Elo-toril Grand History of the Realms Timeline
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Grand History of the Realms

A very truncated view of world events in Toril since it's creation. Based on the Harptos calendar, and the Dale Reckoning count of years.

Go to the beginning

The First Flowering

-24,000 to -12,001 DR

The rise and fall of the first great elf civilizations across the land.

  • -17,600 DR
    The Sundering
    Disaster / Destruction

    A great cataclysm is unleashed upon the world, and the lands are rent asunder.

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  • -12,500 DR
    The Grandfather Tree is summoned in the High Forest
    Geological / environmental event

    An ancient site discovered, an eternal guardian set.

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The Crown Wars

-12,000 to -9,001 DR

A war that pitted elf against elf for almost three-thousand years, destroying whole forests, and fostering the race of dark elves that would retreat to the Underdark.

  • -12,000 to -11,300 DR
    1st Crown War
    Military action

    Aryvandaar attacks Miyeritar after centuries of unproductive negotiations. Rise of the Vyshaantar Empire.

  • -11,700 to -11,200 DR
    2nd Crown War
    Military action

    Battles flare up again as Ilythiir viciously responds to renewed aggressions from Aryvandaar.

  • -11,450 DR
    The Sable Wars
    Military action

    Thearnytaar and Eiellûr unite to invade Ilythir intent on destroying all their kind for their wanton destruction and use of dark magic. The former lose more than half their forces in the attempt

  • -11,003 DR
    Aryselmalyr Empire
    Political event

    All the sea elf kingdoms of the Inner Sea (now the Sea of Fallen Stars) are united under the Aryselmalyr Empire, and name the grand city of Coryselmal as their capital. Year 1 of the Aryselmalyr Calendar used in Serôs.

  • -10,900 to -10,600 DR
    3rd Crown War
    Military action

    War between the Shantel, Othreier and Aryvandaar breaks out as treaties collapse.

  • -11,800 DR
    Cloaker Wars / Rise of Shanatar
    Founding

    The great dwarven empire of Shanatar is founded when Taark Shanat and his followers are assailed by denizens of the deep and declares the great chasm he conquers from which they spawned as the Kingdom of Alatorin, and the origin of the Shield Dwarves.

  • -10,500 DR
    The Dark Disaster
    Disaster / Destruction

    Monumental storms over a period of three months reduce the forests and lands of Miyeritar into a barren wasteland. Most every elf in the land recoils in horror at the destruction of the Crown Wars as rumors spread that the storms were created by the High Mages of Aryvandaar.

  • -10,450 DR to -10,000 DR
    4th Crown War
    Military action

    Ilythiir openly employs the use of corrupt and evil powers bestowed by evil gods to avenge the destruction of Miyeritar during the Dark Disaster.

  • -10,000 DR
    Descent of the Drow
    Population Migration / Travel

    After decades of prayers from thousands of priests and High Mages to answer the destruction wrought by the dark elves, including up to 70% of all trees in Faerûn, Corellon Larethian answers their call by transforming all dark elves into Drow, and forcing their retreat into the Underdark.

  • -9,839 to -9,833 DR
    First Serôs War
    Military action

    After centuries of Sahaugin raids against both land and sea elves, and merfolk as well, the groups unite to hold back and the invaders from the eastern reaches of Serôs.

  • -9,200 to -9,000 DR
    5th Crown War
    Military action

    The first proclamation of the Elven Court stirs rebellion among the Aryvandaar nobles, characterized by widespread rebellions.

The Founding Time

-9,000 to -3,001 DR

The rise of human civilization throughout Toril.

  • -9,000 DR
    Spawn Wars
    Military action

    Conflicts slowly escalate between the eight subkingdoms of Shanatar until open warfare ensues, pitting dwarf against dwarf in the thousands. At this time, the Drow of Telatiwar overrun the Dwarven realm of Bhaerynden and claim it for their own.

  • -8,800 DR
    The Inferno of Keltormir
    Disaster / Destruction

    A flight of red dragons attacks the forest of Keltormir, creating a forest fire that quickly consumed four clans of elves, eleven giant settlements, multiple green dragons, and thousands of square miles of trees. This caused the fracture of the Kelthomir elves into numerous clans.   About this time, the great caverns of Bhaerynden collapse, creating the Great Rift, and Evereska is founded.

