Star Wars Timeline & Historical Eras

Star Wars stories span thousands of years, but chronology becomes useful only when it explains change. The official StarWars.com era framework organizes the saga into broad periods from the Dawn of the Jedi to the New Jedi Order. This archive expands each period into a standalone file: an essay, a visual record, a reading path, and an anthropological interpretation of the communities and institutions that make each era feel different.

Chronology frontier: Canon and Legends

The archive now extends through the 35 ABY Canon sequel era and through the c. 140 ABY Legends Legacy epilogue. These are different continuities, not one uninterrupted version of galactic history. The archive links individual research dossiers; illustration provenance, sourcing, and interactive features remain under editorial review.

Canon endpoint: 35 ABY

Battle of Exegol and Rey's Tatooine visit.

Lucasfilm has announced Star Wars: Starfighter for a setting around 40 ABY, but the film remains unreleased as of this October 2026 update. Official announcement ↗

Legends: 35–139 ABY

Start at The Dark Nest Crisis, continue through the Second Galactic Civil War and the Ossus Project, and reach Darth Wredd's final battle, followed by the c. 140 ABY epilogue of Legacy #18.

The final Legacy comic is dated approximately 139 ABY by one reference; some compiled reading orders label its arc 140 ABY.

Earliest dated entry: c. 13,000,000,000 BBY: The Formation of the Star Wars Galaxy → This deep-prehistory file is Legends, not one of Lucasfilm's nine official eras.

A timeline is not a release-order list. It is a map of political and social conditions. The Jedi can be explorers, generals, fugitives, or teachers. The Republic can be a promise, a bureaucracy, a wartime state, or a fragile democracy. The Sith can appear as an ancient schism, a hidden lineage, a public empire, or a resurrected political myth. The same character can therefore connect several eras without being the same person in the same historical role.

Featured research path: 2975–2974 BBY

Follow the Alanciar campaign and the aftermath on Kesh in chronological order. Every linked dossier includes source artwork, independent analysis, and interactive historical questions. All events below belong to Legends, not current canon.

Following events, 2900–2500 BBY

Continuity labels matter at this point: the first five records are Legends, while the Drengir encounter is Canon.

c. 2900 BBY: Kaadara is founded as a Naboo royal retreat · Legends · approximate
2700 BBY: The fall of Kala'din on Ryloth · Legends · in-universe oral tradition
2519 BBY: The main hall of the Jedi Archives is completed · Legends
2510 BBY: The Jedi Archives' smaller chambers are restored · Legends
c. 2500 BBY: The Corusca gem rush at Yavin Prime · Legends · approximate
c. 2500 BBY: The Sith betray and imprison the Drengir · Canon · approximate

Canon 200–150 BBY

Canon: The Acolyte and the century before the prequels, 148–100 BBY

Republic-era biographies: 84–46 BBY

84 BBY: Sheev Palpatine is born on Naboo · Canon
c. 80 BBY: Qui-Gon Jinn is born · Canon
72 BBY: Mace Windu is born on Haruun Kal · Canon
c. 64 BBY: Wilhuff Tarkin is born into Eriadu's ruling elite · Canon
57 BBY: Obi-Wan Kenobi is born on Stewjon · Canon
54 BBY: Maul is born on Dathomir · Canon
46 BBY: Padmé Naberrie is born on Naboo · Canon

Republic chronology: 84–32 BBY

Biographies, institutional change, and the Naboo Crisis in Canon. Approximate dates are labeled.

From Naboo to the Clone Wars: 29–22 BBY

29 BBY: Obi-Wan and Anakin investigate Carnelion IV · Canon
29 BBY: Hera Syndulla is born on Ryloth · Canon
28 BBY: Padmé Amidala leaves the throne and becomes a senator · Canon
24 BBY: Dooku's Raxus Address launches the Separatist Crisis · Canon
22 BBY: Attempts on Padmé's life expose a hidden conspiracy · Canon
22 BBY: Obi-Wan discovers the clone army on Kamino · Canon
22 BBY: Separatist leaders consolidate their military pact on Geonosis · Canon
22 BBY: The Senate grants emergency powers to Palpatine · Canon
22 BBY: The First Battle of Geonosis begins the Clone Wars · Canon
22 BBY: Mace Windu kills Jango Fett on Geonosis · Canon
22 BBY: Anakin and Padmé secretly marry on Naboo · Canon

Clone Wars and the foundation of the Empire: 21–19 BBY

Imperial consolidation and the Clone Force 99 stories: 19–17 BBY

New illustrated Canon chapters following the Empire's destruction of Kamino, the stormtrooper transition, the Bad Batch's rescue missions, and the Erso family's escape.

