The Sons of Horus were the XVI Space Marine Legion, led by Horus Lupercal, the Warmaster who turned against the Emperor and ignited the Horus Heresy. Once the Emperor’s most trusted weapon, they became the arch-traitors of the Imperium.
From Luna Wolves to Sons of Horus
The Legion started as the Luna Wolves, named for their role in the First Pacification of Luna during the Unification Wars. Their first recruits came from the hunter clans of Terra’s Jutrigan Bowl and Samsatian sub-plate, tough, independent people who shaped the Legion’s ruthless character.
When Horus was reunited with his Legion, he renamed them the Sons of Horus. Under his command they became the Emperor’s favoured strike force, known for decapitation strikes and shock assaults that broke enemy command structures before a battle could truly begin.
- Legion number: XVI
- Primarch: Horus Lupercal
- Homeworld: Cthonia (destroyed)
- Original colours: white and black; later light green and black
- Battle cry: ‘Lupercal!’ or ‘For the Warmaster!’
The Horus Heresy and the fall
Horus was corrupted by Chaos and turned on the Emperor, taking most of his Legion with him. The Sons of Horus became the driving force of the Heresy, winning battle after battle until the Siege of Terra.
At the climax, Horus was killed by the Emperor. Leaderless and broken, the Legion fled into the Eye of Terror. There they were nearly destroyed in the Legion Wars, a brutal conflict among the Traitor Legions.
After the Heresy: the Black Legion
Ezekyle Abaddon, Horus’s First Captain, rebuilt the Legion’s remnants into the Black Legion. After the Battle of Harmony, most surviving Sons of Horus were absorbed into this new force, which became the Imperium’s greatest Chaos threat.
A few warbands refused to join. Known as the Thrice-Cursed Traitors, they still operate as Sons of Horus, clinging to the old name and colours.
Culture and organisation
The Legion favoured flexibility over rigid structure. Their signature tactic, the Speartip, concentrated overwhelming force on a single point to shatter enemy leadership. The Mournival, a council of four trusted captains, advised the Primarch, while warrior lodges spread secret societies through the ranks.
Recruitment drew from Cthonia’s gang cultures, producing hard, aggressive Marines. Their gene-seed was considered stable, but the Legion’s fall tainted its legacy forever.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Decapitation strikes, shock assault, planetary assault |
| Notable members | Horus Lupercal, Ezekyle Abaddon, Garviel Loken, Tarik Torgaddon |
| Post-Heresy fate | Most became Black Legion; a few warbands remain independent |
Key facts
- The Sons of Horus were the XVI Legion, led by Primarch Horus Lupercal.
- They were originally called the Luna Wolves.
- They spearheaded the Horus Heresy against the Emperor.
- After Horus’s death, most became Abaddon’s Black Legion.
- A few warbands, the Thrice-Cursed Traitors, remain independent.
FAQ
What happened to the Sons of Horus after the Horus Heresy?
Most fled into the Eye of Terror and were later absorbed into Abaddon’s Black Legion. A few independent warbands, the Thrice-Cursed Traitors, still exist.
Why did the Sons of Horus turn to Chaos?
Their Primarch Horus was corrupted by Chaos, and the Legion followed him into rebellion against the Emperor.
What was the Legion called before the Heresy?
They were originally the Luna Wolves, named for their role in the First Pacification of Luna.