High Marshal Helbrecht officially finishes crossing the Rubicon Primaris this weekend, and his incredible new miniature is up for pre-order from Saturday, alongside a whole crusading force of very angry Black Templars. We wanted to learn more about the ferocious and uncompromising Chapter Master of the Black Templars, and who better to ask than veteran Black Library author Guy Haley, who has penned a number of novels starring Helbrecht? We’ll hand you over to Guy, who reveals some fascinating insights into the High Marshal’s character.
Guy: Space Marines are a flexible archetype, and they cover all kinds of intriguing science fiction and high fantasy tropes, but one of their key inspirations is that of the warrior monk.
If we look at that combination of religiosity and martial prowess, then I suppose we could say the Black Templars are the pinnacle of that archetype. They are the crusading military order of the 41st Millennium. Although all Space Marines have a cult-like quality, most are avowedly secular. The Black Templars most assuredly are not, so playing into that holy warrior aspect is the key for this faction, and therefore into Helbrecht – who as their Chapter Master embodies everything they represent.
Helbrecht is a relentless crusader – a pious man who wholeheartedly believes in the Emperor’s divinity. In some ways he’s a pure hero, a knight in shining power armour, as his Chapter put the Imperium and Humanity above all other things. In others, he’s a monster, as the Black Templars are notoriously intolerant, even by the Imperium’s already unpleasant standards. They have a very narrow concept of what is right, and will not stint from enforcing it.
It’s a large Chapter, spread all across the galaxy, with each individual Crusade led by headstrong individuals. From the outside, it can look like Helbrecht is in fact commanding a collection of Chapters, rather than a single military organisation. You need a certain iron will to keep them all in check.
Add to that his own past, the failure of his first crusade as High Marshal, and the setbacks the Imperium has suffered, and you have a character who is volatile and aggressive, yet determined, and unbending.
Thanks, Guy. If you’d like to read more about High Marshal Helbrecht and the Black Templars, Guy has written a number of Black Library titles about them, including The Eternal Crusader, The Glorious Tomb, and Crusaders of Dorn, so be sure to check them out.
