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History of the Covenant: Difference between revisions

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The '''[[Covenant Empire|Covenant]]''', like almost all cultures, keeps a record of their history using their own methods of timekeeping. Unfortunately, the exact measures, if any, of these are a mystery, and there are hints that there may be multiple divisions of each age (9th Age of Reclamation, for example.) What is known is that the Covenant divide their recorded time into seven Ages,<ref name="halosm">[http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten102204.html '''Halo.Bungie.Org''' - Halo Story Page]</ref> divided based on notable events within each. Each age is not necessarily a period of time, but a description of the events within it.
The '''[[Covenant Empire|Covenant]]''', like almost all cultures, keeps a record of their history using their own methods of timekeeping. Unfortunately, the exact measures, if any, of these are a mystery, and there are hints that there may be multiple divisions of each age (9th Age of Reclamation, for example.) What is known is that the Covenant divide their recorded time into seven Ages,<ref name="halosm">[http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten102204.html '''Halo.Bungie.Org''' - Halo Story Page]</ref> divided based on notable events within each. Each age is not necessarily a period of time, but a description of the events within it.


It is speculated that the Age of Reclamation is the last of the ages, when the Covenant [[Great Schism|fractures]] during their Civil War.
It is speculated that the Age of Reclamation is the last of the ages, when the Covenant [[Great Schism|fractured]] during the Great Schism.


==The Ages==
==The Ages==
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{{Main|Age of Conflict}}
{{Main|Age of Conflict}}


At some point before the Covenant’s formation, it's been recorded that the [[Sangheili]] and [[San 'Shyuum]] [[Sangheili-San 'Shyuum war|waged war against each other]], apparently in a power struggle, in what is called the [[Ages of Conflict|Age of Conflict]].<ref name="halosm"/> Additionally, the [[Unggoy Rebellion|Grunt Rebellion]] took 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>
At some point before the Covenant’s formation, it's been recorded that the [[Sangheili]] and [[San 'Shyuum]] [[Sangheili-San 'Shyuum war|waged war against each other]], apparently in a power struggle, in what is called the [[Ages of Conflict|Age of Conflict]].<ref name="halosm"/> Additionally, the [[Unggoy Rebellion]] took 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>


===Ages of Discovery & Reconciliation===
===Ages of Discovery & Reconciliation===
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{{Main|Age of Reconciliation}}
{{Main|Age of Reconciliation}}


What is known is that the [[San 'Shyuum|Prophets']] discovery of ancient Forerunner artifacts during the [[Ages of Discovery|Age of Discovery]]<ref name="halosm"/> and the end of the war during the [[Ages of Reconciliation|Age of Reconciliation]]<ref name="halosm"/>, became the foundation on which the Covenant was founded upon. The Prophets promised to find the means of the Forerunners' [[covenant religion|transcendence]] and the Elites 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]].
What is known is that the [[San 'Shyuum]]'s discovery of ancient Forerunner artifacts during the [[Ages of Discovery|Age of Discovery]]<ref name="halosm"/> and the end of the war during the [[Ages of Reconciliation|Age of Reconciliation]]<ref name="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]].


The Covenant ship [[Truth and Reconciliation]] that appeared on ''[[Installation 04|Alpha Halo]]'' may have been named after this time period.
The Covenant ship [[Truth and Reconciliation]] that appeared on ''[[Installation 04|Alpha Halo]]'' may have been named after this time period.
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{{Main|Age of Conversion}}
{{Main|Age of Conversion}}


These were followed by the [[Ages of Conversion|Age of Conversion]]<ref name="halosm"/>, where the Covenant started their subjugation of other species in their search for Forerunner artifacts, incorporating them into their society, adding their strengths to their own. It is likely that the [[Taming of the Lekgolo|Taming of the Hunters]] occurred during this time period, requiring the creation of another [[Arbiter]] and defeated them only by threatening to destroy the homeworld of the Hunters. This period most likely included the incorporation of the [[Unggoy]], [[Kig-yar|Kig-Yar]], [[Yanme'e|Yanme’e]] and [[Huragok]] in separate Ages of Conversion.
These were followed by the [[Ages of Conversion|Age of Conversion]]<ref name="halosm"/>, where the Covenant started their subjugation of other species in their search for Forerunner artifacts, incorporating them into their society, adding their strengths to their own. It is likely that the [[Taming of the Lekgolo]] occurred during this time period, requiring the creation of another [[Arbiter]] and defeated them only by threatening to destroy the homeworld of the Lekgolo. This period most likely included the incorporation of the [[Unggoy]], [[Kig-Yar]], [[Yanme'e|Yanme’e]] and [[Huragok]] in separate Ages of Conversion.


