VII Legion 'Imperial Fists': Origins & History (Warhammer & Horus Heresy Lore)

Being a record of the most stalwart defenders of the Imperium of Mankind, the VII Legion Astartes, the Imperial Fists.
Image credits:
Pre-Heresy Imperial Fists by ilqar
This video is a non-profit fan-made lore discussion. Games Workshop, Forge World, Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer, Space Marine etc are all trademarks of Games Workshop Ltd. Games Workshop does not endorse or support fan-made "lore" videos. All views and opinions expressed in this video belong to Oculus Imperia and in no way reflect the views or opinions of Games Workshop Ltd or it's employees.
All works used in this video belong to their respective authors and corporations. Oculus Imperia holds no claim or propriety interest, either wholly or in part, in any of the work displayed here, with the exception of the audio commentary recorded for this video.

[@rosicroix777]

you're doing a good job for being the 'youngest" of the 40k lore channels, keep up the good work.

[@OculusImperia]

I'm the precocious try-hard kid, clearly. Thanks for the comment!

[@Howl-Runner]

Now he's the top.

[@pelinalwhitestrake4196]

@@Howl-Runner underappreciated.

[@robjones9128]

Is it sad that when he said a "moment of laxity" I shouted leads to a lifetime of heresy.

[@SawyerKnight]

I did the same, my Brother.

[@TheSeanoops]

Five Iron Warriors disliked this.

[@weldonwin]

Iron Warriors: *I DEMAND TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY!!!* Imperial Fist: No... Iron Warrior: This... This is exactly why we betrayed the Imperium! Imperial Fist: You smell of dirt and entitlement Iron Warrior: I am very bitter and you are the reason Imperial Fist: I know... And I don't care...

[@timothytimmins5119]

@Jack Hubbard siege

[@DarthCindros]

I think it would be fitting that the next Legion be the Iron Warriors. Excellent work as always, man.

[@OculusImperia]

Are you Corvidae?

[@DarthCindros]

Perhaps.

[@FaizanMunirKhanRajput]

@@OculusImperia Speaking of Corvidae, why don't we still have a chronicle on The Thousand Sons?

[@OmniGSage]

TIL: Dorn had the freaking Phalanx BEFORE meeting with Emps?!

[@evanhunt1863]

Yeah. That must've made quite the impression.

[@avdv2911]

I really like how you speak like you just came back from the 40k universe keep up the great work

[@Azaghal1988]

what do you mean, he's still there ;)

[@ShockFist]

Listened to this while painting my latest additions to my Defenders of the Throne World army (Fists and Custodes), your voice and attention to detail are immense, and I love your videos - and appearances in emperors text to speech. Thank you for the hard work Oculus!

[@OculusImperia]

[@Abenddammerung]

One of my favorite legions which spawned my favorite legion! (The Black Templars) Like every single thing you do, I absolutely love it!

[@OculusImperia]

That means so much, thanks dude!

[@Abenddammerung]

Oculus Imperia You're very welcome! ♥

[@bumblingbureaucrat6110]

Black Templars are awesome.

[@ST-zm3lm]

TIME FOR AN IMPERIAL FISTING

[@THE-BUNKEN-DRUM]

Ooh hello sailor, sounds like fun :-P

[@tomfordgunningham465]

The *Crimson* fists

[@e21big]

"They are my bulwark against the Terror" - most likely refer to the VII specifically

[@Jager1967]

Rogal Dorn...the quintessential combat engineer

[@user-tb5sz2gw8o]

Perfectly narrated, as usual. Thanks!

[@OculusImperia]

Thank you!

[@Youngimperialist]

Can't wait to see one of these for The Emperor's Children and The Dark Angels.

[@erikjohnson5549]

I'm hoping for the word barriers.

[@googleuser2016]

Oh man, I really think I have to read on the Horus Heresy books. I stopped somewhere at the 8th book or something years ago. Now I want to experience this Lunar Wolves (Sons of Horus) vs. Imperial Fists battle. Great video again, with just the right atmosphere. Thanks a lot!

[@lyndontuck7084]

As always, brilliant work. Superbly well-written, read and researched - nobody else presents their work in-character like this, but it works very well - it's very immersive. I can't wait to see the next one!

[@someimperialfist1404]

I approve of this , astonishing work oculus imperia

[@Shadlezz]

This was actually my first video on your channel, and the intro alone had already sold me. Great job, man. Ten times more enjoyable than other lore channels like OMS.

