Age of Apostasy

The age of apostasy is an era in the fictional universe of warhammer 40000. It's considered to be one of the most bloodshed times of the imperium after the Horus Heresy.

The beginning
The only thing that binds the imperium is its faith in the Emperor. But when this faith is subverted its also an incredible strong weapon for great evil. It al started when the insane tyrant Gorge Vandire became both Ecclesiarch and High Lord of the Administratum. He had used bribery, blackmail, coercion and murder. Vandire started the reign of blood and countless other wars of faith, trying to bring the imperium under his heel. Millions died and the age of apostasy became the most bloodiest time since the Horus Heresy.

The reign of blood
The reign of blood took seven decades before a messenger delivered the news that heralded the end. On the world of Dimmamar a man named Sebastian Thor and his sect, the confederation of light, denounced Vandire as a traitor. They began to speak of hope and the people who were brutalised severely joined him. As system after system joined the movement, Vandire tried to stop them and send a military force to crush them, but it was lost in a sudden Warp storm. By that time vast sections of the Imperium now rebelled against Vandire.'

The end
Finally the adepts of Mars and a force of Space Marines turned against Vandire. The space marines attacked the ecclesiarchal palace from the outside while forces of the custodes attacked from inside. The bodyguards of Vandire, the Brides of the Emperor, finally saw the heresy Vandire had conducted. They also turned against Vandire and executed him. After this conflict the Sisters of Battle were created. Their task is to make sure such terrible conflicts never happen again.