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Babylon 5 Chronology
SECTION 1.1. THE DISTANT PAST.
circa 15 Billion Years Ago.
The universe is created in a massive explosion called the "Big Bang".
Scientific theory.
circa 12 Billion Years Ago.
The Milky Way galaxy is formed.
Scientific theory.
circa 7 Billion Years Ago.
The First Ones evolve, and the first of the
First Ones is a being called Lorien. His race are the first to
find the Shadows and the Vorlons. The First Ones are vast,
timeless beings who go out into the galaxy and found great
empires, explore beyond the Rim and teach the younger races as
they emerge.
In The Shadow Of Z'ha'dum. In Whatever
Happened To Mr Garibaldi? Lorien describes himself as the
first of the First Ones, he was old even before the Earth solar
system formed. Into The Fire establishes Lorien's race
were the first to find the Shadows and the Vorlons.
Author's note: Obviously Delenn wasn't told
about this earlier race by the Vorlons.
circa 5 Billion Years Ago.
The star Sol and it's accompanying planets
form out of stellar material.
Scientific theory.
circa 3.5 Billion Years Ago.
The first building blocks of life are
formed on Earth when amino acids combine to form the first
proteins.
Scientific theory.
circa 3 Million Years Ago.
The Vorlons come to Earth and genetically
manipulate the primitive ape men they find there, to view them as
the Vorlons wish to be seen, rather than in their natural glowing
jellyfish like form. The Vorlons repeat this exercise with many
other evolving races throughout the galaxy.
Conjecture. In The Shadow Of Z'ha'dum,Kosh
cannot leave his encounter suit as he would be recognised by
everyone, a fact borne out in The Fall Of Night when he
left his suit to fly to Sheridan's rescue. Each race saw Kosh
according to the legends of their world, hinting at Vorlon
manipulation that is revealed by Morden in Z'ha'dum. Matters
Of Honor suggests the Vorlons use telepathic projection to
hide their form. Falling Toward Apotheosis reveals the
Vorlons true appearance.
circa 1.5 Million Years Ago.
After travelling to many worlds
manipulating the races to see them as beings of light and being
revered as gods, the Vorlons start to think they are gods,
superior to the universe that created them. Believing they could
transcend this dimension, the Vorlons apply all their knowledge
and wisdom to create a gateway into another universe. In their
pride, they did not think to what lay on the otherside of the
gate and let loose a race older than them, more powerful and all
of them telepathic. This alien race was destroying all life in
their own universe because they believed only they had the right
to exist, all the other races were inferior and had to be
exterminated. Modifying the gate to enhance their telepathic
inpulses, the aliens create an army of Vorlons willing to die for
them. Those Vorlons not being controlled fight back, disabling
the gate to prevent any further intrusions. Before it can be
destroyed, those still under telepathic control drop the gate
into hyperspace to hide it. The memory of their mistake is passed
from generation to generation of Vorlon.
Thirdspace. The carbon dating result
on the Vorlon gateway shows it is over a million years old.
On a visit to Earth, the Vorlons take gene
samples from the population of Homo erectus. Visiting other
worlds and repeating the genetic harvesting for their
experiments, the Vorlons begin re engineering the DNA to produce
the first telepath genes at their chief experimental station.
The Nautilus Coil.
circa 1 Million Years Ago.
Many of the First Ones tire of looking
after the younger races. Some disappear beyond the Rim never to
be seen again, while a few remain to walk openly among the races
barely aware of their existence, in pursuit of tasks
incomprehensible to them. The Shadows and the Vorlons acting as
guardians to the younger races, begin warring with each other
over how best to help them evolve. The Vorlons favour evolution
by control and the Shadows by creating conflict. Each side abides
by rules of engagement, respecting each others position.
In The Shadow Of Z’ha’dum,
Voices Of Authority and The Summoning reveal the fates
of many of the First Ones and the reason for the war between the
Shadows and the Vorlons.
Lorien, the first of the First Ones takes
up residence in catacombs beneath the surface of
Z’ha’dum.
