Difference between revisions of "Sigmar"
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|Titles = | |Titles = | ||
|Status = Active | |Status = Active | ||
| − | |Type = | + | |Type = [[Old World pantheon]] God |
|Domains = | |Domains = | ||
|Aspects = | |Aspects = | ||
|Home = | |Home = | ||
| − | |Relatives = [[ | + | |Relatives = [[Björn]] (father)<br>[[Griselda]] (mother) |
|Affiliation = [[Empire]] | |Affiliation = [[Empire]] | ||
|Followers = [[Cult of Sigmar]] | |Followers = [[Cult of Sigmar]] | ||
|Adjectives = | |Adjectives = | ||
| − | |Symbols = Twin-Tailed Comet <br> [[Ghal Maraz]] | + | |Symbols = [[Twin-Tailed Comet]] <br> [[Ghal Maraz]] |
| − | |Friends = | + | |Friends = [[Dwarf]]s |
| − | |Enemies = | + | |Enemies = [[Orcs & Goblins]], [[Chaos]] & [[Undead]] |
}} | }} | ||
| − | '''Sigmar Heldenhammer''' is a god and the founder of [[The Empire]].{{Fn|4a}} | + | '''Sigmar Heldenhammer''' is a [[Old World pantheon|god]] and the founder of [[human]] [[The Empire]].{{Fn|4a}}{{fn|7a}} |
| − | Sigmar's symbol is the | + | Sigmar's symbol is the [[Twin-Tailed Comet]]; he carried the [[Dwarf]]-made warhammer [[Ghal Maraz]], which was adopted as the symbol of the [[Cult of Sigmar]]. |
| − | Sigmar Heldenhammer was a king of the [[Unberogen]] tribe who went on to unite the disparate human tribes and found [[the Empire]]. He was made into a god by his people after his reign, and remained the most prominent patron god of the Empire until [[End Times|its destruction]].{{ | + | Sigmar Heldenhammer was a king of the [[Unberogen]] tribe who went on to unite the disparate human tribes and found [[the Empire]]. He was made into a god by his people after his reign, and remained the most prominent patron god of the Empire until [[End Times|its destruction]]. {{Fn|7a}}{{Fn|7b}} |
==History== | ==History== | ||
===Birth and childhood=== | ===Birth and childhood=== | ||
| − | The [[Imperial Calendar]] [[IC]], which takes its starting date from Sigmar's coronation as Emperor, places his birth as the year '''-30 IC'''.{{Fn|1a}} Sigmar was born in the town of Reikdorf, an Unberogen settlement which went on to become [[Altdorf]], capitol of the Empire. His father was King [[Björn]] of the Unberogen, and the night of his birth was marked by the appearance of a twin-tailed comet, which the human tribes took as a great portent from the gods. The same night, the tribe was attacked by orcs and his mother [[Griselda]] was killed. {{Fn|4a}} | + | The [[Imperial Calendar]] [[IC]], which takes its starting date from Sigmar's coronation as Emperor, places his birth as the year '''-30 IC'''.{{Fn|1a}} Sigmar was born in the town of [[Reikdorf]], an Unberogen settlement which went on to become [[Altdorf]], capitol of the Empire. His father was King [[Björn]] of the Unberogen, and the night of his birth was marked by the appearance of a twin-tailed comet, which the human tribes took as a great portent from the gods. The same night, the tribe was attacked by orcs and his mother [[Griselda]] was killed. {{Fn|4a}}{{fn|7a}} |
| − | In the year '''-15''', Sigmar is believed to have helped drive off a [[Goblin]] invasion of his village, and in the same year, led a punitive expedition against a [[Orc]] war-party that was holding [[Kurgan Ironbeard]], [[High King]] of the [[Dwarfs]], prisoner. In gratitude, Kurgan presented the young warrior with a magical rune-enchanted warhammer called [[Ghal Maraz]] ('Skull-splitter', in the Dwarf [[Khazalid]] tongue).{{Fn|1a}} According to King Kurgan, the dwarf party had the hammer with them when Sigmar's party found them, and it "called" to him after his own spear broke. Though a Dwarf-made weapon, Kurgan believed that Ghal Maraz and Sigmar were meant for each other.{{ | + | In the year '''-15''', Sigmar is believed to have helped drive off a [[Goblin]] invasion of his village, and in the same year, led a punitive expedition against a [[Orc]] war-party that was holding [[Kurgan Ironbeard]], [[High King]] of the [[Dwarfs]], prisoner. In gratitude, Kurgan presented the young warrior with a magical rune-enchanted warhammer called [[Ghal Maraz]] ('Skull-splitter', in the Dwarf [[Khazalid]] tongue).{{Fn|1a}} According to King Kurgan, the dwarf party had the hammer with them when Sigmar's party found them, and it "called" to him after his own spear broke. Though a Dwarf-made weapon, Kurgan believed that Ghal Maraz and Sigmar were meant for each other.{{{fn|7a}} |
As a young warrior, Sigmar led the Unberogens in the [[Battle of Astofen Bridge]], where he succeeded in defeating a marauding band of Orcs thanks to the sacrifice of his friend and sword-brother [[Trinovantes]]. {{Fn|2a}} Trinovantes' sister [[Ravenna]] and twin brother [[Gerreon]] were devastated by his loss, but while Ravenna forgave Sigmar and went on to become his lover, Gerreon held a grudge which would come back to haunt Sigmar and the Empire. {{Cite This}} | As a young warrior, Sigmar led the Unberogens in the [[Battle of Astofen Bridge]], where he succeeded in defeating a marauding band of Orcs thanks to the sacrifice of his friend and sword-brother [[Trinovantes]]. {{Fn|2a}} Trinovantes' sister [[Ravenna]] and twin brother [[Gerreon]] were devastated by his loss, but while Ravenna forgave Sigmar and went on to become his lover, Gerreon held a grudge which would come back to haunt Sigmar and the Empire. {{Cite This}} | ||
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When an army of [[Norsii]] invaded the human lands, King Bjorn led the Unberogen to battle in aid of their fellow tribes and left Sigmar in charge of Reikdorf. On the eve of battle, Bjorn was visited by the [[Hag of the Brackenwalsch]], a sorceress who guided the human tribes through prophecies even though they shunned her. The hag told Bjorn that in order for Sigmar to survive, he had to face the Norse warlord in battle to which Bjorn agreed. {{Fn|2d}} | When an army of [[Norsii]] invaded the human lands, King Bjorn led the Unberogen to battle in aid of their fellow tribes and left Sigmar in charge of Reikdorf. On the eve of battle, Bjorn was visited by the [[Hag of the Brackenwalsch]], a sorceress who guided the human tribes through prophecies even though they shunned her. The hag told Bjorn that in order for Sigmar to survive, he had to face the Norse warlord in battle to which Bjorn agreed. {{Fn|2d}} | ||
