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{{Era|HCW|Post}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Unit infobox|variant=Cov
[[File:HFB-Rho.jpg|300px|thumb|[[Rho 'Barutamee]], Supreme Commander of the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]].]]
|name=Supreme Commander
'''Supreme Commander''' was a [[Covenant rank structure|military rank]] within the [[Covenant military|armed forces]] of the [[Covenant]] empire and its [[Covenant remnants|successor factions]], roughly analagous to the rank of [[Fleet Admiral]] within the [[UNSC Navy]].{{Ref/Book|Id=WF92|HWF|Page=92}} In the Covenant, they consisted of [[fleetmaster]]s selected by the [[Hierarch]]s to lead [[Covenant fleet|ministerial fleets]] on major expeditionary missions.{{Ref/Reuse|WF92}}
|image=[[File:H2A Terminals - Thel Commander.jpg|300px]]
|species=[[Sangheili]]  
|affiliation=[[Covenant]]<br>[[Covenant remnants]]<ref name="VIS"/>
|branch=
|mission=Commanders of entire [[Covenant fleet|fleet]]s and armadas
|armament=
|equipment=
|notable=[[Thel 'Vadam]]ee<br>[[Luro 'Taralumee]]<br>[[Jul 'Mdama]]<ref name="VIS">'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'''</ref> <br>[[Rho 'Barutamee]]<ref name="orders">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-taking-orders '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Taking Orders'']</ref>
}}


'''Supreme Commander''' is a title used in the [[Covenant]] [[Covenant military|military]] and in [[Jul 'Mdama]]'s [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|reformed Covenant]].<ref name="VIS"/> The rank has only been known to be issued to [[Sangheili]] [[Fleet Master]]s commanding large [[Covenant fleet|fleets]] and armadas.<ref group="note">The ''[[Priority Broadcast Log/Eleventh Cycle, Third Unit]]'' featured in the 2010 reissue of ''[[Halo: The Flood]]'' consistently refers to Supreme Commander [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee as Fleet Master, implying that the two ranks are not distinct from one another. Given that the title of Fleet Master follows a similar format as that of [[Shipmaster]], which is known to be given to individuals of any rank in command of a starship, Supreme Commander may be a formal rank while Fleet Master is a title. Alternatively, it is possible that Supreme Commander is a secondary title given to Fleet Masters in command of especially large or important fleets.</ref> Despite the high status of the title, a Supreme Commander is likely lower in rank than [[Imperial Admiral]], which appears to be the overall head of the Covenant's naval forces.
==Overview==
===Role and responsibilities===
Within a given armada, a Supreme Commander served as the lead fleetmaster among the several present, with each subordinate fleetmaster tasked with maintaining their own fleet forces. Within these formations, the word of the Supreme Commander was law, and only the actions of their sponsoring [[ministry]], the [[High Council]], or the Hierarchs themselves could countermand their orders.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=239}} As such, they held extremely large amounts of power and independence - even moreso than their [[United Nations Space Command]] counterparts.{{Ref/Reuse|WF92}} The political machinations of the Supreme Commander allowed them to outfit and service their own ships, and they served as the sole senior officer to a [[Sangheili Field Marshal|Field Marshal]].{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=240}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc11|Enc11|Page=135}} To assist in their duties, Covenant fleets often assigned a [[Precentor]] - a [[San'Shyuum]] official tasked with reporting directly to [[High Charity]] and serving as a mediator for the Supreme Commander among other duties.{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=269}} These officials were often the only officials within the fleet with authority capable of challenging the Supreme Commander's decrees.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}


