The Fall of the Warmaster
Horus, the Primarch of the Luna Wolves, had always been driven by a desire for recognition and respect. As the Warmaster of the Imperium, he felt that his Legion and he were not being given the honor they deserved. This sense of discontent was fueled by the Emperor’s suggestion to change the name and iconography of Legion XVI. Horus eventually took up the offer, and the Luna Wolves became the Sons of Horus.
A Change in Character
Shortly after the name change, Horus was wounded on the moon of Davin by Eugen Temba, an old subordinate who was under the influence of the Chaos Power Nurgle. During his convalescence, Horus took part in the induction ceremony of the Temple of the Serpent Lodge, a warrior and healing lodge on the planet. Unbeknownst to him, the lodge was actually a Chaos coven, and his participation marked the beginning of his corruption.
The Corruption Spreads
As Horus’ officers detected a change in his character, it became clear that the Warmaster had been ensnared by the Chaos Powers. A similar warrior lodge had already been established within his own Legion, and it is believed that this was used to aid in the corruption of his Marines. The corruption spread to other Legions under his command, and soon Horus had become body and soul allied to the Powers of Chaos.
The Horus Heresy
By the beginning of the Horus Heresy, the Sons of Horus numbered between 130,000 and 170,000 Space Marines, making them one of the larger Legions of the Legio Astartes. The majority of the Sons of Horus, fiercely loyal and proud of their Warmaster, quickly renounced their oaths to the Emperor and began to worship Horus and his new gods. The remaining portion of the Legion was betrayed and wiped out by their brothers on the world of Isstvan III.
The War Rages On
The war that followed was the most terrible in the history of the Imperium, with Space Marines fighting Space Marines and Titans fighting Titans. Horus carved out a vast swathe of the Northern Imperium, which became known as the Dark Empire. The Sons of Horus scored a major victory on Molech, and Horus acquired the same powers as the Emperor. However, he was later confronted by Leman Russ and badly wounded by the Spear of Russ during the Battle of Trisolian.
A Legacy of Betrayal
The Horus Heresy left a lasting impact on the Imperium, with many Legions and organizations forever changed by the corruption of the Warmaster. The Sons of Horus, once a proud and noble Legion, had become a symbol of betrayal and rebellion. Their legacy would forever be tainted by the actions of their corrupted Primarch.
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