Horus Lupercal

Lore & Background

Horus Lupercal, Primarch of the Luna Wolves Legion, was appointed Warmaster by the Emperor during the 203rd year of the Great Crusade. As Warmaster, he became overall commander of Imperial military forces while the Emperor returned to Terra to undertake a secret project to which not even Horus was privy. The first three novels in The Horus Heresy present some of the background and causes of the Heresy, and describe the start of the conflict, with Horus as the principal antagonist. The series describes the war as a Chaos plot to foil the Imperium's leader and founder, the mysterious Emperor of Mankind, by fomenting rebellion and internecine warfare in the expanding Imperium of Man. The story focuses on the Emperor's 18 genetically engineered sons, the Primarchs, and the legions of genetically enhanced superhuman soldiers that they lead, the Legiones Astartes, which find themselves divided into loyalist and traitor factions as they struggle for victory.

In Their Own Story

In Horus Rising (Abnett 2006), the series opener set in the early years of the 31st millennium during the 203rd year of the Great Crusade, Horus Lupercal is described as the most versatile and favoured 'son' of the Emperor. The Emperor has recently appointed him Warmaster, overall commander of Imperial military forces, while also leaving him in charge of the rest of the Crusade; the Emperor meanwhile returns to Terra, where in relative isolation he undertakes a secret project to which not even Horus is privy. The focus and perspective of the novel centres on a Space Marine Captain, Garviel Loken, leader of the Luna Wolves' 10th Company, who becomes a member of the story's events.

Reader's Guide

Horus Lupercal is the principal antagonist of The Horus Heresy series. As Warmaster, he was the overall commander of Imperial military forces during the Great Crusade. The opening book trilogy presents some of the background and causes of the Heresy, and describes the start of the conflict, with Horus as the central figure. The war is caused by a Chaos plot to foil the Imperium's leader and founder, the mysterious Emperor of Mankind, by fomenting rebellion and internecine warfare in the expanding Imperium of Man. The story focuses on the Emperor's 18 genetically engineered sons, the Primarchs, and the legions of genetically enhanced superhuman soldiers that they lead, the Legiones Astartes, which find themselves divided into loyalist and traitor factions as they struggle for victory.

Did You Know?

• Horus Lupercal is the principal antagonist of The Horus Heresy series.
• He was appointed Warmaster by the Emperor during the 203rd year of the Great Crusade.
• The opening book trilogy covers about two years in the overall Heresy timeline, most of which elapses before the rebellion begins.
• The Emperor left Horus in charge of the Crusade while returning to Terra for a secret project to which not even Horus was privy.
• The series describes the war as a Chaos plot to foil the Emperor by fomenting rebellion in the expanding Imperium of Man.