I remember how he tried to kick Dorn's and the Fists' ass for this... Quite sad, because if the two had gone along well, they would have been a frightening force...
Because he didn't think the Imperium had any other alternative, do you think it really came down to *just* pride? Yes the Ultramarines follow everything by the books and look down on those who don't, yes you can argue the Codex Astartes wound up weakening the Imperium, but Roboute didn't do it out of pride, or at least pride alone, after all that happened it was unlikely anyone would survive another Horus Heresy. To me, that doesn't qualify him as an asshole, just misguided.
Roboute did the best with the situation that was given to him. In order to ensure the Imperium's survival he made sure no one man could control an entire legion (or several legions) ever again, so i give him credit for that. The rest of the Codex is bullshit IMO though, dictating how SMs should fight in every combat situation.
Fair enough, but i'd argue that was something that eventually came down to the Ultramarines misinterpreting his works post-death.
The ultramarines are some of te greatest asholes in the warhammer 40k universe, Their primarc decided on his own to make the new rules for both space marines and the imperium it self. Then when primarcs that had actualy been in the thickest of the fighting, the 3 legions holding back 5-7 legions of traitors, refused his idea, atleast one of them was fired uppon by the imperial navy. The ultramarines left the worlds they conquered a better place sure. But they are some of the most arogant marines out there. And that is saying something when there are the likes of the Black Templars out there. The codex astartes could be a fantastic idea to wage war uppon,,, but if the enemy knows what you will do, and how you will do it, where and when, its already useles. And considering the ultramarines punish their captains or other officers that dont follow the codex to the letter, only makes it worse. The legions that got absorbed in to the ultramarines were the resault of some misshap or their primarcs angerd the Emperor to such a degree that he orderd Russ to take them out, or atleast one of them. The Dark Angels are a chapter that breeds disstrust, and they will stopp at nothing to keep their secrets to them selfes. But they are still somewhat open about that they dont trust anyone that is not from their chapter or Successor Chapters. The main reason behind the ultramarines being the greatest Aholes of them all is mostly thanks to their primar, and that they think them selfes better than the rest, and they dont show their disstrust in others like say the Black Templars (they will say it to your face that they dont like a certain chapters way of fighting, in a nice way of sorts but they will tell you) while the ultramarines will try to make due with what they get until its over.
The books I mentioned are critical in understanding the ultramarines and why they did what they did. To ignore them means not to fully understand the ultramarines, thus making your argument invalid.