  • -8,500 DR
    Founding of Aelinthaldaar
    Founding

    The ancient capital city of the elven nation of Illefarn, that would eventually become the site of the City of Waterdeep.

  • -8,350 DR
    Imaskari Empire
    Population Migration / Travel

    A splinter tribe of the Durpari, the Imaskar, settle the vast, fertile plains of the Raurin plateau

  • -8,298 to -8,282 DR
    Second Serôs War
    Military action

    The elves & merfolk join the locathah & crabmen to counter new agressions from the Sahaugin, who have allied themselves with the Kuo-toa. All the cavern cities of the Kuo-toa are destroyed, leaving the race virtually extinct in the Inner Sea until the current era. By -8,000 DR, Sahaugin are virtually eliminated from the region.

  • -8,170 to -8,137 DR
    Spider Wars
    Military action

    Drow from Guallidurth leverage the opportunity that hundreds of years of dwarven civil year have afforded them, and capture the founding Shanatar Kingdom of Alatorin, which ends the first Spider War after 20 years. After a 5-year reprieve, the dwarves successfully reunite to retake their homeland, and pledge never to fight again amongst themselves.

  • -8,100 to -8,080 DR
    Mindstalker Wars
    Military action

    The Illithids of Oryndoll assault portions of Shanatar, where virtually all of Clan Duergar were captured by the Mind flayers. After thousands of years of enslavement and torture, their descendants would become known as the Gray (or Deep) Dwarves.

  • -7,800 DR
    The Great Arrival
    Founding

    The Calim Empire is founded when a noble djinni lord named Calim arrives on Toril, leading a host of genies and their slaves, seizing all lands south and west of the Marching Mountains.

  • c. -7600 DR
    Fall of Telantiwar
    Era beginning/end

    The end of this drow civilization resulted from the collapse of the great cavern of Bhaerynden, allowing the dwarves to return to their ancient homeland and found the "Deep Realm," whose inhabitants would eventually become known as the Gold Dwarves.

  • -6,800 DR
    Memnonnar Founded
    Founding

    Established by an efreeti named Memnon who claimed lands north of the Agis River.

  • -6,500 to -6,100 DR
    Era of Skyfire
    Military action

    Twenty-two cataclysmic battles spread across four centuries ensues when the noble djinni Lord Calim, and the efreeti Memnon, bring their forces to war. It is eventually brought to an end when the elves employ High Magic to disembody both the djinni and the efreeti and bind their essences to the elements, which would eventually create the Calim Desert.

  • -6,150 to -6,120 DR
    Third Spider War
    Military action

    Almost two millennia after the first two Spider Wars, the Drow once again succeed in capturing the Dwarven kingdom of Alatorin.

  • -6,060 DR
    Founding of Coramshan
    Founding

    With help from Dwarves of Shanatar, Calishite humans banish the last genie's of Calim's empire, rebuilding the cities of Keltar and Calimport, and incorporating the surrounding lands to found the nation of Coramshan. However, their subsequent alliance with evil gods quickly sours their alliance with the dwarves.

  • -5,960 DR
    Third Age of Shanatar
    Founding

    The kingdom of High Shanatar is founded when Shield dwarves begin to settle the surface world, and claim the lands north of the Marching mountains.

  • -5,800 DR
    Rise of the Psion
    Founding

    A powerful psionic warrior from the Dath Dynasty named Jhaam unites the human tribes north of Chondalwood to form the nation of Jhaamdath

  • -5,750 to -4,230 DR
    Cities of the Sword
    Construction beginning/end

    As psionic abilities increased among the rulers of Jhaamdath, they founded several "Cities of the Sword" including: Naarkolyth (-5,750 DR), Porrenath (-5,600 DR), Jhouram (-5,500 DR), Gharrent & Golmuth (-5,425 DR), Lirremar (-5,330 DR), Tuoxent & Hollinth (-5,250 DR), Jhirrent (-4,850 DR), Inixrien (-4,620 DR), Corrant (-4,470) and Mirrindith (-4,230 DR)

  • -5,700 DR
    Jhaamdath becomes a Psiocracy
    Political event

    Psionic abilities and influence force the fledgling nation to abandon it's oligarchy.

  • c. -5,400 DR
    Ambril's Bane
    Life, Death

    While raiding a tomb in the cliffs of Mt. Kellarak, the heir to the throne of Coramshan is slain by the dwarves assigned to protect the tomb. This incident ignites three-thousand years of war between the two civilizations.

