Secret History of the Universe: Part Three

3300 BCE-1759 CE


GO BACK TO THE MAIN PAGE

GO TO PART TWO: 80,000-9565 BCE
GO TO PART FOUR: 1760-1899

DISCLAIMER: This timeline won’t necessarily reflect what you’re used to in your history books, your literature, your films, your television shows or your comic books. Because this is what really happened...

The Early Bronze Age

3300 BCE

Egypt was clearly divided into Upper and Lower Kingdoms by this time.

The Sumerians developed cuneiform writing in Mesopotamia.

3295 BCE

One of the Lords of Order traveled across the universe from the planet Cilia and arrived on Earth. There he channeled magic into a large ruby, turning it into a weapon of great power in order to defeat four extradimensional Elemental spirits that had threatened the planet. In the process, the ruby was lost in the sands of the Sahara, believed destroyed. The Lord of Order then remained on Earth, where he become known as Nabu the Wise, an adviser to the pharaohs of ancient Egypt. The arrival of Nabu is viewed by wizards (Homo sapiens magi) as the beginning of the Ninth Age of Magic on Earth.

3200 BCE

Hieroglyphics were developed in Egypt, as well as embalming of the dead.

Phoenician city-states began to take form in the land of Canaan on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean.

3100 BCE

Stonehenge was constructed in Wales.

The Protodynastic Period (“Dynasty 0”) began in Egypt (3100-2920 BCE).

Grapes were first crushed and fermented into wine.

3086 BCE

The Universal Church of Truth was founded in a distant part of the Mily Way galaxy, based on a prophecy foretelling the coming of Magus.

3015 BCE

A child was born in a small settlement near the Valley of Kings in Egypt. Abandoned at birth due to his eerie gray skin and blue lips, he was rescued by the Sandstormers and their leader Baal, who named the child En Sabah Nur. The child would soon developed extraordinary powers, becoming Earth’s first known mutant (Homo sapiens superior). In later years, he would become known as “Apocalypse.”

3011 BCE

To hold the dragon-like demon known as the “Three Faces of Evil” captive, the wizard Shazam created the magical nexus known as the “Rock of Eternity” from two large, conical rock formations — one from Heaven and one from Hell. From this point on, Shazam found himself bound to it, unable to leave it for more than 24 hours at a time. This made his apprentice Oggar impatient, and he urged Shazam to finally promote him to be the new champion of the Valar, but the Valar cautioned Shazam against it, saying that Oggar was still not ready.

3000 BCE

Around this time, modern Hinduism began in India.

2966 BCE

A son Ares, the first child of Zeus and Hera, was born on Mount Olympus.

2920 BCE

The Early Dynastic Period (1st and 2nd Dynasties) began in Egypt (2920-2650 BCE).

2900 BCE

En Sabah Nur was worshipped as a god during Egypt’s 1st Dynasty.

The Protodynastic Period began in Mesopotamia (2900-2334 BCE).

2878 BCE

After Zeus became overcome by a terrible headache, his son Ares cleaved his head with an axe. This broke the barrier of the pocket dimension that Metis had created within Zeus, and Athena (age 711) leaped from Zeus’ head with a shout.

2873 BCE

A son, Hephaestus, the second child of Zeus and Hera, was born on Mount Olympus.

2750 BCE

The Eternal known as the Forgotten One ruled as Gilgamesh, King of Uruk, in ancient Mesopotamia.

By this time, Phoenician city-states were firmly established in Canaan.

2742 BCE

On Mount Olympus, Zeus had an affair with the Titaness Leto, which resulted in the birth of twins: a daughter Artemis and a son Apollo.

The Old Bronze Age / Old Kingdom

2650 BCE

The Old Kingdom period began in Egypt (2650-2134 BCE).

2630 BCE

Construction of the pyramids began in Egypt.

2558 BCE

During the 4th Dynasty of Egypt, Prince Amentep was in line for the throne, but he was usurped by Vandal Savage, who became pharaoh under the name Khafre. (Often called the “Black Pharaoh” because of his cruelty.) Amentep’s betrothed was Princess Taia of Thebes. When she professed her love for him and refused to marry Khafre, the new pharaoh shot her with a poisoned arrow. However, Amentep received a talisman from the Egyptian god Thoth, called the Ibistick, which gave him great power over magic. Amentep killed Khafre’s soldiers and wizards, rescued his bride, and put both her and himself in a deep sleep until she could heal from the wound - not realizing that sleep would last nearly 4,500 years.

2554 BCE

A daughter Hebe, the third child of Zeus and Hera, was born on Mount Olympus.

2532 BCE

In Egypt, Nabu discovered a blue, beetle-shaped scarab called the Khaji Da, one of many such artifacts which had been planted on inhabited planets throughout the galaxy by an alien species known as The Reach. The artifact was a great weapon that had been designed to attach itself to a living host, override that host’s personality, and then use them as a weapon to conquer the planet for The Reach. Using magic, Nabu carefully reprogrammed the artifact and renamed it the “Scarab of Kha-Ef-Re.” Then he used its power to overthrow the pharaoh Khafre (who was really Vandal Savage) and his wizards. Unfortunately, the scarab was lost in the Egyptian desert during the battle and would remain hidden for 4,500 years before being rediscovered in the 20th century by Arthur Garrett (father of Dan Garret, the original Blue Beetle).

2489 BCE

A daughter Eileithyia, the fourth child of Zeus and Hera, was born on Mount Olympus.

2481 BCE

The wizard Shazam and his apprentice Oggar imprisoned the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man within the Rock of Eternity.

2367 BCE

A daughter Enyo, the fifth and final child of Zeus and Hera, was born on Mount Olympus.

2334 BCE

The Akkadian Empire began in Mesopotamia (2334-2200 BCE) with the rule of Sargon the Great (reigned 2334-2279 BCE).

2279 BCE

Zeus had an affair with the Titaness Dione, which produced a daughter Aphrodite.

2254 BCE

Naram-Sin, the grandson of Sargon the Great, began his reign (2254-2218 BCE) as the fourth king of the Akkadian Empire in Mesopotamia. Possessing great powers and knowledge, he declared himself a god and ordered that a tower be built “all the way to the heavens” in his honor.

2242 BCE

After twelve years of construction with Naram-Sin’s advanced techniques, the “Tower of Babel” had reached a height of 1.54 miles (2.48 km). At this time, a fierce wind suddenly overturned it. At the same time, the workers who had been building it were left confused and unable to understand each other’s languages. They scattered and the tower was left to decay. The base of the structure sank into the ground, the top section burned and the middle portion weathered away until within a few generations there was no evidence of it remaining.

2200 BCE

The Guti period began in Mesopotamia (2200-2111 BCE).

2138 BCE

Heggra, ruler of the New Gods of Apokolips, had Suli, the wife of her son Darkseid, poisoned.

2134 BCE

The First Intermediate Period began in Egypt (2134-2040 BCE).

2111 BCE

The Sumerian Renaissance began in Mesopotamia (2111-2004 BCE).

2070 BCE

The Xia Dynasty began in China (2070-1600 BCE).

2050 BCE

In the hidden city of Attilan, the Inhuman geneticist Avadar created the “Alpha Primitives,” a species of sub-human servants to free their species of any menial labor.

The Middle Bronze Age / Middle Kingdom

2040 BCE

The Middle Kingdom began in Egypt (2040-1640 BCE).

2004 BCE

The period of the Amorite Kingdoms began in Mesopotamia (2004-1763 BCE).

2000 BCE

In Central America, the Mayan civilization was in its pre-classic period (2000 BCE-250 CE).

Around this time, a colony of Homo mermanus split away from the main settlement of Atlantis and settled in the “Hidden Valley,” a secluded ocean trench between Greenland and Labrador. There they founded the underwater city of Shayeris.

1976 BCE

Abram was born (later known as Abraham).

1966 BCE

Sarai was born (later known as Sarah).

1906 BCE

The Abrahamic Covenant was made: God promised Abram a son and generations of children.

1905 BCE

Abram has a son, Ishmael, by his wife Sarai’s handmaiden Hagar.

1876 BCE

Isaac was born to Abraham (formerly known as Abram, now aged 100) and Sarah (formerly known as Sarai, now aged 90).

1830 BCE

The ninth cycle of Ragnarök ended, as “Those Who Sit Above in Shadow” caused the Asgardians and Valar to once again engage in a terrible battle with Surtur and his fire demons, causing the realm of Asgard to become engulfed and destroyed, and almost all of the combatants to die.

When his powers failed again, the wizard Shazam once again made the pilgrimage to visit his ancient gods, leaving his apprentice, Oggar, behind to guard the Rock of Eternity. However, Oggar had grown jealous and impatient with his master. Studying the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man imprisoned within the Rock of Eternity, he became corrupted and began studying dark magic in secret, believing that he could defeat Shazam and claim his place as the champion of the Valar.

1829 BCE

The cycle of Ragnarök began again, as the Asgardians, Valar, elves, fire demons and other combatants found themselves regenerated. Some reawakened as if from a dream, with cloudy memories of what had transpired. Some had no memory of what had happened, or had different memories. Finally, some were not regenerated immediately, but were born again to their parents as the cycle repeated. Meanwhile, “Those Who Sit Above in Shadow” fed off of the psychic energy that the event had created, and found themselves growing stronger.

