The Celestial Lions don't have it easy.
In the grim darkness of the 40th millennium, being a hero usually gets you killed, but for this specific Chapter of Space Marines, it’s much worse than that. Most fans know them as the guys who got "accidentally" wiped out by the Inquisition. But honestly? The real story is a lot more frustrating and deeply human than just a simple conspiracy theory.
If you’re looking into the Celestial Lions Warhammer 40k history, you’re looking at a saga of pride, stubbornness, and what happens when the most powerful organization in the galaxy decides to gaslight you into extinction.
The Khatyan Massacre: Where Everything Started Going Wrong
It wasn't a daemon that started the downfall. It was a complaint.
Basically, the Celestial Lions are a successor chapter of the Imperial Fists. They have that same stubborn streak. During the Khatyan Rebellion, they saw the Imperial Inquisition doing things that were... well, excessive. We’re talking about the summary execution of billions of innocent civilians after the war was already won. Most Chapters would just look the other way. The Lions didn't. They sent a delegation to Terra to demand an investigation into the Inquisitor responsible.
They were naive.
The delegation never made it. Their ship just vanished in the Warp. Then, another ship was destroyed. Then their gene-seed stores back on their home world of Elysium IX were "accidentally" contaminated. The Celestial Lions realized pretty quickly that someone was trying to delete them from the records. But instead of backing down, they doubled down. That's the Dornish blood in them. They refused to stop talking about the Inquisition's crimes, and that’s when the "Ork Snipers" showed up.
The Myth of the Ork Snipers
If you spend any time in the 40k community, you’ve heard the meme.
📖 Related: A Little to the Left Calendar: Why the Daily Tidy is Actually Genius
"Ork Snipers."
During the Third War for Armageddon, the Celestial Lions deployed their full strength—nearly 1,000 battle-brothers—to defend the planet. They were assigned to the most dangerous zones, often with hilariously bad intelligence provided by high command. In one specific engagement at Hive Volcanus, the Chapter’s leadership was systematically picked off. Not by Orks charging in a frenzy, but by high-powered lasgun fire from "unidentified" positions.
Orks don't really do precision sniping. It’s not their vibe. They like loud guns and big choppas.
The implication, which Aaron Dembski-Bowden makes painfully clear in his writing (specifically in the novella Blood and Fire), is that the Vindicare Temple or Inquisitorial assassins were the ones pulling the triggers. By the end of the campaign, the Chapter was reduced to a handful of Marines. Not a thousand. Not a hundred. Just a tiny group of survivors led by a single remaining Pride Leader named Ekene Dubaku.
They were a Chapter on the brink of death. Literally. They didn't even have an Apothecary left to harvest gene-seed. If you can't harvest gene-seed, you can't make new Marines. You're just waiting for the last guy to fall.
Grimaldus and the Rebirth of the Lions
Enter Merek Grimaldus.
The Hero of Helsreach didn't have to help them. The Black Templars are busy guys. But Grimaldus saw the injustice of it all. He famously told Dubaku that the Celestial Lions would not be allowed to die because their death would be a victory for the shadows.
👉 See also: Why This Link to the Past GBA Walkthrough Still Hits Different Decades Later
It’s one of the few times in 40k where you see genuine brotherhood between Chapters that isn't just "we have the same boss." The Black Templars gave the Lions an Apothecary. They helped them rebuild. It’s a rare moment of hope in a setting that usually feeds on despair.
But don't get too comfortable.
In the more recent lore, specifically around the era of the Great Rift and the Indomitus Crusade, the Celestial Lions finally got a break. Or so they thought. Roboute Guilliman, the Primarch of the Ultramarines, returned and sent them Primaris reinforcements. Their home world was part of the Elara's Veil region, protected by them and the Emperor's Spears.
The Current State of the Chapter (It’s Still Bad)
Even with Primaris tech, the Inquisition has a long memory.
In the book Spear of the Emperor by ADB, we see the Lions again. They are struggling. They’re part of the "Adeptus Vaelarii," a group of three chapters sworn to protect this isolated sector. But even there, lightyears away from Terra, the reach of their enemies is long.
Ekene Dubaku, who had become the Chapter Master and a symbol of their resilience, met a grim end. A Callidus Assassin—the kind that can shapeshift and hide in plain sight—managed to get to him. It was a message. It didn't matter if they were Primaris now. It didn't matter if they had friends. The Inquisition doesn't forgive a slight.
Why People Love the Celestial Lions
You’d think a Chapter that gets beat up this much would be unpopular.
✨ Don't miss: All Barn Locations Forza Horizon 5: What Most People Get Wrong
Actually, it’s the opposite. People love an underdog.
The Celestial Lions represent the "Noble Bright" aspect of 40k that is constantly being smothered by the "Grimdark." They actually care about civilians. They have a unique aesthetic, too—gold armor with azure trim, themed around African savanna culture rather than the usual space-monk or pseudo-European knight vibe. It stands out on a tabletop.
Common Misconceptions
- They are extinct: No. They are severely depleted, but they still exist. They are currently operating in the Elara's Veil region.
- They are just gold Black Templars: While they are closely allied, their culture is much more focused on tribal heritage and "Prides" rather than the crusading zealotry of the Templars.
- The Orks actually did it: No. It's an open secret in the lore that the "Ork Snipers" were Imperial Assassins. Even the characters in the books know it, though they can't always prove it.
How to Get Started with the Lore
If you want to actually read the source material rather than just wiki-diving, you need to grab the Armageddon anthology. Blood and Fire by Aaron Dembski-Bowden is the gold standard here. It’s told from the perspective of the Black Templars, which actually makes the Lions' tragedy feel more impactful because you’re seeing it through the eyes of an outsider who is slowly realizing how messed up the situation is.
After that, Spear of the Emperor is mandatory. It shows the modern state of the Chapter. It’s a depressing read, honestly, but it’s some of the best world-building Black Library has done in a decade. It explains the "unspoken" war between the Chapter and the shadowy parts of the Imperial government.
Painting and Tabletop Tips
Painting gold is a nightmare. Everyone knows this.
If you’re going to build a Celestial Lions army, don't just use Retributor Armour and call it a day. You need depth. Most pro-painters suggest a silver base coat followed by a transparent gold or yellow ink to get that "lion" luster without it looking like flat plastic.
Because their lore is so centered on being low-manned, they are a perfect Chapter for Kill Team or small-format games. You don't need 100 models to tell their story. You just need five guys who look like they’ve been through hell.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Read Blood and Fire: It’s a short novella. You can finish it in an afternoon. It will change how you look at the Inquisition forever.
- Check the Elara's Veil Lore: Look up the "Adeptus Vaelarii." It involves the Celestial Lions, the Emperor's Spears, and the now-extinct Star Scorpions. It’s a fascinating bit of "border patrol" lore.
- Kitbash with Purpose: If you're modeling them, look for African-inspired bits or extra furs/pelts. It separates them from the generic "Space Marine in gold" look.
- Support Your Local Underdog: The Celestial Lions are a reminder that in 40k, the biggest threat isn't always the alien. Sometimes, it's the guy standing right behind you with a badge.
The story isn't over yet. While the Lions are currently battered and mourning another Chapter Master, they are still holding the line. In a universe where everyone eventually turns into a monster or a corpse, staying a "good guy" despite the world trying to kill you is the ultimate act of rebellion. That’s what makes the Celestial Lions Warhammer 40k community so dedicated. They aren't winning, but they refuse to quit.
And in 40k, that's as close to a happy ending as you're ever going to get.