[@ToneWoN]

Why would you hate like that? You should leave that out next time. THE WARHAMMER community is totally opposite of what your doing. We don't condone or accept anything hateful or mean. You are not one of the emperor's sons. Probably nurgel, I can smell your ugliness through the phone.

[@Shadlezz]

@@ToneWoN >claims to speak for the warhammer community >Can't even spell nurgle right Nice try lmao who tf responds to a comment 5 years later do you have nothing better to do?

[@MegaGameCore]

Great video. Looking forward to a Thousand Sons video. Imo, they have the best story since they have something rather rare in the 41st millenium: Character Development. What's your favourite 1st founding chapter?

[@OculusImperia]

If I revealHYDRADOMINATUS that particHYDRADOMINATUSular piece of HYDRADOMINATUS information I mayHYDRADOMINATUS be accuHYDRADOMINATUSsed of favouritism when the time comes...

[@bladestormviking]

BLOOD FOR THE PRIMARCH!!! SKULLS FOR THE XII LEGION!!!!!!!

[@aiden9518]

Another beautifully made video, once you've finished the video on legion structure I'd like to cast a vote for the Sons of Caliban. Keep up the excellent work!

[@OculusImperia]

I'll be doing the First as soon as Forge World releases Angelus!

[@aiden9518]

Awesome! Looking forward to it.

[@leopoldjenkins]

One of the most eloquent lore videos I've come across. Marvellous

[@TemplarsCrusade01]

Haha I'm honoured to see my contemptors in Jon laws photo on your video. Love these keep them up!

[@OculusImperia]

Oh man those are yours??

[@TemplarsCrusade01]

There from ages back, feel free to use any of my minis in your vids matey. I've only just found our channel and really enjoying them. The iron warriors vid was amazing and spot on

[@TherealSBlair]

Well done and well narrated. Look forward to your telling of the other Legions as well as the Heresy.

[@rosenotactuallylalonde1560]

binge listening to these all in a random order gives the impression that the narrator just hasnt had his coffee for this one

[@Deradnov]

Great work as usual! I'm always getting realy exited when I see a new video from you. Realy made my day, thanks!

[@OculusImperia]

New videos starting from this week!

[@josiahbishop3125]

Absolutely fantastic, well done sir

[@keithrimer8415]

Amazing vids bro! Your voice and tempo of your reading gives a gravitas to the telling of the story. Can’t wait til you do Death Guard and Mechanicum! Keep up the terrific work!

[@OculusImperia]

Scripts for both are done :) And thank you very much for the kind words.

[@steventcunliffe]

Great lore video! Love your work!

[@copperhead73]

Best lore channel on KZbin - thanks!!

[@OculusImperia]

That means the world, thank you!

[@steventcunliffe]

Great lore video, I love your work!

[@sockMonster241]

These are awesome. Can't wait for you to cover the Grey Knights.

[@utubeisCensorred]

Your videos are sublime. Elevated beyond simple youtube data. The Emperor Protects.

[@stonedsnakestudios]

Awesome! Very nicely done. Great detail and nice wording!

[@VictorianTimeTraveler]

This was the first Warhammer lore video I ever watched, And it is still my favorite

[@tompratz4848]

Great work... really enjoy your stuff

[@lugi895]

i could listen to you read the phone book sir your voice is amazing

[@OculusImperia]

I'm available for requests.

[@pankaches2723]

Just getting into 40k and your videos are a huge help!

[@jdlr369]

This was awesome, thank you!

[@teflonKONG09]

Great job!

[@darkhighwayman1757]

Always liked Rogal.

[@georgesulea]

Impeccable Narrations Sir.

[@WhatTheBoot]

Very well done

[@bc_cimmerian]

Please, the music track. What song/hymn is this?! I must know! I can hear it echoing through the Phalanx!!

[@theantelope5618]

It's Pavle Aksentijevic, I think it's off the album 'Antologija srpske duhovne muzike'

[@lawindacera7219]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3bYloaQoMSabM0 here

[@LAYOTAM444]

Such great content!

[@6Stevo]

Your lore videos are incredible!

[@OculusImperia]

Thank you :)

[@6Stevo]

Oculus Imperia you are most welcome! Emporers Children next please. 😊

[@axelNodvon2047]

So these guys are the WHFB dwarfs of 40k in astartes form

[@OculusImperia]

They both like their big, big walls.

[@franciosdeaeruiu7555]

Were going to build a wall and make the filthy xenos pay for it

[@USMC444817]

Excellent work thus far. Would you be willing to do a lore video of the 1st Legion?

