XV Legion 'Thousand Sons': Origins & History (Warhammer 40K & Horus Heresy Lore)

Being a record of the scholar-warriors of Prospero, the scions of the Crimson King Magnus the Red, the XV Legion Astartes, Thousand Sons.
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Music: Missa Sicut lilium inter spinas by the Tudor Consort
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[@thestabbybrit4798]

The tragedy of the Thousand Sons is one of my favourite things in all of 40k.

[@rumhound5903]

"Things"?? God's amongst Astarte!

[@AnIdiotsLantern]

The Thousand Sons were really screwed no matter which side of the Heresy they came down on. The one case where MAYBE falling to Chaos really was the less terrible option.

[@nixonsprguy3629]

@@AnIdiotsLantern, maybe. Maybe it's been the only choice possible, if we suggest that a group of people has a collectively perceived equal to a survival instinct. That's probably a question best left to the philosophers. I grant you the favour to not report your words to my higher ups in the Ordo Haereticus. Some day or never at all I might ask of you to return this favour, until then consider it a gift.

[@SonsOfLorgar]

@@nixonsprguy3629 the God Emperor protects! And, as the Apostle penitent Malechai has been enlighted through His visions of deliverance, He will walk again, ascended to His True Divinity as He reclaim his fallen sons from the false pantheon and subjugate the Empyrean as His sons on the material plane reclaim humanitys birthright with bolter and chainsword once more, led by His steward and heir practical, Robute Guilliman.

[@MrSigmatico]

A Thousand Sons is one of my favorite books.

[@ImpudentInfidel]

Not even changing the serious academic tone for "if I may offer some 'gallows humor'" is just freaking hilarious.

[@imintheraindripdripdrop]

The Ninth Legion exiting the depths of the Neptunian Volume with the friends they made along the way is so wholesome

[@cormacbyrne2210]

The problem is, the fall of Thousand Sons was never set in stone. Any number of factors could have prevented their fall. While I will not claim Magnus was faultless (he was quite reckless, if understandably given his inferiority complex and subsequent desire to prove himself), he DID have the best intentions in mind. Propero was probably the closest imperial realm to utopia, only rivaled in that regard by Ultramar. The Interex and Craftworld Aeldari demonstrate that civilizations of Psykers, possessed by knowledge of Chaos, could nonetheless be a stable society. Knowledge was not the enemy. Ultimately, if any of these groups had met the Thousand Sons before the tragedies that befell them and taught them restraint, then maybe tragedy would have been averted. If Magnus has stayed and delivered his message despite his blunder, perhaps the Emperor would not have delivered that fateful order, subsequently to be twisted by Horus. If Jaghatai Khan, Primarch of the similarly psychic White Scars, happened to be nearby to help temper his impetuous brother, maybe Magnus's recklessness would have been averted. Alas, peace does not sell plastic miniatures, so we will never know.

[@jagerdergroe8604]

Magnus did deliver his warming, Russ mentions it in Prospero Burns. And Horus never changed the orders, Russ gets them completely unchanged. Horus just sends one of his marines to convince Russ to kill Magnus, he doesn't change the orders.

[@risa123456789]

Magnus was doomed the second he searched in the warp for the cure for the flesh change and ran into Tzeentch. Both he and his father are at fault. He should have known better, the Emperor should have told him.

[@anguscampbell3020]

Tzeentch wouldn't have had it any other way.

[@aguspuig6615]

damn this just made me think, what if instead of horus's it was the thousand sons who made first contact with the interex

[@ravenfields8968]

Fictional future space wars sells products but only peace can buy it

[@ignaciomaldonado4251]

I think the Pre Heresy Thousand Sons have one of the most beautiful Power Armor design, alongside the Emperor's Children and Luna Wolves.

[@axelNodvon2047]

I think the Ultramarine design also look very pretty. I also like the blue and white color scheme of the Warhound (12th legion) but they aren't the most clean bunch

[@ignaciomaldonado4251]

@@axelNodvon2047 You have awesome points on that, Honorable Battle Brother. I agree.

[@MLaak86]

TSons and Alpha Legion metallic schemes are things of pure beauty

[@LG-rg4ut]

Dude…. This video series is showing its age the most. I collect Iron Warriors (and listen to that video 1/month for lore/writing) and comparing the two I’m pretty jealous. Nice Work!

[@FaizanMunirKhanRajput]

Being a nerd, they're my favourite legion. If I could only get into the least of Prospero's libraries, not even the Emperor could drag me out of there!

[@fingerboxes]

Sounds like heresy!

[@Ivan-ud1gr]

If he had just packed his ship, and flown over to Terra, we could've avoided a lot of stuff.

