Editing Covenant

{{Title|The Covenant}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{disambig header|the original theocratic empire|other factions of the same name|Covenant (disambiguation)}}
{{Affiliation infobox
|name=The Covenant
|image={{Pageimage|HLC Crate12 Poster.png}}
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
[[File:CovenantEye.svg|75px|class=invert-dark]]<br>The symbol of the [[Covenant religion]].
{{Col-2}}
[[File:HaloWars-CovenantSymbol.png|75px]]<br>A symbol of the [[Hierarchs]].
{{Col-end}}
[[File:HLC Crate12 Poster.png|300px]]<br>A number of Covenant species side-by-side on a Forerunner world
|type=*Interstellar empire
*Theocratic [[Wikipedia:Cultural hegemony|cultural hegemony]]
|founder=*[[Breaking Shadow]] of the [[Reformists|San'Shyuum Reformists]]
*[[Pelahsar the Strident]] of the [[Council of City States|Sangheili]]
|documents=*[[Writ of Union]]
*[[Ratification Parley]]
|head=[[Hierarchs]]
|executive=[[High Council]]{{Ref/Site|Id=hcuniverse|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/high-council|Site=Halo Waypoint|Section=Universe|Page=High Council|D=27|M=10|Y=2015}}
|legislative=*High Council{{Ref/Reuse|hcuniverse}}
**[[Covenant laws]]
|judicial=
|branch=*[[Ministries|Ministerial bodies]]
**[[Covenant military]]
**[[Covenant fleet]]
|main=*[[Sanghelios]] {{C|Until [[648 BCE]]}}{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=229}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22pg192|Enc22|Page=192}}
*[[High Charity]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22pg192}}
|anthem=
|language=[[Sangheili (language)|Sangheili]]{{Ref/Site|Id=wp cov|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/covenant|Site=Halo Waypoint|Section=Universe, Factions|Page=Covenant|LocalArchive=https://archives.halopedia.org/waypoint/www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/covenant.html}}
|script=Syllabary and logograms
|religion=[[Covenant religion]]
|techlevel=
|notable=[[History of the Covenant]]
|formed=[[852 BCE]]: [[Ages of Reconciliation|First Age of Reconciliation]]{{Ref/Book|Id=Ency1|Enc09|Page=30}}
|reorganized=[[2552#November|November 3, 2552]]: [[Great Schism]]
|dissolved=[[2552#December|December 11, 2552]]: [[Battle of the Citadel]]{{Ref/Level|Id=Destroyed1|H3|Epilogue (Halo 3 level)|Epilogue|Quote=But you did it. Truth and the Covenant. The Flood. It's Finished.}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Destroyed2|EVG|Page=59|Quote=…and with the help of the Arbiter, forged a tentative agreement with the humans that resulted in the destruction of the Covenant.}}{{Ref/YouTube|Id=Destroyed3|opWf5Sug2-Y|Inside Gaming|Halo Wars 2 GAMEPLAY - E3 2016 Interview|Y=2016|M=6|D=18|Quote=The Covenant are dead.|Quotee=Kevin Grace}}{{Ref/Reuse|wp cov}}
|affiliation=
}}
{{Quote|Creatures of the Covenant: the path is broad, and we shall walk it side by side!|The [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]]{{Ref/Level|Id=gravemind|H2|H2:Gravemind|Gravemind}}}}

The '''Covenant''', also referred to as the '''Covenant Empire'''{{Ref/Novel|Id=GoO27|GoO|Chapter=27}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HFS29|FS|Chapter=29}} or '''Covenant Hegemony''',{{Ref/Novel|Id=HFS2E|FS|Chapter=Epilogue}} was a massive religious hegemony of multiple alien species that completely controlled a large portion of the [[Orion Arm]] in the [[Milky Way|Milky Way Galaxy]] for thousands of years.{{Ref/Book|Id=offguide1|Halo 2: The Official Strategy Guide|Page=40}}{{Ref/Book|Id=planetmanu1|Planetary Operations Manual}}  Originally a mutual alliance between the [[Reformists|San'Shyuum]] and the [[Council of City States|Sangheili]], the Covenant expanded to include six other species ([[Huragok]], [[Mgalekgolo]], [[Unggoy]], [[Kig-Yar]], [[Yanme'e]], and [[Jiralhanae]]) united in the worship of the mythified [[Forerunner]]s and the [[Halo Array]].