  • -5,360 to -5,350 DR
    Giant Wars
    Military action

    The High Shanatar Dwarves decimate the giants of Nedeheim, exterminating more than half of all those living south of the Cloud Peaks, and reducing the nation of giants to a group of scattered clans.

  • -5,112 to -4,835 DR
    Webfire Wars
    Military action

    A subterranean war ensues for centuries between the followers of Lloth and Ghaunadaur.

  • -5,000 DR
    Twelve Nights of Fire
    Extinction

    A falling star clears a 100-mile long and 30-mile wide swath in Cormanthor's canopy, destroying the elven nation of Uvaeren, it's coronal, and nearly all of it's noble houses.

  • -4,770 DR
    Plague of Terror
    Plague / Epidemic

    This and the Sunset Plague doom Calimport, forcing it's evacuation for nearly a hundred years.

  • -4,400 DR
    The Dark Court Slaughter
    Military action

    The Elven court is all but destroyed in a joint assault by Drow and Duergar, also claiming the lives of many clan leaders and two elven coronals.

  • -3,983 DR
    Founding of Cormanthor
    Founding

    The historical pre-cursor to Myth Drannor

  • -3,917 DR
    Founding of Menzoberranzan
    Founding

    Among the greatest of the Drow cities in the Underdark, founded by Menzoberra the Kinless.

  • -3,900 DR
    Founding of Delzoun
    Founding

    This dwarven kingdom is established beneath what is currently known as the Silver Marches.

  • -3,864 DR
    House Baenre becomes First House of Menzoberranzan
    Political event

    After the power of House S'sril was weakened in their battle against House Nasadra, House Baenre was able to gain the favor of the Spider Queen and assume control of Menzoberranzan, while refugees of the exiled House Nasadra went forth to establish the city of Chez Nasad in -3,843 DR.

  • -3,654 DR
    The Terraseer
    Life, Milestone

    An 'archwizard' of great power, who calls himself Arthindol, makes himself known to the Netherese at this time. He shares with them great secrets of the arcane, and his ability to foresee events throughout the world earn him the name of the 'Terraseer.' Over the next few centuries, he makes several appearances among the Netherese, never seeming to age, regardless of the time passed since his prior visitation.

  • Tarsakh, -3,649 DR
    Enslavement of the Gnomes
    Civil action

    The Netherese begin to enslave the rock gnomes living in the hills nearby.

  • -3,533 to -3,316 DR
    The Nether Age
    Cultural event

    The Nether Scrolls are discovered at an ancient Aryvandaar site, revealing a great magical power to the Netherese. In light of this discovery, they abandon the magical teachings of the Eaerlanni to embrace this greater source of power, beginning the Nether Age of their civilization.

  • -3,095 DR
    Gnomes become Proficient Illusionists
    Discovery, Scientific

    The elves of Cormanthor commission a gnome named Rilmohx to steal one of the Nether Scrolls. While in his possession, a stolen glimpse of the scroll bestowed an extraordinary understanding of illusory magic upon the gnome, which he rapidly spread throughout much of the gnome population on Faerûn.

Age of Humanity

-3,000 DR to 1,000 DR

Marked by a dramatic rise in human civilizations as the dwarven and elven nations experience a decline of their own.

  • 2600

    Fall of Shanatar
    Extinction

    The last known Dwarves of High Shanatar fall in battle, and the last known entrances to Deep Shanatar are sealed.

  • -2,550 DR
    The Great Glacier is Formed
    Geological / environmental event

    Created when the minor sea-deity Ulutiu exiles himself to the Astral Plane and leaves his ice necklace behind.

  • -2,549 DR
    The Twisted Tower
    Construction beginning/end

    Drow complete construction of the Twisted Tower in what is now Shadowdale, and begin inhabiting and securing the region.

  • -2,489 DR
    Arrival of the God-Kings
    Religious event

    The deities of the Imaskari slaves send manifestations of themselves to Toril, and divided their essences to form mortal avatars known as incarnations. With the power of their gods to strengthen them, the slaves revolted against their masters.

  • -2,439 DR
    The Spiderfires
    Disaster / Destruction

    Drow once again attack the surface world, this time with large arachnids conjured from arcane fire. After a parched summer, the forests once again burn clearing more than 100 miles of forest south of the River Tesh.

