The Primarch of the Dark Angels, the First Legion of the Space Marines, is Lion El’Jonson. A figure of enigmatic wisdom and martial prowess, the Lion is one of the most complex and mysterious of the Emperor’s sons. Raised on the death world of Caliban, a planet of dense forests teeming with monstrous beasts, El’Jonson grew up in isolation, sharpening his survival instincts and honing his natural gifts into an unparalleled mastery of warfare.
Lion El’Jonson united the knightly orders of Caliban and purged the planet of its many horrors, becoming a revered and legendary leader before the Emperor discovered him. Upon being reunited with the Imperium, the Lion quickly proved himself a brilliant and unyielding commander. His strategic genius and cold, calculating demeanor made him an exceptional general, though his aloofness often created a barrier between himself and others, even among his brother Primarchs.
The Lion’s legacy is marked by his drive for perfection, secrecy, and order, traits that have deeply influenced the culture of the Dark Angels. These characteristics also laid the foundation for the Legion’s enduring shame: the Fall of Caliban, when a significant portion of the Dark Angels, led by the treacherous Luther, turned against the Lion in the dark days of the Horus Heresy. The internal betrayal and its aftermath have forever shaped the Dark Angels, who now carry the dual burden of seeking redemption and maintaining the secret of their fallen brethren, the Fallen Angels.
Lion El’Jonson’s ultimate fate has added to his mystique. After being grievously wounded in his final battle with Luther during the Fall of Caliban, the Lion was placed in a hidden chamber within the ruins of The Rock, the Dark Angels’ fortress-monastery. There, he slumbers in a mysterious healing stasis, awaiting the day he will rise again to lead his sons in humanity’s darkest hour. His legend endures, and the Dark Angels hold onto the hope of his return, when the Lion will once more take up his blade and fight in the Emperor’s name.