His powers restored by the Valar, the wizard Shazam returned to the Rock of Eternity to continue training Oggar, unaware of his treachery.

1763 BCE

The Paleo-Babylonian Empire was founded in Mesopotamia (1763-1595 BCE).

1705 BCE

The wizard Shazam discovered the treachery of his apprentice Oggar when Oggar refused to help a small nation that was being invaded by a tyrant. Oggar attacked his master, but was defeated. Shazam then cursed his apprentice and cast him out. Weary, he began again to look for a successor. Oggar continued his study of magic and plotted his revenge.

1686 BCE

The Israelites descended into Egypt.

1640 BCE

The Second Intermediate Period began in Egypt (1640-1550 BCE).

1600 BCE

The Shang Dynasty began in China (1600-1029 BCE).

1595 BCE

The Cassite Dynasty began in Mesopotamia (1595-1155 BCE).

The Late Bronze Age / New Kingdom

1550 BCE

The New Kingdom began in Egypt (1550-1069 BCE).

1500 BCE

Phoenician city-states thrived at this time, as the region became a leader in maritime trading and manufacturing. It would hold significant cultural influence over the Mediterranean region until it was conquered by Alexander in 332 BCE.

The Asgardian god Tyr returned to Earth and made himself known to the Teutonic peoples (present-day Germany and Scandinavia).

1487 BCE

Moses defied Pharaoh and helped the Israelites in their Exodus from Egypt. They then wandered the desert for forty years for not following God faithfully (1487-1447 BCE).

1447 BCE

After forty years of wandering, the Israelites finally reached the Promised Land.

1379 BCE

In Egypt, during the reign of Pharaoh Amenhotep III of the 18th Dynasty, the priest Imhotep was mummified alive as punishment for attempting to resurrect his lover, Princess Ankh-es-en-amon, using black magic.

1314 BCE

The vain Acrisius, king of Argos, imprisoned his daughter Danaë, jealous of her beauty. However, this attracted the attention of Zeus, who visited her and impregnated her.

1313 BCE

The demigod Perseus was born in Argos, Greece, son of the mortal woman Danaë and the god Zeus. King Acrisius cast the two into the sea in a wooden coffin. In retribution, Zeus killed Acrisius and ordered his brother Poseidon to release the sea monster Ceto (“The Kraken”) to detroy Argos. Meanwhile, Danaë and Perseus washed safely ashore on the island of Serifos.

1300 BCE

The Olympian gods discovered the earthen women that Gaea had formed but had been unable to bring to life during the Valian Age (70,000 BCE). The goddess Artemis imbued them with the spirits of women who had been wronged in life, giving those women a second chance and thus finally bringing them to life. With her fellow Olympian goddesses Aphrodite, Athena, Demeter and Hestia, Artemis named the women “Amazons,” and brought them to Anatolia and charged them to be warriors of peace. The Amazons founded many cities, including their capital, Themyscira.

1290 BCE

Now grown to adulthood, the demigod Perseus slew the gorgon Medusa and the sea monster Ceto (“The Kraken”), married the princess Andromeda and eventually founded the kingdom of Mycenae.

1286 BCE

The demigod Heracles (a.k.a. Hercules) was born in Greece, son of the mortal woman Alcmene and the god Zeus.

1279 BCE

In Egypt, Ramses II (b. 1303 BCE, reigned 1279-1213 BCE) succeeded his father Seti I as Pharaoh.

1263 BCE

The wizard Shazam finally found a worthy successor in the Egyptian prince Teth-Adam. However, rather than using the magic word “Vlarem” as he had, the Valar explained to Shazam that the power transference was generational, and therefore Teth-Adam would use Shazam’s own name. Shazam explained these powers to Teth-Adam in terms of the Egyptian gods that he was familiar with, stating that each sound in his name represented a different divine gift: the stamina of Shu, the strength of Hershef, the power of Amon, the wisdom of Zehuti, the speed of Anpu and the courage of Menthu. Teth-Adam said the magic word “Shazam!” and was transformed. He served Egypt for many years, but over time his power corrupted him, and he became a force of evil.

1260 BCE

A spaceship from the planet Thanagar crashed in Egypt during the reign of Ramses II in the 19th Dynasty. Prince Khufu Maat Kha-Tar, court advisor Nabu and champion Teth-Adam searched the desert until they finally came across the remains of the ship, which bore a hawk motif similar to that of the Egyptian hawk-god Horus. Onboard the ship, they discovered a dead male space traveler and a dying female, both bearing hawk symbols. Nabu cast a spell to translate the woman’s dying words: “Nth metal,” the name of the strange substance that powered the ship. Prince Khufu found the Nth metal in a compartment in the ship’s hull. As he reached out to touch it, it bound itself to him. Later, it formed a battle glove he called the Claw of Horus, wings that allowed him to fly, and other fantastic objects. When he touched his betrothed, Chay-Ara, some of the Nth metal spread to her, binding the two together in their love and imprinting them with the collective knowledge of Thanagar. However, the villainous Hath-Set stole a knife fashioned from the Nth metal and slew the Prince and his bride. Their spirits were already bound to the Nth metal, though, and did not travel to the afterlife, thus fulfilling a prophesy that the Egyptian god Horus had delivered to them in a dream: that they were fated to be reincarnated time and again and reunited as star-crossed lovers.

1258 BCE

Driven mad by Hera, Heracles slew his wife and their six sons. After recovering his sanity, Hercules was instructed by the oracle Pythoness that to atone he must serve King Eurystheus of Mycenae for twelve years, performing whatever labor might beset him.

1252 BCE

Queen Hippolyta of the Amazons had a golden girdle that was a gift from Ares, the Olympian god of war. However, Ares, having grown jealous of the Amazons, persuaded Admete, daughter of King Eurystheus, to ask her father to have the demigod Heracles retrieve the girdle as one of the labors he must perform. When Heracles confronted the Amazons, he found he could not defeat them in battle. Afterward, however, the Amazons offered Heracles and his men a feast of friendship. During the feast, the men drugged the wine, and then raped the Amazons and stole the girdle. Hippolyta then cried out to Athena to help the Amazons escape their bonds. Athena agreed to aid them only if the Amazons promised not to seek retribution against Heracles. Hippolyta agreed, the Amazons’ bonds were broken and the drugs wore off, but the Amazons were filled with rage and broke their pledge, slaughtering their enemies. (Heracles, however, had already returned to King Eurystheus with the golden girdle.) After the slaughter, Athena reprimanded the Amazons for disobeying her and demanded they must always wear the heavy bracelets fashioned by their captors, as a reminder of their both their captivity and their subsequent disobedience.

1250 BCE

Salomé of the Fallen became Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme.

1246 BCE

Heracles captured Cerberus, took him to Mycenae, then returned him to Hades, thus completing his twelve labors for King Eurystheus.

Jason and the Argonauts embarked on their four-month quest to find the Golden Fleece.

1240 BCE

Shazam realized that his successor had turned to the path of evil and gave him the name “Black Adam.” Due to the interference of Oggar and the Elder God Set, Shazam was unable to strip Black Adam of his powers, but he banished him to a distant star system. Now being much more cautious, ages would pass until Shazam would find another worthy successor.

1234 BCE

Babylon was taken by the Assyrians.

1209 BCE

The Greek hero Achilles was born.

1206 BCE

The “Bronze Age Collapse” began when the city states of the Greek Mycenaean civilization embarked on a disastrous series of conflicts lasting several decades (including the famous Trojan War). Displaced Greeks from destroyed states became sailing marauders known as “Sea Peoples,” who then traveled abroad and pillaged other Mediterranean cities. Between 1206 and 1150 BCE, the cultural collapse of the Mycenaean kingdoms, the Hittite Empire in Anatolia and Syria, and the New Kingdom of Egypt in Syria and Canaan interrupted trade routes and severely reduced literacy. Almost every significant city in the eastern Mediterranean world was destroyed, many of them never to be occupied again. Only Egypt itself managed to resist the invaders and avoid wide-scale destruction.

1194 BCE

The Trojan War was fought (1194-1184 BCE).

1184 BCE

Following the end of the Trojan War, the voyage of Odysseus, also known as “The Odyssey,” took place (1184-1174 BCE).

1155 BCE

Babylon was destroyed by the Sea Peoples. The New Deal period began in Mesopotamia (1155-844 BCE).

1150 BCE

The turmoil of the “Bronze Age Collapse” came to an end.

1104 BCE

Brutus of Troy found the nation of Britain and becomes its first king (1104-1081 BCE).

1100 BCE

Due to their inability to live in peace with mankind, he Olympian gods exiled the Amazons, forcing them to leave the “world of men” forever and establish a new home on a remote island. The Amazons named the island “Themyscira,” after their former capital city in Anatolia, but also came to know it as “Paradise Island.” There, the Amazons were able to finally live in peace and harmony on land no man had ever set foot on, protected by magic that made them invisible to outsiders. They were also given a sacred task, though, charged by the gods to forever guard “Doom’s Doorway” in the center of the island and prevent the escape of monsters and demons from the realm of Tartarus.