Reign of the Empire: 16–9 BBY

New Canon research entries follow the erosion of local freedoms, the earliest Jedi survivor networks, the Erso family's loss, and the rise of Han Solo and Cal Kestis.

Backfilled 11 BBY history

11 BBY: Kanan Jarrus and Hera Syndulla meet during the Gorse conflict · Canon

From hidden resistance to public rebellion, 7–5 BBY

Imperial crisis on Lothal, Chandrila and Ghorman: 4–3 BBY

From Ghorman to the Death Star revelations, 2–1 BBY

Dating the Battle of Yavin: Earlier reference materials used “0 BBY” for the events surrounding Rogue One and A New Hope. The more recent Star Wars: Timelines and Galactic Atlas: Updated Edition place the immediate pre-Yavin events in 1 BBY, the battle at year zero, and its aftermath in 0 ABY. To avoid publishing the same stories twice, the consolidated sequence follows below. Older article URLs remain available for historical reference. Dating-system references ↗

From Scarif to the Battle of Yavin: 1 BBY to 0 ABY

Using the updated BBY/ABY convention, the events of Rogue One and the pre-Yavin scenes of A New Hope fall in 1 BBY. The Battle of Yavin marks year zero; the award ceremony follows in 0 ABY. This sequence separates the teams, places, and consequences.

From the victory at Yavin to the attack on Mako-Ta: 0–1 ABY

Mid Rim setbacks and the Battle of Hoth: 2–3 ABY

Canon entries track the failure of the Mid Rim Offensive, Poe Dameron's birth, the Shu-Torun raid, and the events of The Empire Strikes Back.

Major turning points: Hoth to Jakku

Follow the key events without repeating the complete chronology lists. Related battles retain separate dossiers for ground, fleet and political history.

3 ABY · HothA hidden base falls; the Alliance escapes under fireRead dossier →3 ABY · BespinA family revelation changes Luke's understandingRead dossier →4 ABY · RescueAllies confront Jabba's captivity regimeRead dossier →4 ABY · EndorGround, fleet and Jedi struggles convergeRead dossier →5 ABY · JakkuThe New Republic defeats the principal Imperial fleetRead dossier →5 ABY · Peace settlementThe main war ends through negotiated termsRead dossier →

New Republic and restored Jedi history: 9–28 ABY

From the underworld auction to Endor: 3–4 ABY

Canon chronology: First Order and Resistance, 34–35 ABY

New Republic: the recovery of Kashyyyk and Leia's family, 4–5 ABY

Legends: The Yuuzhan Vong War, 25–29 ABY

Ten illustrated research dossiers recover the New Jedi Order's invasion, the losses of Chewbacca and Anakin Solo, the fall of Coruscant, the Battle of Ebaq 9 and the terms of peace. These events are Legends and do not occur in Canon's 25–29 ABY.

Later Legends history: 35–45 ABY

Continuity fork: These books take place in Legends, an alternate continuity. The Canon sequel era already listed above has a separate history.

Life in the New Republic: the Mandalorian, Tatooine and At Attin (c. 9 ABY)

Canon storylines share an approximate year, without a fully established ordering between every series.

The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026 film): during or after 11 ABY

The newest released New Republic-era feature follows Din and his apprentice and introduces adult Rotta the Hutt. The precise in-universe year is not firmly established; these are Canon events that occur after season three of The Mandalorian.

