Fallen angels can be split into two main groups namely: the angels who sided and allied with Satan during the war in Heaven and the fallen  Grigori.  In both of these cases the angels tuned on God, their creator, by misusing the free will that had been granted to them by God.

The War in Heaven: Generally there is a belief that at some point in time Satan joined forces with a third of the divine host in an attempt to place themselves as rulers in the Kingdom of Heaven, by overthrowing God and the faithful angels. One theory about the cause of the conflict is that when God created man he called upon all of angelic forces to bow before his new creation.  Satan at that time being one of the highest archangels found this too humbling by far and refused to debase himself in this manner and duly asked if "a son of fire should be forced to bow before a son of clay?".  A similar theory and one very much like the latter, suggests that Satan should bow before Jesus.  Whatever the reason for the conflict Satan appeared to be outgrowing his post as highest of the seraphim and chief of angels.

The following extract from the The House of Rites Website says that:

"Satan is described as the "adversary". Such a title is not meant to imply that Satan had fallen, but rather places him in the position as the angel sent by God to test his mortal followers. In the book of Job, Satan comes confidently into the court of God along with the rest of the host and is sent by God to test Job's righteousness. Obviously, if Satan was confined to the pits of Gehanna, such an audience would not be possible, and it is doubtful that the arch-fiend would be strolling through the house of God unmolested. Another reference to to an adversary angel which is commonly ascribed to Satan is the angel who stops Balaam's donkey and keeps Balaam from further displeasing God. Once again, Satan acts in the providence of God and not as an enemy. In fact, throughout the Old Testament, acts which later theologians accuse Satan of are based mainly on rather circumstantial evidence. Although he is never named as such, Middle Age theologians finally attributed Satan as acting through the serpent to tempt Eve in the Garden of Eden. This link is most likely based on Satan's draconian form in the book of Revelation, and even if it was Satan, based on previous information given one could guess that Satan was acting on the behalf of God to test the first woman." 

It somewhat unclear how many angels were actually engaged in the war in Heaven and the exact number of the host open to conjuncture. There is also a question as to when the war took place.  In the Old testament and Hebraic writings there is no mention of Hell or fallen angels.  However because of the role that Satan plays in the bible, perhaps the most likely time for the battle to have happened, lies somewhere between the Old and New Testament.  Whatever the case, Christ made it clear that Satan is the enemy.  Indeed Satan is described in the book of Revelation as a creature which takes the form of a ten headed dragon as he does battle with the armies of God, led by Michael. Paradise Lost says that the battle lasted for several days with Satan's armies building great war machines and even gaining a temporary advantage over the divine forces.  However, there is a tale of a Final Battle between the two forces where the angelic armies will finally crush the fallen for once and for all. 

See also: Angels, Angel Magic, Angelolatry, Angelology, Angelophany, Archangels, Celestial, Celestial Bodies, Celestial Hierarchy, Celestial Light, Dionysius the Areopagite, &  Grigori.

Sources: Information and inspiration for this topic and all quotes unless otherwise stated taken from the The House of Rites Website

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