  • -2,387 DR
    Gnomes Freed
    Civil action

    All gnomes still enslaved by the Netherese are released from servitude (though many had already escaped to free lands).

  • -2,381 DR
    Founding of Zokir, City of Orbs
    Founding

    Beholders appear in the Alimir Mountains and attempt to invade the eastern reaches of Calimshan. They are held back, and instead establish their own city within the confines of the mountains. Fire destroys most of the western half of the city of Calimport.

  • -2,135 DR
    Mulhorand Founded
    Founding

    The new nation quickly emerges upon the establishment of it's capital city, Skuld, by the God-king, Re (Ra). The Mulhorandi Calendar begins.

  • -2,087 DR
    Unther Established
    Founding

    The god Enlil founds the city of Unthalass, the City of Gems, from pearls found off the coast of Alamber. It quickly becomes the capital city of the new nation of Unther.

  • c. -1,720 to -1,660 DR
    Deep Netheril
    Founding

    The Netherese establish undersea colonies off the coast of what is now Sembia. These crystal-domed settlements collectively become known as Deep Netheril. These enclaves would be destroyed less than a century later in the Battle of Three Seaflames that resulted in the creation of the Saerloon and Selgaunt Bays.

  • -1,539 to -1,502 DR
    Third Serôs War
    Military action

    After over 5 millennia of peace in the region, the Serôs Wars re-ignite when Coronal Essyl Merynth overreacts to Koalinth & Scrag raids, motivating them to join with the Merrow (aquatic ogres). The war ends when the Coronal is assassinated by his own brother to free their realm from his madness, and then abdicates the throne to their younger sister, Vaeqiis.

  • c. -1,500 DR
    Expansion of Mulhorand and Unther
    Cultural event

    Murghôm, the Plains of Purple Dust, and the Raurin desert become part of the Mulhorhandi Empire, while the Wizard's Reach and much of the Eastern Shaar are absorbed into Unther. Semphar is conquered by Mulhorand in -1,482 DR.

  • -1,471 DR
    The "Rise" of Thultanthar
    Construction beginning/end

    The infamous floating "City of Shade" was first constructed and set aflight in Netheril.

  • -1,428 DR
    The Land of the Beholders
    Cultural event

    Beholders take control of Calimport, and thus rule all of the major settlements through Calimshan, Iltkazar and the Lake of Steam.

  • -1,399 to -1,396 DR
    Fourth Serôs War
    Military action

    Merfolk boldly hold-off a resurgence of koalinth and merrow aggression on the Hmur Plateau, which was eventually stopped by the sacrifice of a mermaid who was corrupted against her own kind when she attempted to steal a magical artifact known as the Emerald Eye.

  • -1,365 DR
    Great Dragonwall Formed
    Geological / environmental event

    The Great Dragonwall between Shou Lung and the Hordelands is formed from the body of the enormous ancient dragon known as the Guardian.

  • -1,250 DR
    First Emperor of Shou Lung
    Life, Milestone

    A former peasant named Nung Fu becomes the first Emperor of the Shou Lung Empire in Kara-Tur.

  • -1,100 DR
    Aelinthaldar Razed
    Cultural event

    Illefarn's last Coronal has his High Mages to obliterate any trace of their capital of Aelinthaldar that had stood for 7,000-years, before ordering the Retreat of his kingdom to Evermeet.

  • -1,076 to -1,069 DR
    The Orcgate Wars
    Population Migration / Travel

    A magical portal to a orc homeworld is opened by Mulhorandi wizards in Southern Thay. Hundreds of thousands of orcs swarm across the northern reaches of Mulhorand and Unther.

  • -1,071 DR
    God Kills God
    Celestial

    The orc god Gruumsh kills the Mulhorandi deity Ra in the first known deicide. Osirus would be killed in -1,050 DR as he and Set vie for Re's seat at the head of the Mulhorandi pantheon.

  • -836 DR
    The Battle of Infinite Darkness
    Military action

    At the mouth of the Fenghsintzu River in Kara-Tur, a great battle is fought entirely beneath the cover of darkness spells.

  • -810 DR
    Path of Enlightenment
    Cultural event

    The teachings of this faith are first made known when a reddish lightning storm, which is witnessed throughout the region, carves meter-high characters in granite cliffs above the the mouth of the Hungtse River in Shou Lung.

