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The Dark Angels are a fictional military unit in the Science Fantasy game Warhammer 40,000. Image File history File links Information. ... Image File history File links DAsymbol. ... It is proposed that this article be deleted, because of the following concern: There are no third party sources. ... A fictional universe is an imaginary world that serves as the setting or backdrop for one or (more commonly) multiple works of fiction or translatable non-fiction. ... Science fantasy is a mixed genre of story which contains some science fiction and some fantasy elements. ... This article is about the tabletop miniature wargame and the fictional universe in which it is set. ...

They were the first of the original twenty First Founding Legions of the Space Marines serving the Imperium of Man in the fictional future of the tabletop wargame Warhammer 40,000. 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. ... 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. ... This article is about the tabletop miniature wargame and the fictional universe in which it is set. ...

History

The Dark Angels have the honour of being the first Legion created by the Emperor. Like the others, their Primarch was lost while he was still in his infancy. He later turned up on the beautiful but Chaos-blighted planet of Caliban. The Emperor of Mankind The Immortal God-Emperor of Mankind is the leader of the Imperium in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe, the largest human organization within that universe. ... It is proposed that this article be deleted, because of the following concern: There are no third party sources. ... In Games Workshops Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy fictional universes, Chaos refers to the often 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. ...

Caliban was as cruel and harsh an environment as any in the galaxy. In the bleak forest that covered the globe lived creatures that had been corrupted by Chaos, and which were of such ferocity that mere day-to-day survival was a constant struggle. The human inhabitants of Caliban were forced to live in huge fortresses and castles, located in clearings hacked from the forests of the planet. Cut off from Terra by the Warp storms that savaged the galaxy in the Age of Strife, civilization on Caliban devolved back into a semi-feudal state, with most of the population ruled over by a small warrior elite. In Games Workshops Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy fictional universes, Chaos refers to the often 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 nobility of Caliban were a bluff and pugnacious race. Raised from childhood to live and die by the sword, they were great warriors and extremely brave. They fought in a form of power armour much like that used by the Space Marines, and like them their main weapons were the chainsword and bolt pistol. Most other forms of advanced technology had, however, been lost, and the warrior nobility therefore rode into battle on huge warhorses. The nobles' life was one of constant struggle as they fought against the multitude of Chaotic creatures that threatened to overrun their small settlements. Sometimes a particularly fearsome creature would stay in one area and terrorize it, in which case the ruler of the community would declare a quest against the monster, and the nobles from all around would come and attempt to kill the beast. Slaying a quest-creature could bring honour and fortune for the noble lucky enough to kill it - more often than not though it brought only a bloody and horrific death at the teeth and talons of a hell-spawned abomination.

Such then was the planet where the young Primarch's capsule crash-landed. Most of the other Primarchs were fortunate enough to be found and raised by the local human inhabitants of the planet they landed on. Such was not to be Jonson's fate, for his capsule landed in a remote and isolated region of Caliban, many miles from the nearest human settlement. How Jonson survived those early years on Caliban is a complete mystery. By rights he should have died within the first few minutes he was exposed on the planet. But Jonson did not die. Somehow, as a young child on one of the most deadly death worlds in the Imperium, he not only survived, but grew strong and tall. What it was like for him in those grim and dark days none can say, for there was no-one there to record the events of his life, and Jonson never spoke of those times himself. All that can be said for certain is that for a decade Jonson was forced to trust to his own wit and skill in order to survive. A full decade after his arrival on the planet, the Primarch heard a sound unlike any he had encountered in the wild: human speech.

The brave warrior knights he encountered belonged to a group known simply as the Order. The Order had a reputation across all of Caliban for the honesty, nobility and fearless skills of its brother-knights in battle. Uniquely amongst the knights of Caliban, the members, or brothers, of the Order were selected by merit rather than inheritance. Anyone could join the Order, no matter how low born they might be. Contingents of brother-knights from the Order traveled across the planet, giving their aid whenever it was needed. It was while on one of their great expeditions that a band from the Order came upon the wild man that lived in the forests. Thinking him a monster, the knights were ready to kill the Primarch when one of their number, a man known as Luther, sensed that there was something more to the creature than was at first apparent. Having convinced his fellow nobles to stand down, Luther and the other knights returned to civilisation, taking with them the man born of the forest. Because of his appearance and the place of his discovery, the Order gave the wild man the name of Lion El'Jonson, which meant 'The Lion, the Son of the Forest'. Jonson easily adapted to the ways of humans, learning to speak remarkably quickly. But of his time growing up in the forest he never spoke.