[@scp-2348]

Yeah,and get shanked from behind by immensely paranoid Constantin Valdor.

[@eriktarte2743]

*chuckles in Eisenstein*

[@patrickdhamilton]

“The Thousand Sons were no magpie hoarder of lore.” I missed this the first time watching the video. Second time my wife was concerned by the snickering and chuckling coming from the room I was in. Best line in this video. I hope others caught the reference. Well played Occulus, well played.

[@bentaylor809]

Can you explain it to me?

[@patrickdhamilton]

@@bentaylor809 Magpies are members of the Corvus family of birds, which includes crows and more importantly, ravens. Those birds are noted for their intelligence and in particular for picking up lots of bits and odds and ends for making their nests and for tools; in other words, being hoarders. For a long time it has been hinted and alluded to the the Blood Ravens Chapter are descended from the Thousand Sons. They are noted for their strong desire for knowledge and in many Warhammer memes, for their tendency to collect all sorts of relics and equipment that shouldn’t belong to them. So like their name sake, they are intelligent and have a tendency to hoard things. The line from Occulus seems to be a nod towards the Blood Ravens and their connections to the Thousand Sons.

[@bentaylor809]

@@patrickdhamilton thanks! I appreciate your time :)

[@Azaghal1988]

An hour of my favourite smooth irish voice accompanied by chants talking about one of my favourite Legions. Great day already! Happy New Year Oculus ;)

[@FaizanMunirKhanRajput]

Oculus is Canadian, just saying.

[@Azaghal1988]

@@FaizanMunirKhanRajput really? I'm pretty sure I remember him confirming to be irish, but I wouldn't die on that hill to be honest^^ ps. found the tweet, he moved from Ireland to the US in 2013 and later on to Canada. My brain was right with the memory ;)

[@Spideryote]

My bois 🥺 My precious little space librarians 🥺

[@jeremybott4899]

Looking back, how happy was I when the lost and the damned came out. The 2nd book of chaos for 40k. And the 1000 sons actually had an army list. From all those years ago, fast forward to now, and my fav 40k lore channel has finally come to the 1000 sons. What a great moment in time.

[@Maxibon2007]

I'm not crying, there's just some dust in my eyes.....

[@TOUGHEYES]

In Irish Mythology, the Ríastrad was Cúchulainn's fierce and terrifying transformation, in which his flesh contorted and he became hideous and berserk, but physically unstoppable. Though he wasn't Berserk all the time, there was that one time he fixed a castle's wall to its main hall after he walked through it. The point is, Ríastrad roughly translates for us to "Warp Spasm." Cúchulainn was the Soul Son and reincarnation of the finest high king of the Tuatha Dé Danann, Lugh Lámhada. While this figure fought for the spiritual destiny of all of Ireland's people, his race & Tribe pre-dated humans, and thus despite being the stuff of righteousness and masculinity, his essence was what caused the changes in Cúchulainn, for both his prodigious strength but also his horrific rage and form.

[@nneisler]

Check out: Sláine simon bisley warp spasm

[@Thedagda801]

The Táin is a lot deeper than that

[@financialproblems9308]

ransa ga shinda

[@golkor9879]

His tribe predated humans. Think about that.

[@levistapleton930]

@@golkor9879 I predate my own birth. Think about that. lol

[@phreakazoith2237]

M30: "We worship the sun." Astartes: "Die! In the name of the imperial truth!" M40: "We worship the sun." Astartes: "No problem with that. But you have to refer to the sun as the embodiment of the god emperor okay?"

[@markrtoffeeman]

This is not true. The Astartes in general do not think of The Emperor as a god. They consider him their general. They do not in general pray to The Emperor

[@RougeSanta]

@@markrtoffeeman tell that to the black templars

[@SonsOfLorgar]

@@markrtoffeeman that is because He, has not yet Ascended fully to take His Divine place in the Empyrean reclaim his fallen sons and purging the false pantheon from all planes of existance!

[@wragokumbaya]

@@markrtoffeeman mostly true for first founded foundings, but when founding fell entirely to the hands of high lords which fully integrated ecclesiarchy you can expect how that will turn out, and also you have folk like black templars which for some chapters definitely made appealing reputation

[@Matihood1]

@@RougeSanta The Black Templars are an exception though. They always have been (well, probably not back in the Rogue Trader days or something but you get what I mean). In the 41st/42nd millennium, you are much more likely to have your world saved by a space marine chapter that doesn't consider the Emperor a god than by one that does.

