Sanguinary Guard
The Sanguinary Guard, also known as the Ikisat, Seraphs[3a], or the Burning Ones[3b], are the utmost elite of the Veterans of the Blood Angels, proven in mind, body, and spirit, and exemplifying the values of their Primarch Sanguinius to an extent no other Space Marine can.[1a]
Contents
History
The Sanguinary Guard has its origins during the Great Crusade when Sanguinius himself led the Blood Angels as a Legion. These warriors were the most renowned of the Orders of the First Sphere, which then also included the Crimson Paladins, Burning Eyes, and Angel's Tears. Members of the Sanguinary Guard were chosen for their unwavering devotion to their Primarch and were tasked to act as the personal bodyguard of Sanguinius. On some occasions, they were also used to protect other high-ranking members of the Blood Angels.[3b]
The Sanguinary Guard fought alongside Sanguinius as he took part in the boarding operation of the Vengeful Spirit during the climax of the Siege of Terra. After this battle only a single survivor remained of that august force: Azkaellon, Herald of the Primarch, and only because Sanguinius insisted that he remain on Terra. It was on his shoulders that the heavy burden befell of the reconstitution of the Order, to serve as a beacon of hope for the dark days that lay ahead. It is largely through his efforts that the legacy of the Sanguinary Guard survived in the Blood Angels, and spread to all its Successors.[1a]
Ten thousand years later, after the formation of the Great Rift, the Sanguinary Guard again faced destruction against Hive Fleet Leviathan. In the ensuing Devastation of Baal, only a single member of the Sanguinary Guard, Caraeus, survived.[2]
The Sanguinary Guard was subsequently rebuilt with surviving veterans and Primaris Space Marines. During the Battle of Idolatros in the Arks of Omen Campaign they accompanied Dante as he battled Angron. Once again the Sanguinary Guard took heavy losses, though there were several survivors.[6]
Wargear
Unlike other Veterans, the Sanguinary Guard do not select wargear according to their expertise, but instead use weapons and armor traditional to their Order: the wrist-mounted Angelus Boltgun, Plasma Pistol, or Inferno Pistol[11] and the Glaives Encarmine, Encarmine Spear, Encarmine Sword, Encarmine Axe, Sanguinary Banner, or Power Fist.[11] Golden Artificer Armour girds their bodies, and baleful Death Masks cover their faces, while they leap into battle courtesy of Winged Jump Packs. Depending on the situation, they may carry the Chapter Banner to war.[1c]
Successor Variants
While it has been stated that all of the Blood Angels' Successor Chapters maintain a Sanguinary Guard, following the same colour scheme as that used by the Blood Angels - with the exception of the Angels Encarmine, whose Sanguinary Guard instead wear alabaster white armour -[1b] never have the Flesh Tearers' Sanguinary Guard been shown in the same colours as the rest of the chapter.[7]
Notable Members
- Sepharan - Exalted Herald of Sanguinius
- Caraeus - Exalted Herald of Sanguinius
- Daeanatos - Exalted Herald of Sanguinius
- Brother Dontoriel
- Brother Erephon
- Brother Saronath
- Brother Varrian
- Brother Vesta[4]
- Brother Uzarael[4]
- Brother Mataneo[4]
- Azkaellon (Heresy-era)
- Taerwelt Ikasati (Heresy-era)
Images
Sanguinary Guard (10th Edition)[9]
Sanguinary Guard Squad (5th Edition)
Heresy-era Sanguinary Guard[11]
Conflicting sources
The original lore of the Blood Angels stated that Azkaellon was the sole Sanguinary Guard to survive the Heresy, but The End and the Death novels present another, Taerwelt Ikasati, as surviving.[8]
See also
Sources
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- 1: Codex: Blood Angels (5th Edition):
- 2: The Devastation of Baal (Novel), Chapter 30
- 3: The Horus Heresy Book Eight - Malevolence:
- 4: Codex: Blood Angels (9th Edition), pg. 8
- 5: The Lost and the Damned (Novel), Cover
- 6: Arks of Omen: The Lion, pgs. 31-36
- 7: Crusade of Fire (Campaign Book), pg. 31
- 8: The End and the Death: Volume III (Novel) - Fragments (Agonal) - iii
- 9: Warhammer Community: Blood Angels Reveals – Angelic Visions Descend to Rout the Enemies of Baal (posted 12/8/2024) (saved page, last accessed 12/8/2024, original link here)
- 10: Deathwatch: First Founding, pg. 104
- 11: Warhammer Community: Exemplary Battles of the Horus Heresy – The Sanguinary Guard Swoop Into Battle (posted 11/6/2024) (saved page, last accessed 21/8/2024, original link here)
