Ecumene: Difference between revisions

==Government and politics==

{{Quote|The ecumene has become confused. The Council steeps itself in lies and dishonor.|The [[Ur-Didact|Didact]] on the corruption in the ecumene and the Old Council}}

The primary governing body of the ecumene was known as the [[Ecumene Council]]. Based in the [[Capital]], it was led by the [[First Councilor]], composed of five hundred [[Councilor (Forerunner)|councilors]] from various [[rate]]s, and supported by a network of [[ancilla]]s known as the [[Metarchy|Council metarchy]].<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 292''</ref> The ecumene's primary judicial institution, known as the [[Capital Court]], which could be assembled into the [[Supreme Mantle Court]] in times of great crisis.<ref name="crypt264">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 264''</ref> After the [[Master Builder]] [[Faber]] used [[Installation 07]] to [[Battle of Janjur Qom|quell a rebellion]] that resulted in the deaths of a majority of the remaining [[San'Shyuum]], a revolutionary party of younger councilors opposed to the Master Builder took command of the Ecumene Council.{{Ref/Reuse|silent264}} A majority of the Council was replaced by new, mostly younger, councilors that were appointed through brevets.{{Ref/Reuse|crypt264}} This Council became referred to as the "New Council", while the one led by Faber was referred to as the "Old Council".<ref name="s18">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 18''</ref>

==Sphere of influence==

{{Quote|I thought the Forerunners didn't need new planets—that we'd achieved maximum growth?|[[IsoDidact|Bornstellar]], surprised to learn that the ecumene was still expanding}}

The ecumene once encompassed three million fertile worlds in the [[Milky Way|Milky Way Galaxy]].<ref name= "cryptum"/> The core worlds of the ecumene where located in the [[Orion complex]]. The Forerunners primarily divided the ecumene into [[thema]]s, whose borders were marked by galactic magnetic fields,<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 234-235''</ref> as well as segments known as [[margin arc]]s.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 77''</ref> Divisions of the ecumene were overseen by [[regional commandant]]s.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 195''</ref> The territory of the ecumene encompassed not only the worlds of the Forerunners themselves, but also the various subject species that lived under their rule.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 156''</ref> Years prior to the [[human-Forerunner wars|conflicts with humanity]], the ecumene had began expanding towards the galactic center. Wishing to develop in isolation from other species, the Forerunners moved native populations from their home regions to newer, outer systems.{{Ref/Reuse|cryp112}} When the ecumene borders began expanding close to the [[Sol system|Erde-Tyrene system]], the [[prehistoric human civilization|human empire]] moved their civilization from their homeworld to outward along the [[Orion Arm]], likely to flee from Forerunner control.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 20''</ref> At the height of their power, billions of Forerunner starships plied goods and ferried passengers between the stars, and enforced their vision of peace on the galaxy.<ref>'''[[Halo: Warfleet]]''', ''page 8''</ref>