Black Templars: A Comprehensive History

[Vash113]

Black Templars: A Comprehensive History

 

Introduction

 

The Black Templars are a truly unique force amongst the Adeptus Astartes, one of the few Chapters that completely disregards the Codex Astartes and all its tenets, fighting in the tradition of their ancestors, exemplifying the ways of war favored by the first High Marshal Sigismund. True crusading warrior knights the Black Templars have a character and feel like no other and here I

Edited December 16, 2008 by Vash113

[rookster]

as always vash, freaking awesome. I especially liked the crusade info, it should help me add some fluff to my own crusade.

[StrangeGuy]

While this does mean that the Black Templars have a tendency to blaze away at the closest target rather than a more distant foe, the Black Templars make up for this lack of skill at range with their sheer fearlessness in close combat. Truly a Black Templar is more at home in the madness of close quarters combat than anywhere else.

 

Excellent! Very well done, except for this bit about "lack of skill at range", it's not a lack of skill it's a choice. BT can shoot just as well as any other marine. Other than that little bit, great work.

[Sigismund Himself]

Perhaps 'lack of discipline' would work better. Otherwise, just another excellent article :lol:

[Marshal Rohr]

Some other Crusades are the (ill-fated) Garon Crusade, the Thangdron Crusade, and two other listed in the second latest Eldar white dwarf release. The one with Bretonians vs Dark Elves.

[Vash113]

Some other Crusades are the (ill-fated) Garon Crusade, the Thangdron Crusade, and two other listed in the second latest Eldar white dwarf release. The one with Bretonians vs Dark Elves.

 

Yea there are a few others as well that I didn't list, I included only those that actually had some description in addition to the name. I didn't know of any in a White Dwarf, are those more than a name? If so and you have that White Dwarf any info on them you could get me would be great so I can include them in the article.

 

except for this bit about "lack of skill at range", it's not a lack of skill it's a choice. BT can shoot just as well as any other marine.

 

Ah good point, I think I was casting around for a way to say it without repeating the same phrase again, I should probably change the wording with the next edit.

 

Glad you guys like it so far though, I hope I'm dong the Black Templars justice :lol:.

[Sigismund Himself]

I remember that article with the other crusade now. I'll have a look for it tonight and try to find it for you. And that Bretonnians vs Dark Elves match was an awesome battle B)

[Marshal Argos]

Loved it!!! One of the best reads I've had here in a while. Once comment though about the entry for the 13th Black Crusade you use "headed off to nip the threat in the bud". Although I like it, for some reason it just doesn't seem to fit, but that of course is only my ever so humble opinion.

 

On a another note any chance of adding the Solemnus Crusade and it's characters from the BL Battle for Armageddon in the future? Also, if your interested in a few more Ships there is a list of Battle Barges and Strike Cruisers along with their references. I have all the references still here and tabbed if you want more info.

[Sigismund Himself]

From WD (AU) 324- (All paraphrased as well)

 

Vengeris Keep was established on the feral world of Lilia Mundi shortly after the second founding. It has a small spaceport and facilities for over 200 brethren, though a skeleton staff is normally the only force present. Recruits from the population are chosen once every generation.

 

Castellan Morgrim was responsible for the recruiting of aspirants and the running of the Chapter Keep at the time of an Eldar attack upon the planet.

 

Milites Crusade- an unsuccesful crusade against the K'nib of Do'ab

 

Reclusiarch Veerstelt- His hatred of the Eldar is legendary among the chapter, as is his renowned sermons against them.

 

Venerable Barde- This ancient dreadnought has fought the Eldar many times and his knowledge of the foul xenos proved vital to the successful defense of Lilia Mundi.

 

Vigilant Might- A strike cruiser

 

Marshal Albrantius- His Crusade reinforced Lilia Mundi at the height of the campaign.

 

There isn't too much more but I can give you specific details of the campaign if you wish.

[Vash113]

Loved it!!! One of the best reads I've had here in a while. Once comment though about the entry for the 13th Black Crusade you use "headed off to nip the threat in the bud". Although I like it, for some reason it just doesn't seem to fit, but that of course is only my ever so humble opinion.

 

On a another note any chance of adding the Solemnus Crusade and it's characters from the BL Battle for Armageddon in the future? Also, if your interested in a few more Ships there is a list of Battle Barges and Strike Cruisers along with their references. I have all the references still here and tabbed if you want more info.

 

Ack given how that book is 145 bucks on Amazon I guess not, but if you have it and could paraphrase/summarize the info in a post here or in a PM I'll be happy to include the information! Thanks for the links to the ships I'll add those in as well.

 

There isn't too much more but I can give you specific details of the campaign if you wish.

 

Enough so that I can put in a summary like for the other crusades would be great, and I'll add in the info on the characters and ships as well.

