History of the Covenant: Difference between revisions
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
mNo edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Era|Covenant|HCW|Post}} | {{Era|Covenant|HCW|Post}} | ||
{{Cleanup}} | |||
The '''[[Covenant]]''', like almost all cultures, kept a record of their history using their own methods of timekeeping. Significant time periods in Covenant history were divided and categorized based on a system of ages,<ref name="halosm">[http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten102204.html '''Halo.Bungie.Org''' - Halo Story Page]</ref> which were assigned into seven categories based on notable events within each.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest'''</ref> Each age was broken up into [[unit]]s and [[cycle]]s, the precise values of which are unclear. The last of the ages was the 9th Age of Reclamation, which saw the fracturing of the Covenant during the [[Great Schism]].<ref name="goo240">'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''page 240''</ref> | |||
The | ==The Ages== | ||
Rather than following one another in a succession, the ages represent designated periods of time which were defined by a major event during each age and named based on seven main categories. For example, the 23rd Age of Doubt was followed directly by the 9th Age of Reclamation because of the events that occurred during those ages. | |||
===Age of Abandonment=== | ===Age of Abandonment=== | ||
{{Main|Age of Abandonment}} | {{Main|Age of Abandonment}} | ||
The Covenant traces its history back at least 100,000 years, when an ancient species called the [[Forerunner]]s activated the [[Halo Array|Halo installations]], disappearing from the galaxy. This is referred to as the Age of Abandonment by the Covenant.<ref name="halosm"/> | |||
===Ages of Conflict=== | |||
{{Main|Ages of Conflict}} | |||
=== | |||
{{Main| | |||
The Ages of Conflict were periods of time when the Covenant was embroiled in major conflicts. The first such age occurred directly preceding the formation of the Covenant, when the [[Sangheili]] and [[San 'Shyuum]] [[Sangheili-San 'Shyuum war|waged war against each other]] in a power struggle.<ref name="halosm"/> Additionally, the [[Unggoy Rebellion]] took during the 39th Age of Conflict.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 151'' (''"No one had known that the infusion incident, as it came to be known, was the most important of many small grievances that precipitated the Unggoy rebellion, a civil war that ushered in the Covenant's 39th Age of Conflict"'')</ref> | |||
===Ages of Discovery & Reconciliation=== | ===Ages of Discovery & Reconciliation=== | ||
{{Main| | {{Main|Ages of Discovery}} | ||
{{Main| | {{Main|Ages of Reconciliation}} | ||
What is known is that the [[San 'Shyuum]]'s discovery of ancient Forerunner artifacts during | What is known is that the [[San 'Shyuum]]'s discovery of ancient Forerunner artifacts during an [[Ages of Discovery|Age of Discovery]]<ref name="halosm"/> and the end of the war between the Sangheili and the San 'Shyuum during an early [[Ages of Reconciliation|Age of Reconciliation]],<ref name="halosm"/> became the foundation on which the Covenant was founded upon. The San 'Shyuum promised to find the means of the Forerunners' [[Covenant religion|transcendence]] and the Sangheili promised to protect the hierarchy. These ages marked the beginnings of the Covenant, the start of the Covenant's search for Forerunner artifacts and presumably the Covenant [[Writ of Union]]. | ||
The Covenant ship [[Truth and Reconciliation]] that appeared on ''[[Installation 04|Alpha Halo]]'' may have been named after this time period. | The Covenant ship ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'' that appeared on ''[[Installation 04|Alpha Halo]]'' may have been named after this time period. | ||
=== | ===Ages of Conversion=== | ||
{{Main| | {{Main|Ages of Conversion}} | ||
The Ages of Conversion were defined by the Covenant subjugating other species in their search for Forerunner artifacts, incorporating them into their society, adding their strengths to their own.<ref name="halosm"/> It is likely that the [[Taming of the Lekgolo]] occurred during one such age, requiring the creation of another [[Arbiter]] and defeated them only by threatening to destroy the [[Te|homeworld]] of the Lekgolo. Separate Ages of Conversion also likely included the incorporation of the [[Unggoy]], [[Kig-Yar]], [[Yanme'e|Yanme’e]] and [[Huragok]]. | |||
===Ages of Doubt=== | |||
{{Main|Ages of Doubt}} | |||
= | The [[Ages of Doubt]] are periods during which the Covenant suffered from varying degrees of internal dissent and began to lose faith in their mission.<ref name="halosm"/> The last Age of Doubt, the 23rd, was preceded by the 39th Age of Conflict, during which the [[Unggoy Rebellion]] occurred. The 23rd Age of Doubt ended in the year 2525, in human counting, leading into the 9th Age of Reclamation. | ||
===Ages of Reclamation=== | |||
== | |||
{{Main|Age of Reclamation}} | {{Main|Age of Reclamation}} | ||
