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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →“Astartes” is the formal name used for Space Marines in Warhammer 40,000: the faction is called the Adeptus Astartes, and its members are commonly called Space Marines. The official sources establish how the terms are used, but do not confirm the word’s real-world origin or why Games Workshop coined it.
What does “Adeptus Astartes” mean?
In current Warhammer 40,000 material, Adeptus Astartes is the faction label for the Space Marines. Games Workshop’s 2026 Space Marines faction article uses the formal name while describing the warriors as Space Marines; its official 2023 faction document also uses the Adeptus Astartes label.
So “Astartes” is not a separate species or a different faction in this context. It is the distinctive part of the Space Marines’ formal faction name, while “Space Marine” is the familiar name for its warriors.
Why do some sources say “Legiones Astartes”?
The wording shifts with the setting and historical context. Current Warhammer 40,000 material uses Adeptus Astartes; Horus Heresy material uses Legiones Astartes for the Space Marine legions. A 2022 Warhammer Community article situates the Legiones Astartes in the 31st Millennium, the era of the Horus Heresy.
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- Games Workshop - Warhammer 40,000 - Space Marines: Primaris Intercessors
These official usages explain why readers encounter both forms. They do not, by themselves, document a detailed in-universe history or grammatical evolution of the names.
Are Astartes the same as Adeptus Custodes?
No. The Adeptus Custodes are a separate Imperial force, not another name for the Space Marines. Warhammer Community has explicitly pushed back on the misconception that the Custodes are simply “bigger, better Space Marines.” Similarities in their role as enhanced Imperial warriors do not make them the same organization.
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- Games Workshop - Warhammer 40,000 - Space Marines: Terminator Assault Squad (2025)
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Is the word “Astartes” Latin or Greek?
The official sources cited here establish what Astartes refers to in Warhammer, but they do not verify a Latin or Greek derivation, or explain the creators’ original reason for choosing the word. Claims about a specific linguistic root or naming rationale should therefore be treated as speculation unless supported by a direct, reliable source.
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- Games Workshop - Warhammer 40,000 - Space Marines: Infernus Squad
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- Games Workshop - Warhammer 40,000 - Space Marines: Jump Pack Intercessors
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- Leap over obstacles and enemies to strike where the foe is vulnerable
- These miniatures are supplied unpainted and require assembly – we recommend using Citadel Plastic Glue and Citadel Colour paints.
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