Norman historical influences of space marines

[Lords of Preyspire]

Hey all,

 

I have a quick question for the fluff masters. I have been on Norman history documentary binge and was curious if an chapter or legion seems to draw particular influence from this historical time/group.

 

Obviously some factions wear their historical influences on their sleeves but I have never really noticed anything specifically Norman.

 

Anywho I look forward to hearing from you all.

 

Cheers

LoP

[Panzer]

Normans were vikings that settled in north france, right?

Well the only viking-esque faction we have are Space Wolves tho GW kept adding more and more wolf stuff and less and less viking stuff so that's that. Also Normans weren't particularly viking anymore anyway iirc

They seem to be more like the classic european medieval folks which would basically fit any number of imperial worlds, potentially with a local Knight House or a particularly knightly Marine chapter (there are dozens of them among the successor chapters).

[Dracos]

Culturally I’d suggest Salamanders. Each Marine a leader in small fiefdoms. Could easily lend itself to a Soup of Marine/Guard/Knights.

[Iron Father Ferrum]

Make a Marine chapter that has no centralized scheme? Make each Marine a knight in his own right with his own distinct heraldry. The only element tying them together would be the actual chapter icon.

[NiceGuyAdi]

It’d be interesting to know what you think defines Norman culture that might transfer to 40k?

 

The way the Norman conquest is taught in England makes it quite difficult to grasp what we have culturally that comes from the Normans and what predates them

 

But off the top of my head, there are two characteristics that might transfer:

-William the Conqueror invaded the south east of England whilst Harold Godwin was defending against the Space Wolves, sorry Vikings, in the north east at the battle of Stamford bridge. So that makes him tactically pragmatic and underhanded and therefore Raven Guard.

-once he’d taken the English crown, he set about culturally bulldozing the English nobility and putting Norman culture in its place. So he’s an empire builder and therefore Ultramarine.

[Dracos]

Willy probably even paved the Varangians off as a distraction (Carnifex) ;)

 

 

 

 

Corvus would just whisper to Russ from the Shadows .... “See the shiny object Brother?”

[Leif Bearclaw]

Willy probably even paved the Varangians off as a distraction (Carnifex)

 

 

 

Eh? What do the Varangians (a Byzantine organisation) have to do with the Norman Conquest.

 

The only connection I'm aware of is that, post-Conquest, a bunch of dispossessed/unemployed Anglo-Saxon nobility and former huscarls took employment with the Byzantines and joined the Varangian Guard.

 

Regarding the OP, there isn't really a coherent 'Norman Identity' that fits as a stereotype to slot into 40k. They just kinda get brought into the overall 'Knightly' aesthetic/themes, rather than as a distinct entity in and of themselves.

[Sword Brother Adelard]

The Normans had a habit of conquering places, building little keeps all over the country to garrison their soldoers, I think a fair few also went off on Crusade. Sounds like Black Templars to me.

Alternatively, the White Templars and the Red Templars have almost zero fluff, so perhaps you could use one of those as a template?

[Dracos]

 

Willy probably even paved the Varangians off as a distraction (Carnifex) ;)

 

 

Eh? What do the Varangians (a Byzantine organisation) have to do with the Norman Conquest.

 

The only connection I'm aware of is that, post-Conquest, a bunch of dispossessed/unemployed Anglo-Saxon nobility and former huscarls took employment with the Byzantines and joined the Varangian Guard.

The Normans were an ethnic group that arose in Normandy, a northern region of France, from contact between indigenous Franks and Norse Viking settlers. Viking mercenaries served for a hundred years as part of the Varangian Guard.

 

I think the idea of toned down Black Templar flavor using Ultramarine rules might be a start.

[Halandaar]

 

The Normans were an ethnic group that arose in Normandy, a northern region of France, from contact between indigenous Franks and Norse Viking settlers. Viking mercenaries served for a hundred years as part of the Varangian Guard.

 

Right, but the Varangian Guard was essentially the personal guard of the Holy Roman Emperors and never ventured as far as France. The only relevance it has to the Normans at all is that a number of them went to Constantinople to serve in the Varangian Guard following the conquest of England.

 

Your initial comment still makes zero sense.

[Arkaniss]

I think Brother Adelard has the best answer to this question. There is nothing that distinct about the Normans to latch onto beyond their use of heavy cavalry (in comparison to their contemporaries), so you can twist that into 40K how you like (e.g. bikes being sci-fi cavalry, or go for tanks etc..) really. The most you can link to Normans for an existing 40K Chapter is the knightly aspect, and when you consider that Space Marines are knights in space anyway...