The Imperial Army (Imperialis Auxilia) is the largest military force of the early Imperium, mass mortal infantry and a fleet (the Imperialis Armada), subordinated to the Astartes expeditions. In the Heresy the integration turned into a monstrous mistake: formations attached to the traitor legions were drawn into the rebellion wholesale. Thousands of “pocket empires” were carved out by commanders lacking true loyalty; the Army effectively tore itself apart across the galaxy.
- Category
- Imperial Army
- Side
- Split ranks
- Key events
- 9 events
- Forces
- The largest military force of the early Imperium — mass mortal infantry and a fleet (the Imperialis Armada); subordinated to the Astartes expeditions. It split along with the legions.
More
The largest force of the early Imperium — mass mortal infantry and a fleet (the Imperialis Armada) attached to the Astartes expeditions; from every conquered world it took regiments and an Imperial Commander. Its elite was the Solar Auxilia, and the renowned Terran regiments included the Geno Five-Two Chiliad and the Lucifer Blacks. In the Heresy the close attachment to the legions turned to catastrophe: formations attached to traitors were drawn into the rebellion wholesale, and thousands of “pocket empires” were carved out by commanders lacking true loyalty. After the war Guilliman divided the Army into the Astra Militarum and the Imperial Navy, so that thereafter no one would command both troops and ships at once.
Fate
It effectively tore itself in two across the galaxy; after the Heresy Guilliman split it into the Astra Militarum (the Army) and the Imperial Navy, so that thereafter no one would command both fleet and troops at once.
Key events
Part in other events
Eve of the Storm
- The Cheraut Incident · Curze assaults Dorn
- Battle of Sarosh
- Fall of the Lords of Gardinaal
- Battle of Sixty-Three Nineteen
- Murder and the Interex · theft of the anathame
- Nurthene War
The Fall
- Cleansing of Arigatta
- Battle of Davin’s Moon
- Battle of Diamat
- Schism of Mars · the “Death of Innocence”
- The Baal Muster · advance on Signus
The Isstvan Massacre
Shadow of War
- Underworld War of Calth
- Battle of the Furious Abyss
- Battle of Armatura
- First Siege of Hydra Cordatus
- Siege of the Perfect Fortress · Narsis
- Siege of Olympia
- Manachean War · the Coronid Deeps
- Treachery at Port Maw
- Shadow Crusade
- Second Battle of Paramar
- Mezoan Campaign
- Battle of Percepton Primus
- Vannaheim Space Drop
- Pale Stars Campaign
- Blight of Isessos
- Ambush on Espandor
- Battle of Aquila Atoll
- Devouring of Antarras
- Incident at Dwell
The Road to Terra
- Battle of Nyrcon · Beta-Garmon
- Drussen Atrocity
- Malagant Conflict
- The Marches of Madness
- Battle of Krade
- Battle of Heta-Gladius
- Tarren Suppression
The Siege of Terra
- Siege of Cthonia
- Battle of Beta-Garmon · Titandeath
- Traitor Armada Reaches Sol
- Siege of Inwit
- Battle of Pluto · the Khthonic Gate
- Solar War: Third Sphere
- Solar War: Fall of Luna
- Orbital Bombardment of Terra
- Death Guard Plague Landing
- The Storm Breaks · first assaults and the plague
- Fall of Helios Gate
- Fall of the Lion’s Gate Spaceport
- Destruction of the Magnifican · fall of the Gorgon Bastion
- Battle of the Saturnine Gate
- Fall of the Eternity Wall Spaceport
- Mortis · the Titandeath of Terra
- Khan Retakes Lion’s Gate · Mortarion driven out
Sources
- Lexicanum: Imperial Army
- WH40k Fandom: Navis Imperialis
- Atlas compilation · source check 2026
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