Timeline
Bioware have provided a timeline of events that are relevant to the game. [1]
-186 Ancient
Andraste Introduces The Maker
Andraste preaches of a new creator, whom she calls the Maker. The more she says, the more her following grows. Maferath uses her teachings to unite the Alamarri clans under his authority.
-130 Ancient
Chant of Light
Andraste's disciples create the Chant of Light, collecting her teachings into hymns.
-100 Ancient
The First Inquisition
The Inquisition is founded around this time. The loose association of Andrastian hard-liners hunt heretics and mages in the name of the Maker.
-3 Ancient
Chantry is Created
Drakon formalizes the Cult of the Maker, creating the Chantry.
1:1 Divine
First Divine
Divine Justinia I is named the first Divine of the new Chantry.
1:20 Divine
Nevarran Accord
The Chantry and the Inquisition sign the Nevarran Accord. Senior members of the Inquisition form the Seekers of Truth.
1:20 Divine
Circle of Magi is Created
The Circle of Magi is created as part of the Nevarran Accord. Mages are now formally permitted to practice magic under the close watch of the Chantry.
1:20 Divine
Templar Order is Formed
With the creation of the Circle, the Templar Order is formed to police magic use.
2:30 Glory
Winter Palace Retreat
The Winter Palace, by far the most prominent structure in Halamshiral, becomes a regular seasonal retreat for the empress and selected Orlesian nobility.
2:46 Glory
Pentaghast Seizes Nevarra
Caspar Pentaghast of Hunter Fell seizes control of the city-state Nevarra.
8:96 Blessed
Queen Moira is Assassinated
Queen Moira is assassinated. Orlesian forces leverage her death to tighten their grip on Ferelden. Her son Maric escapes.
8:98 Blessed
House Tethras is Exiled
House Tethras is exiled to the surface for denying the Voice of the Ancestors and willfully manipulating the sacred Provings.
8:99 Blessed
Dragons Return
Believed hunted to extinction, dragons emerge first in Antiva, then devastate rural Orlais and Nevarra. Repeated attempts to cull their numbers end in heavy casualties.
9:1 Dragon
The Dragon Age Begins
The Dragon Age begins. It is predicted to be an age of violence and upheaval.
9:10 Dragon
Grey Wardens Return to Ferelden
King Maric allows the Grey Wardens to return to Ferelden after two ages of exile for their failed coup attempt.
9:20 Dragon
Celene Becomes Empress
Empress Celene I ascends to the throne in Orlais.
9:20 Dragon
Ferelden and Orlais Make Peace
Soon after Celene I assumes the Orlesian throne, Ferelden and Orlais officially make peace.
9:22 Dragon
Cassandra Pentaghast Named a Hand of the Divine
The Grand Cathedral is set upon by dragons during a ten-year gathering of Chantry faithful. A young Seeker named Cassandra Pentaghast foils what is revealed to be a conspiracy to kill Divine Beatrix III. She is named a hand of the Divine.
9:30 Dragon
The Hawke Family Flees
The Hawke family flees the destruction of Lothering and travels to Kirkwall, where they begin indentured servitude in order to obtain entry to the city.
9:30 Dragon
The Fifth Blight Begins
The shortest of the five recorded blights begins in the Korcari Wilds of Ferelden after the Architect attempts to make a disciple of the Old God Urthemiel.
9:31 Dragon
Qunari Shipwreck Near Kirkwall
A Qunari dreadnought is shipwrecked near Kirkwall, stranding their Arishok and hundreds of soldiers in the city. They refuse to leave until they recover the stolen Tome of Koslun.
9:31 Dragon
Hawke Attempts to Destroy Corypheus
Hawke enters the Warden prison in the Vimmark Mountains and attempts to destroy Corypheus. History is vague on when exactly this occurs.
9:31 Dragon
Deep Roads Expedition
The eldest Hawke, released from servitude, helps fund an expedition into the Deep Roads with dwarven brothers Bartrand and Varric Tethras.
9:31 Dragon
The Fifth Blight Ends
A united Ferelden, led by the Hero of Ferelden, slays Urthemiel at the Battle of Denerim, ending the Fifth Blight.
9:31 Dragon
Lyrium Idol Recovered
The Deep Roads Expedition at Kirkwall discovers an ancient thaig that predates the First Blight. Inside is lyrium that glows red. An idol made of the strange lyrium is recovered.
9:34 Dragon
Mother Dorothea Named Divine
Revered Mother Dorothea is named Divine Justinia V.
9:34 Dragon
First Battle of Kirkwall
Hawke successfully drives the Qunari out in the First Battle of Kirkwall, and is named Champion by Kirkwall's Knight-Commander Meredith Stannard.
9:34 Dragon
Divine Beatrix III Dies
Divine Beatrix III, long suffering from dementia, succumbs to old age.
9:37 Dragon
The Mage-Templar War Begins
Anders, an apostate and friend of Hawke, destroys the Kirkwall chantry with the grand cleric still inside, inciting the Mage-Templar War that spreads throughout Thedas.
9:37 Dragon
Clash at Kirkwall
Hawke leads the push to stop the mages and templars as they clash in Kirkwall. The city's First Enchanter Orsino and Knight-Commander Meredith are both killed.
9:38 Dragon
Dissent in Orlais
Unrest brews in Orlais as Grand Duke Gaspard de Chalons stirs dissent against reigning Empress Celene I.
9:40 Dragon
Cassandra Pentaghast Arrives in Kirkwall
Seeker Cassandra Pentaghast, acting under the authority of the Divine, arrives in Kirkwall and interrogates Varric Tethras about Hawke.
9:40 Dragon
Circle of Magi Disbanded
Lord Seeker Lambert declares the Circle of Magi no more
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