[@TheSinexCN]

The Thousand Sons and their star-crossed Primarch are, by a wide margin, my favorite Legion! Consequently, I'm very glad to see you finally tackling them and their history.

[@Cam-ks8yz]

I simply love the atmosphere you apply to WH40K , great writing and presentation.

[@rickconnolly5006]

Bloody splendid

[@EvMund]

53:58 "the thousand sons were no magpie hoarders" .... but they will be when some of them become Blood Ravens

[@UncleMikeDrop]

The Thousand Sons should have been made aware of the dangers of Chsos and trained in the defense against it. The Flesh Change could only be the result of Warp corruption. A Legion warded at the genetic level would not have succumbed.

[@piotrd.4850]

That in effect would have given us Red Knights.

[@UncleMikeDrop]

@@piotrd.4850 Even better. They would have been a loyalist Legion with a Primarch who needed not make a Faustina bargain with Tzeentch. Magnus didn't want to go traitor after all. Everything the pact with Tzeentch to the edict of Nike to the burning of Prospero made it inevitable, though.

[@markrtoffeeman]

@@UncleMikeDrop you make a deal with the literal Devil, of old Terra You get burnt. Literally.

[@UncleMikeDrop]

@@markrtoffeeman Yrah. This is why Magnus at least, should have been warned about the Ruinous Powers. He was a Primarch who was also the 3rd most powerful psyker in the Imperium.

[@alexbrown7708]

@@UncleMikeDrop or 2nd I don't think they their is a consensus on who is the second strongest.

[@fancyteef]

Fastest click in the west

[@rickconnolly5006]

Now, listen here son...

[@enigma9273]

No 👏one👏cares👏

[@fancyteef]

@@enigma9273 oh have a bit of fun why don't ya

[@rickconnolly5006]

@@fancyteef maybe a sense of humour while they're at it?

[@saladinbob]

I enjoyed that, and it was an hour well spent. Learned quite a bit, and I thought I knew The Thousand Sons quite well.

[@flamingmuffin666]

In order to report this, Oculus must have the inquisitor who tried to stop him locked away in the basement. Not bad. Another inquisitor might give him a promotion.

[@Deridus]

I can hear Kryptmann asking, "Perhaps we can use them against the Tyranids?"

[@xavmet1218]

Perfect time ! I am building a new Thousand Sons légion !! Thank you very much Iterator !! May the Emperor bless you and your work

[@rycolligan]

Magnus did several things wrong, but doing whatever it took to save his genesons wasn’t one of them.

[@LordCommander-ui2fw]

While most Primarchs did indeed care deeply for their legions, few loved them with such zeal and depth as Magnus the Red for his Thousand Sons.

[@darkhighwayman1757]

Sadly that doomed them to a fate worse than death.

[@awesomehpt8938]

In much wisdom is much grief. For he who increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

[@ikenosis8160]

"You're not the only one cursed with knowledge..."

[@LTMaverick27894]

To our humble educator, Oculus Imperia of the Logos Historica Verita, will their be a thousands sons tactics and structure next? Also, would you please do a video on our cousins of the XIII Ultramarines origins and history and tactics and structure at some point? Even though they have been memed to heck, I still think they are a cool legion/chapter.

[@jesseberg3271]

I'm not telling you anything official, but I expect that he's going to do a tactics and structures video next, or next in this "serries", and that then he's going to do the Space Wolves. He saved those two legions to be part of the Burning of Prospero serries. Likewise, I think he's saving the Ultramarines and the Word Bearers for the Betrayal at Calth serries. I don't know when he intends to do Calth, but I'm pretty sure he has a plan for it.

[@piotrd.4850]

Nah... this looks like more serious stuff. Stariting with Avenging Son himself.

[@barrymcballs9031]

I really, truly hope we see a redemption and reforming of the shards, of the Crimson King. I want some non-heretical egyptian space wizards!

[@aearroyo]

I disagree--not all wrongs need to be righted, and it would make the tragedy of the Burning less impactful. But, as someone who, like Oculus, loved the Alpha Legion and the Thousand Sons, and unlike Oculus, chose the latter as my legion, this video is a wonderful treat.

[@barrymcballs9031]

@@aearroyo talkin a lot of shit for someone within fireball range.

[@tulsibeepat3453]

Not just Egypt but all of the cultures that utilized occult and archaic arts ,Persia Greece even India are part of their Legion culture🤔

[@broxim9668]

Yes, Fury of Magnus confirms that all Shards are equal so there is hope

[@gwilym1991]

Good News! They exist, they're called the Blood Ravens! But, shhhh, it's so secret even they don't know it.

[@fatcoyote2]

Is it me, or is our boy getting more melancholic, even nihilistic in their quest to educate us poor, ignorant fools?

