Sanguinius

Overview

The winged Primarch, beloved by his brothers and his sons, regarded by many as the most noble of the Emperor's children. He died fighting Horus aboard the Vengeful Spirit, and his death is psychically "remembered" by his gene-sons as the Black Rage.

His wings and golden beauty made him an icon even in life, and he was among the few Primarchs Horus truly loved. His death aboard the Vengeful Spirit, when he confronted Horus alone shortly before the Emperor's arrival, became the defining tragedy of the Siege of Terra. To this day, the Blood Angels and their successors relive his death in visions. Sanguinius was the beloved angel of the Imperium, and his portrait sums up a vision of nobility and sacrifice that has become one of the setting's most powerful images. He was Horus's closest brother, and the Warmaster offered him a place in the rebellion. His refusal, and his death, turned him into a figure of hope for his sons. Sanguinius also had foresight, and some accounts say he knew he would die at Horus's hands long before it happened.

Origins

He landed on irradiated Baal Secundus, where his angelic form led the tribes to revere rather than kill him. He kept secret his Legion's thirst for blood, a flaw that he was later forced to confront.

His Legion was found to carry a flaw in its gene-seed: a thirst for blood that could tip into madness. Sanguinius kept this secret from all but a few, and fought to control it. During the Heresy, his Legion was trapped in the Signus System by daemons sent to corrupt them, and he resisted the temptation to fall.

Key events

1. Was found on irradiated Baal Secundus, where he grew wings, defended his tribe against mutant raiders and was revered as an angel.
2. Took command of the IX Legion, the Blood Angels, whose devotion to him became legendary.
3. Was offered alliance by Horus and Chaos but refused. He fought daemons on Signus Prime, where the Black Rage was first awakened in his Legion.
4. Became regent of Guilliman's Imperium Secundus before returning to Terra.
5. Commanded defences at the Imperial Palace during the Siege of Terra.
6. Teleported with the Emperor aboard the Vengeful Spirit and was slain by Horus. The Emperor then destroyed Horus.

Battles & campaigns

• Signus Prime: Lured by the Word Bearers, the Blood Angels fought daemons on Signus Prime. The battle unleashed the Red Thirst and the Black Rage in the Legion.
• Imperium Secundus: Separated from Terra by the Ruinstorm, he was persuaded to become Emperor of the temporary Imperium Secundus, a role he took on reluctantly.
• Siege of Terra: He held the Palace defences, famously at the Eternity Gate, where he fought a Bloodthirster before Horus lowered the Vengeful Spirit's shields. Most accounts name the Bloodthirster as Ka'Bandha.

Personality

Compassionate, inspiring and burdened by foresight; he is said to have foreseen his own death and walked into it anyway.

He was loving and compassionate, and many of his brothers saw him as the best of them. He accepted the terrible burden of foresight, knowing what fate awaited him. His sacrifice was not merely courage but an expression of deep faith in the Emperor and in humanity.

Weapons & Vehicles

Power SwordMelee Weapon

A master-crafted blade sheathed in a crackling molecular disruption field that parts ceramite, bone and steel with effortless lethality…

Meltagun & Multi-MeltaRanged Weapon

A short-ranged thermal sub-molecular agitation weapon that flash-melts battle tank armour, bunker doors and heavy walkers into bubbling…

ChainswordMelee Weapon

The brutal motorised tooth-bladed sword carried by Space Marines, Imperial Guard officers and Chaos renegades, chewing through armour a…

Stormraven GunshipAircraft

A heavily armed VTOL assault gunship and flying transport of the Adeptus Astartes and Grey Knights, capable of carrying both a full squ…

Sanguinary GuardElites · Unit

The golden, winged honour guard of the Blood Angels, whose death masks are cast in the likeness of their lost Primarch.

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 (6)

• 
  The Emperor of Mankind creator · Imperium of Man

  Sanguinius died defending his father aboard Horus's flagship.

• 
  Astorath the Grim gene-father · Blood Angels

  Astorath hunts down sons of Sanguinius lost to the Black Rage.

• 
  Commander Dante gene-father · Blood Angels

  Dante is Chapter Master of the Blood Angels, Sanguinius's sons.

• 
  Gabriel Seth gene-father · Blood Angels

  The Flesh Tearers descend from the Blood Angels.

• 
  Mephiston gene-father · Blood Angels

  Mephiston suffered the Black Rage of Sanguinius and survived.

• 
  Horus Lupercal killed · Black Legion

  Horus killed Sanguinius aboard the Vengeful Spirit during the Siege of Terra.

Factions

• Blood Angels primary faction

Related units (3)

Assault SquadDeath CompanySanguinary Guard

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

Legacy

Sanguinius's death left his gene-line with the Red Thirst and the Black Rage, flaws that haunt the Blood Angels and their successors. Across the Imperium he is honoured as the Angel and the Great Angel. His sacrifice before Horus is one of the most painted and preached moments in Imperial history. His blood is in the Sanguinary Priesthood, the Death Company and every successor Chapter of the Blood Angels. His memory remains the loftiest image of what a Space Marine was meant to be.

Appearances & sources

• Fear to Tread (James Swallow) and The Horus Heresy: Siege of Terra novels
• Codex: Blood Angels across editions and the Devastation of Baal campaign book
• Warhammer 40,000 core background