Within the fortress monastery of the Order, the Primarch was assimilated into human society on Caliban. There he and Luther formed a close friendship. It appeared that the two men filled in the gaps in each other's personality. Where Jonson was temperamental and taciturn, Luther was charming and charismatic. Where Luther was rash and emotional, Jonson was a brilliant strategist and unstoppable once decided upon a course of action. They realized that they complemented each other and, as such, became an incomparable team.

Over the following years Jonson and Luther rose through the ranks of the Order. Their exploits became the stuff of legend on Caliban, and the reputation of the Order rose accordingly. The number of young warriors wishing to join the Order grew and grew, so that in time many new fortress monasteries had to be built. As the Order grew in size Jonson and Luther argued for a crusade against the monsters that infested the forests, to cleanse the planet once and for all of their foul presence. The oratory of Luther convinced the Grand Masters of the monasteries and most of the nobles of the planet to join in the crusade, but it was Jonson's supreme ability at planning and organisation which ensured that within the course of a single decade the entire planet of Caliban was cleared of the monstrous creatures that had once inhabited it. A golden age dawned for the inhabitants of the once troubled planet.

In recognition of his triumph against the creatures of Chaos, Lion El'Jonson was proclaimed new Supreme Master of the Order and Caliban. Although Luther did not openly begrudge Jonson the honour he had won, he would not have been human if he did not feel some twinge of jealousy. Thus was lit the first small spark that would lead to the schism which would tear the Dark Angels Legion apart. But all this was in the future - for the present the people of Caliban enjoyed a time of peace and plenty.

The Great Crusade

Meanwhile, unknown to Jonson and the people of Caliban, the Emperor was waging his Great Crusade across the galaxy, reuniting humanity and purging entire star systems of their alien oppressors. As the Imperium's wave of conquest advanced across the galaxy, Imperial Scouts rediscovered the isolated world of Caliban. It was not long before the Emperor was at last reunited with the Primarch and was filled with joy as would be a father on finding his lost son. The Emperor's first action was to give Lion El'Jonson control of the Dark Angels Legion. This body of Space Marines had been created by the Emperor from its Primarch's gene-seed and had fought alongside the other Imperial forces as the Great Crusade was waged across the galaxy. The Emperor of Mankind The Immortal God-Emperor of Mankind is the leader of the Imperium in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe, the largest human organization within that universe. ...

Caliban was made the home world of the Dark Angels and the whole of the Order moved to join its ranks. Those knights who were still young enough had the Legion's gene seed implanted within them. Those too old for this process underwent surgery to transform them into elite warriors of the Imperium. Although they were not full Space Marines, their enhancements granted them abilities and a lifespan beyond those of normal men. The first to be brought into the Legion in this way was Luther, who became Jonson's second-in-command, just as he always had been within the Order. However, when the Emperor left, he took El'Jonson and the majority of the Legion with him, leaving Luther and a garrison force behind on Caliban to guard against the return of Chaos. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ...

The Great Crusade, of course, had to go on: there were countless human worlds that were still under the influence of Chaos or suppressed by the harsh rule of alien races. So it was that Jonson and many of the Dark Angels set out with the Emperor to continue the battle for humanity and Luther was left behind in charge of the remainder of the Legion on Caliban. Despite the importance of Luther's position, it was not one that suited his ambitious personality.

Lion El'Jonson and his Legion performed well during the Great Crusade, although during a particular battle, Lion El'Jonson and Leman Russ, Primarch of the Space Wolves Legion, came to blows over the latter's action during the siege of the Crimson Fortress. This event began a feud which still continues strong in the 41st millennium, usually taking the form of a ritualistic duel between two elected champions, Ragnar Blackmane being the latest victor. It has been known to manifest itself in a very violent manner. The Space Wolves are one of the twenty First Founding Legions of Space Marines serving the Imperium of Man in the fictional future of the tabletop wargame Warhammer 40,000. ... It is proposed that this article be deleted, because of the following concern: There are no third party sources. ... The Space Wolves are one of the twenty First Founding Legions of Space Marines serving the Imperium of Man in the fictional future of the tabletop wargame Warhammer 40,000. ... A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by force or attrition, often accompanied by an assault. ...

