🡀 SAN’SHYUUM • SPECIES • JIRALHANAE 🡂
Important Events
Evo-014's Summary
COMMON NAME: Elites
HOMEWORLD: Sanghelios
POPULATION: ~4 billion
The Sangheili, a noble and formidable warrior race, experienced a swift rise in their civilization's development following the monumental event known as the Great Purification in 97,445 BCE. This cataclysmic event, caused by the activation of the Halo Array, reshaped their homeworld of Sanghelios and set the stage for their remarkable journey. Fortuitously, the Sangheili discovered an abundance of Forerunner artifacts scattered across their planet, leading to significant technological advancements and unlocking the secrets of the ancient civilization.
Deeply revering the Forerunners, the Sangheili embraced a culture characterized by honor, discipline, and martial prowess. They viewed the Forerunners as divine beings and considered it their sacred duty to uphold the Forerunners' legacy and preserve their artifacts. This conviction gave rise to a hands-off approach, leading to conflicts and ideological clashes with the San'Shyuum Reformists upon their first encounter in 938 BCE. Despite their differences, the Sangheili and San'Shyuum Reformists eventually found common ground and forged a lasting peace. This pivotal alliance marked the birth of the Covenant, an interstellar theocratic hegemony. Within the Covenant, the Sangheili were entrusted with prominent leadership roles, particularly in the military, due to their unparalleled combat skills and unwavering loyalty.
As the Covenant expanded its influence throughout the galaxy, the Sangheili played a pivotal role in enforcing its rule and waging war against perceived heretics and threats. Their prowess on the battlefield and unwavering dedication to the Covenant's cause solidified their reputation as fierce warriors and skilled tacticians.
However, tensions would later arise within the Covenant, leading to a fracture that forever altered the fate of the Sangheili. The events surrounding the Battle for Earth and the Battle of Installation 05 in 2552 triggered a massive conflict known as the Great Schism. This conflict erupted between the Sangheili and the Jiralhanae and shattered the unity of the Covenant. The Sangheili, having discovered the betrayal orchestrated by the Prophet of Truth, fiercely resisted the Jiralhanae's attempt to usurp their position within the Covenant. Amidst the chaos, the Flood seized control of High Charity, the heart of the Covenant and home to many San'Shyuum leaders. With the Covenant hierarchy in disarray and the San'Shyuum Reformists nearly wiped out, the remaining Sangheili survivors faced an uncertain future. While some retreated to their homeworld of Sanghelios, others ventured into the vastness of the galaxy, determined to reclaim their honor and rebuild their fractured society.
Today, the Sangheili stand as a proud and resilient race, bearing the weight of their storied history. With their indomitable spirit and fierce determination, they continue to navigate the complexities of a changing galaxy, determined to shape their own destiny and uphold the legacy of their warrior culture.
Ancient History
The Sangheili, one of the species included in the Conservation Measure following the Great Purification approximately 100,000 years ago, have a rich history intertwined with the Forerunners. Their homeworld, Sanghelios, serves as a sanctuary for numerous Forerunner relics, shaping the Sangheili civilization's reverence for the enigmatic ancient beings and their magnificent creations.
However, conflict emerged when the San'Shyuum entered Sangheili-controlled territories in 938 BCE, igniting the War of Beginnings. The San'Shyuum sought to exploit the Forerunner artifacts for their own gains, while the Sangheili staunchly believed in preserving the artifacts in their original state. The war persisted for over eighty years, until finally, in 852 BCE, a historic peace treaty known as the Writ of Union was signed.
The signing of the Writ of Union not only brought an end to the prolonged conflict but also heralded a monumental turning point. It united the San'Shyuum and the Sangheili, establishing the Covenant—an alliance that would shape the galactic stage for the next three thousand years. Under the Covenant's banner, these two races embarked on a hegemonic journey, wielding their combined strength and influence to guide the destiny of countless civilizations.
Notable Sangheili
As the eminent figures within the Covenant military, numerous Sangheili rose to prominence, not only within the Covenant itself but also in the eyes of the UNSC. Among them, the most renowned is the former Arbiter Thel 'Vadam, who commanded the formidable Fleet of Particular Justice during the later stages of the Human-Covenant War, shouldering the weight of billions of human casualties. However, his notoriety extends further due to his unprecedented defection to the side of the UNSC in the war's final days.
Thel 'Vadam's pivotal act of betrayal resulted in him aligning forces with the legendary Master Chief to confront and vanquish the formidable Prophet of Truth on the sacred grounds of the Ark. This audacious move forever etched Thel 'Vadam's name in the annals of history, symbolizing the profound impact a single individual can have on the course of interstellar conflicts.
Modern History
Within the Covenant, the Sangheili held a pivotal role as the primary military force, commanding formidable warships and leading ground troops into battle. They were also entrusted with the esteemed position of the Honor Guard, responsible for safeguarding the San'Shyuum Hierarchs. While a few courageous Sangheili challenged the authority of the high prophets over the years, their attempts proved unsuccessful. The majority of Sangheili were content with their role as the Covenant's military commanders. This arrangement persisted for millennia, until the culmination of the devastating Human-Covenant War.
At the conclusion of the Human-Covenant War, the balance of power dramatically shifted. The Prophet of Truth forcibly replaced the Sangheili with the ferocious Jiralhanae as the Covenant's military leaders—a pivotal event known as the Changing of the Guard. This controversial decision sparked a massive civil war within the Covenant and ultimately led to its collapse, with the Sangheili vehemently opposing their displacement.
Following the dissolution of the Covenant and the culmination of their conflict with humanity in 2552, the Sangheili faced the arduous task of establishing a new power structure. This led to a tumultuous period known as the Blooding Years, where powerful factions within their society vied for control over Sanghelios and their own species. After being primarily focused on warfare during their Covenant tenure, the Sangheili struggled with a shortage of skilled and unskilled labor on their planet, leaving an excess of warriors.
However, after years of internal and external strife, the conflict eventually subsided. The destruction of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant and the consolidation of power by Thel 'Vadam and the Swords of Sanghelios in October 2558 marked a turning point. The Sangheili began to find stability and unity, reclaiming their place in the galaxy and charting a new course for their civilization.
Worlds
The Sangheili were already venturing into space and establishing colonies on planets beyond their homeworld before their encounter with the San'Shyuum in 938 BCE. While the exact number of Sangheili colonies remains elusive, it is clear that they exert control over at least a dozen worlds in their expanding dominion.
