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{{ratings}}
{{Status|Canon}}
'''Honor Guard''' refers to [[Covenant]] warriors that defend the [[Prophet]]s. The term is used six times in the Halo universe:
{{Disambig header|the rank used by the Covenant|the Covenant special unit|Covenant Honor Guard}}
[[File:Enc22-SangheiliHonorGuard.png |300px|thumb|A Sangheili Honor Guardsman employing the {{Pattern|Gheocin|combat harness}} from the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]''.]]
{{Quote|We have always been your protectors!|[[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee talking to the [[Prophet of Truth]]<ref name="sacred">''Halo 2'', campaign level, [[Sacred Icon]]</ref>}}


*'''[[Covenant Honor Guard|Honor Guard of the Covenant]]''' - The Protective service of the [[High Prophets]] and [[High Council|Council.
'''Honor Guardsman''' is a notably high [[Covenant rank structure|rank]] of highly-skilled [[Covenant]] warriors employed within the [[Covenant]] [[Covenant Honor Guard|Honor Guard]] unit. The Honor Guardsmen served to defend the [[San'Shyuum]] and other political figures, particularly the [[Hierarchs]].{{Ref/Reuse|sacred}}<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 381</ref><ref name="EVG">''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', p. 95</ref> The role was once exclusively adopted by [[Sangheili]] before the Great Schism changed the role in favor of their [[Jiralhanae]] rivals.


*'''[[Sangheili Honor Guardsman]]''' - The typical Imperial Protectors of the Covenant before the events that led to the [[Civil War of the Covenant]]
==Overview==
**'''[[Honor Guard Ultra]]''' - The commanders of the Elite Honor Guard
Honor Guardsmen were the imperial elite protectors of the [[Hierarchs]] and [[High Council|Council]] and were among the most skilled of all warriors and were hand-picked for the duty of protecting the High Prophets and other high-ranking officials in the Covenant [[High Council]]. Honor Guardsmen used the [[energy stave]] for ceremonial purposes, which is the highest weapon of any Honor Guard.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 381''</ref> Honor Guardsmen were expected to immediately kill anyone who drew a weapon in the presence of a Hierarch,<ref>''Halo: The Cole Protocol'', p. 341</ref> though they might stand down should an [[Arbiter]] do so.<ref>''Halo Wars'', campaign level, [[Scarab (level)|Scarab]]</ref> In addition, they kept order during important meetings within the High Council. Although the position was a great honor, it was seen by some [[Sangheili]] as a merely ceremonial duty and a way to silence those who were aware of the Hierarchs' duplicity.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=thesoundofsack ''Bungie.net'': The Tru7h About Co-Op in Halo 3]</ref>
**'''[[Honor Guard Councilor]]''' - A [[glitch]] in [[Halo 2]] resulting in an Elite with the Body armor of an Honor Guard Elite but the head of a [[Councilor]]
<ref>[[Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide]]- Citadel Units</ref> The [[Sanctum of the Hierarchs]] on ''[[High Charity]]'' could accommodate as many as three hundred.<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', p. 339</ref>


*'''[[Jiralhanae Honor Guardsman]]''' - The newer Honor Guards, chosen for their stronger loyalty to the Prophets
The Honor Guardman role was once exclusively used by Sangheili warriors. However, after the [[Assassination of the Prophet of Regret|death]] of the [[Prophet of Regret]] during the [[Ages of Reclamation|Ninth Age of Reclamation]] in [[2552#November|November 2552]], the [[Prophet of Truth|Prophets of Truth]] and [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]] replaced the Sangheili Honor Guard with the [[Jiralhanae]]. This "[[Changing of the Guard]]" was a major step in a carefully planned coup that soon devolved into the [[Great Schism]].<ref name="sacred"/>


*'''[[Honor Guard Pike]]''' - A Covenant melee weapon which is the highest weapon of any Honor Guard
==By species==
===Sangheili===
{{Quote|The Sangheili honor guard was always vigilant and almost inert when at peace. One never had to worry about what a Sangheili might do any more than one worried if the stars would come out at night.|The [[Minister of Discovery]] remarking on the stoic nature of the honor guard<ref>''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'', "[[Wages of Sin]]", p. 297</ref>}}
For thousands of years, the Sangheili protected the Hierarchs and the other Prophets according to the Writ's strictures before the events that led to the [[Great Schism]].{{Ref/Reuse|sacred}} The Sangheili Honor Guardsmen were likely instated soon after the signing of the [[Writ of Union]], which led to the establishment of the Covenant. The [[Lights of Sanghelios]] were a revered elite unit among the Sangheili Honor Guard.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 153</ref> Because one was expected to encounter little to no combat in the posting, select Sangheili were known to have even declined a place in the Honor Guard.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}


