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Not to be confused with Emperor Sigismund II "the Conqueror".


Sigismund IV was the Prince of Altdorf and the Emperor of Man during the siege of Altdorf by the Greenskin Waaagh! Gorbad between 1707 and 1712 IC. The emperor was slain during the siege by a Wyvern commanded by the Greenskins' Orc Wyvern Riders.[1a]

History[]

Battle of Grimgrill Dale[]

In 1695 IC Emperor Sigismund IV marched to relieve a Dwarf army in the Battle of Grimgrill Dale. In gratitude, the Dwarfs bequeathed upon the magical Horn of Sigismund. It is still sounded to this day from the parapets of the Holy Temple of Sigmar each year on the anniversary of Sigismund IV's death.[2b]

WAAAGH! Gorbad! and the First Siege of Altdorf[]

Taking advantage of an Empire divided by factional strife between the Elector Counts, the Orc Warboss Gorbad Ironclaw invaded its territory with a great tide of Greenskins at his back, destroying the Grand Province of Solland, sacking the city-state of Nuln and much of Wissenland, and eventually sweeping through the Reikland, razing almost a third of its settlements before his green wave eventually broke upon the walls of Altdorf.[1a]

Emperor Sigismund IV was slain during a desperate airborne raid by Orc Wyvern Riders on the Imperial Palace. When the siege was finally lifted, witch hunters exposed a number of Chaos Cults within the city.[2b]

Even with the death of the emperor, the citizens of the city remained resilient and derived continued strength from the worship of Sigmar.[2a] Altdorfers took great pride in withstanding the prolonged Greenskin siege, and the cults of the Empire saw a religious renaissance.[2b]

Wargear[]

  • Banner of Sigismund - The Banner of Sigismund was carried by Emperor Sigismund IV during Gorbad Ironclaw's siege of Altdorf. Despite Sigismund's death in the siege, both Altdorf and this banner survived.[3a] Today, it is kept in the Imperial Vaults in Altdorf and carried into battle by Imperial armies, inspiring the troops of the Empire to hold fast and stand their ground.[4a][3a]

Canon Conflict[]

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Rulebook indicates the date of the siege of Altdorf by the Greenskin Waaagh! Gorbad as 1707-1712 IC,[1a] while Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Altdorf - Crown of the Empire sets it in 1701 IC.[2b]

Emperor Sigismund IV is quoted by Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Enemy Within Volume 1[6a] as having lived during the 9th century IC. Many other sources place Sigismund IV as the emperor during the 18th century IC who died at the First Siege of Altdorf as described above.[1a] According to this source, the Sigismund IV who lived in the 9th century IC ignored the advice of the Grand Theogonist of the Cult of Sigmar, and invaded the fertile lands beyond the Grey Mountains. The local Human Bretonii tribesmen were easily dispersed. Imperial soldiers by their thousands passed through Bögenhafen, significantly increasing its population, which swelled to more than 5,000 for the first time.[6a]

Sources[]

  • 1: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Rulebook (RPG)
    • 1a: pg. 274
  • 2: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Altdorf - Crown of the Empire (RPG)
    • 2a: pg. 11
    • 2b: pg. 15
  • 3: Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition)
    • 3a: pg. 70
    • 3b: pg. 66
  • 4: Warhammer: Storm of Chaos (6th Edition)
    • 4: pg. 48
  • 5: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 3rd Edition: Signs of Faith (RPG)
    • 5a: pg. 31
  • 6: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Enemy Within Volume 1 (RPG)
    • 6a: pg. 116
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