1087 BCE

Babylon was destroyed by the Assyrians.

1069 BCE

The Third Intermediate Period began in Egypt (1069-664 BCE).

1050 BCE

By this time, the Phoenician alphabet had fully evolved. It would spread to other nations and become the basis of most modern, phonetic alphabets such as Greek and Roman.

1049 BCE

Saul (b. 1076 BCE) became the first King of Israel (1049-1010 BCE).

1029 BCE

Western Zhou Dynasty began in China (1029-771 BCE).

1019 BCE

In Israel, the prophet Samuel anointed a teenager named David (b. 1034 BCE) as the heir to the throne. Later that year, armed only with a sling and five stones, David slew the 9'9" giant Goliath of Gath, mightiest warrior of the Philistines, in single combat.

1010 BCE

Saul died (age 72) and David (age 24) became the second King of Israel (1010-970 BCE).


The Early Iron Age / Archaic Period

970 BCE

David died (age 64) and Solomon became the third King of Israel (970-931 BCE).

925 BCE
Egyptian Pharaoh Sheshonk I (reigned 943-922 BCE), first Pharaoh of the 22nd Dynasty, invaded Canaan. There, he captured the Ark of the Covenant from Jerusalem and brought it to Tanis, Egypt. In the presence of the Ark, Sheshonk’s seer Ra-emhet had a vision telling him to keep the Ark safe and hidden. He relayed the message to the Pharaoh and then promptly died. He was mummified and buried with the royal family.

889 BCE

At the urging of his mother, Heggra, ruler of the New Gods of Apokolips, Darkseid married Tigra.

884 BCE

The Neo-Assyrian Empire (884-612 BCE) was founded in Mesopotamia.

776 BCE

The first Olympic games took place in Greece.

770 BCE

The Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770-256 BCE) was founded in China.

753 BCE

The city of Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus.

744 BCE

The first convergence of the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven occured, forming the “Heart of Heaven.” From this point forward, champions would be selected from among the Capital Cities and a tournament would be held every 88 years during the convergence, with the winning city gaining the priveledge of appearing on Earth once every 10 years instead of once every 50.

711 BCE

The “Spring and Autumn Period” of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty began (711-476 BCE).

664 BCE

The Late Period began in Egypt (664-323 BCE).

650 BCE

Darkseid had his mother Heggra poisoned as revenge for her role in poisoning his first wife, Suli. He then took her place as ruler of the New Gods of Apokolips.

612 BCE

The Neo-Babylonian Empire was founded in Mesopotamia (612-539 BCE).

587 BCE

The destruction of the Temple occurred in Jerusalem.

535 BCE

The Israelites returned from exile in Babylon.


Classical Antiquity / The Roman Republic

509 BCE

The Roman Republic was founded (509-27 BCE).

500 BCE

An aerial war between Eternals and Deviants was fought in the skies over Babylon.

A group of the Bird People, an offshoot of the Inhumans who lived in the floating city of Aerie (or Sky Island), had begun further mutating and demonstrating a more bird-like appearance, possibly as a result of experiments with Terrigen crystals. To stem what was seen as a genetic threat to their population, those who had mutated were banished from Aerie. After a few years of wandering, these banished Bird People would found the city of Feithera in a hidden valley in Greenland, accessible only by air.

Xena (known as the “Warrior Princess”) became a hero in Greece around this time.

492 BCE

The Persian Empire, under king Darius I (b. 550 BCE), began its first invasion of Greece.

490 BCE

The Greeks defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon, ending the Persian Empire’s first invasion of Greece.

486 BCE

King Darius I of Persia died at age 64 after a 36 year reign. His son Xerxes I (b. 519 BCE) assumed the throne of the Empire.

480 BCE

The Persian Empire, now led by Xerxes (age 39), undertook its second invasion of Greece, which culminated in the Battle of Salamis. To block the Persian advance, a small force of 7,000 Greek soldiers met a much larger Persian invasion force at the pass of Thermopylae. When it was clear that the Persians would win the battle, King Leonidas (b. 540 BCE) of Sparta ordered a retreat, but personally remained with the rearguard, leading a contingent of  300 Spartan soldiers who fought to the death to let the other soldiers escape. At the end of the battle, the number of Persian dead was at least ten times the number of Greek – some 20,000, including two of Xerxes’ own brothers. Meanwhile at sea, an Athenian-led navy engaged the Persian fleet in the nearby straits of Artemisium, where they were outnumbered and suffered heavy losses. However, despite their lesser numbers the Greeks then outmaneuvered the Persians and scored a decisive victory when the two forces met again in the straits of Salamis. After Salamis, Greece was safe from conquest and would flourish with the foundations of modern Western culture, while Persia suffered a major blow to its prestige and morale and would see its Empire shrink.

475 BCE

The “Warring States Period” of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty began in China (475-221 BCE).

431 BCE

The Peloponnesian War began (431-404 BCE), fought by Athens and its empire against the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta.

430 BCE

The “Plague of Athens” (a typhoid fever outbreak) occurred.

425 BCE

Sorcerer Caius and the Eyes of Agamotto banished all demons from Earth.

421 BCE

The Peloponnesian War came to a temporary halt with the signing of the Peace of Nicias. That treaty was soon undermined by renewed fighting in the Peloponnese, however.

415 BCE

Athens dispatched a massive expeditionary force to attack Syracuse in Sicily. The attack failed disastrously, with the destruction of the entire force, in 413 BCE. This marked the turning point of the Peloponnesian War.

406 BCE

Socrates (b. 469 BCE) first became a well-known philosopher in Athens, Greece.

404 BCE

The Greek city-state of Athens surrendered, ending the Peloponnesian War and leaving its rival Sparta as the new leading power of the region. The result of the war reshaped the ancient Greek world and marked a dramatic end to the golden age of Greece.

399 BCE

Socrates died in Athens, Greece.

385 BCE

Plato (b. 428 BCE), a former student of Socrates, began his career as a philosopher and founded the Academy in Athens, Greece.

347 BCE

Plato died.

343 BCE

Aristotle (b. 384 BCE), a former student of Plato, began his career as a philosopher in Athens, Greece.

336 BCE

Alexander III (b. 356 BCE), a former student of Aristotle, became king of Macedon, a state in northern Greece. He would soon become known as Alexander the Great.

332 BCE

Alexander’s siege of Tyre ended the Phoenician civilization and ushered in the Hellenistic Age, during which Greek culture would dominate.

331 BCE

The Battle of Gaugamela (a.k.a. the Battle of Arbela) took place between the Hellenic League, led by Alexander the Great of Macedon, and the Persians led by Darius III. It was a decisive victory for the Hellenic League and led to the fall of the Persian Empire.

323 BCE

Alexander the Great died on June 13 in Babylon at age 32. By the time of his death, he had created one of the largest empires of the ancient world, stretching from the Ionian Sea to the Himalayas. He was undefeated in battle and is considered one of history’s most successful commanders.

322 BCE

Aristotle died.

272 BCE

The emperor of China federated the seven warring states and imposed upon Lo Pan the curse of “no flesh.”

264 BCE

The First Punic War began between Rome and Carthage for control of Sicily.

241 BCE

The First Punic War ended with Carthage ceding control of Sicily and leaving Rome the most powerful state in the western Mediterranean.

221 BCE

The Qin Dynasty was founded in China (221-206 BCE).

218 BCE

The Second Punic War began between Rome and Carthage, as Hannibal surprised the Romans in by leading his men and three dozen elephants through the Alps. Although Hannibal surprised the Romans and thoroughly beat them on the battlefields of Italy, he lost his only siege engines and most of his elephants to the cold temperatures and icy mountain paths. He was thus unable to achieve his long-term strategy of taking the city of Rome itself.

214 BCE

Construction began on the Great Wall of China.

207 BCE

Hannibal's brother Hasdrubal Barca brought much-needed siege equipment and reinforcements over the Alps for the Carthaginians, but his forces were routed by the Roman armies at the Battle of the Metaurus.

206 BCE

The Western Han Dynasty was founded in China (206 BCE-9 CE).

202 BCE

Rome defeated Carthage at the Battle of Zama, ending the Second Punic War.

149 BCE

Alarmed by resurgent militarism in Carthage, Rome laid siege to the city, beginning the Third Punic War.

146 BCE

The third Punic War ended as Roman forces breached the walls of Carthage and burned it to the ground.

114 BCE

In East Africa, a woman named Ayesha discovered the Flame of Life in the ruins of the ancient city of Kôr, and she used in to make herself immortal. She would rule over the local people for the next two millennia “She-who-must-be-obeyed.”

109 BCE

Spartacus was born.

96 BCE

By this time, Spartacus had been enslaved and forced to mine in Libya.

73 BCE

Spartacus became a gladiator.

71 BCE

Spartacus died.

55 BCE

Julius Caesar attacked Great Britain.

44 BCE

Julius Caesar was proclaimed eternal dictator of Rome, but was then assassinated on March 15.