===Age of Doubt===
===Age of Doubt===
{{Main|Age of Doubt}}
{{Main|Age of Doubt}}


The [[Ages of Doubt|Age of Doubt]]<ref name="halosm"/> is speculated to be a group of periods during which many of the Covenant began to lose faith in their mission. During the 39th Age of Conflict, the Grunt Rebellion occurred, instigated by the Jackals, requiring the creation of an Arbiter to quell, and led to an Age of Doubt. The last Age of Doubt, the 23rd, ended in the year 2525, in human counting, leading into the Age of Reclamation.
The [[Ages of Doubt|Age of Doubt]]<ref name="halosm"/> is speculated to be a group of periods during which many of the Covenant began to lose faith in their mission. During the 39th Age of Conflict, the Unggoy Rebellion occurred, instigated by the Kig-Yar, requiring the creation of an Arbiter to quell, and led to an Age of Doubt. The last Age of Doubt, the 23rd, ended in the year 2525, in human counting, leading into the Age of Reclamation.


===Age of Reclamation===
===Age of Reclamation===
{{Main|Age of Reclamation}}
{{Main|Age of Reclamation}}


The [[Ages of Reclamation|Age of Reclamation]]<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Heretic]]''</ref> was marked by the [[Human-Covenant War]] and the incorporation of the [[Jiralhanae]] into the Covenant's military. 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 "descendants" of the Forerunners, their gods, and that the Covenant religion was based on a lie. As the decades wore on, tensions rose within the Covenant for a variety of reasons. Some Sangheili grew increasingly frustrated at apparent Prophet 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 Guard]]s were replaced with Jiralhanae, these tensions erupted into full civil war in 2552 with the beginning of the [[Great Schism]]<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'''</ref>, 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 [[Ages of Reclamation|Age of Reclamation]]<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Heretic]]''</ref> was marked by the [[Human-Covenant War]] and the incorporation of the [[Jiralhanae]] into the Covenant's military. 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 "descendants" of the Forerunners, their gods, and that the Covenant religion was based on a lie. 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 Guard]]s were replaced with Jiralhanae, these tensions erupted into full civil war in 2552 with the beginning of the [[Great Schism]]<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'''</ref>, 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 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]].
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]].
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*[[648 BCE|648 B.C.E.]] - [[Janjur Qom]] is destroyed by a natural stellar collapse, and the Forerunner Dreadnought is made into the centerpiece of the new space station that will serve as the Covenant's capital, High Charity.
*[[648 BCE|648 B.C.E.]] - [[Janjur Qom]] is destroyed by a natural stellar collapse, and the Forerunner Dreadnought is made into the centerpiece of the new space station that will serve as the Covenant's capital, High Charity.
*[[1112]] - The [[Yanme'e]] are incorporated into the Covenant.
*[[1112]] - The [[Yanme'e]] are incorporated into the Covenant.
*[[1342]] - The [[Kig-yar|Kig-Yar]] are discovered and form an alliance with the Covenant.
*[[1342]] - The [[Kig-Yar]] are discovered and form an alliance with the Covenant.
*[[1552]] - San'Shyuum begin searching for lifespan augmentation methods.
*[[1552]] - San'Shyuum begin searching for lifespan augmentation methods.
*[[2142]] - The Covenant incorporate the [[Unggoy]] into their society.  
*[[2142]] - The Covenant incorporate the [[Unggoy]] into their society.  
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== Trivia ==
== Trivia ==
*The Covenant does not base their time on one age coming after another, they base the age on the state and being of the Covenant, entirely. For instance, the 9th Age of Doubt did not come before the 9th Age of Reclamation. It is instead the 29th Age of Doubt and then the 9th Age of Reclamation. Furthermore, each Age is broken up into [[Unit]]s and [[Cycle]]s, the precise values of which are unclear.
The Covenant does not base their time on one age coming after another, they base the age on the state and being of the Covenant, entirely. For instance, the 9th Age of Doubt did not come before the 9th Age of Reclamation. It is instead the 23rd Age of Doubt and then the 9th Age of Reclamation. Furthermore, each Age is broken up into [[Unit]]s and [[Cycle]]s, the precise values of which are unclear.


