Davin is a dead world in the Ultima Segmentum, and it’s the place where Horus Lupercal fell to Chaos. That single event kicked off the Horus Heresy, so Davin matters more than almost any other planet in the setting.
What Davin was before the Imperium
Davin used to have a civilised culture, but the Age of Strife cut it off and things fell apart. It turned into a feral world of savage tribes ruled by warrior lodges, semi-religious groups that venerated beasts like the bear, hawk, serpent, crow, and hound. Dark priests led these lodges and performed arcane rites.
The Imperium largely ignored Davin. It was just one of countless unremarkable worlds, and it only became important because of what happened there later.
Imperial compliance and the warrior lodges
Horus and the 63rd Expeditionary Fleet conquered Davin during the Great Crusade. It was the eighth world they took, so it briefly carried the designation Sixty-Three Eight. The Davinite warriors resisted at first, then surrendered quickly once they saw how outmatched they were.
Horus was impressed by their courage and their willingness to adapt, so he let the tribes keep most of their culture. The Luna Wolves left soon after, but they took the warrior lodge idea with them. That idea would spread through the Legions and become a tool for Chaos.
The Word Bearers, led by Kor Phaeron, stayed behind to teach the Imperial Truth. Governorship went to Commander Eugen Temba.
The fall of Horus
Sixty years later, Horus returned to Davin. Chaplain Erebus of the Word Bearers told him that Temba had gone renegade and was hiding on Davin’s moon. Horus led an assault there himself and was wounded.
He was taken to the Temple of the Serpent Lodge on Davin to recover. That’s where he made his pact with the Chaos powers. The Warmaster turned against the Emperor, and the Horus Heresy began.
Davin today
Davin is now a dead world with no population and no tithe grade. Its affiliation is unknown, though it was formerly part of the Imperium. Its moon is the site of the battle where Horus was wounded, and the temple on Davin is where everything changed.
Key facts
- Davin is a dead world in the Ultima Segmentum, formerly a feral world of warrior lodges.
- Horus and the 63rd Expeditionary Fleet conquered it during the Great Crusade; it was their eighth world, briefly called Sixty-Three Eight.
- The Luna Wolves adopted the warrior lodge concept from Davin, spreading it through the Legions.
- Horus was wounded on Davin’s moon and taken to the Temple of the Serpent Lodge, where he made his pact with Chaos.
- That pact started the Horus Heresy.
FAQ
Why is Davin important in Warhammer 40k?
Davin is where Horus turned to Chaos. His pact with the Chaos powers in the Temple of the Serpent Lodge started the Horus Heresy, the civil war that shaped the entire setting.
What happened at the Temple of the Serpent Lodge?
Horus was taken there after being wounded on Davin’s moon. While he was treated, he made a pact with the Chaos gods and agreed to rebel against the Emperor.
Who was in charge of Davin after the Imperium took it?
Commander Eugen Temba was given governorship. The Word Bearers, under Kor Phaeron, handled the planet’s re-education into the Imperial Truth.
What is Davin like now?
It’s a dead world. No population, no tithe grade, and its current affiliation is unknown.