The [[Ages | The [[Ages of Reclamation]] were marked by the discovery of major Forerunner artifacts. The 9th,<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Heretic]]''</ref> and final, Age of Reclamation began simultaneously with the onset of the [[Human-Covenant War]] in [[2525]] and lasted until the Covenant's defeat at the Ark in late [[2552]]. Originally, the war had been started by the Prophets of Truth, Mercy and Regret to prevent the majority of the Covenant learning that the humans were "descendants" of the Forerunners, their gods, and that the Covenant religion was based on a lie. As the decades wore on, tensions rose within the Covenant for a variety of reasons. Some Sangheili grew increasingly frustrated at apparent San 'Shyuum favoritism toward the Jiralhanae. Others began to question the validity of their holy crusade, beginning to see the humans as worthy adversaries rather than heretics. After the [[Changing of the Guard]], where the Sangheili [[Honor Guard]]s were replaced with Jiralhanae, these tensions erupted into full civil war in 2552 with the beginning of the [[Great Schism]],<ref name="goo240"/> where the Sangheili broke away from the Covenant, wresting away significant territories, personnel and equipment, allying themselves (at least grudgingly) with the humans they had formerly fought.<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/titles/halo3 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Halo 3'': Finish the Fight]</ref> | ||
The Age of Reclamation also marked the discovery of a number of important Forerunner installations and outposts, ranging from minor artifacts uncovered on human colonies, to the massive installations of the Halo Array, such as the individual Halos, to two [[Shield World]]s, ending with the discovery and subsequent destruction of the [[Installation 00|Ark]]. | The Age of Reclamation also marked the discovery of a number of important Forerunner installations and outposts, ranging from minor artifacts uncovered on human colonies, to the massive installations of the Halo Array, such as the individual Halos, to two [[Shield World]]s, ending with the discovery and subsequent destruction of the [[Installation 00|Ark]]. | ||
==Known | ==Known timeline== | ||
*[[2200 BCE|2200 B.C.E.]] - The [[San 'Shyuum Civil War]] begins | *[[2200 BCE|2200 B.C.E.]] - The [[San 'Shyuum Civil War]] begins | ||
*[[2100 BCE|2100 B.C.E.]] - The San 'Shyuum Civil War ends, [[Reformists]] flee [[Janjur Qom]]. | *[[2100 BCE|2100 B.C.E.]] - The San 'Shyuum Civil War ends, [[Reformists]] flee [[Janjur Qom]]. | ||
| Line 59: | Line 57: | ||
*[[2552]] - The [[Great Schism]] causes the Covenant to split up into two rival factions. | *[[2552]] - The [[Great Schism]] causes the Covenant to split up into two rival factions. | ||
*[[2553]] - The Human-Covenant War is officially declared over. | *[[2553]] - The Human-Covenant War is officially declared over. | ||
== List of appearances == | == List of appearances == | ||
Revision as of 12:14, December 27, 2012
 |
This article does not meet the wiki's general standards and/or standards on layouts. You can help by cleaning this article. |
The Covenant, like almost all cultures, kept a record of their history using their own methods of timekeeping. Significant time periods in Covenant history were divided and categorized based on a system of ages,[1] which were assigned into seven categories based on notable events within each.[2] Each age was broken up into units and cycles, the precise values of which are unclear. The last of the ages was the 9th Age of Reclamation, which saw the fracturing of the Covenant during the Great Schism.[3]
The Ages
Rather than following one another in a succession, the ages represent designated periods of time which were defined by a major event during each age and named based on seven main categories. For example, the 23rd Age of Doubt was followed directly by the 9th Age of Reclamation because of the events that occurred during those ages.
Age of Abandonment
- Main article: Age of Abandonment
The Covenant traces its history back at least 100,000 years, when an ancient species called the Forerunners activated the Halo installations, disappearing from the galaxy. This is referred to as the Age of Abandonment by the Covenant.[1]
Ages of Conflict
- Main article: Ages of Conflict
The Ages of Conflict were periods of time when the Covenant was embroiled in major conflicts. The first such age occurred directly preceding the formation of the Covenant, when the Sangheili and San 'Shyuum waged war against each other in a power struggle.[1] Additionally, the Unggoy Rebellion took during the 39th Age of Conflict.[4]
Ages of Discovery & Reconciliation
- Main article: Ages of Discovery
- Main article: Ages of Reconciliation
What is known is that the San 'Shyuum's discovery of ancient Forerunner artifacts during an Age of Discovery[1] and the end of the war between the Sangheili and the San 'Shyuum during an early Age of Reconciliation,[1] became the foundation on which the Covenant was founded upon. The San 'Shyuum promised to find the means of the Forerunners' transcendence and the Sangheili promised to protect the hierarchy. These ages marked the beginnings of the Covenant, the start of the Covenant's search for Forerunner artifacts and presumably the Covenant Writ of Union.