  • -790 to -530 DR
    The Night Wars
    Military action

    Drow conduct raids and assault several countries throughout southern Faerûn, including Calimshan.

  • -788 to -777 DR
    Fifth Serôs War
    Military action

    Started by a paranoid Sea-elf ruler who attacked the Shalarin kingdom of Es'krin only a year after the Second Passing of the Shalarin. The destabilizing military activities of the sea-elves encourage many to ally against them, eventually leading the sea-elves to ally with a pair of Kraken from the Trench of Lopok. The surviving Shalarin would regroup to further depths and form the Kingdom of Es'rath 17 years later.

  • -734 DR
    Enlil Departs
    Era beginning/end

    Appointing his son Gilgeam as the new god-king of Unther, Enlil leaves Toril. Year 1 of the Untheric Calendar.

  • -669 DR (Year of Summer Frosts)
    Organization of Thought
    Cultural event

    First Emperor Chin of the Ho Dynasty proclaims the Path of Enlightenment as the only faith within Shou Lung.

  • -339 (Year of Sundered Webs)
    Fall of Netheril
    Disaster / Destruction

    In a failed attempt to attain godhood, Karsus, the greatest archwizard of the Netherese, kills the goddess Mystryl, creating disruptions in the Weave that causes almost all of the Netherese floating enclaves to crash to the earth in ruins. The cities of Selûnarra and Thultanthar escape destruction by teleporting to other planes of existence. Some survivors follow the archwizard Raumark to Halruaa in a flight of skyships. Others form the Netherese survivor states of Anuria, Asram and Hlondath.

  • -335 to -321 DR
    Gauntlgrym Established
    Construction beginning/end

    The Delzoun dwarves are commissioned to delve the mighty subterranean city of Gauntlgrym in western Faerûn by an arcanist from Illusk named Maerin.

  • -288 (Year of Eight Lightnings)
    Tethyr Independence
    Diplomatic action

    Calimshan agrees to the independence of Tethyr and it's people

  • -276 DR
    Year of Overflowing Casks
    Political event

    The Jhaamdathan empire abandons it's psiocracy after a bloody coup installs a militant emperor. Soon thereafter, the emperor sends forces to hunt down and slaughter the elves of the Chondalwood that were interfering with their logging operations.

  • -274 to -225 DR
    Cycle of Black Years
    Era beginning/end

    After massing a fleet to impose fealty upon the Islands of Wa, the Sixth Emperor Chin of the Hai Dynasty and his court are lost during the final battle. Though the land battle is won, the fleet founders upon it's return, and the Emblems of Imperial Authority are lost, beginning the Cycle of Black years marked by invasions from the south, blights, floods, and crop failures. The end of this era would be marked when the Emblems are recovered by a noble descendant of Nung Fu and becomes the first Emperor Chin of the Kao Dynasty.

  • -255 DR (Year of Furious Waves)
    Fall of Jhaamdath
    Disaster / Destruction

    Elven High Mages call forth a gargantuan tsunami that destroys the Twelves Cities of the Sword, and reshapes the coastline to form the are currently known as the Vilhon Reach. Seven years later, the God of War and Justice, Tyr, will appear upon Toril along with 200 archons to bring order to the survivors of that land. This begins a 9-year period known as the Procession of Justice.

  • -227 to 573 DR
    Golden Age of Calimport
    Cultural event

    Reaching it's largest size throughout all it's history, the population swells to more than 75,000 citizens, and remains the largest and most frequented port in Faerûn for the next 800 years.

  • -170 to -166 DR
    The Eye Tyrant Wars
    Military action

    Calimshan unites with Tethyr and Iltkazar to stave off a resurgence of beholders that have gained control of most of the lands east of Ankhapur.

  • -51 DR
    Rise of As'arem
    Diplomatic action

    After the Third Shalarin Passing occurred in -69 DR without being tied to conflict, the three Shalarin kingdoms of Es'rath, Es'daan and Es'purr unite into the Serôs empire of As'arem, ruling the twilight waters across the region from the Hmur Plateau to what is now known as Thesk.

  • 1 DR
    Dales Compact Ratified
    Diplomatic action

    The elves of Cormanthor agree to allow men to settle the non-forested areas of their realm in a treaty known as the Dales Compact. The Standing Stone is raised by the elves in honor of the agreement. Year 1 of the Dalereckoning Calendar.

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