| − | Meanwhile, Sigmar and Ravenna traveled away from Reikdorf to swim and were ambushed by Gerreon, who murdered Ravenna with a sword coated in poison he had obtained from the [[Hag of the Brackenwalsch]]. Cut by Gerreon's blade, Sigmar fell into a river {{Fn|2e}} and washed up near Reikdorf, where he lingered on the verge of death. {{Fn|2f}} His spirit entered the [[Grey Vaults]], a twilight-realm between life and death, where [[daemons]] came to claim him and were only thwarted by the spirit of Bjorn, who unbeknownst to Sigmar had obeyed the hag's prophecy and let himself fall in battle so that his spirit could come to save Sigmar's. {{Fn|2g | + | Meanwhile, Sigmar and Ravenna traveled away from Reikdorf to swim and were ambushed by Gerreon, who murdered Ravenna with a sword coated in poison he had obtained from the [[Hag of the Brackenwalsch]]. Cut by Gerreon's blade, Sigmar fell into a river {{Fn|2e}} and washed up near Reikdorf, where he lingered on the verge of death. {{Fn|2f}} His spirit entered the [[Grey Vaults]], a twilight-realm between life and death, where [[daemons]] came to claim him and were only thwarted by the spirit of Bjorn, who unbeknownst to Sigmar had obeyed the hag's prophecy and let himself fall in battle so that his spirit could come to save Sigmar's. {{Fn|2g}} |
| − | A short time later, the Unberogen army returned to Reikdorf with Bjorn's body, and Sigmar was crowned king. | + | They travelled to the great mountain range where a vast portal formed which attracted vast numbers of the lost souls, many in monsterous forms. There they were confronted by the soulf of the Norse warlord that Björn had just slain in battle and who was now a deamon. As an army gathered around the red daemon, he offered Björn the chance to return to the world of the living if he would stand aside and let him take the soul of Sigmar. {{Fn|2h}} |
| + | |||
| + | Björn refused and hundreds of fallen warriors of the [[Unberogen]] joined him to fight off the deamons and allow the king as his son to fight their way to the portal. {{Fn|2h}} They smashed through the enemy and whilst Sigmar returned to the world, Björn and his warriors entered the realm of Morr. {{Fn|2i}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | A short time later, the Unberogen army returned to Reikdorf with Bjorn's body, and Sigmar was crowned king {{Fn|2j}} in -8 [[IC]]. {{Fn|1b}}{{fn|7a}} | ||
===Uniting the tribes=== | ===Uniting the tribes=== | ||
| − | As new-crowned King of the Unberogen, Sigmar began to pursue his vision of a united Empire of Man, but first avenged his father by driving the Norsii from their lands and across the sea to a [[Norsca|frozen peninsula]]. Some of the tribal kings, such as [[Marbad]] of the [[Endals]], had already sworn sword-oaths with the Unberogen, and one by one, through conquest or diplomacy, Sigmar won the allegiance of the rest. | + | [[File:Sigmar WD.jpg|thumbnail|'''Sigmar''' at [[Battle of Black Fire Pass]]]] |
| + | As new-crowned King of the Unberogen, Sigmar began to pursue his vision of a united Empire of Man, but first avenged his father by driving the Norsii from their lands and across the sea to a [[Norsca|frozen peninsula]]. {{Fn|2k}} Some of the tribal kings, such as [[Marbad]] of the [[Endals]], had already sworn sword-oaths with the Unberogen, and one by one, through conquest or diplomacy, Sigmar won the allegiance of the rest. {{fn|7a}} | ||
[[Aloysis]] of the [[Cherusens]], [[Krugar]] of the [[Taleutens]], [[Adelhard]] of the [[Ostagoths]], [[Siggurd]] of the [[Brigundians]], [[Otwin]] of the [[Thuringians]], [[Henroth]] of the [[Merogens]] and [[Wolfila]] of the [[Udoses]] all joined their peoples to Sigmar's nascent empire. [[Freya]] of the [[Asoborns]] joined after renewing the sword-oath she had sworn to Bjorn through sex, while [[Markus]] of the [[Menogoths]] joined after Sigmar slew the [[Dragon Ogre]] [[Skaranorak]] that had been terrorising his people. [[Artur]] of the [[Teutogens]] refused to join, grown arrogant atop the [[Middenheim|Fauschlag Rock]], but Sigmar scaled the rock and slew Artur in single combat, earning the allegiance of his right-hand man, [[Myrsa]]. In the end, only the [[Jutones]] under [[Marius]] and remote northern clans like the [[Roppsmenn]] remained apart from Sigmar's empire. {{Cite This}} | [[Aloysis]] of the [[Cherusens]], [[Krugar]] of the [[Taleutens]], [[Adelhard]] of the [[Ostagoths]], [[Siggurd]] of the [[Brigundians]], [[Otwin]] of the [[Thuringians]], [[Henroth]] of the [[Merogens]] and [[Wolfila]] of the [[Udoses]] all joined their peoples to Sigmar's nascent empire. [[Freya]] of the [[Asoborns]] joined after renewing the sword-oath she had sworn to Bjorn through sex, while [[Markus]] of the [[Menogoths]] joined after Sigmar slew the [[Dragon Ogre]] [[Skaranorak]] that had been terrorising his people. [[Artur]] of the [[Teutogens]] refused to join, grown arrogant atop the [[Middenheim|Fauschlag Rock]], but Sigmar scaled the rock and slew Artur in single combat, earning the allegiance of his right-hand man, [[Myrsa]]. In the end, only the [[Jutones]] under [[Marius]] and remote northern clans like the [[Roppsmenn]] remained apart from Sigmar's empire. {{Cite This}} | ||
| − | In the year -1 IC, the Dwarf hold of [[Zhufbar]] was besieged by Orcs and Goblins and King Ironbeard called for aid - Sigmar led his army to the hold and defeated the | + | In the year -1 IC, the Dwarf hold of [[Zhufbar]] was besieged by Orcs and Goblins and King Ironbeard called for aid - Sigmar led his army to the hold and defeated the besiegers, allowing [[Alaric the Mad]] to rekindle the ancient forges. {{Fn|1a}} Sigmar's newborn empire was threatened almost immediately by a massive Orc invasion, but Sigmar led the united tribes to victory in the [[Battle of Black Fire Pass]],{{Fn|1a}} personally slaying the Orc warlord. Marbad of the Endals fell in the battle, and was succeeded by his son [[Aldred]]. {{fn|7a}} |
| − | After the battle, Sigmar was crowned Emperor by the High Priest of Ulric with a crown forged by Alaric the Mad, King Kurgan swearing eternal friendship between men and dwarfs and pledging Alaric to supply their allies with twelve magic swords for their aid at Zuffbar. {{Fn|1a}} | + | After the battle, Sigmar was crowned Emperor by the High Priest of Ulric with a crown forged by Alaric the Mad, King Kurgan swearing eternal friendship between men and dwarfs {{Fn|5a}} and pledging Alaric to supply their allies with twelve magic swords for their aid at Zuffbar. {{Fn|1a}}{{fn|7a}} |
The other kings took up the title of [[Elector Count|Counts]]. | The other kings took up the title of [[Elector Count|Counts]]. | ||
===Emperor=== | ===Emperor=== | ||
| − | With the threat of the greenskins smashed for a time Sigmar's empire prospered and developed, but Aldred, the new Count of the Endals, proved to be a distant and even hostile ally, blaming Sigmar for Marbad's death. Convinced by his advisors [[Alfgeir]] and [[Wolfgart]] to postpone his war against the Jutones, Sigmar led a diplomatic expedition to Marburg, which they discovered was in the grip of a devastating plague. Fallen under the influence of a priest of the land's | + | With the threat of the greenskins smashed for a time Sigmar's empire prospered and developed, but [[Aldred]], the new Count of the Endals, proved to be a distant and even hostile ally, blaming Sigmar for Marbad's death. Convinced by his advisors [[Alfgeir]] and [[Wolfgart]] to postpone his war against the Jutones, Sigmar led a diplomatic expedition to Marburg, which they discovered was in the grip of a devastating plague. {{Fn|5b}} Fallen under the influence of a priest of the land's [[Old Faith]], [[Idris Gwylt]], Aldred was prepared to sacrifice to his sister to swamp monsters, the [[Fimir]] in order to end the sickness, but the plot was foiled and the monsters slain by Sigmar and his men. Afterwards, Aldred had the priest ritually executed and renewed his fealty to Sigmar. {{Fn|5c}} |
