Hyrule Historia Timeline

Summary

The "Hyrule Historia" timeline is a crucial component of the expansive "The Legend of Zelda" series lore. Published in 2011 by Nintendo and Dark Horse Books, "Hyrule Historia" offers fans an official chronology that attempts to piece together the convoluted timeline of the Zelda universe. While it provided much-needed clarity to the series' overarching narrative, it also sparked considerable controversy within the fan community. While the "Hyrule Historia" timeline provided fans with valuable insights into the chronological order of events in "The Legend of Zelda" series, its canonical status and some of its placements remain points of contention among the fanbase. Nevertheless, it remains a fascinating and central aspect of the series, sparking ongoing discussions and deepening the appreciation of the rich, interconnected world of Hyrule.

The Three Timelines

The "Hyrule Historia" timeline divides the Zelda series into three separate but parallel timelines that branch from the pivotal event in "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time." These timelines are known as the Decline, Child, and Adult timelines.

Decline Timeline

This timeline follows the defeat of Link in "Ocarina of Time" by Ganon. As a result, Hyrule falls into a state of decline, leading to games such as "A Link to the Past," "Link's Awakening," and "A Link Between Worlds." It explores the consequences of Link's failure and the struggle to restore peace.

Child Timeline

In this timeline, Link is sent back to his original time following his victory over Ganon in "Ocarina of Time." It leads to games like "Majora's Mask," "Twilight Princess," and "Four Swords Adventures," where Link and Zelda continue their adventures in a world without Ganon's rule.

Adult Timeline

After Link defeats Ganon in "Ocarina of Time," he departs, and Princess Zelda sends him back to his childhood. This timeline features games like "The Wind Waker," "Phantom Hourglass," and "Spirit Tracks," where Hyrule is submerged beneath the Great Sea, and a new land emerges.

Controversies

Canonical Disagreements

One of the primary reasons for the controversy surrounding the "Hyrule Historia" timeline is the debate over its canonical status. Fans argue whether it should be considered as the definitive timeline or merely a reference guide created for fans. Some believe that the timeline was constructed retroactively to appease fans, rather than being a core component of the series' storytelling.

Timeline Placement

The placement of certain games within the timeline has also generated heated discussions. Games like "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" were initially deemed to be outside the established timelines due to their unique lore and setting, creating confusion among fans.

Complexity and Retcons

The complexity of the timeline and the series' frequent use of retcons (retroactive continuity changes) have frustrated some fans. These alterations to the lore sometimes seem contradictory and have led to debates regarding the consistency of the overall narrative.

Conclusion

While the "Hyrule Historia" timeline provided fans with valuable insights into the chronological order of events in "The Legend of Zelda" series, its canonical status and some of its placements remain points of contention among the fanbase. Nevertheless, it remains a fascinating and central aspect of the series, sparking ongoing discussions and deepening the appreciation of the rich, interconnected world of Hyrule.

A Chronology of the History of Hyrule

The chronology begins with the creation of heaven and earth, immediately followed by the events of Skyward Sword, It splits after Ocarina Of Time, with one timeline depictingthe events that follow Link's triumph over Ganon, and the other his defeat. The section of the timeline where Link triumphs is further divided into two separate realities: the Child Era, where Link returns to his original time, and the Adult Era, where the Hero Of Time disappears and Ganondorf is free to return unopposed.

The Legend of the Goddesses and the hero

Creation	The Creation of the Land and Sky
Era of the Goddess Hylia		Skyward Sword The Ancient Battle and the Reincarnation of the Goddess Hylia
Sky Era
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Era of Chaos	The Sacred Realm Is Sealed
Era of Prosperity	The Establishment of Hyrule Kingdom
Force Era		The Minish Cap The Rise of the Evil Vaati
		Four Swords The Resurrection of Vaati
Era of the Hero of Time	Hyrulean Civil War
		Ocarina of Time The Sacred Realm Becomes the Dark World

The decline of hyrule and the last hero

	The Imprisoning War
Era of the Light and Dark		A Link to the Past The Resurrection of Ganon
		Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons The Resurrection of Ganon
Golden Era
		Link's Awakening
	The Monarchs of Hyrule Use The Triforce
Era of Decline	The Tragedy of Princess Zelda I
		The Legend of Zelda The Resurrection of Ganon
		The Adventure of Link The Resurrection of Ganon Is Prevented

The twilight realm and the legacy of the hero

Era of the Light and Dark		Majora's Mask
	The Demon Thief, Ganondorf, Is Executed
Twilight Era		Twilight Princess The Shadow Invasion
Shadow Era		Four Swords Adventures The Reincarnation of Ganondorf

The hero of winds and a new world

	Ganondorf is Resurrected
Era without a Hero	Hyrule is Sealed and Then Flooded
Era of the Great Sea		The Wind Waker Ganondorf is Resurrected
		Phantom Hourglass
Era of the Great Voyage	New Continent Discovered
	A New Hyrule Kingdom Is Founded
Era of Hyrule's Rebirth		Spirit Tracks