The Blood Angels Legion, originally the IX Legion, was one of the twenty Space Marine Legions created by the Emperor. Led by their primarch Sanguinius, they became known for their angelic appearance and their savage bloodlust in battle. Their story is one of tragedy and heroism, from the Great Crusade to the Horus Heresy and beyond.
Origins and the coming of Sanguinius
The IX Legion was formed during the Unification Wars on Terra. Early records show they were absent from many key conquests, possibly because they were kept apart due to early signs of genetic instability. They earned a grim reputation for attrition warfare in zones too deadly for other Legions, often taking heavy casualties but never breaking.
Everything changed when their primarch, Sanguinius, was found. Like his brothers, he’d been scattered through the warp as an infant and landed on Baal Secundus, a nuclear-blasted moon. There he grew up among mutant tribes, eventually uniting them. When the Emperor found him, Sanguinius took command of his Legion and reshaped it in his image: noble, artistic, and fiercely loyal. The Legion was renamed the Blood Angels, and they became one of the most celebrated forces of the Great Crusade.
The Horus Heresy and its aftermath
During the Horus Heresy, the Blood Angels were sent to Signus Prime, a trap set by the Warmaster Horus. There they faced daemonic forces and the treacherous Word Bearers. The campaign cost them dearly, and Sanguinius was nearly killed by the greater daemon Ka’Bandha. The Legion escaped, but the experience left deep scars.
Later, they joined Roboute Guilliman’s Imperium Secundus, a temporary successor state. When the Siege of Terra began, Sanguinius led his Legion to defend the Imperial Palace. He ultimately sacrificed himself, fighting Horus aboard the Vengeful Spirit. His death broke the Legion’s heart but also forged their enduring legend. After the Heresy, the Blood Angels were divided into Chapters according to the Codex Astartes, but they retained their identity and their curse.
Culture and the Flaw
The Blood Angels are known for their refined aesthetic sense. They create art, sculpture, and music, and their fortress-monastery on Baal is filled with beauty. This is partly a coping mechanism for the Flaw, a genetic curse that affects every Blood Angel. The Flaw manifests as the Black Rage, a psychotic episode where a Battle-Brother relives Sanguinius’s final battle, and the Red Thirst, a craving for blood that can overwhelm them in combat.
To manage the Flaw, the Legion (and later Chapters) created the Death Company, a unit of those lost to the Black Rage. They’re sent into battle as shock troops, seeking a glorious death. The Sanguinary Priests also play a key role, monitoring the gene-seed and trying to mitigate the curse. Despite the Flaw, the Blood Angels remain one of the most loyal and effective forces in the Imperium.
Tactics and organisation
Before Sanguinius, the IX Legion specialised in attrition warfare. After his coming, they became masters of orbital drop operations, shock assault campaigns, and decapitation strikes. They favoured close-quarters combat and often deployed via drop pods or Thunderhawks to strike at the heart of the enemy.
In the Legion era, they had unique units like the Sanguinary Guard, elite warriors who protected the primarch, and the Dawnbreaker Cohorts, specialised assault squads. After the Heresy, as a Chapter, they kept many of these traditions, including the Death Company and the Sanguinary Guard. Their fleet and armoury are also notable, with relics like the Blade Encarmine and the Sanguinor, a mysterious figure who appears in times of greatest need.
Key facts
- The Blood Angels were the IX Legion of the Legiones Astartes.
- Their primarch was Sanguinius, who was found on Baal Secundus.
- They were originally known as the Revenant Legion before Sanguinius’s discovery.
- The Legion suffered a genetic curse called the Flaw, which includes the Black Rage and the Red Thirst.
- During the Horus Heresy, Sanguinius was killed by Horus, a sacrifice that defined the Legion’s future.
- After the Heresy, the Legion was reorganised into the Blood Angels Chapter and its successors.
FAQ
Who was the primarch of the Blood Angels Legion?
Sanguinius, the Great Angel. He was found on Baal Secundus and led the Legion during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy.
What is the Black Rage?
It’s a genetic curse that causes Blood Angels to relive Sanguinius’s death, turning them into frenzied killers. Those lost to it are placed in the Death Company.
What happened to the Blood Angels Legion after the Horus Heresy?
They were divided into Chapters following the Codex Astartes. The original Legion became the Blood Angels Chapter, and many successor Chapters were created.