Legion VII · loyalists

Imperial Fists

Homeworld: Inwit · Segmentum Tempestus

The VII Legion — the Imperium’s finest siege masters, equally formidable in attack and in defence; their home was the mobile fortress-starship Phalanx. Their primarch Rogal Dorn, “the Praetorian of Terra”, built the colossal defence of the Imperial Palace that defined the whole Siege. A third of the Legion under Captain Alexis Polux withstood the Iron Warriors’ ambush at Phall, while Dorn himself commanded the defence of Terra to the last. In the finale he teleported to the Vengeful Spirit and carried the mortally wounded Emperor to the Golden Throne.

Side in the Heresy: loyalists Remained loyal. At the outbreak of the Heresy Dorn was recalled to Terra to fortify the Imperial Palace and became the Praetorian of Terra.

Number: VII (7)
Side: Loyalists
Events in the chronicle: 36 events
Strength: A large Legion (often put at around 100,000), but the exact figure is disputed and not fixed by Forge World.

Fate

Survived the Heresy but were bled white at the Siege, where they formed the core of the defence of the Palace and of the Lion’s Gate spaceport. Dorn survived. Immediately after the Heresy Perturabo lured the Legion into the Iron Cage on Sebastus IV, which forced Dorn to adopt the Codex Astartes.

Speciality

The finest siege masters — formidable in assault and in defence alike; also urban warfare and void/naval warfare. In the Crusade they served as a strategic reserve, patching up campaigns and making breaches.

Tactics

Surgically precise application of force by assault formations to crack a defence; on the defensive — holding key points and snuffing out breakthroughs. Rapid redeployment between theatres; a culture of discipline, pain and a “Junker” code.

What the Legion is known for

The defence of the Imperial Palace that defined the Siege; the fortress-starship Phalanx; Rogal Dorn, Praetorian of Terra; the Iron Cage and the crisis of the Codex; the successor Chapter — the Black Templars.

Wargear

The Phalanx (a fortress — a star fort), the Templar Brethren, Huscarls, Castellans and Wardens of the Phalanx; the Solar Auspex; the bolter and chainsword as the basis.

Notable warriors

SigismundFirst Captain, Emperor’s Champion
First Captain and the first Emperor’s Champion in history, Dorn’s right hand; led the defence of the Palace and was unbeaten in duels. Later founded the Black Templars.
Events: The Siege of Terra, First Battle of Pluto
ArchamusMaster of the Huscarls
Master of the Huscarls and head of Dorn’s personal guard; a Terran veteran, trusted bodyguard of the Praetorian of Terra throughout the Heresy.
Events: The Solar War, The Siege of Terra
Fafnir Rannlord seneschal
A quarrelsome lord seneschal and assault trooper from the First Sphere of the Solar System’s defence; fought at Phall and Pluto and defended the Lion’s Gate spaceport on Terra.
Events: Battle of Phall, The Siege of Terra
Alexis Poluxcaptain of the 405th Company
Hyper-logical commander of the Imperial Fists’ Retribution Fleet; withstood the Iron Warriors’ ambush at Phall, later the first master of the Chapter of the Crimson Fists.
Events: Battle of Phall, Imperium Secundus Proclaimed
Camba Diazcaptain of the 50th Company, lord castellan
A master of siegecraft raised to lord castellan; commanded the defence of the Eternity Wall spaceport and the blockade of Mars, seized by the traitors.
Events: The Solar War, The Siege of Terra