Welcome to another installment in our deep-dive Warhammer 40K series. Today, we’re going to explore some of the complex relationships and intriguing events surrounding one of the more enigmatic figures in the 40K universe – Alpharius, the Primarch of the Alpha Legion.
The character of Alpharius is interwoven with tales of disputes and strategy, offering a nuanced perspective on the Great Crusade. One such story involves a supposed disagreement between Alpharius and Roboute Guilliman, Lord of Ultramar. Guilliman, in his characteristic fashion, chastised his brother for his cruel methods, while subtly drawing attention to his own accomplishments. Alpharius, whose participation in the Crusade was more limited, could not counter with a similar list of victories.
This alleged fracas raises a tantalizing question: could a Primarch be goaded into a bitter dispute, and could this be a result of Guilliman’s self-aggrandizing behavior? The tactics employed by Alpharius, often deemed dishonorable, were a subject of scrutiny amongst his peers. Primarchs such as Leman Russ, Ferrus Manus, Mortarion, and Perturabo saw Alpharius’s approach as cowardice, preferring the glory of a head-on charge against their foes, regardless of the potential losses.
To Alpharius, these brothers were fools, blinded by the glory of battle rather than the strategic objectives of the Crusade. He recognized the allure of victory at any cost, an enticement that saw the 20th Legion drifting further from their allies. Only Horus appreciated Alpharius’s cunning, seeing in him an outstanding commander.
A key episode in the 20th Legion’s history that reflects Alpharius’s unique approach is the World Prince campaign. Here, Alpharius rejected a swift capture of the capital, allowing the enemy time to build defenses. Only when the foes had organized a competent defense did the Legion commence the offensive. The battle raged for a week, culminating in the decimation of 90% of the defenders and the surrender of the planetary nobility. Many Primarchs condemned Alpharius for this seemingly senseless slaughter. But Alpharius saw it differently. A quick capture was too simplistic, he argued. He had other goals, less obvious, and perhaps more profound.
The dispute over Alpharius’s loyalty to the Emperor will likely rage on forever. The reasons for the 20th Legion’s involvement in the Lupercal Uprising, the information from the xenos organization known as the Cabal, and the visions of the Alpha Legion’s role in a potential civil war all add layers of complexity to the enigma that is Alpharius.
The Cabal’s vision offered two paths. The first involved the Alpha Legion siding against Horus leading to Chaos’s defeat, but also the confinement of the Emperor and the eventual decay of the Imperium. The second vision saw the Alpha Legion aiding Horus in overthrowing the Emperor. Filled with guilt, Horus would reject the corruption of Chaos, annihilating the traitorous forces. Humanity would die out, but along with it, Chaos would disappear too.
It’s believed that Alpharius and Omegon, the twin Primarchs of the Alpha Legion, chose the path of rebellion to eradicate Chaos, even if it meant the end of the Emperor and humanity. But the ambiguity of their decision, the potential for an alternate course, and the possibility that the Primarchs were duped adds a rich layer of intrigue to the narrative.
Stay tuned for our next blog post, where we’ll continue to unravel the intricacies of Warhammer 40K lore. The truth may be a labyrinth, but each turn brings us closer to the heart of the matter.
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