The Ullanor Triumph was the final great battle of the Great Crusade, the moment Horus Lupercal smashed the Ork empire of Overlord Urlakk Urg and was named Warmaster in front of the whole Imperium. It’s remembered as the high point of the Crusade, and the beginning of the road that led to the Heresy.
What the Ullanor Triumph actually was
It’s the decisive Imperial victory that closed out the Ullanor Crusade, fought in the Ullanor sector and dated to roughly 000.M31. The Emperor led the assault in person, the last time he’d take the field as a commander.
The target was Urlakk Urg, an Ork Overlord who’d built a genuinely dangerous empire. The Imperium threw three Legions at it: the Luna Wolves under Horus, plus the Ultramarines and White Scars.
How the battle played out
The Ultramarines and White Scars were sent to retake the outer planets while Horus took the Luna Wolves straight at the central world. He went for the head, as he usually did.
Drop pods and heavy shuttles hit Urg’s fortress-palace, with Land Raiders, Predators and Terminators pushing the perimeter. Horus and a Terminator squad teleported to the base of the central tower, then fought their way to the top with ten Terminators while the rest held the stairs.
Up top they found Urg with forty of his biggest Nobz. Horus carved through them with his lightning claws, beat the Overlord in single combat, dragged him onto the roof and threw him off the tower.
Why it matters
The Triumph was Horus’s crowning moment while he was still loyal, and it’s what earned him the title of Warmaster. The Emperor handed him overall command of the Crusade’s military effort on the back of it.
It’s also the last time the Emperor personally commanded a campaign. After Ullanor he withdrew to Terra, leaving Horus to run the Great Crusade, and that gap is exactly where the Heresy took root.
Forces and aftermath
- About 100,000 Space Marines from the Luna Wolves, Ultramarines and White Scars.
- Roughly 8 million Imperial Army troops, 600 warships and 100 Titans of Legio Mortis.
- The Ork empire was wiped out, and Urlakk Urg was killed.
- Imperial losses were heavy, with at least a thousand warships lost.
- The Triumph itself was a mass parade and ceremony held after the fighting, where Horus was publicly named Warmaster.
Key facts
- The Ullanor Triumph was the climactic battle of the Ullanor Crusade, ending around 000.M31.
- Horus Lupercal killed Ork Overlord Urlakk Urg in single combat and was named Warmaster for it.
- It was the last campaign the Emperor personally commanded before returning to Terra.
- Three Legions took part: Luna Wolves, Ultramarines and White Scars.
- The Ork empire was completely destroyed, though the Imperium lost at least a thousand warships.
FAQ
When did the Ullanor Triumph happen?
It’s dated to around 000.M31, at the very end of the Great Crusade. Sources vary slightly on the exact year, but it sits right at the M30/M31 boundary.
Who did Horus fight at Ullanor?
The Ork Overlord Urlakk Urg, who ruled a large Ork empire in the Ullanor sector. Horus killed him in personal combat at the top of his fortress tower.
Why is it called a triumph?
Because after the battle the Imperium staged a huge victory ceremony on Ullanor. It’s where the Emperor named Horus Warmaster in front of the assembled Legions.