Emperor of Mankind Warhammer 40K Lore | Part 1 Origins Through Great Crusade

[@WilliamTerhart-yp8wj]

Its beyond refreshing to see a newer 40k lore channel that has actual human narration. I will not try to lie about the fact that I get entertainment out of the newer AI 40k lore videos that everybody seems to be doing currently, but, this is SO much better. You have a great voice for this kind of video and also present unique info and perspectives. I hope you continue.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Thanks so much! And you know, a couple weeks ago (if you look through the community posts) then you'll see that I was accused of being AI because I was editing out all the breathing and throat clearing etc. It was hilarious...I thought I was being polite to the audience, but people just thought I was a robot then, lol! Glad you are enjoying the content. I have wanted to do this channel for years and am so happy people are actually enjoying my takes on things. Welcome aboard.

[@paddypibblet846]

@@WilliamTerhart-yp8wjGreat voice or not, I always zone out of AI voices. They are lacking humanity. Impossible to listen to.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

So this is a response to the major changes in the Emperor's lore that have occurred recently. And there will be more parts coming soon. The Horus Heresy, the Scouring, the entire 10,000 years between the Heresy and 40K, and what is up with the Emperor in the current setting and where he's going. So, keep your eyes out for those upcoming episodes.

[@Diomedes_XXII]

This was another fantastic video, bro. Seriously. You're putting out pure gold here. Some viewpoints & attention to details that aren't up in many places, if at all. Glad to be here for it, keep slaying! For the Emperor and Sanguinius!

[@InquisitorRomanov]

I really appreciate it! Thanks so much. You're the best. Sorry I didn't get this one done early and get it up for members first (though it was my intention...just took much longer to make than I thought it would). For the Emperor!

[@Diomedes_XXII]

@InquisitorRomanov hey man, I think your release schedule is fine. Don't go too crazy over the top w the member first blah blah(imo). Put out a good video whenever you think it's ready.

[@SDJ_Creative]

This is a wonderful and comprehensive refresher of the history of the Emperor of Mankind! The Emperor Protects!

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Thanks, you’re too kind.

[@andarchy1386]

This is quickly becoming my favorite new lore channel!!

[@InquisitorRomanov]

@andarchy1386 Thanks so much, glad to hear! Welcome to the Inquisition.

[@IssaWulf]

This is heresy brother

[@InquisitorRomanov]

What, do you mean the thumbnail? LOL, watch the video. Nothing but the Imperial Truth. (actually a reference to what Malcador said about Big E after Molech) Edit: I changed the thumbnail as the new one tested better. Perhaps less heretical now.

[@IssaWulf]

@@InquisitorRomanov😂 nah this is solid info, cracking jokes at the initial thumb lol.

[@WilliamTerhart-yp8wj]

@@IssaWulf maybe he's Alpharius... You can never be sure

[@stevetrent4638]

Excellent video. Glad to find a newer channel with lesser known lore.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

[@Ave_Christus_Rex3777]

There are a lot of things regarding the Emperor that I wish GW went into further detail, but his origins simply isn't one of those things. The mystery was infinitely more interesting than the answers. I would have preferred if GW instead gave more details regarding the Emperor's relationship with his sons. His relationship with his Custodians and Silence Sisterhood? What did he do during the Dark Age of Technology? Did he feel sorrow at killing the Thunder Warriors? Did he ever feel remorse at the trillions of humans lives that died during the Great Crusade? What does he think of the current state of the Imperium in 40k? It is these questions I want answers to.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

His origin hasn’t been a mystery ever…that I can think of. All the way back to Realms of Chaos it’s been right out in the open. What they retconned it to now is closer to what you’re saying you want it to be as they removed many details, even if the end result is the same.

[@gnarl12]

Yep

[@mufasaratcliff5223]

So tired of the ai this is so refreshing keep it up dude you’re gonna be one of the big lore channels I can feel it

[@InquisitorRomanov]

I appreciate that! Thanks!