[@WarsmithThanatos]

Remember the Iron Cage!!!

[@OculusImperia]

The VII sure does...

[@respnocza6953]

Perturabo to Dorn: Dare to attack me in my new deamonic fortress of perpetual pain!! Even i dont know how to get inside this one. -Perturabo challenging Dorn for a rematch in the planet Sebastus IV.

[@e21big]

@@respnocza6953 And that's the only time the Iron Warrior ever saw their Primarch smiled..

[@respnocza6953]

@@e21big Perturabo: Come and "Fist" me Rogal hehehe.

[@e21big]

@@respnocza6953 "Come at me bro"

[@jamesharrington001]

Really grate work, I'm looking forward to your take on the First Legion.

[@OculusImperia]

I'll have to wait until Forge World published Angelus for that one, but it will happen as soon as possible!

[@Nanakanisurra]

I love how you narrate as an imperial historian. Well done.

[@DarkSolace33]

My second favourite Legion. :D

[@Abenddammerung]

top kek

[@robouteguilliman6662]

Mine too lmao.

[@Abenddammerung]

Roboute Guilliman Oh Alpharius! You silly Primarch.

[@robouteguilliman6662]

Abenddammerung I'm not Alpharius! He is the imposter!

[@chrisleonard2066]

The background chanting is entrancing

[@RamBam3000]

@Oculus Imperia - your work is excellent and I love the style in which you narrate it. Could you please do videos on the White Scars or either of the Angels Legions? Thanks.

[@OculusImperia]

You just had to pick the three I can't do right now :(

[@briankim4920]

Keep up the good work!!!

[@OculusImperia]

Thank you!

[@marmitch5056]

Awesome channel. Will listen again about my best legion

[@OculusImperia]

Thanks, and welcome aboard!

[@djevisceration2733]

The IF and their successors are bar none my favorite loyalists.

[@bc_cimmerian]

What music was used for this glorious history of my beloved legion?

[@xenophilius5361]

Exellent portrayal of dorn

[@RobertsonBrendyn]

Brilliant.

[@EazyAdland]

Perfect.

[@cheems4301]

Can’t wait for your videos on the blood angels, also; do you play heresy? Always nice to find another Irish player

[@OculusImperia]

Thanks man! I do indeed play 30k. It's currently the only operational army I have haha

[@raleighjune8952]

Damn I wish I could paint with yellow. They are great.

[@OculusImperia]

Airbrushes are a friend to yellow paint, I believe. Personally, I'm with you. Too terrified to attempt.

[@anglocatholick]

Oculus what army do you play for 30K?

[@kantor7497]

Rogal Dorn would be very proud

[@KillerOrca]

My boys, hell yeah!

[@MaidenicaMetalliden]

Nice..curiously..why did your voice change around 6:38?

[@Wyrmvonsturm]

Sounded almost like he caught a cold

[@OculusImperia]

I genuinely don't know. Two separate recording sessions led to two different sounding voice tracks. Will endeavour to make sure it won't happen again.

[@OculusImperia]

I have no idea why that happened. Had to just roll with it to get the video out on time. Apologies for the mess.

[@Benu54321]

Great work, your format and voice work are great. Sometimes your pronunciation is a bit off. Pall, in the context you have used it, is pronounced like Paul, and there have been a few other misstakes in previous vids. Other than that, Black Library should hire you for their audiobooks.

[@Sereze001]

Imagine if, by some miracle, Iron Warriors remained loyal. Imperial Palace would have been impenetrable.

[@randomcenturion7264]

They were the only ones in the Galaxy that could do it. If the IW and IF were both loyal the Imperium would be unstoppable and unbreakable.

[@SawyerKnight]

There is no Legion better to serve as the Defenders of Holy Terra.

[@BluJean6692]

11:01 WAIT how did I miss the use of the word "jived" the other times I watched this!?!?!

[@stormtrooper7177]

Inwit as a planet sound so much like the pronunciation of the Inuit people from Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Russia.

[@artzilla3]

You should be a guest on if the Emperor had a tts

[@THE-BUNKEN-DRUM]

Why would the emperor have tits?

[@icemonkey211]

please do a thousand sons legion video and an imperial knights video!!! also a video on each of the major titan legions would be amazing!!!!

[@OculusImperia]

All are planned in the near future!

[@icemonkey211]

Awesome thank you! I love the titan legions and would like to see videos highlighting the individual legions. Also thank you for your response

[@OculusImperia]

No problem, thank YOU for the support. The Legio Gryphonicu and the Legio Fureans will be up first, very shortly.

