Forgotten Realms Timeline

Pre-Dalereckoning

Ancient Era

• -35,000 DR (Dale Reckoning): Rise of the progenitor race of the sarrukh during an ice age.
• -31,000 DR: The Tearfall - separation of Abeir and Toril. Meteors fall, possibly dragon eggs or an ice moon.

Dawn Ages (-30,000 to -24,000 DR)

• -30,000 DR: Creator races fade, replaced by Dragons and Giants.
• -30,000 DR: Nether scrolls created; Seldarine Wars occur with Lolth becoming a demon.

Elven Civilization (-24,000 to -12,000 DR)

• -17,600 DR: First Sundering - elven high mages create/summon Evermeet.
• -12,000 to -9,000 DR: Crown Wars between elven peoples; drow are transformed and descend underground.

Rise of Netheril

• -3,533 DR: Nether scrolls discovered.
• -3,095 DR: Elves steal one set of nether scrolls.
• -3,014 DR: First mythal created.
• -3,000 DR: Couatls teach humans about Ubtao and lead them to Chult.
• -2,637 DR: City of Mezro founded in Chult by Ubtao.
• -2,207 to -1,206 DR: Golden age of Netheril.
• -1,950 DR: Dwarves begin building Citadel Felbarr.
• -1,887 DR: First of the Nine Immortals appears in Shou Lung.
• -1,471 DR: Netherese floating City of Shade created.
• -1,365 DR: Shou emperor turns dragon Pao Hu Jen into the Great Dragonwall.
• -1,288 DR: Melair discovers mithral under Mount Waterdeep; Clan Melairkyn forms.

Wars and Conflicts

• -1,080 DR: Calimshan rules from Sword Coast to Mintar.
• -1,076 to -1,069 DR: Orcgate Wars - orcs invade through wizard portals.
• -1,064 DR: Netherese first encounter illithids.
• -700 DR: Roll of Years begins.
• -690 DR: Blingdenstone (deep gnome community) founded.
• -530 DR: Drow retreat underground in Calimshan.
• -500 DR: Citadel Sundbarr constructed by Deloun dwarves.
• -461 DR: Phaerimms begin casting life-draining spells, creating Anauroch desert.

Fall of Netheril

• -400 DR: Augathra the Mad creates the Roll of Years prophecies.
• -370 DR: Construction begins on Citadel Adbar.
• -354 DR: Netherese wizard Melathar constructs the Host Tower.
• -339 DR: Karsus attempts to steal divinity, causing fall of Netheril.
• -335 DR: Construction of Gauntlgrym begins.
• -200 DR: Candlekeep founded.
• -137 DR: Shadow Giant destroys Mezro before being repelled.

Dalereckoning Era

Early Dalereckoning

• 1 DR (Dale Reckoning): Elves of Cormanthor and humans raise the Standing Stone; start of Dalereckoning calendar.
• 26 DR: Founding of human kingdom of Cormyr.
• 75 DR: Prophet Alaundo arrives at Candlekeep, extending Roll of Years.
• 87 DR: Eigersstor (Neverwinter) founded.
• 134 DR: Shou mariner discovers Kozakura.
• 168 DR: Halaster Blackcloak builds tower near Waterdeep harbor.
• 177 DR: Elves of Iliyanbruen destroy orcs but later depart for Evermeet.
• 201 DR: Cymrych Hugh becomes high king of Moonshae Isles.
• 204 DR: Demon lord Eltab imprisoned below what is now Thaymount in Thay.
• 212 DR: Elminster Aumar born in Athalantar.
• 253 DR: Panther Guenhwyvar turned into figurine of wondrous power.
• 261 DR: Myth Drannor founded and opened to non-elves.

