History of the Covenant: Difference between revisions

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The [[Covenant]] divide their history into periods called '''Ages'''. There are at least eight ages, although their exact order is uncertain. The Ages are named according to things that have happened/are happening in them. This also means that the lengths of the Ages vary, with some longer than other. One of the problems with ordering the Ages is that there may be several ages with the same name. At the start of [[Halo 2]], subtitles gave the date as the '''''9th Age of Reclamation'''''. This suggests that eight other ages of Reclamation have gone before it. The standard version of Covenant history in the article [[The_Covenant#The_History_of_the_Covenant|The Covenant]] does not appear to take account of this.
 
The [[Covenant]], like almost all cultures, keeps a record of their history using their own methods of timekeeping. Unfortunately, the exact measures, if any, of these are a mystery, and there are hints that there may be multiple divisions of each age (9th Age of Reclamation, for example.) What is known is that the Covenant divide their recorded time into seven Ages <ref>http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten102204.html</ref>, divided based on notable events within each, and that they believe that the Age of Reclamation will be the last of the ages, when the Covenant will [[Great Schism|fracture]]. <ref>[[Ghosts of Onyx]]</ref>


==The Ages==
==The Ages==
{{Ages}}
{{Ages}}
Little is known about their history except that the [[Prophet]]s and [[Elite]]s' ancestors waged war on each other, but they formed the Covenant after finding evidence of the [[Forerunner]]s and their "[[Great Journey]]".<ref>[[Halo 2|Halo 2 Limited Collector's Edition]]</ref>
The Covenant traces its history back at least 100,000 years, when an ancient alien species called the [[Forerunners]] activated the [[Halo installations]], disappearing from the galaxy. This is referred to as the [[Age of Abandonment]]<ref>http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten102204.html</ref> by the Covenant.
 
One of the leading theories is that the [[Age of Abandonment]] was the time when the Forerunners left the Prophets and Elites to embark on the Great Journey. Probably because of the flood outbreak, this caused confusion and great loss among the prophets and elites, so they turned their thoughts to war.
 
Elites and the Prophets began fighting each other in the [[Age of Conflict]].<ref>[[Halo 2|Halo 2 Limited Collector's Edition]]</ref> It is not yet known why this war started.
 
In the [[Age of Discovery]], the Prophets discovered the remains of the Forerunner technology, maybe with the help of the [[Engineer]]s, and suddenly, new hope graced them and they say a possibility of salvation and the chance to be reunited with the lost forerunners that left.


During the 1st [[Age of Reconciliation]], the Prophets shared the information learned about the Forerunners with the Elites. The Elites and the Prophets made a truce to unite to form the Covenant with the Elites being promised salvation in exchange for their services as the military and protection, they also did this to cause peace between the 2 warring factors.<ref>[[Halo 2|Halo 2 Limited Collector's Edition]]</ref> Presumably, this is when the Covenant [[Writ of Union]] was created.
At some point before the Covenant’s formation, the [[Elites|Sangheili]] and [[Prophets]] waged war against each other, apparently in a power struggle<ref>[[Halo 2 Limited Edition]]</ref>, in what is called the [[Age of Conflict]]<ref>http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten102204.html</ref>. The details of this period of time remain unknown. What is known is that the discovery of ancient Forerunner artefacts during the [[Age of Discovery]]<ref>http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten102204.html</ref> , and the end of the war during the [[Age of Reconciliation]]<ref>http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten102204.html</ref> , was because the “...prophets promised to find the means of the Forerunners [[Great Journey|transcendence]]. The elites promised to protect the hierarchs – a simple arrangement, that has become our binding Covenant!”<ref>[[Halo 2]], [[Regret (level)]]</ref> These ages marked the beginnings of the Covenant, the start of the Covenant’s search for Forerunner artefacts, and presumably the Covenant [[writ of union]].


The [[Age of Conversion]] was when the Elites and the Prophets started to conscript other races (such as when they "tamed" [[Hunter]]s) into the Covenant through religious conversion or force. Some of the races in the covenant, like the jackals, were instead "paid" or "bribed" into the covenant. It is intresting to note that most of the conscription is by brute force, not the great journey.
These were followed by the [[Age of Conversion]]<ref>http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten102204.html</ref>. , where the Covenant started their subjugation of other species in their search for Forerunner artefacts, incorporating them into their society, adding their strengths to their own. It is likely that the [[Taming of the Hunters]]<ref>[[Halo 2]], [[Arbiter (level)]]</ref> occurred during this time period, requiring the creation of an [[Arbiter]], along with the incorporation of the [[Grunts|Unggoy]], [[Jackals|Kig-Yar]], [[Drones|Yanme’e]] and [[Engineers|Huragok]].


