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| {{Status|Canon}}
| | This article details the known history of the [[Covenant]]. |
| {{New content|[[Halo: Broken Circle]]}}
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| [[File:H2A Terminals - Working scribe.jpg|300px|thumb|A San'Shyuum scribe documenting the history of the Covenant.]]
| | ==Summary== |
| The [[Covenant]], like almost all cultures, kept a record of their '''history''' using their own methods of timekeeping. Significant time periods in Covenant history were divided and categorized based on a system of ages,<ref name="halosm">[http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten102204.html '''Halo.Bungie.Org''' - Halo Story Page]</ref> which were assigned into seven categories based on notable events within each.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest'''</ref> Shorter spans of time were measured based on the [[Covenant Battle Calendar]]. Certain time periods within the ages were also given names, an example of which is the [[Step of Silence]].<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page 338''</ref>
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| Each age was broken up into [[cycle]]s and [[unit]]s, the former consisting of 265 of the latter and corresponding to a single artificial day within the Covenant's holy city ''[[High Charity]]''.<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 31''</ref> The last of the ages was the 9th Age of Reclamation, which saw the fracturing of the Covenant during the [[Great Schism]].<ref name="goo240">'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''page 240''</ref>
| | The Covenant divide their history into periods called Ages. There are at least eight ages, although their exact order is uncertain. The Ages are named according to things that have happened/are happening in them. This also means that the lengths of the Ages vary, with some longer than other. One of the problems with ordering the Ages is that there may be several ages with the same name. At the start of [[Halo 2]], subtitles gave the date as the ''''9th Age of Reclamation''''. This suggests that eight other ages of Reclamation have gone before it. The standard version of Covenant history in the article [[The Covenant]] does not appear to take account of this. |
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| == The Ages == | | ==The Ages=== |
| Rather than following one another in a succession, the ages represent designated periods of time which were defined by a major event during each age and named based on seven main categories. For example, the 23rd Age of Doubt was followed directly by the 9th Age of Reclamation because of the events that occurred during those ages.
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| === Age of Abandonment ===
| | Not much is known about the history of the Covenant, but the order of Ages detailed here is probably the most commonly accepted version. All notes in italics are assumptions based on logical guesswork, which will need verifying. |
| {{Main|Age of Abandonment}}
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| The Covenant traces its history back at least 100,000 years, when an ancient species called the [[Forerunner]]s activated the [[Halo Array|Halo installations]], disappearing from the galaxy. This is referred to as the Age of Abandonment by the Covenant.{{Ref/Reuse|halosm}}
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| === Ages of Conflict === | | ===The Age of Abandonment=== |
| {{Main|Ages of Conflict}}
| | This is probably the time when the [[Forerunners]] vanished. The Covenant believe that the Forerunners underwent the [[Great Journey]], but in fact they disappeared because they activated the seven [[Halos]] in order to contain the [[Flood]], thereby killing themselves and all sentient life in the galaxy. This event happened about 100,000 years before 2552, before the rest of the Covenant races had evolved enough to become sentient. |
| The Ages of Conflict were periods of time when the Covenant was embroiled in major conflicts. The first such age occurred directly preceding the formation of the Covenant, when the [[Sangheili]] and [[San'Shyuum]] [[Sangheili-San'Shyuum war|waged war against each other]] in a power struggle.{{Ref/Reuse|halosm}} Additionally, the [[Unggoy Rebellion]] took place during the 39th Age of Conflict.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 151'' (''"No one had known that the infusion incident, as it came to be known, was the most important of many small grievances that precipitated the Unggoy rebellion, a civil war that ushered in the Covenant's 39th Age of Conflict"'')</ref>
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| === Ages of Discovery & Reconciliation === | | ===The Age of Conflict=== |
| {{Main|Ages of Discovery|Ages of Reconciliation}}
| | This would have happened many thousands of years after the Age of Abandonment. It is believed that in this Age the [[Elites]] and [[Prophets]] began fighting each other. It is not yet known why the war started. This Age may have lasted for thousands of years, because the war went on for an extremely long time. |
| What is known is that the San'Shyuum's discovery of ancient Forerunner artifacts during an Age of Discovery{{Ref/Reuse|halosm}} and the end of the war between the Sangheili and the San'Shyuum during an early Age of Reconciliation,{{Ref/Reuse|halosm}} became the foundation on which the Covenant was founded upon. The San'Shyuum promised to find the means of the Forerunners' [[Covenant religion|transcendence]] and the Sangheili promised to protect the hierarchy. These ages marked the beginnings of the Covenant, the start of the Covenant's search for Forerunner artifacts and presumably the Covenant [[Writ of Union]].
