Roboute Guilliman

Overview

The XIII Primarch: a soldier, statesman and administrator who built the realm of Ultramar and wrote the Codex Astartes. After ten thousand years in stasis he has been revived and now rules the crumbling Imperium as Lord Regent, horrified by the superstition that has grown around his father.

He wears the Armour of Fate and wields the Emperor's Sword, a flaming blade first carried by his father, along with the Hand of Dominion. His resurrection by Cawl, Yvraine and the Ynnari was one of the most surprising events in Imperial history. As Lord Regent he has tried to reform an Imperium grown sclerotic and fanatical in his absence. Guilliman is the Imperium's most capable administrator and one of its greatest generals. Cawl and the Aeldari Yvraine revived him in the late 41st millennium. As Lord Regent of the Imperium he now commands the Imperium's armies, sits above the High Lords of Terra and has reformed vast swathes of Imperial bureaucracy. He wears the Armour of Fate, built for him by Belisarius Cawl, and wields the Emperor's Sword.

Origins

His capsule landed on Macragge, where he was adopted by Konor Guilliman, one of the world's two consuls. After his adoptive father was murdered in a coup, Roboute crushed the plotters and ruled as sole consul until the Emperor arrived and gave him command of the Ultramarines.

During the Heresy his Legion was ambushed at Calth by the Word Bearers, and he later founded Imperium Secundus when he believed Terra had fallen. After the war he broke the Legions into Chapters through the Codex Astartes. He was struck down by Fulgrim and lay in stasis on Macragge for millennia, his wound refusing to close.

Key events

1. Was found on Macragge and adopted by Konor, one of its two consuls. He became consul himself and built Ultramar into a model realm.
2. Ultramarines were ambushed by the Word Bearers at Calth, and Guilliman led the defence. He later battled Lorgar and Angron during the Shadow Crusade.
3. Founded the short-lived Imperium Secundus with Sanguinius and Lion El'Jonson, believing Terra lost.
4. After the Heresy he broke the Legions into Chapters and wrote the Codex Astartes. He was poisoned by the daemon prince Fulgrim and placed in stasis.
5. Revived by Belisarius Cawl with Aeldari help (Yvraine and Ynnead), he fought through the Maelstrom, defeated Magnus on Luna and launched the Indomitus Crusade.
6. During the Plague Wars he was struck down by Mortarion's Godblight on Iax, then rose again empowered by the Emperor. Later he appointed Dante Regent of Imperium Nihilus.

Battles & campaigns

• Calth: Ultramar's forces were caught in Word Bearers treachery at Calth. Guilliman rallied the survivors, and the Shadow War that followed lasted years.
• The Imperium Secundus era: After the Ruinstorm cut Ultramar off from Terra, he set up a temporary 'second Imperium' on Macragge, believing Terra might have fallen. The decision remains controversial.
• Revival: Awakened on Macragge by Belisarius Cawl and the Ynnari, he set out on a crusade to reach Terra.
• Terra and the Indomitus Crusade: He fought his way to Terra and spoke with the Emperor in the Throne Room. He then launched the Indomitus Crusade and fought through the Plague Wars, when Mortarion's Death Guard ravaged Ultramar.

Personality

Rational, tireless and humane, a builder rather than a conqueror. He was an atheist about his father's divinity, though events in the Era Indomitus have shaken that certainty.

He is a pragmatic reformer who values logic, order and humanity's survival over glory. He is capable of great compassion but also of hard decisions. The Imperium's superstition and stagnation frustrate him deeply, and his revival has forced him to confront the fact that the empire he helped build no longer resembles his father's vision.

Weapons & Vehicles

The Emperor's SwordRelic Weapon

The flaming golden greatsword of the Emperor of Mankind, forged through lost science and psychic mastery, now wielded by resurrected Pr…

Gauntlets of UltramarRelic Weapon

The ancient twin master-crafted power fists and integrated storm-bolter gauntlets worn by Lord Macragge, Chapter Master Marneus Calgar …

Bolter & Bolt RifleRanged Weapon

The signature .75-calibre rocket-propelled mass-reactive firearm of the Adeptus Astartes, firing self-propelled explosive bolts that de…

Repulsor ExecutionerBattle Tank

Archmagos Belisarius Cawl's heaviest Primaris grav-tank, combining devastating anti-gravitic plates with a turret-mounted Heavy Laser D…

Land RaiderVehicles · Unit

The Space Marines' most revered battle tank and heavy transport, built from an ancient STC design and guided by a proud machine spirit.