| + | |||
| + | Sigmar's next campaign was against the Jutones, who had refused to join the Empire. {{Fn|5d}} [[Jutonsryk]] proved well-defended and held off Sigmar's army for two years, but eventually the city fell and Sigmar accepted Marius's sword-oath as a Count of the Empire. {{Fn|5e}} The next threat came from the [[Middle Mountains]] north of [[Middenheim]], where Sigmar's friend and sword-brother [[Pendrag]] was serving as the new Count of the Teutogens. A [[necromancer]] named [[Morath]] had used the [[Crown of Nagash]] to create an echo of dead [[Mourkain]] around the [[Brass Keep]], {{Fn|5f}} but his undead legions were defeated by Sigmar's forces. Sigmar slew Morath, but also used his crown to heal Pendrag who had been prematurely aged by the necromancer's dark magic, and came under its malign influence. {{Fn|5g}} | ||
| − | + | When news reached him that Count [[Wolfila]] and his family had been slaughtered in their keep by Roppsmenn allied with resurgent Norsii raiders,{{Fn|5h}} Sigmar led a punitive campaign that drove the Roppsmenn to the edge of extinction, fighting under the Dragon Banner and killing men, women and children of the enemy without mercy. Only when Pendrag and Redwane refused to kill anymore did he relent and return home. {{Fn|5i}} He then turned on Counts [[Aloysis]] and [[Krugar]], who had continued feuding and raiding each other despite his express orders, and imprisoned them both awaiting execution. {{Fn|5j}} Only when Wolfgart physically attacked him to prevent him carrying out the dark deed was Sigmar able to throw off [[Nagash]]'s dark influence, though the spirit of Ravenna warned him that Nagash would come for his crown in time.{{Fn|5k}} | |
| − | In the ninth year of Sigmar's reign the Norsii raids turned into a full-blown invasion, led by Khornate warlord [[Cormac Bloodaxe]] and Sigmar's old enemy Gerreon, now the Slaaneshi daemonhost [[Azazel]]. | + | In the ninth year of Sigmar's reign the Norsii raids turned into a full-blown invasion, led by Khornate warlord [[Cormac Bloodaxe]] and Sigmar's old enemy Gerreon, now the Slaaneshi daemonhost [[Azazel]]. In [[Battle of the Northern Ridge]] Sigmar was defeated for the first time in a pitched battle. Sigmar's army retreated to Middenheim, which quickly came under [[Siege of Middenheim|siege]] from a massive army of Norsii and [[beastmen]]. [[Dwarf]] troops came to Sigmar's aid, and [[Alaric the Mad]] the runesmith presented Sigmar with the first [[Runefang]], ''Blodambana'' or '''Bloodbane''', which he gifted to Pendrag. Cormac Bloodaxe ascended into a [[Bloodthirster]] of [[Khorne]], [[Skaven]] attacked from tunnels beneath the city and Pendrag was slain by Azazel, but Myrsa and Sigmar were able to slay the Bloodthirster and the forces of order won the day.{{Fn|2}} |
| − | + | Following the defeat of the Chaos invasion, Sigmar led a counter-invasion into Norsca which devastated many of the Norsii tribes.{{Fn|3}} | |
| − | The final battle of the war against the undead was fought outside Reikdorf itself. Despite making some early gains with cavalry charges the living army was no match for the numberless dead, and Sigmar knew that the only path to victory was to slay Nagash himself. Donning Nagash's crown in order to shield himself from the Great Necromancer's dark magic, Sigmar led a charge through the centre of the undead army and gained the hill from which Nagash was unleashing his black sorcery. Engaging Nagash in a climactic duel, Sigmar quickly discovered that he was outmatched but distracted Nagash by moving to destroy his crown, allowing him to land a mortal blow with Ghal-Maraz whilst Nagash reached for the fallen artifact. Nagash's form was unmade and his spirit banished by the powerful magic bound to the hammer, and with his death the undead army collapsed.{{Fn|3}} | + | ====Nagash==== |
| + | {{Main|Sigmar's War against Nagash}} | ||
| + | The second major threat to Sigmar's realm was from the necromancer [[Nagash]], who had resurrected himself following his first death over a millennia before only to find [[Nehekhara]] controlled by [[Tomb Kings]] who had successfully resisted his attempts to retake control of the land. Needing to reclaim the powerful artifacts he had forged in order to regain full power, Nagash led [[Sigmar's War against Nagash|an undead invasion]] of the Empire with the goal of securing his crown, which was buried in a vault beneath the Temple of [[Shallya]] in Reikdorf. The southern portion of the Empire was swiftly overwhelmed, the Brigundians and Menogoths wiped out and their Counts turned into [[vampires]] by Nagash's lieutenant [[Khaled al-Muntasir]]. {{Fn|6a}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | An undead fleet invaded and destroyed Jutonsryk, forcing Marius and the surviving Jutones to seek refuge in Marburg, which soon came under attack as well. The Cherusens, Taleutens, Teutogens, Thuringians and Udoses were forced to abandon their lands and take refuge in their capitals, which all came under siege. Queen Freya of the Asoborns led an army to confront the undead led by al-Muntasir at [[Battle of the River Aver]] and suffered a serious defeat, barely escaping with her life. Her people were forced to abandon [[Three Hills]] and flee towards Reikdorf along with thousands of other refugees. The Asoborn refugees were joined by a force of Dwarfs who had marched into the Empire to investigate rumours of Nagash's return, but their combined force was unable to outpace the tireless dead and made [[Last Stand of the Asoborn|a last stand]]. They were saved at the last minute by Sigmar, who brought a large force of Unberogen and Taleuten cavalry to their rescue, and the combined army moved on to Reikdorf.{{Fn|3}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | The final battle of the war against the undead was [[Battle of the River Reik|fought outside Reikdorf itself]]. Despite making some early gains with cavalry charges the living army was no match for the numberless dead, and Sigmar knew that the only path to victory was to slay Nagash himself. Donning Nagash's crown in order to shield himself from the Great Necromancer's dark magic, Sigmar led a charge through the centre of the undead army and gained the hill from which Nagash was unleashing his black sorcery. Engaging Nagash in a climactic duel, Sigmar quickly discovered that he was outmatched but distracted Nagash by moving to destroy his crown, allowing him to land a mortal blow with Ghal-Maraz whilst Nagash reached for the fallen artifact. Nagash's form was unmade and his spirit banished by the powerful magic bound to the hammer, and with his death the undead army collapsed.{{Fn|3}} | ||
