Ultramarines

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The Ultramarines were the 13th, of the original twenty, Space Marine Legions. This loyal Legion was later re-organized and divided into Chapters according to the Codex Astartes. Their Primarch was Roboute Guilliman, whose leadership abilities (not to mention the Codex Astartes) were instrumental in humanity's survival following the Horus Heresy. Given that their Primarch wrote the text that defines a Space Marine Chapter in the 41st millennium, the Ultramarines tend to follow this Codex strictly; in fact, the only deviation whatsoever are the relatively recent Tyrannic War Veterans, composed entirely of veterans of various battles with Tyranids. The Ultramarines can be seen as the most important Imperial organization on the Eastern Fringe.

Homeworld

The Ultramarines are unique in that, unlike their fellow chapters, they control nine systems, rather than a single planet. Collectively, these systems are known as Ultramar, with Macragge as its capital. Macragge is a cold and rocky world, though certainly capable of sustaining life, and is home to the Fortress of Hera, the Ultramarines' main base.

Ultramar5

Macragge is just one of the eleven worlds in the Ultramar segmentum. The others are:

History

Ultramarines (Rogue Trader era)

Being a First Founding Chapter, the Ultramarines have a long history dating back to before the Horus Heresy. After the Emperor landed on Macragge and met Roboute Guilliman, Roboute quickly took command of his Ultramarines. During the Great Crusade, the Ultramarines won countless victories, expanding the realm of the Imperium. Due to Roboute's tactical genius, he ensured that all worlds that he took were left more prosperous than before and thus able to contribute to the Imperium.

The Horus Heresy

When Horus finally declared his treachery against the Emperor, he had ordered the Ultramarines Legion to go to the Veridan System in Segmentum Tempestus far to the galactic south, claiming that the system was under attack by an Ork invasion force from the Ghaslakh Empire. Roboute Guilliman ordered his troops to depart at once and set course for Ultramar, so he could meet up with more of his forces and get supplies. Ultramar was close enough for an assault against Veridan, so Roboute ordered his Legion to assemble in the Calth System.

As Roboute and his fleets arrived at Calth, they instantly knew something was wrong, because none of their Astropaths could get messages through the warp and storms were interfering with the navigation of their ships; they were blocked from the rest of the Imperium. It was at this moment that the traitor forces of the Word Bearers Legion attacked, rendering the Ultramarines unable to participate in much of the Battle for Terra.

Upon learning of the treachery, Roboute immediately set course for Terra, destroying Chaos reinforcements along the way, but arrived after the war had already been won. Because of this, the Ultramarines were one of the few Legions at full strength; thus, Roboute and his Ultramarines bore much of the burden of holding the Imperium together against aliens and Chaos forces. During this time, the Ultramarines recruited heavily from their homeworld and eventually counted for over half of the Loyalist Marines. Around a decade after the Heresy ended, the Imperium finally reached a point of stability.

Creation of the Codex

After the Horus Heresy, Roboute Guilliman set himself to create the Codex Astartes, which would define the tactics and organization of all Space Marines, from battlefield strategies to squad markings. Most important of these changes was the division of the Legions into 1,000-strong Chapters. One of the Chapters would retain the heraldry of the original Legion, but the others would be given a new name and symbol. In doing so, Guilliman hoped to divide the power of the Space Marines to ensure that the Horus Heresy could never occur again.

This however caused a massive argument to form among the remaining Primarchs, Imperial Fists Primarch Rogal Dorn and his supporters (Salamanders Primarch Vulkan and Space Wolves Primarch Leman Russ) fought fiercely against the creation of the Codex while Guillman and his supporters (White Scars Primarch Jaghatai Khan and Raven Guard Primarch Corax) went as far as to fire upon the Imperial Fists labeling them as heretics. Rogal Dorn was not ready to plunge the Imperium into another civil war, and gave into Guillman's demands, and split the Imperial fists into the Crimson Fists, Black Templars, and keeping the Imperial Fists as a Legion.

Against the Tyranids

The Ultramarines were the first Space Marine Chapter to successfully repel a Tyranid invasion. With the help of Ultramar's PDF, a Titan Legion, and ships from Battlefleet Tempestus, Hive Fleet Behemoth was defeated at the Battle of Macragge in 745.M41. Since then the Ultramarines have tirelessly hunted down the Tyranids to honour and avenge the fallen at the Battle for Macragge. The Ultramarines were instrumental in defeating the Tyranid invasion of Ichar IV by Hive Fleet Kraken and to this day the Ultramarines seek out and destroy all Tyranid infestations they can find. The Ultramarines contribute a large number of Marines to the Deathwatch because of this.

Organisation

The Ultramarines follow the Codex Astartes in all matters of organization. As an ancient Chapter the Ultramarines have many traditions and honours that other chapters do not, the Axes of Ultramar, the Chapter Champion and the Chapter Ancient to name but a few. Roughly two thirds of all Space Marines can trace their origins to the Ultramarines, and many still revere Roboute Guilliman as their creator.

Armament

As well as a Boltgun , many Ultramarines carry a short sword known as a Gladius.8

Company Disposition

Like all Codex Chapters, the Ultramarines are divided into ten Companies. Each Company is led by a hero of the Ultramarines, who - in addition to his Company command - is in charge of a particular aspect of the Chapter's logistics. The current Company commanders are as follows:

Note: Until 999.M41, Captain Idaeus led the Fourth Company, but died in battle on Thracia. Uriel Ventris was confirmed as the successor captain shortly after, but has been exiled from the Ultramarines for failing to adhere to the Codex Astartes.

Note: Until 745.M41, Captain Ardias led the Third Company, but was seriously injured in battle during the Damocles Crusade. Fabian was confirmed as his successor on the Battle of Macragge against Hive Fleet Behemoth

Fleet Disposition

Since the Ultramarines control several worlds, their fleet is considerably larger than most Chapters. By 999.M41, the Ultramarines fleet is as follows (not including planetary defense ships):2

Note: A Battlefleet Gothic article indicates that there are at least five Battle Barges, but the article is inaccurate on several other points and so has been ignored.

Notable Ultramarines

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