Key Points:
- The Covenant was a theocratic empire worshiping the Forerunners, engaging in a war with humanity to preserve their religious doctrine.
- The Great Schism shattered the Covenant, giving rise to factions like the Swords of Sanghelios, The Banished, and The Storm Covenant.
- Many factions continue to influence the galaxy, including the fanatical Keepers of the One Freedom and the insurgent Servants of the Abiding Truth.
The Covenant’s Origins and Downfall
The Covenant was a powerful interstellar theocracy ruled by the San’Shyuum (Prophets) and the Sangheili (Elites). It was founded on the belief that the Forerunners, an ancient race, had transcended to godhood through the activation of the Halo Rings. The Covenant sought to follow their path, unaware that these rings were actually superweapons designed to combat the Flood, a parasitic species.
When the Covenant encountered humanity, they discovered that humans were the actual inheritors of Forerunner technology. Fearing this truth would dismantle their faith, the Prophets declared war on humanity. This conflict, known as the Human-Covenant War, lasted for decades, culminating in the Great Schism—a civil war within the Covenant that led to its ultimate collapse.
Swords of Sanghelios: The Reformation of the Elites
Following the dissolution of the Covenant, Thel ‘Vadam, known as the Arbiter, led the Swords of Sanghelios. This faction rejected the Covenant’s religious dogma and sought to establish a new government for the Sangheili. Though many of his kind supported this transition, resistance emerged from groups like the Servants of the Abiding Truth, who viewed the Arbiter as a heretic. The civil war between these factions escalated until the intervention of Fireteam Osiris in Halo 5: Guardians, which solidified the Swords of Sanghelios as the dominant power among the Sangheili.
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The Servants of the Abiding Truth: A Sangheili Resistance
Unlike the Swords of Sanghelios, the Servants of the Abiding Truth remained devoted to Forerunner worship. This extremist group viewed the Prophets’ leadership as flawed but still clung to their religious beliefs. Secretly aided by the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), the Servants were manipulated into weakening the Sangheili, ensuring they would never again pose a significant threat to humanity.
A notable offshoot of this faction was Jul ‘Mdama’s Covenant, also known as The Storm. This group, unlike other splinter factions, sought to reestablish the Covenant without the Prophets, allying themselves with the Didact and his Promethean forces. However, their ambitions crumbled following Jul ‘Mdama’s assassination in Halo 5: Guardians.
The Banished: A Brutal Mercenary Empire
The Banished, led by the fearsome Atriox, are one of the most formidable post-Covenant factions. Unlike traditional Covenant forces, The Banished operated as a mercenary warband, utilizing guerrilla tactics and strategic strikes. Initially fighting against the Covenant, they grew in power after its collapse, seizing massive stockpiles of weapons and warships.
Their most significant victory came when they took control of Installation 07 (Zeta Halo), decimating the UNSC Infinity and leaving Master Chief presumed dead. Six months later, the Chief resurfaced, beginning a brutal conflict against The Banished in Halo Infinite.
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Keepers of the One Freedom: The Cult of the Great Journey
Unlike other Covenant remnants, the Keepers of the One Freedom welcome human members, provided they oppose the United Earth Government (UEG). Many of their recruits were former insurrectionists who had long resisted the UEG‘s authority.
The Keepers suffered immense losses during Operation: RETRIBUTION, where up to 90% of their forces in one sector were wiped out. Further setbacks came when they allied with The Banished, only for many of their warriors to abandon the group in pursuit of their version of the Great Journey. Despite this, remnants of the Keepers persist and continue their extremist agenda.
The Storm Covenant: Jul ‘Mdama’s Failed Crusade
Led by Jul ‘Mdama, The Storm Covenant sought to recreate the original Covenant but without the influence of the Prophets. Their ultimate goal was to awaken the Didact, a powerful Forerunner warrior, whom they believed would lead them to victory. While The Didact did emerge and briefly allied with them, he was ultimately defeated by Master Chief in Halo 4.
Following Jul ‘Mdama’s assassination in Halo 5: Guardians, The Storm fell apart, with their remaining forces being defeated at Sunaion by the Swords of Sanghelios and Fireteam Osiris.
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While the original Covenant is long gone, its influence still echoes throughout the galaxy. From the war-hardened mercenaries of The Banished to the fanatical cultists of the Keepers of the One Freedom, remnants of this once-mighty empire continue to shape the fate of the universe.
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