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| === Ages of Conversion ===
| | ''Note: There could be several Ages of Conflict. If there are, they would have presumably been created upon some major new development that influenced the war.'' |
| {{Main|Ages of Conversion}}
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| The Ages of Conversion were defined by the Covenant subjugating other species in their search for Forerunner artifacts, incorporating them into their society, adding their strengths to their own.{{Ref/Reuse|halosm}} It is likely that the [[Taming of the Lekgolo]] occurred during one such age, requiring the creation of another [[Arbiter]] and defeated them only by threatening to destroy the [[Te|homeworld]] of the Lekgolo. Separate Ages of Conversion also likely included the incorporation of the [[Unggoy]], [[Kig-Yar]], [[Yanme'e|Yanme’e]] and [[Huragok]].
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| === Ages of Doubt === | | ===The Age of Discovery=== |
| {{Main|Ages of Doubt}}
| | This Age took place during the Elite-Prophet war. It is believed that during this Age, the Prophets (possibly with the help of the [[Engineers]]) discovered the remains of Forerunner technology, probably giving birth to the Covenant religion with its central theme that the activation of the Halos would begin the Great Journey for the Covenant, leading them to salvation. |
| The Ages of Doubt are periods during which the Covenant suffered from varying degrees of internal dissent and began to lose faith in their mission.{{Ref/Reuse|halosm}} The last Age of Doubt, the 23rd, was preceded by the 39th Age of Conflict, during which the [[Unggoy Rebellion]] occurred. The 23rd Age of Doubt ended in the year 2525, in human counting, leading into the 9th Age of Reclamation.
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| === Ages of Reclamation === | | ===The Age of Reconciliation=== |
| {{Main|Age of Reclamation}}
| | In this Age, the Prophets shared with the Elites their knowledge of the Forerunner, the Halos and the Great Journey, ending the war. This is presumably when the Covenant was formed with the Elites promising to protect the Prophets while they searched for the Halos in order to bring about the Great Journey for both races. This would also be when the [[Writ of Union]] was created. |
| The Ages of Reclamation were marked by the discovery of major Forerunner artifacts. The 9th,<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[The Heretic]]''</ref> and final, Age of Reclamation began simultaneously with the onset of the [[Human-Covenant War]] in [[2525]] and lasted until the Covenant's defeat at the Ark in late [[2552]]. Originally, the war had been started by the Prophets of Truth, Mercy and Regret to prevent the majority of the Covenant learning that the humans were "[[Reclaimer|descendants]]" of the Forerunners, their gods, and that the Covenant religion was based on a lie.
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| As the decades wore on, tensions rose within the Covenant for a variety of reasons. Some Sangheili grew increasingly frustrated at apparent San'Shyuum favoritism toward the Jiralhanae. Others began to question the validity of their holy crusade, beginning to see the humans as worthy adversaries rather than heretics. After the [[Changing of the Guard]], where the [[Sangheili Honor Guardsman|Sangheili Honor Guards]] were replaced with Jiralhanae, these tensions erupted into full civil war in 2552 with the beginning of the [[Great Schism]],{{Ref/Reuse|goo240}} where the Sangheili broke away from the Covenant, wresting away significant territories, personnel and equipment, allying themselves (at least grudgingly) with the humans they had formerly fought.<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/titles/halo3 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Halo 3'': Finish the Fight]</ref>
| | ===The Age of Conversion=== |
| | It is theorized that this was the time that the Elites and Prophets began incorporating the other races into the Covenant, either through conquest or religious conversion. The [[Hunters]] resisted conquest more strongly than the other races, resulting in the creation of an [[Arbiter]] to help “tame” them (this Arbiter was killed). The Hunters defeated the Elites on the ground but were forced to surrender under threat of extinction through [[glassing]]. It is also possible that the [[Grunts]] were one of the species that was conquered, rather than converted. Almost nothing else is known about how the other races ([[Jackals]], [[Brutes]], [[Drones]]) became part of the Covenant. |
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| The Age of Reclamation also marked the discovery of a number of important Forerunner installations and outposts, ranging from minor artifacts uncovered on human colonies, to the massive installations of the Halo Array, such as the individual Halos, to two [[Shield World]]s, ending with the discovery and subsequent destruction of the [[Installation 00|Ark]] where the Covenant met its end at the hands of a combined Sangheili-human force spearheaded by the legendary [[John-117|Master Chief]], known amongst the Covenant as "the Demon" and the former Covenant [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]. | | ===The Age of Doubt=== |
| | In this age, the Covenant may have begun to doubt the word of the Prophets due to their fruitless search for the Halos. The [[Grunt Rebellion]] probably occurred during this period. This event resulted in the creation of an Arbiter to suppress it, resulting in his death. |
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| == Known timeline ==
| | ''Note: There could be another Age of Reconciliation following the Age of Doubt, as the Grunt Rebellion ended and they were reconciled back into the Covenant.'' |
| *[[2200 BCE]] - The [[War of Wills]] begins
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| *[[2100 BCE]] - The San'Shyuum civil war ends, [[Reformists]] flee [[Janjur Qom]].