As Jonson's fame spread throughout the galaxy and reports of his great deeds and prowess in battle reached the Legion's home world, Luther felt robbed of his share of the glory. He wanted the fame and recognition that he felt he deserved as Jonson's equal. His role as planetary governor of some half-forgotten backwater world seemed more and more to him like an insult. The seed of jealousy and dissension that had been planted within Luther when Jonson was made the Supreme Master of the Order now began to grow and rankle within his heart as the Primarch became more and more celebrated and famous.

Luther's Betrayal

Much of the Dark Angels lore concerns the Fallen, Dark Angels who rebelled against their brothers during the Horus Heresy. However, much of this is subject to rumors and even more are the half-truths the Dark Angels have surrounded themselves with since Caliban was lost. In the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe, the Horus Heresy was a galaxy-spanning civil war that marked the end of the Great Crusade. It is also the title of a novel series published by the Black Library, a collectible card game produced by Sabertooth Games and an out of...

When the Horus Heresy erupted across the Imperium of Man, the Dark Angels were engaged in a campaign on the Eastern Fringe. To prevent the legion from reinforcing the Emperor, Horus sent the Night Lords traitor legion to destroy them. Unknown to Jonson, similar attacks were being launched on their loyalist brethren - on the Imperial Fists in the Istvaan system, the Blood Angels on the Signis Cluster, the Space Wolves in the Chondax system, and the Ultramarines at Calth. In the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe, the Horus Heresy was a galaxy-spanning civil war that marked the end of the Great Crusade. It is also the title of a novel series published by the Black Library, a collectible card game produced by Sabertooth Games and an out of... 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. ...

Like their traitor brethren, the Night Lords' attack failed, and their foe set course for Terra. Where the Imperial Fists, Blood Angels and the White Scars had arrived at Terra before Horus began his siege, the Dark Angels, Ultramarines and Space Wolves had overcome their attackers and departed for Terra as the siege was already underway. The news of these three legions' impending arrival frustrated Warmaster Horus into rashness. Horus knew that while the siege of Terra was greatly stacked in his favor (his 7 traitor legions besieging 3 loyal ones), the arrival of three loyalist legions and their Primarchs would tip the balance in the favor of the Emperor. Horus then gambled everything on a duel with the Emperor. Horus was eventually defeated, though he fatally wounded the Emperor. 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. ...

While on Terra, a distress call from their brothers called them back to Caliban, where the fleeing Angels spoke of insurrection and rebellion. The Dark Angels were greeted in a wholly unexpected way as they entered orbit above Caliban. A salvo of anti-starship fire blasted from the surface of the planet, fatally crippling many ships in the fleet. El'Jonson pulled the fleet out of range, trying to discover the reason for the attack, and discovering a tale of betrayal. The marines who had escaped the planet told a heavily slanted, yet from their point of view, completely true, tale of corruption at the heart of the chapter.

Supposedly, as word of El'Jonson's victories during the Great Crusade reached Caliban, his former brother-in-arms, Luther, became envious of the successes and glory he and the garrison force were being denied. He projected his bitterness and jealousy on the Dark Angels who had been left behind; all of them slowly becoming corrupted by the forces of Chaos. Luther's hubris had been all the Dark Gods needed to make him theirs. In Games Workshops Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy fictional universes, Chaos refers to the often 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. ... Hubris or hybris (Greek ), according to its modern usage, is exaggerated self pride or self-confidence (overbearing pride), often resulting in fatal retribution. ...

When he discovered this, Lion El'Jonson was overcome by a terrifying fury, ordering the destruction of his corrupted brothers and the bombardment of the planet. Once the defences were shattered, the Primarch led the assault of Caliban, attacking the fortress monastery of the Order while the fleet continued to attack the planet itself. A bombardment is an attack by artillery fire directed against fortifications, troops or towns and buildings. ... It is proposed that this article be deleted, because of the following concern: There are no third party sources. ...

The Primarch of the Dark Angels faced his former brother, the two engaging in a titanic duel. Luther had been elevated by Chaos to equally match El'Jonson. The ensuing struggle reduced the fortress-monastery of the Order to rubble. Eventually, El'Jonson was able to gain the upper hand, but could not bring himself to deliver the killing blow. The fallen Luther had no such qualms, mortally wounding the Primarch with a blast of sorcerous power. As Luther did this, he realised how far he had fallen, betraying friend, Legion, and Emperor, and fell to his knees, his will to fight gone. In Games Workshops Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy fictional universes, Chaos refers to the often 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. ...

