The Vampire Council of Elders, also sometimes referred to as the Vampire Senate was a governing body of Noble Class vampires which set policy and enforced laws for the vampire world. Previous to their inception, the vampire world was ruled by pureblood kings of the Kuran bloodline. The Council of Elders was created by the last Kuran King (Haruka, Juri and Rido Kuran’s father) who transferred governing power to them, renouncing the royal title and the idea of a monarchy.
In recent times, the Council was headed by Asato “Ichiu” Ichijo and weilded significant power over the vampire world. As with many political bodies who aquire too much power, it appears to have corrupted them and their goals did not always reflect the best interests of those they governed. They cooperated in the imprisonment of pureblood Shizuka Hio, they were not in favor of peaceful co-existance with humans and were involved in a plot to back Rido Kuran’s return and have all the students at Cross Academy, both Nobles and humans alike, wiped out.
The Council was started by a Kuran and it was also ended by one. Before their latest plans could come to fruition, Kaname Kuran eliminated all members of the Council save Asato Ichijo, who was instead involved in a fatal final battle with his grandson Takuma Ichijo.