At some point later in his reign, Sigmar faced and destroyed a second massive Chaos invasion led by [[Morkar]] the first [[Everchosen]].{{Cite This}} | At some point later in his reign, Sigmar faced and destroyed a second massive Chaos invasion led by [[Morkar]] the first [[Everchosen]].{{Cite This}} | ||
===Departure=== | ===Departure=== | ||
| − | In the fiftieth year of his reign, Sigmar put by his crown and set off into the east. Sources conflict on the details of what precisely motivated Sigmar to do this; some accounts claim he set off to return Ghal Maraz to the Dwarfs, but the famous rune-hammer has traditionally been the weapon of the ruling Emperor and the primary symbol/relic of the Sigmarite cult, founded by [[Johann Helstrum]] in 73 [[IC]]. A number of heresies have sprung up regarding the authenticity of Ghal Maraz, but the official Imperial position is that the weapon wielded by the Emperors is the hammer of Sigmar. | + | In the fiftieth year of his reign, Sigmar put by his crown and set off into the east to meet his old Dwarf High King friend. {{fn|7a}} |
| + | |||
| + | Sources conflict on the details of what precisely motivated Sigmar to do this; some accounts claim he set off to return Ghal Maraz to the Dwarfs, but the famous rune-hammer has traditionally been the weapon of the ruling Emperor and the primary symbol/relic of the Sigmarite cult, founded by [[Johann Helstrum]] in 73 [[IC]]. A number of heresies have sprung up regarding the authenticity of Ghal Maraz, but the official Imperial position is that the weapon wielded by the Emperors is the hammer of Sigmar. | ||
===Legacy=== | ===Legacy=== | ||
| − | Following his disappearance, Sigmar passed over the World's Edge mountain range and no human ever saw him again. Since he was never known to have died, this may have played a large role in the early successes of the cult established in his honour. | + | Following his disappearance, Sigmar passed over the World's Edge mountain range and no human ever saw him again. Since he was never known to have died, this may have played a large role in the early successes of the cult established in his honour. {{fn|7a}} |
| − | == | + | ==Cult of Sigmar== |
| + | {{Main|Cult of Sigmar}} | ||
It is now the foremost religion in the Empire and is inextricably intertwined with the political, cultural, and national identity of the Empire and its people. Interestingly, Sigmar never claimed to be a deity and his own religious beliefs while alive are subject to conjecture, although tradition dictates that he was crowned Emperor by the High Priest of the cult of [[Ulric]], the northern god of winter, wolves, and war. However, the priests and worshippers of Sigmar often receive measurable and often positive answers to their entreaties and petitions, suggesting that something with some measure of power is answering them. Many take this as a sign that Sigmar indeed is a god, and watches over the Empire.{{Cite This}} | It is now the foremost religion in the Empire and is inextricably intertwined with the political, cultural, and national identity of the Empire and its people. Interestingly, Sigmar never claimed to be a deity and his own religious beliefs while alive are subject to conjecture, although tradition dictates that he was crowned Emperor by the High Priest of the cult of [[Ulric]], the northern god of winter, wolves, and war. However, the priests and worshippers of Sigmar often receive measurable and often positive answers to their entreaties and petitions, suggesting that something with some measure of power is answering them. Many take this as a sign that Sigmar indeed is a god, and watches over the Empire.{{Cite This}} | ||
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==Valten== | ==Valten== | ||
| − | It is a well-known theory among the theologians of the Old World that a Champion of Light arises to do battle with the forces of [[Chaos]] when they unify around their periodic leaders. Some believe that Sigmar may have been one of these, and a number have argued for Magnus the Pious as well. The most recent case came in the year IC 2522, under a young man named [[Valten]] of [[Lachenbad]], who became the central figure around which the Empire rallied to fight [[Archaon]] in the recent [[Storm of Chaos]] event. | + | It is a well-known theory among the theologians of the [[Old World]] that a Champion of Light arises to do battle with the forces of [[Chaos]] when they unify around their periodic leaders. Some believe that Sigmar may have been one of these, and a number have argued for Magnus the Pious as well. The most recent case came in the year IC 2522, under a young man named [[Valten]] of [[Lachenbad]], who became the central figure around which the Empire rallied to fight [[Archaon]] in the recent [[Storm of Chaos]] event. |
Valten was especially noted for his incredible strength, instinctive leadership, and strength of will. Furthermore, he strongly resembled the appearance ascribed to Sigmar in Imperial legend, and sported a birthmark on his chest of Sigmar's legendary twin-tailed comet. Hailed as the 'spiritual leader of the Empire' by Emperor [[Karl Franz]] and presented with Sigmar's own hammer Ghal Maraz, Valten was believed by many to be an avatar of Sigmar or the returned god under a different name. He was assassinated shortly after the war with Archaon ended, ostensibly by an assassin of [[Clan Eshin]] (the [[warpstone]] dagger would suggest their involvement, although it was indicated in the text that count [[Boris Todbringer]] of Middenheim and the former Grand Theogonist [[Johann Esmer]] might have been involved), but this development was covered up by the Emperor and Valten's lieutenant, the Sigmarite warrior-monk and prophet [[Luthor Huss]], who discovered Valten in the days before Archaon's invasion. It should be noted that only Valten's blood was found, not his body, suggesting that he may still be alive.{{Cite This}} | Valten was especially noted for his incredible strength, instinctive leadership, and strength of will. Furthermore, he strongly resembled the appearance ascribed to Sigmar in Imperial legend, and sported a birthmark on his chest of Sigmar's legendary twin-tailed comet. Hailed as the 'spiritual leader of the Empire' by Emperor [[Karl Franz]] and presented with Sigmar's own hammer Ghal Maraz, Valten was believed by many to be an avatar of Sigmar or the returned god under a different name. He was assassinated shortly after the war with Archaon ended, ostensibly by an assassin of [[Clan Eshin]] (the [[warpstone]] dagger would suggest their involvement, although it was indicated in the text that count [[Boris Todbringer]] of Middenheim and the former Grand Theogonist [[Johann Esmer]] might have been involved), but this development was covered up by the Emperor and Valten's lieutenant, the Sigmarite warrior-monk and prophet [[Luthor Huss]], who discovered Valten in the days before Archaon's invasion. It should be noted that only Valten's blood was found, not his body, suggesting that he may still be alive.{{Cite This}} | ||
