god_emperor_of_mankind corpse_emperor
One of the most important characters in the [[warhammer_40k|Warhammer 40,000]] universe, the God-Emperor of Mankind is a figure seen as the divine ruler of all humanity. He united a fractured Terra (in ancient times also known as [[earth_(planet)|Earth]]) following the collapse of mankind's previous civilization before setting out on a galaxy-wide campaign (known as the Great Crusade) to reunite lost human worlds and reclaim his demigod sons known as Primarchs.

[spoiler]One, [[horus_lupercal|Horus]], would betray him and rally half the Primarchs to the cause of [[chaos_(warhammer)|Chaos]], triggering a civil war. The Emperor would slay Horus, but was mortally wounded in turn and encased upon a life-support device known as the Golden Throne, where mankind would quickly worship him as a god.[/spoiler]

Generally depicted in 2 forms:
* During the Great Crusade, as a very tall human wearing a extremely decorated [[gold armor|golden]]  [[power armor]], a golden [[laurel crown]] and long [[claws|talons]] on a hand, and holding a [[flaming sword]]. See post #1037362.
* After the [spoiler]Horus Heresy[/spoiler], sitting on the Golden Throne, [spoiler]usually as a [[corpse]]. See post #5024924.[/spoiler]
emperor of mankind