by MORGAN Jack - Published 2 months ago

Warhammer 40k: Thousand Sons - Who Are They?

In the grim darkness of Warhammer 40,000, there are many factions fighting for power. Chaos is one of the main factions, the opposite of the Imperium of Man, aiming to destroy the galaxy.

Chaos Space Marines are among the deadliest forces of Chaos. The Thousand Sons are a mysterious renegade legion. Who are these former loyalist Astartes, and what are their goals?

Who are the Thousand Sons?

The Thousand Sons are the fifteenth legion of Space Marines. They were once a loyalist chapter but joined the Chaos forces during the Horus Heresy, betraying the Imperium and aligning with eight other renegade legions.

They are often seen wearing light blue armor with gold or bronze accents. Their iconography resembles ancient Egyptian symbols. Their main symbol is a fiery dragon consuming its own tail, sometimes with a starburst at its center.

Who is Magnus the Red?

Magnus is the Primarch of the Thousand Sons and the biological father of all legionaries in this legion. He is one of the taller Primarchs but prefers to appear smaller and simpler to avoid attracting attention and to be underestimated.

His notable feature is his one eye, which he sacrificed to the Warp to save his legion. He also has deep red skin, thus his moniker Magnus the Red. He is often seen wielding a large staff or scimitar, adorned in jeweled armor with tusks protruding.

Magnus is a powerful sorcerer. In his prime, he was second only to the Emperor and Malcador in power. Throughout the lore, he is depicted as capable of projecting his image and voice across the galaxy, as well as various forms of combat magic.

Where do the Thousand Sons come from?

The Thousand Sons originated from the planet Prospero.

Here, Magnus was trained to control his strong psychic powers and become a leader. Prospero is known for its large pyramids and Egyptian-inspired culture.

What are the Thousand Sons known for?

They focused on meditation to stay steady in combat and sorcery, and control their emotions.

As Chaos Marines, they often work alongside daemons of Tzeentch, the Chaos God of change. While they use armor, heavy weaponry is not their main focus.

Who is Ahriman?

He is one of the most powerful sorcerers among normal Adeptus Astartes.

His skills in battle and sorcery made him Magnus's go-to for important tasks.

Ahriman's presence in the 41st and 42nd millenniums often occurs around places significant to Chaos Gods or where only the strongest sorceries are needed.

The Thousand Sons before the Horus Heresy

The Thousand Sons were highly regarded by the rest of the Imperium. They were the leaders in using psykers and librarians, with many other legions seeking their guidance in these studies. They are quite similar in culture to the Ultramarines in how they balance warfare with the pursuit of knowledge.

However, this pursuit ultimately led to their downfall. It caused conflict between them and other legions, like the Death Guard and Space Wolves (who disliked psykers), and the World Eaters (who wanted them to delve deeper into the religious aspects of the warp).

The Edict of Nikaea

Magnus' hasty decision resulted in a council being convened on the planet Nikaea. Here the primarchs debated whether or not psychic powers should be allowed in the legions. Led by figures like the Sigilite, Mortarion, and Leman Russ, those who opposed the powers of librarians won the argument.

This tension between the legions eventually reached a breaking point after Magnus reached out across the warp to warn the Emperor about Horus' betrayal, inadvertently destroying much of the powerful machinery in the Emperor's laboratories and weakening the seal he had created to protect the webway from the warp.

This use of sorcery was a direct violation of Nikaea, and in response, the Emperor sent Leman Russ to punish them for breaking these laws. Driven by his existing anger towards Magnus and a series of tense events, Russ instead destroyed Prospero and killed many of the legionaries and civilians on the planet.

The Rubric of Ahriman

After hiding in the warp for an extended period, the Thousand Sons marines began to undergo chaos mutations, a problem they had already faced (as any legion that delves too deeply into the warp does).

As their time there grew, so did these changes, transforming some legionaries into mindless beasts. Ahriman took it upon himself to find a solution, and he did so in a way. He cast a spell, known as the Rubric of Ahriman, and separated their souls and bodies from each other.

After Prospero, Magnus and his legion hid from the Imperium, using the warp to conceal themselves as they healed. They eventually joined forces with Horus, driven by both pride and the need for greater access to the warp, now considered heretical.

The Thousand Sons during the Horus Heresy

The Thousand Sons were involved in numerous attacks during the Horus Heresy, including on Terra itself. Magnus rarely appeared in person, but he willingly provided Ahriman and other powerful sorcerers to renegade chapters when spellcraft was required.

The Thousand Sons after the Horus Heresy

Magnus initially resisted the direct influence of the chaos gods. However, Tzeentch's promises ultimately swayed him, and the Thousand Sons are now nearly completely aligned with The Changer Of Ways.

They continue to participate in chaos incursions where warp attunement and spellcraft are needed, similar to the Word Bearers. However, they are less willing to embrace daemonic possession.

The Thousand Sons are frequent attackers of the Space Wolves, including multiple assaults on Leman Russ' home planet. These are among the few times Magnus has been seen in person since the Heresy.

What are the goals of the Thousand Sons?

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Like most renegade legions, their ultimate goals remain a mystery to all but themselves. Beyond revenge against the Imperium, they seem determined to deepen their connection to the warp, but the ultimate purpose of this pursuit is unknown.

Arhiman and others like him are primarily focused on reviving the souls of their legionaries, bringing them back to their bodies. It's uncertain if this is achievable, but if successful, loyalist chapters would face a significantly strengthened enemy.