Black Legion: Homeworld: Cthonia (destroyed)
Primarch: Horus
Colours: Black and Gold
Battlecry: We Are Returned!
Ten thousand years ago, the Black Legion were the Luna Wolves, the XVI Legion of the First Founding. After the success of the Ullanor Crusade against the Orks, the Emperor took the unique step of renaming the Legion in honour of its Primarch. The Luna Wolves became the Sons of Horus. This was, in many ways the beginning of the end. Horus was always a strong personality, and lead through charisma; inspiring great personal loyalty in his troops. Nowhere was this more evident than in his own Legion, whose loyalty bordered on adoration and whose devotion bordered on worship. Following Horus' example, the Legion fought fervently to the best of the best; to conquer all before them.
In combat, the Legion also followed Horus' philosophies. Horus believed strongly in 'going for the throat'; the Sons of Horus were biased towards close assault and attacking the enemy forces' command structure with a small strike team known as the 'speartip'. The Legion continues to use these tactics, attacking in series of waves, with delays between strikes decreasing as the Legion advances.
The Black Legion was the first to follow the Warmaster into treachery; and formed his 'praetorian guard' during the campaign, always at the forefront of his assaults. They were the first to trike the Imperial Eagle from their armour and banners, and adopt the 8-pointed star and the Eye of Horus that became the defining symbol of Chaos for many Loylaists. When the Warmaster was slain over Terra, the Legion were gripped with a terrible, crippling grief and they abandoned the siege, fleeing with Horus' body. The Traitor Legions blamed them for the collapse of their attack on Terra, and waged bloody internecine conflict with the Sons of Horus. The Sons suffered a terrible defeat when their fortress was breached and the Emperor's Children stole their greatest treasure, the very body of the Warmaster.
it was a t this time that the Legion changed their name again. Under the leadership of First Captain Ezekyle Abaddon, they re-coloured their armour black in shame and struck the Warmaster's name from theirs; becoming the Black Legion. Not until they had crushed the hated Imperium could they claim their name anew. Abaddon's first move was a lightning strike to recover the Warmaster's body; after which the Legion's last Battle Barge vanished into a nebula and has only been seen since when it assaults worlds.
The Black Legion are foremost in the so-called Black Crusades; where vast armies of Chaos spew forth from the Eye of Terror.
Source: Codex: Chaos, 2nd Edition by various, Codex: Chaos Space Marines, 3rd Edition by various
Submitter: Simguinus
Hive World Terra