43 BCE

Octavian (b. 62 BCE), the future Emperor Augustus of Rome, began his political career.

31 BCE

Octavian defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium.

30 BCE

Cleopatra committed suicide with the aid of a snake in a fruit-basket.

Egypt became a Roman province.

The Egyptian god Seth defeated and imprisoned Osiris.


Late Antiquity / The Roman Empire

27 BCE

The Roman Empire was founded as Octavian was named Emperor Augustus and was granted extraordinary power by the Roman Senate.

3 BCE

Jesus Christ was born in Israel.

1

The first year of the Common Era (CE) by the modern Gregorian calendar. In Christian tradition, this period is also known as Anno Domini (AD), Latin for “In the year of the Lord.” Years prior to this are counted in reverse as Before the Common Era (BCE), or in the Christian tradition as Before Christ (BC).

9

Germanic armies defeated the Roman Legions at the Battle of Teutoburg Forest. The Romans would never again try to expand into Germania.

The Xin Dynasty was founded in China (9-23 CE).

14

Emperor Augustus of Rome died.

25

The Eastern Han Dynasty was founded in China (25-220 CE).

27

Jesus Christ began his ministry in Israel.

30

Ben-Hur defeated Messala in a major chariot race; Messala was killed.

Jesus Christ was crucified in Israel, was resurrected three days later and ascended in Heaven.

45

The Apostle Paul (b. as Saul in 5 CE) began his ministry in Israel.

63

Joseph of Arimathea came to Glastonbury, England on the first Christian mission to Britain. He brought with him the Holy Grail, a cup that contained the blood and sweat of the crucified Christ.

67

The Apostle Paul was martyred in Rome.

79

Mount Vesuvius erupted in Italy, destroying the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and killing an estimated 16,000 people.

87

The tenth cycle of Ragnarök ended, as “Those Who Sit Above in Shadow” caused the Asgardians and Valar to once again engage in a terrible battle with Surtur and his fire demons, causing the realm of Asgard to become engulfed and destroyed, and almost all of the combatants to die.

The wizard Shazam discovered that his powers had once again failed, and he undertook the journey to visit his ancient gods to request that they restore him once again so that he might seek a worthy heir.

88

The cycle of Ragnarök began again, as the Asgardians, Valar, elves, fire demons and other combatants found themselves regenerated. Some reawakened as if from a dream, with cloudy memories of what had transpired. Some had no memory of what had happened, or had different memories. Finally, some were not regenerated immediately, but were born again to their parents as the cycle repeated. Meanwhile, “Those Who Sit Above in Shadow” fed off of the psychic energy that the event had created, and found themselves growing stronger.

Once again restored to power by the Valar, the elderly wizard Shazam resumed his exhaustive search for a worthy heir for their power.

117

The Roman Empire reached its maximum extent.

165

The Antoine Plague (probably smallpox) began in Italy (165-180 CE).

168

Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius began his 12-year campaign against the barbarian tribes.

180

General Maximus Decimus Meridius won the war in Germania. Marcus Aurelius was murdered by his son Commodus, and Commodus became Emperor of Rome.

181

Maximus Decimus Meridius became a great gladiator and killed Emperor Commodus before dying himself.

220

The Three Kingdoms period began in China (220-265 CE).

235

The “Crisis of the Third Century” began: the Roman Empire experienced 25 different emperors and a plague over the course of 50 years (235-284). This would lead to the East-West split of the empire in the year 285 CE.

250

In Central America, the Mayan civilization entered its classic period (250-900 CE).

251

The Plague of Cyprian (probably smallpox) began in Italy (251-266 CE).

265

The Western Jin Dynasty was founded in China (265-317 CE).

285

After fifty years of crisis, administration of the Roman Empire was split: the east being ruled from Constantinople, while the west was ruled from Rome. (The Western Roman Empire would continue to decline and would eventually fall in 476; the East would not fall until 1453.)

296

The adventures of Bran Mak Morn of the Picts occurred during this time (roughly 296-300 CE).

300

The Christianization of Europe began around this time and would continue for the next 900 years (300-1200 CE).

313

Constantine issued an edict of tolerance for Christianity in the Roman Empire.

317

The Eastern Jin Dynasty was founded in China (317-420 CE).

370

Surak led the Vulcans into the “Great Awakening.”

375

The Huns invaded Europe.

376

Displaced Goths and other tribes arrived on the Danube River, on the border of the Roman Empire, requesting asylum from the Huns. Roman Emperor Valens permitted some of the refugees to cross, but under deplorable conditions. Facing starvation and slavery, the Goths rebelled and the Gothic War began (376–382).

378

The Battle of Adrianople was fought on August 9 between a Roman army led by the Roman Emperor Valens and Gothic rebels led by Fritigern. The battle ended with an overwhelming victory for the Goths and the death of Emperor Valens, and is often considered the start of the final collapse of the Western Roman Empire. The victory gave the Goths freedom to roam and plunder at will.

380

Theodosius I made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.

381

Forces of the western Roman Empire finally drove the Goths back to Thrace.

382

On October 3, peace was declared between the Roman Empire and the Goths, bringing an end to the Gothic War.

400

The Shi’ar Empire began expanding in the Triangulum Galaxy (approximately 2,725,000 light years from Earth).

Planet Romulus was colonized by Vulcan dissidents.

410

Britain gained independence from Rome.

420

The Southern and Northern Dynasties were founded in China (420-589 CE).

450

Around this time, the half-demon Merlin (“Myrddin” in Welsh) of Britain became Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme.

451

In what would be their last major victory, the Romans defeated the Huns at the Battle of Tours.

465

Arthur was born to Uther and Ingraine. He was fostered by Sir Ector in the British countryside.

466

Gawain was born in Britain.


The Early Middle Ages

476

The Western Roman Empire fell.

480

Arthur pulled the sword from the stone, proving his royal lineage and destiny as future king of Britain.

Lancelot was born, the son of King Ban and Elaine of Benwick.

481

Arthur fought in the Battle of Carlion.

482

Arthur had a brief affair with Morgause, who unknown to him was his half-sister. He also fought in the Battles of Bedegraine and Cameliard.

483

Mordred, bastard son of Arthur, was born to Morgause and her husband, the Orcardian king Lot. Lot raised Mordred as his own son until the boy was later lost at sea.

484

Arthur married Guinevere and fought in the Battle of Terrabil. Sir Gawain was knighted.

485

Arthur fought in the Battle of Humber. Later he gained Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake and began the period of his “Twelve Battles” (485-496), during which he gained a reputation for invincibility. The first of these, the Battle of Gleni, he fought later in the year.

Meanwhile, Merlin the Magician was bewitched and imprisoned in a tree by the Lady of the Lake.

486

Arthur fought in the First Battle of Duglas.

487

Arthur fought in the Second  and Third Battles of Duglas.

488

Arthur fought in the Fourth Battle of Duglas.

489

Arthur fought in the Battle of Bassas.

491

Arthur fought in the Battle of Celidon.

492

Arthur fought in the Battle of Gurnion.

493

Arthur fought in the Battle of Legion.

494

Arthur fought in the Battle of Trat Treuroit.

Sir Gwaine slew Pellinore.

495

Arthur fought in the Battle of Breguoin.

496

Arthur fought in the Battle of Badon Hill, at one point killing 960 men in a single charge.

497

Arthur's son Mordred was found.

501

Uther Pendragon became King of Britain (501-521) and his son Arthur became the Crown Prince and second in command, growing even more in power and prestige. Arthur’s son Mordred joined the Round Table.

508

Lancelot du Lac joined the Round Table.

510

Lancelot, Tristam, Isoud, Palomides, Gawaine, Lamorak, Dinadan and the many noble knights of the Round Table began their many famed adventures under the command of Arthur, Crown Prince of Britain,

516

Elaine of Corbenic, daughter of the Fisher King, tricked Lancelot into sleeping with her. She then became pregnant and bore a son, Galahad.

520

Arthur went to France to battle the Frankish king Claudas and defeated him.

521

Uther Pendragon died and Arthur became King of Britain (521-542).

523

Lancelot went mad and wandered in the wilderness for two years.

531

Lancelot returned to Camelot.

532

All 150 Knights of the Round Table embarked on a quest to find the Holy Grail.

533

Galahad, Percivale and Bors recovered the Holy Grail at Castle Corbin.

Gawaine accidentally killed Uwaine.

Percivale’s sister bled to death.

534

Galahad, Percivale and Bors were imprisoned in Sarras.

535

Galahad was made King of Sarras, and then died there.

536

Percivale became a white monk and then died in Sarras.

Bors returned to Camelot.

539

Lancelot rescued Guinevere from Sir Meliagrance, and from burning for treason.

541

King Arthur went to war with Lancelot over Guinevere. Lancelot rescued Guinevere from burning for treason again. The Battle of Joyous Gard was fought. Lancelot slew Sirs Gareth, Gaheris and many more.

