Omar Bennett
The Imperium of Man, also called the Imperium, is a galaxy-spanning, interstellar human empire that is the ultimate authority for most of the human species in the Milky Way galaxy. It was founded by the Emperor of Mankind over 10,000 years ago and is nominally ruled by him, although he is incapacitated and has left the basic governance of the empire to the Senatorum Imperialis. The Imperium is massive and diverse, and its flow of information is tightly controlled. While the official policy of the Imperium is hardline, and some parts of the empire would eagerly choose death before engaging in diplomacy with non-humans, the empire does engage in diplomacy, even with Xenos, if they do not think they could win a fight or if they do not think the losses are worth it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nature of the Imperium of Man | A galaxy-spanning, interstellar Human empire, the ultimate authority for the vast majority of the Human species in the Milky Way galaxy in the 41st Millennium A.D. |
| Founder and Ruler | The god-like Emperor of Mankind, the most powerful Human psyker ever born |
| Diplomacy with other species | Diplomacy with other species is rare but not unheard of. The Imperium lays claim to the entire galaxy but does not have the resources to conquer all Tau systems. Diplomacy is often used as a stalling tactic to free up resources to deal with other threats. |
| Diplomacy with Xenos | Diplomacy with Xenos is considered heresy by some, but the Imperium does engage in diplomacy with them, especially if they are outmatched. |
| Notable diplomatic relations | The Imperium has diplomatic relations with the Ynnari (an Eldar faction), the Iyanden Eldar, and the Tau. |
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What You'll Learn
Diplomacy with the Tau
The Imperium of Man does engage in diplomacy with the Tau, although it is not common practice. The Imperium, which lays claim to the entire galaxy, has a policy of "purge on sight" towards the Tau, a multispecies xenos stellar empire situated within its Ultima Segmentum. However, the Imperium often lacks the resources to follow through on this policy and is forced to pursue diplomacy.
The Tau are a rapidly expanding empire, and their expansion has brought them into conflict with the Imperium. The Tau have successfully incorporated humans into their empire, and some humans have even defected to the Tau, attracted by the economic benefits of the Tau's advanced technology. This has resulted in a situation where the Imperium and the Tau have had to engage in diplomacy to avoid open war.
For example, during the Damocles Gulf Crusade, the Imperium withdrew and signed a truce with the Tau that lasted for over 200 years. While both sides broke the terms of the truce and engaged in small-scale battles, they avoided all-out war. Similarly, in the Ciaphas Cain series, the Imperium is shown to be pursuing diplomacy with the Tau because they lack the manpower to wipe them out.
The Tau also engage in diplomacy with other species, such as the Kroot and Vespid, who are part of the Tau Empire. The Tau have been known to use underhanded tactics in their diplomacy, such as brainwashing and intimidation.
Overall, while the Imperium of Man's official policy towards the Tau is hostile, the realities of resource management and military strategy often force them to pursue diplomacy instead of open conflict.
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Diplomacy with the Eldar
The Imperium of Man does engage in diplomacy with other factions, including the Eldar, when it serves their interests. However, it is important to note that the Imperium's primary ideology revolves around human supremacy, and many within its ranks view diplomacy with non-humans as heretical.
In the case of the Eldar, a race of wise and ancient aliens, there is a history of temporary alliances and cooperation. The Eldar, despite their superior wisdom, have worked alongside humans and Orks when faced with common threats. This pragmatism is driven by the understanding that even with their advanced abilities, fighting an enemy that vastly outnumbers them is not in their best interest.
Additionally, the Imperium and the Eldar have fought each other for so long that both assume the conflict will continue, leading to a waste of resources that could be better utilized against more significant threats. This mutual enmity has persisted for over 10,000 years, and the Eldar's knowledge of this history makes them doubt the possibility of a long-term alliance with the Imperium. They recognize that humans empower chaos, and the inherent corruption of humanity by Chaos makes the idea of a true alliance untrustworthy to the Eldar.
Despite this, short-term alliances with certain Astartes and Inquisitors who have demonstrated honour in the Eldar's eyes are feasible. The Imperium, for its part, has shown flexibility in dealing with other factions, including abandoning or evacuating its own worlds when necessary. However, the deeply ingrained belief in human supremacy within the Imperium means that any diplomacy with the Eldar is fraught with challenges and is often limited to small-scale alliances or temporary truces.
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Diplomacy with the Necrons
The Imperium of Man, a galaxy-spanning, interstellar human empire, is the ultimate authority for the vast majority of the Human species in the Milky Way galaxy. The Imperium is ruled by the god-like Emperor of Mankind, who is also its founder. The Imperium is massive and diverse, and its various factions have differing views on diplomacy. While some parts of the Imperium engage in diplomacy with other races, such as the Eldar or the Tau, other parts refuse to negotiate with non-humans, choosing death instead.
The Imperium of Man's stance on diplomacy with the Necrons is not entirely clear. The Necrons, originating from the ancient Necrontyr Empire, are ruthless, undying killing machines seeking to exert their mastery over the galaxy once more. They are driven by the ultimate goal of restoring their ancient ruling dynasties to glory and bringing the galaxy under their rule.