The next generation and the hidden Sith: 11–21 ABY

11 ABY: The future stormtrooper Finn is born · Canon
15 ABY: Rey is born on Hyperkarn · Canon
15 ABY: Ben Solo becomes Luke Skywalker's Jedi student · Canon
21 ABY: Luke and Lando investigate the hidden Sith network · Canon
21 ABY: Rey's parents hide her on Jakku and are killed by Ochi · Canon

Far-future Legends: 122–c. 140 ABY

Follow the Ossus terraforming project, the Sith–Imperial War, Darth Krayt's coup, Cade Skywalker's return and the final Legacy comic conflicts. These are Legends, not continuations of Canon Exegol.

New Republic backfilled history: Alphabet Squadron, Ben Solo, Kashyyyk and Skeleton Crew

These Canon entries fill important gaps among the 4–9 ABY events. Different stories sharing an approximate year do not necessarily have a verified within-year order.

New Republic and Resistance backfill, 2–35 ABY

Birth dates and the Colossus resistance arc in Canon, with approximate years where the episode guides establish relative rather than exact timing.

Future Canon placement: c. 40 ABY

Star Wars: Starfighter: confirmed setting and currently announced information · Unreleased preview; full events not yet known.

Legends: post-Yavin Republic and Yuuzhan Vong history, 6–29 ABY

Legends only. These events take place in an alternate continuity, distinct from the Canon New Republic. The treaty in Legends occurs in 19 ABY, while the Canon Galactic Concordance is dated 5 ABY.

6 ABY: Rogue Squadron helps the New Republic capture Coruscant · Legends
9 ABY: Grand Admiral Thrawn challenges the New Republic in Heir to the Empire · Legends
10 ABY: The Dark Empire reveals a reborn Palpatine on Byss · Legends
11 ABY: Luke establishes the Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4 · Legends
19 ABY: The Pellaeon–Gavrisom Treaty ends the Legends civil war · Legends
25 ABY: Yuuzhan Vong invasion begins; Chewbacca dies at Sernpidal · Legends
27 ABY: The Yuuzhan Vong conquer Coruscant and rename it Yuuzhan'tar · Legends
29 ABY: The Yuuzhan Vong War ends and the Galactic Alliance reclaims Coruscant · Legends

Legends: the Dark Nest, Lost Tribe and the Legacy comics (35–139 ABY)

The late Legends era continues across several centuries. The 127–130 ABY Sith–Imperial War and the subsequent One Sith Empire are separate from the First Order and sequel-film Canon.

Legends: ecological sabotage and the final Legacy-era war

Additional source-driven chapters examine the Ossus Project of 122 ABY, the sabotage on Wayland, the campaign against the Mon Calamari on Dac, and Darth Krayt's restoration to the Sith throne.

44 ABY Legends: legal responsibility after the Second Galactic Civil War

44 ABY: Tahiri Veila's murder trial, conviction and death sentence → · Legends

44 ABY Legends: slavery, inherited treaties and public protest

44 ABY · Klatooinian rebels reject the ancient Treaty of Vontor · Legends
44 ABY · Peaceful Octusi protesters are attacked on Blaudu Sextus · Legends

Legends research path: Lost Tribe and Fate of the Jedi, c. 41–44 ABY

These new illustrated history dossiers fill the transition between Darth Caedus's defeat and the later Legacy comics. Each page includes actual published-book artwork, a chronological record, institutional analysis and an interactive source lab. They are Legends, not Canon.

Expanded sequel chronology: the Resistance pursuit and the Supremacy, 34 ABY

Six Canon history dossiers, each with representative or event-specific artwork, source notes and an interactive evidence lab.

Expanded sequel chronology: the Sith return and Kijimi, 35 ABY

Verified scenes from The Rise of Skywalker: the wayfinders, Pasaana, Kijimi, Kef Bir, Luke's final lesson and Ben Solo's sacrifice.

Galactic underworld: Star Wars Outlaws, c. 3 ABY

The inter-film story of Kay Vess and her allies, clearly marked Canon, follows syndicate politics from Cantonica to Toshara, Kijimi and beyond.

