Equerry

The ancient title of Equerry is a relic from the Great Crusade era. At the time, it was customary for senior military officers from the Imperial Army to select a more junior officer as aide-de-camp. Space Marines who were selected for the honor were known as Equerries, and served as trusted comerade and confident to the more senior Astartes.

In the 41st Millenium, the practice has fallen out of favor, but some Chapters keep the tradition alive by assigning a personal Chapter Serf to each battle-brother. These modern Equerries no longer follow their master in battle, but function as confident and link with humanity for their Astartes master.

History
The tradition for more senior officers to take on an aide-de-camp, a junior officer who serves as assistant, close confident and sometimes factotum, predates the formation of the Imperium as it existed on Terra since times immemorial. The first Space Marines bred from Terran stock which formed the core of the twenty Legions of old kept this tradition alive at the launch of the Great Crusade. Being selected as Equerry by a senior officer was an honour, and an opportunity to learn the ways of command from a renowed master.

When the Primarchs were rediscovered by the Imperium, most of them chose to perpetuate this tradition, and took an Equerry of their own, be it a trusted individual from their childhood, or a member of their Legion. This allowed some of the Primarchs to learn the traditions of their Legion while they imprinted their mark upon it, but more importantly, the Equerries served as counterpoint and foil for their decisions. As few Astartes would ever dare hesitate or speak against one of the sons of the Emperor, most Primarchs saw the wisdom of keeping someone at hand whose words of caution or alternate viewpoints could be more valuable than a thousand warriors once in the field.

After the Horus Heresy, the tradition of naming an Equerry fell into disuse amongst the Space Marines. In the 41st Millenium, the role of Equerry is often a secondary occupation of the Company or the Chapter Champion. Tasked with defending his commanding officer with his life, the Champion often has a close relationship with his Captain or Chapter Master, forged into fighting countless grueling battles back-to-back against all odds. Many Space Marine officers trust the word of their Champion as much as his sword too keep them alive.

Some Chapters have however kept a variant of the title: they assign each battle-brother his own Equerry in the form of a personal Chapter Serf, whose role is to assist his master in all things and more importantly, granting him a tenuous but vital link with the humanity the Astartes warrior left behind but is sworn to protect. Those Chapters are often those who pay the most attention to civilian casualities and collateral damage when prosecuting the Emperor's wars.

Known Equerries

 * Malcador the Sigillite - Although he never bore the title, Malcador functioned as Equerry to the Emperor Himself, being one of His true collaborators and friends and sharing His burden.
 * Khârn, Captain of the Eight Assault Company of the World Eaters - Selected as Equerry by Angron after nearly being beaten to death without yielding. Khârn ultimately was a poor choice as Equerry, for he neither could nor wanted to calm his Primarch's rages.
 *  Maloghurst 'the Twisted' of the Luna Wolves - Equerry to Horus, who served his master well as spy, infiltrator and close advisor.
 * Amon of Prospero - Adoptive father of Magnus the Red, and his Equerry. A wise and prudent man, he attempted and was the only one to sometimes succeed at curbing Magnus' enthusiasm. Amon died during the burning of Prospero defending his homeworld.