[@zzzzzzzzzzzzzz1984]

I dont think BL has retconed anything, i feel like they have just expanded Big E's lore.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Yeah, they did expand a lot...but they took away, made vague, or obfuscated his origins and conception, as well as his final fight which they changed a lot. But it does all shake out basically the same in the end, it just takes a slightly different route to get there.

[@DominusNox106]

For the longest time I've had to argue about the Shaman origin and no one believed me

[@InquisitorRomanov]

I am finding it very weird what people flat out believe and disbelieve when it comes to 40K. One reason I started this channel

[@klaykid117]

I've always liked the fact that he's thousands of human psycher souls coalesced into an artificial being. It goes to explain why he's so obsessed with baseline homosapien and hates mutants. Even if those mutants have the potential to eventually evolve into a species, better suited to surviving the grim darkness of the far future. He's basically an automaton that can't truly change his own nature and it goes to explain a lot of the decisions he made after revealing himself after the dark age. By his very nature and unwillingness to change or accept new ideas. He was always doomed from the start because he never truly was human and can't understand them whereas the primarchs are the best and worst of humanity exaggerated to the extremes? No wonder he couldn't understand why nine of his sons fell to chaos. He's fundamentally incapable of understanding them. He could never understand that some humans just like logar, need religion and can't accept a world without any.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

So very well said! You nailed it.

[@timsmith5335]

For the algo!

[@InquisitorRomanov]

For the adrev! Er…the Emperor!

[@notme9816]

C for the A!

[@elcalabozodelandroide2]

this is also a good gate to get someone through before making them a warhammer fan

[@InquisitorRomanov]

@@elcalabozodelandroide2 nice

[@D3is3l]

Thank goodness you have a real voice. There’s sooo many new 40k lore channels i get recommended that are all AI

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Yeah, I am 100% anti on AI. I used a few images in my first video on the channel that were AI and I thought it was appropriate as it was about Alpharius...but people really hated it so bad I swore an oath to never use AI again. Glad you found the channel. And yeah, other than the few images in the one Alpharius video, you'll never see or hear AI on this channel.

[@chanciwei4990]

The emperor did what he did because BL writers wrote him that way, BIG E has never decided for himself~

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Indeed

[@samotafu]

@@chanciwei4990 So like every fictional character?

[@reallybig4868]

@@chanciwei4990 oh you mean like a character? Sit the fuck down you plod

[@OljeiKhan]

@@chanciwei4990 what even is the point of saying this? All fictional characters do everything they do because the writer wrote it that way. This is the out of universe answer. When people ask why did "character name" do "x" they are %99.99 of the time asking an in-universe question. This type of answer is used in Warhammer discussions so much that it kinda bothers me, of course the written thing happened that way because the writer wrote it that way.

[@MichaelW-x1x]

Yes, he is not a real person, a real God Emperor. Think about Luke Skywalker, Gandalf, Paul Mau'Dib, Riply from Aliens, Neo, Batman, The Joker. These are all archetypal figures of the hero or the anti-hero who was 1,000 faces. Just because something is not real does not mean it does not become real and human collective consciousness and Zeitgeist. Add someone who attendance alcoholics anonymous add narcotics anonymous, and suffering from deep trauma from losing their child and mother in an accident.... I have to believe in a higher power. Sometimes I like to use heroes or Divinity figures as a guide to what a higher power would be. It may be silly but it doesn't matter, it helps me survive and get to my day today. Anyway that is my two cents

[@iancowan3527]

Just say "Sure!" and let's go back to playing!!!

[@InquisitorRomanov]

I love this.

[@iancowan3527]

@InquisitorRomanov Comes naturally... 3rd Generation Smart-Butt... (which more likely than not ~ goes much further back than there, but I can only give credit to the generations I learned from!)

[@bolojohnson711]

Tau empire auxiliaries

[@piotrd.4850]

I'm good with mystery and speculation before certain point. Personally, I approve Shaman Theory especially that it doesn't exclude being perpetual. I also think, that Emperor is direct cause for fall of DAoT humanity. Though I must say, that him being _relic left over from the Dark Age. A weapon left out of its box, now running rampant_ - perhaps, inspired by actual original, but no longer existing figure - has it's appeal.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Indeed it does.