Ruled by the [[High Prophet of Truth]] along with [[Hierarch|High Prophets]] [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]] and [[Prophet of Regret|Regret]] in [[2525]], the Covenant waged a [[Human-Covenant War|genocidal campaign]] against [[human]]ity until they were defeated in [[2552#December|December 2552]]. Despite being one of the most powerful military forces in the known Milky Way galaxy at the time, [[Great Schism|internal conflict]] combined with stubborn human resistance were formidable enough to shatter the bonds that held the empire together. This internal conflict broke the Covenant in two, [[Covenant separatists|forcing out]] the Sangheili species.	{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/species/jiralhanae|Site=Halo Waypoint|Section=Universe|Page=Jiralhanae|D=27|M=10|Y=2015|Quote=The resulting conflict would be called the Great Schism, and it would divide the Covenant into two, ultimately forcing the Sangheili out.}}

Following the Covenant empire's end at the [[Battle of the Citadel]],{{Ref/Reuse|Destroyed1}}{{Ref/Reuse|wp cov}} a small remnant of surviving [[Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant|loyalists]] would reemerge years later,{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}}{{Ref/Reuse|DW7}} and a number of [[Covenant remnants|new factions]] were created by the fallen empire's former subject species after the conclusion of the war.	{{Ref/Site|Id=h4guide|URL=http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-US/halo4guide|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Halo 4 Guide|D=1|M=11|Y=2012}} Some of the [[Covenant separatists|separatists]] sought to recreate the Covenant entirely under Sangheili rule, free from San'Shyuum influence.{{Ref/Site|Id=CFLoreRings|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-lore-of-the-rings|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Lore of the Rings|D=05|M=08|Y=2016|Quote=…many others had become enamored with the idea of bringing the Covenant empire under complete Sangheili rule, quickly scrambling to grab power wherever they could.}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=Gla1|Gla|Chapter=1}} One notable splinter faction of Sangheili self-proclaimed to be a [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|new "Covenant"]] was created by [[Jul 'Mdama]], being one of several factions which maintain some tenets of the fallen Covenant's [[Covenant religion|religion]].{{Ref/Comic|Id=escalation5|HE|Issue=5|Quote=What does it mean to be 'Covenant' today? A hundred warlords claim they rule the Covenant, but each of them leads only a small faction.}} Other hostile factions that utilize assets from the former Covenant empire include [[Merg Vol's Covenant|Merg Vol's faction]], [[Sali 'Nyon's Covenant|Sali 'Nyon's faction]], [[Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group|Vata 'Gajat's faction]], the [[Banished]] and the [[Order of Restoration]].
==History==
{{Main|History of the Covenant}}
{{Quote|''The First Age: Ignorance and Fear.''<br>
::''The Second Age: Rivalry and Bloodshed.''
:::''The Third Age: Humility and Brotherhood.''
::::''The Fourth Age: Wonder and Understanding.''
:::::''The Fifth Age: Obedience and Freedom.''
::::::''The Sixth Age: Faith and Patience.''
:::::::''The Seventh Age: Journey and Salvation.''|Maccabeus and the Jiralhanae of the ''Rapid Conversion''.{{Ref/Novel|Id=CH12|CH|Chapter=12}}}}

===Founding===
[[File:HM WarOfBeginnings.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The [[Desecration of Ulgethon]].]]
{{Main|War of Beginnings}}
At some point before the San'Shyuum encountered the Sangheili, the [[Huragok]] were found by the San'Shyuum in various [[M-series facility|M-series facilities]].{{Ref/Game|Id=best|H3|Bestiarum}} In [[938 BCE]],{{Ref/Reuse|Ency1}} the San'Shyuum [[Reformists]], aboard the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] and the planetoid that would come to be known as High Charity, entered a Sangheili-occupied system that led to first contact between the two alien species. The San'Shyuum, who came to Sanghelios in order to claim and study the rich abundance of Forerunner artifacts left behind,{{Ref/Book|Id=Ency114|Enc09|Page=114}} soon found themselves sharing different ideologies of how such relics should be treated, which quickly devolved into conflict between the San'Shyuum and the Sangheili.

