Hyrulean History, or "The Events from the Age of the Gods to the Present-day"
SYMBOL LEGEND
‡ = Historical or contextual footnote
† = Speculation; subject to debate
◆ = Transitional relationship between Demon King Ganondorf and Ganon
THE BEGINNING — THE CREATION OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
Hyrule is created by the Three Golden Goddesses.
The Triforce and secret stones are produced.
The world is entrusted to the Goddess Hylia.
THE AGE OF THE GODS — A long era in which a single race arose, flourished, and perished. Divided for convenience into three periods.
The birth of the people known as the Zonai—the closest race to the gods.
† Zonai traits, such as their large ears and magical abilities, may represent a primordial form later inherited by their descendants—the Hylians (Source: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Master Works, P.453).
The Goddess entrusts the Zonai with safeguarding the secret stones.
‡ Goddess worship likely originates within Zonai civilization. Goddess statues are among the oldest known structures in Hyrule (Source: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Master Works, P.374).
The Zonai prosper on the surface.
The Depths are discovered and developed.
Zonai civilization advances rapidly.
‡ Due to the processing of “Zonaite”, a mineral deposit discovered in abundance in the Depths, both raw building materials and a new power source were extracted. With these developments, the Zonai civilization achieved feats of incredible engineering. One of these engineering marvels was the creation of automatons called “Constructs”. Steward constructs were the first of these robots designed, but many other varieties shortly followed suit (Source: Rauru, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom).
The Zonai abandon the surface and ascend into the sky.
‡ During the war against Demise, land is lifted into the sky to protect humanity, separating the sky and surface (Source: Prologue, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword).
† It is said that the Goddess forged a sacred blade to repel evil (Source: Great Deku Tree, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild).
Mining continues in the Depths via constructs.
The Zonai prosper in the sky.
‡ Goddess Hylia is reincarnated among her people (Source: The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Encyclopedia, P.008).
† It is said that the Hylians can trace their lineage back to their reborn Goddess (Source: The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Encyclopedia, P.008).
† Some Zonai may have descended to the surface, forming the roots of the Hylian lineage (Source: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Master Works, P.453).
Surface tribes form independent communities. The Gerudo tribes establish their nation in the desert.
The birth of the Hylians.
The Zonai construct facilities (later called temples) across the surface to improve quality of life.
FOUNDING PERIOD OF THE KINGDOM OF HYRULE
The collapse of Zonai civilization unfolds.
‡ The Zonai faced an unprecedented crisis which decimated their population, the details of which have been lost to time (Source: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Master Works, P.380)
† It is speculated that a war over control of the secret stones may have been responsible. During this infighting, an advanced weaponized construct model was produced. However, these machines went berserk and turned on their makers, bringing the world to ruin (Source: Mineru, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment).
As their population declines, the Zonai survivors descend once more to the surface.
‡ Ongoing research suggests the Zonai descended together with their city, later known as the Great Sky Island (Source: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Master Works, P.380).
The Zonai come into limited contact with the surface tribes, though their numbers continue to dwindle.
◆ THE DEMON KING
Ganondorf is born among the Gerudo. He later transforms into the “Demon King”—an unprecedented threat opposed directly by King Rauru, one of the last remaining Zonai.
Rauru and Sonia, a Hylian priestess, are wed.
‡ This union is regarded as the origin of the royal bloodline, combining Zonai authority with the Hylian lineage (Source: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Master Works, P.385).
Rauru and Sonia undertake the Pilgrimage of Light.
Hyrule Kingdom is founded, with Rauru and Sonia as its first king and queen.
Their castle is built upon the Great Plateau.
Princess Zelda arrives in this era bearing the Purah Pad.
The birth of the Demon King. Queen Sonia passes away.
The Imprisoning War: the allied surface tribes struggle against the Demon King for supremacy.
Rauru sacrifices his life to seal the Demon King beneath the land that will one day become Hyrule Castle.
‡ Rauru’s death heralds the end of the Age of the Gods. The Demon King’s hatred remains imprisoned, enduring far beyond this era (Source: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Master Works, P.393).
The damaged Master Sword arrives through time.
Mineru’s spirit is preserved within the Purah Pad.
Princess Zelda leaves the Purah Pad with Mineru’s steward construct.
Princess Zelda swallows her secret stone, and transforms into the Light Dragon. The restoration of the Master Sword begins.
The Great Sky Island is raised into the heavens by the sages.
Construction of the next Hyrule Castle begins.
‡ This castle was built to safeguard the Imprisoning Chamber deep beneath the earth. It was feared that, should that site ever be disturbed, the Demon King’s hatred and rage would be revived, bringing calamity to the land (Source: Royal Hidden Passageway, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom).
LONG AGO — THE ERA OF MYTH
Hyrule prospers under the rule of the Hylian royal family.
◆ THE CALAMITY, GANON
Over time, the sealed Demon King’s malice manifests as “Ganon”—a primal evil who takes the form of a Gerudo. The duty of resisting his evil dominion now falls upon the Hyrulean royal family and its heroes.
‡ His ambitions quashed, the Gerudo man transforms into Dark Beast Ganon. Ganon is sealed by the combined power of the sages and Hyrule’s princess (Source: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Master Works, P.395).