Rise of Notable Powers

• 307 DR: Halaster's apprentices move into Undermountain.
• 324 DR: Harpers formed in secret by Dathlue Mistwinter.
• 329 DR: Anauroch desert stops growing as sharns defeat phaerimms.
• 342 DR: Elf realm of Illefarn disbands.
• 367 DR: City of Phlan founded on the Moonsea.
• 400-1000 DR: Golden age of Maztica.
• 418 DR: First aarakocra arrive from Maztica to northern Faerûn.
• 426 DR: Khelben Arunsun becomes a student in Myth Drannor.
• 457 DR: Mages found school of wizardry in Neverwinter.
• 623 DR: First confirmed sighting of a spelljammer.
• 658 DR: Portal created between Myth Drannor and Undermountain.
• 659 DR: Silverymoon established as center of magical learning.

Fall of Myth Drannor and Aftermath

• 684 DR: Augathra's Book of the Black discovered by mages of Myth Drannor.
• 708 DR: Three nycaloth demons released in Cormanthor.
• 714 DR: Fall of Myth Drannor to the Army of Darkness.
• 753 DR: Florsten's Hold renamed Zhentil Keep; temple to Bane founded.
• 762 DR: Birth of Alustriel, second of Seven Sisters, chosen of Mystra.
• 800 DR: Birth of Sammaster, eventual founder of Cult of the Dragon.
• 863 DR: Chultan city of Mezro disappears behind invisible wall.
• 875 DR: Sammaster stripped of being a Chosen, becomes insane and evil.
• 902 DR: Sammaster creates first dracolich, founds Cult of the Dragon.

Rise of Regional Powers

• 916 DR: Sammaster seemingly destroyed by avatar of Lathander.
• 922 DR: Red Wizards of Thay rebel against Mulhorandi rule.
• 932 DR: First Trollwar at Nimoar's Hold (later Waterdeep).
• 940 DR: First lord of Shadowdale, Ashaba, merges with river.
• 1007 DR: Waterdeep expands, absorbing ruins of Halaster's Hold.
• 1018 DR: Rage of Dragons; Claugiyliamatar plunders orc lands.
• 1030 DR: Zhulkirs become rulers of Thay.
• 1038 DR: Great Glacier retreats, revealing Damara, Vaasa, and upper Narfell.
• 1071 DR: Ahghairon raises dragonward over Waterdeep.
• 1081 DR: Red Wizards attack Covenant's school in Neverwinter.
• 1148 DR: Three kingdoms of Shou Lung reunited; Skullport established.
• 1157 DR: Szass Tam becomes Zulkir of Necromancy in Thay.

Recent History

• 1229 DR: Birth of Manshoon, future leader of Zhentarim.
• 1235 DR: Largest orc host ever amasses; defeated by Alustriel and Storm Silverhand.
• 1242 DR: Monastery of the Yellow Rose founded in Damara.
• 1246 DR: First recorded use of bombards by Lantan.
• 1250 DR: Illithid plot to enslave Waterdeep foiled by Githyanki.
• 1255 DR: Dragonspear Castle built.
• 1256 DR: Ahghairon dies; guild wars begin in Waterdeep.
• 1261 DR: Manshoon founds the Zhentarim.
• 1279 DR: Green dragon Dretchroyaster attacks three dales.
• 1282 DR: Lich claiming to be Sammaster appears, gathers army.
• 1290 DR: Portal to Avernus opened at Dragonspear Castle.
• 1297 DR: Birth of Drizzt Do'Urden in Menzoberranzan.

Modern Era

• 1302 DR: Illusk rebuilt and renamed Luskan; Durnan and Mirt return from Undermountain with fortune.
• 1306 DR: Moradin gives "Thunder Blessing" to dwarves; War Wizards of Cormyr founded.
• 1310 DR: Luskan conquered by pirates; five captains become city leaders.
• 1311 DR: Arklem Greeth forms Brotherhood of the Arcane in Luskan.
• 1325 DR: Lords' Alliance founded in Waterdeep.
• 1328 DR: Drizzt Do'Urden leaves Menzoberranzan.
• 1340 DR: Tyranthraxus claims Pool of Radiance; Drizzt reaches surface.
• 1345 DR: Bhaal creates Darkwell in Moonshae Isles.
• 1347 DR: Drizzt reaches Icewind Dale; Zhengyi claims Damara.
• 1350 DR: Elminster retires to Shadowdale; Bane thwarted at Moonsea.
• 1351 DR: Akar Kessel finds Crenshinibon, raises army against Icewind Dale.
• 1354 DR: Angel Zariel leads army from Elturel into Avernus.
• 1356 DR: Bruenor Battlehammer becomes King of Mithral Hall.
• 1357 DR: Elminster visits Earth; Gauntlgrym discovered; Shandril develops Spellfire.