[@mouthfulofdirt]

Love your work so much! Also 45:15 "kingson crim"

[@oljo0527]

As he thinks of even thinking of the cursed cognitoform that is the ouroboris paradoxical, the Oculus feels his words slip away into a madness corrupting in its mere conception.

[@scp-2348]

I wonder if Leman Russ went into the Eye of Terror partly out of guilt for his dogged(pun intended) eagerness in the betrayal of Magnus. Might be he's looking for some way to restore his brother and the Emperor or he's attuning to his true nature as a warp-creature like Corax has done.

[@venerablebrothergoriate5844]

Hey oculus, I know you’ve already done videos on power armor, but I was wondering if you planned to do a video on Terminator armor at some point. It’s what got me into 40K, space marines casually lumbering through torrents of gunfire, wielding miniguns with one arm, punching aliens with powerfists, like, terminator armor is just the damn coolest

[@gero3973]

My favourite legion on my birthday. Thank you Oculus ❤️🇨🇦

[@lordkek5817]

Nice I wanted something to listen to before going to sleep

[@VersusMadrid]

I've been binging your Astartes origins playlist and it has been such a treat to listen to how you have improved as a narrator over the years. Cool stuff man. :)

[@ravenfields8968]

Magnus is a digrido master and superb warp crocilid wrangler and proud bike rider

[@benbrown9467]

YES. I was so looking forward to this legion

[@suttone75]

Well done, sir. Your videos are one of the things I look forward to most on KZbin. I hope you get to make more videos in the years to come. Bless you.

[@Sammydnh]

This channel is criminally underrated. You do amazing work my friend.

[@ewanstuart5521]

Really enjoyed this one. Thousand Sons are such and interesting legion. Thanks and happy new year to you.

[@eichler721]

Great video and these Legion ones are my favorite. The amount of time and effort you put in shows.

[@gregmandu]

I have been waiting a long time for this record. And I was not disappointed. Magnificent. Thank you :)

[@markcoroneos7811]

By the throne i love the way you write and speak occulus 🙂 so eloquent and engaging

[@ChoonMa]

Another most impressive record. These are always among the highlights of my day!

[@darkmystic7764]

Great Video. Suprised how there were no mentions of Ahriman though.

[@joshuagrosvenor9837]

Another great video and this time about my favourite legion and primach. Keep up the fantastic work!

[@sheevpalpatine2128]

This was seriously good , i always love your legion videos 🤟

[@worldsbuffestloremaster]

I absolutely love your videos man. Idk if you have considered this or if it's something you're doing intentionally, but this is a fantastic style for portraying lore in an exciting way. Oftentimes people can find lore videos boring and can make it difficult for people to get into an IP. At least in my experience your videos have been a tool for me to get people into the 30k lore. Thanks mate. Keep it up

[@Swoff92]

Perfect way to start my Friday! Great work as always. Keep up the amazing work!

[@phreakazoith2237]

Black Dragon "Look at them with their Flesh Change....lucky us , our gene seed is free of even the slightest mutation."

[@hollowparagon1102]

Perfect way to start a new year! Be you in good health Historitor!

[@Ozcogger]

Ty for the great quality content yet again!!

[@denali1566]

First things first I love you Oculus, never stop. That being said, at 45:14 you said "Kingsom Crim" I wouldn't normally point out something that small but it's really funny to me for some reason

[@buttz47]

This is one of your best yet, keep being badass

[@davebowman9000]

Another lovely entry! Enjoyed every last minute of this!

[@corranhuss]

Perfect timing, i needed something great after this workday

[@Mesozoic_mammal]

Every time is the perfect time for a new oculus video.

[@garbagegnome2045]

Cracked my screen hitting the “Like” button

[@Jordanationalismtion]

The Kingson Crim he says.

[@fullmetalhaggis]

Thank you for another excellent video, I do wish that your audio was available as a podcast version though.

[@xephorce]

I just love the perspective you take in telling you stories in Warhammer 40k.

[@ScholarofProspero]

These videos have made me want to start a HH Thousand sons force

[@tecguy1229]

I liked the video and narrative, thank you. Good job!

[@archerpence]

Still loving your delivery, keep up the great work!

[@Deridus]

I am genuinely happy that all of you are genuinely happy here as the Historator gives unto the Imperium of Man yet another treasure.

[@MrZoichi]

Ah, the Blood Rave... I mean, the Thousand Sons. My favorites!

[@musicalDrebin]

hell yeah been waiting for this one!

[@mmallory22]

45:14 All hail the Kingsom Krim!

