Jump to content

Norman historical influences of space marines


Recommended Posts

Hey all,

 

I have a quick question for the fluff masters. I have been on Norman history documentary binge and was curious if an chapter or legion seems to draw particular influence from this historical time/group.

 

Obviously some factions wear their historical influences on their sleeves but I have never really noticed anything specifically Norman.

 

Anywho I look forward to hearing from you all.

 

Cheers

LoP

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Normans were vikings that settled in north france, right?

Well the only viking-esque faction we have are Space Wolves tho GW kept adding more and more wolf stuff and less and less viking stuff so that's that. Also Normans weren't particularly viking anymore anyway iirc

They seem to be more like the classic european medieval folks which would basically fit any number of imperial worlds, potentially with a local Knight House or a particularly knightly Marine chapter (there are dozens of them among the successor chapters).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It’d be interesting to know what you think defines Norman culture that might transfer to 40k?

 

The way the Norman conquest is taught in England makes it quite difficult to grasp what we have culturally that comes from the Normans and what predates them

 

But off the top of my head, there are two characteristics that might transfer:

-William the Conqueror invaded the south east of England whilst Harold Godwin was defending against the Space Wolves, sorry Vikings, in the north east at the battle of Stamford bridge. So that makes him tactically pragmatic and underhanded and therefore Raven Guard.

-once he’d taken the English crown, he set about culturally bulldozing the English nobility and putting Norman culture in its place. So he’s an empire builder and therefore Ultramarine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Willy probably even paved the Varangians off as a distraction (Carnifex) ;)

 

 

 

 

Corvus would just whisper to Russ from the Shadows .... “See the shiny object Brother?”

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Willy probably even paved the Varangians off as a distraction (Carnifex) :wink:

 

 

 

Eh? What do the Varangians (a Byzantine organisation) have to do with the Norman Conquest.

 

The only connection I'm aware of is that, post-Conquest, a bunch of dispossessed/unemployed Anglo-Saxon nobility and former huscarls took employment with the Byzantines and joined the Varangian Guard.

 

Regarding the OP, there isn't really a coherent 'Norman Identity' that fits as a stereotype to slot into 40k. They just kinda get brought into the overall 'Knightly' aesthetic/themes, rather than as a distinct entity in and of themselves.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Normans had a habit of conquering places, building little keeps all over the country to garrison their soldoers, I think a fair few also went off on Crusade. Sounds like Black Templars to me.

Alternatively, the White Templars and the Red Templars have almost zero fluff, so perhaps you could use one of those as a template?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Willy probably even paved the Varangians off as a distraction (Carnifex) ;)

 

 

Eh? What do the Varangians (a Byzantine organisation) have to do with the Norman Conquest.

 

The only connection I'm aware of is that, post-Conquest, a bunch of dispossessed/unemployed Anglo-Saxon nobility and former huscarls took employment with the Byzantines and joined the Varangian Guard.

The Normans were an ethnic group that arose in Normandy, a northern region of France, from contact between indigenous Franks and Norse Viking settlers. Viking mercenaries served for a hundred years as part of the Varangian Guard.

 

I think the idea of toned down Black Templar flavor using Ultramarine rules might be a start.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

 

The Normans were an ethnic group that arose in Normandy, a northern region of France, from contact between indigenous Franks and Norse Viking settlers. Viking mercenaries served for a hundred years as part of the Varangian Guard.

 

Right, but the Varangian Guard was essentially the personal guard of the Holy Roman Emperors and never ventured as far as France. The only relevance it has to the Normans at all is that a number of them went to Constantinople to serve in the Varangian Guard following the conquest of England.

 

Your initial comment still makes zero sense.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think Brother Adelard has the best answer to this question. There is nothing that distinct about the Normans to latch onto beyond their use of heavy cavalry (in comparison to their contemporaries), so you can twist that into 40K how you like (e.g. bikes being sci-fi cavalry, or go for tanks etc..) really. The most you can link to Normans for an existing 40K Chapter is the knightly aspect, and when you consider that Space Marines are knights in space anyway...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.