Lion El’Jonson is the Primarch of the Dark Angels, the First Legion. He’s one of the Emperor’s sons, a brilliant strategist and duelist who vanished after the Horus Heresy and only recently returned to the Imperium.
Who is Lion El’Jonson?
The Lion is the Primarch of the Dark Angels, also called the First. He was scattered from Terra as an infant, like his brothers, and landed on the Chaos-tainted world of Caliban. There he survived alone in the wilds for a decade before being taken in by Luther and the Order.
He earned a reputation as one of the finest strategists and swordsmen among the Primarchs, matched perhaps only by Horus. But his secretive, taciturn nature made many of his brothers distrust him.
The Great Crusade and the Heresy
After being reunited with the Emperor, the Lion took command of the First Legion and led them through the Great Crusade. He was named Lord Protector of Imperium Secundus alongside Roboute Guilliman and Sanguinius during the Heresy.
When Horus turned, the Dark Angels were far from Terra, fighting the Night Lords in the Thramas Crusade. The Lion raced back, but arrived too late to save the Emperor from his wounds.
- Homeworld: Caliban
- Legion: Dark Angels (I Legion)
- Notable titles: The Lion, The First, The Duelist
- Genetic father: The Emperor; adoptive father: Luther
Disappearance and return
After the Heresy, the Lion returned to Caliban to find Luther had turned against him. Their duel ended with the planet breaking apart. The Lion was lost in the warp, and for ten thousand years the Dark Angels believed him dead.
He finally returned during the Arks of Omen campaign, awakened in the Era Indomitus. He now fights to protect Imperium Nihilus as its Knight Protector.
Why he matters
The Lion is one of the few loyalist Primarchs to return in the modern setting. His reappearance shakes up the Dark Angels, who’ve spent millennia hunting the Fallen, and gives the Imperium a new champion in the dark times after the Great Rift.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Status | Active (returned in M42) |
| Affiliation | Imperium of Man, Dark Angels |
| Notable wargear | The Lion Sword, the Emperor’s Shield |
| Current role | Knight Protector of Imperium Nihilus |
Key facts
- Lion El’Jonson is the Primarch of the Dark Angels, the First Legion.
- He was raised on Caliban and later reunited with the Emperor during the Great Crusade.
- He was renowned as a brilliant strategist and duelist, but was distrusted for his secretive nature.
- He disappeared after the destruction of Caliban and returned ten thousand years later in the Era Indomitus.
- He now serves as Knight Protector of Imperium Nihilus.
FAQ
Is Lion El’Jonson loyal?
Yes, he remained loyal to the Emperor during the Horus Heresy. His Legion, the Dark Angels, are among the most loyal Chapters, though their secretive hunt for the Fallen has sometimes raised eyebrows.
When did Lion El’Jonson return?
He returned during the Arks of Omen campaign, which is set in the Era Indomitus. His awakening was a major event for the Dark Angels and the wider Imperium.
What happened to Caliban?
Caliban was destroyed during a battle between the Lion and his adoptive father Luther. The planet broke apart, and the Lion was lost in the warp for ten thousand years.