Whether caused by the powers of Chaos or by a freak accident, a massive warp storm raged into existence and tore Caliban, already weakened by the Dark Angels bombardment, apart. The debris of the collapsing planet was sucked into the Immaterium, leaving only a collection of asteroids to remain. One such asteroid, on which stands the remains of the Fortress Monastery, became the Dark Angels' mobile base of operations, also known as 'The Rock'. It is one of the larger space stations in the Imperium of Man. The Immaterium (also referred to as the Empyrean or Warp) is an alternate dimension in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. ... 253 Mathilde, a C-type asteroid. ...

The Aftermath of Caliban

This story of treachery and betrayal is the Dark Angels' secret shame. None know of it other than the Dark Angels and their Successor Chapters. Even within the Chapter itself, few Brother-Marines know of what happened during those fateful days.

The organisation of the Dark Angels has been shaped primarily by events in its history. As a result it is different from that of any other order. The Chapter is monastic in nature, with much time given over to worship and prayer. There are many different levels within the Chapter that a marine may rise through. On attaining each level, a marine learns more about the truth behind the Dark Angels' origins. Most Dark Angels know nothing about their Chapter's beginnings. Only those at the top who have learned the full truth.

The bulk of the Dark Angels Chapter is organised along strict Codex lines. However, the First Company and the Second Company have special organisations. The Second Company is known as the Ravenwing, and is trained as a special mobile formation equipped completely with either bikes or land speeders. The First Company is the famous Deathwing. While it appears the same as any other Chapter's First Company, it is, in truth, a highly specialised formation. Only when a Dark Angel reaches the Deathwing does he learn the story of Luther's betrayal. More terrible still, he learns that many of the Dark Angels who followed Luther are still alive. These damned warriors are known as the Fallen Angels, or simply "the Fallen". This stain on the Chapter's honour drives and motivates the Chapter to this day, for as long as one of the Fallen lives, the honour of the Chapter can never be restored. Within the Deathwing, there are further various levels of admission, each bringing greater knowledge.

The Fallen Dark Angels

In the eyes of the Dark Angels Space Marines, the only way that they can rid themselves totally of their shame, and restore their honour and trust in the Emperor's eyes, is if all the Fallen are found and either made to repent or are slain. However, since the Fallen were cast through the warp to all corners of space and time, this is no mean task for the Dark Angels to achieve. Unlike the Inquisitors and Grey Knights of the Imperium, whose role it is to root out the agents of Chaos at work within the galaxy, in this regard the Dark Angels are only concerned with finding the Fallen of their Chapter. Although the Dark Angels will be called upon for many different missions for the Imperium, the search for their Fallen comrades is a constant quest that they can never relinquish.

Not all of the Dark Angels' damned brethren have succumbed to the power of Chaos to the same degree. Some of the Fallen have embraced the ways of the Dark Gods totally, becoming in the process true Chaos Space Marines. These Fallen do not belong to a Chapter of their own, like Angron's World Eaters. Instead they are dispersed throughout space and time as either isolated individuals or in small bands. Miniature of a Chaos Chosen in Terminator Armour In the table-top wargame Warhammer 40,000, the Chaos Space Marines are Space Marines who serve the Chaos Gods. ... In the fictional universes of Warhammer 40,000, the World Eaters are a Legion of the Chaos Space Marines. ...

However, most of the Fallen realise that their actions prior to the fall of Caliban were wrong. Disgusted by the corrupting influence of the Chaos gods, and unable to reconcile themselves with their order, they lead a solitary existence. Many of them become mercenaries or pirates, roaming the galaxy as masterless men. Others are willing to atone for their sins and in an attempt to do so have integrated themselves back into human societies taking on the role of any ordinary person. This only makes the Dark Angels' task of finding the Fallen much more difficult, as they are not easy to identify as such. But it is still the Dark Angels' duty to try and track them down. In order to do so, they must investigate any rumour or story relating to the Fallen, in case it should lead them to one of their corrupted brethren. These rumors are followed mercilessly, with any witnesses executed and all information relating to the Fallen outside chapter archives destroyed.

