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Insight Horizon Media

Is the Horus Heresy a true story?

Author

Michael Henderson

Published Mar 05, 2026

Is the Horus Heresy a true story?

The Horus Heresy is an ongoing series of science fantasy set in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 setting of tabletop miniatures wargame company Games Workshop. Penned by several authors, the series takes place during the Horus Heresy, a fictional galaxy-spanning civil war occurring 10,000 years before the far future of Warhammer 40,000.

What is the Horus Rising series about?

Horus Rising, the series opener, starts in the early years of the 31st millennium, during the 203rd year of the Great Crusade. It describes the rise to power of Horus Lupercal, Primarch of the “Luna Wolves” Legion of Space Marines, and the most versatile and favoured “son” of the Emperor.

What happened to Horus in false gods?

False Gods picks up a few weeks after the conclusion of Horus Rising in the series timeline, and tells the story of Horus’ fall. In a complicated conspiracy implemented by followers of Chaos, Horus is mortally wounded during a Crusade mission by a Chaos-tainted xenos weapon.

Who were the sons of Horus?

The Sons of Horus fought in all the major theatres of the Heresy – from the persecution of the Shattered Legions of Shadrak Meduson, to the taking of Molech. Their system of insidious warrior-lodges, worked into the heart of the Legions with the help of the Word Bearers, helped sway many loyalists to their cause and fuel the fires of betrayal.

What did Horus do with the Legion of Chaos?

Renouncing his oath to the Emperor, Horus led his Legion into worship of the myriad Chaos Gods.

How did Horus turn the other Primarchs into traitors?

Horus convinced half of the other primarchs and Space Marine Legions, as well as large swathes of the Imperial Army and the forces of the ancient Mechanicum, to turn Traitor alongside him and unleash a cataclysmic attempt to conquer the galaxy in his name.