The Primarchs are the Emperor’s twenty genetically engineered sons, each a demigod who led one of the Space Marine Legions during the Great Crusade. Their fall, loyalty, and scattered fates shaped the entire Warhammer 40,000 setting.
What the Primarchs were
The Emperor created the Primarchs in secret labs beneath the Himalazian mountains on Terra, starting around M29. They were grown from his own genetic material, combined with that of the Perpetual Erda, and were meant to be the generals of his new armies.
Each Primarch was a unique blend of superhuman strength, genius intellect, and charisma. Their gene-seed became the template for the Space Marine Legions, making every Primarch the genetic father of his Legion.
- Number created: twenty (two were later purged from records).
- Purpose: to lead the Great Crusade and unite humanity.
- Nature: engineered demigods, second only to the Emperor in power.
- Legacy: their genetic material created the Space Marine Legions.
The scattering
Before the Primarchs matured, a warp vortex tore them from their gestation capsules and scattered them across the galaxy. Sources disagree on why: some say the Chaos Gods stole them, others claim the Emperor planned it, and Erda herself said she opened the vortex to save them from the Emperor’s plans.
Each infant landed on a different world, often far from Terra. They grew up in wildly different conditions, some as kings, others as slaves or feral hunters, and all matured unnaturally fast.
Discovery and the Great Crusade
As the Great Crusade expanded, the Emperor found his lost sons one by one. Most had already become leaders on their adopted worlds. Each was reunited with his Legion, which had been led by Terran officers in his absence.
Under their Primarchs, the Legions became the spearhead of the Crusade, conquering countless worlds. By around 931.M30, all the named Primarchs had rejoined the Imperium, except the two whose records were purged.
The twenty and their fates
Of the twenty, eighteen are known by name. Two were erased from Imperial records before the Horus Heresy, known only as the Lost Primarchs. Their names, Legions, and crimes remain a mystery.
The rest are split between those who stayed loyal and those who turned traitor. Their stories drive the Horus Heresy and everything after it.
| Primarch | Legion | Allegiance | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lion El’Jonson | Dark Angels | Loyal | Slumbers in the Rock, recently reawakened |
| Fulgrim | Emperor’s Children | Traitor | Daemon Primarch of Slaanesh |
| Perturabo | Iron Warriors | Traitor | Daemon Primarch of Chaos Undivided |
| Jaghatai Khan | White Scars | Loyal | Lost in the Webway |
| Leman Russ | Space Wolves | Loyal | Vanished into the Eye of Terror |
| Rogal Dorn | Imperial Fists | Loyal | Presumed dead after a boarding action |
| Konrad Curze | Night Lords | Traitor | Killed by an assassin |
| Sanguinius | Blood Angels | Loyal | Killed by Horus during the Siege of Terra |
| Ferrus Manus | Iron Hands | Loyal | Beheaded by Fulgrim on Isstvan V |
| Angron | World Eaters | Traitor | Daemon Primarch of Khorne |
| Roboute Guilliman | Ultramarines | Loyal | Lord Commander of the Imperium, active |
| Mortarion | Death Guard | Traitor | Daemon Primarch of Nurgle |
| Magnus the Red | Thousand Sons | Traitor | Daemon Primarch of Tzeentch |
| Horus Lupercal | Sons of Horus | Traitor | Killed by the Emperor |
| Lorgar Aurelian | Word Bearers | Traitor | Daemon Primarch of Chaos Undivided |
| Vulkan | Salamanders | Loyal | Missing, but rumored to return |
| Corvus Corax | Raven Guard | Loyal | Vanished into the Eye of Terror |
| Alpharius Omegon | Alpha Legion | Traitor | Alpharius killed; Omegon’s fate unknown |
Why they matter
The Primarchs are the heart of the Horus Heresy, the civil war that broke the Imperium. Their choices, flaws, and rivalries explain why the galaxy is the way it is in the 41st millennium.
Some are still active, like Roboute Guilliman and the recently returned Lion El’Jonson. Others are daemon princes, lost in the warp, or dead. Their legacies live on in the Space Marine Chapters that descend from their Legions.
Key facts
- The Emperor created twenty Primarchs in M29 using his own gene-seed and Erda’s genetic material.
- They were scattered through the warp as infants and landed on separate worlds.
- Each Primarch led a Space Marine Legion and was worshipped as a demigod.
- Nine Legions turned traitor during the Horus Heresy; nine remained loyal.
- Two Primarchs and their Legions were purged from Imperial records.
- Roboute Guilliman and Lion El’Jonson are the only loyal Primarchs currently active.
FAQ
How many Primarchs were there?
Twenty were created, but two were purged from Imperial records. Eighteen are known by name.
Who were the Lost Primarchs?
The 2nd and 11th Primarchs were erased from history before the Horus Heresy. Their names, Legions, and crimes are unknown.
Which Primarchs turned traitor?
Nine Legions turned: Fulgrim, Perturabo, Konrad Curze, Angron, Mortarion, Magnus, Horus, Lorgar, and Alpharius Omegon.
Are any Primarchs still alive?
Roboute Guilliman is active as Lord Commander. Lion El’Jonson has recently returned. Others are daemon princes, lost, or presumed dead.