Second Founding
The Horus Heresy proved that, despite the Emperor's efforts, the Primarchs were not perfect; they could easily be led astray and fall to Chaos.
In order to prevent one man from gaining as much power as Horus had, the branches of the Imperial armed forces were separated, the Inquisition was founded, and the loyal Space Marine Legions were divided into Chapters of roughly one thousand Marines, in accordance with the Codex Astartes.
The Second Founding was not universally accepted; the Space Wolves and Imperial Fists in particular objected to dividing their Legions, and the Imperium was nearly torn apart by another civil war. For better or for worse, Leman Russ and Rogal Dorn finally relented, although the Space Wolves and Black Templars have since grown their numbers to many more times the usual size.
List of Second Founding Chapters
Dark Angels
- Angels of Absolution
- Angels of Redemption
- Angels of Vengeance
White Scars
- Marauders
- Rampagers
- Destroyers
- Storm Lords
Space Wolves
- Sons of Russ
- Wolf Brothers
Imperial Fists
Blood Angels
- Angels Encarmine
- Angels Sanguine
- Flesh Tearers
- Angels Vermillion
- Blood Drinkers
Iron Hands
- Red Talons
- Brazen Claws
Ultramarines
- Novamarines
- Patriarchs of Ulixis
- White Consuls
- Black Consuls
- Libators
- Praetors of Orpheus
- Inceptors
- Genesis Chapter
- Mortifactors
- Doom Eagles
Salamanders
None, as there weren't enough Salamanders left after the Horus Heresy to fill one Chapter, let alone two.
Raven Guard
- Black Guard
- Revilers
- Raptors
Grey Knights
The Grey Knights were not created from any of the Space Marine Legions, as their geneseed was specially created by the God-Emperor of Mankind himself. They were founded to supply the newly-formed Inquisition with a strike force against future Chaos threats.