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==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
<center><gallery> | <center><gallery> | ||
| + | File:Sigmar at Black Fire.jpg|Sigmar figthing Orcs ([[Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (1st Edition)]]) | ||
File:Sigmar and Unberogens Wd.jpg|Sigmar and the [[Unberogens]] fighting against [[Orcs]] | File:Sigmar and Unberogens Wd.jpg|Sigmar and the [[Unberogens]] fighting against [[Orcs]] | ||
File:Twin-Tailed Comet.png|The Twin Tailed Comet | File:Twin-Tailed Comet.png|The Twin Tailed Comet | ||
| − | File:SigmarHeldenhammer.jpg|Sigmar Heldenhammer | + | File:SigmarHeldenhammer.jpg|Sigmar Heldenhammer facing Orcs |
| − | |||
File:Sigmar.jpg|'''Sigmar''', a respected and somewhat older emperor. | File:Sigmar.jpg|'''Sigmar''', a respected and somewhat older emperor. | ||
| + | File:SigmarWarlord.jpg|Sigmar the warlord, facing [[Morkar]], the First [[Everchosen]] of [[Chaos]]. | ||
| + | File:SigmarVSNagash.jpg|[[Battle of the River Reik]] | ||
| + | File:Rulebook 2 Vol 1 Combat Cover 001.jpg|Potential inspiration, see {{fn|Note1}} | ||
</gallery></center> | </gallery></center> | ||
==Quotes== | ==Quotes== | ||
{| width="33%" align="center" | {| width="33%" align="center" | ||
| − | |align="center"|''On my dooming day, I walked amongst the tombs of my forefathers and saw our land laid out before me. I saw the sprawling forests and scattered towns within it, like | + | |align="center"|''On my dooming day, I walked amongst the tombs of my forefathers and saw our land laid out before me. I saw the sprawling forests and scattered towns within it, like islands in a dark sea. I saw the strength of men, but I also saw frailty and fear as people huddled together behind high walls that separated them from one another. I felt the jealousy and mistrust that will forever be our undoing in the face of stronger enemies. I have a great vision of a mighty empire of men, a land ruled with justice and strength, but if we are ever to stand a chance of realizing that vision, we must put such petty considerations behind us'' |
'''~ Sigmar. {{Fn|2c}} | '''~ Sigmar. {{Fn|2c}} | ||
|} | |} | ||
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==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* For Sigmar in the Mortal Realms see: [https://ageofsigmar.lexicanum.com/wiki/Sigmar Sigmar]. | * For Sigmar in the Mortal Realms see: [https://ageofsigmar.lexicanum.com/wiki/Sigmar Sigmar]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Notes== | ||
| + | {{Trivia}} | ||
| + | * {{Endn|Note1}}: Sigmar was created for the [[The Enemy Within (Supplement)]] of [[Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay]], where the background of the Empire was first developed. According to [[author]] [[Graeme Davis]] the name was invented by [[Phil Gallagher]] and is a reference to Sigurd/Siegfried of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%B6lsunga_saga| Volsung saga]. His looks might be based on the "[[Harry the Hammer]]" barbarian on the cover of [[WFB Rulebook (2nd Edition)|second edition]], although official [[Games Workshop]] has denied this.{{fn|8}} | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
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** {{Endn|2f}}: Eleven: The Grey Vaults, pg. 161 | ** {{Endn|2f}}: Eleven: The Grey Vaults, pg. 161 | ||
** {{Endn|2g}}: Eleven: The Grey Vaults, pg. 164-166 | ** {{Endn|2g}}: Eleven: The Grey Vaults, pg. 164-166 | ||
| + | ** {{Endn|2h}}: Eleven: The Grey Vaults, pg. 168-171 | ||
| + | ** {{Endn|2i}}: Twelve: One Must Pass, pg. 175-176 | ||
| + | ** {{Endn|2j}}: Twelve: One Must Pass, pg. 183-184 | ||
| + | ** {{Endn|2k}}: Fourteen: Vengeance, pg. 202-203 | ||
* {{Endn|4}}: [[Tome of Salvation]] | * {{Endn|4}}: [[Tome of Salvation]] | ||
** {{Endn|4a}}: Chapter 1: A Brief History of the Cults of the Empire, pg. 13 | ** {{Endn|4a}}: Chapter 1: A Brief History of the Cults of the Empire, pg. 13 | ||
| + | * {{Endn|5}}: [[Legend of Sigmar (anthology)]]: [[Empire (Novel)]] | ||
| + | ** {{Endn|5a}}: Two: Rise an Emperor, pg. 354 | ||
| + | ** {{Endn|5b}}: Four: City of Mist, pg. 381-385 | ||
| + | ** {{Endn|5c}}: Five: Daemon Moon, pg. 394-406 | ||
| + | ** {{Endn|5d}}: Six: Troublesome Kings, pg. 417 | ||
| + | ** {{Endn|5e}}: Eight: A Darkness of the Heart, pg. 446 | ||
| + | ** {{Endn|5f}}: Ten: Curse of the Dead, pg. 474-475 | ||
| + | ** {{Endn|5g}}: Thirteen: A Warning Unheeded, pg. 516-517 | ||
| + | ** {{Endn|5h}}: Thirteen: A Warning Unheeded, pg. 519 | ||
| + | ** {{Endn|5i}}: Fifteen: The Price of Betrayal, pg. 535-539 | ||
| + | ** {{Endn|5j}}: Fifteen: The Price of Betrayal, pg. 546 | ||
| + | ** {{Endn|5k}}: Sixteen: The Temptation of Sigmar, pg. 550-564 | ||
| + | * {{Endn|6}}: [[Legend of Sigmar (anthology)]]: [[God King (Novel)]] | ||
| + | ** {{Endn|6a}}: Five: Homecomings, pg. 718 | ||
| + | * 7: [[Warhammer Armies: The Empire (8th Edition)]] | ||
| + | ** {{Endn|7a}}: The Rise of Sigmar, pgs. 7-8 | ||
| + | ** {{Endn|7b}}: A land of Faith, pg. 25 | ||
| + | * {{Endn|8}}: [https://web.archive.org/web/20250115190101/https://graemedavis.wordpress.com/2025/01/15/when-harry-met-sigmar/ Blog of Graeme Davis: When Harry Met Sigmar, last accessed 22.1.2025] | ||
===Uncited=== | ===Uncited=== | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
*http://warhammeronline.wikia.com/wiki/Sigmar | *http://warhammeronline.wikia.com/wiki/Sigmar | ||
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmar | *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmar | ||
*[[The Life of Sigmar]] (2005), {{Specify}} | *[[The Life of Sigmar]] (2005), {{Specify}} | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
*[[God King (novel)]] {{Specify}} | *[[God King (novel)]] {{Specify}} | ||
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[[Category:Emperors]] | [[Category:Emperors]] | ||
[[Category:Sigmar]] | [[Category:Sigmar]] | ||
| − | [[Category: Unberogen]] | + | [[Category:Unberogen]] |
[[de:Sigmar Heldenhammer]] | [[de:Sigmar Heldenhammer]] | ||
[[fr:Sigmar]] | [[fr:Sigmar]] | ||
| + | {{Great Tribes}} | ||
{{The Empire}} | {{The Empire}} | ||
{{Deities nav}} | {{Deities nav}} | ||
Latest revision as of 01:02, 23 January 2025
 | |
| Status | Active |
| Type | Old World pantheon God |
| Relatives | Björn (father) Griselda (mother) |
| Affiliation | Empire |
| Followers | Cult of Sigmar |
| Symbols | Twin-Tailed Comet Ghal Maraz |
| Friends | Dwarfs |
| Enemies | Orcs & Goblins, Chaos & Undead |
Sigmar Heldenhammer is a god and the founder of human The Empire.[4a][7a]
Sigmar's symbol is the Twin-Tailed Comet; he carried the Dwarf-made warhammer Ghal Maraz, which was adopted as the symbol of the Cult of Sigmar.
