Forgotten Realms Timeline
A chronological overview of major eras, cataclysms, and defining events that shaped Faerûn, from mythic prehistory through recorded history.
Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| Before Time | Ao establishes cosmic order; gods and primordials shape reality through open conflict. |
| -35,000 | Tearfall: Cataclysmic impact devastates Toril; continents shift; mass extinctions occur. |
| -30,000 | Days of Thunder: Dragon-giant wars dominate Toril; dragons eventually lose supremacy. |
| -12,000 to -9,000 | Crown Wars: Elven civil wars devastate Faerun; drow are created; elves abandon empire-building. |
| -3,850 | Founding of Netheril, a human magocracy of unparalleled arcane power. |
| -3,000 | Rise of the Imaskari Empire; planar magic blocks the gods from Toril. |
| -2,000 to -500 | Netheril reaches peak power; flying cities, mythallars, and 10th-12th level magic. |
| -1,000 | Jhaamdath, a psionic human empire, dominates the Inner Sea region. |
| -900 | Jhaamdath is destroyed by elven High Magic tidal wave; psionics become rare and distrusted. |
| -339 | Karsus's Folly: Karsus attempts to seize control of magic; Mystra dies; magic collapses; Netheril is destroyed; 10th+ level magic is permanently banned. |
| -248 | Netherese survivor states (Anauroch enclaves, shade precursors) fade or collapse. |
| -1500 to -500 | Mulhorand and Unther flourish under direct rule of incarnate gods. |
| 0 | Dalereckoning calendar begins. |
| 1-700 | Formation of early human kingdoms; Cormyr and the Dalelands emerge. |
| 700-1300 | Rise of major factions: Zhentarim, Red Wizards of Thay, Harpers. |
| 1358 | Time of Troubles: Gods cast to Toril in mortal form by Ao; widespread divine chaos. |
| 1358 | Deaths of Mystra, Bhaal, Myrkul, and Bane; Midnight ascends as the new Mystra; Cyric ascends. |
| 1359-1384 | Post–Time of Troubles recovery; magic stabilizes under the new Mystra. |
| 1385 | Spellplague: Mystra dies again; blue fire mutates magic, land, and creatures; Abeir and Toril partially merge. |
| 1385-1479 | Spellplague era; magical instability, lost lands, planar overlap. |
| 1480s | Second Sundering: Gods restore cosmic order; Abeir separates from Toril; Mystra returns; magic stabilizes. |
| 1490s-Present | Modern Forgotten Realms era (5e default): gods are distant, magic is stable but capped, ruins are everywhere. |