The Sangheili believed that Forerunner relics were sacred and should not be touched, while the San'Shyuum Reformists believed that they should be studied and use them to make practical objects of their own design. The highly militarized Sangheili attacked the San'Shyuum almost as soon as their differences became apparent,{{Ref/Novel|Id=CH9|CH|Chapter=9}} and a war between the two species raged for eighty six years.{{Ref/Reuse|Ency1}}

At the start of the war, the Sangheili had a numerical advantage in terms of ships and soldiers. Their strength and military tactics were without peer. However, the San'Shyuum's technology, gleaned from years of travel and study of the Forerunner Dreadnought, gave them the advantage in ship-to-ship combat. This proved to be the most common type of combat witnessed during the war.{{Ref/Reuse|CH9}}

Eventually both species came to fear a very real threat: annihilation. The Sangheili feared it through the San'Shyuum's use of their unstoppable Dreadnought; and the San'Shyuum came to admit that if the Sangheili were this dangerous, there might be other forms of sentient life far more threatening to their race. The long and brutal war caused the Sangheili to violate their religious beliefs, studying and incorporating Forerunner technology in order to avoid defeat. This incorporation of Forerunner technology eventually caused a stalemate in the war against the San'Shyuum,{{Ref/Reuse|CH9}} however their Dreadnought remained unstoppable. Faced with this bitter reality, the Sangheili surrendered.{{Ref/Reuse|Ency114}}

With a proud tradition as warriors, the Sangheili held great respect for a worthy adversary, and after their surrender, the San'Shyuum sought a burgeoning Covenant of the two races. In 852 BCE a tentative truce was worked out between the two species through the Sangheili leader, [[Pelahsar the Strident]], and the San'Shyuum [[Breaking Shadow]]. The two agreed to forgive the past crimes of their species and began efforts towards an alliance.{{Ref/Book|HM|Page=39}} This eventually came about with the signing of the [[Writ of Union]], a treaty that ended the conflict and brought about peace between the two factions.{{Ref/Reuse|Ency1}}

[[File:HM-HighCharityBC.png|left|250px|thumb|The construction of ''High Charity''.]]

===Early history===
The conclusion of the conflict marked the [[Ages of Reconciliation|First Age of Reconciliation]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=bc15|BC|Chapter=15}} During this Age and in the year [[851 BCE]],{{Ref/Novel|Id=bc1|BC|Chapter=1}} a rebellion would break out led by [[Ussa 'Xellus]] known as the [[Rending]].{{Ref/Reuse|bc15}}{{Ref/Book|Id=enc22pg192|Enc22|Page=192}} As well, ''High Charity'' would begin construction this year, with the dreadnought being decommissioned to be placed within it.{{Ref/Reuse|bc1}} At this time, much of the Covenant's civil and military infrastructure was not formalized, though enough was in place to allow the first truly collaborative project between the founding species to complete; the multi-role {{Pattern|Useumru|voidpiercer}}.{{Ref/Site|Id=CFEklund|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-eklunds-ensemble|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Eklund's Ensemble|D=20|M=07|Y=2022}} One of the newly formed fleets of the Covenant{{Ref/Reuse|enc22pg192}} would make use of the ''Useumru'' during the attack on the [[Ussans]] at [[The Refuge]].{{Ref/Novel|BC|Book cover}} As part of the aftermath of the formation of the Covenant, a version of the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] had formed to help end the last opposition to the Writ of Union.{{Ref/Site|Id=hwp sangheili|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/swords-of-sanghelios|Site=Halo Waypoint|Section=Universe, Factions|Page=Swords of Sanghelios|LocalArchive=https://archives.halopedia.org/waypoint/www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/swords-of-sanghelios.html}}

''High Charity'' would finish construction roughly 60 years later in [[791 BCE]].{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=226}} The First Age of Reconciliation would end at some point after this and be followed by the [[Ages of Discovery|First Age of Discovery]].{{Ref/Reuse|bc15}}

In [[784 BCE]], the [[Lekgolo]] were encountered by the Covenant on [[Rentus]], a [[natural satellite]] of the Lekgolo homeworld of [[Te]].<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/catalog-interaction/4c3e1c6f-6519-4ee0-83a4-4bac13bf07a3/posts?page=74#post732 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction'' (post 2988575)]</ref> Upon the discovery that many of the Lekgolo worm colonies had literally devoured Forerunner artifacts and installations, [[Taming of the Lekgolo|a large-scale military conflict]] began. The Lekgolo initially proved difficult to defeat because of their ability to combine into the powerful [[Mgalekgolo]], however due in part to their superior spaceship technology, the Covenant were able to ally with the useful Lekgolo and the species was indoctrinated into the hegemony.{{Ref/Reuse|Ency114}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=CH16|CH|Chapter=16}}

