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Commander Dante is the Lord of the Blood Angels and, at over eleven centuries old, one of the oldest living Space Marines. He wears a golden death mask in the likeness of Sanguinius, and many Imperial citizens see in him the angelic Primarch himself. Guilliman has made him Regent of Imperium Nihilus, the half of the galaxy cut off by the Great Rift.
He carries the Axe Mortalis and the Perdition Pistol, and fights with a jump pack. During the Devastation of Baal he led the defence of the Blood Angels' homeworld against Hive Fleet Leviathan, holding out until Guilliman's fleet arrived. He also led the Blood Angels on Armageddon during the Second War, when they fought Ghazghkull's invasion at Hades Hive. Commander Dante has led the Blood Angels for over eleven centuries, making him one of the oldest Space Marines still alive. He wears a golden mask in the likeness of Sanguinius. He is a deeply weary but unbroken commander who also carries the prophecy that he will stand beside the Emperor at the end. In the Era Indomitus he became Regent of Imperium Nihilus.
Origins
Born Luis on one of Baal's moons, he grew up among the tribes there before being chosen by the Blood Angels. By the Chapter's own quiet account he was never expected to rise to Chapter Master, but he did, and has held the post longer than almost anyone.
His recruitment, as told in the Blood Angels background, was unremarkable at first. Luis came to the Place of Choosing with the other Baalite tribesmen and survived the first Winnowing among some five hundred boys largely through luck. He was neither the fastest nor the strongest. In the Trial of War he led his group to victory but was disgusted by the needless deaths of the other aspirants. That disgust carried him through the final test, the Trial of Horus, where he refused to kill a fellow aspirant, and that refusal made him a Blood Angel. As a young captain of the 5th Company, he survived the Kallius Insurrection in support of the successor Chapter Angels Numinous. The Chapter lost nine out of every ten battle-brothers and almost the whole Chapter Council when a traitor fleet ambushed the mustered Blood Angels above Kallius' Landing.
Key events
- Led the Blood Angels through centuries of campaigns that many call the Chapter's most glorious era since the Great Scouring.
- Took command of the Space Marine forces during the Second War for Armageddon.
- Gathered the Blood Angels successor Chapters to defend Baal against Hive Fleet Leviathan in the Devastation of Baal.
- Duelled and slew the Swarmlord at Baal, but was critically wounded. Gabriel Seth led the retreat.
- Was named Lord Regent of Imperium Nihilus by Roboute Guilliman, crossed the Rubicon Primaris, and launched the Angel's Halo counter-offensive against Leviathan.
The Chapter's records list many of his campaigns. In 830.M41 he sent the 3rd and 4th Companies to the hive world Axonar, where Captain Metraen avoided the heavily defended bases of the hives and dropped jump troops onto their spires. In the Second War for Armageddon, his reputation persuaded Tu'Shan and Marneus Calgar to give him overall command. On Gehenna in 955.M41, he and the 3rd Company fought the Silent King's Necrons to a standstill for three weeks until a Tyranid splinter fleet arrived. The two armies fought it together until the final battle at Devil's Crag, then went their separate ways. After the near civil war on Sabien, he called the Blood Angels' successors to a conclave on Baal while Chief Apothecary Caecus secretly attempted the forbidden art of replicae to replenish the Chapter.
Battles & campaigns
- Armageddon: He led the Blood Angels and their successors on Armageddon.
- Devastation of Baal: He led the defence of the Blood Angels' home world against Hive Fleet Leviathan.
- Era Indomitus: He became Lord Regent of Imperium Nihilus.
Personality
Weary, noble and selfless. Dante longs for rest but will not take it while the Imperium needs him, and he leads with quiet authority rather than fury.
He is wise and patient, a leader who has outlived almost all his contemporaries. He carries the burden of his Chapter's curse and his own legend with dignity. His desire for rest is tempered by his conviction that the Imperium cannot afford to lose him, and by visions that suggest he has one last duty to perform.
Weapons & Vehicles
A master-crafted blade sheathed in a crackling molecular disruption field that parts ceramite, bone and steel with effortless lethality…
A short-ranged thermal sub-molecular agitation weapon that flash-melts battle tank armour, bunker doors and heavy walkers into bubbling…
The brutal motorised tooth-bladed sword carried by Space Marines, Imperial Guard officers and Chaos renegades, chewing through armour a…
A heavily armed VTOL assault gunship and flying transport of the Adeptus Astartes and Grey Knights, capable of carrying both a full squ…
The golden, winged honour guard of the Blood Angels, whose death masks are cast in the likeness of their lost Primarch.
Blood Angels who have fallen to the Black Rage, painted black and led into one last battle by their Chaplains.
Close-combat Space Marines who descend on the enemy with jump packs, chainswords and bolt pistols.
Explore all 48 entries in the Weapons & Vehicles armoury.
Connections
Characters (6)
Sanguinius gene-father · Blood AngelsDante is Chapter Master of the Blood Angels, Sanguinius's sons.
Factions
- Blood Angels primary faction
Related units (7)
Some links are thematic parallels (marked "parallel") rather than recorded meetings. See the connections web.
Legacy
Dante is among the oldest serving Chapter Masters in the Imperium and the face of the Blood Angels' endurance. His leadership through the siege of Baal and his role as Regent of Imperium Nihilus have made him a symbol of hope for the dark half of the galaxy. Many see in him the echo of Sanguinius himself, a burden he carries with weary dignity. Dante's survival made him a living link between Sanguinius's legacy and the Primaris Space Marines that replenished his Chapter.
Appearances & sources
- Dante (Guy Haley)
- The Devastation of Baal (Guy Haley)
- Codex: Blood Angels background