Sigmar Heldenhammer was a king of the Unberogen tribe who went on to unite the disparate human tribes and found the Empire. He was made into a god by his people after his reign, and remained the most prominent patron god of the Empire until its destruction. [7a][7b]
Contents
History
Birth and childhood
The Imperial Calendar IC, which takes its starting date from Sigmar's coronation as Emperor, places his birth as the year -30 IC.[1a] Sigmar was born in the town of Reikdorf, an Unberogen settlement which went on to become Altdorf, capitol of the Empire. His father was King Björn of the Unberogen, and the night of his birth was marked by the appearance of a twin-tailed comet, which the human tribes took as a great portent from the gods. The same night, the tribe was attacked by orcs and his mother Griselda was killed. [4a][7a]
In the year -15, Sigmar is believed to have helped drive off a Goblin invasion of his village, and in the same year, led a punitive expedition against a Orc war-party that was holding Kurgan Ironbeard, High King of the Dwarfs, prisoner. In gratitude, Kurgan presented the young warrior with a magical rune-enchanted warhammer called Ghal Maraz ('Skull-splitter', in the Dwarf Khazalid tongue).[1a] According to King Kurgan, the dwarf party had the hammer with them when Sigmar's party found them, and it "called" to him after his own spear broke. Though a Dwarf-made weapon, Kurgan believed that Ghal Maraz and Sigmar were meant for each other.{[7a]
As a young warrior, Sigmar led the Unberogens in the Battle of Astofen Bridge, where he succeeded in defeating a marauding band of Orcs thanks to the sacrifice of his friend and sword-brother Trinovantes. [2a] Trinovantes' sister Ravenna and twin brother Gerreon were devastated by his loss, but while Ravenna forgave Sigmar and went on to become his lover, Gerreon held a grudge which would come back to haunt Sigmar and the Empire. Needs Citation
After his victory over the orcs as Astofen, Sigmar gathered his sword-brothers, Wolfgart and Pendrag at the Oathstone of Reikdorf and told them of the vision he had had on his Dooming day. The three swore an oath together to create the united empire he had seen. Shortly after, Sigmar promised Ravenna that he would put down his weapons when his great work was completed. [2c]
When an army of Norsii invaded the human lands, King Bjorn led the Unberogen to battle in aid of their fellow tribes and left Sigmar in charge of Reikdorf. On the eve of battle, Bjorn was visited by the Hag of the Brackenwalsch, a sorceress who guided the human tribes through prophecies even though they shunned her. The hag told Bjorn that in order for Sigmar to survive, he had to face the Norse warlord in battle to which Bjorn agreed. [2d]
Meanwhile, Sigmar and Ravenna traveled away from Reikdorf to swim and were ambushed by Gerreon, who murdered Ravenna with a sword coated in poison he had obtained from the Hag of the Brackenwalsch. Cut by Gerreon's blade, Sigmar fell into a river [2e] and washed up near Reikdorf, where he lingered on the verge of death. [2f] His spirit entered the Grey Vaults, a twilight-realm between life and death, where daemons came to claim him and were only thwarted by the spirit of Bjorn, who unbeknownst to Sigmar had obeyed the hag's prophecy and let himself fall in battle so that his spirit could come to save Sigmar's. [2g]
They travelled to the great mountain range where a vast portal formed which attracted vast numbers of the lost souls, many in monsterous forms. There they were confronted by the soulf of the Norse warlord that Björn had just slain in battle and who was now a deamon. As an army gathered around the red daemon, he offered Björn the chance to return to the world of the living if he would stand aside and let him take the soul of Sigmar. [2h]
Björn refused and hundreds of fallen warriors of the Unberogen joined him to fight off the deamons and allow the king as his son to fight their way to the portal. [2h] They smashed through the enemy and whilst Sigmar returned to the world, Björn and his warriors entered the realm of Morr. [2i]
A short time later, the Unberogen army returned to Reikdorf with Bjorn's body, and Sigmar was crowned king [2j] in -8 IC. [1b][7a]
Uniting the tribes
As new-crowned King of the Unberogen, Sigmar began to pursue his vision of a united Empire of Man, but first avenged his father by driving the Norsii from their lands and across the sea to a frozen peninsula. [2k] Some of the tribal kings, such as Marbad of the Endals, had already sworn sword-oaths with the Unberogen, and one by one, through conquest or diplomacy, Sigmar won the allegiance of the rest. [7a]
Aloysis of the Cherusens, Krugar of the Taleutens, Adelhard of the Ostagoths, Siggurd of the Brigundians, Otwin of the Thuringians, Henroth of the Merogens and Wolfila of the Udoses all joined their peoples to Sigmar's nascent empire. Freya of the Asoborns joined after renewing the sword-oath she had sworn to Bjorn through sex, while Markus of the Menogoths joined after Sigmar slew the Dragon Ogre Skaranorak that had been terrorising his people. Artur of the Teutogens refused to join, grown arrogant atop the Fauschlag Rock, but Sigmar scaled the rock and slew Artur in single combat, earning the allegiance of his right-hand man, Myrsa. In the end, only the Jutones under Marius and remote northern clans like the Roppsmenn remained apart from Sigmar's empire. Needs Citation
In the year -1 IC, the Dwarf hold of Zhufbar was besieged by Orcs and Goblins and King Ironbeard called for aid - Sigmar led his army to the hold and defeated the besiegers, allowing Alaric the Mad to rekindle the ancient forges. [1a] Sigmar's newborn empire was threatened almost immediately by a massive Orc invasion, but Sigmar led the united tribes to victory in the Battle of Black Fire Pass,[1a] personally slaying the Orc warlord. Marbad of the Endals fell in the battle, and was succeeded by his son Aldred. [7a]
After the battle, Sigmar was crowned Emperor by the High Priest of Ulric with a crown forged by Alaric the Mad, King Kurgan swearing eternal friendship between men and dwarfs [5a] and pledging Alaric to supply their allies with twelve magic swords for their aid at Zuffbar. [1a][7a]
The other kings took up the title of Counts.