Conjecture, from Whatever Happened To Mr
Garibaldi? Assumes Lorien came to Z’ha’dum around
the time other First Ones were leaving or going into hiding.
After a split in the evolutionary line, the
Hyach and Hyach-doh evolve in parallel. At first, the two races
compete for resources,but eventually learn to live together and
begin interbreeding.
Secrets Of The Soul.
circa 500,000 Years Ago.
An unknown intelligence genetically
engineers a race of living biological recorders called Vendrizi.
These genetically neutral symbiotic beings record all aspects of
their host culture as a means of preserving it should anything
happen to that civilisation. The Vendrizi accomplish their tasks
by joining with those in society who have lost hope and a sense
of purpose in their lives. As each culture moves out into the
stars, the Vendrizi go with them ready to move onto a new
civilisation.
Exogenesis. The Vendrizi reveal
their history to Marcus and Franklin.
circa 8,740 Years Ago.
Having abided by rules of engagement, the
Vorlons decide their way of helping the younger races to evolve
is the right way. So when the Shadows begin encouraging conflict
between worlds according to their own evolutionary doctrine, they
are fought to a standstill by the remaining First Ones and driven
back to their stronghold on Z’ha’dum. The First Ones go
into hiding, watching and waiting for the Shadows return. This is
the last time they walk openly among the races.
In The Shadow Of Z’ha’dum. Delenn
says the last great war with the Shadows was 10,000 years ago.
Author’s Note: I am assuming that
Delenn meant 10,000 years before the Great War of 1260-1261.
circa 7,8OO Years Ago.
Soul Hunters come en mass to Ralga, drawn
there by what they sense is the Ralgans physical death. In
reality the Ralgans are evolving into non corporeal beings but
before they can evolve, the Soul Hunters capture their life
energy and place the Soul globe in one of their archives on an
unknown world.
River Of Souls. The Soul Hunters
came to Ralga 10,000 years ago.
The inhabitants of Ceti 4 abandon one of
their underground cities.
Crusade:War Zone. The city was
abandoned 10,000 years ago.
circa 4,800 B.C.
Civilisation dawns on the Hyach home world.
Secrets Of The Soul. Hyach
civilisation began 7000 years ago.
Civilisation dawns on Minbar. Over the
coming centuries Minbari society divides itself into three
castes, Worker, Warrior and Religious.
Conjecture, from Meditations On The
Abyss. Findell establishes Minbari civilisation has been
around for several thousand years.
A network of jumpgates is created
throughout the galaxy by an unknown race.
To Dream In The City Of Sorrows. The
jumpgates are 7000 years old.
circa 3,800 B.C.
Civilisation dawns on the Abbai homeworld.
The Official Guide To Babylon 5. Abbai
civilisation began 6000 years ago.
circa 3,500 B.C.
The Sumerian civilisation is founded at the
confluence of the rivers Tigris and Euphrates in Africa.
Historical account.
circa 3,100 B.C.
The Sumerians begin using a pictorial
language called cuneiform.
Historical account.
circa 2,800 B.C.
Civilisation dawns on the Yolu homeworld.
The Official Guide To Babylon 5. Yolu
civilisation began 5000 years ago.
circa 1,800 B.C.
A Soul Hunter is born among their race who
later in life comes to Babylon 5 in 2263, in pursuit of the
stolen Ralgan Soul globe.
River Of Souls. The Soul Hunter is
4000 years old.
circa 800 B.C.
Civilisation dawns on the Drazi homeworld
Zhabar.
The Official Guide To Babylon 5.
Drazi civilisation began 3000 years ago.
SECTION 1.2. 1ST
TO 12TH CENTURY A.D.
circa 200.
The civilisation that built
the jump gate network disappear without a trace, leaving no
archeaological evidence of their existence.
To Dream In The City Of
Sorrows. The jumpgate builders disappeared about 5000 years
after building the jumpgates.
circa 261.
Civilisation dawns on Brakir, the Brakiri
homeworld.
The Official Guide To Babylon 5.
Brakiri civilisation began 2000 years ago.
Civilisation dawns on Gromahk, the
homeworld of the Grome.
The Official Guide To Babylon 5. Grome
civilisation began 2000 years ago.
