Gufarnus Altmakar
| Gufarnus Altmakar | |
|---|---|
| |
| Title/Honours |
Lord Commander of the Imperial Army, Bellipotent of the Unification Wars, War-sage of Terra |
| Distinguishing Traits |
Gifted planner and commander |
| Flaws |
Curmudgeonly |
This page details people, events, and organisations from the /tg/ Heresy, a fan re-working of the Warhammer 40,000 Universe. See the /tg/ Heresy Timeline and Galaxy pages for more information on the Alternate Universe.
Gufarnus Altmakar was a Terran-born commander who served the Emperor of Mankind in the Unification Wars and Great Crusade. He held a seat on the exalted War Council and was the nominal head of the Imperial Army, though in practice the formations of this vast force were subservient to the warlords of the Space Marine Legions.
Biography
Altmakar's origins are uncertain, but it is believed that he was born around 740.M30 and came into the service of the Emperor as a youth. From his appearance and lifespan, it is likely that Altmakar was the subject of genetic modification by the Emperor's savants, though unlike the men of the 'Old Hundred' he does not appear to have been enhanced for combat purposes. The Lord Commander first came to prominence during the Pacification of the Merican Hives. Although later histories generally regard the first deployment of the Sacred Band under Hektor Cincinnatus as the seminal event of that campaign, the great majority of the fighting in Merica was undertaken by Thunder Warriors and Imperial Army troopers. Whatever Altmakar's prior service to the Emperor, it was enough for him to be granted operational control over the whole Western Theatre of the campaign, an immense warzone stretching from the once-frozen north of Merica down to the isthmus connecting Nord and Sud Merica. Despite the difficulties of coordinating his forces over such vast distances - and making space for the Space Marines to shine - Altmakar acquitted himself so well that he was called on to transfer forces to the more troubled Eastern Theatre mid-campaign.
In recognition of Altmakar's qualities, the Emperor pronounced him as the chief of the Imperial Army. This post largely excluded the Lord Commander from field posts for the remainder of the Unification Wars, though he would be called on to help direct the elephantine struggle against Nathaniel Dume's Pan-Pacific Empire. Similarly, once the Great Crusade began, Altmakar's principal responsibility was organising the recruitment and deployment of Imperial Army forces rather than directing them in battle. These duties often saw him away from the Solar System, especially as newly compliant worlds began to levy troops for the crusade. The task of supervising the new levies was far more than any one man could manage, but Altmakar made a point of inspecting worlds with a great marital history and large population, such as Carlisar. His vigor and attention to detail left a lasting legacy, and Altmakar was long remembered as the Father of the Army.