[@alienstar2088]

This new lore makes it seem as though the Chaos Gods feed only on Humanity and were an infantile state during Humanities' own infancy but, that's likely not the case. After all, the War in Heaven was conducted millions of years ago and such war, disease and change would've certainly fed Khorne, Tzeentch and Nurgle whilst the fall of the Eldar birthed Slaanesh. It because of these other races having an influence on Chaos was probably the reason the Emperor wanted to exterminate them as, even if he turned Humanity to pure Atheism, Chaos would still be able to feed from the other races.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

But the chaos gods didn’t exist yet when the war in heaven raged. They were born just before and during middle ages

[@alienstar2088]

@InquisitorRomanov I don't believe that - if the entire Eldar race falling to hedonism birthed Slaanesh than an equal amount of war, change and disease had to birth the other three and the War in Heaven was and still is the biggest conflict in the galaxy that literal gods partook in - you telling me the middle ages are equivalent to that to birth the other three Chaos Gods? That just makes no sense.

[@gunnerdude801]

The Emperor is truly the greatest human to ever live.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Indeed he is. Working on part 2 of this series now.

[@Zackorii]

You got my sub

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Thanks, I really appreciate it!

[@bolojohnson711]

Each regiment of the imperial guard

[@TalberNalliso]

For The Emperor, and The Algorithm, Brother.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

For the Emperor!

[@notme9816]

I civilly and respectfully likes and subscribes. Respect from Fenris ( Norway ). Winter has finally come; - 5 C and the first snow.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Welcome

[@paulhabasescu7602]

by the way, im looking for books that tell the storys that the Emperor in involved. any suggestions? thanks.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

You want to read Master of Mankind. Also the Solar War books, specifically The End and the Death. Any 40K rulebooks will have lore on the Emperor, all the different editions have lore in them. The entire Horus Heresy series is good, but ones that feature the Emperor are the best, so read False Gods, Deliverance Lost, First Heretic, and yeah, Master of Mankind for sure. The End and the Death Volumes 1-3 feature just what the title says, so if you want to see his end it's all there. Early lore on him is featured in Rogue Trader rulebook and Realms of Chaos: The Lost and the Damned

[@paulhabasescu7602]

@@InquisitorRomanov i read like the first 10 books of the heresy, the end and death vol 3, and ton of youtube :D.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Then Master of Mankind is where you want to go next, imho. But even if you don't play the game, the lore in the old rulebooks (and newer ones too) is awesome, a great resource.

[@Runeinc]

I wish they had kept the Emperors past shadowed and kept in mystery and half truths so you could speculate, but so many people now need a 'reason' they need to know it all.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

It went exactly OPPOSITE of that. They used to have a very distinct and defined backstory, they have now retconned to take out the mass suicide. Now it is just a lot less detailed and vague. So the current canon is more in line with what you're saying.

[@christmasham4312]

Emperor made a gnarly deal with chaos probably to fuel them who knows his plan…

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Indeed

[@arthurdotson9579]

So, uh...The Emperor was born from a "Soul Orgy"? Did the souls form a train and take the things in the Warp to Pound Town? Everyone get aboard the SSSOOOOOOUUUUUULLL TTRRAAIINN!!

[@InquisitorRomanov]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 indeed!!!

[@weignerleigner3037]

As a newcomer I’m surprised the dude doesn’t have an official mini. Gw I have money do you want it like wtf

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Yes. Give us a mini!

[@Torriotorres]

Kind of makes me think how the space wolves are from Nordic Scandinavia and not Russia. Russia is dorn guys

[@InquisitorRomanov]

@@Torriotorres The Rus, who came to rule Russia, were literally from Nordic Scandinavia. Their name was given to the Kievan Rus, which eventually became both Russia and Ukraine. The Ukrainian symbol that looks like a trident sort of is literally prince Rurik’s crest. Rurik of Sweden, first prince of Kiev and Moscow…which is why the Ukrainian flag is blue and yellow. A nod to the Swedish roots of their rulers. Dorn is most certainly not Russian. Nor are the Wolves Scandinavian, they’re Fenrisian… But I’d compare them to the real world Varangians…Russian vikings who worked for Byzantium.