The Covenant began to doubt the word of the Prophets during the [[Age of Doubt|Age(s) of Doubt]], due to the fruitlessness of their search for [[The Halos|Halo]]and the lack of results and reassurance. The [[Grunt Rebellion]] probably occurred during this span of time.
The [[Age of Doubt]]<ref>http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten102204.html</ref>  is speculated to be a period during which many of the Covenant began to lose faith in their mission, and it is likely that the [[Grunt Rebellion]]<ref>[[Halo 2]], [[Arbiter (level)]]</ref> took place during this period, necessitating the creation of another Arbiter. Details of this period are not known.


During the [[Age of Conversion|Age(s) of Conversion]], the Covenant integrated other races into their organization, such as the jackals.
The [[9th Age of Reclamation]]<ref>[[Halo 2]], [[The Heretic (level)]]</ref> was marked by the [[Human-Covenant War]], and the incorporation of the brutes. The reasons for the war are currently unknown, though the subjugation of the Brutes led in turn to another major event – the [[Civil War of the Covenant]], otherwise known as the [[Great Schism]]<ref>Ghosts of Onyx</ref>, with the expulsion of the [[Elites|Sangheili]] from the Covenant and their (at least grudging<ref>http://halo3.com</ref>) alliance with the UNSC. It also marks the discovery of several Forerunner installations ([[Alpha Halo|Alpha]] and [[Delta Halo]] installations, [[Shield World]], and the Ark). The name may originate from the belief that [[UNSC|humans]] are [[Reclaimers]].


[[Halo 1]] and Halo 2 take place during the [[9th Age of Reclamation]]. It is often speculated that this is a reference to the name that the [[Monitor]]s give to humans: "[[Reclaimer]]s", or it could also mean that the covenant were "reclaiming" their lost heritage, and "reclaiming" the planets and systems conquered by the humans. Others, especially the Elites, wonder why the humans, a worthy opponent that have proven themselves in battle many times, were not given the opportunity to join the Covenant. Some within the Covenant even wonder what the humans have done to be an "affront" to the gods. This fact might be linked with humans presumably being the reclaimers or the descendants of the forerunners.


== Sources ==
== Sources ==

Revision as of 03:09, August 7, 2007

Template:FOF-1

The Covenant, like almost all cultures, keeps a record of their history using their own methods of timekeeping. Unfortunately, the exact measures, if any, of these are a mystery, and there are hints that there may be multiple divisions of each age (9th Age of Reclamation, for example.) What is known is that the Covenant divide their recorded time into seven Ages [1], divided based on notable events within each, and that they believe that the Age of Reclamation will be the last of the ages, when the Covenant will fracture. [2]

The Ages

Covenant history

The Covenant traces its history back at least 100,000 years, when an ancient alien species called the Forerunners activated the Halo installations, disappearing from the galaxy. This is referred to as the Age of Abandonment[3] by the Covenant.

At some point before the Covenant’s formation, the Sangheili and Prophets waged war against each other, apparently in a power struggle[4], in what is called the Age of Conflict[5]. The details of this period of time remain unknown. What is known is that the discovery of ancient Forerunner artefacts during the Age of Discovery[6] , and the end of the war during the Age of Reconciliation[7] , was because the “...prophets promised to find the means of the Forerunners transcendence. The elites promised to protect the hierarchs – a simple arrangement, that has become our binding Covenant!”[8] These ages marked the beginnings of the Covenant, the start of the Covenant’s search for Forerunner artefacts, and presumably the Covenant writ of union.

These were followed by the Age of Conversion[9]. , where the Covenant started their subjugation of other species in their search for Forerunner artefacts, incorporating them into their society, adding their strengths to their own. It is likely that the Taming of the Hunters[10] occurred during this time period, requiring the creation of an Arbiter, along with the incorporation of the Unggoy, Kig-Yar, Yanme’e and Huragok.

The Age of Doubt[11] is speculated to be a period during which many of the Covenant began to lose faith in their mission, and it is likely that the Grunt Rebellion[12] took place during this period, necessitating the creation of another Arbiter. Details of this period are not known.

The 9th Age of Reclamation[13] was marked by the Human-Covenant War, and the incorporation of the brutes. The reasons for the war are currently unknown, though the subjugation of the Brutes led in turn to another major event – the Civil War of the Covenant, otherwise known as the Great Schism[14], with the expulsion of the Sangheili from the Covenant and their (at least grudging[15]) alliance with the UNSC. It also marks the discovery of several Forerunner installations (Alpha and Delta Halo installations, Shield World, and the Ark). The name may originate from the belief that humans are Reclaimers.


Sources

  1. ^ http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten102204.html
  2. ^ Ghosts of Onyx
  3. ^ http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten102204.html
  4. ^ Halo 2 Limited Edition
  5. ^ http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten102204.html
  6. ^ http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten102204.html
  7. ^ http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten102204.html
  8. ^ Halo 2, Regret (level)
  9. ^ http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten102204.html
  10. ^ Halo 2, Arbiter (level)
  11. ^ http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten102204.html
  12. ^ Halo 2, Arbiter (level)
  13. ^ Halo 2, The Heretic (level)
  14. ^ Ghosts of Onyx
  15. ^ http://halo3.com
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