The Covenant ship Truth and Reconciliation that appeared on Alpha Halo may have been named after this time period.
Ages of Conversion
- Main article: Ages of Conversion
The Ages of Conversion were defined by the Covenant subjugating other species in their search for Forerunner artifacts, incorporating them into their society, adding their strengths to their own.[1] It is likely that the Taming of the Lekgolo occurred during one such age, requiring the creation of another Arbiter and defeated them only by threatening to destroy the homeworld of the Lekgolo. Separate Ages of Conversion also likely included the incorporation of the Unggoy, Kig-Yar, Yanme’e and Huragok.
Ages of Doubt
- Main article: Ages of Doubt
The Ages of Doubt are periods during which the Covenant suffered from varying degrees of internal dissent and began to lose faith in their mission.[1] The last Age of Doubt, the 23rd, was preceded by the 39th Age of Conflict, during which the Unggoy Rebellion occurred. The 23rd Age of Doubt ended in the year 2525, in human counting, leading into the 9th Age of Reclamation.
Ages of Reclamation
- Main article: Age of Reclamation
The Ages of Reclamation were marked by the discovery of major Forerunner artifacts. The 9th,[5] and final, Age of Reclamation began simultaneously with the onset of the Human-Covenant War in 2525 and lasted until the Covenant's defeat at the Ark in late 2552. Originally, the war had been started by the Prophets of Truth, Mercy and Regret to prevent the majority of the Covenant learning that the humans were "descendants" of the Forerunners, their gods, and that the Covenant religion was based on a lie. As the decades wore on, tensions rose within the Covenant for a variety of reasons. Some Sangheili grew increasingly frustrated at apparent San 'Shyuum favoritism toward the Jiralhanae. Others began to question the validity of their holy crusade, beginning to see the humans as worthy adversaries rather than heretics. After the Changing of the Guard, where the Sangheili Honor Guards were replaced with Jiralhanae, these tensions erupted into full civil war in 2552 with the beginning of the Great Schism,[3] where the Sangheili broke away from the Covenant, wresting away significant territories, personnel and equipment, allying themselves (at least grudgingly) with the humans they had formerly fought.[6]
The Age of Reclamation also marked the discovery of a number of important Forerunner installations and outposts, ranging from minor artifacts uncovered on human colonies, to the massive installations of the Halo Array, such as the individual Halos, to two Shield Worlds, ending with the discovery and subsequent destruction of the Ark.
Known timeline
- 2200 B.C.E. - The San 'Shyuum Civil War begins
- 2100 B.C.E. - The San 'Shyuum Civil War ends, Reformists flee Janjur Qom.
- 938 B.C.E. - The Sangheili are encountered by the San 'Shyuum, the Sangheili-San 'Shyuum War begins.
- 876 B.C.E. - The Sangheili reluctantly begin using Forerunner technology to improve their warships, arms and armor.
- 852 B.C.E. - The Sangheili-San 'Shyuum War comes to an end, and the Covenant is formed with the creation of the Writ of Union.
- 784 B.C.E. - Taming of the Lekgolo: the Lekgolo are discovered and incorporated into the Covenant.
- 648 B.C.E. - Janjur Qom is destroyed by a natural stellar collapse, and the Forerunner Dreadnought is made into the centerpiece of the new space station that will serve as the Covenant's capital, High Charity.
- 1112 - The Yanme'e are incorporated into the Covenant.
- 1342 - The Kig-Yar are discovered and form an alliance with the Covenant.
- 1552 - San'Shyuum begin searching for lifespan augmentation methods.
- 2142 - The Covenant incorporate the Unggoy into their society.
- 2462 - The Unggoy Rebellion occurs and ends, inaugurating the 29th Age of Doubt.
- 2492 - The Jiralhanae are discovered and incorporated into the Covenant.
- 2524 - First public appearance to humanity.
- 2525 - The Covenant glass Harvest, declaring a genocidal campaign against the so-called "heretics". The 9th Age of Reclamation begins.
- 2552 - The Great Schism causes the Covenant to split up into two rival factions.
- 2553 - The Human-Covenant War is officially declared over.
List of appearances
- Halo: The Fall of Reach (First appearance)
- Halo: Combat Evolved
- Halo: The Flood
- Halo: First Strike
- Halo Graphic Novel
- Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
- Halo 2
- Halo: Uprising
- Halo 3
- Halo: Contact Harvest
- Halo Wars
Sources
- ^ a b c d e f g Halo.Bungie.Org - Halo Story Page
- ^ Halo: Contact Harvest
- ^ a b Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 240
- ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 151 ("No one had known that the infusion incident, as it came to be known, was the most important of many small grievances that precipitated the Unggoy rebellion, a civil war that ushered in the Covenant's 39th Age of Conflict")
- ^ Halo 2, campaign level, The Heretic
- ^ Halo Waypoint - Halo 3: Finish the Fight