Despite their fearsome reputation, there are a few instances where the Necrons have displayed a degree of diplomacy. In one instance, the Necrons gave an Imperial world one month's notice before attacking, allowing them time to prepare their defenses. In another instance, when faced with an Ork Waagh invasion, the Necrons chose to negotiate, offering the Orks three Doomsday Cannons in exchange for being left alone. However, the Orks ended up blowing themselves up with the cannons.
Some sources suggest that the Imperium of Man would only engage in diplomacy if they were outmatched. In the case of the Necrons, it is possible that the Imperium would consider diplomacy if they felt they could not defeat them in battle. However, the Imperium's interactions with the Necrons may be limited due to the Necrons' secrecy and their lack of compassion and empathy towards other species. The Necrons do not share their advanced technologies with lesser species and have set contingencies to prevent their secrets from being revealed.
Overall, while there may be rare instances of indirect diplomacy between the Imperium of Man and the Necrons, it is unlikely that there would be any formal alliances or treaties between the two factions. The Imperium's strong human supremacist beliefs and the Necrons' ruthless nature and desire for galactic domination would likely prevent any meaningful diplomatic relations from forming.
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Diplomacy with the Orkz
The Orks, also referred to as Greenskins, are a warlike, savage, green-skinned species of asexual, bestial humanoids with both animal and fungi physiological features. They are spread throughout the galaxy, and their ramshackle technology can be extremely dangerous in their hands.
The Imperium of Man has a long history of conflict with the Orks, including the Ullanor Crusade, which marked the high point of the Great Crusade's effort to reunite colony worlds of Humanity. The Orks of Ullanor represented the largest concentration of Orks defeated by the Imperium before the War of the Beast and the Third War for Armageddon. The conflict with the Orks was so dire that the Imperium had to take extreme measures to invade the Ork homeworld of Ullanor Prime and eliminate 'The Beast', incurring massive losses.
Despite this deep-rooted conflict, there are a few instances where the Orks have engaged in diplomacy. The Blood Axe clan of Orks, for example, has negotiated and traded with the Imperium in the past. Additionally, bribery is a common form of diplomacy with Ork pirates. However, these negotiations are often treacherous, as the Orks will turn the guns they trade for on their counterparts.
In the case of the Tau, diplomacy with the Orks has been attempted by offering them food, booze, and the promise of fights if they join as mercenaries. This strategy seems to appeal to the Orks' preference for a fair fight and their opportunistic nature.
Some hypothetical agreements between the Imperium and the Orks have been suggested, such as providing guns and ammunition to an Ork warboss on the condition that they are only used against other Ork clans. Another idea is to manipulate two Ork clans into fighting each other by supplying them with Imperial weapons, keeping them evenly matched and distracted.
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Diplomacy with the Ynnari
The Imperium of Man does engage in diplomacy, even with Xenos, if they do not think they could win a fight or if they deem the losses of war are too great. Diplomacy is often carried out by rogue traders, who open diplomatic avenues with new alien races to assess the threat they pose to the Imperium.
The Ynnari are an Eldar faction that has helped the Imperium in the past. The Ynnari are the closest thing the Imperium has to allies, and they have an understanding with the Imperium, despite the mutual hatred between humans and Eldar. The Ynnari have provided backup to Imperial forces, and the Grey Knights have returned the favour. This is a classic case of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend", as every enemy of the Imperium is also an enemy of the Ynnari.
Despite this, there is still tension and violence between the two factions. In one instance, a Watch Company from Fort Pykman joined a battle against traitor forces attacking an Imperial world but, unaware of any potential alliances, mercilessly purged their would-be Ynnari allies, resulting in heavy losses for both factions and a victory for Chaos.
The Imperium and the Ynnari have a complex relationship, with some instances of cooperation and mutual aid, but also tension and violence due to their mutual hatred and differences. The Ynnari are a crucial ally for the Imperium, but their relationship is tenuous and fragile, with the potential for conflict always looming.
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Frequently asked questions
The Imperium of Man does engage in diplomacy, although it is not common practice. The Imperium is a galaxy-spanning, interstellar Human empire, ruled by the god-like Emperor of Mankind. It is massive and diverse, and some parts of the Imperium engage in diplomacy with the Eldar or the Tau.
The diplomacy undertaken by the Imperium is often pragmatic and self-serving. They may choose to ally with a "xenos" or non-human race if it helps them gain resources to fight other threats. The Imperium's primary goal is to maintain control over their planets and conquer new ones.
Yes, there are a few examples of diplomacy in the lore of the Warhammer 40k universe. The Imperium has been known to engage in fragile diplomatic relations with the Iyanden Eldar, who have an embassy with the Imperium. There is also mention of a diplomatic peace between the Imperium and the Tau on a particular world in the Ciaphas Cain series.
The Imperium of Man's decision to engage in diplomacy is often driven by a calculation of resources and strategic advantages. They may choose diplomacy if they believe they cannot win a fight or if the losses of war are too great. Additionally, the Imperium is constantly dealing with multiple threats, so diplomacy can be a way to temporarily stall or manage certain threats while focusing on more pressing issues.
Outright alliances between the Imperium of Man and other races, especially "xenos," are rare due to xenophobia in the Imperium. However, there have been instances of small-scale alliances and cooperation, such as humans and Tau or Eldar fighting alongside each other against a common threat.