For most of the Covenant's history, this rank was held by the Sangheili race until the [[Great Schism]], when the [[Jiralhanae]] assumed most of the Covenant's higher ranks.
Within the Covenant's successor factions, the warlord [[Jul 'Mdama]] has adopted the title of Supreme Commander{{Ref/Book|Id=H4EVG|H4EVG|Page=27}} - though this title is sometimes used interchangeably with the title of "Supreme Leader".{{Ref/Book|Id=SupremeLeader1|Halo 5: Guardians Official Game Guide|Page=23,25,56}}{{Ref/Level|Id=SupremeLeader2|H5G|Osiris}}{{Ref/Note|The title of "Supreme Leader" is only ever mentioned within the dubiously-authoritative ''[[Halo 5: Guardians Official Game Guide]]'' and as a throwaway reference within the game's first mission. As such, this page assumes that the Supreme Leader verbiage is simply an alternate reference to the title of Supreme Commander explicitly given for Jul 'Mdama in ''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''.}}


==Description==
===Dress===
A Supreme Commander is responsible for a fleet or a contingent of fleets and leads blockades, naval battles, or [[orbital bombardment]] operations.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 135'' (2011 edition)</ref> Supreme Commanders command large Covenant fleets, such as the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]], which was formerly led by [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee before he was stripped of his rank due to his [[Battle of Installation 04|failure at Installation 04]].<ref name="heretic">'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Heretic (Level)|The Heretic]]''</ref>
[[File:HGN ThelVadamee Cloak.png|100px|thumb|[[Thel 'Vadamee]] in a unique helmet and cloak.]]
The typical garb for a Sangheili Supreme Commander was a golden-coloured [[combat harness]], of various styles.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.ultra-combo.com/arbiters-colors-accessories/|Site=Ultra Combo|Page=Arbiter's Colors & Accessories|D=25|M=09|Y=2022|Quote=Within the Covenant military regime, the sight of a Sangheili leader striding across the battlefield in a gleaming gold combat harness simultaneously stoked the fires of victory within the hearts of the surrounding forces, and struck fear within the hearts of their enemies.}} During fleet command operations, they, like other [[shipmaster]]s, often donned a purple-coloured cloak alongside this armour.{{Ref/Game|H2A|Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals}}{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Chapter=22}}{{Ref/Tabletop|HFB|Detail=Rho 'Barutamee artwork ([[:File:HFB-Rho.jpg|File link]])}} However, this was not always the case, with some Supreme Commanders electing to forgo the cloak during engagements,{{Ref/Film|HLeg|Episode=The Package (animated short)}} or even during formal ceremonies in front of the High Council.{{Ref/Level|H2|The Heretic}}


During the Great Schism, it is possible that the Jiralhanae took these positions from the Sangheili, as the majority of the Sangheili's other posts were taken over. However, no Jiralhanae Supreme Commanders have been mentioned.
During the [[Battle of Installation 04]], Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee wore purple armor with a purple ornate helmet, draped in his purple [[doarmir]] cloak while commanding the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]].{{Ref/Comic|Id=Voyage|HGN|Story=Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor}} His cloak served a purely sentimental purpose, as it reminded him that he could make grave mistakes if he let his guard down.


In addition to commanding naval forces, Supreme Commanders have authority over the ground troops attached to their fleet. For example, Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee ordered part of his fleet's [[Covenant Special Operations|special operations]] contingent to conduct a mission to the [[Covenant agricultural support ship|agricultural support ship]] ''[[Infinite Succor]]'' during the Battle of Installation 04.<ref name="Voyage"/>
==Known Supreme Commanders==
===Pre-Covenant===
*[[Ophon 'Qaram]] - An ancient Sangheili Supreme Commander during the [[War of Beginnings]], famed for his refusal to join the Covenant.{{Ref/Book|HWF|Page=78}}


