All right, this is a summary of things we know about the empire of Ursh. I hope this is of some use :)

All details are taken from Horus Rising.

Ursh
Ursh was the mightiest empire on Terra before the Unification and therfore the biggest enemy to the Emperor's forces of Unity. Though Ursh was a strong empire, it doesn't seem to be technically too far advanced, for the better instruments and machines from the Nordafrik conclaves were reason enough for war.

Location note: this is a personal guess
Since it didn't seem to be a long trip to the Nordafrik conclaves, and because of the fact that the forces of Unity seem to originate from Merica and Europe, it is likely that the empire of Ursh consisted of a lot of today's Asia, maybe even including parts of Russia. Another argument for this could be the names of the persons mentioned.

Government of Ursh
It was ruled by the despot Kalagann. Kalagann is described as a being of cruel character, commanding vast armies of techno-barbarians. Other high positions were most likely inhabited by army generals, because it was a time of total war more than of politics.
Named generals are: Lurtois, Sheng Khal (also: Shang Khal) and Quallodon.

Armies of Ursh
The armies of Ursh consisted of mostly technobarbarians and human soldiers. Some armies are known, but there were many more for sure.

The Roma
The Roma were organized mercenary fliers. Highly skilled pilots, they were said to never touch the earth beneath them. They were trained on airborne attacks, and therefore of high value for the generals of Ursh.

The Red Engines
Both the Red Engines and the Tupelov Lancers followed the command of Sheng Khal.
The Red Engines were siege masters, with engines able to raze whole fortresses or cities to the ground.

The Tupelov Lancers
The Lancers are described as being screaming berzerkers. So one can guess that these warriors were trained for close-combat action, ruthless and deadly, an equivalent to M30/M40 World Eaters.

Special Units
Oneirocriticks : The oneirocriticks were personal counsellors of Sheng Khal. The name means 'interpreters of dreams', but it is likely that they used some kind of warp sorcery to guide Shang Khal in his actions.

Wrathsingers : Again likely to be sorcerors that used the powers of the warp. They were able to use magic, to change the environment to their advantage or to kill men with their spells.

Known Persons
Kalagann: Ruler of Ursh

Lurtois: General, not further mentioned

Sheng Khal/Shang Khal): General, leader of the attack against the Nordafrik conclaves

Quallodon: General, took the place of Sheng Khal after his death

Anult Keyser: Lord Martial of the Tupelov Lancers, 2nd in command during the battle of Xozer during the attack on tha Nordafrik conclaves, was slain by a daemon

Wilhym Mardol: Lieutenant in Anult Keyser's army

Mafeo Orde: Master of Sheng Khal's Wrathsingers

Chaotic Influence on Ursh
The Chronicles of Ursh mentions primordial gods, and especially the Oneirocriticks and Wrathsingers speak of the influence of the ruinous powers. Also, Kalagann's sorcerous powers formed the main part of Ursh's might. So it is highly possible that the Chaos Gods were the true lords of Ursh, and Kalagann being their marionette.

The Fall of Ursh
During the Wars of Unification, Ursh was conquered by the Emperor and his forces in an apocalyptic conquest.

Excellent work there! Well done Brother-Captain Basilus.

The only thing that I can point out thus far is that the Armies of Ursh did not include any proto-Astartes; the comparatively primative genetically enhanced warriors created by the Emperor.

The thunder armoured proto-astartes were actually fighting for the forces of Unity against Ursh, and were warriors unique to the Emperor's army.

Nevertheless it is a superb consolidation of the information that will definately be of huge benefit to all members!

Well I think I have you to blame now for increasing my interest in the Wars of Unification! :D

Yeah, thanks, edited the part about the proto-astartes out ;)

And I actually built a miniature for a general of Ursh, I have now to decide wether to make him Shang Khal or Kalagann himself :ph43r:

Oh, and I'm highly interested in the WoU, but there's little to absolutely no information about them.

I agree, there is very little information on the Wars of Unification. :angry:

We will just have to do more threads to do with information on them. Your sterling post has definately started us on the right path!

I would be great to see your miniature on the forum.

EDIT: Actually I have decided that this is such an excellent and informative thread that it deserves to be pinned! Thanks Brother-Captain Basilus.

Great work BCB, and good call on the pin Vesp!

i know this is threadomancy but hear me out

did the emperor destroy them or just kill alot of them and take over
if it is a the latter then you could theme a army around desendance of Ursh
also i think if he did not kill them wouldent they all just fall into the folds of his armys?
if so this would be very possible in my mind to feild a 30k army of Ursh fighitng for the Emperor

From The Lightning Tower:

All the petty dynasts and ethnarchs, all the clan-nations and gene-septs, all the despots and pan-continental tyrants, had been quelled or crushed, overthrown or annexed. Some, the smartest and most prescient, had offered terms and been embraced to the bosom of the new rule. Better fealty than the wrath of the warriors in thunder armour.

Better submission than the enmity of the world's new master.

Basically, you join or die. It's much the same as the rest of the Great Crusade. However, I think once you join, you have to adopt the Imperial way of doing things - local/regional attitudes would not likely be tolerated.

there goes my idea

I always wondered if there are any of the space marines that are from Ursh,
possibly either Proto space wolves or Luna wolves,as the name Ursh kinda of reminds me of Russia abit,so is it possible one of them came from Ursh? :huh:

I don't see why not. I always assumed that there would be a lot of Terrans in the Legions throughout the Great Crusade, and that they'd eventually have been recruited from all over Earth.

I thought in Legion it was stated that the Geno forces were the only Terran force/army allowed to keep its old ways or something? Either that or they were the only ones allowed to live.

I think there would have been ample time after the Unification for youth form the areas of former empires to be inducted into the Marines: they can't all have come from whichever part of Terra the Emperor initially controlled!