The Dark Angels can go for years without hearing any rumours that might lead them to one or more of the Fallen. When they do however, and their mission is a success, those Fallen that are captured are taken back to the Fortress-Monastery. Deep inside its dungeons, Interrogator-Chaplains attempt to make the Fallen repent. Occasionally they do, and in return for their confession, their deaths are made quick and painless. More often than not, though, the captured Fallen refuses to acknowledge their wrongdoing, and so their souls are purified by extreme suffering, before an agonising death at the hands of the interrogator-chaplains. Yet not all Fallen are slain. Luther himself is imprisoned in a stasis cell at the very heart of the Rock, where he remains adamant that he does not need to repent, for the Lion will return one day to forgive him of his sins. Another is former Chapter Master Astelan, who was the leader of the "renegade" Dark Angels on Caliban at the time of The Lion's return.

Organisation

The organisation of the Dark Angels differs from the Codex Astartes in the higher ranks, along with the layout of the First and Second Companies.

The First Company is known as the Deathwing, veterans who only take to the field of battle in bone-white Terminator Armour. This armour was originally black, but was repainted white to honour the valour of a group of 30 Terminators, who single-handedly halted a Genestealer invasion of Plain's World, one of the Dark Angels main recruiting worlds. The Deathwing is unique in that it has enough of the rare and precious Terminator suits to equip the entire company, in excess of 100 complete sets of armour; other Chapters have often requested the transfer, sale or loan of these suits, but The Deathwing will not part with them. In the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe, the elite Space Marines are well equipped and protected, and there are few instances when power armour isnt enough. ... A Genestealer Brood In the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000 by Games Workshop, a Genestealer (scientific name Corporaptor Hominii) is an alien creature associated with the Tyranids. ...

The assault aspect of combat is focused in the Second Company, known as the Ravenwing. Every single member of the Company is trained in the use of Bikes and Land Speeders, and all are masters of high-speed warfare.

Headquarters

The ruins of Caliban are located in the Cadian sector, to the galactic north of the Eye of Terror. Prior to the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy, the planet of Caliban was covered with lush forests, inhabited by creatures warped by Chaos. The humans of the planet were a proud, martial people, forced to live in great stone monasteries. In the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop wargame, the Eye of Terror has two meanings. ... In the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe, the Horus Heresy was a galaxy-spanning civil war that marked the end of the Great Crusade. It is also the title of a novel series published by the Black Library, a collectible card game produced by Sabertooth Games and an out of... In Games Workshops Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy fictional universes, Chaos refers to the often 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 Dark Angels rebuilt their fortress monastery on the asteroid that had borne the old one, drilling deep into the bedrock and rebuilding the ruins. The new fortress is known officially as The Tower of Angels, but is more commonly referred to as The Rock. The Rock has been equipped with warp engines, enabling faster-than-light transit through the Immaterium. The Immaterium (also referred to as the Empyrean or Warp) is an alternate dimension in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. ...

The warrens beneath The Rock are where the Dark Angels bring their fallen brethren to be redeemed by their Interrogator-Chaplains. It is believed by the Inquisition to hold many other secrets. One secret is known only to the Inner Circle: Luther is not only still alive, but imprisoned within the deepest cavern of The Rock. He is incurably insane, and to date has frustrated the attempts of every Supreme Grand Master to make him repent. Luther simply rants and raves that he has no need of confession or repentance, for one day Lion El'Jonson will return and forgive him for his sins. However, the greatest secret of them all is that in the deepest part of the rock, the Lion, critically wounded, also lives, tended by the mysterious individuals known only as the Watchers in the Dark. The Inquisition (The Holy Orders of the Emperors Inquisition) is a secret organisation in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. ...

Recruitment

As the Dark Angels have no home world to speak of, they draw their recruits from a variety of planets, mainly with a pre-industrial level of technology. Representatives of the Dark Angels visit each recruiting world once within a normal human's lifetime, and take the strongest juveniles from the population. Each recruit is thoroughly screened, and from the moment he is accepted into the Chapter as a Space Marine, his past becomes irrelevant. Once the recruit is accepted he will undergo the normal rites to become a Space Marine. However should he fail, his mind will be wiped clean and his body converted into that of a servitor, mindless automations that carry out the labourous tasks of the Chapter.

