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Warhammer: Rebellions that Inspired Da Red Gobbo – PRIME

6 Minute Read
Dec 1 2021
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Revolution is nothing new, but some stand above the others. Let’s explore the real world origins of Da Red Gobbo.

In the world of Warhammer 40k, there are few creatures lower on the totem pole than the humble Gretchin, the smallest variant of Greenskin also called Gobbos or Grots. They are the engineers of Ork society, but being the smallest, they are constantly bullied, sent to the front lines with shoddy equipment, and prodded forward against their wishes to soak up enemy ammunition before the actual fighting starts. Of course, with the worst weapons and lack of strength, the Gretchin have no chance of rising above their station, so they simply accept their lot in life.

However, on the arid world of Gorkamorka, one Gobbo decided he’d had enough. With a red trench coat, a custom-built Slugga, and a wicked scepter, he founded the GRC, Gretchin Revolutionary Committee, or just “Da Kommitee”. Taking the name Da Red Gobbo, he led a revolt against their Ork oppressors, beginning a war called Da Revolushun that would continue for years after. Some of his followers (and many of his enemies) believe him to be immortal, as he has lived far beyond the lifespan of a typical Gretchin, and even lethal damage and removing his body has only led to him showing up a few days later to lead his GRC. The truth of this, though, is that the current Red Gobbo is not the same as the first, and in fact, there have been many who have taken up the mantle in secret over the years to prolong Da Revolushun.

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Of course, with all this talk of the weak rising against the strong or the masses rising against their oppressors, several real-world revolutions mirror the story of the Red Gobbo and his GRC. One could easily say that ANY revolt would mirror it, but I think there are a few that stick a little closer to the full story, so here’s a pair of actual periods of revolt that parallel the rise of Da Red Gobbo.

Vladimir Lenin by Isaak Brodsky (1920)

Russian Revolution of 1917

The first and probably most obvious comparison to real-world events is the Russian Revolution that led to the rise of the Bolshevik party and the fall of the Romanov aristocracy towards the end of the First World War. The Russian military had suffered devastating casualties, and the army had begun to mutiny, urging the Russian parliament to assume control of the country, forming the Russian Provisional Government. Unfortunately, however, this group was primarily controlled by the aristocracy’s interests and several prominent capitalists, and the common people of Russia were left woefully underrepresented. Fearing that there would be no way to quell the mutiny within the army, Tsar Nicholas II stepped down, and a group of soldiers and industrial workers assembled into communities calling themselves the Soviets. They allowed the Provisional Government to retain power on the condition that the Soviets would have the ability to influence the government, leading to a short period of balance and dual power between the two groups.

Revolutionaries protesting (February 1917)

However, this was short-lived, as several political organizations, chief among them the Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin, pressured the Russian government to withdraw from the war and provide land and food to lower-class workers. The RPG did not relent and chose to stay in the conflict, and the Bolsheviks were able to use the country-wide disdain for the war to form the Red Army, a worker militia, and enact a bloody revolution that began in October of 1917. During the revolution, the Bolsheviks ousted the RPG and re-established themselves as the sole government. A civil war broke out between the “Reds” and their enemies, but the Bolsheviks had garnered enough support from the common people of Russia that they easily defeated their rivals. They rebranded themselves as the Communist party and established Soviet power in Armenia, Belarus, and Ukraine, among other republics.

Soldiers demonstrating (February 1917)

 

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While this isn’t a direct correlation, the use of Red in the Gobbo’s name and choice of garment, as well as his desire to raise the lesser Gretchin to equality with the Orks, bears a striking resemblance to the rise of the Soviet Party. The gretchin are the industrial powerhouse in this situation, and the Orks the aristocrats and military interests, which the Bolsheviks overran during the revolt. Also, while it is a universally Orkish practice to replace c’s with k’s, the name Kommittee to describe the Gobbo’s followers rings very close to a Soviet organization, so the inspiration is there.

Third Servile War

One of the most famous revolutions in history, the Third Servile War was a slave revolt in pre-CE Rome where a group of gladiators led by a Thracian named Spartacus freed themselves from their masters and nearly brought the empire to its knees. Even if you’ve never heard of the war or the revolt that led to it, you know the name Spartacus, spoken by every slave that was part of the revolt to protect their leader from retribution and spread the idea that each of them would continue to fight for their freedom, as he had. They were initially ignored as a minor inconvenience by the Roman military and government, but as time went on and militia under the command of a praetor named Gaius Claudius Glaber proved unsuccessful in halting them, they began to take notice.

The Death of Spartacus by Hermann Vogel (1882)

Spartacus proved to be a brilliant tactician and defeated several more such militias sent to destroy him before the Roman Senate sent two full legions after him. They were engaged in a war in Hispania, but this upstart slave could no longer be ignored. Though the legions were initially thought to be successful, it turned out to be a smaller force led by one of Spartacus’s generals, Crixus.  Upon learning of the death of his comrade, Spartacus is said to have forced captured Roman soldiers to fight to the death in his honor, as the escaped slaves had once done, and then brought his forces to crush the two legions sent to oppose him. After this defeat, the Roman Senate put forth a more direct effort to destroy him, sending Marcus Licinius Crassus, Rome’s wealthiest man, and eight legions which totaled well over 40,000 highly trained soldiers to destroy Spartacus. This proved to be too much for the rebellion, and over several bloody conflicts, Spartacus and his followers were pushed back until they were finally defeated in 71 BC in the present territory of Senerchia. Though several historians believe Spartacus died that day, others still posit that since his body was not recovered, he may have escaped. All those captured by Crassus and his legion were crucified along the road as a warning to future upstarts of the penalty for defying Rome.

Fall of Spartacus by Nicola Sanesi (19th Century)

The horrid treatment of the Gretchin in the 40k universe likely makes them feel like slaves, and the revolving door of replacement Red Gobbos is reminiscent of the presumed defeat of Spartacus. Thankfully the Orks are not in the business of crucifying those who rise against them, so that part is absent from the story, but the surprising tactical acumen of each Red Gobbo is also close to Spartacus, surprising those who thought him incapable of such military skill. Perhaps the next Red Gobbo should name himself Sporktacus…

 

Da Red Gobbo by Wayne England

 

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Author: Clint Lienau
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