Death Guard · both · Daemon Prince
Mortarion
Primarch of the XIV Legion, Daemon Primarch of Nurgle
Also known as The Death Lord, The Pale King, Reaper of Men
Homeworld: Barbarus
Mortarion is primarch of the Death Guard, the XIV Legion, and later a daemon primarch of Nurgle. He is also known as the Death Lord, the Pale King, and the Reaper of Men.
He is recorded as born in the late 30th millennium on Terra. As an infant he came to rest on Barbarus, where the warlord Necare, his adoptive father, found him and raised him above the planet’s poisonous fog. After leaving Necare’s keep, Mortarion lived among the human villages in the fog, and during the Overlord Wars he led a force of toxin-resistant fighters, known as the Death Guard, against the mountain warlords. He later attempted to take Necare’s last keep alone and failed in the poison; the Emperor killed Necare, and Mortarion pledged himself to the Emperor, receiving command of the XIV Legion, formerly the Dusk Raiders. At the Council of Nikaea he spoke against the use of Librarians. During the Great Crusade he led the Conquest of Galaspar, the Battle of Iota Horologii against the Jorgall, and the Battle of Gyros-Thravian alongside Horus, Rogal Dorn, and the Emperor.
During the Horus Heresy, Mortarion led the Death Guard on the surface at Isstvan III and at the Drop Site Massacre on Isstvan V, fought Jaghatai Khan on Prospero, was present on Dwell, landed at Ophir during the Battle of Molech, purged Ynyx, and, aboard the Terminus Est, pledged himself to Nurgle during the Destroyer Plague after Calas Typhon had brought the fleet into the warp. During the Siege of Terra he fought on the Throneworld, assaulting the Marmax Bastion, where Nathaniel Garro died; Jaghatai Khan beheaded him at the Lion’s Gate spaceport, and he was banished. After Horus’s defeat, Mortarion claimed the Plague Planet in the Eye of Terror and ruled from the Black Manse; a Death Guard account states that the Legion relocated to Munificence after Barbarus was destroyed. He later made planetfall at the Fall of Sanctia in 437.M36, was banished by Kaldor Draigo at the Battle of Kornovin in 901.M41, and led the Plague Wars against Roboute Guilliman. He was on Parmenio with Typhus and Ku’Gath, and on Iax he administered the Godblight; Guilliman was restored by the Emperor’s power, and Mortarion fled. After the Great Rift he fought Perturabo on Dysactis in the War of Rust and Ruin, and Perturabo withdrew.
Track Mortarion's known locations across the galaxy.
Key engagements
- Battle of Gyros-Thravian (Mortarion led the Death Guard at Gyros-Thravian beside Horus and Rogal Dorn against the Ork warboss Gharkul Blackfang. No year is recorded.)
- Battle of Iota Horologii (Mortarion led the Death Guard aboard a Jorgall cylinder-world in the Iota Horologii system, with Calas Typhon beside him. No year is recorded.)
- Conquest of Galaspar (Mortarion led the Death Guard’s conquest of Galaspar, the Legion’s first major independent campaign, landing from the Fourth Horseman.)
- Discovery of Mortarion (Mortarion failed to take Necare’s last keep alone; the Emperor killed Necare, and Mortarion pledged himself and received command of the XIV Legion.)
- Overlord Wars (Mortarion led the village fighters of Barbarus, later called the Death Guard, against the mountain warlords in the Overlord Wars. No year is recorded.)
- Assault on the Marmax Bastion (Mortarion assaulted the Marmax Bastion on Terra alongside Typhus and killed Nathaniel Garro there.)
- Battle of Dwell (After the fighting on Dwell, Mortarion was with Horus and Fulgrim when Shadrak Meduson attacked them with Fire Raptors; Mortarion survived.)
- Claim of the Plague Planet (After Horus was defeated, Mortarion claimed the Plague Planet and ruled from the Black Manse. A Death Guard account names Munificence as the Legion’s later seat.)
- Council of Nikaea (Mortarion attended the Council of Nikaea and charged Magnus the Red with sorcery.)
- Duel at Lion's Gate Spaceport (Mortarion held the Lion’s Gate spaceport until Jaghatai Khan beheaded him and he was banished into the warp.)
- Horus on Molech (Mortarion landed at Ophir during the Battle of Molech and advanced on Lupercalia, sacrificing Deathshroud warriors so Ignatius Grulgor could be resurrected.)
- Isstvan III Atrocity (Mortarion led the Death Guard in person through the western defences of the Choral City on Isstvan III before the virus-bombing.)
- Isstvan V Dropsite Massacre (Mortarion led the Death Guard into the attack on the Urgall Depression when Fulgrim killed Ferrus Manus.)
- Purging of Ynyx (Mortarion purged loyalist Ynyx in person and there rejoined Calas Typhon before the fleet made for Terra.)
- Second Battle of Prospero (Mortarion teleported to Prospero’s surface, fought Jaghatai Khan, and then withdrew from the system.)
- Siege of Terra (Mortarion brought the Death Guard to Terra for the siege and was later banished when Jaghatai Khan beheaded him at the Lion’s Gate spaceport.)
- The Destroyer Plague (Aboard the Terminus Est, Mortarion struck Calas Typhon down and, overcome by the Destroyer Plague, pledged himself to Nurgle.)
- Fall of Sanctia (In 437.M36 Mortarion made planetfall on Sanctia at the head of the Death Guard and Nurgle daemons.)
- Battle of Kornovin (In 901.M41 Mortarion killed Grey Knights Supreme Grand Master Geronitan on Kornovin and was banished when Kaldor Draigo spoke his true name.)
- War of Rust and Ruin (After the Great Rift, Mortarion led the Death Guard against Perturabo on Dysactis, and Perturabo withdrew. No precise year is recorded.)
- Duel on Iax (On Iax, Mortarion defeated Roboute Guilliman and administered the Godblight; Guilliman was restored by the Emperor’s power, and Mortarion fled.)
- Plague Wars (Mortarion led the Death Guard invasion of Ultramar known as the Plague Wars against Roboute Guilliman.)
- Reclamation of Parmenio (On Parmenio, Mortarion joined Typhus and Ku’Gath in an attempt on Roboute Guilliman’s life.)