Emperor
With the threat of the greenskins smashed for a time Sigmar's empire prospered and developed, but Aldred, the new Count of the Endals, proved to be a distant and even hostile ally, blaming Sigmar for Marbad's death. Convinced by his advisors Alfgeir and Wolfgart to postpone his war against the Jutones, Sigmar led a diplomatic expedition to Marburg, which they discovered was in the grip of a devastating plague. [5b] Fallen under the influence of a priest of the land's Old Faith, Idris Gwylt, Aldred was prepared to sacrifice to his sister to swamp monsters, the Fimir in order to end the sickness, but the plot was foiled and the monsters slain by Sigmar and his men. Afterwards, Aldred had the priest ritually executed and renewed his fealty to Sigmar. [5c]
Sigmar's next campaign was against the Jutones, who had refused to join the Empire. [5d] Jutonsryk proved well-defended and held off Sigmar's army for two years, but eventually the city fell and Sigmar accepted Marius's sword-oath as a Count of the Empire. [5e] The next threat came from the Middle Mountains north of Middenheim, where Sigmar's friend and sword-brother Pendrag was serving as the new Count of the Teutogens. A necromancer named Morath had used the Crown of Nagash to create an echo of dead Mourkain around the Brass Keep, [5f] but his undead legions were defeated by Sigmar's forces. Sigmar slew Morath, but also used his crown to heal Pendrag who had been prematurely aged by the necromancer's dark magic, and came under its malign influence. [5g]
When news reached him that Count Wolfila and his family had been slaughtered in their keep by Roppsmenn allied with resurgent Norsii raiders,[5h] Sigmar led a punitive campaign that drove the Roppsmenn to the edge of extinction, fighting under the Dragon Banner and killing men, women and children of the enemy without mercy. Only when Pendrag and Redwane refused to kill anymore did he relent and return home. [5i] He then turned on Counts Aloysis and Krugar, who had continued feuding and raiding each other despite his express orders, and imprisoned them both awaiting execution. [5j] Only when Wolfgart physically attacked him to prevent him carrying out the dark deed was Sigmar able to throw off Nagash's dark influence, though the spirit of Ravenna warned him that Nagash would come for his crown in time.[5k]
In the ninth year of Sigmar's reign the Norsii raids turned into a full-blown invasion, led by Khornate warlord Cormac Bloodaxe and Sigmar's old enemy Gerreon, now the Slaaneshi daemonhost Azazel. In Battle of the Northern Ridge Sigmar was defeated for the first time in a pitched battle. Sigmar's army retreated to Middenheim, which quickly came under siege from a massive army of Norsii and beastmen. Dwarf troops came to Sigmar's aid, and Alaric the Mad the runesmith presented Sigmar with the first Runefang, Blodambana or Bloodbane, which he gifted to Pendrag. Cormac Bloodaxe ascended into a Bloodthirster of Khorne, Skaven attacked from tunnels beneath the city and Pendrag was slain by Azazel, but Myrsa and Sigmar were able to slay the Bloodthirster and the forces of order won the day.[2]
Following the defeat of the Chaos invasion, Sigmar led a counter-invasion into Norsca which devastated many of the Norsii tribes.[3]
Nagash
The second major threat to Sigmar's realm was from the necromancer Nagash, who had resurrected himself following his first death over a millennia before only to find Nehekhara controlled by Tomb Kings who had successfully resisted his attempts to retake control of the land. Needing to reclaim the powerful artifacts he had forged in order to regain full power, Nagash led an undead invasion of the Empire with the goal of securing his crown, which was buried in a vault beneath the Temple of Shallya in Reikdorf. The southern portion of the Empire was swiftly overwhelmed, the Brigundians and Menogoths wiped out and their Counts turned into vampires by Nagash's lieutenant Khaled al-Muntasir. [6a]
An undead fleet invaded and destroyed Jutonsryk, forcing Marius and the surviving Jutones to seek refuge in Marburg, which soon came under attack as well. The Cherusens, Taleutens, Teutogens, Thuringians and Udoses were forced to abandon their lands and take refuge in their capitals, which all came under siege. Queen Freya of the Asoborns led an army to confront the undead led by al-Muntasir at Battle of the River Aver and suffered a serious defeat, barely escaping with her life. Her people were forced to abandon Three Hills and flee towards Reikdorf along with thousands of other refugees. The Asoborn refugees were joined by a force of Dwarfs who had marched into the Empire to investigate rumours of Nagash's return, but their combined force was unable to outpace the tireless dead and made a last stand. They were saved at the last minute by Sigmar, who brought a large force of Unberogen and Taleuten cavalry to their rescue, and the combined army moved on to Reikdorf.[3]
The final battle of the war against the undead was fought outside Reikdorf itself. Despite making some early gains with cavalry charges the living army was no match for the numberless dead, and Sigmar knew that the only path to victory was to slay Nagash himself. Donning Nagash's crown in order to shield himself from the Great Necromancer's dark magic, Sigmar led a charge through the centre of the undead army and gained the hill from which Nagash was unleashing his black sorcery. Engaging Nagash in a climactic duel, Sigmar quickly discovered that he was outmatched but distracted Nagash by moving to destroy his crown, allowing him to land a mortal blow with Ghal-Maraz whilst Nagash reached for the fallen artifact. Nagash's form was unmade and his spirit banished by the powerful magic bound to the hammer, and with his death the undead army collapsed.[3]
At some point later in his reign, Sigmar faced and destroyed a second massive Chaos invasion led by Morkar the first Everchosen.Needs Citation
Departure
In the fiftieth year of his reign, Sigmar put by his crown and set off into the east to meet his old Dwarf High King friend. [7a]
Sources conflict on the details of what precisely motivated Sigmar to do this; some accounts claim he set off to return Ghal Maraz to the Dwarfs, but the famous rune-hammer has traditionally been the weapon of the ruling Emperor and the primary symbol/relic of the Sigmarite cult, founded by Johann Helstrum in 73 IC. A number of heresies have sprung up regarding the authenticity of Ghal Maraz, but the official Imperial position is that the weapon wielded by the Emperors is the hammer of Sigmar.
