Editing High Council

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Disambig header|the legislative body of the Covenant|other councils|Council}}
{{Organization infobox
|name=High Council
|image=[[File:H2A-HighCouncilSession.jpg|300px]]
|type=Executive/legislative branch<ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/high-council '''Halo Waypoint''': ''High Council'']</ref>
|founder=
|leaders-title=Headed by
|leaders=[[Hierarchs]]{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}
|affiliation=[[Covenant]]{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}
|partof=Covenant government{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}
|branches=[[:Category:Covenant organizations|Various ministries]]{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}
|headquarters=[[High Council Chamber]], [[High Charity]]{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}
|formed=c. [[850 BCE]]<ref name="bc159">'''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''', ''page 159''</ref>
|reorganized=
|dissolved=[[2552#November|November 2552]]{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}
|notable=
}}

The '''High Council''' was the central theocratic, aristocratic and legislative decision-making body of the [[Covenant]].<ref name="ch154">'''[[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 [[San'Shyuum High Councilor|San'Shyuum]] and [[Sangheili High Councilor]]s<ref name="ch271">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 271''</ref> and was headed by a triumvirate known as the [[Hierarchs]] or "High Prophets".

==History==
The High Council was formed shortly after the establishment of the [[Covenant]]. During the Covenant's early years, only the [[Hierarchs]] served on what would be the High Council. The Council was established sometime in [[850 BCE]] and consisted of a select number of [[San'Shyuum]] and [[Sangheili]] governmental delegates, as outlined in the [[Writ of Union]].{{Ref/Reuse|bc159}}

Shortly after the [[Jiralhanae]]'s incorporation into the Covenant in [[2492]], a group of Sangheili commanders went before the High Council to address the Jiralhanae's pack mentality. They claimed that the Jiralhanae's natural instincts to fight to the top of any hierarchy would prove dangerous to the Covenant. Agreeing with the Sangheili's reasonable assessment, the High Council imposed restrictions on what technology the Jiralhanae could access and encouraged any peaceful "urges" among the species.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 199''</ref> In [[2525]], during the [[Ascension (ceremony)|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 [[Unidentified Sangheili Shipmaster (Righteous Vigilance)|the 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 High Councilors reorganized the [[Covenant fleet]]s, against the desires of the [[Sangheili High Councilor]]s, forming the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]].<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 [[List of known Covenant heretics|heretic]] and sentenced him 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 High Prophets of Truth and Mercy publicly [[Changing of the Guard|replaced]] the [[Sangheili Honor Guardsman|Sangheili Honor Guardsmen]] with the Jiralhanae. This decision was not approved of by the High Council,<ref name="bc217">'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''pages 217-218''</ref> and 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> The Prophet of Truth, knowing the High Council would elect a new Hierarch to replace Regret, made his move to eliminate the Sangheili High Councilors to prevent a more moderate Prophet from being elected and ruining his grand plan to eliminate the Sangheili and humanity.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} During the [[Battle of Installation 05]], the San'Shyuum and Sangheili High Councilors were to meet in the [[Control Room (Installation 05)|Control Room]] of [[Installation 05]] to make preparations for the activation of the installation. However, only some of the Sangheili Councilors and former Honor Guards — particularly those who opposed the Changing of the Guard, but were unwilling to resign from their positions - had arrived at the Control Room. A large contingent of Jiralhanae, led by [[Jiralhanae Captain|Captain]] [[Melchus]], entered the Control Room and proceeded to massacre the Councilors, as part of the High Prophet of Truth's plan to replace Sangheili with Jiralhanae in Covenant society.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Uprising]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''pages 218-221''</ref> With the [[Great Schism|expulsion]] of the Sangheili, the [[Flood]] [[Fall of High Charity|invasion]] of [[High Charity]] and the eventual dissolution of the Covenant itself, the High Council was destroyed.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

==Organization==
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]] [[Minister (title)|ministers]] and [[Sangheili]] commanders—referred to as High Councilors.{{Ref/Reuse|ch271}}<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 190''</ref> The triumvirate of [[Hierarchs]] that led the Council had the final word on all Council matters.{{Ref/Reuse|heretic}}{{Ref/Reuse|arbiter}} The Council was responsible for determining legislation and carried out the daily affairs of Covenant.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} In the event of a Hierarch's death, the High Council was responsible for deciding which San'Shyuum would replace the absent Hierarch.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 196''</ref> A Hierarch assigning an important mission to individuals without informing the rest of the Hierarchs was considered a violation of Council protocol.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 73''</ref> When a San'Shyuum minster was absent for a High Council session, the minister's [[Vice Minister|vice minister]] would be allowed to act as a substitute in their place.{{Ref/Reuse|ch154}} Additionally, a High Councilor could have another San'Shyuum accompany them to a meeting of the High Council as an assistant.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 208''</ref>

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 were numerous ministries functioning within the Covenant. The lower caste members of the Covenant, such as the [[Kig-Yar]], [[Yanme'e]], and [[Unggoy]], were 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 (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 155''</ref> The High Council was essentially the only true council the Sangheili were a part of during their service in the Covenant.<ref>'''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''', ''page 58''</ref> The High Councilors of the Council were protected by the [[Covenant Honor Guard]]. Following the [[Changing of the Guard]], the Sangheili Councilors were unwilling to trust the new [[Jiralhanae]] [[Jiralhanae Honor Guardsman|Honor Guardsmen]] and employed Sangheili serving in the [[Covenant military]] instead.{{Ref/Reuse|bc217}}

==Council composition==
===First Age of Reconciliation===
'''[[Hierarchs]]'''
*[[High Prophet of Excellent Redolence]] 
*[[High Prophet of the Glorious Journey]] 
*[[High Prophet of Unity]] 

'''[[San'Shyuum High Councilor]]s'''
*[[Prophet of Inner Conviction]]
*[[R'Noh Custo]]

===Twenty-Third Age of Doubt===
'''Hierarchs'''
*[[High Prophetess of Obligation]] 
*[[High Prophet of Tolerance]] 
*[[High Prophet of Restraint]]

===Ninth Age of Reclamation===
'''Hierarchs'''
*[[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]]
*[[Prophet of Mercy|High Prophet of Mercy]]
*[[Prophet of Regret|High Prophet of Regret]] 

'''San'Shyuum High Councilors'''
*[[Prophet of Supposition]]
*[[Prophet of Objection]]
*[[Prophet of Conviction]]
*[[Prophet of Exquisite Devotion]]

'''[[Sangheili High Councilor]]s'''
*[[Torg 'Gransamee]]
*[[Duru 'Scoahamee]]
*[[K'hurk 'Bornisamee]]

==Production note==
The in-game High 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. The Council, however, appears to be much closer to its canonical size in ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:H2A-ThelBeforeCouncil.jpg|[[Supreme Commander]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee before the High Council.
File:H2A - Tartarus and HighCouncil.png|[[Tartarus]] and [[Sangheili High Councilor]]s.
File:H2A - Hierarchs.jpg|The Hierarchs preside over 'Vadamee's trial, with the absent Regret present in holo-form.
File:CouncilsScorn.jpg|Councilors at Thel 'Vadamee's trial.
File:Elite Councillors.jpg|Sangheili Councilors discussing 'Vadamee's trial.
File:H2A - San'Shyuum Councilors.jpg|[[San'Shyuum High Councilor]]s.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]''
**''[[Conversations from the Universe]]''
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]''
*''[[Halo: Helljumper]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[The Return]]''
*''[[Halo: Glasslands]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]''
**''[[Sacrifice]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Age of Retribution]]''

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources|2}}

{{Covenant government}}

[[Category:The Covenant]]