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| *[[938 BCE]] - The San'Shyuum encounter the Sangheili and war ensues between both races. The start of the [[War of Beginnings]] ushers in the first Age of Conflict.
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| *[[876 BCE]] - The Sangheili reluctantly begin using Forerunner technology to improve their warships, arms and armor.
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| *[[860 BCE]] - San'Shyuum and Sangheili forces [[Skirmish of the Planet of Blue and Red|battle]] on [[Anvarl]].
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| *[[852 BCE]] - The Sangheili-San'Shyuum war comes to an end, and the Covenant is formed with the creation of the [[Writ of Union]]. The first Age of Reconciliation begins.
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| *[[851 BCE]] - Sangheili opposed to the Writ of Union rebel against the Covenant.
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| *[[784 BCE]] - [[Taming of the Lekgolo]]: the Lekgolo are discovered and incorporated into the Covenant.
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| *[[648 BCE]] - [[Janjur Qom]] is destroyed by a natural stellar collapse and ''[[High Charity]]'' becomes the surrogate homeworld of the San'Shyuum. The Forerunner Dreadnought is made into the centerpiece of the capital.
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| *[[1112]] - The [[Yanme'e]] are incorporated into the Covenant.
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| *[[1342]] - The [[Kig-Yar]] are discovered and form an alliance with the Covenant.
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| *[[1552]] - San'Shyuum begin searching for lifespan augmentation methods.
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| *[[2142]] - The Covenant incorporate the [[Unggoy]] into their society.
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| *[[2462]] - The [[Unggoy Rebellion]] occurs and ends, inaugurating the 29th Age of Doubt.
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| *[[2492]] - The [[Jiralhanae]] are discovered and incorporated into the Covenant.
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| *[[2524]] - First public appearance to [[human]]ity.
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| *[[2525]] - The Covenant glass [[Harvest]], declaring a [[Human-Covenant War|genocidal campaign]] against the so-called "heretics". The 9th Age of Reclamation begins.
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| *[[2552]] November - The [[Great Schism]] causes the Covenant to erupt into civil war as the entire Sangheili species are forced out.
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| *[[2552]] December - The Covenant meets its end at the [[Battle of the Citadel]].
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| | ===The Age of Expansion=== |
| | Not much is known about this Age, but this was presumably when the Covenant began expanding their empire, having for the moment settled their internal disputes. It was also probably one of the longest Ages. |
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| == Sources == | | ===The Ages of Reclamation=== |
| {{Ref/Sources}}
| | These are some of the least understood Ages. At the time of 2552, the Covenant are in the 9th Age of Reclamation. It is possible that the eight other Ages of Reclamation came directly before it, during which the Covenant were expanding their empire in their search for the Halos. The eight other Ages of Reclamation may have been created upon some new development in their search, though this is only speculation. |
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| {{Covenantwars}}
| | ====The 9th Age of Reclamation==== |
| | At the time of [[Halo]] and [[Halo 2]] the Covenant are in the 9th Age of Reclamation. It is possible that it began in 2525, when the Covenant first came into contact with humans. So far, the Age has contained a 27 year long war with the humans, the discovery and destruction of [[Installation 04]], the threat of [[Heresy]], the creation of a new [[Arbiter]], the location of [[Installation 05]], the threat of the [[Flood]] and the start of the [[Covenant Civil War]]. |
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| [[Category:History of the Covenant| ]] | | ====Speculation==== |
| [[Category:The Covenant]] | | It is unknown why the Ages are called the “Ages of Reclamation”. It is often speculated that it is a reference to the name the [[Monitors]] give humans: [[Reclaimers]]. The Monitors appear to give this label to the race which will set off the Halos, i.e humans. It is possible that because the Covenant are trying to set off the Halos, they think of themselves as Reclaimers, even though they aren’t. |
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| | ===A New Age?=== |
| | It may be possible that a new Age could have begun upon the start of the Covenant Civil War and the apparent breakup of the Covenant. |
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| | ==Related Links== |
| | [[The Covenant]] |
| | [[Age of Abandonment]] |
| | [[Age of Conflict]] |
| | [[Age of Discovery]] |
| | [[Age of Reconciliation]] |
| | [[Age of Conversion]] |
| | [[Age of Doubt]] |
| | [[Age of Expansion]] |
| | [[Age of Reclamation]] |
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| | [[Category: The Covenant]] |