{{Disambig}}
When the Prophets betrayed the Sangheili at the beginning of the Great Schism, some of the Sangheili Honor Guardsmen killed themselves after learning of their treachery,<ref>''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe'', The Return</ref> although others decided to [[Fleet of Retribution|assist]] the [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] and the [[human]]ity's [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] in fighting against the new Covenant leadership led by the Prophet of Truth and [[Tartarus]].{{Ref/Level|Id=H2GJ|Game=Halo 2|Level=[[The Great Journey]]}} Following the defeat of the Covenant, many of the former Sangheili Honor Guardsmen found themselves isolated and purposeless. A few Honor Guardsmen unwilling to ally with most of the [[Covenant remnants|remnant groups]] of the former Covenant pledged allegiance to the [[Banished]], specifically Shipmaster [[Let 'Volir]] who served [[Atriox]] in an unconventional arrangement, seeing opportunity in the service of the powerful mercenary organization. Evoking the traditions and accomplishments of their predecessors and using re-purposed ceremonial equipment of the old Covenant Honor Guard, these Honor Guardsmen are skilled swordsmen who match the Covenant's Honor Guard in fighting prowess.<ref>[http://www.haloarchive.com/forum/topic/9-canon-fodder-and-random-lore-chat/?do=findComment&comment=217240 ''Youtuber:'' Blitz Cards]</ref><ref name="HW2">''[[Halo Wars 2]]''</ref>
[[Category:The Covenant]]
 
Honor Guardsmen in service to the [[Covenant Honor Guard]] wore highly ornate [[Sangheili harness|armor]], colored in a combination of glowing red and orange.  It featured jutting spikes and pauldrons, though they sometimes wore non-ceremonial armor for the sake of practicality.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}<ref>''Halo Wars'', campaign levels [[Scarab (level)|Scarab]], [[Shield World (level)|Shield World]], and [[Beachhead (Halo Wars level)|Beachhead]]</ref><ref>''Halo Legends'', The Babysitter</ref>
 
<gallery>
File:HonourGuardTransparent.png|A Sangheili Honor Guardsman.
File:H2 Honor Guard Ultra.png|A Light of Sanghelios without helmet.
File:HTMCC-H2A Ultra Honor Guard.jpg|A Light of Sanghelios with a helmet.{{Ref/Note|The depiction is the one of the resulting permutations (with the helmet of Honor Guardsman) from the [[Honor Guard Councilor]] glitch in ''[[Halo 2]] [[Halo 2: Anniversary|Anniversary]]'' [[campaign]] level ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''.}}
</gallery>
 
===Jiralhanae===
{{Quote|multi=yes|q1=This is unprecedented. Unacceptable.|Rtas 'Vadumee|q2=Recommissioning the Guard was a radical step. But recent events have made it abundantly clear that the Elites can no longer guarantee our safety.|High Prophet of Truth|Conversation between [[Special Operations Commander]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]ee and the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]] during the [[Changing of the Guard]].}}
 
The newer position of Jiralhanae Honor Guardsman was chosen for their stronger loyalty to the Prophets than the Sangheili during the [[Great Schism]] after the assassination of the High Prophet of Regret by [[John-117]].<ref name="HE145">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 145''</ref><ref name="gravemind">'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</ref> The then-new Jiralhanae role was largely ceremonial, unless a San'Shyuum's life was being threatened.{{Ref/Reuse|HE145}} The Sangheili were incensed that their role of protecting the [[San'Shyuum]], which they had faithfully executed for millennia, had been revoked and delegated to their rivals, the Jiralhanae.<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[Sacred Icon]]''</ref>
 
After the [[Fall of High Charity]] however, some lesser-ranking [[Jiralhanae Bodyguard]]s served as the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]]'s personal protectors instead of their Honor Guardsmen counterparts,<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Covenant (Level)|The Covenant]]''</ref> presumably replacing them, whom most of Honor Guardmen protecting Truth were killed by [[John-117]] while attempting to repel the Spartan from ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]'' during the [[Scramble onboard Forerunner Dreadnought]].{{Ref/Comic|Id=HU|HU|Issue=[[Halo: Uprising Issue 3|#3]]}} However, a handful of Jiralhanae Honor Guardsmen survived the [[Battle of Installation 00]] aboard the ''Anodyne Spirit'' and later participated in the [[Second Ark Conflict]] [[Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant|under]] [[Dhas Bhasvod]] in [[2559]].
 