[@doomgardener1495]

"The Thousand Sons were no magpie hoarders of lore."- Me hearing that line, "Hmm yes, Blood Rave......stupid brain."

[@malcolmhaldin717]

Excellent video as always. Thank you 😊

[@stupendous269]

Well added Fury of Magnus and Burning of Prospero to my read list. Great video.

[@jeffreygreen8668]

Oh snap!! Many thanks for your diligent study on our behalves, noble Oculus. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@TheAtomicSpoon]

If I recall correctly Magnus got along best with Perturabo, due to their love and appreciation of information.

[@SonsOfLorgar]

Perturabo and the Khan

[@randomcenturion7264]

@@SonsOfLorgar Such a weird combo. Besties with the most free spirited AND the most iron-handed.

[@depressedgwyndolin]

@@randomcenturion7264 it was indeed quite the strange friendship

[@CrimsonTemplar2]

Excellent video. One of the most interesting legions & one of the biggest tragedies of the Heresy.

[@DrTinyTeeth]

Killer AF video as always Brobot!!!!

[@I_am-lost.]

I love the thousand sons there my favourite legion and faction in 40k. I've always thought that they should have been the most powerful legion but writers said no

[@anonoymous9991]

I quite adore the Thousand Sons. A Legion based off the twin themes culturally of ancient Egypt and Persia, with its motifs being sorcery and knowledge. And of course it's Terran roots in ancient Achaemenid lands which lending an eventual fate of tradegy, betrayal, and loss. Perhaps in the earliest days of human history the Emperor had been Zoroaster himself, to grant so many boons to the neophyte 15th Legion.

[@brianjohnson5272]

As an older man, a high lord of Terra sits watching an opera in high gothic a far younger friend, an inquisition member, freshly minted but battle tested on more than one mission walks into his both "AH, yes young man sit a moment. He dismisses his aids as the sit back a moment and both form their thoughts the old man speaks. "Have you ever heard the tragedy of Horus Lupacau?" The young inquisition looks puzzled a moment and answers "no" candidly. "I thought not, it not a tale the inqiusitorious would tell."

[@unknown3113]

I have to say I miss zegram's voice as Magnus

[@nathanielartosilla9110]

Friday night and a new Oculus video. Couldn't have asked for more.

[@be_quiet_and_drive]

Absolutely fantastic video.

[@stevenI613]

I could listen to you read and the storys you tell all day. you should do audio book readings as well

[@primafacie5029]

Well narrated!!

[@mbp1652]

Nice one. Great lore!

[@petermlatec9557]

Now this is a way to open a new full year of lore.

[@gwill66000]

Excellent work, many thanks.

[@AIartificalIntellige]

0:15 We are some of us, cursed with knowledge.... Aight Thanos!

[@tyrlant2189]

This is designed to make us sleepy I swear, it is like going to church watching one of these.

[@matthewmcneany]

The great tradgedy of The 1,000 Sons is not that those with a vision for a better world were brought low by those who were jealous, ignorant and short-sighted. It is that those with a vision for a better world were gifted the power to make that world manifest but withheld from the use of that power.

[@risa123456789]

From the moment the first son of Magnus conjured his first "familiar" in the form of the Tutelary, from the first moment Magnus grasped for the Flesh change cure, not caring where the help came from, their knowledge and power both were tainted and doomed to turn to dust.

[@danjodoin4060]

Glad you r back your video s r awesome

[@jamescarter8693]

Since I devoured your knowledge many cycles ago as it seems now to my people mind quite possibly due to aesthetics or possibly just not proper upkeep I always forget to add you in my big collaborator wish list but to have you and ab Prince and the others together retelling the tales would be such such a pleasure if that could even be afforded in this damn damn dark age

[@ChrisHaenze]

I love your videos, the way you speak makes me feel like I'm actually talking to an embittered, tired Imperial historian. Very immersive and interesting videos, I really feel like I'm a part of the Grimdark universe!

[@Anaverageguy41]

My brain, excited to see another OI video My body when watching it, This guy has a soothing voice time to sleep One of these days I'll learn about the sons

[@lfemomo77]

So effin good. Thank you your channel.

[@Rabbitorzo]

I love your content SO much

[@thegingerwon2795]

~I love your work like nothing else

[@petersinton43]

At last he is back.So missed this voice.

[@beardwierd2783]

Thank you for this oculus

[@Sumzja]

To grasp lightning is to wield the power of the god's, the Lord of lightning grasping thunderbolts in both hands, immolated by the power he wields, undying, unmoving.

[@jackalchasingmoonbeams8483]

@45:13 Kingson Crim :'D