== List of appearances ==
== List of appearances ==
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''


== Sources ==
== Sources ==

Revision as of 22:44, August 27, 2012

The Covenant, like almost all cultures, keeps a record of their history using their own methods of timekeeping. Unfortunately, the exact measures, if any, of these are a mystery, and there are hints that there may be multiple divisions of each age (9th Age of Reclamation, for example.) What is known is that the Covenant divide their recorded time into seven Ages,[1] divided based on notable events within each. Each age is not necessarily a period of time, but a description of the events within it.

It is speculated that the Age of Reclamation is the last of the ages, when the Covenant fractured during the Great Schism.

The Ages

Age of Abandonment

Main article: Age of Abandonment

The Covenant traces its history back at least 100,000 years, when an ancient species called the Forerunner activated the Halo installations, disappearing from the galaxy. This is referred to as the Age of Abandonment by the Covenant.[1]

Age of Conflict

Main article: Age of Conflict

At some point before the Covenant’s formation, it's been recorded that the Sangheili and San 'Shyuum waged war against each other, apparently in a power struggle, in what is called the Age of Conflict.[1] Additionally, the Unggoy Rebellion took during the 39th Age of Conflict.[2]

Ages of Discovery & Reconciliation

Main article: Age of Discovery
Main article: Age of Reconciliation

What is known is that the San 'Shyuum's discovery of ancient Forerunner artifacts during the Age of Discovery[1] and the end of the war during the Age of Reconciliation[1], became the foundation on which the Covenant was founded upon. The San 'Shyuum promised to find the means of the Forerunners' 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.

The Covenant ship Truth and Reconciliation that appeared on Alpha Halo may have been named after this time period.

Age of Conversion

Main article: Age of Conversion

These were followed by the Age of Conversion[1], where the Covenant started their subjugation of other species in their search for Forerunner artifacts, incorporating them into their society, adding their strengths to their own. It is likely that the Taming of the Lekgolo occurred during this time period, requiring the creation of another Arbiter and defeated them only by threatening to destroy the homeworld of the Lekgolo. This period most likely included the incorporation of the Unggoy, Kig-Yar, Yanme’e and Huragok in separate Ages of Conversion.

Age of Doubt

Main article: Age of Doubt

The Age of Doubt[1] is speculated to be a group of periods during which many of the Covenant began to lose faith in their mission. During the 39th Age of Conflict, the Unggoy Rebellion occurred, instigated by the Kig-Yar, requiring the creation of an Arbiter to quell, and led to an Age of Doubt. The last Age of Doubt, the 23rd, ended in the year 2525, in human counting, leading into the Age of Reclamation.

Age of Reclamation

Main article: Age of Reclamation

The Age of Reclamation[3] was marked by the Human-Covenant War and the incorporation of the Jiralhanae into the Covenant's military. 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 "descendants" of the Forerunners, their gods, and that the Covenant religion was based on a lie. 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 Guards were replaced with Jiralhanae, these tensions erupted into full civil war in 2552 with the beginning of the Great Schism[4], 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.[5]

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 Worlds, ending with the discovery and subsequent destruction of the Ark.

Known Timeline

Trivia

The Covenant does not base their time on one age coming after another, they base the age on the state and being of the Covenant, entirely. For instance, the 9th Age of Doubt did not come before the 9th Age of Reclamation. It is instead the 23rd Age of Doubt and then the 9th Age of Reclamation. Furthermore, each Age is broken up into Units and Cycles, the precise values of which are unclear.

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Halo.Bungie.Org - Halo Story Page
  2. ^ 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")
  3. ^ Halo 2, campaign level, The Heretic
  4. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
  5. ^ Halo Waypoint - Halo 3: Finish the Fight