Warhammer 40K Lore: Renegade Space Marines
Renegade Space Marines aren’t always Chaos Space Marines but all Chaos Space Marines are Renegades. Loremasters, let’s chat.
In the grand scheme of things, Renegade Space Marine Chapters are a relatively small list. In canon, there are only 11 Chapters that are Renegade Space Marines. They aren’t all Chaos Marines either. So what’s the difference?
“Renegade Space Marines are Space Marines who have turned their back on the Imperium but have yet to fall to the taint of Chaos, differentiating them from Chaos Space Marines.”
Basically, these Marines have lost their way (or found it depending on who you ask). Perhaps they were isolated from Adeptus Terra. Or maybe their Chaplains were stretched too thin and couldn’t reinforce the Imperial Dogma. Maybe a portion of the Chapter just started to doubt their teachings and started to follow that rabbit hole downward and away from their Chapter’s teachings. Whatever the case, they turned away from their Imperial Duty and have decided to go out on their own.
“Freed from the dogma and traditions of their Chapter, Renegade Space Marines fully indulge in their superhuman abilities and warrior minds and are capable of great mayhem.
Most Renegade Space Marines become pirates and brigands, but some may rule over worlds or entire systems, while others may work as mercenaries. Some, like the Soul Drinkers, may still fight the forces of Chaos and even remain loyal to the Emperor but are otherwise free from the Adeptus Terra. However, while Renegade Chapters may initially have little to do with the Gods of Chaos, they will almost inevitably turn to them at some point in order to obtain more power. From this point on, they are doomed to become dreaded Chaos Space Marines.”
The largest and perhaps most well known case of chapters turning Renegade but not immediately towards Chaos is the Badab War. The Renegade Marine forces included 4 chapters, most of which have attempted penance for their actions while one slipped further into the clutches of Chaos.
“The Astral Claws were a Space Marine Chapter who turned Renegade in M41. Their survivors exist as the Red Corsairs, and their Chapter Master, Lufgt Huron, is now the infamous pirate lord Huron Blackheart.”
“The Lamenters are a Space Marine Chapter of Blood Angels descent. Long dogged by misfortune, they sided with the rebel forces during the Badab War, but were granted the Emperor’s forgiveness at the conclusion of that conflict subject to the undertaking of a penitent crusade. That crusade eventually brought the Lamenters directly into the path of Hive Fleet Kraken, bringing the chapter to the brink of extinction.”
“The Executioners are a Space Marine Chapter of Imperial Fists descent. They sided with the rebel forces during the Badab War, but were granted the Emperor’s forgiveness at the conclusion of that conflict.”
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“The Mantis Warriors (or Mantis Legion) are a Space Marine Chapter, who sided with the rebel Astral Claws during the Badab War. They were granted the Emperor’s forgiveness at the conclusion of the conflict.”
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Another famous (or infamous) Space Marine Chapter that has since gone Renegade is the Soul Drinkers. Mentioned above, they do still fight against Chaos but they are certainly doing it their own way these days.
“The Soul Drinkers do not fit the standard template of Excommunicate Traitoris. Unlike most Renegade Space Marines, who have devoted themselves to the Chaos gods, the Soul Drinkers despise the Ruinous Powers as much if not more than they hate the Imperium that cast them out. Instead, they have developed an ideology that states that the Imperium has betrayed everything the Emperor has stood for; so they still fight the powers of chaos even though they disagree with what the Imperium now stands for.”
So remember: Renegade Space Marines aren’t always Chaos Marines – but all Chaos Marines are Renegade Space Marines!