Time of Troubles and Beyond

• 1358 DR: Time of Troubles - gods walk Toril as mortals; several gods die.
• 1359 DR: Tuigan Horde invades; Zhengyi the Witch-King destroyed.
• 1360 DR: Tuigan Horde defeated by King Azoun IV.
• 1361 DR: Colonization of Maztica begins; Cyric takes over Zhentil Keep.
• 1363 DR: Second Dragonspear War; ancient city of Mezro reappears.
• 1364 DR: Companions of the Hall banish demon lord Errtu.
• 1365 DR: Waterdeep establishes colonies in Maztica.
• 1367 DR: Szass Tam releases demon Eltab; dwarves retake Citadel Felbarr.
• 1368 DR: Teldin Moore visits Toril; events of Baldur's Gate video games.
• 1369 DR: Iyachtu Xvim escapes prison; Harpers destroy Hellgate Keep.
• 1370 DR: Fzoul Chembryl kills Manshoon and takes control of Zhentarim.
• 1371 DR: Phaerimms attack Evereska; King Azoun IV dies.
• 1372 DR: City of Shade reappears; Bane returns; Lolth falls silent.
• 1373 DR: Sammaster causes Rage of Dragons; Rain of Fire occurs.
• 1374 DR: House Dlardrageth attacks Myth Drannor; Khelben dies creating Hidden City.
• 1375 DR: Adventurers free Shadowdale; fey return.
• 1377 DR: Tree of Souls planted in Myth Drannor.
• 1383 DR: Dwarven gods clash; several die.
• 1384 DR: God Tyr slays Helm.

Spellplague and Second Sundering

• 1385 DR: Year of Blue
• Fire: Mystra is murdered by Cyric with the help of Shar. This event causes the weave to collapse and causes the Spellplague (lasting until 1395). Mystra’s death results in a release of chaotic raw magic defiled by the Far Realm, the very nature of arcane magic changes, and Toril transforms as it melds and exchanges parts with the sister-world of Abeir. Cyric is punished by being bound to his throne for one thousand years. Mezro, in Chult, appears to be destroyed by the Spellplage as its Barae protectors pull it into a demiplane to save it (and also to save it from Ras Nsi, saying it will not return until Ras Nsi is dead).
• 1444 DR: In Elturel, the priest of Torm, Thavius Kreeg, appeals to any power that will listen to save the city from a vampire lord. The Companion, a second sun, appeared over the skies of Elturel, remaining until 1494.
• 1451 DR – Eruption of Mount Hotenow, Much of Neverwinter is destroyed.
• 1482 to 1487 DR: Second Sundering, as Abeir and Toril separate due to Lord Ao once more creating the Tablets of Fate he had destroyed during the Time of Troubles. Mystra returns, and the Weave is resurrected along with her.

Published Adventures

• 1485 DR or later – perhaps end of 1486: Out of the Abyss
• 1489 DR: Hoard of the Dragon Queen and Rise of Tiamat
• 1490 to 1491 DR: Storm King’s Thunder
• 1491 DR: Lost Mine of Phandelver - Campaign date is 1495 DR
• 1491 DR: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
• 1491 DR: Princes of the Apocalypse
• 1491 DR: Curse of Strahd
• 1490 or 1491 DR: Tomb of Annihilation
• 1492 DR: Waterdeep: Dragon Heist and Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
• 1492 DR: Dragon of Icespire Peak
• 1492 DR: Candlekeep Mysteries
• 1489 DR or later, likely 1492 DR): Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
• 1492 DR: Descent Into Avernus
• 1495 DR: Homebrew Neverwinter Campaign