After the Heresy, the Dark Angels recruited from a single planet (known as Plains World) whose inhabitants resembled American Indians. Sometime before the 41st Millennium a group of returning Deathwing found that their planet had been overrun fifty years earlier by Genestealers, with only a few un-tainted humans remaining. The Terminators, whose duty and honor required the extermination of the genestealers, prepared themselves for battle. The odds of their success was nearly non-existent. And so, the Terminators engaged in their native death ritual. Instead of anointing their skin with white ash, they anointed their armor. The Terminators cleansed the world and rescued the enslaved populace, and in honor of those few Terminators, their armor was ever after white. Also, the Dark Angels leadership, the inner circle, recognised the folly of relying upon one planet for manpower and so diversified their recruiting grounds (these events were chronicled in the short story Deathwing, which first appeared in the Space Hulk supplement of the same name).

(Note: there is no proof the Space Hulk Deathwing events happened before or after the heresy, as no reference to the Primarchs are made at all in the text.)

Combat Doctrine

The Dark Angels follow the standard doctrine of the Codex Astartes, but their dogged resistance against overwhelming odds is legendary. The Dark Angels will stubbornly stand their ground in combat, refusing to give ground to the enemy, even if tactically beneficial to do so.

The primary driving force of the Chapter is the hunt and capture of "The Fallen". Only by forcing every single one to repent do the Dark Angels believe they can restore their honour. If a member of "The Fallen", or someone who may know of the location of one, is present on the battlefield, the Dark Angels will ignore their objective and do all in their power to capture this individual. Everything else is second to the capture of a Fallen Angel, including any human life. It is not unknown for Dark Angels to fire upon friendly targets in order to prevent them from discovering the secret of the Fallen. Those friendly units that survive are often taken to The Rock to be turned into Servitors, to silence them forever.

The Dark Angels are also notoriously intolerant of non-humans and mutants, even those considered benevolent by the Imperium of Man. They are also highly mistrustful of the Imperial Inquisition, and will refuse to fight alongside any force that incorporates members of the Inquisition, or non-human soldiers except in the most dire of circumstances. This is due to the fact that they do not want the Inquisition investigating the Chapter. 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. ... The Inquisition (The Holy Orders of the Emperors Inquisition) is a secret organisation in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. ...

Appearance

The symbol of the Chapter is a winged sword. Variants of this symbol exist for the Deathwing and Ravenwing, the former depicting the winged sword as broken, the latter a sword held by a single wing and raven's claw. The tenth Company, the Scouts, uses the Dark Angel Sword but without the wing device, to symbolise the fact that the Scout Company comprises Chapter recruits and trainees, who have yet to "earn their wings". Species See text. ...

Prior to the Horus Heresy, the power armour of the Dark Angels Legion was jet-black. After the Heresy, the bulk of the Chapter began to appear in dark green armour, while the First and Second Companies' armour remained black. The Deathwing later changed their armour to bone-white.

Notable Members

• Supreme Grand Master Azrael - The Supreme Grand Master of the Dark Angels Chapter and the unofficial commander of all the Unforgiven Chapters during the 41st millennium.
• Cypher - Foremost of the Fallen, former members of the Legion corrupted by Chaos.
• Master Belial - Master of the Deathwing^[1]
• Master Sammael - Master of the Ravenwing^[1]
• Master Gideon - Ex master of the ravenwing, crushed to death by titan.
• Master Ezekiel - Grand Master of Librarians - Keeper of the Book of Salvation. This ancient tome contains the names of the Fallen that the Dark Angels have captured.
• Master Sapphon - Present Grand Master of Chaplains. He received the post neither due to age or ability as an interrogator (Asmodai is his superior in both these things), but for his vast leadership skills.
• Interrogator-Chaplain Asmodai - Oldest and most successful living Interrogator-Chaplain within the chapter today. Bearer of the fabled Blades of Reason. His rules were removed from the new Dark Angel Codex.
• Interrogator-Chaplain Molocia - Greatest of the Dark Angels' Interrogator-Chaplains. Died after over 300 years' service to the Chapter, with 12 Black Pearls on his rosarius. To this day, no other Interrogator-Chaplain has emulated this achievement.
• Brother Bethor - Bearer of the Sacred Standard. (The Dark Angels have three Sacred Standards, namely the Standards of Fortitude, Retribution and Devastation.)
• Scout Sergeant Namaan - Legendary Sergeant who halted the Ork advance during the Piscina IV campaign.
• Anaziel - Supreme Grand Master of the Dark Angels in the 37th Millennium. Requested the creation of the Disciples of Caliban chapter
• Chaplain Boreas - Chaplain of the 3rd Company during the Battle of Piscina IV
• Captain Ezekiel - leader of the Deathwing recruiting party which discovered the Genestealer infection of their homeworld. Realising that they faced a potential suicide mission, the Marines reverted to their tribal names, and painted their armour death-white. Ezekiel became the warrior Cloudrunner once again, and fought along side Weasel-Fierce, Bloody Moon, and the Librarian Lucius, known as Two Heads Talking.
• Captain Gabriel - Was sent to find Captain Ezekiel and his men as they did not return from Totem. On finding only Ezekiel the lone surviver. Gabriel discovered the fate of his brothers. Gabriel returned to his chapter and started the new Deathwing using his own badge a broken sword mixed with the wings of the chapter badge and kept the white in respect of his brothers.