The early ages of the Covenant were defined by several civil wars as the polity took shape through slaughter and submission. This included the [[Ages of Conflict|Third Age of Conflict]].{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=265}} As of about [[2560]], the term '[[vestige]]' has been used by the Sangheili to broadly refer to the earliest eras of the Covenant including and up to the [[Ages of Reclamation|Third Age of Reclamation]].{{Ref/Site|Id=CFFalcFic|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-falcon-fiction-flight|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Falcon Fiction Flight|D=06|M=08|Y=2025}}

{{clear}}

===Contact and conversion===
In the year [[1112]], the Covenant discovered the [[Yanme'e]], an insectoid race with an interplanetary civilization. First contact was violent as both sides took heavy casualties. However, it was the Covenant who fared worse in these battles. Ultimately, the San'Shyuum discovered a way to communicate with the Yanme'e, and subsequently incorporated them into the Covenant by way of a treaty.{{Ref/Book|Enc09|Page=148-149}}

[[File:H2A Terminals - Unggoy join Covenant.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Unggoy join the Covenant.]]
In [[1342]], the Covenant arrived in the [[Y'Deio system]] and encountered the [[Kig-Yar]]. Both Kig-Yar [[piracy|pirate]]s and [[Eayn]]'s military joined forces in an attempt to fend off the Covenant military juggernaut. The war between the Covenant and Kig-Yar forces culminated in sieges of redoubts on the [[asteroid]]s surrounding their world,{{Ref/Book|Enc09|Page=155}} however the asteroids proved to be beneficial to the Kig-Yar. It was difficult for the larger Covenant ships to maneuver through Y'Deio's abnormally dense asteroid belt, while Kig-Yar forces could use the asteroids for hiding.{{Ref/Novel|Id=TCP22|TCP|Chapter=22}} Eventually, peace was reached between the Kig-Yar and Covenant. The Kig-Yar joined the Covenant, essentially as mercenaries, and earned commissions from the [[Ministry of Tranquility]] to engage in the services of the Covenant.{{Ref/Book|Enc09|Page=121}} 

The [[Ages of Discovery#Fifteenth Age of Discovery|Fifteenth Age of Discovery]] would span a majority of the 21st-century into the 22nd-century{{Ref/Site|Id=CFOil|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-midnight-oil|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Midnight Oil|D=29|M=05|Y=2026}} and was remembered as an earlier age of glorious discovery.{{Ref/Book|Id=Warfleet|HWF|Page=76-77}}{{Ref/Book|Id=EN268|Enc22|Page=268}} During this time, the Unggoy would be discovered and in [[2142]], the [[Ages of Conversion#Fourth Age of Conversion|Fourth Age of Conversion]] would begin.{{Ref/Reuse|CFOil}} The [[Unggoy]] were easily inducted into the Covenant as a labourer race.{{Ref/Book|Id=EncC4|Enc11|Page=121}}{{Ref/Reuse|best}}{{Ref/Book|Id=EncC1|Enc09|Page=32}}{{Ref/Game|Id=H2AT10|H2A|H2A:Terminals|Terminals|Detail=Covenant Record: Unggoy Rebellion}} 

Around 10 years later in [[2152]],{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P245|Enc22|Page=245}} the Arbiter [[Fal 'Chavamee]] would defy the Covenant and its religion, resulting in the title of Arbiter becoming negative.{{Ref/Film|Id=Duel|HLeg|Episode=The Duel}} With the title of Arbiter becoming negative, the [[Line of Immaculate Succession]] was born.{{Ref/Book|Id=enc22pg245|Enc22|Page=245}}

Centuries prior to 2560, the Covenant encountered and [[Extermination of Karava|exterminated]] a sentient species on [[Karava]].{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=289}} In between the Ages of Conversion and Ages of Doubt, members of the Covenant grappled with internecine conflict.{{Ref/Reuse|ency31}}

===Later years===
In [[2462]], the [[Unggoy Rebellion]] began after the [[Ministry of Concert]] refused to punish Kig-Yar [[shipmaster]]s that were rendering Unggoy populations infertile as petty revenge for the displacement of Kig-Yar nests. The Unggoy proved to be vicious, determined and competent fighters and an Arbiter was ultimately needed to quell the rebellion. This Arbiter ordered the glassing of [[Balaho]], and in response the rebellion ended before much damage could be done, leaving the planet's surface intact for the most part. The Sangheili integrated the Unggoy into formerly Sangheili-only units and armed them with Covenant weaponry.{{Ref/Reuse|CH9}}