[@gigeorge6sic6]

@@InquisitorRomanov that’s what I originally thought the Space Wolves to be : Slavic/Russian Vikings-like the ones who descended from Scandinavians & ruled Rusland-and always assumed that’s why their primarch had that last name being “Russ”.

[@Lyonatan]

I can't not see Mr. Bones on that first picture for some reason

[@InquisitorRomanov]

I can't not see him either now, lol! Thanks!

[@JB-xi2yv]

IMO the ambiguity is what relates us to the Imperium more than anything else; we don't know where we came from. I personally believe in God, and that his "son" was here before. When you think about it, this could be the second part of the prophecy, that someone will come again - either good or bad. Somewhere around a time filled catastrophe they chose to reveal themselves in order to unite humanity; God tells us there are other gods and they will impersonate him. This fantasy lore is loosely based on the ambiguity of humanity's origin, but ironically history repeats itself; as sure as there was Jesus and Judas, Caesar and Brutus, there could be The Emperor or Horus.

[@JB-xi2yv]

Having listened to this a couple times and your input; about how they could all be the same person. Which is wild and completely plausible, but you think he would have seen it coming?

[@InquisitorRomanov]

I think he did. I'll get to that in part two, but Big E planned all of this. even his own suffering on the golden throne. He's playing chess with the chaos gods and the galaxy is the board. But yeah, his own apotheosis was always his plan, and one reason Horus saw through his father's hypocrisy.

[@JB-xi2yv]

@@InquisitorRomanov “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord” Isaiah 55:8-9. lol. Big supposedly didn't want to be worshiped and it was by belief he was saved. You know about Euphrati Keeler?

[@beneriwata6974]

Where did u read the lore of the emperor creartion

[@InquisitorRomanov]

@@beneriwata6974 It is in old rule books. From Rogue Trader and Realms of Chaos on. Also widely discussed throughout HH series.

[@Lycurgus1982]

GW erased his back story because they have become creatively bankrupt.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Or they are a company, and mass suicide is controversial to the point where even mentioning it will demonitize a video on youtube. I literally live across the street from a Jonestown survivor...one of the very few. After learning that I started to understand what a sensitive topic it is.

[@Lycurgus1982]

@InquisitorRomanov fair enough, but this a company that started being the cool kid on block. A company who didn't care about massive death and brutal destruction within a fantasy universe. Now? They're trying to please everyone and it's destroying the grimdark aspect. The very thing that makes warhammer cool.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

I said the same thing when 2nd edition came out. Literally 30 years ago now. I'd suggest you stop clutching those pearls and like me you get over it. GW isn't a couple dudes in an apartment with a small store front anymore, it is a multi-billion dollar business that owns one of the biggest IP's in science fiction. If it was really grim dark we'd get a lot more main character deaths. Just remember, Warhammer is a setting, not a story. Sometimes there will be gritty grimdark realism, other times you'll get hokey, silly stuff like orks...which have literally been there since day one as this game and setting was a parody of all the major sci-fi settings at the time. But it has always had a totally silly, whimsical side. We can't complain that they are watering down the whiskey now, making things less gritty...when there's literally been space orks and space elves in the setting since day one. Or at least that's how I see it. I mean sure, keep feeling the way you do, if you want to let GW suck all the fun out of Warhammer for you. To me, I can still enjoy what they are giving me. If I need a fix of real Grimdark I'll go read an Elric of Melniboné story. People sure seem to want Warhammer to be super serious...but it's a setting based on a tabletop game where we play with plastic toy soldiers. For that reason, why take it seriously at all? Build a space ork army and rock...or continue to pretend it only fits in one box of ultra seriousness and refuse to have any fun with it. Either way, GW will neither care, nor notice.

