"It is not the strong enemy we must fear, the danger lies with the weak who flock to their banner..."
The Grand Theogonist is the spiritual and ecclesiastical leader of the Cult of Sigmar and the most important religious official in the Empire. He is often a great Warrior Priest of Sigmar and usually one of the emperor's staunchest allies and most trusted advisers.
The official titles of the Grand Theogonist include "Theogonist of the Empire," the "Arch Lector of the West," and the "High Priest of Altdorf," amongst many other titles.[3b]
It is no surprise that many of the Grand Theogonist's duties involve managing the Cult of Sigmar's multitude of important high priests in Altdorf. The Grand Theogonist is also one of the Electors of the emperor, meaning that he is able to vote for the next emperor (invariably, the Grand Theogonist's vote always goes to the sitting Elector Count of Reikland).
When a Grand Theogonist dies, the Lectors of the Cult of Sigmar convene beneath the Cathedral of Sigmar in Altdorf to appoint his successor.[4a] By tradition, a Grand Theogonist adopts a Dwarfen name or epithet when he assumes the office.[3a] The ceremonial colours of the office of the Grand Theogonist are green and yellow.[6a]
Badges of Office[]
- The Jade Griffon is a massive amulet of jade in the shape of a griffon said to be blessed by Magnus the Pious. The Grand Theogonist wears it on his chest.
- The Staff of Command is a staff with a griffon carved on top. It imbues the Grand Theogonist with inhuman strength.
Notable Grand Theogonists[]
Name | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|
Johann Helstrum | 73 IC | First Grand Theogonist |
Jürgen II | ca. 500 IC | Nicknamed "Ogreblood". For him, Thorgrim, a large mattock, was crafted by Dwarfen runesmiths. |
Ottokar[8a] | 501 IC[8a] | Ottokar was a great supporter of Emperor Sigismund the Conqueror's attempts to expand the Empire. He gave his blessing to Sigismund for his invasion and conquest of the Jutonsryk, which was incorporated into the Empire as the Barony of Westerland.[8a] |
Marius Mollus | 850 IC | Dragged away by a Flesh Hound after proclaiming Sigmar was the only true god. |
Zigmund II | 990 IC | Zigmund II was granted an electoral vote by Emperor Ludwig Hohenbach in exchange for renovations to the Imperial Palace. Died a short time afterwards from complications of his own obesity. |
Uthorson | 1100 IC | Secretly a servant of the Ruinous Powers. Slain by his successor Thorgrad. |
Thorgrad | 1111 IC | Relocated the centre of the Cult of Sigmar to Altdorf. Perished during the Black Plague. |
Gazulgrund | 1111 - 1124 IC | Installed as a puppet of Adolf Kreyssig, representative of Emperor Boris Goldgather. |
Helmut Karr | 1448 - 1451 IC (at least) | Proclaimed the Edict of Magritta during the Great Crusade Against Araby.[5a] |
Siebold II | 1682 IC | Officially recognised the Templar Witch Hunters as an order of the Cult of Sigmar. |
Jürgen IV | Age of Three Emperors | Called for a crusade into Sylvania to eradicate the Undead; but his plea was ignored. |
Vilgrim III | 1979 - 2000 IC | Denounced Magritta of Marienburg as an illegitimate empress, beginning the "Dark Ages" of civil strife in the Empire. |
Wilhelm III | 2051 IC | Wilhelm III slew Vlad von Carstein at the end of the First Vampire War. |
Kurt III | 2132 IC | Endured Mannfred von Carstein's siege of Altdorf. |
Reuben Wrolfgar | 2287 IC | Banned the Liber Malefic. |
Kazgar XIV | 2369 IC | Held the funeral oration of Emperor Magnus the Pious. |
Thoss | 2400 IC | Persecuted followers of other cults. |
Viktor Helmgart | 2415 IC | Ended the Night of a Thousand Arcane Duels. |
Hedrich Lutzenschlager | 2420 - 2429 IC | Was Grand Theogonist during the fall to Chaos of Diederick Kastner, the future thirteenth Everchosen of Chaos Undivided Archaon. |
Yorri XV | 2512 IC | Predecessor of Volkmar the Grim. |
Volkmar von Hindenstern, "Volkmar the Grim" | 2512 - 2522 IC | Died during the End Times; body used to resurrect the Liche Lord Nagash. |
Kaslain | 2522 IC - ? | Successor to Volkmar the Grim, last Grand Theogonist as the End Times finally claimed the world of Mallus. |
Grand Theogonists without Clear Reign Dates[]
Name | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|
Alaric | Unknown | He's remembered for his maxim: "No man can be judged until he stands alone before his god."[7a] |
Storm of Chaos[]
Attention, Empire Citizens!
This article or this section of the article contains information regarding the Storm of Chaos campaign and its aftermath, which is now considered a non-canon, alternate timeline.
|
Name | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|
Volkmar von Hindenstern, "Volkmar the Grim" | 2512 - 2521 IC | Slain by the thirteenth Everchosen Archaon, later resurrected by the Daemon Prince Be'lakor. |
Esmer III | 2521 IC | Appointed successor of Volkmar von Hindenstern, fled to Marienburg after Volkmar was resurrected and decried him as tainted by Chaos. |
Volkmar von Hindenstern, "Volkmar the Grim" | 2521 IC - Present | Reinstated after the Storm of Chaos, recovering from his resurrection under the care of the temple of Shallya in Altdorf. |
Sources[]
- 1: Liber Chaotica (Background Book)
- 1a: pg. 6
- 2: Warhammer Armies: The Empire (8th Edition)
- 3: Tome of Salvation - Priests of the Old World (RPG)
- 4: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Rulebook (RPG)
- 4a: pg. 184
- 5: Knight of the Blazing Sun (Novel) by Joshua Reynolds
- 5a: Chapter Two
- 6: Mark of Heresy (Novel) by James Wallis
- 6a: Ch. 12
- 7 The Book of Battalions (1st Edition)
- 7a pp. 18-19
- 8: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st Edition: Marienburg - Sold Down the River (RPG)
- 8a: pg. 18
- Marienburg: Sold Down the River
- Warhammer Armies: Daemons of Chaos (8th Edition)
- Warhammer Armies: Vampire Counts (7th Edition)
- Mordheim Core Rules
- Van Horstmann (Novel)
- White Dwarf 197
- Archaon: Everchosen (Novel)
- The Black Plague: Blighted Empire (Novel)
- Chapter VI
- Chapter XIV
- Chapter XVII
- Warhammer: Nagash