High Council



The High Council was the central theocratic/aristocratic and decision-making body of the Covenant. Based in the High Council Chamber in the heart of the Covenant holy city High Charity, the High Council consisted of more than 200 Sangheili and San 'Shyuum and was headed by a triumvirate known as the Hierarchs or "High Prophets."

Overview
The theocratic Covenant followed the orders of the High Council to the letter as they were the whole of the Covenant governance. The High Council seemed to have been divided into sub-groups, with different tasks and goals which keep the Covenant up and running within all its aspects. The lower caste members of the Covenant, such as the Kig-Yar, Yanme'e, and Unggoy, are not represented on the High Council but were instead vetted by the Ministry of Concert. During the Human-Covenant War, the High Council would order the complete glassing of human colonies during times of "particular religious significance". During the Battle of Kholo, the Prophet of Conviction represented the High Council and gave the order to the unidentified Shipmaster of the Fleet of Righteous Vigilance to glass the planet.

After the High Prophet of Regret's death on Installation 05, the Jiralhanae replaced the Sangheili Honor Guards. The Sangheili viewed this as a violation of the principle that the Covenant had been founded upon and threatened to resign from the High Council. Most of the Sangheili members of the Council were assassinated during the Battle of Installation 05 as part of the High Prophet of Truth's plan to replace Sangheili with Jiralhanae in Covenant society. With the secession of the Sangheili in the Great Schism, the Flood invasion of High Charity and the eventual dissolution of the Covenant itself, it is likely that the High Council no longer exists at all whatsoever.

Known Council members
High Prophets
 * High Prophet of Truth
 * High Prophet of Mercy
 * High Prophet of Regret

Prophet Councilors
 * Prophet of Supposition
 * Prophet of Objection
 * Prophet of Conviction

Production note
The in-game council is far smaller than its canonical incarnation, being depicted by only 38 Prophets and 40 Elites. 'Vadamee, Tartarus and his two attendants, and fourteen Honor Guardsmen are also present.

List of appearances

 * Halo: The Flood
 * Halo: First Strike
 * Halo 2
 * Conversations from the Universe
 * Halo: Contact Harvest
 * Halo Wars: Genesis
 * Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
 * The Return
 * Halo: Mortal Dictata
 * Halo 2 Anniversary