==Dress==
===Covenant-era===
When commanding a fleet, Supreme Commanders sometimes wear purple armor featuring an ornate helmet; at least one Supreme Commander, [[Thel 'Vadamee]], chose to wear a purple-colored cloak as part of his ensemble. It is likely that this non-standard armor serves a ceremonial purpose.<ref name="Voyage">'''Halo Graphic Novel''', ''Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor''</ref>
*[[Rho 'Barutamee]] - Supreme Commander of the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]].{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-taking-orders|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Taking Orders|D=07|M=04|Y=2019}}
*[[Luro 'Taralumee]] - Supreme Commander of the [[Third Fleet of Glorious Consequence]].{{Ref/Novel|HTFoR|Chapter=Adjunct|Detail=WORD FROM THE THIRD FLEET OF GLORIOUS CONSEQUENCE}}
*[[Thel 'Vadam]]ee - Supreme Commander of the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]] throughout the [[Human-Covenant War]].


However, when Thel 'Vadamee appeared before the Covenant [[High Council]], he sported golden [[Zealot]] armor.<ref name="heretic"/> This may signify that the cloak is only used when commanding fleets, or that he chose not to wear his cloak before the Council as a sign of modesty. While commanding the [[Third Fleet of Glorious Consequence]], Supreme Commander [[Luro 'Taralumee]] wore armor that resembled that of most Sangheili Zealots, though it was more ornate, possessing prongs similar to those on 'Vadamee's helmet.<ref>'''[[Halo Legends]]''', ''[[The Package]]''</ref>
===Post-Covenant===
*[[Jul 'Mdama]] - Supreme Commander of [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|his remnant forces]],{{Ref/Reuse|H4EVG}} also dubbed "Supreme Leader" in his faction.{{Ref/Reuse|SupremeLeader1}}{{Ref/Reuse|SupremeLeader2}}
 
==Non-canon and dubious canon appearances==
===Silver Timeline===
*[[Var 'Gatanai]] - Former Supreme Commander of the [[First Fleet of Solemn Accord]] until stripped of both title and fleet and became the [[Arbiter]] at some point after the [[Battle of Raas Kkhotskha]].{{Ref/Film|Id=Aleria|TV|Episode=[[Aleria (TV Series)|Aleria]]}}
{{Clear}}


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:NewSupremeCommanderPic.JPG|Thel 'Vadamee, Supreme Commander of the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]].
File:HGN ThelVadamee SupremeCommander.png|Front view of a unique Supreme Commander helmet.
File:H2A Terminals - SupremeCommanderThel.png|Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee commanding his fleet.
File:H2A Terminals - Thel and Prophet.jpg|Thel 'Vadamee converses with a Prophet at [[Installation 04]], complete with the formal cloak signifying his rank.  
File:H2A Terminals - Thel and Prophet.jpg|Thel 'Vadamee converses with a Prophet at [[Installation 04]], complete with the formal cloak signifying his rank.  
File:H2A-Thel SC2.jpg|Thel before the [[High Council]].
File:H2A-Thel SC2.jpg|Thel before the [[High Council]].
File:Fleetmaster.jpg|[[Luro 'Taralumee]] in command of [[Third Fleet of Glorious Consequence|his fleet]].
File:Fleetmaster.jpg|[[Luro 'Taralumee]] in command of the [[Third Fleet of Glorious Consequence]].
File:H4-JulMdama-ScanRender.png|[[Jul 'Mdama]], Supreme Commander and leader of the [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|reformed Covenant]].
</gallery>
</gallery>


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*''[[Halo Wars]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Wars]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[The Package]]''
**''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Terminal/Halo 4|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]
*''[[Halo: Initiation]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo 2 Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal/Halo 2 Anniversary|Terminals]]
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]'' {{Mo}}


==Note==
==Notes==
<references group="note"/>
{{Ref/Notes}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}


{{Sangheili Ranks}}
{{Sangheili Ranks}}

Latest revision as of 21:53, February 29, 2024

Illustration of Rho 'Barutamee.
Rho 'Barutamee, Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Valiant Prudence.

