The Taros Campaign was a late-41st-millennium Imperial attempt to retake the world of Taros (T’ros to the T’au) from the T’au Empire. It started with an assassination attempt, spiralled into a full invasion, and ended with the Imperium evacuating in defeat. For T’au fans it’s a rare, well-documented win. For Imperial fans it’s a case study in what happens when you underestimate a xenos empire and run out of supplies.
What kicked it off
Taros was an Imperial world whose Planetary Governor, Aulis, had been trading with the T’au and wanted to defect to their empire. Much of the population was on board with the idea. When the Imperium found out, they sent the Avenging Sons Space Marines to kill Aulis and shut the defection down.
That mission, the First Taros Intervention in 997.M41, went badly. The Avenging Sons lost over half their Terminators and a Dreadnought named Caim, and never got to Aulis. The T’au responded by formally annexing Taros, and the Imperium decided a full invasion was the only answer.
The invasion of 998.M41
Lord Commander Otto Ivan Gustavus led the invasion, with a substantial Imperial fleet and ground force. The plan was to take back the planet and its resources, which mattered because Taros was feeding the Forge World Stygies VIII, and Stygies was tied up in the war against Abaddon’s 13th Black Crusade.
The T’au defenders, commanded by Commander Longknife alongside an Aun’vre and Governor Aulis, had other ideas. They were dug in, they knew the terrain, and they had Kroot mercenaries doing what Kroot do.
How it fell apart
The Imperium’s two big pushes, Operation Comet and Operation Deathblow, both failed to break the T’au. Supply lines stretched, the T’au kept hitting them where it hurt, and the Imperial force never got the decisive win it needed.
Eventually the Imperium pulled out. The evacuation cost them dearly: around 10,000 dead, 15,000 wounded and 20,000 captured, plus hundreds of tanks, Chimeras, artillery pieces, aircraft, a Warhound Titan, and a chunk of the fleet. The T’au lost thousands of troops and some ships, but held the planet.
Why it matters
Taros is one of the clearest examples of the T’au beating the Imperium on the ground and in space. It’s also a reminder that the Imperium’s logistics are fragile, and that a well-prepared defender with local support can beat a much bigger attacker.
The campaign didn’t end cleanly. Conflict over Taros flared up again later, and the world stayed contested, which is why you’ll see it pop up in T’au and Astra Militarum lore.
Key facts
- Fought 997-998.M41 between the Imperium and the T’au Empire over the world of Taros (T’ros).
- Ended in T’au victory and an Imperial evacuation.
- Triggered by Governor Aulis’s attempted defection to the T’au.
- Imperial losses included ~10,000 dead, 15,000 wounded, 20,000 captured, and a Warhound Titan.
- Key Imperial commanders: Lord Commander Otto Ivan Gustavus, Lord Marshal De Stael.
- Key T’au commanders: Commander Longknife, Aun’vre (KIA), Governor Aulis.
FAQ
Who won the Taros Campaign?
The T’au Empire won. The Imperium invaded in 998.M41, failed to take the planet, and evacuated with heavy losses.
When did the Taros Campaign happen?
It ran from 997 to 998.M41, starting with the First Taros Intervention and ending with the Imperial evacuation.
Why did the Imperium invade Taros?
Governor Aulis tried to defect to the T’au, and the planet supplied the Forge World Stygies VIII, which was needed for the war against Abaddon’s 13th Black Crusade.