Thunderhawk GunshipVehicles · Unit

The Space Marines' heavy gunship and dropship, able to fly from orbit to the ground and land a full assault force under fire.

Explore all 48 entries in the Weapons & Vehicles armoury.

Connections

Characters (21)

• 
  Arcadian Leontus commander · Astra Militarum

  Leontus is Lord Commander Solar under Guilliman's regency.

• 
  Belisarius Cawl ally · Adeptus Mechanicus

  Cawl created the Primaris Space Marines for Guilliman's Ultima Founding.

• 
  Morvenn Vahl appointed by · Adepta Sororitas

  Guilliman appointed Vahl a High Lord of Terra.

• 
  Saint Celestine ally · Adepta Sororitas

  Celestine fought alongside Guilliman on the Terran Crusade.

• 
  The Emperor of Mankind creator · Imperium of Man

  Father of the Primarchs; Guilliman now rules as Lord Regent in his name.

• 
  Trajann Valoris ally · Adeptus Custodes

  Trajann accepted Guilliman's authority as Lord Commander.

• 
  Cypher ally · The Fallen

  Cypher and his Fallen helped free Guilliman during the Terran Crusade.

• 
  Lion El'Jonson brother · Dark Angels

  The two brothers worked together during the Imperium Secundus crisis.

• 
  Marneus Calgar gene-father · Ultramarines

  Calgar is Chapter Master of Guilliman's Ultramarines and became his trusted commander.

• 
  Alpharius Omegon enemy · Alpha Legion

  Old lore said Guilliman killed Alpharius at Eskrador; later accounts complicate this.

• 
  Fulgrim enemy · Emperor's Children

  Fulgrim wounded Guilliman with a poisoned blade, the injury that left him in stasis for ten thousand years.

• 
  Grandfather Nurgle enemy · Chaos Daemons

  During the Plague Wars Nurgle's forces tried to turn Guilliman's Ultramar into a garden for the Plague God.

• 
  Huron Blackheart enemy · Red Corsairs

  Guilliman was held prisoner aboard Huron's Blackstone Fortress during the Terran Crusade before escaping.

• 
  Magnus the Red enemy · Thousand Sons

  Magnus fought Guilliman on Luna during the Terran Crusade.

• 
  Mortarion enemy · Death Guard

  Mortarion led the Plague Wars against Guilliman's Ultramar.

• 
  Skarbrand enemy · Chaos Daemons

  Guilliman fought Skarbrand inside a Blackstone Fortress during the Terran Crusade.

• 
  Typhus enemy · Death Guard

  In the Plague Wars Typhus led a splinter fleet that terrorised Ultramar's outer systems.

• 
  Sylandri Veilwalker ally · Harlequins

  Sylandri helped free Guilliman during the Terran Crusade.

• 
  The Visarch witness · Ynnari

  The Visarch accompanied Yvraine when the Ynnari helped bring about Guilliman's resurrection.

• 
  Yvraine resurrected by · Ynnari

  Yvraine's Ynnari helped bring Guilliman back to life on Iyanden.

• 
  Szarekh, the Silent King uneasy alliance · Necrons

  They met on Mesmoch and forged a temporary truce against the Tyranids.

Factions

• Ultramarines primary faction
• Imperium of Man also affiliated

Related units (7)

IntercessorsTactical SquadDevastator SquadPredatorRedemptor DreadnoughtRhinoThunderhawk Gunship

Also in this faction

Malcador the SigilliteCato SicariusUriel Ventris

Some links are thematic parallels (marked "parallel") rather than recorded meetings. See the connections web.

Legacy

Guilliman shaped the Imperium twice: once through the Codex Astartes and the breaking of the Legions, and again ten thousand years later as Lord Regent, launching the Indomitus Crusade and the Primaris reinforcement. Many Chapters revere him as a father. Others quietly resent the reforms of a man who insists the Emperor was never a god. The Codex Astartes, the Codex reforms that split the Legions into Chapters, and now the Primaris program and the Indomitus Crusade all bear his mark. More than any other primarch, he shapes how the modern Imperium functions.

Appearances & sources

• Dark Imperium trilogy (Guy Haley), including Plague War and Godblight
• The Horus Heresy novels, including Know No Fear and The First Heretic
• Codex: Ultramarines / Codex: Space Marines and the Gathering Storm campaign books