[@Lycurgus1982]

@InquisitorRomanov lol. Well, you really told me. You must remember the feeling that you got opening the Realms of Chaos for the first time. That is warhammer. Without it, it's as you said, playing with toy soldiers and hobby work. It going mainstream has kept it alive at a price. Warhammer is supposed to be a bit dark and humorous, but it has widened its audience forever, changing that adult undertone for the kids. I am not adverse to that, like you may suspect. Just don't care for something that bends its unique artistic vision for popularity and profit.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

I didn't mean to sound harsh, which can happen with written words. But I mean look at some of the new animation, like The Tithes episode with the Ork attack. Absolutely, over the top adult cartoon with profanity and insane amounts of gore. They might be feeling what you are and steering the ship back in the darker direction. I'm on board either way, and will enjoy it all the same. But maybe they're thinking people didn't respond as well as they'd liked to the whole lessening the grimdark tone.

[@ragnarshadow]

wait so milky-door told horus it was futile to fight the emperor with warp power cause he was always bathed in warp power yet that is exactly what he also explains the emperor is doing to fight the warp gods, that would imply emp's battle is just as futile as the horus' if not even more so. retcons are fine but i hope they are not trying to walk back the fact big e was always an overtly evil fascist dictator. back in my day god emperor was a tongue in cheek way of saying wow look at that evil narcissistic d'bag wired into his golden toilet, but also back in my day space marines had beaks and female marines where not only non controversial but we had a couple of those old fashioned metal figurines for them. i always figured corpsy's deal with chaos was we give you and your kids powers but we get half your super army.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Yeah…I remember “back in your day.” I’m 48, and remember when RT hit the shelves of my local games store. Yeah those female space marines were fun, kinda hilarious sculpts. I still field a Rogue Trader era Farseer to this day. But I’d say, if anything, the retcons are pretty good. I can see why the ditched the mass suicide of the shamans for the vaguely remembered fogged over legend they use today. Once I met some Jonestown survivors I got a taste of how sensitive that topic is for people…and while I prefer the old lore, it’s fine they ditched that part…or rather, just left it kind of open ended. Emps battle…it’s not a battle. He traded throwing humanity into the crucible of eternal war for his apotheosis, or so it seems. More of a deal, than a battle. Big E and Malcador playing chess with the gods, using primarchs and legions as their playing pieces. Thanks so much for explaining back in your day…but I was literally there, as I was playing WFB in its 2nd edition, before RT even dropped. I get that I sound younger, but I’m not. Hydra Dominatus brother!

[@ragnarshadow]

@@InquisitorRomanov lol so you probably remember noise marines with mowhawks and guitars too. oh ya i get ditching that part i just hope they don't try to turn him into the good guy when the setting isn't supposed to have any good guys. ya if the battle never ends between those 2 factions (chaos & hooman) the chaos gods will have a steady stream of emotional food let alone the souls they get to gnaw on.

[@GodEmperorofmankind1]

AM I DOING SELF PROMOTION BEING THE EMPEROR.🗿

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Nice!

[@DackJaniels51111]

Wait a human... Narrator?

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Yes, I am a human being and not some AI bs. Welcome to the channel!

[@MrJaxon620]

You said he's basically immortal, how is he all these historical figures if he doesn't die? And if he has died many times then how is he immortal? You can't be a perpetual and immortal at the same time. Also how come when other perpetuals come back they come back as the same person but he body hops? This makes no sense

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Emperor can appear as whoever and however he wants to. I did not write the lore...I am only delivering it in the video, so these aren't my ideas. I'd say a perpetual is literally a type of immortal, so don't understand the confusion. But he can stand in a room in front of 1000 people and each one will see something different...what he wants them to see. Just because he walked the world as Alexander the Great doesn't mean he died as Alexander, you follow? Just another identity that he can shed when the time is right. Jesus is even said to have died but then resurrected...a perpetual. The Emperor is not like other perpetuals though...as to your last question. He is much more powerful. But it has always been...literally for 37 years now, since the start...that many things about him seem weird, convoluted, or contradictory. And vague to. Nobody can understand the Emperor fully because he is the only one with the level of intellect required to understand him...so to us it appears to be many unconnected, disparate threads that weave together to make him. Hope that makes sense. Thanks for watching.