 

EDIT: Ok I added in a bunch of new information on characters and ships and edited "lack of skill at range" for "lack of discipline at range" :D.

Edited December 10, 2008 by Vash113

[Iago]

kudos man.

Really stunning, you up for the lexicanum?

 

Good luck!

[Vash113]

kudos man.

Really stunning, you up for the lexicanum?

 

Good luck!

 

Um... I am... a Lexicanum... but thanks for the compliment, I appreciate it :D. And I'm glad you liked the article!

[Grand Master Tyrak]

One thing - I believe the siege of the Ecclesiarchal Palace is referred to as the Battle of Terra, or simply the Terran Crusade, to distinguish it from the Siege of the Emperor's Palace which is the HH. The Ecclesiarchal Palace and the Imperial Palace are not one and the same.

[Vash113]

One thing - I believe the siege of the Ecclesiarchal Palace is referred to as the Battle of Terra, or simply the Terran Crusade, to distinguish it from the Siege of the Emperor's Palace which is the HH. The Ecclesiarchal Palace and the Imperial Palace are not one and the same.

 

I thought so too but they are, the material on the 2nd Siege specifically says that when the outer walls were breached the fighting was taken into the interior of the Palace for the first time since the Horus Heresy and that the Custodes took the Brides of the Emperor through secret passages of the Palace to the Emperor's Throne Room, which is apparently in the same building. It would appear that the Emperor's Palace became the Ecclesiarchical Palace following the Heresy if the connotations in the text are to be believed. The event is known by many names, the Battle for Terra, the 2nd Siege of the Imperial Palace, the 2nd Siege of Terra, the Terran Crusade and so on and so forth. I felt the 2nd Siege of the Imperial Palace was the most descriptive name to have the least ammount of confusion over the various events.

[Grand Master Tyrak]

There's a little bit of inconsistency here, though, since the entire Imperial Palace is defended by Custodes, so during the siege there'd be an 'Alpha Legion Moment' where the Custodes open the door and let everyone in. I suspect somewhere along the line GW have made a mistake, since the account in C:WH refers to it as the Imperial Palace too.

 

I suppose it could be that after the Age of Apostasy the Custodes locked everyone out of the Imperial Palace.

Edited December 10, 2008 by Grand Master Tyrak

[Vash113]

There's a little bit of inconsistency here, though, since the entire Imperial Palace is defended by Custodes, so during the siege there'd be an 'Alpha Legion Moment' where the Custodes open the door and let everyone in. I suspect somewhere along the line GW have made a mistake, since the account in C:WH refers to it as the Imperial Palace too.

 

I suppose it could be that after the Age of Apostasy the Custodes locked everyone out of the Imperial Palace.

 

Oh that's nuthin, you want to see inconsistency, look up the description for Castellan Draco and compare it to the Vinculus Crusade in the Codex: Black Templars. You'd think it was two ENTIRELY different events if it weren't for the same name and location.

 

So yea at times when wrighting articles like this some picking and choosing has to be done to make everything fit together as best as possible without just leaving things out whole sale. Can be quite difficult at times.

[Treadheadz]

Nevertheless an aweinspiring compilation...Would the Mods be so kind, as to put a sticky on it?

[Vash113]

Nevertheless an aweinspiring compilation...Would the Mods be so kind, as to put a sticky on it?

 

Well thank you. As for stickying actually when finished this article will be submitted to the Librarium which is actually a fabulous resource for all sorts of fluff, modeling, and painting questions and already includes the 6 finished previous Comprehensive History articles on the Blood Ravens, Raven Guard, White Scars, Salamanders, Space Wolves, and Crimson Fists. Soon it will also include the Imperial Fists: A Comprehensive History which is also almost finished. :P

[Marshal Rohr]

THe Thangdron Crusade was the Crusade that supported Macharius. Now if Bigred and BoLS made up the specific IDK, but I don know they were over that way. There was also BT participation at Medusa V, we held some kind of Gate but eventually lost (our 300 moment) against the Night Lords. Our Warriors are now permitted to where a White feild with an M in it in recognition (thanks, but no thanks). Also, The Black Templars and the Salamanders both moved into reinforce the Scarus Sector during the Black Crusade (Humanity's Sheild or Eye of the Storm I cant remember), it left Helbrecht a little undermanned but they were in charge of holding off the "Green Kroosade". The Salamanders came too.

 

Also if you want to use some of the crap that McNeill spins, Brother Rammius was a big time hero of the Chapter and saved Marneus Calgar during the Corinthian Crusade by killing a killa kan or something. Its a cool story but it also shoves the Black Templars into a Crusade they were not recorded as participating in, considering he was elevated to a Dreadnaught during the Armageddon Crusade it would make him older than most, including Helbrecht...(WD with the Easterlings for LotR)

 

Sigismund's company was known as the Templars during the Heresy (The Dark King). There is also a cool short passage describing Sigismund fighting at the Siege of the Emperor's Palace during the Heresy in Chapter approved 2003. It explains the position of Emperor's Champion and how he felt about it.

