The Ullanor Crusade was the campaign that broke the Ork empire of Urlakk Urg and made Horus Lupercal Warmaster. It’s remembered as the high point of the Great Crusade, and the last time the Emperor personally led his armies.
Assault on Ullanor
The Ullanor Crusade was the Imperium’s final push against a vast Ork empire that had grown too big to ignore. The Emperor sent three Legions: the Luna Wolves under Horus, the Ultramarines, and the White Scars, plus millions of Imperial Army troops and hundreds of warships.
While the Ultramarines and White Scars secured the outer planets, Horus took the Luna Wolves straight for Ullanor Prime, the heart of the Ork domain. He favoured a direct strike at the enemy command, and that’s exactly what he did.
- 100,000 Space Marines from three Legions
- 8 million Imperial Army troops
- 600 Imperial Armada warships
- Legio Mortis Titans, including Imperator-class engines
Horus vs Urlakk Urg
Drop pods slammed down around Urg’s fortress-palace. Horus and a Terminator detachment teleported to the base of the central tower, then fought their way up. At the top, they found the Overlord with forty of his biggest Nobz.
Horus cut through the greenskins with his lightning claws and faced Urg one-on-one. The Overlord was no match. Horus broke him, dragged him onto the roof, and threw him from the tower. With their leader dead, the Orks on Ullanor were wiped out.
The Ullanor Triumph
After the victory, the Emperor ordered a massive Triumph on Ullanor. It was the largest parade the Imperium had ever seen, with thousands of Astartes and millions of soldiers marching past the Emperor and his Primarchs.
At the Triumph, the Emperor announced he was returning to Terra to work on the Webway and named Horus Warmaster. That moment is often seen as the beginning of the end. Horus had the loyalty of the Legions, and the Emperor’s trust. It didn’t last.
Aftermath and legacy
Ullanor Prime was later renamed Armageddon. The planet became a battleground again during the Horus Heresy, when Horus gathered his traitor forces there before the push to Terra. They held a dark mirror of the original Triumph, sacrificing slaves to the Chaos Gods.
Fifteen hundred years later, the War of the Beast saw another Ork empire rise on Ullanor, led by a Warboss known as The Beast. Vulkan led a second invasion to stop him. The world’s history is a cycle of greenskin uprisings and Imperial crusades, all because of what happened during the Great Crusade.
Key facts
- The Ullanor Crusade was the final major campaign of the Great Crusade, ending in 000.M31.
- Horus led the assault that killed Overlord Urlakk Urg, earning him the title Warmaster.
- The Emperor personally commanded the Imperial forces, the last time he did so.
- The Ullanor Triumph was the largest Imperial parade, where Horus was named Warmaster.
- Ullanor Prime later became Armageddon, site of further wars including the War of the Beast.
FAQ
Why is the Ullanor Crusade important for Horus?
It was his greatest victory while still loyal, and it earned him the title of Warmaster. That promotion set the stage for his later fall to Chaos.
Who was the Ork leader at Ullanor?
The Ork Overlord was Urlakk Urg, a massive Warboss who commanded a vast empire. Horus killed him personally, breaking the Ork resistance.
What happened to Ullanor after the crusade?
It was renamed Armageddon and later became a key world in the Horus Heresy and the War of the Beast. The Imperium fought multiple campaigns there.