Horus Lupercal

The Warmaster who led the rebellion against the Emperor.

Horus Lupercal is the principal antagonist of The Horus Heresy series. He is the Primarch of the Luna Wolves Legion of Space Marines, and the most versatile and favoured 'son' of the Emperor of Mankind. The Emperor appointed him Warmaster, overall commander of Imperial military forces, while leaving him in charge of the rest of the Great Crusade as the Emperor returned to Terra for a secret project. Horus is the focus of the opening book trilogy, which covers about two years in the overall Heresy timeline, most of which elapses before the rebellion begins.

Quick Facts

Title: Warmaster of the Imperium
Legion: Luna Wolves (later Sons of Horus)
Affiliation: Imperium of Man; Forces of Chaos
Status: Deceased
Parentage: Son of the Emperor of Mankind

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.

Reader's Guide

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.