Sir Justin, the newest Knight of the Round Table, witnessed the murder of Sir Fallon, cousin of Queen Guinevere, and swore to avenge him. Pursuing the murderer, the ogre Blunderbore, he discovered where the Lady of the Lake had imprisoned Merlin in a tree, and freed the wizard. As a reward, Merlin transformed Justin’s armor into golden, shining, invulnerable armor and made his sword and shield magic as well. Merlin also transformed his horse, Victory, giving him giant, bird-like wings that allowed him to fly, and making him invulnerable. Justin then continued in his pursuit of Blunderbore, while Merlin returned to Camelot.

The Plague of Justinian began, reaching from Egypt to Constantinople (541-750 CE).

542

Sir Gawaine died at the Battle of Dover. King Arthur was usurped by Mordred. In a desperate attempt to hold Camelot, Merlin summoned his half-brother, the demon Etrigan, but Merlin’s efforts were thwarted when Mordred was aided by the magic of Morgan le Fay.

Arthur slew Mordred at the Battle of Camlann, but was himself mortally wounded (at age 76) and traveled to Avalon to heal from his wounds, never to be seen again.

The Black Knight, Sir Percy of Scandia (age 48), was also slain at the battle of Camlann while trying to protect his king. His son Geoffrey carried him off of the battlefield, and guided by his father’s spirit, hid away the enchanted Ebony Blade such time as it would be needed again.

Realizing he could not control Etrigan for long, Merlin bound the demon to the human Jason Blood, a Knight of Arthur’s Round Table, as penance for allying himself with Morgan le Fay. This kept the demon at bay, but also cursed Blood with immortality.

Sir Justin pursued Blunderbore into the icy mountains of the northland. There, the two battled, and Justin eventually killed the ogre. However, right before he died, Blunderbore caused an avalanche that quickly buried Justin and his winged horse Victory. Thanks to the magic that protected them, though, neither of them died, but instead were frozen in suspended animation until they were eventually discovered in 1941.

548

Queen Guinevere died (aged 81), followed by Lancelot (aged 67).

575

Beowulf, a hero of the Geats in Scandinavia, came to the aid of King Hroðgar of the Danes and slew the monster Grendel and its mother.

581

The Sui Dynasty was founded in China (581-618).

593

In Japan, Masasume, father-in-law of the man who would later be known as Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez, gave Ramírez a unique sword crafted by himself.

600

Around this time, the city of Cahokia was founded across the Mississippi River from what is now St. Louis, Missouri. It would quickly grow into the largest and most influential Pre-Columbian site north of Mexico.

616

Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme, Makeen, sacrificed his life to prevent the Voodoo god Ogoun from invading the Earthly plane.

618

The Tang Dynasty was founded in China (618-907).

622

Muhammad (b. 570) founded the religion of Islam in Arabia.

625

Beowulf, now king of the Geats in Götaland, Sweden, defeated a dragon, but was fatally wounded in the battle.

625

The city of Constantinople was laid siege by the Avars, aided by large numbers of allied Slavs and the Sassanid Persians. the siege ended in a strategic victory for the Byzantines, who regained previously lost territories in the dispute.

632

The Islamic prophet Muhammad died (age 62).

650

The New God known as Uxas became Darkseid.

674

The First Arab Siege of Constantinople began.

678

The First Arab Siege of Constantinople ended with a decisive victory for the Byzantine Empire.

711

Arabs invaded Spain from North Africa

717

The Second Arab Siege of Constantinople began.

718

The Second Arab Siege of Constantinople ended with a decisive defeat for the invading forces, halting the Muslim advance into Europe and ensuring the continued existence of the Byzantine Empire.

750

The Plague of Justinian, which had spread from Egypt to Constantinople for two centuries, finally ended (541-750 CE).

The Islamic Golden Age began (750-1258 CE).

The Shi’ar-Mephitisoid War was fought in the Triangulum Galaxy.

768

Charlemagne (b. 742) became King of the Franks.

774

Charlemagne expanded his kingdom and became King of the Lombards (the Germanic tribe that ruled Italy).

785

Around this time, the Asgardian god Thor visited Earth for the first time. His visit inspired a boom in activity among the Norsemen that would lead to the Viking Age.

786

The adventures of the Persian hero Sinbad began (786-809).

The Viking Age

793

On June 8, Vikings destroyed the abbey on Lindisfarne in England, a center of learning that was famous across Europe. This was the first known Viking raid and marked the beginning of the Viking Age, when Scandinavian Norsemen explored all of Europe, Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland by seas and rivers for trade, raids and conquest.

798

In eastern North America, the members of the Quontauka tribe were slaughtered by a Set-worshiping rival tribe. One of the Quontauka boys, whose name was was Bright-Sky-After-Storm (b. 788), was actually the son of the thunder god He-No, however, and He-No appeared to rescue his son. He-No was injured by Set, but he arranged for Bright-Sky-After-Storm to escape in a canoe and be carried well across the sea. The youth was rescued by Vikings near Norway, who had recently begun worshiping a thunder god of their own, Thor. Bright-Sky-After-Storm soon adopted the name “Arak” (his pronunciation of the Viking name “Eric”) and had adventures all across Europe.

800

Charlemagne was crowned as “Emperor of the Romans” by Pope Leo III, the first emperor in Western Europe since the fall of Rome.

806

Arak, “Son of Thunder,” met and began serving the Emperor Charlemagne.

812

Arak tried to return to North America, but died in the attempt. As a demigod, he traveled to Valhalla, where he met his father He-No and the Asgardian god Thor. They helped restore him to life and set him back on his journey. Eventually, he was able to reach Japan, and from there cross the Pacific to North America. He found the last survivors of his Quontauka tribe, and led them to safety, then died peacefully and returned to Valhalla.

814

Charlemagne died at the age of 71 and was succeeded by his son Louis the Pious.

859

The House of Flying Daggers rose to oppose the governing Tang Dynasty of China.

894

The Dragon Chiantang invaded and destroyed K’un-Lun.

900

Kahless the Unforgettable united the Klingons on planet Qo’nos.

907

The period of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms began in China (907-960).

916

The Liao Dynasty was founded in China (916-1125).

950

Yalen Gur, the Green Lantern of Sector 2814, defected from the Corps. He had long sought to overcome the “yellow impurity” in his ring, and he believed that he has found the answer he sought on a remote planet called Earth, where the forces of magic were strong. With the aid of Chinese sorcerers, he secretly forged his own power battery from enchanted metallic hydrogen taken from the planet Jupiter; this he called the “Starheart.” He was then able to reprogram his ring to draw power not from the Emotional Spectrum, as other Green Lanterns, but from the elemental energies of the universe, as taught to him by the sorcerers through the philosophy and magic of Wu Xing. As such, it did overcome the yellow impurity, but a new weakness was introduced: a vulnerability to wood, as green is the color of the wood element in Wu Xing. Yalen Gur stayed in China, where he allied himself with the Song family and soon helped them conquer most of China.

960

The Northern Song Dynasty was founded in China (960-1127). To avoid calling attention to himself, the alien Yalen Gur chose to allow human emperors to sit on the throne, but in reality he was the true power behind the throne in its early years. He made a remote palace for himself and was given everything he wished for.

962

Otto I was crowned “Emperor of the Romans” by the Pope, establishing a new Holy Roman Empire in Central Europe.

970

A tribe of Native Americans witnessed a U.F.O. land in the American Southwest. Aliens emerged and buried several containers deep in the ground, warning the tribe that “He who disturbs this resting place shall perish!” The containers would be lost for almost 1,000 years until their rediscovery in 1967. [Neutro #1, 1967]

986

A Norse colony was founded in Greenland (986-1450).

993

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was founded in Scotland by the four greatest wizards (Homo magi) of Britain: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin.

1000

Around this time, Yalen Gur’s successor in the Green Lantern Corp discovered his whereabouts on Earth and came to reclaim the ring stolen from the Guardians of the Universe. Yalen Gur was defeated and upon his death the ring returned to Oa. The Starheart remained on Earth, however, and was lost.

The Norse began repeatedly visiting North America (1000-1350).

Thor lived for awhile on Earth, disguised as the mortal Sigurd (1000-1004).

1003

Pai Mei, head of the White Lotus Clan, nodded to a passing Shaolin Monk, but the monk did not nod back, so he demanded his neck. This was refused, so he massacred the 60 monks in the temple. The legend of the five-point palm exploding heart technique began.

1004

The Third Host of the Celestials arrived on Earth. To save the planet, the gods of Earth agreed to retreat from this universe and dwell only in other realms, such as Eä. Excluded from this arrangement was Gaea, the sole remaining Elder Goddess of Earth, whose connection to the planet’s biosphere entitled her to continue dwelling in the mortal plane. Realizing that the Celestials would return in less than a thousand years, Gaea developed a plan to save humanity by gathering its finest examples to present to the Fourth Host.

1016

The Elder Goddess Gaea selected the first human being that she intended to present to the Fourth Host of the Celestials: a 16-year-old Inuit girl (from what is now Alaska) named Kiana. She placed the girl in suspended animation to await the moment she would be needed.

1028

Saint Olaf killed a sea serpent in Valldal, Norway and threw its body against the mountain Syltefjellet, where the mark it made is still visible today.