Jiralhanae Honor Guardsmen wore the same armor as the their Sangheili predecessors, but with slightly different plating. These plates had a yellow and red alternating pattern, bordered by black. This yellow/red alternating pattern was also seen on the thrones of the High Prophets. The helmet also had a yellow/red alternating pattern. It was upgraded and made larger, since Jiralhanae have larger heads overall than Sangheili. Guardsmen also sported a red holographic [[Rh'tol]] [[Jiralhanae Captain]] flag mounted on one shoulder.{{Ref/Reuse|HE145}} The main difference between the Sangheili and Jiralhanae guardsmen combat harness is that Jiralhanae harness does not possess [[energy shield]]ing, while Sangheili harnesses have it equipped, rendering Jiralhanae guardsmen more vulnerable to damage.<ref>'''Halo 2''', ''gameplay''</ref>
 
<gallery>
File:H2A-Jiralhanae-HonorGuard.png|A Rh'tol Jiralhanae Honor Guardsman.
</gallery>
 
==Vehicles==
In addition to serving as a warrior role, a number of distinct vehicle variants existed during the Human-Covenant War, including the [[Honor Guard Wraith]]—a variant of the standard [[Zurdo-pattern Wraith|Wraith]] which has the same look, but has an Honor Guard-colored armor.
<gallery>
File:HW honorguardwraith2.jpg|The Honor Guard Wraith.
</gallery>
 
==Non-canon and dubious canon appearances==
===Silver Timeline===
{{Main|Silver Timeline}}
Sangheili Honor Guardsmen are used to protect the Hierarchs in High Charity.{{Ref/Film|Id=Contact|TV|Episode=Contact}}
 
==In-game information==
The Honor Guardman are an enemy rank first introduced in ''[[Halo 2]]''. The honor guardmens were later expanded upon in ''[[Halo Wars]]'' and ''[[Halo Wars 2]]'' only for the Elites. To view full gameplay-related information for the various classes of Honor Guardman enemy, please see the following articles;
*[[Sangheili Honor Guardsman/Gameplay|Honor Guard Elite]] {{C|''Halo''s ''2'', ''Wars'', and ''Wars 2''}}
*[[Honor Guard Brute]] {{C|''Halo 2''}}
 
==Production notes==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gameplay=yes}}
There is a [[Glitches|glitch]] in ''Halo 2'' that resulted in a Sangheili (known as the [[Honor Guard Councilor]]) with the body armor of an Honor Guard but the head of a [[Sangheili High Councilor|High Councilor]].
 