Commander Azrael is a character from the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe, where he is currently the Chapter Master of the Dark Angels Chapter of Space Marines. ... Cypher Cypher is a fictional character in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. ... 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. ...

Successor Chapters

After the Horus Heresy, the Dark Angels founded at least three chapters to track the Fallen, the known ones being the Angels of Absolution, the Angels of Redemption and the Angels of Vengeance. These successor chapters share in the secret of the Fallen, and collectively the Dark Angels and their successors refer to themselves as "The Unforgiven". In the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe, the Horus Heresy was a galaxy-spanning civil war that marked the end of the Great Crusade. It is also the title of a novel series published by the Black Library, a collectible card game produced by Sabertooth Games and an out of... 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. ...

In addition several others chapters have since been created using the Dark Angels gene-seed. These successor chapters were introduced in the fourth edition Dark Angels codex released in 2007. The new chapters introduced were Guardians of the Covenant, the Consecrators and the Disciples of Caliban. The Disciples of Caliban are unusual in that Chapter Master Anaziel specifically requested their creation, the only known instance of a Chapter Master to make such a request, much less have it granted. The Consecrators are notorious for using lovingly preserved technology from the time of Lion El'Jonson himself, as such they bear a striking resemblance to the Dark Angels of pre-heresy days.^[1] Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... 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. ...

Something interesting to note that, though the Dark Angel gene-seed is both pure and complete, there are few successors created from them. Ultramarine gene-seed are often used in their place. This is rather unusual as many other chapters lack this quality, yet the Dark Angels are often passed upon favour of said chapters.

Background Information

The background of the Dark Angels, both in Games Workshop material and within the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe is shrouded in mystery. Aspects of the Chapter's fall to Chaos bear similarities to the legends of King Arthur, in particular Arthur's/El'Jonson's eventual defeat. Games Workshop Group PLC (often abbreviated to GW) is a British game production and retailing company. ... This article is about the tabletop miniature wargame and the fictional universe in which it is set. ... In Games Workshops Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy fictional universes, Chaos refers to the often 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. ... A bronze Arthur in plate armour with visor raised and with jousting shield wearing Kastenbrust armour (early 15th century) by Peter Vischer, typical of later anachronistic depictions of Arthur. ...

Also, the name of their Primarch, Lion El'Jonson, is inspired by the English poet Lionel Johnson, the author of "The Dark Angel". Originally the name was spelt Lyyn Elgonsen (Rogue Trader p.138); presumably to obscure the reference. Lionel Pigot Johnson (15 March 1867 - 4 October 1902) was an English poet, essayist and critic. ... Rogue Trader - the first edition of Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader is the common name of the first edition rule/source book for the Warhammer 40,000 miniature wargame by Games Workshop. ...

Conspiracy Theories

Games Workshop has in recent years restricted the information about the Dark Angels to emphasize the mystery surrounding the chapter. The fate of Lion El'Jonson had been purposefully left out of all texts since the early 1990s, and only re-emerged in the 2001 "Index Astartes" article published in White Dwarf Magazine. While the Inner Circle know of Luther's stasis cell, there is a chamber at the very heart of the Rock that is unknown to all but the Watchers in the Dark and, possibly, the Emperor himself. For within this secret chamber, the Primarch Lion 'El Jonson sleeps, tended by the Watchers in the Dark (Information regarding the Chaos Space Marines character Cypher, rumoured to be foremost of the Fallen, is kept sketchy, to further fuel players' imaginations. Games Workshop Group PLC (often abbreviated to GW) is a British game production and retailing company. ... White Dwarf is a magazine published by British games manufacturer Games Workshop. ... Miniature of a Chaos Chosen in Terminator Armour In the table-top wargame Warhammer 40,000, the Chaos Space Marines are Space Marines who serve the Chaos Gods. ... Cypher Cypher is a fictional character in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. ...