Supreme Commander was a military rank within the armed forces of the Covenant empire and its successor factions, roughly analagous to the rank of Fleet Admiral within the UNSC Navy.[1] In the Covenant, they consisted of fleetmasters selected by the Hierarchs to lead ministerial fleets on major expeditionary missions.[1]

Overview[edit]

Role and responsibilities[edit]

Within a given armada, a Supreme Commander served as the lead fleetmaster among the several present, with each subordinate fleetmaster tasked with maintaining their own fleet forces. Within these formations, the word of the Supreme Commander was law, and only the actions of their sponsoring ministry, the High Council, or the Hierarchs themselves could countermand their orders.[2] As such, they held extremely large amounts of power and independence - even moreso than their United Nations Space Command counterparts.[1] The political machinations of the Supreme Commander allowed them to outfit and service their own ships, and they served as the sole senior officer to a Field Marshal.[3][4] To assist in their duties, Covenant fleets often assigned a Precentor - a San'Shyuum official tasked with reporting directly to High Charity and serving as a mediator for the Supreme Commander among other duties.[5] These officials were often the only officials within the fleet with authority capable of challenging the Supreme Commander's decrees.[2]

Within the Covenant's successor factions, the warlord Jul 'Mdama has adopted the title of Supreme Commander[6] - though this title is sometimes used interchangeably with the title of "Supreme Leader".[7][8][Note 1]

Dress[edit]

A dripped-out Thel 'Vadamee in his fleetmaster getup aboard Seeker of Truth in The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor.
Thel 'Vadamee in a unique helmet and cloak.

The typical garb for a Sangheili Supreme Commander was a golden-coloured combat harness, of various styles.[9] During fleet command operations, they, like other shipmasters, often donned a purple-coloured cloak alongside this armour.[10][11][12] However, this was not always the case, with some Supreme Commanders electing to forgo the cloak during engagements,[13] or even during formal ceremonies in front of the High Council.[14]

During the Battle of Installation 04, Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee wore purple armor with a purple ornate helmet, draped in his purple doarmir cloak while commanding the Fleet of Particular Justice.[15] His cloak served a purely sentimental purpose, as it reminded him that he could make grave mistakes if he let his guard down.

Known Supreme Commanders[edit]

Pre-Covenant[edit]

Covenant-era[edit]

Post-Covenant[edit]

Non-canon and dubious canon appearances[edit]

Silver Timeline[edit]

Gallery[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The title of "Supreme Leader" is only ever mentioned within the dubiously-authoritative Halo 5: Guardians Official Game Guide and as a throwaway reference within the game's first mission. As such, this page assumes that the Supreme Leader verbiage is simply an alternate reference to the title of Supreme Commander explicitly given for Jul 'Mdama in Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide.

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Halo: Warfleet, page 92
  2. ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 239
  3. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 240
  4. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 135
  5. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 269
  6. ^ a b Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 27
  7. ^ a b Halo 5: Guardians Official Game Guide, page 23,25,56
  8. ^ a b Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level Osiris
  9. ^ Ultra Combo, Arbiter's Colors & Accessories: "Within the Covenant military regime, the sight of a Sangheili leader striding across the battlefield in a gleaming gold combat harness simultaneously stoked the fires of victory within the hearts of the surrounding forces, and struck fear within the hearts of their enemies." (Retrieved on Sep 25, 2022) [archive]
  10. ^ Halo 2: Anniversary, Terminals
  11. ^ Halo: The Cole Protocol, chapter 22
  12. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles: Rho 'Barutamee artwork (File link)
  13. ^ Halo Legends, episode The Package (animated short)
  14. ^ Halo 2, campaign level The Heretic
  15. ^ Halo Graphic Novel - Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor
  16. ^ Halo: Warfleet, page 78
  17. ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Taking Orders (Retrieved on Apr 7, 2019) [archive]
  18. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, Adjunct: WORD FROM THE THIRD FLEET OF GLORIOUS CONSEQUENCE
  19. ^ Halo: The Television Series, episode Aleria

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