40K Lore: Malcador The Sigillite – Hero Of The Imperium
Loremasters, today we dive into the history of one of the most important and influential figures in the life of the Imperium. Malcador the Sigillite!
Malcador the Sigillite, also known as Malcador the Hero by decree of the Emperor was the First Lord of Terra as well as the Grand Master of Assassins during the Horus Heresy. He was a powerful psyker who could communicate over long distances and wield immense power. He was a close adviser to the Emperor during the Unification Wars, and the man credited with founding the Administratum of Terra.
The origins of Malcador remain a mystery, and are unknown save to the Emperor himself. According to Malcador himself, by the time of the Horus Heresy he was over 6,700 years old and remembers his date of birth to the second. Malcador was a surviving member of an ancient order known as The Sigillites, which sought to gather and preserve the greatest and most powerful artifacts in Human history. Malcador met the Emperor when he was just another Terran Warlord, and was the one who recommended he take on the title Emperor.
Nonetheless many rumors said he was the Emperor’s kin, but this can not be verified. Malcador first appeared in Imperial records during the Unification Wars, where he served as the Emperor’s adviser and administrator. The cradle of his ancient order became the foundations of the Imperial Palace. As the Primarch‘s were discovered, the Emperor began to become more predisposed to the Crusade, leaving Malcador on Terra for management. During this time, he was accompanied by the newly discovered Leman Russ, who was taking time adjusting to Imperial culture, and the two bonded to an extent.
As the Emperor’s primary representative, Malcador often acted in his stead, or preceded him, the intent being for the Emperor to make his presence known only in the event of Malcador’s failure. One such event was the humbling of the Word Bearers in the ruins of Monarchia. During the incident, an enraged Lorgar slapped Malcador 20 metres through the air with the back of his hand, but he not only survived but got up afterwards.
In a statement Malcador to a dying servant, which he stated was a lie to comfort humanity, he claimed that he andthe Emperor conspired to agitate the Primarchs and turn them against one another, with the resulting war purging certain unworthy individuals and the Space Marine Legions just as they had the earlier Thunder Warriors. This would lead humanity, not bio-engineered superhumans, as the rulers of the galaxy. However, the Ruinious Powers intervened before their plan could be fully formulated, leading to disaster in the Horus Heresy
Very soon after the outbreak of the Heresy, the Emperor told Malcador to summon “men of character, skill and determination” who would be tested and trained to become an elite group of investigators with the task of rooting out treachery and Heresy. This marked the founding of the Imperial Inquisition. Among the first Malcador approached for this duty were Death Guardhero Nathaniel Garro and former Sons of Horus Captain Iacton Qruze. Malcador would subsequently task Garro with recruiting a select group of individuals for him in aid of this endeavour; these individuals would be termed (at least for a time) Malcador’s Knights-Errant, and later formed the root of the Grey Knights Space Marine chapter.
Qruze was retained closer to home, acting as Malcador’s “hand” in investigative matters such as the case of Solomon Voss. Malcador is noted for having given the Chaplain Edict at (presumably) Nikaea: a group of Marines that would maintain the order and discipline of their fellow Marines, and to keep watch for heresy and psychic powers, the former to be dealt with summarily, the latter to be referred to the Legion Librarium.
Malcador was active in many ways during the Heresy. As well as orchestrating the above inquisitive endeavor and aiding Rogal Dorn in organising the defence of Terra, he would use his secret position as Master of Assassins to attempt to have Horus assassinated several times. Whilst several of his dispatched Assassins – including the first ever Execution Force – came close to their target, none connected, and the attempt was eventually permanently given up, on the orders of the Emperor himself. Malcador later worked with Leman Russ to assassinate Horus with the Knights-Errant as the traitor Warmaster fought on Molech.
Malcador selected Garviel Loken, only recently recovered from insanity following Isstvan III, to lead the mission. Malcador next appeared at the Council between Dorn, Sanguinius, Leman Russ, and Jaghatai Khan as they discussed their war strategy. Malcador accepted Russ’ decision to leave Terra to face Horus directly, but nonetheless attempted to quietly convince Russ to stay during a chess match. Malcador admitted he had grown sentimental of the Wolf King, and wished that the Emperor had engineered the Primarch’s to be more amicable towards one another.
Malcador would go on to help found the Grey Knights Chapter and also sit upon the Golden Throne – How?
To learn more about Malcador, Hero of the Imperium check out the Lexicanum!
