Imperium of Man

Humanity's ten-thousand-year-old theocratic empire, ruled in name by a dying Emperor.

The Imperium of Man is an authoritarian, techno-feudal and theocratic human empire of about a million worlds that has lasted more than 10,000 years. Its state religion centres on its founder, the Emperor of Mankind, and it hates aliens so much that associating with them is a capital offence. Most Warhammer 40,000 fiction is told from the Imperium's point of view.

Quick Facts

Worlds: about 1 million
Ruler: the Emperor of Mankind (on life support)
Main armies: Space Marines, Imperial Guard

Lore & Background

The Emperor is still its nominal ruler, but he was mortally wounded in battle and survives on life support; his mind still projects the Astronomican, the psychic beacon starships use to navigate the Warp. The Imperium's technology is advanced but has barely improved for thousands of years because of religious taboos against science and innovation. It has the most sub-factions in the game, chiefly the Space Marines (Adeptus Astartes) and the Imperial Guard (Astra Militarum), along with the Sisters of Battle, Adeptus Custodes, Adeptus Mechanicus and Imperial Knights.