors Children are a legion of Chaos Space Marines who worship the Chaos god Slaanesh. ... In the fictional universes of Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy, Slaanesh is one of the four major Chaos gods. ... In the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000, the Iron Warriors are one of the traitorous Chaos Space Marine Legions. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... In the fictional universes of Warhammer 40,000, the World Eaters are a Legion of the Chaos Space Marines. ... In the fictional universes of Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy, Khorne is one of the four major Chaos gods. ... In the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000, the Death Guard are one of the traitor legions of Chaos Space Marines. ... Nurgle overlooking his army, as depicted on the cover of Realm of Chaos:The Lost and the Damned In the fictional universes of Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy, Nurgle is one of the four major Chaos gods. ... The Thousand Sons is one of the Legions of Chaos Space Marines in the game Warhammer 40,000. ... In the fictional universes of Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy, Tzeentch is one of the four major Chaos gods. ... In the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe, the Black Legion is a legion of Chaos Space Marines, formerly under the command of the traitor Primarch Horus. ... In the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe, the Word Bearers are one of the twenty First Founding Legions of the Space Marines, who have turned to worship of the malevolent Chaos Gods. ... In Games Workshops Warhammer 40000 and Warhammer Fantasy fictional universes, Chaos refers to the often malevolent entities which live in The Warp, composed mostly of Daemons, but also includes those mortals who have thrown in their lot with the daemons, ranging from simple peasants and/or laborers, to wizards... In the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000, the Alpha Legion are the Chaos Space Marines Legion about whom the least is known. ... This article is about the playable army in the game, Warhammer 40,000. ...

In addition, since the Horus Heresy, some Space Marine Chapters have been corrupted in one way or another by Chaos. Very little background information has been provided about these Chapters, and no specific rules exist for them, allowing players to adapt other rules to represent their forces. Examples include the Sons of Malice, the Damned Company of Lord Caustos, the Violators, the Thunder Barons, and the Astral Claws (known as the Red Corsairs since their rebellion). This is a list of known canonical Space Marine Chapters from the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. ... This is a list of known canonical Space Marine Chapters from the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. ... This is a list of known canonical Space Marine Chapters from the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. ... This is a list of known canonical Space Marine Chapters from the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. ... This is a list of known canonical Space Marine Chapters from the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. ...

See also

• Chaos Weapons, Equipment and Vehicles
• Vehicles of the Imperium (Warhammer 40,000)
• Vehicles of the Space Marines (Warhammer 40,000)

Within the Warhammer 40,000 fictional universe, some races use weapons and equipment similar to that used by the Imperium, while others use radically different tools. ... The Imperial Eagle, the emblem of the Imperium of Man. ... The Space Marines of the Warhammer 40,000 universe have fewer types of vehicles than the Imperial Guard. ...

References

• Chambers, Andy; Haines, Pete; Hoare, Andy; Kelly, Phil; and McNeill, Graham (2002). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Chaos Space Marines, 2nd Edition, Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-322-5. 
• Haines, Pete; and McNeill, Graham (2004). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Space Marines, 4th Edition, Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-526-0. 
• Chambers, Andy; Haines, Pete; Hoare, Andy; Kelly, Phil; and McNeill, Graham (2003). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Eye of Terror, 1st Edition, Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-398-5. 
• Abnett, Dan (2004). Eisenhorn. Nottingham: Black Library. ISBN 1-84416-156-0. 
• McNeill, Graham (2004). Dead Sky, Black Sun. Nottingham: Black Library. ISBN 1-84416-148-X. 
• Chaos Space Marines. Games Workshop. Retrieved on 2006-03-01.