[@MrJaxon620]

Thanks for replying. I know we're not meant to have all the answers but man does this make no sense, and I'm not blaming you just trying to make sense of it

[@anwar5792]

The emperor is the reason being a human sucks

[@paulhabasescu7602]

You are the reason inquisition exists

[@anwar5792]

@ touche =)

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Well, that is actually true. But it is also just as equally untrue. This is part of what makes him so complicated, I feel.

[@paulhabasescu7602]

@@InquisitorRomanov your not seeing the bigger picture here. is bad yes? could be worse fuck yeah. but if some shamans "create the emperor" imagine being feed 1000 psychers a day for 10 millenia. hes gonna fuck chaos so bad.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

@paulhabasescu7602 How so? I am expressing understanding that it is complicated, and it is a strong dichotomy...salavation or annihilation. If you think I haven't seen some bigger picture because I can objectively look at the good and the bad of a situation without shilling for either side, then ok. But as a loyal servant of the Emperor I can say that he may be the light by which the Imperium of Man sees its way through the darkness...our holy god-emperor...but he is not without fault. Especially before his apotheosis, he was but a man. And all men are flawed.

[@AtR-h4c]

The only true Heresy is calling the Emperor Jesus.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Yeah, I’m not much of a fan of religion so really don’t care. To me, during our current timeline he’s Tony Hawk, and that’s way more interesting

[@AtR-h4c]

@InquisitorRomanov As a complete zealot myself it cannot be tolerated but I see some interesting Christian elements in warhammer. Good breakdown of this character regardless.

[@InquisitorRomanov]

I understand your point of view, but just be aware that GW was started by members of Aleister Crowley’s sex magick cult that practices the occult religion of Thelema. They love inserting blasphemy towards all the major faiths into their stuff. You’ll see Ordo Templi Orientis symbolism all throughout warhammer. The religion’s main symbol is literally the unicursal hexagram, which the Dark Angels use. Crowley’s name in the OTO was Perdurabo, it just keeps going on. They are one of the most anti-christian occult groups in the world, and oh yeah, believe Horus the Egyptian god will return and plunge the world into eternal war. But initiates of the order started GW. I know because it is a cult I was in, and escaped. So, some religious references in warhammer are very triggering to me, but from the opposite point of view maybe than you’re experiencing. Still though, I get it.

[@AtR-h4c]

@InquisitorRomanov Exceptional comment sir. Thank you.

[@V.B.Squire]

Why would he be jesus AND mohammed if he wanted peace GW should have left religion out of it entirely

[@InquisitorRomanov]

He tried multiple ways of achieving it. It took him several approaches, but he ultimately settled on the Imperial Truth. But ultimately the Emperor was only able to achieve unity…not peace. And he did that by massacring billions…then trillions more across the stars. None of the quasi historical figures he posed as ultimately worked out. I mean look at how many he killed as Alexander. Or Genghis Khan…literally slew 25% of all humans on Earth at the time.

[@V.B.Squire]

@InquisitorRomanov Why did you delete my last reply

[@InquisitorRomanov]

What are you talking about? I have no idea. I have only deleted a couple of comments on this video, and none in this conversation. Perhaps youtube's filters flagged your comment...I don't know. But I find I typically don't delete comments unless the person is saying something very offensive, making threats, etc. and then I block them. So, since I see this I can honestly say, I have no idea what you're talking about. Care to repost it?

[@V.B.Squire]

@@InquisitorRomanov Sorry I thought you deleted my first reply, it wasnt even slightly controversial, maybe some glitch wouldn't be the first time

[@InquisitorRomanov]

Yeah, it wouldn't be the first time I saw something like that happen.