Foundation. The Empire was founded 2,500 years ago by Sigmar, leader of the Unberogen tribe. Sigmar united the warring human tribes of the northern Old World and led them against the invading goblin hordes. With the aid of his magical war hammer Ghal-maraz (“Skull-Splitter”), Sigmar drove the goblins to the World’s Edge Mountains, and alongside the dwarfs secured a decisive victory at the Battle of Black Fire Pass, which ended the centuries-old wars with the goblins.
  Sigmar was crowned the first Emperor by the High Priest of Ulric and the foundations of The Empire were laid. Forests were cleared and towns were built. Yet just fifty years after his coronation Sigmar abdicated and declared he must return Ghal-maraz to its dwarven makers. He set out for the dwarf citadel of Caraz-a-Carak, permitting no-one to accompany him beyond Black Fire Pass, and passed out of the history of men. Yet many believe that Sigmar will return in The Empire’s hour of greatest need, and his return will be foretold by the passing of a twin-tailed comet.

Growth. Sigmar left no successor, and so the provincial rulers of The Empire established a system where they would elect each Emperor from their own number. Under this system The Empire grew and prospered. The cult of the deified Sigmar was established after a vision of Sigmar surrounded by the gods.

Decline. After almost 1,000 years, The Empire began to decline. It was weakened by corrupt and incompetent rulers and by the outbreak of the Black Plague in 1111. In 1152 it descended into civil war after the Electoral Council failed to appoint a new Emperor. This began the Age of Wars, an era of conflict and instability began that lasted centuries. By 1547 The Empire had become so fractured that there were no fewer than three rulers claiming to be Emperor. Elections ended altogether in 1979 when the Empress Margritta became the last ruler to be appointed by the Electoral Council.

Rebirth. By 2302 The Empire had disintegrated, and its fractured remnants came under attack from the forces of Chaos during its last Incursion. Yet faced with the prospect of destruction, the provinces united under the leadership of Magnus the Pious. Magnus formed an alliance with the Tsar of Kislev and their combined forces drove back the invading armies. In 2304 Magnus was crowned Emperor and set about restoring The Empire’s former glories.
  Today, in 2512, The Empire is ruled by the Emperor Karl-Franz I. He is a young man, who acceded to the throne just ten years ago. There are great hopes that his leadership will usher in a new Golden Age for The Empire.