The [[Jiralhanae]] were fighting a civil war on [[Doisac|their homeworld]] when they were discovered in [[2492]]. While some gladly joined the Covenant, others were unwilling at first. Nonetheless, they were quickly defeated and absorbed into the Covenant.{{Ref/Book|Enc09|Page=115}} One of the more pro-Covenant factions was led by [[Maccabeus]], whose zeal and devotion led him to be the first Jiralhanae to captain a [[Rapid Conversion|Covenant ship]].{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=254}}

===War of Annihilation===
{{Main|Human-Covenant War}}
{{Quote|Your destruction is the will of the Gods… and we are their instrument.|The Covenant's first transmission to humanity, after the [[glassing]] of [[Harvest]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=TFoR11|TFoR|Chapter=11}}}}
[[File:HW Trailer Battle.jpg|left|thumb|250px|The Covenant [[Harvest campaign|engage]] humanity at [[Harvest]].]]
During the 23rd Age of Doubt, the Covenant [[First Battle of Harvest|encountered]] humanity for the first time on the planet [[Harvest]]. While many within the Covenant's leadership felt that this new race would make a welcome addition to the hegemony, the newly-appointed [[Hierarchs]] of the Covenant—[[Prophet of Truth|Truth]], [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]], and [[Prophet of Regret|Regret]]—had other plans. The Hierarchs were aware of humanity's status as the Forerunners' chosen inheritors, and knew that revealing this information to the Covenant would lead to the Covenant falling into chaos.{{Ref/Reuse|CH16}} Greater than the cultural significance of the invalidation of the Great Journey, the leading San'Shyuum knew the truth about the Forerunners would lead to the loss of their personal power.{{Ref/Novel|Id=CHE|CH|Epilogue}} As a result, spurred on by a violent incident following the first human-Covenant contact, the Hierarchs declared humanity an affront to the gods and demanded that their entire species was to be exterminated. This decision would spark a war that ultimately would crumble the very foundation of the Covenant's religious and political alliances.{{Ref/Reuse|CH9}}

Early in the war, a growing faction of Elites who disagreed with the Prophets were formed. This group took control of a Forerunner facility near the remnants of a massive space installation and were thought to have in their possession a key to activate Forerunner technology. The Arbiter of the time, [[Ripa 'Moramee]], would put an end to the faction but did not retrieve the key.{{Ref/Game|Id=Deeds|HW|HW:Timeline|Timeline|Detail=Excerpt from The Punished Deeds, Vol. III}}

At some point prior to [[2531]], heretical uprisings took place on several [[Covenant worlds]] in response to ''High Charity''{{'}}s demands for new tithes. These would be put down in part by [[Avitus]].{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=254}}

After decades of struggle, some Sangheili within the Covenant began to question why humanity was not offered a chance to join the Covenant as other races had.{{Ref/Game|Id=convo|H2|Conversations from the Universe}} Despite their losses, humanity proved a determined and brave enemy. They were especially troubled by their soldiers called [[Spartan]]s, who were more than a match for them in battles and often killed thousands of Covenant by themselves.{{Ref/Novel|Id=GoO38|GoO|Chapter=38}} While these idle heresies did not halt the Covenant's military progress, doubt began to surface as to the wisdom of the Prophets' ultimate goals; a doubt that was carefully observed by the spies of the Hierarchs.{{Ref/Reuse|convo}} 

