Space Wolves · both · Missing
Leman Russ
Primarch of the VI Legion, King of Fenris, Lord of Winter and War
Also known as The Wolf King, The Great Wolf, The Lord of Winter and War, The Executioner, The Brawler
Homeworld: Fenris
Leman Russ is the primarch of the Space Wolves, also called the Wolf King, the Great Wolf, and the Lord of Winter and War. Cast as an infant onto the death world of Fenris, he was raised among wolves before King Thengir of the Russ took him in; he later succeeded Thengir as king. When the Emperor of Mankind found him, Russ tested the Emperor in contests of eating, drinking and combat, then swore service after defeat and took command of the VI Legion.
In the Great Crusade he fought the Wheel of Fire Campaign against Orks, losing about a third of the Legion before receiving the Fang and the Spear of Russ. On Dulan he quarrelled with Lion El’Jonson after the Lion slew the Tyrant Durath. At the Night of the Wolf he confronted Angron over the Butcher’s Nails. On Ark Reach Secundus at the Battle of Shrike he nearly fought Magnus the Red over a world’s great library until Lorgar intervened. He attended the Triumph at Ullanor and at the Council of Nikaea argued for restrictions on Legion psykers. Ordered to Prospero, he led the Burning of Prospero against Magnus. Afterward the Alpha Legion trapped the Space Wolves at the Alaxxes Nebula until Dark Angels aid allowed escape to Terra.
Russ left Terra to strike Horus, returned to Fenris for a rite in the Underverse, wounded Horus with the Spear of Russ at Trisolian, and was himself badly hurt. Abaddon besieged the wounded Wolves at Yarant until Corax helped them evacuate. Russ and the Lion reached Terra with Guilliman’s relief after the Siege’s climax, took part in the Grand Council of Reconstruction, and joined the Great Scouring. In 211.M31, at a feast of his Legion, he departed the Fang into the Eye of Terror on the Great Hunt, leaving Bjorn the Fell-Handed behind and promising return at the Wolf Time.
Track Leman Russ's known locations across the galaxy.
Factions
Key engagements
- Discovery of Leman Russ on Fenris (Leman Russ grew up on Fenris after his capsule’s landing, became king of the Russ, and was reunited there with the Emperor of Mankind, who gave him command of the VI Legion.)
- Dulan Campaign (Leman Russ led the Space Wolves with the Dark Angels against the Tyrant of Dulan; when Lion El’Jonson slew Durath first, Russ fought the Lion in a feud that endured between their Legions.)
- Triumph at Ullanor (Leman Russ attended the Triumph at Ullanor at which the Emperor named Horus Warmaster.)
- Wheel of Fire Campaign (Leman Russ led the Space Wolves in the Wheel of Fire Campaign against Orks early in the Great Crusade; about a third of the Legion was lost before he received the Fang and the Spear of Russ.)
- Battle of Shrike (Leman Russ led the Space Wolves on Ark Reach Secundus and nearly came to blows with Magnus the Red over the fate of the world’s great library until Lorgar intervened.)
- Battle of Trisolian (Leman Russ boarded the Vengeful Spirit over Trisolian and wounded Horus with the Spear of Russ, then was himself grievously hurt before his Wolves dragged him clear.)
- Battle of Yarant (Leman Russ lay wounded while Abaddon besieged the Space Wolves at Yarant; he briefly awoke to greet Corax and give Bjorn the Spear of Russ before the Loyalists evacuated.)
- Battle of the Alaxxes Nebula (Leman Russ led the Space Wolves when the Alpha Legion trapped them in the Alaxxes Nebula after Prospero; Dark Angels aid allowed the Wolves to break out and make for Terra.)
- Burning of Prospero (Leman Russ led the Imperial assault on Prospero against Magnus the Red, fighting him before the Pyramid of Photep until Magnus and the surviving Thousand Sons escaped into the Warp.)
- Council of Nikaea (Leman Russ argued at the Council of Nikaea for restrictions on Legion psykers; the Emperor forbade Legion sorcery.)
- Great Scouring (Leman Russ took part in the Grand Council of Reconstruction after the Siege, sided with Dorn and the Lion for immediate pursuit of the Traitors, and hunted Traitor remnants in the Sol System during the Great Scouring.)
- Night of the Wolf (Leman Russ confronted Angron over the Butcher’s Nails and the massacre of defeated enemies; after a duel in which Angron prevailed in single combat, Russ withdrew rather than order Angron’s death.)
- Russ departs on the Great Hunt (Leman Russ departed the Fang in 211.M31 after a feast of his Legion, entering the Eye of Terror on the Great Hunt and leaving Bjorn the Fell-Handed behind with a promise to return at the Wolf Time.)
- Siege of Terra (Leman Russ reached Terra with Lion El’Jonson after Guilliman’s relief fleet, after the Siege’s climax and the Emperor’s wounding; he was largely absent from the Palace fighting itself.)