‡ Princess Ruto of the Zora and Nabooru of the Gerudo are remembered as sages of this era. In later ages, the Divine Beasts Vah Ruta and Vah Naboris are named in their honor (Source: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Master Works, P.361).
Ganon is resurrected and sealed many times…
MORE THAN 10,000 YEARS AGO
Hyrule Kingdom prospers under the Hylians.
† Following the events of The Adventure of Link, the kingdom of Hyrule enters a period of bright renewal (Source: The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia, P.109).
Construction of Zora’s Domain begins.
‡ Hyrule and the Zora jointly construct the East Reservoir Lake. The Zora vow to watch over its water levels thereafter (Source: Zora History, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild).
Calamity Ganon emerges.
‡ Known as both Great Demon King and Calamity, Dark Beast Ganon is considered to be his original form (Source: Hyrule Compendium, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild).
† Great Demon King Ganon has been defeated by many heroes up to this point. Through successive resurrections, all trace of his humanity have disappeared, and he appears as a mindless beast of pure hatred and rage (Source: Hyrule Historia, P.106)
Ganon is sealed away by the hero and the royal family.
~10,000 YEARS AGO — ANCIENT HYRULE
Sheikah technology advances Hyrule’s civilization.
Ganon’s inevitable resurrection prompts the construction of relics such as the Divine Beasts and the Guardians.
Through their technology, the Sheikah assist the hero wielding the Master Sword and the princess with sacred power in sealing Ganon away.
The king of Hyrule at this time orders the abandonment of Sheikah technology, out of fear that its awesome power could be misused.
‡ The ancient Zonai civilization previously collapsed due to a misuse of powerful technology (Source: Mineru, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment)
The Sheikah relics are buried.
The Sheikah tribe is scattered. It splinters into various factions; the Yiga Clan later forms from a militant group.
~100 YEARS AGO — THE GREAT CALAMITY
Princess Zelda is born to King Rhoam of Hyrule and his queen.
Following a fortune-teller’s prophecy, preparations against Ganon’s resurrection begin.
The Sheikah are welcomed back into the royal court.
Excavations begin across Hyrule.
The queen of Hyrule passes away suddenly, a year before Zelda’s training would begin.
The Guidance Stones are discovered.
The Sheikah Slate is discovered by Zelda and Purah.
The Divine Beasts and Guardians are unearthed.
‡ Link, the son of a knight of the Imperial Guard, finds the Master Sword (Source: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Master Works, P.370).
Four warriors are selected from among the tribes to pilot the Divine Beasts.
These pilots, together with Link and Zelda, are dubbed “Champions”.
Princess Zelda struggles to awaken her sealing power.
Calamity Ganon revives from beneath Hyrule Castle.
The Divine Beasts are seized—the Guardians as well.
The Great Calamity: The Champions fall. Hyrule Kingdom collapses.
Zelda awakens her powers protecting Link from a rogue Guardian.
Link, gravely wounded, is placed in the Shrine of Resurrection along with the Sheikah Slate.
The Master Sword is enshrined in the Korok Forest to heal.
Zelda restrains Ganon at Hyrule Castle.
A FEW YEARS AGO — SUBDUING THE CALAMITY
Zelda’s power begins to wane.
Link awakens at the Shrine of Resurrection.
Guided by the princess, Link takes up the Sheikah Slate.
Sheikah Towers emerge across Hyrule.
Ganon stirs in Hyrule Castle.
Control of the Divine Beasts is wrested back from Ganon.
Link recovers the Master Sword from the Korok Forest.
Link faces Calamity Ganon, who appears in an incomplete state.
RESTORATIONS AFTER THE CALAMITY
Hyrule Castle is left in a state of decay.
‡ The castle’s state was due to the damages caused during the Great Calamity 100 years ago. Because of this decay, the magic holding Demon King Ganondorf weakened (Source: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom).
The Divine Beasts and ancient Sheikah relics vanish.
Restoration efforts begin across Hyrule.
Purah and Robbie develop the Purah Pad.
‡ Although this was a joint effort, Robbie is a bit grumbly that their device was named after Purah alone (Source: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom).
The Historical Survey Team (later, Zonai Survey Team) is formed by Princess Zelda.
Lookout Landing is established.
Leadership transitions occur among the tribes.
Skyview Towers are constructed.
An outbreak of gloom emerges from beneath Hyrule Castle.
Link and Zelda set out to investigate.
Demon King Ganondorf awakens.
Link is gravely injured. The Master Sword shatters.
Princess Zelda falls, and travels into the past.
The Upheaval: Hyrule Castle rises into the air, deep holes open, and ruins fall from the sky.
Unusual phenomena occur all across Hyrule.
The Zonai Survey Team investigates both the ruins and the newly-discovered Depths.
The monster-control crew is formed.
Link awakens on the Great Sky Island, and meets the spirit of Rauru.
The steward construct presents the Purah Pad to Link.
The decayed Master Sword travels into the past.
Four Sages awaken from among the tribes.
Mineru’s spirit awakens as the Sage of Spirit.
The Master Sword is returned to Link, fully restored.
Demon King Ganondorf is defeated.
Princess Zelda’s humanity is restored.
Editorial Note: The boundaries between ages, eras, and periods presented here are provisional. As with all studies of Hyrulean history, interpretations may shift as new records, ruins, or testimonies come to light.
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