1054

The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches split.



The High Middle Ages

1066

The Viking Age ended on September 25, when Norwegian king Harald III was defeated by Saxon King Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in England during a failed invasion.

Three days later, on September 28, William II (William the Conqueror) and his invasion force arrived from Normandy on the southern shore of England. They met the Saxons at the Battle of Hastings on October 14, where King Harold was killed, and the Normans went on to conquer England.

1095

The Crusades began (1095-1291).

1115

The Jin Dynasty was founded in China (1115-1234).

1127

The Southern Song Dynasty was founded in China (1127-1279).

1149

The Catholic Church turned the Darkhold over to Pablo Montesi.

1170

In North America, the population of the city of Cahokia (across the Mississippi River from what is now St. Louis, Missouri) had reached 40,000. (No settlement in the United States would reach that level again until Philadelphia in 1780.) At this time, there was a mysterious fire and a sudden cultural shift.

1172

The Elder Goddess Gaea selected the second human being that she intended to present to the Fourth Host of the Celestials: a 17-year-old girl from Ireland named Bridgit O’Hare. She placed the girl in suspended animation to await the moment she would be needed.

1189

Eobar of Garrington debuted as the Black Knight in England.

1215

The Magna Carta was signed in England.

1217

Ghengis Khan conquered Persia.

1226

The red-skinned, demonic-looking mutant (Homo sapiens superior) known as Azazel was born in Italy. (As part of his self-inflated personal mythology, he would later claim to have been born in the second millennium BCE.) [Note: I'm regarding most of Chuck Austen's run on the X-Men as misinformation.]

1227

Ghengis Khan died.

1238

The last of the Knights Templar from the Crusades elected to stay behind in Turkey to guard the Holy Grail.

1239

At age 13, Azazel began demonstrating mutant (Homo sapiens superior) powers, most prominently the ability to teleport through another dimension (the “Brimstone Dimension”) and reappear elsewhere. Over the years, he would gradually improve his skill at teleporting. However, he eventually found that the Brimstone Dimension had too great a pull on him and he was trapped there, unable to return to our dimension except for very short periods. He would use his excursions to our dimension to mate with human women, who would then have demonic-looking, mutant children like him. These children, which he called the “Neyaphem,” invariably had even less control over their powers than he did and were soon trapped with their father as his subjects in his kingdom within the Brimstone Dimension.

1250

The Sorcerer Belasco contacted the Elder Gods and became a demon.

1258

The Islamic Golden Age ended.

1271

The Yuan Dynasty was founded in China (1271-1368).

1277

William Wallace’s family was killed in a battle with the English.

1280

Roger Bacon invented gunpowder.

1291

The main Crusades ended.

1297

William Wallace of Scotland became a leader in the Wars of Scottish Independence.


The Late Middle Ages

1300

The Anasazi culture disappears in what is now the Southwest U.S.

1305

William Wallace was executed at the Tower of London.

1314

Robert the Bruce led the Scots to victory against the English at the Battle of Bannockburn, one of the decisive battles in the Wars of Scottish Independence.

1327

The English deposed King Edward II in favor of his son, Edward III, and peace was finally concluded between Scotland and England with the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton, by which Edward III renounced all claims to superiority over Scotland.

1335

Robin Hood was born, otherwise known as Robert Dore of Wadsley, which includes Loxley.

1337

The Hundred Years’ War began between England and France (1337-1453).

1348

The Black Death plague began. It would kill 30-60% of the population of Europe in just three years (1348-1350).

1350

Around this time, Robin Hood was outlawed from Loxley. He fled to the Calder Valley where he met “Little John” (Roger Dodsworth).

The Hurq invasion of the Klingon Empire occurred.

1355

King Edward III of Britain held tournaments throughout the country in order to identify and train the best and strongest men for war. Little John, disguised as Reynolde Grenelefe, demonstrated his archery prowess by splitting the wand. Impressed with his skill, the sheriff offered to retain him for a fee of twenty marks a year and a good strong horse. Later, the Sheriff of York again organized a tournament, and this time Robin Hood took part and won the prize of a silver and gold arrow.

1360

While the early years of Edward III’s reign had been energetic and successful, his later years were marked by military failure and political strife. Compounding Edward’s difficulties were his own ill health and the deaths of his most trusted men, some from the 1361–62 recurrence of the plague. The day-to-day affairs of the state had less appeal to Edward than military campaigning, so during the 1360s and ‘70s, Edward increasingly relied on the help of his subordinates, in particular William Wykeham. Robin Hood became increasingly involved in outlaw activities opposed to the government’s actions.

1368

The Ming Dynasty was founded in China (1368-1644).

1371

Due to political difficulties connected with his inexperience, the English Parliament forced William Wykeham to resign the chancellorship. However, the government continued to create policies that were oppressive to peasants, and Robin Hood continued his campaign of “robbing from the rich and giving to the poor.”

1377

Edward III died and his grandson Richard II came to the throne of England at the age of 10. During Richard’s first years as king, the government was in the hands of a series of councils with his uncle, John of Gaunt, being most influential. Problems throughout the country remained rampant and Robin Hood continued his campaign.

1381

The Peasants’ Revolt took place, a major uprising across large parts of England. Robin Hood was outlawed for his involvement. John Ball, a Lollard priest and the Revolt’s leader, was hung. Simon Sudbury, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of the Exchequer who imposed the Poll Tax that led to the Revolt, was beheaded.

1382

Robin Hood received the King’s pardon, and young Richard II finally began to seize control of his own government.

1391

Robin Hood died of the plague.

1400

By this time, the city of Cahokia (across the Mississippi River from what is now St. Louis, Missouri) had reached the end of its cultural height and was in rapid decline as people abandoned the city for new settlements.

1415

On October 25, the English won a major victory over a numerically superior French army at the Battle of Agincourt, one of the key battles in the Hundred Years’ War. The victory crippled France and started a new period in the war. The battle is notable for the use of the English longbow, which Henry’s army used in very large numbers.

1419

The Elder Goddess Gaea selected the third human being that she intended to present to the Fourth Host of the Celestials: a 14-year-old Polynesian girl from Ruk Island named Mira. She placed the girl in suspended animation to await the moment she would be needed.

1422

The Ottoman Empire conducted its first large-scale siege of Constantinople. The Byzantium Empire successfully defended the city, ascribing their deliverance to a miracle.

1424

In northeast France, a 12-year-old peasant girl named Jeanne (Joan of Arc) began to receive visions from God instructing her to support Charles VII and reclaim France from the English, who had come to dominate the northern part of the country at this point in the Hundred Years’ War.

1428

The Aztec civilization began to thrive at this time in what is now Mexico (1428-1521).

1429

At the age of 17, Joan of Arc helped lead the French to numerous victories over the English, spearheading a dramatic reversal of fortune in the war.

1430

In May, Joan of Arc was captured and taken to England.

In November, Vlad III, son of Vlad II, was born in Sighisoara, Wallachia, a principality in what is now southern Romania. (At this time, the Ottoman Empire was at war with the Christian states of the Balkans, especially Hungary, and Wallachia was a small battleground state trying to maneuver between its more powerful neighbors.) Shortly afterwards, his father was invested into the Order of the Dragon. Because of this connection, the father was later nicknamed Vlad Dracul and his son was called Vlad Dracula or Vlad “Son of the Dragon.”

1431

On May 30, Joan of Arc (age 19) was tried for heresy in England and burned at the stake.

1436

Vlad II, the father of Dracula, attained the Wallachian throne by assassinating his stepbrother.

1438

The Inca civilization began a period of dominance in what is now Peru (1438-1533).

1439

Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in Germany.

1441

The first African slaves were brought to Portugal from northern Mauritania.

1442

Vlad II was removed from the throne of Wallachia and imprisoned along with his sons (including Dracula) by the Turks.

1443

Dracula’s father was returned to the throne of Wallachia. Dracula (now age 12) was kept as a hostage by the Turks to guarantee his loyalty.

1447

Vlad II was assassinated in Wallachia.

1448

Dracula was released by the Turkish Sultan and given an army to lead. In November, he turned 18 and was placed on the throne of Wallachia.

1450

The Faerie people left the Earthly plane of existence, rarely to return.

1453

The Hundred Years’ War between England and France ended.

The Eastern Roman Empire fell as the Ottoman Turks again laid siege to Constantinople, this time capturing the city. (The name “Istanbul,” already in use before the fall, would eventually replace “Constantinople” as the city’s common name, becoming its official name in 1930.)

The Hungarians invaded Wallachia and ousted the Turks. Dracula fled to Moldavia.

1454

Near Copper Canyon in what is now the state of Chihuahua in northern Mexico, two Native Americans named Turok and Andar discovered a “Lost Valley” populated by dinosaurs and other varieties of animals that had become extinct elsewhere. They tried to escape, but found themselves trapped in the area’s network of deep canyons, whose steep walls could not be scaled.

1455

Dracula went to Hungary and was pardoned by their king, John Hunyadi.

1456

Dracula invaded Wallachia with a Hungarian army and recaptured the throne. This time, he held onto it through a reign of terror.