[@kynikersolon3882]

Shouldn't there just by chance be one primarch that grew up on a planet with democracy and human rights?

[@Aden_III]

Roboute Guilliman, if you were still wondering

[@davebowman9000]

*Siege vs Fortify intensifies*

[@owenbevt3]

Do you think the Chaos gods had any control over-where they scattered the primarks to? if so sending Dorm to a society which would further his no-noncence attitude and with one of the galexys biggest starships seems like an epic fail.

[@randomcenturion7264]

They also failed with Jaghatai and Fulgrim because Ceogorach swapped their worlds.

[@nickster5207]

Fists FTW

[@jameslarson9942]

What of the Alpha Legion...? I would greatly enjoy speculating on it's murky origin & history!!! Also, the Thousand Sons & the Blood Angels.....

[@OculusImperia]

The script for the XX Legion is done. Or is it?

[@jameslarson9942]

@@OculusImperia lol

[@jesseberg3271]

10:48 did any of the Primarchs have a named (or referenced) mother? Female rulers and Matriarchies are rare in recorded human history, but not that rare. Does anyone remember a reference to one, even just to the wives of one of the foster fathers? The closest I'm coming to is that Russ was cared for by a she wolf.

[@intergalacticimperialist9670]

Robute Guiliman (prolly butchered that) was close with his adopted mother

[@okolepuka808]

Kudos, I just found your videos, I love your narration and the dark tone. I love WH40k lore, but I was getting a little sick of Arch WH's snarky jokey glib approach.

[@OculusImperia]

Thanks so much! Delighted to have you aboard :) Hope you'll subscribe and stick around.

[@MrSigmatico]

I have one single problem with the astartes, the color of their armor, a soldier a professionel soldier will take any advantage that he can get and that includes the color of his uniform, painting your uniform yellow makes no sense to me because it is not an advantage and it bothers me when it comes to the astartes because I believe they would paint their armor depending on the envioronment they are figthing in.

[@yesitsvish]

generally marines don't do stealth, they are shock and awe close combat machines.

[@MrSigmatico]

You can be just as effectively with a camo pattern painted on your powerarmor.

[@Shadlezz]

There is a throwaway line about this in the lore, I believe it was told by a chaplain of the Imperial Fists as well. Essentially, the belief is that wearing such bright and luminous heraldry not only makes you stand out on the battlefield to inspire your allies, but also strike fear into the enemy: only cowards attempt to mask their presence to protect themselves. The Imperial Fists show no fear, telling their adversaries that their faith is so strong that they essentially don't care about camouflage. Essentially, it's the Astartes way of saying "COME AT ME, BRO" without actually saying it. However there is one chapter that makes use of stealth and camouflage, called the Raptors.

[@SicariiD]

Well Kim, its not that odd.. The idea of camouflage uniforms is quite recent, just look at any historical army from 1900 and back.

[@lawindacera7219]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3bYloaQoMSabM0 the song likely used in the background. Very fitting still

[@lazysponge]

Iron > Stone

[@TK199999]

Dorn was one of the best military minds, but Guilliman is still better, not by much. Guilliman was better in overall understanding the Imperium and its people. Guilliman may hate the Imperial Creed and he and his fathers deification. But could still work around it and begin the long struggle of restoring the Imperium to what it could be. Dorn could not do such a thing and never could understand the necessities of the now in order to get a better tomorrow. Meaning Guilliman tolerates the Imperial Cult for now, Dorn would not and could not tolerate such a thing. Making Guilliman a better overall leader, which is why people are pretty sure now the Lion is the next to come back. Since the Lion was probably the best military commander the Imperium had. Guilliman has even said that before. But the Lion is not a ruler or administrator that Guilliman is, so their skills complement each other. Though they may in private verbally fight each other, I still think they could keep their disagreements from harming what both need to do.

[@OriginalDecurse]

I hate the fists....but great video man as always.

[@googleuser2016]

Glenn Newman Why do you hate them? Is it about the yellow?

[@OriginalDecurse]

I think its a mix or the following. The yellow, the whole "last wall" thing and the way rogal dorn is portrayed in "Fulgrim"

[@MassRivers]

It's been a while since I read it, but is Rogal Dorn even in Fulgrim?

[@OriginalDecurse]

HOLY SHIT I JUST REALIZED IT WAS FERUS MANUS.

[@MassRivers]

Yeah that's what I thought you meant, and temperament wise Ferrus Manus is quite different than Rogal Dorn.