Civilisation dawns on Pak’ma, the
homeworld of the Pak’ma’ra.
The Official Guide To Babylon 5. Pak’ma’ra
civilisation began 2000 years ago. The homeworld is named in Moments
Of Transition.
circa 262.
Tuscano becomes the Emperor of the Centauri
Empire. He commissions the Imperial guards after the construction
of the first Royal Palace, incorporating his seal into the design
of the buttons on their uniforms. Tuscano also commissions an
elaborate jewel called "The Eye" which becomes the
symbol of power and authority for the Emperors.
The Ragged Edge and Objects At
Rest. The palace was built and the guards were commissioned
2000 years ago. Signs And Portents, assumes it was Tuscano
who commissioned The Eye.
As the Centauri Empire spreads, it comes
into conflict with the Xon, the other race living on Centauri
Prime and a long war ensues.
Conjecture, from The Parliament Of
Dreams.
Under Emperor Tuscano’s rule, an
invasion by the Shoggren is defeated.
Day Of The Dead.
On Centauri Prime, paranoid that his people
would turn on him, Emperor Olion has a series of catacombs
constructed beneath the capital leading to the outer regions as a
means to escape.
Conjecture, from Legions Of Fire:Out Of
The Darkness.
519.
Owain Ddantgwyn, who adopted the battle
name of Arthur and united the Kingdoms of Gwynedd and Powys, is
killed in battle at Camlan.
Historical account and A Late Delivery
From Avalon. Franklin says there was probably a real person
behind the Arthur of legend.
circa 761.
Civilisation dawns on Vartas, the homeworld
of the Llort.
The Official Guide To Babylon 5. Llort
civilisation began 1500 years ago.
1059.
Morell becomes the Emperor of the Centauri
Empire.
The Shadow Of His Thoughts.
1062.
Religious laws are passed making it immoral
for Hyach and Hyach-doh to interbreed. Immoral soon becomes
illegal, punishable by death. It is deemed more efficient by
Hyach’s Geritocracy to eliminate the Hyach-doh completely.
Bounties are placed on the Hyach-doh and they are forbidden to
leave their territory. Many try to slip away, but along with the
ships Captains that transport them, they are arrested and
executed.
Secrets Of The Soul. The law was
passed 1200 years ago.
Defeating a Xon army at the Battle of
Scoria Plains, Emperor Morell and his troops are resting near the
river Tuwain when he meets Malia, the prophetess of the village
of Tuwain. She foretells of a great danger facing Morell and that
a dagger would strike to his heart from near his heart and his
life would be forfeit unless he heeded her warning. Asking how he
could avoid this death, Malia speaks only of the crescent moon
hidden in darkness. Wanting nothing in return for her prophecy
except Morell’s good wishes, his troops return to the Royal
palace where a great banquet is held in his honour. With his wife
Celina and his family gathered round, Morell’s favoured
nephew Elfeni stands to raise a toast when Morell notices the
crescent moon brooch on his tunic hidden by the shadow of his
arm. He cries out to the guards who seize Elfeni as he is about
to strike the Emperor with a blade. Under questioning, Elfeni
confesses to an alliance with others who would bring civil war
and make him Emperor. With his life saved by prophecy, Emperor
Morell returns to Tuwain and gives Malia a tenth of his fortune
pledging that while an Emperor sits on the throne there would
always be a prophetess in Tuwain who would always be in Royal
favour. Over the years as one prophetess died and another took
the title, the Emperor would make the journey to Tuwain for her
inauguration.
The Shadow Of His Thoughts.
The Lady Celina takes her own life hanging
from the highest tower of the Royal Palace.
The Shadow Of His Thoughts.
SECTION 1.3. 13TH TO 19TH
CENTURIES.
1258.
After suffering half a dozen invasions of
their homeworld, the leaders of Ikarra 7 decide to build the
perfect weapon to defend themselves. The scientists create twelve
machines, bioorganic in construction, capable of intelligent
thought with the ability to adapt to any situation and meld with
a living being. The machines personality matrix is formed from
the brainwave patterns of researcher Tu'Lar and programmed with
what it is to be a pure Ikarran. When eleven warriors are
activated to save Ikarra from another invasion, they turn on
their creators, wiping out the planet's population because they
did not match the restrictive and idealistic definitions of the
machines programming. The eleven machines eventually wear out
through neglect.