1459

Dracula ordered 30,000 noblemen and merchants killed in his kingdom, mostly by impalement. Those not killed were put to work as slaves rebuilding Dracula’s castle.

1462

After fleeing a battle at his castle, Dracula began 13 years of imprisonment in Transylvania, Romania.

1475

With the help of Transylvania and Moldavia, Dracula invaded Wallachia and attained the throne for the third time.

1476

In December, the Turks attack again, and Dracula (now age 46) was mortally wounded in the fighting by the Turkish warlord Turac. Sultan Mehmed II displayed what he believed was Dracula’s head on a pike in Istanbul to show everyone the dreaded “Vlad the Impaler” was really dead. In reality, however, Dracula had studied black magic while imprisoned in Transylvania, and this kept him clinging to life. His followers brought Dracula to a gypsy named Lianda to be healed. However, Lianda was a vampire, and in revenge for his persecution of the gypsies, transformed Dracula into a vampire as well. Dracula would disappear for awhile, but would eventually emerge as the most powerful vampire in history.

1482

Quasimodo, the Hunchback of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, met the Gypsy woman Esmeralda, and tragedy ensued.

After more than a quarter of a century, Turok and Andar finally escaped from the “Lost Valley” full of prehistoric animals.

1483

Upon the death of his father Edward IV, Edward V (b. 1470) was initially declared King of England. However, Edward was later found to be illegitimate and his uncle Richard III (b. 1452, d. 1485) was then made king. Young Edward mysteriously disappeared, presumably killed by Richard.

1485

Henry VII (b. 1457, d. 1509) seized the crown from Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field, becoming the England’s first monarch of the House of Tudor.



The Renaissance / Age of Discovery

1486

Pico della Mirandola, an Italian scholar and philosopher, wrote “The Oration on the Dignity of Man” (De hominis dignitate), considered by many to be the “Manifesto of the Renaissance.”

1488

Bartolomeu Dias rounded the southern tip of Africa, proving that the Indian Ocean was accessible from the Atlantic.

1492

On August 3, Christopher Columbus (b. 1451, d. 1506) departed from Palos de la Frontera, Spain with three ships: a larger carrack, the Santa María ex-Gallega (“Galician”), and two smaller caravels, the Pinta (“Painted”) and the Santa Clara, nicknamed the Niña (“Girl”). They sighted land (in what is now the Bahamas) on October 12, thus discovering the New World. Columbus and his crew would also explored Cuba and Hispaniola on that voyage before returning to Spain, where word of his discovery quickly spread. He would make three more round-trip voyages to the Americas before his death.

1498

Vasco-de-Gama discovered a sea route to India.

1501

The first African slaves in the New World were brought to Hispaniola by the Spanish.

1502

The Spanish began importing African slaves to the Americas.

1509

Upon the death of his father Henry VII, Henry VIII (b. 1491, d. 1547) became King of England, and later of Ireland as well.

1510

In the Maya civilization (in present-day Guatemala), a peaceful tribe was brutally attacked by warriors seeking slaves and human beings for sacrifice for their gods. Jaguar Paw hid his pregnant wife and his son, but was captured himself. However, a partial solar eclipse at mid-day on November 1 spared his life from the sacrifice, and he then managed to escape and return to his family. [Apocalypto]

1513

Juan Ponce de Leon sought the legendary Fountain of Youth in Florida. Instead, he found his death by an Indian arrow.

1517

The Protestant Reformation began in Europe.

1518

The adventures of Red Sonya began (1518-1528). (Note: not to be confused with the Hyborian Age heroine Red Sonja.)

In July, a strange occurrence happened in Strasbourg, France (which was then part of the Holy Roman Empire) that has since been referred to as the Dancing Plague of 1518. A woman named Frau Troffea began to dance in the street for no reason. After a few days, more than 30 others had joined her, and within a month there were around 400 people dancing. The dancing lasted for days without rest, and many people died of heart attacks, strokes or exhaustion.

1519

Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan began his expedition to circumnavigate the Earth (1519-1523).

The Spanish began their conquest of the Aztec Empire in what is now Mexico (1519-1521).

1521

Ferdinand Magellan died on April 27 while circumnavigating the Earth.

1523

Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition competed its circumnavigation of the Earth, the first to do so.

1529

The Ottoman Empire, led by Suleiman the Magnificent, laid siege to the city of Vienna, Austria. The siege was unsuccessful and halted the expansion of the Ottoman Empire in Europe.

1532

Spain began its conquest of the Inca Empire in what is now Peru (1532-1533).

1534

England broke ties with the Roman Catholic Church.

1536

Christopher Standish (b. 1516, d. 1566) of England took the name “Kit Walker” and became the first “Phantom” in the area of western Tanzania, Africa known as Bangalla (1536-1566).

In Scotland, the MacLeod clan faced off against the Fraser clan, and Connor MacLeod (b. 1518) discovered that he was immortal. [Highlander]

1541

Connor MacLeod, met Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez, who informed him that he was one of a race of immortals that had existed for millennia, and that the survivors were destined to meet in 1985 at a final “Gathering,” from which a lone survivor would claim “The Prize.” [Highlander]

1543

The Scientific Revolution began.

1545

Wu Ao-Shi (b. 1525), the first female Iron Fist, defeated the pirates of Pinghai Bay. Later that year, she would compete in the Tournament of the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven. [The Immortal Iron Fist #7]

1546

Francisco de Orellana disappeared in the Amazon while searching for the mythical El Dorado.

1547

Upon the death of his father Henry VIII, the infant Edward VI (b. 1537, d. 1553) became King of England and Ireland.

1550

The “Little Ice Age” (300 years of colder than normal climate) began.

The adventures of Solomon Kane began (1550-1610).

The Bajorans explored their star system in solar-sail spacecraft.

The Golem was created in Germany.

1553

At age 15, Edward VI became mortally ill. He attempted to remove his half-sister Mary from the line of succession because of religious differences, and on his death, their cousin Lady Jane Grey was at first proclaimed queen. However, Mary assembled a force in East Anglia and successfully deposed Jane, who was ultimately beheaded. Mary I (b. 1533, d. 1603) then became Queen of England and Ireland. Mary was a Catholic and her brutal persecution of Protestants caused her opponents to dub her “Bloody Mary.” In 1554, she married Philip II of Spain, becoming queen consort of Habsburg Spain on his accession in 1556.

1558

Upon the death of her half-sister Mary I, Elizabeth I (b. 1533, d. 1603) became Queen of England and Ireland.

1562

Ra’s al Ghul (Arabic رأس الغول “Demon’s Head,” b. 1537) discovered the secret of “Lazarus Pits” around this time, allowing him to extend his lifespan indefinitely.

1566

Upon the death of his father, Kit Walker II (b. 1548) became the second Phantom in Bangalla, Tanzania, Africa (1566-1604).

1582

Russia began its expansion in Europe and Siberia.

1582

The Foot,” an elite ninjutsu clan, was founded in Japan by two men named Sato and Oshi. According to legend, Oshi decalred, “In time, others will join us and we will become a force to be reckoned with. So just as every journey begins with a single step, we shall call ourselves The Foot.”

1586

Seven samurai defended a Japanese village from bandits.

1588

The mighty Spanish Armada was defeated by England.

In Japan, Kagenobu Yoshioka became sensei of the Ishiyama Sword School located in the Japanese village of Kyushua. Facing growing frustrations with the corrupt government that had been tainted by foreign influence, Yoshioko transformed the school into a training ground for samurais whose goal was to put power back in the hands of the Japanese people. Thus, the elite ninjutsu clan known as “The Hand” was born. At first, Yoshioka modeled his organization after The Foot Clan. He would soon be murdered, however, and the Snakeroot ninja clan would take over control of The Hand, introducing dark mysticism through worship of a demon known as The Beast.

1590

Heather MacLeod, wife of the Highlander, Connor MacLeod, died. Connor (age 72, but still appearing as a young man) began to realize the burden of immortality. [Highlander]

1600

The British East India Company was established.

Tobacco and coffee consumption began to skyrocket in Europe.

1603

Upon the death of Queen Elizabeth, King James VI of Scotland (b. 1566, Scottish reign began 1567, d. 1625) inherited the English throne and also became King James I of England and Ireland, thus uniting the English and Scottish monarchy.

1604

Kit Walker III became the third Phantom in Bangalla, Tanzania, Africa (1604-1625).

1605

The Gunpowder Plot, in which Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament, was foiled in London.

1606

Upon the death of his predecessor, Laham of Scylla was selected to become the new Green Lantern of Sector 2814, the sector of the universe that includes the Milky Way and 50 million other galaxies.

1608

Dutch lensmaker Hans Lippershey (b. 1570) invented the telescope.

1610

Jupiter’s four largest moons were discovered by Galileo Galilei on January 7–8. These were the first moons discovered orbiting a planet other than Earth.

1611

The English translation of the Bible begun in 1604 by order of King James was completed and the first printings were made.

1625

The adventures of D’Artagnan and the Three Musketeers happened at this time (1625-1628).

Kit Walker IV became the fourth Phantom in Bangalla, Tanzania, Africa (1625-1646).