Another major break-off faction known as the [[Banished]] was created by [[Jiralhanae Stalker]] [[Atriox]] as a result of his disgruntlement with the Prophets' rule, and proceeded to persistently raid Covenant supplies for years while the Human-Covenant War raged on.{{Ref/Level|HW2|HW2:A New Enemy|A New Enemy}}
[[File:H2A Screenshot ParticularJustice Autumn.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Fleet of Particular Justice along with the ''Pillar of Autumn'' at Installation 04.]]
After the UNSC stronghold [[Reach]] fell to the Covenant in [[2552]], they made a discovery of tremendous significance: a single UNSC vessel, the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}, had made a supposedly blind jump away from the battle, inadvertently leading the [[Fleet of Particular Justice|pursuing Covenant fleet]] to the location of [[Installation 04|one]] of the seven Halo rings.{{Ref/Level|CE|CE:The Pillar of Autumn|The Pillar of Autumn}} The Covenant's celebration following the discovery of this prized relic was short-lived, however, as a small group of UNSC forces—among them the fearsome, enigmatic soldier known to Covenant forces as "[[John-117|the Demon]]"—managed to destroy the ring by detonating the ''Pillar of Autumn''{{'}}s [[fusion drive|fusion engines]].{{Ref/Level|CE|CE:The Maw|The Maw}} [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee, the [[Supreme Commander]] of the fleet present at Halo, was branded a heretic for his failure to save the ring,{{Ref/Level|H2|H2:The Heretic|The Heretic}} although he was subsequently appointed an [[Arbiter]].{{Ref/Level|H2|H2:The Arbiter|The Arbiter}} The previously tolerated faction known as the [[Governors of Contrition]] were also subsequently scattered across the empire following the battle on the Halo.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Atropos|Halo: Ascension on Atropos}}

Shortly after the destruction of the first Halo ring, the High Prophet of Regret accidentally stumbled upon the human homeworld, [[Earth]]. Ill-equipped for a full-scale invasion, Regret managed to escape by making an in-atmosphere slipspace jump. This jump led the Prophet of Regret and the pursuing UNSC frigate [[UNSC In Amber Clad|''In Amber Clad'']] to a [[Installation 05|second Halo ring]].{{Ref/Level|H2|H2:Delta Halo|Delta Halo}} A [[Battle of Installation 05|brief military conflict]] between UNSC and Covenant forces ensued, during which time Regret met his end at the hands of the Demon. The ring itself was nearly activated, but was stopped by UNSC forces.{{Ref/Level|Id=h2journey|H2|H2:The Great Journey|The Great Journey}}
{{Clear}}

===Schism and disintegration===
[[File:Schism 2.png|thumb|250px|Covenant Sangheili and Jiralhanae battle each other upon the onset of the Great Schism.]]
{{Main|Great Schism|Battle of Kenya|Battle of Installation 00|Changing of the Guard}}
During the events on the second Halo, the two remaining Hierarchs used the Sangheili's failure to safeguard Regret as an opportunity to [[Changing of the Guard|replace the Sangheili with Jiralhanae as their protectors and military leaders]]. The two Prophets had doubts about the Sangheili's loyalty to the Covenant cause, and used the opportunity to ensure that there would be no future dissidence in the Covenant. However, this move greatly angered the Sangheili, who threatened to resign from the High Council.{{Ref/Level|H2|H2:Sacred Icon|Sacred Icon}} 

The Prophet of Truth would continue his replacement efforts and gave the Jiralhanae command over several Covenant fleets.{{Ref/Game|HW|HW:Timeline|Timeline|Detail=Edict of the Office of the High Prophet of Truth}} Once there were enough Jiralhanae in positions of power, Truth secretly ordered them to purge the Sangheili from the Covenant. The [[Sangheili Councilor]]s, who had been summoned to the [[Control Room (Installation 05)|Control Room]] of Installation 05 to witness the commencement of the Great Journey, were either assassinated or imprisoned by Tartarus and his Jiralhanae. The rest of the Sangheili revolted, enlisting the help of some of the Mgalekgolo and Unggoy.{{Ref/Level|H2|H2:Uprising|Uprising}}

A massive battle ensued within High Charity and the surrounding space, beginning a civil war known as the Great Schism and the [[Ages of Retribution|First Age of Retribution]].{{Ref/Site|Id=CF159|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-coming-of-age|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Coming of Age|D=13|M=11|Y=2024}} While High Charity was consumed by internal conflict, the Flood-controlled UNSC frigate [[UNSC In Amber Clad|''In Amber Clad'']] made an unexpected slipspace jump inside the dome and crashed into one of the towers, initiating a full-scale infestation of the city. The Prophet of Mercy was killed during the Flood attack, with Truth leaving him to die while he made his own escape. The holy city and its millions of inhabitants were completely overrun by the infestation, becoming a massive [[Flood hive]].{{Ref/Reuse|gravemind}}

Truth escaped in the Forerunner Dreadnought, then used to provide power to High Charity. However, [[John-117|SPARTAN-117]], the infamous Demon, managed to fight his way aboard the Dreadnought right before it took off. While the Covenant fleet orbiting the holy city began to do battle with each other, the Dre