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"Fortress worlds are a fine source of soldiers, owing to necessarily large defence forces, which are typically trained and equipped to the high standards of the Imperial Guard. Fortress Worlds are a valuable asset not only because of their significance as strategic bastions, but also because they can serve as a readily available source of skilled, disciplined fighting men, and it is a rare fortress world that does not raise its armies with the expectation that they may be called upon to serve the Imperial Guard."

—Extract from the Tactica Imperialis
Fortress World

A Fortress World of the Astra Militarum.

A Fortress World is a type of planet within the Imperium of Man that serves as a bastion of the Imperium's defence against some constant and persistent threat to Imperial space.

These worlds are extremely well-defended, usually with large numbers of Astra Militarum regiments and Imperial Navy assets, and their populations and economies are wholly geared towards meeting the demands of Imperial defence. Unfortunately, not all Fortress Worlds are controlled by the Imperium, as several have fallen to the control of the Traitor Legions.

The most famous Fortress World in the Imperium was Cadia, which defended the Cadian Gate, the only stable passage through the Warp from the Eye of Terror into open Imperial space, from the constant assaults of the forces of Chaos and Abaddon the Despoiler's Black Crusades. However, Cadia finally fell to the forces of the Despoiler during the 13th Black Crusade in ca. 999.M41.

Life on a Fortress World[]

Fortress Worlds are uncommon, but necessary, planets. They are established to act as military strongholds, staging points, and physical deterrents. Worlds like these are as much "roadblock" as they are bastion; they are often established on habitable planets and built up for warfare. Linked together, they are able to form blockades used to interdict the enemy and prevent them from spreading out into the Imperium.

Life on a Fortress World is steeped in military discipline and doctrine. From the moment the citizens wake until they go to sleep they train and operate as a military unit. All citizens of Fortress Worlds prepare for the day they are called upon to push back the darkness that sits beyond their crenelated walls.

Cities of these worlds are giant fortresses studded with artillery weapons, and industry is focused almost exclusively on manufacturing machines of war. Those old enough to enlist in the Astra Militarum or Planetary Defence Forces are often required to do so, and even those too young or infirm find ways to serve.

It's not uncommon to have whole generations of a family in service to the Imperium at one time, and many such Imperial Guard regiments boast a rich and proud history.

Fortress Worlds Armed Forces[]

Soldiers from Fortress Worlds have been raised to serve in war, and by the time they reach maturity, they are well-versed in the arts of war and the doctrines of the Tactica Imperialis. Each has been long trained to destroy the enemies of the Imperium, particularly those whose threat may have forced their world to be fortified in the first place.

Fortress Worlders are disciplined, honourable, loyal, and with the highest regard for integrity, and each is already a proficient combatant long before they are taken to serve in the Imperial armed forces.

Notable Fortress Worlds[]