1638

Music of 1638
Miserere mei, Deus composed by Gregorio Allegri


1640

Slavery was legally sanctioned in the colony of Virginia.

1644

The Qing Dynasty was founded in China (1644-1911).

1646

Kit Walker V became the fifth Phantom in Bangalla, Tanzania, Africa (1646-1662).

1649

Charles I of England was executed.


The Enlightenment / Age of Piracy

1650

Orion and Scott Free were born to the ruling families of the planets New Genesis and Apokolips, respectively. As part of a peace treaty, they were exchanged shortly after birth.

1659

Robinson Crusoe was shipwrecked.

1660

The monarchy was restored in England.

1662

Kit Walker VI became the sixth Phantom in Bangalla, Tanzania, Africa (1662-1682).

1666

Dormammu attempted an invasion of Earth, causing the Great Fire of London before being forced back to the Dark Dimension by the Mystic, Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme.

The first English-language newspaper debuted in London, England.

1668

The Glorious Revolution occurred in England.

1682

Kit Walker VII became the seventh Phantom in Bangalla, Tanzania, Africa (1682-1700).

1683

After more than 150 years of bitter military tension and reciprocal attacks following their unsuccessful siege of Vienna in 1529, the Ottoman Empire again tried to lay siege to the Austrian city. The decisive battle was fought September 11–12, at which time the Ottomans were forced to retreat. The battle marked the turning of the tide on the Ottoman Empire, which would lose most of its territory in Europe of the next 16 years.

1687

Robinson Crusoe was rescued 28 years after being shipwrecked.

1690

The first newspaper in America debuted in Boston, Massacusetts.

Several members of the Wayne family founded a merchant house in Boston.

1692

A series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft, now known as the Salem Witch Trials, were held in colonial Massachusetts (February 1692-May 1693). The most infamous trials were conducted by the Court of Oyer and Terminer in 1692 in Salem Town, but similar trials were held in Salem Village (now Danvers), Ipswich and Andover. Reverend Hiram Shaw, Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme at the time, was involved in the persecution of the accused witches.

1694

Music of 1694
♫ Cannon in D composed by Johann Pachelbel

1695

Music of 1695
Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary composed by Henry Purcell

1699

The Treaty of Karlowitz was signed on January 26, concluding the Austro-Ottoman War. It marks the end of Ottoman control in much of Central Europe and the beginning of the empire’s phase of decline, with their first major territorial losses after centuries of expansion. It also established the Habsburg Monarchy as the dominant power in central and southeast Europe.

1700

Kit Walker VIII became the eighth Phantom in Bangalla, Tanzania, Africa (1700-1717).

In Ireland, Keith Everet, Earl of Strethmere, was killed by three highwaymen. His ghost was allowed to return to Earth to take up the cause of justice, but was unable to act until he met his lost love Deborah Wallace again. When he returned, Wallace was long dead, so the “Gay Ghost” was forced to haunt his castle until Wallace’s namesake and ancestor arrived at the castle in 1941 to awaken him.

The Great Northern War began between Sweden and Russia (1700-1721).

On January 26, a magnitude-9.0 earthquake struck the Pacific Northwest. A massive tsunami struck the coast of North America minutes later, and reached Japan the following day.

1701

The War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714) was fought between European powers, including a divided Spain, over who had the right to succeed Charles II as King of Spain. The war was fought mostly in Europe but included Queen Anne's War in North America.

Asano Naganori of Ako, Japan, enraged by continued derogatory comments, attacked and injured Kiro Yoshinaka, the corrupt Kozuke-no-suke of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi’s shogunate. Since violence of any kind was forbidden within the walls of Edo Castle, Asano was sentenced to commit seppuku that same day, June 1.

1702

In defiance of the Shogunate, 47 loyal Ako vassals led by Oishi, former Asano chamberlain, took revenge on Kiro Yoshinaka by attacking his residence and murdering him on December 13. In honorable fashion, they surrendered themselves to Lord Hosokawa and awaited judgment.

1703

After 50 days in custody, the 47 Ronin are sentenced on February 3 to commit seppuku for the murder of Kira Yoshinaka.

1706

Music of 1706
Keyboard suite in D minor composed by George Frideric Handel

1707

England and Scotland became the United Kindom of Great Britain.

Music of 1707
Toccata And Fugue In D Minor composed by Johann Sebastian Bach

1709

The Russians defeated the Swedish at the Battle of Pultowa, the turning point of the Great Northern War.

1713

The War of the Spanish Succession concluded with the Peace of Utrecht, in which the warring states recognized the French candidate as King Philip V of Spain in exchange for territorial and economic concessions. (Hostilities between France and Austria would continue into the following year, and Spain did not formally ratify its peace treaty with Austria until 1720.)

1715

Rob Roy escaped the defeat of the clans in Scotland.

1717

Kit Walker IX became the ninth Phantom in Bangalla, Tanzania, Africa (1717-1735).

Music of 1717
Lute Suite in E minor (featuring the popular Bourrée in E minor) composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Water Music composed by George Frideric Handel

1719

Music of 1719
Cello Suite No. 1 in G major composed by Johann Sebastian Bach

1720

Pirate Jack Sparrow freed a governor’s daughter in the hope of regaining his ship, the Black Pearl.

Music of 1720
Cello Suites Nos. 1–6 composed by Johann Sebastian Bach

1721

The Great Northern War ended with Sweden's defeat, leaving Russia as the new dominant power in the Baltic Region.

Italian explorer Caproni discovered an island ringed by cliffs in the south Indian Ocean and named it “Caprona.” (It will later be called “Skull Island,” for the skull-like shape of one of its mountains, or “Monster Island” for its inhabitants.) The island’s location was not recorded properly, however, and it was subsequently lost.

Music of 1721
♫ The Brandenburg Concertos composed by Johann Sebastian Bach

1722

Captain Jack Sparrow was dragged to the depths of the sea along with his beloved ship, the Black Pearl, by the Kraken.

Music of 1722
The Well-Tempered Clavier composed by Johann Sebastian Bach

1723

Music of 1723
Concerto for two violins in D minor (a.k.a. “Double Violin Concerto”) composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
♫ The Four Seasons composed by Antonio Vivaldi
Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben (Cantata No. 147, a.k.a. “Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring”) composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
♫ Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major (a.k.a. “Air on the G String”) composed by Johann Sebastian Bach

1725

Music of 1725
Minuet in G major composed by Christian Petzold

1727

Music of 1727
St. Matthew Passion composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Zadok the Priest composed by George Frideric Handel

1729

Music of 1729
Fanfare-Rondeau composed by Jean-Joseph Mouret

1731

Music of 1731
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Cantata No. 140, a.k.a. “Sleepers Wake“) composed by Johann Sebastian Bach

1733

Music of 1733
Tafelmusik composed by Georg Philipp Telemann

1735

Kit Walker X became the 10th Phantom in Bangalla, Tanzania, Africa (1735-1757).

1736

Music of 1736
Stabat Mater composed by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi

1738

Music of 1738
Serse (opera) composed by George Frideric Handel

1739

Music of 1739
Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor (featuring the famous Badinerie for solo flute) composed by Johann Sebastian Bach

1740

The adventures of Natty Bumppo began. The white American man had been adopted by the last members of a dying Indian tribe called the Mohicans and went by the name “Deerslayer” around this time.

1741

Music of 1741
♫ The Goldberg Variations composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
♫ Messiah composed by George Frideric Handel

1742

The Elder Goddess Gaea selected the fourth human being that she intended to present to the Fourth Host of the Celestials: an 18-year-old boy from Russia named Gregor Buhkarov. She placed the boy in suspended animation to await the moment he would be needed.

Music of 1742
Twenty-four Preludes and Fugues (a.k.a. The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II) composed by Johann Sebastian Bach

1748

Music of 1748
♫ Solomon composed by George Frideric Handel

1749

Music of 1749
Mass in B minor composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Music for the Royal Fireworks composed by George Frideric Handel

1750

By this time, slavery was legal in all of the 13 American colonies.

1754

The Reverend Doctor Christopher Syn of Dymchurch, Kent, England (b. 1729) first met Mr. Mipps. Later that year he married a Spanish woman named Imogene.

1755

The Reverend Doctor Christopher Syn’s wife Imogene was seduced away by his friend Nicholas Tappitt. Syn began pursuing them to America in a quest for revenge, but his ship was taken by the pirate known as Black Satan. Syn killed the pirate in a duel and became the new captain of the pirate ship, aided by his friend Mr. Mipps, who had been one of Black Satan’s crew. Syn and Mipps later abandoned the ship and went searching for Imogene and Tappitt in the American wilderness.

1756

In North America, the French and Indian War began (1756-1763).

1757

Kit Walker XI became the 11th Phantom in Bangalla, Tanzania, Africa (1757-1775).

Natty Bumppo, now going by the name “Hawkeye,” unwittingly became the protector of a British colonel’s two daughters who had been targeted by Magua, a sadistic and vengeful Huron warrior who had dedicated his life to destroying the girls’ father for a past injustice.

No comments:

Post a Comment