Editing High Council

{{Era|Covenant|Human|UNSC|HCW}}

{{Cleanup}}

[[File:CouncilsScorn.jpg|thumb|300px|Councilors at the trial of the [[Supreme Commander]], [[Thel 'Vadam]], who would later become the [[Arbiter]].]]

The '''High Council''' was the central theocratic/aristocratic and decision-making body of the [[Covenant]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 154''</ref> Based in the [[High Council Chamber]] in the heart of the Covenant holy city ''[[High Charity]]'', the High Council consisted of more than two hundred [[Sangheili]] and [[San'Shyuum]]<ref name="ch271">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 271''</ref> and was headed by a triumvirate known as the [[Hierarchs]] or "High Prophets."

The High Council was formed alongside the Covenant. In [[2525]], during the [[Ascension]] of the [[Prophet of Truth|Prophets of Truth]], [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]], and [[Prophet of Regret|Regret]], the High Council had been initially reluctant to support the new Hierarchs. However, the Council eventually complied.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 380''</ref> 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 Sangheili Shipmaster (Righteous Vigilance)|unidentified Shipmaster]] of the [[Fleet of Righteous Vigilance]] to glass [[Kholo|the planet]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''', "[[The Return]]", ''page 313''</ref> In [[2535]], the San'Shyuum councilors reorganized the [[Covenant fleet]], against the desires of the [[Sangheili Councilor|Sangheili councilors]].<ref>'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 349''</ref> On [[2552|October 20, 2552]], the High Council convened to debate the fate of the [[Supreme Commander]] of the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]], [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee. Ultimately, the High Council branded 'Vadamee a heretic and sentenced to execution.<ref name="heretic">'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Heretic]]''</ref> However, the High Prophets intervened and 'Vadamee was given the rank of [[Arbiter]].<ref name="arbiter">'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Arbiter]]''</ref>

After the High Prophet of Regret's death on [[Installation 05]], the [[Jiralhanae]] [[Changing of the Guard|replaced]] the [[Sangheili Honor Guard]]s. 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.<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[Sacred Icon]]''</ref> Most of the Sangheili members of the Council were assassinated during the [[Battle of Installation 05]] as part of the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]]'s plan to replace Sangheili with [[Jiralhanae]] in Covenant society.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[Uprising]]''</ref> With the [[Thel 'Vadam's Covenant faction|secession]] of the Sangheili in the [[Great Schism]], the [[Flood]] [[Battle of High Charity|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.

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 was composed of over two hundred [[San'Shyuum]] ministers and [[Sangheili]] commanders.<ref name="ch271"/> The triumvirate of [[Hierarchs]] that led the Council had the final word on all Council matters.<ref name="heretic"/><ref name="arbiter"/> The High Council seemed to have been divided into several smaller councils, with different tasks and goals which keep the Covenant up and running within all its aspects. Below the other councils, there was numerous ministries functioning within the Covenant. 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]].<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 150''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 155''</ref> The High Council was essentially the only true council the Sangheili were a part of.<ref>'''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''', ''page 58''</ref>

==Known Council members==

*[[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]]

*[[Prophet of Mercy|High Prophet of Mercy]]

*[[Prophet of Regret|High Prophet of Regret]]  

'''[[Lesser Prophet|Prophet Councilors]]'''

*[[Prophet of Supposition]]

*[[Prophet of Objection]]

*[[Prophet of Conviction]]

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.

File:H2A - Tartarus and HighCouncil.png|[[Tartarus]] and [[Sangheili Councilor]]s.

File:Prophet Councillors.jpg|[[Lesser Prophet|San'Shyuum Councilors]].

*''[[Halo 2 Anniversary]]''

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