==Gallery==
===Sangheili===
<gallery>
File:H2 TheHeretic V1 Storyboard 6.jpg|An [[Halo 2 storyboards|storyboard]] featuring a Sangheili guardsman clad in a cloak.
File:HonorGuard render.png|A Sangheili Honor Guardsman in ''[[Halo 2]]''.
File:H2_HighCharity_HonorGuard.jpg|A Sangheili Honor Guardsman with an energy sword in ''Halo 2''
File:H2 Elite Honor Guard.png|A Honor Guard in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2 HonorGuard with sword.jpg|A Honor Guard in ''Halo 2''.
File:Brutesarbiter.jpg|A procession of Sangheili Honor Guardsmen.
File:halo2xbox024yv.jpg|Sangheili Honor Guardsmen during the judgment of Thel 'Vadamee.
File:HW3.jpg|Honor Guardsmen in non-ceremonial armor protecting the High Prophet of Regret in ''[[Halo Wars]]''.
File:Convenant elite honor guard.gif|A render of a Sangheili Honor Guardsman in ''[[Halo Wars]]''.
File:HW honor guard close.jpg|In-game closeup of Honor Guardsman in ''[[Halo Wars]]''.
File:HW Elite honor guard.jpg|Honor Guardsman idle animation
File:HW honorgaurdgroup.jpg||A group of Guardsman
File:Halo- Legends- The Babysitter Honor Guard.jpg|Concept art of the the Sangheili Honor Guards in ''[[The Babysitter]]''.
File:ReturnScreencap18.png|Honor Guardsmen aboard the [[Fleet of Righteous Vigilance]]'s flagship in ''[[The Return]]''.
File:H2A - Sangheili Guard model.jpg|A model of a Sangheili Honor Guardsman in ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''.
File:H2A-SangheiliHonorGuard1.png|An Honor Guardsman aboard ''[[High Charity]]''.
File:H2A - HonorGuard.jpg|John-117 engaging a Sangheili Honor Guardsman.
File:H2A - HonorGuard2.jpg|Two Sangheili Honor Guardsmen.
File:H2A-SangheiliHonorGuard.png|An Honor Guard on High Charity.
File:H2A-SangheiliHonorGuard2.png|An Honor Guard with an energy sword.
File:H2A-SangheiliHonorGuard3.png|An Honor Guard with a carbine.
File:H2A-HighCouncilSession.jpg|Honor Guardsmen stand guard in the [[High Council Chamber]] before the Prophets.
File:H2A - Hierarch Sanctum.jpg|Honor Guardsmen line the entrance to the [[Sanctum of the Hierarchs]].
File:H2A-LOS1.png|An Honor Guardsman
File:RegretTerminal2.jpg|A pair of Honor Guardsmen at Regret's side aboard the ''[[Solemn Penance]]''.
File:ValSaham.jpg|Concept art of a Banished Honor Guard for ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''.
File:Halo Wars 2 Blitz Card Honr Guard.png|[[Blitz]] card of a Banished Honor Guardsmen in ''Halo Wars 2''.
File:HW2-HonorGuardflip.png|A Banished Honor Guard kills two [[Sangheili Ranger]]s.
File:HTV-Contact-HonorGuards.jpg|2 Sangheili Honor Guards with the [[Prophet of Mercy/Silver|Prophet of Mercy]] in ''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''.
</gallery>
 
===Jiralhanae===
<gallery>
File:brutehonorguardsmanedit.png|A Jiralhanae Honor Guardsman in ''[[Halo 2]]''.
File:H2-BruteHonorGuard.png|A Jiralhanae Honor Guardsman in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2-BruteHonorGuard_Beserk.jpg|A berserk Jiralhanae Honor Guard.
File:HGBrute.jpg|An Honor Guard Jiralhanae standing on Guard.
File:H2A - Jiralhanae Guard model.jpg|A model of a Guardsman for ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:H2A - Brute Guardsmen.jpg|A Jiralhanae Honor Guardsman shortly after appointment to the role.
File:HTMCC-H2A BruteHonorGuard 1.png|Jiralhanae Honor Guardsmen defending the High Council Chamber from rioting Unggoy and Kig-Yar.
File:H2AG.png|Jiralhanae Honor Guards protecting the Prophet of Mercy and Prophet of Truth.
File:HTMCC-H2A BruteHonorGuard 2.png|Two Jiralhanae Honor Guardsmen inside the High Council Chamber.
File:HTMCC-H2A BruteHonorGuard 3.png|A Jiralhanae Honor Guardsman trading fire with a Special Operations Sangheili.
File:HTMCC-H2A BruteHonorGuard 4.png|A Jiralhanae Honor Guardsman leading Covenant forces against the Flood.
File:HTMCC-H2A BruteHonorGuard 5.png|Jiralhanae Honor Guardsmen defending the Sanctum of the Hierarchs during the Fall of High Charity.
File:HTMCC-H2A BruteHonorGuard 6.png|Two Jiralhanae Honor Guardsmen inside Installation 05's control room.
</gallery>
 
==List of appearances==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[The Babysitter]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''
**''[[The Return]]''
**''[[Wages of Sin]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]''
*''[[Halo: Smoke and Shadow]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: Envoy]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''
*''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]''
*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''
**''[[Contact]]''
**''[[Transcendence]]''
{{Col-end}}
 
==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}
 
==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}
 
{{Sangheili Ranks}}
{{Jiralhanae Ranks}}
 
[[Category:Covenant ranks]]
[[Category:Sangheili ranks and titles|Honor Guardsman]]
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