emperor of mankind

One of the most important characters in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, the God-Emperor of Mankind is a figure seen as the divine ruler of all humanity. He united a fractured Terra (in ancient times also known as Earth) following the collapse of mankind's previous civilization before setting out on a galaxy-wide campaign (known as the Great Crusade) to reunite lost human worlds and reclaim his demigod sons known as Primarchs.

One, Horus, would betray him and rally half the Primarchs to the cause of Chaos, triggering a civil war. The Emperor would slay Horus, but was mortally wounded in turn and encased upon a life-support device known as the Golden Throne, where mankind would quickly worship him as a god.

Generally depicted in 2 forms:

• During the Great Crusade, as a very tall human wearing a extremely decorated golden power armor, a golden laurel crown and long talons on a hand, and holding a flaming sword. See post #1037362.
• After the Horus Heresy, sitting on the Golden Throne, usually as a corpse. See post #5024924.