The Custodian Guard, better known as the Adeptus Custodes, are the Emperor’s personal bodyguard and the guardians of the Imperial Palace on Terra. They’re the most formidable human warriors in the setting, and they outclass even the Space Marines in raw strength and will.
Who they are
The Adeptus Custodes began as the Legio Custodes, or Custodian Guard, during the Unification Wars on Terra. They were the first genetically and psychologically altered warriors to fight for the Emperor, long before the Space Marine Legions existed.
Their first recruits came from the children of Terran nobility, and some of those early Custodians were grouped into Squad Dynastes, later called the Lords of Terra. They’ve picked up plenty of titles over the millennia, including the Ten Thousand, the Watchers of the Throne, and the Emperor’s Saints.
- Also called the Legio Custodes, the Ten Thousand, or the Watchers of the Throne
- Originally the Emperor’s personal bodyguard during the Unification Wars
- First recruits were drawn from Terran noble bloodlines
Their role in the Imperium
The Custodes guard the Imperial Palace and the Golden Throne, and they decide who’s allowed into the Emperor’s throne room, and when. That authority is absolute. Space Marines and Inquisitors have to kneel before them.
Because the Palace is so enormous, the Custodes function as a defensive army rather than a crusading force. For most of their history they rarely left the Palace, and even more rarely left Terra at all.
Alongside the Sisters of Silence, they made up the Talons of the Emperor. The Custodes were the right hand, the Sisters the left.
- Guard the Imperial Palace and the Golden Throne
- Control access to the Emperor’s throne room
- Rarely left Terra for much of their history
- Formed the Talons of the Emperor with the Sisters of Silence
How they compare
Custodians are the mightiest of mankind’s warriors. The usual comparison is that they’re to the Space Marines what Space Marines are to ordinary guardsmen: an elevated elite whose strength and willpower are effectively insurmountable.
They’re fewer in number than the Astartes, but each one is a far greater individual investment. That scarcity is part of why they stay close to Terra.
Leadership and organisation
The Adeptus Custodes answer to the Adeptus Terra and the Imperial Household, with their headquarters at the Tower of Hegemon on Terra. Their current leader is Captain-General Trajann Valoris.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Current leader | Captain-General Trajann Valoris |
| Headquarters | Tower of Hegemon, Terra |
| Parent agencies | Adeptus Terra, Imperial Household |
| Founded | Unification Wars era |
Key facts
- The Custodian Guard were the Emperor’s first genetically altered warriors, created during the Unification Wars
- They serve as the Emperor’s personal bodyguard and guardians of the Imperial Palace and Golden Throne
- They decide who may enter the Emperor’s throne room; even Space Marines and Inquisitors kneel before them
- With the Sisters of Silence they formed the Talons of the Emperor, Custodes as the right hand
- Their leader is Captain-General Trajann Valoris, based at the Tower of Hegemon on Terra
- They’re to Space Marines what Space Marines are to ordinary guardsmen
FAQ
Are the Custodian Guard stronger than Space Marines?
Yes. Custodians are consistently described as outclassing Space Marines the way Space Marines outclass ordinary guardsmen, both in raw strength and in willpower.
Why do the Custodian Guard stay on Terra?
Their job is guarding the Imperial Palace and the Golden Throne, and the Palace is so vast that defending it keeps them busy as a standing army. For most of their history they rarely left Terra.
What’s the difference between the Custodian Guard and the Adeptus Custodes?
Nothing, really. Custodian Guard was the original name for the Legio Custodes, and Adeptus Custodes is the modern title for the same organisation.