 

Castellan Navarre was given the Honorific Captain of the Banner by Master Lazarin (sp?) of the Fists during the Siege of the Ecclisarchal palace (which is a different palace given the 3rd Ed. Rulebook illustrations). This would make him the only Captain I know of in the Templars. Castellan Navarre was also an Emperor's Champion, I dont know if he became Emperor's Champion as a Castellan or earlier.

 

Also there are several reference made to the Black Templars carrying on the Great Crusade made throughout multiple pieces of fiction and fluff. Personally, I fall into this school of thought but this is your article, do with it what you will.

 

Also the Purging of Cephian IV. There were vampires or something that had allied with the Alpha Legion, LatD, and Dark Eldar...

 

Sigenandus was also a High Marshal.

 

What about the Fluff fromt he Damnation crusade comic? I dont have them but I think they might help.

 

You said Comprehensive right?

Edited December 12, 2008 by Marshal2 Crusaders

[Vash113]

THe Thangdron Crusade was the Crusade that supported Macharius. Now if Bigred and BoLS made up the specific IDK, but I don know they were over that way.

 

Oh right I forgot BoLS was doing that Macharius stuff, I don't think they're using official stuff though, I guess I could always shoot them a PM and ask...

 

There was also BT participation at Medusa V, we held some kind of Gate but eventually lost (our 300 moment) against the Night Lords. Our Warriors are now permitted to where a White feild with an M in it in recognition (thanks, but no thanks).

 

You wouldn't happen to have that information saved would you? Unfortunately I was unable to participate much in the Medusa V campaign and didn't get around to saving the information from the site, maybe an internet archiver would have it but I need the web adress for the site first... hmm. I'll look around but if you have the info that would be fantastic!

 

Also, The Black Templars and the Salamanders both moved into reinforce the Scarus Sector during the Black Crusade (Humanity's Sheild or Eye of the Storm I cant remember), it left Helbrecht a little undermanned but they were in charge of holding off the "Green Kroosade". The Salamanders came too.

 

Yes the reinforcement of the Scarus sector is in the article already, I didn't know the Salamanders wen't too though but I guess it makes sense.

 

Also if you want to use some of the crap that McNeill spins, Brother Rammius was a big time hero of the Chapter and saved Marneus Calgar during the Corinthian Crusade by killing a killa kan or something. Its a cool story but it also shoves the Black Templars into a Crusade they were not recorded as participating in, considering he was elevated to a Dreadnaught during the Armageddon Crusade it would make him older than most, including Helbrecht...(WD with the Easterlings for LotR)

 

Interresting, I don't have access to that WD though would you be able to get me that information?

 

There is a cool story on my blog I took from the old Armageddon site if you are interested in more stories of battles, it the one about the Emperor's Champion and the assault on the Malevolent Dread that claimed half of Helbrecht's Crusade (which was half of a third of the Templar forces on Armageddon, so what does that make it considering there were 1200 Templars involved on Armageddon?). Anyway just trying to help, I have been waiting for you to come to use for this for a while :blink: , so I stockpiled everything I could remember.

 

Fall of the Champion, yes its a pretty good piece, it was in the Black Templars Index Astartes article and made up their page on the Armageddon Campaign Web Site :).

 

All help is greatly appreciated, every little bit helps to improve the article and make sure it does the Templars due justice! ;)

[Marshal Rohr]

Ok I am looking through what remains of this white dwarf. Apparently, Rammius was inducted from Pragos II, and sent to the Crusade of Brotherhood with the Crimson Fists (which should be happening around the current era not before the Vinculus Crusade). He also participated in the Cleansing of the Hell Stars. It is in the WHite dwarf that showcaes George Dellipina Armored Company. The White Dwarf is in peices though so I cant tell you what number it is.

[Von Richthofen]

Nevertheless an aweinspiring compilation...Would the Mods be so kind, as to put a sticky on it?

 

As Vash states, this will eventually be found in the Librarium.

 

The problem with stickies is that we have quite a few already.... and in the near future they will be pruned somewhat, or incorporated into the resource thread. That being said, there is no reason why the resource thread could not include a link to this history article.... which is almost certainly what will happen.

[Brother Richard]

Great work thank you Vash!

 

I just started a timeline for Templar Crusades, it was a little confusing for me and then you pop in with this article!

[Marshall Strat]

Battle Barge Light of Purity

-Flagship of High Marshal Sigismund during the 3rd War for Armageddon

 

Quick note: Helbrecht was High Marshal for 3rd War of Armegeddon...

[Marshal Rohr]

High MArshal Sigismund? WHat is that from I saw that a few days ago and now I can't remember.