Planet Name Segmentum Sector Sub-Sector System Population Affiliation
Alphos Segmentum Ultima Jericho Reach Unknown Unknown Unknown Imperium of Man
Boros Prime Segmentum Obscurus Unknown Boros Gate Boros System Unknown Imperium of Man
Brigannion IV Segmentum Obscurus Eye of Terror Unknown Unknown Unknown Chaos (Iron Warriors)
Burjan's World Unknown Mitre Gulf Unknown Unknown Unknown Chaos (Iron Warriors)
Cadia
(Destroyed)
Segmentum Obscurus Cadian Sector Cadian Sub-sector Cadian System 0 (presently) / 850,000,000 (formerly) Imperium of Man
Castellax Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Chaos (Iron Warriors)
Coronis Agathon Segmentum Obscurus Unknown Unknown Unknown 120,000,000,000 Imperium of Man
Forgefane Segmentum Tempestus Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Chaos (Iron Warriors)
Hethgard Segmentum Ultima Jericho Reach Unknown Unknown Estimated 338 Million Imperium of Man
Jago Segmentum Pacificus Sabbat Worlds Rimward Trailing Jago System Unknown Imperium of Man
Karlack Segmentum Ultima Jericho Reach Unknown Karlack System N/A Imperium of Man
Kasr Partox Segmentum Obscurus Cadian Sector Cadian Sub-sector Cadian System Unknown Chaos (Iron Warriors)
Khirab (Dead World) Ultima Segmentum Unknown Unknown Unknown N/A Imperium of Man (Formerly)
Kieldar Segmentum Obscurus Unknown Unknown Unknown N/A Imperium of Man
Kormarg II Unknown Sakkara Sector Unknown Kormarg System Unknown Imperium of Man
Lutoris Epsilon Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Forces of Chaos
Magog Segmentum Ultima Jericho Reach Charon Stars Magog System Unknown Chaos / Stigmartus
Malodrax (Dead World) Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Chaos (Iron Warriors)
Medrengard (Also Daemon World) Segmentum Obscurus Eye of Terror Unknown Unknown Unknown Chaos (Iron Warriors)
Morlond Segmentum Pacificus Sabbat Worlds Erinyes Cluster Morlond System Unknown Imperium of Man
Mortain (Destroyed) Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown N/A Imperium of Man
Mortrex (Dead World) Ultima Segmentum Unknown Unknown Unknown N/A Imperium of Man (Formerly)
Pyrathas Segmentum Ultima Jericho Reach Unknown Pyrathas Majoris Estimated 57 Million Imperium of Man
Sebastus IV Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Imperium of Man
Spite Ultima Segmentum Jericho Reach Canis Salient Unknown Unknown Imperium of Man
Surngraad Ultima Segmentum Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Imperium of Man (Formerly)
Sybari (Dead World) Ultima Segmentum Unknown Unknown Unknown N/A Imperium of Man (Formerly)
Talasa Prime (Inquisition Fortress-World) Ultima Segmentum Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Imperium of Man (Inquisition)
Titan (Inquisition Fortress-World) Segmentum Solar Sol Sector Sector Solar Sol System Unknown Imperium of Man (Inquisition/Grey Knights Chapter)
Wrath Segmentum Ultima Jericho Reach Unknown Unknown Estimated 108 Million Imperium of Man

Sources[]

  • Codex: Eye of Terror (3rd Edition), pp. 5, 11, 24, 37
  • Codex: Grey Knights (5th Edition), pg. 40
  • Codex: Tyranids (5th Edition), pp. 10, 60
  • Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition), pg. 91
  • White Dwarf 287 (UK), pg. 38
  • Only War: Core Rulebook (RPG), pg. 59
  • Rogue Trader: Into the Storm (RPG), pg. 11
  • Index Astartes I - Warriors of Iron, pg. 56
  • Grey Knights (Novel) by Ben Counter
  • The Siege of Castellax (Novel) C.L. Werner
  • Warhammer 40,000: Rulebook (5th Edition), pg. 142
  • Warhammer 40,000: Rulebook (6th Edition), pg. 175
  • Imperial Armour Volume Ten - The Badab War - Part Two, pg. 135


Worlds of the Galaxy
General/Environmental Classifications Chem WorldDead WorldDeath WorldDesert WorldDerelict WorldIce WorldForest WorldJungle WorldMountain WorldOcean WorldRad WorldSwamp World
Imperial Classifications Abattoir WorldAdeptus Astartes HomeworldAgri-worldAnchor WorldArboreal WorldArchive WorldArmoury WorldAstropathic Relay StationBattery WorldCardinal WorldCemetery WorldCivilised WorldDelverworldFeral WorldFeudal WorldForbidden WorldForge WorldFortress WorldFrontier WorldHive WorldHub-FortressIndustrial WorldKnight WorldLabyrinth WorldLumber WorldMenagerie WorldMerchant WorldMining WorldPenal WorldPenitent WorldPleasure WorldQurantined WorldQuarry WorldRefugee WorldRepository WorldResearch StationSentinel WorldShrine WorldWar WorldWaste World
Chaos Classifications Daemon WorldHell-ForgeFallen Knight World
Xenos Classifications CraftworldCrone WorldExodite WorldHold WorldKin WorldMaiden WorldOrk WorldT'au SeptSept WorldTomb WorldXenos World
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