The novel Angels of Darkness (Thorpe, 2003), written by Games Workshop staff member and codex writer Gav Thorpe, provides an alternative account of the events that split the Chapter, and the primarchs' influence over their space marines. Despite the layers of learning and civilisation 'El Jonson acquired in later life, the time he spent in the forest marked him permanently, and he remained a brooding, paranoid, and secretive man. Jonson's experience taught him that exposure invited predators, that darkness was as welcoming as it was dangerous. Intrigue, half-truths, and suspicion became second nature to each new Dark Angel. Jonson mistrusted the Terran Dark Angels above all others. While barely a minority within the chapter, Jonson spent far more time leading them than he did the Caliban Dark Angels. Jonson also systematically removed control from each chapter commander and held his Legion's reigns tightly. Each chapter posted to a warzone was shadowed by a younger chapter in secret to report on its men to the primarch.

As the Heresy erupted, the Dark Angels were operating on the Eastern Fringe. In the interim, warp storms cut Caliban off from reliable astrotelepathy, so that only garbled accounts of current events reached the planet. Some were true, some were half-true, some were outright fabrications. In their desperation, the elder Dark Angels tried to leave Caliban and confront Horus. They were prevented by their younger brethren in a battle that grounded the marines' vessels and despoiled Caliban. When the Lion returned, his fleet was fired on for fear that he had sided with Horus, and that the victors' version of the uprising had already damned them in in Jonson's eyes. Jonson immediately ordered a full-scale bombardment, and the destruction of Caliban soon followed.

The canonicity of the novel is hotly debated. Although the Fallen character (Astelan) is a first hand witness to events, it is unclear which of his claims are true, which are deliberate misinformation, and which are bias. The author, Gav Thorpe, has stated in an interview on Dysartes^[2] that the book is not an objective look at the events on Caliban, but a character study of one of the "Fallen". This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Dark Angels as an Army

In early March 2007, the Dark Angels codex for the fourth edition of Warhammer 40,000 was released. Unlike the previous edition of the codex, this was a stand-alone sourcebook that did not require players to have a copy of Codex: Space Marines. This most recent 88-page codex contains extensive in-game history, new rules and special characters for the army. New additions (and re-additions) to this edition of the codex were the special characters Sammael and Belial, the Masters of the Ravenwing and Deathwing companies of the Dark Angels respectively. March 2007 is the third month of the year. ... The name Deathwing may refer to: In the Warhammer 40,000 fictional universe: Deathwing, the First Company of the Dark Angels Space Marines. ...

Some changes in the codex included a throwback to the rules system during the second edition of Warhammer 40,000. In that edition, Space Marine squads were taken in fixed numbers of either five or ten marines. The fourth edition of the Dark Angels' codex applied this limitation to all of their infantry squads, with the exception of the Dark Angels Company Veterans, a new unit introduced in the codex.^[1]

The Deathwing and Ravenwing also have been changed. No longer are Deathwing limited to Terminator-only armies. They now have more choices than just the Dreadnought and Land Raider. Ravenwing, likewise, also have more options than before. Sammael, the Master of Ravenwing, also has the ability to take to the skies in either a Land Speeder or a unique Jetbike (the former is as strong as a Land Raider in Armour while the latter is as strong as a Devastator in range combat). Deathwing armies also now have access to Terminator Apothecaries and Company Banners. However, due to restricted squad size, Deathwing Terminators are severely limited (even with Belial the total count of terminators can never go beyond 47, just below half of a full company of Space Marines).

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Johnson, Jervis; and Hoare, Andy (2007). Codex: Dark Angels, 4th, Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-807-3. 
2. ^ The Gav Thorpe Interview Continued. Dysartes.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-06. “Gav thorpe on Black Library”

• Johnson, Jervis; and Hoare, Andy (2007). Codex: Dark Angels, 4th, Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-807-3. 
• Johnson, Jervis (1999). Codex: Dark Angels, 3rd Edition, Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-869893-67-0. 
• Priestley, Rick; and Johnson, Jervis (1996). Codex: Angels of Death, 2nd Edition, Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-872372-96-1. 
• (March 2001) "Index Astartes – Dark Angels". White Dwarf 255. ISSN 0265-8712. 
• Thorpe, Gavin (2003). Angels of Darkness. Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84416-102-1.