Welcome back to another episode in our multi-part series exploring the rich lore of Warhammer 40,000. Today we delve deep into the origins of the Realm of Ultramar, the grand vision of none other than Roboute Guilliman, and get a closer look at the comprehensive reorganization of his Legion.
Guilliman, a character of great vision, saw the potential of his adoptive homeworld, Macragge, as the fulcrum of a much larger network of support and provision. This network would extend beyond the initial worlds with which Macragge had connections, ultimately spanning across solar decades, marking the inception of the Realm of Ultramar.
This ambitious project, however, was not Guilliman’s only focus. Concurrently, he undertook a detailed reorganization of his Legion, drawing inspiration from the military doctrines of Macragge and the political philosophies of his upbringing. Guilliman reshaped his Legion, implementing a meticulously structured and meritocratic force, which aimed for optimal military performance based on the inherent characteristics of the 13th Legion.
The evolution of the Legion under Guilliman was a fascinating blend of ancient deterministic values of the warrior – courage, discipline, skill, and adaptability – with the theoretical aspects of planning, precedent analysis, and assessment. This blend of values was harmoniously incorporated into the Legion’s doctrine, making it as ruthlessly evenhanded as it was efficient.
The transformation was not just ideological, but also physical. The livery of the 13th Legion was changed to a deep blue accented with gold, the ancient Ultima glyph was adopted as the Legion’s icon and seal, symbolically tying them to the newfound Realm of Ultramar. Thus, the Ultramarines were born.
With the forward base relocated to Macragge, Guilliman was granted an independent Crusade command for the region by the Emperor. His 12th Expeditionary Fleet, supplied with the latest warships from Mars, began a series of fresh conquests. The newly christened Ultramarines pledged to carry the Great Crusade beyond the stars if necessary, to see its completion.
During this period, the Ultramarines were instrumental in liberating more human-settled worlds than any other single Primarch forces. The planets brought into the Imperium benefited from Guilliman’s passion for efficient and ordered government. The Ultramarines left a trail of cohesive Imperial civilization in their wake, solidifying and expanding supply lines for their advance.
As their tally of victories grew, so did the numbers of the Ultramarines Legion. Thanks to the resilience of its gene-seed and Guilliman’s vision and organizational skills, the expansion of the Legion was meteoric. Stay tuned for the next chapter in this saga, as we delve deeper into the lore of Warhammer 40,000.
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