Warhammer 40k Lore Black Crusades

The Black Crusades are a significant and recurring event in the lore of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, and they play a pivotal role in the ongoing narrative of the setting. These crusades are a series of large-scale, chaotic campaigns initiated by Abaddon the Despoiler, one of the most prominent and fearsome figures in the universe.

Abaddon The Despoiler

To understand the Black Crusades, it’s essential to start with Abaddon the Despoiler, also known as Ezekyle Abaddon. Abaddon is the most influential Chaos Space Marine warlord and the greatest champion of Chaos Undivided. He is the Warmaster of Chaos, a title he inherited from Horus Lupercal, the original Warmaster of the traitor legions during the Horus Heresy.

Abaddon’s significance cannot be overstated. He is one of the few beings who has remained a constant and potent force in the Warhammer 40,000 lore since the very beginning. He was a member of the Sons of Horus, a Chaos Space Marine Legion, and has continued to lead the Black Legion, a successor warband to the Sons of Horus.

Abaddon’s ultimate goal is to bring about the destruction of the Imperium of Man and to claim Terra, the throne world of the Emperor, for the forces of Chaos. He is relentless in his pursuit of this objective, and the Black Crusades serve as his primary means of achieving it.

The First Black Crusade

The First Black Crusade was initiated by Abaddon shortly after the Horus Heresy, with the aim of expanding the territory controlled by the forces of Chaos. During this campaign, Abaddon led a massive Chaos warhost into the heart of the Imperium, attacking and conquering worlds in the Segmentum Obscurus.

The First Black Crusade culminated in the invasion of Cadia, a strategically vital fortress world that guarded the Cadian Gate, a critical warp route into the Imperium. The Battle of the Cadian Gate, which marked the end of the First Black Crusade, was a massive and brutal conflict that pitted the forces of Chaos against the Cadian Shock Troopers and other Imperial defenders. The Imperials managed to hold back the Chaos onslaught, securing the Cadian Gate against Abaddon’s forces.

The Second Black Crusade

The Second Black Crusade followed closely on the heels of the first. Abaddon’s objectives remained largely consistent: to expand the territory under his control and to strike at vulnerable points within the Imperium. During the Second Black Crusade, he targeted the worlds of Belis Corona, Port Maw, and Belisarius. His warhost also assaulted the fortress monastery of the Sisters of Battle on Sancta Orestes.

While the Second Black Crusade did not achieve any significant territorial gains for Abaddon, it did serve to weaken and destabilise Imperial defences and allowed the forces of Chaos to continue sowing chaos and corruption throughout the galaxy.

The Third Black Crusade

The Third Black Crusade marked a significant turning point in Abaddon’s campaigns. He sought to breach the Cadian Gate once more and launched a major assault on the fortress world of Cadia. During the Third Black Crusade, the conflict became even more brutal and destructive, with both sides suffering heavy casualties.

The Third Black Crusade ended in a stalemate. The Cadian Gate remained firmly in Imperial control, with Cadia itself holding out against the relentless assault. The Imperium, despite the significant loss of life and resources, succeeded in preventing Abaddon from achieving his immediate objectives.

The Fourth Black Crusade

The Fourth Black Crusade was marked by Abaddon’s bold move to assault the Aeldari craftworld of Biel-Tan. During this campaign, Abaddon successfully penetrated the craftworld’s defences and inflicted significant damage on the Aeldari forces. The Fourth Black Crusade served as a reminder that Abaddon was not solely focused on attacking the Imperium, as he aimed to weaken and destabilise all those who opposed Chaos.

The Gothic War

The Black Crusades are not limited to direct assaults on Imperial territory. Abaddon also initiated the Gothic War, a protracted conflict in the Gothic Sector. The Gothic War was a critical campaign for Abaddon’s efforts to break through into the heart of the Imperium, as the sector contained key warp routes leading to Terra. The war included numerous battles and campaigns, and the forces of Chaos made significant inroads into the sector.

One of the most notable events of the Gothic War was the Gothic War Campaign, an expansion for the tabletop game Battlefleet Gothic. This campaign allowed players to recreate the battles and strategies from the Gothic War.

The Thirteenth Black Crusade

The Thirteenth Black Crusade was a major turning point in the narrative of Warhammer 40,000 (which we’ll go into more detail in the future). Abaddon’s long-term goal of conquering Terra came into sharp focus during this crusade. The Thirteenth Black Crusade saw Abaddon launch a massive and multifaceted assault on Cadia and the surrounding territories.

The conflict was notable for the extensive use of Blackstone Fortresses, colossal space stations armed with immensely destructive weaponry. The Thirteenth Black Crusade’s most significant development was the destruction of one such Blackstone Fortress. This event, known as the “Gathering Storm” was a central plot point in the narrative of Warhammer 40,000 and signaled a major shift in the setting’s storyline.

The Fall Of Cadia

The Thirteenth Black Crusade culminated in the Fall of Cadia, a cataclysmic event that had far-reaching consequences. The forces of Chaos, led by Abaddon, successfully breached the Cadian Gate and destroyed the fortress world of Cadia. The destruction of Cadia was a pivotal moment in the Warhammer 40,000 narrative, as it had been a symbol of Imperial resilience for millennia.

The Fall of Cadia also resulted in the formation of the Great Rift, a massive tear in the fabric of the warp that divided the galaxy in two. This event, known as the “Cicatrix Maledictum,” significantly altered the dynamics of the setting, making warp travel more perilous and introducing new threats to the galaxy.

The Era Indomitus

Following the Fall of Cadia and the opening of the Great Rift, the setting entered an era known as the “Indomitus Crusade.” This era, introduced in the narrative, focused on the Imperium’s efforts to push back the forces of Chaos and secure the galaxy in the wake of the catastrophic events of the Thirteenth Black Crusade.

Current State

The Black Crusades and Abaddon’s ongoing campaigns continue to play a central role in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The fall of Cadia and the subsequent upheaval in the galaxy have created new opportunities and challenges for various factions, and the storyline remains dynamic and ever-evolving.

Abaddon’s ambition to conquer Terra and bring about the final fall of the Imperium remains a significant narrative thread. The Thirteenth Black Crusade was a major milestone, but it did not mark the end of Abaddon’s relentless pursuit of his goals. As the Warmaster of Chaos, he remains a constant and formidable antagonist.