Before the Horus Heresy, the Chaos Gods were definitely a threat, but they weren’t as direct or visible to the Imperium. The Chaos Gods have always existed in the Warp, feeding off the emotions and psychic energy of living beings, but their influence was more subtle. Most of the Imperium didn’t even really know about them. The Emperor tried to suppress knowledge of the Chaos Gods, possibly believing that ignoring them and banning religion would weaken their power. He wanted to keep humanity united, focused on science and reason, rather than superstition, thinking that belief in Chaos gave it strength. In a way, the Imperium was ignorant of Chaos, and this ignorance was part of their strategy to protect themselves from its influence.
However, the Chaos Gods were always there, slowly manipulating events and finding ways to get a foothold in the material universe. They used ambition, greed, and other strong emotions to corrupt individuals over time. But they really gained power when they corrupted Horus and his followers during the Horus Heresy, which gave them an army of genetically enhanced, superhuman soldiers to fight for them. This was their big break into the physical realm.
If The Imperium Wipes Out Chaos Space Marines, Would They Be Free?
As for the idea of the Imperium wiping out Chaos Space Marines, it’s not a simple task. The Chaos Space Marines don’t just recruit new soldiers like the Imperium does. Chaos can twist and mutate loyal Space Marines, but they also extend the lives of their followers through dark magic. Many of the Chaos Space Marines have been fighting for ten thousand years, since the time of the Heresy. They can also create new warriors through dark rituals, corrupting people from the Imperium, or even making new warriors from scratch. The forces of Chaos are incredibly resilient and don’t rely on traditional recruitment methods.
On the flip side, wiping out the Chaos Space Marines wouldn’t destroy the Chaos Gods. The Gods themselves are tied to the Warp, and as long as there are beings with emotions, the Chaos Gods will have power. Even if the Imperium eliminated every Chaos Space Marine, Chaos itself would still be a threat. The Imperium’s real problem is that the Chaos Gods can corrupt anyone, soldiers, leaders, and civilians if given the chance.
Before the Horus Heresy, the Imperium’s strategy was to keep the Chaos Gods in check by maintaining order, spreading the Imperial Truth (a rejection of gods and superstition), and tightly controlling access to the Warp. But after the Heresy, the Imperium had to shift to a more defensive posture. They can’t wipe out Chaos, so instead, they try to contain it—through constant vigilance, fighting Chaos incursions, and exterminating those who fall to its influence.