Infection. Ikarra 7 has been dead
for 1000 years. Franklin discovers the fate of the Ikarrans.
Encountering the Shadows, the Taratimude
make an alliance with them in their quest for power and are given
access to their more advanced technology, oblivious to the plan
to use them as soldiers in the coming war. The tech is programmed
to promote agression, carrying great destructive power to those
that wield it and the ability to promote rapid healing with
organelles released into the hosts body. The tech can also
extrude a protective metal skin around the wearer.
The Passing Of The
Techno-mages:Summoning Light and The Passing Of The
Techno-mages:Invoking Darkness reveals what was planned for
the original mages.
With the last of the Xon wiped out, the
Centauri Republic is founded and a new government, the Centaurum
is established. A new Emperor is elected who consults with three
techno-mages and receives their blessing before taking the
throne.
Conjecture, from The Parliament Of
Dreams, The War Prayer and The Geometry Of Shadows. Assumes
the Republic was founded 1000 years ago after the Xon were wiped
out.
The Centauri Republic introduces the custom
of arranged marriages.
The War Prayer. Londo says there
have been arranged marriages in the Republic for 1000 years.
House Jaddo and House Mollari become close
allies.
Knives. The two Houses have been
allied since the early days of the Republic.
A brotherhood forms to embark on a quest to
find the mythical Holy Grail. Their number dwindles over the
millennia and by the 23rd century, only one of their order
remains.
Grail. Aldous says his order has
been searching for a millennia and he is the last of their
number.
1259.
The Shadows return to their places of power
and begin rebuilding their forces as a prelude to war.
In The Shadow Of Z'ha'dum. The
Shadows returned 1000 years ago.
The Shadows set up a base of operations on
one of the southern continents on the Narn home world.
Matters Of Honor. The Book of G'Quan
tells of the Shadow presence on Narn.
The Taratimude discover too late the nature
of the implants and that the Shadows have a device that can
control, manipulate them and switch off their tech at will.
Seeing their race slowly being wiped out through in fighting and
assisting the Shadows sow the seeds of chaos, a few of the
Taratimude vow to never let their Shadow technology do harm and
begin a long quest to find a way to negate the Shadows hold over
them. Wierden, one of the Taratimude founds the Circle and the
principles that govern the techno-mages at their first
convocation. The Shadows still give the tech to the Circle, them
having no way to duplicate it themselves, knowing that when they
come again they will have an army ready for their next war.
The Passing Of The Techno-mages:Casting
Shadows. The Circle was founded nearly a thousand years ago.
Kosh has observed three hundred and thirty three such
gatherings in 2258. The Passing Of The Techno-mages:Summoning
Light, reveals the Taratimude still took the Shadow tech
after the founding of the Circle.
Transport ship Qal’thaal, carrying
nearly a thousand slaves from Zander Prime to Theta 49 as labor
for constructing a colony there, comes under attack from Shadow
vessels just as it reaches its destination. Before it is
destroyed the ship launches lifepods, some are captured by the
Shadows while others make it to the surface of Theta 49. With
only a hundred survivors and no way of contacting home, they
begin building a life there.
Crusade:Patterns Of The Soul.
1260.
The Apostolic monastic order is founded.
Passing Throught Gethsemane. Edward's
comments suggest the order was founded 1000 years ago.
Techno-mage Osiyrin surreptitiosly begins a
study into the Drakh, making anatomical scans and notes on their
language, culture and beliefs. Fearing his work would be
discovered by the Drakh and in turn, bring down the Shadows wrath
on them, the Circle order Osiyrin to stop his research. He
becomes the first mage to be reprimanded by the Circle and on
their orders, the record of the proceedings are closed.
The Passing Of The Techno-mages:Casting
Shadows. Osiyrin was reprimanded by the Circle shortly after
its founding.
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