Legacy
Following his disappearance, Sigmar passed over the World's Edge mountain range and no human ever saw him again. Since he was never known to have died, this may have played a large role in the early successes of the cult established in his honour. [7a]
Cult of Sigmar
It is now the foremost religion in the Empire and is inextricably intertwined with the political, cultural, and national identity of the Empire and its people. Interestingly, Sigmar never claimed to be a deity and his own religious beliefs while alive are subject to conjecture, although tradition dictates that he was crowned Emperor by the High Priest of the cult of Ulric, the northern god of winter, wolves, and war. However, the priests and worshippers of Sigmar often receive measurable and often positive answers to their entreaties and petitions, suggesting that something with some measure of power is answering them. Many take this as a sign that Sigmar indeed is a god, and watches over the Empire.Needs Citation
The cults of Sigmar and Ulric do not get along well. The Ar-Ulric and the two Arch-Lectors of the Sigmarite faith, as well as the Grand Theogonist (the current one being Volkmar the Grim), all maintain a vote in the election of the Emperors. While the cult and its leaders are often corrupt and hip-deep in the Byzantine politics of the Empire, it is a faith that preaches courage, justice, honour, and the protection of the weak and innocent from evil. It is also nationalistic and sees the preservation of Sigmar's original holdings as a sacred duty. The church's iconography primarily centres around images directly connected to Sigmar himself: the comet and the hammer are the foremost of these. Also a popular national and religious symbol is the griffon, the personal heraldry of Emperor Magnus the Pious, who saved the Empire from disaster during the Great War Against Chaos in 2302-2303 IC. It is likely that Magnus will be canonised as a saint within the next century.Needs Citation
Valten
It is a well-known theory among the theologians of the Old World that a Champion of Light arises to do battle with the forces of Chaos when they unify around their periodic leaders. Some believe that Sigmar may have been one of these, and a number have argued for Magnus the Pious as well. The most recent case came in the year IC 2522, under a young man named Valten of Lachenbad, who became the central figure around which the Empire rallied to fight Archaon in the recent Storm of Chaos event.
Valten was especially noted for his incredible strength, instinctive leadership, and strength of will. Furthermore, he strongly resembled the appearance ascribed to Sigmar in Imperial legend, and sported a birthmark on his chest of Sigmar's legendary twin-tailed comet. Hailed as the 'spiritual leader of the Empire' by Emperor Karl Franz and presented with Sigmar's own hammer Ghal Maraz, Valten was believed by many to be an avatar of Sigmar or the returned god under a different name. He was assassinated shortly after the war with Archaon ended, ostensibly by an assassin of Clan Eshin (the warpstone dagger would suggest their involvement, although it was indicated in the text that count Boris Todbringer of Middenheim and the former Grand Theogonist Johann Esmer might have been involved), but this development was covered up by the Emperor and Valten's lieutenant, the Sigmarite warrior-monk and prophet Luthor Huss, who discovered Valten in the days before Archaon's invasion. It should be noted that only Valten's blood was found, not his body, suggesting that he may still be alive.Needs Citation
Gallery
Sigmar figthing Orcs (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (1st Edition))
Sigmar and the Unberogens fighting against Orcs
The Twin Tailed Comet
Sigmar Heldenhammer facing Orcs
Sigmar, a respected and somewhat older emperor.
Sigmar the warlord, facing Morkar, the First Everchosen of Chaos.
Potential inspiration, see [Note1]
Quotes
| On my dooming day, I walked amongst the tombs of my forefathers and saw our land laid out before me. I saw the sprawling forests and scattered towns within it, like islands in a dark sea. I saw the strength of men, but I also saw frailty and fear as people huddled together behind high walls that separated them from one another. I felt the jealousy and mistrust that will forever be our undoing in the face of stronger enemies. I have a great vision of a mighty empire of men, a land ruled with justice and strength, but if we are ever to stand a chance of realizing that vision, we must put such petty considerations behind us
~ Sigmar. [2c] |
See also
- For Sigmar in the Mortal Realms see: Sigmar.
Notes
 |
- Note1: Sigmar was created for the The Enemy Within (Supplement) of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, where the background of the Empire was first developed. According to author Graeme Davis the name was invented by Phil Gallagher and is a reference to Sigurd/Siegfried of the Volsung saga. His looks might be based on the "Harry the Hammer" barbarian on the cover of second edition, although official Games Workshop has denied this.[8]
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition)
- 2: Legend of Sigmar (anthology): Heldenhammer (novel)
- 2a: Two: Astofen Bridge, pg. 36-51
- 2b: Three: Morr’s Due, pg. 60
- 2c: Four: Sword Brothers, pg. 74-78
- 2d: Ten: Red Dawn, pg. 151-152
- 2e: Ten: Red Dawn, pg. 155-158
- 2f: Eleven: The Grey Vaults, pg. 161
- 2g: Eleven: The Grey Vaults, pg. 164-166
- 2h: Eleven: The Grey Vaults, pg. 168-171
- 2i: Twelve: One Must Pass, pg. 175-176
- 2j: Twelve: One Must Pass, pg. 183-184
- 2k: Fourteen: Vengeance, pg. 202-203
- 4: Tome of Salvation
- 4a: Chapter 1: A Brief History of the Cults of the Empire, pg. 13
- 5: Legend of Sigmar (anthology): Empire (Novel)
- 5a: Two: Rise an Emperor, pg. 354
- 5b: Four: City of Mist, pg. 381-385
- 5c: Five: Daemon Moon, pg. 394-406
- 5d: Six: Troublesome Kings, pg. 417
- 5e: Eight: A Darkness of the Heart, pg. 446
- 5f: Ten: Curse of the Dead, pg. 474-475
- 5g: Thirteen: A Warning Unheeded, pg. 516-517
- 5h: Thirteen: A Warning Unheeded, pg. 519
- 5i: Fifteen: The Price of Betrayal, pg. 535-539
- 5j: Fifteen: The Price of Betrayal, pg. 546
- 5k: Sixteen: The Temptation of Sigmar, pg. 550-564
- 6: Legend of Sigmar (anthology): God King (Novel)
- 6a: Five: Homecomings, pg. 718
- 7: Warhammer Armies: The Empire (8th Edition)
- 8: Blog of Graeme Davis: When Harry Met Sigmar, last accessed 22.1.2025
Uncited
- http://warhammeronline.wikia.com/wiki/Sigmar
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmar
- The Life of Sigmar (2005), Specify Source
- God King (novel) Specify Source
| Great Tribes | ||
| Tribes | Asoborn - Brigundians - Cherusen - Endals - Jutones - Menogoths - Merogens - Ostagoths - Taleutens - Teutogen - Thuringians - Udoses - Unberogen | |
| Characters | Adelhard - Aldred - Alfgeir - Aloysis - Alessa - Artur - Berongunden - Björn - Bysen - Conn Carsten - Cradoc - Cuthwin - Ebrulf - Egil - Eoforth - Freya - Fridleifr - Garr - Gerreon - Govannon - Griseldis - Henroth - Idris Gwylt - Krugar - Laredus - Leovulf - Maedbh - Marbad - Marika - Marius - Markus - Myrsa - Notker - Otwin - Pendrag - Petra - Ravenna - Redmane Dregor - Redwane - Siggurd - Sigmar - Sigulf - Trinovantes - Ulfdar - Ulrike - Wolfgart - Wolfila | |
