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TheWarhammer 40,000universe is a dangerous place full of aliens, daemons, and plenty of other things. Thankfully, though, the Imperium Of Man is not without its defenders. A military that spans a galaxy, tanks the size of city blocks, and most importantly, the space marines of the adeptus astartes.
These space marines are the cutting edge of not only the Imperium’s technological advancements but also their military might. Bred only for war, there are a few differentspace marine chaptersthat fight for the Imperium, but none are as equally recognizable as the Ultramarines. But who are these power armor-clad super soldiers?
Who Are The Ultramarines?
The Ultramarines are the 13th legion of space marines.They are one of nine space marine legions that are still loyal to the Emperor of Mankind and the Imperium after the Horus heresy.They are easily identified by their bold blue armor, often with white, red, or gold accents.
Their symbol is that of a stylized Greek omega turned upside down. This symbol shows up often in Ultramarine garb, armor, and equipment,but it is always seen on the left pauldron of the space marine’s power armor.
Who Is Guilliman?
Like every space marine chapter, the Ultramarines look to their primarch(who is also their genetic father) for guidance.The primarch of the Ultramarines is Roboute Guilliman,also referred to as the Master Of Ultramar and The Avenging Son.
Roboute is one of the taller of his brothers, notable for his short blonde hair and rather stoic personality.While he is a capable warrior and tactician, he also enjoys taking the time to practice and enjoy the arts, something that he thinks makes him a more well-rounded leader and something he tries to pass on to his sons as well.
Where Are The Ultramarines From?
The thirteenth space marine legion hails from Macragge, in the Ultima Subsector of the galaxy. Macragge is also the capital of Ultramar, or The Five-Hundred Worlds, a name for the various planets that Guilliman and the society he adopted spanned.
Other planets of Ultramar include Calth, Sotha, Iax, and Talassar.
Macragge, like the rest of Ultramar, takes many of the ideals and architecture from Greek and Roman history, albeit with the hyper-advanced technology that is possible in 40K.The government is feudalistic in nature, with each planet paying tithes, taxes, and personnel to the better of the Ultramar government in turn for protection.
What Do They Specialize In?
The Ultramarines don’t specialize in any certain aspect of combat, like the Raven Guard do with stealth or Iron Warriors do with siegecraft. Instead,they respect each aspect of an engagement, using diverse squads and tactics to overwhelm their opponent.
They do hold themselves strictly to a combat code known as the Codex Astartes to maintain order during combat. Some hold themselves strictly to the Codex, while others understand the need for creativity and thinking on the spot.
The Ultramarines attempt to hold other legions and chapters to their Codex; some cannibalize it for the tactical aspects, and others ignore it completely.
Pre-Heresy Ultramarines
The Ultramarines played a pivotal role in the Horus Heresy.They were not around for the Dropsite Massacre, where the traitor space marines made their first move.Instead, they received the news filtered in through the warp right around the time the Word Bearers and a small contingent of Night Lords attacked Ultramar.
This attack on Ultramar had many different results, including Guilliman being the standing leader of the Imperium for a time, since no one could say if Terra (Earth) was still standing. It also led to him creating various strategies for killing their fellow space marines.
The attack on Ultramar left many dead and many more scarred, including the planet of Calth, which led to the atmosphere of the planet being critically weakened.
After this attack on his homeworlds, Guilliman quickly took the bulk of his forces to Terra, fearing an attack against his father was imminent.He was nearly too late but was able to add his forces to the defence of Terra during the siege.
However,he was grievously wounded by his brother Fulgrim’s poisoned blades and had to be put in a stasis sleep to halt its spreadwhile those around him could try to find a cure for a poison deadly enough to fell a primarch.
The Ultramarines still hold a unique hatred for the Word Bearers for the lasting radioactive effects that Calth and its citizens live through.
Post-Heresy Ultramarines
The Ultramarines, post-heresy, have been split up along with the rest of the legions. Now, they consist of a myriad of various chapters, all under a thousand strong, to prevent against any one chapter gaining too much power.
Notable Ultramarine successor chapters include the Doom Eagles, White Consuls, and Aurora Chapter.
These chapters fight all across the galaxy in both small contingents and larger armies. They do not specialize in fighting any certain chaos or xenos forces. Instead,they answer the call when they are needed in any conflict and are as spread thin as any loyalist group is.
Looking for a new leader,the tech-priests of the Mechanicus were successfully able to bring Guilliman out of his stasis sleep.In the 42nd Millenia, he leads the Ultramarines on the Indomitus Crusade,in which they often find themselves toe-to-toe with their cousins, the Death Guard (the 14th legion).
What Are Their Goals?
Now that Guilliman is among the living,his goal is a reunification crusade.The purpose of which is much the same as any other crusade before him:bringing the Imperium back to its former glory and bringing the various enemies of humanity to heel.
So far, he is more successful than most.He has ushered in new advancements to the astartes, thanks to the help of Archmagos Belisarious Cawl,turning them into Primaris marines. He is also aided by his brother Lion El’Johnson of the Dark Angels, and they hope to find even more of their loyalist brothers.
Guilliman also inherited his father’s (the Emperor’s) flaming sword, which is both a potent weapon and a powerful symbol.
Other Notable Ultramarines
Uriel Ventris
Uriel Ventris is the protagonist ofGraham McNeil’s Ultramarine novels. Rising to the rank of Captain of the fourth company, Ventris saw much combat in his rather short lifespan (granted, he is still hundreds of years old as of the 42nd Millennium).
During his travels, he fought mostly tyranids in the Battle Of Macragge and T’au shortly after. His main goals are surviving being trapped on a chaos planet near the eye of terror held by Huron Blackheart and a subsequent invasion of Ultramar by Iron Warriors led by Warsmith Honsou.
Since becoming Captain, he has become a Primaris marine and continues fighting alongside his Primarch.
Demetrian Titus
The main character of Warhammer 40K Space Marine andSpace Marine 2. Titus' career is an interesting one, as he has not only fought a wide range of enemies from tyranids, to orks, and two different chaos legions.
Compounding that interest, he seems one of the Ultramarines less beholden to the Codex Astartes. Something that got him in trouble after the events of the first game. That and his connection to the warp made his superiors send him to the Deathwatch, keen on either seeing him absolve himself in battle or die.
He survived his time in the Deathwatch, barely, and was made a Primaris marine and rejoined his chapter as a Lieutenant.
Malum Caedo
The main character of theWarhammer 40K Boltgungames. Malum Caedo is remarkably a man of few words, seemingly happy only bringing death to the enemies of the Imperium. He is often seen working alone, although whether that is his own choice or out of his control is unknown.
His exploits include taking on various forces of chaos undivided on the forge world Graia, including lesser and greater daemons of Tzeentch and Nurgle, as well as hordes of chaos cultists and renegade marines.
Marneus Calgar
Marneus Calgar is the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines and their former leader since their primarch is alive again. Calgar is one of the oldest Ultramarines in the 42nd millenium, and his exploits are expansive.
He stands out from his brothers on the battlefield due to his highly stylized terminator armor with dual power fists, which have bolters underslung on both. He often wades into battle firing both bolters while giving orders and receiving tactical data all at the same time.