Explore the full timeline archive

Find every published timeline dossier—not just the selected entries in this overview. Search events, filter Canon and Legends where the article explicitly identifies its continuity, and see which pages still need pictures or more research.

Open the complete searchable timeline directory →

Late Legends: History, technology, and Skywalker family life, 45–121 ABY

View the 44–140 ABY coverage audit, dated gaps and source limitations →

Interactive 46–121 ABY evidence map: filter documented events, approximate dates and genuinely unsupported years →

Between 45 and 127 ABY: The Fel Empire, Victory Without War and the Imperial Mission, with dating limits explained →

Rarely documented years now have original illustrated research dossiers. These entries describe Legends only and distinguish published facts from partisan interpretations of galactic history.

127 ABY: Beyond the Sith–Imperial War's declaration

Legends accounts cover the secret Jedi sanctuary, the battle that changed Mandalorian leadership, and the return of an ancient Sith plague aboard the Iron Sun.

Legends New Republic stories: 8–22 ABY

Full original illustrated chapters on Dathomir, the Black Fleet Crisis, Corellia and the lost Outbound Flight expedition. Canon has a different history.

New Republic Legends: the Darksaber, Adumar, Jaden Korr and Kueller (12–17 ABY)

Additional illustrated, source-critical research dossiers explore a Hutt superweapon, local political institutions, an ancient Sith cult and terrorism against the New Republic.

Legends bridge: Second Galactic Civil War and Fate of the Jedi, 40–44 ABY

These entries belong exclusively to the Legends continuity and must not be conflated with the Canon sequel era.

Explore the Old Republic era file →

The archive

Choose an era

Nine files · films · television · books · comics · games

Deep history · canon boundary open

Dawn of the Jedi

How the Jedi, Republic, and Sith become possible in the first place.

Open era file ↗ 02

Canon framework · Legends-heavy

The Old Republic

Revan, Sith empires, Mandalorian wars, and the politics of memory.

Open era file ↗ 03

Centuries before Anakin

The High Republic

Expansion, Starlight Beacon, the Great Disaster, and the Nihil.

Open era file ↗ 04

32–19 BBY · Clone Wars

Fall of the Jedi

The Republic becomes a battlefield, and Order 66 turns the army on its guardians.

Open era file ↗ 05

19 BBY onward · occupation

Reign of the Empire

Imperial administration, extraction, surveillance, and the birth of resistance.

Open era file ↗ 06

c. 5 BBY–4 ABY · civil war

Age of Rebellion

Scarif, Yavin, Hoth, Endor, and the coalition beneath the heroic myth.

Open era file ↗ 07

4–34 ABY · reconstruction

The New Republic

Jakku, amnesty, Mandalore, frontier governance, and unresolved remnants.

Open era file ↗ 08

34–35 ABY · sequel era

Rise of the First Order

Hosnian Prime, Crait, Exegol, stolen identities, and generational repair.

Open era file ↗ 09

Post-Exegol · future-facing

New Jedi Order

Rey, the old texts, Legends comparisons, and the social design of a second founding.

Open era file ↗

Events & Battles archive: The nine eras now connect to dedicated historical dossiers for the Great Disaster, Naboo Crisis, Geonosis, the Clone Wars, Order 66, the Great Jedi Purge, Mandalore's Great Purge, Atollon, Lothal, Scarif, Yavin, Hoth, Endor, Jakku, Hosnian Prime, Crait, and Exegol. Explore the event archive →

Chronology at a glance

Deep Prehistory · Legendsc. 13,000,000,000 BBY: formation of the galaxy, followed by billions of years of stellar, planetary, and biological development before known galactic institutions.

Dawn of the JediDeep history. Current canon establishes the founding pattern, not a complete date or storyline.

Old RepublicA long Republic–Jedi–Sith age. Current canon is reopening the period; KOTOR and SWTOR remain Legends context.

High RepublicSeveral centuries before The Phantom Menace; the central publishing program sits roughly 150–300 years before Anakin.

Fall of the Jedi32–19 BBY: Naboo, Geonosis, the Clone Wars, Anakin’s fall, and Order 66.

Reign of the EmpireBeginning in 19 BBY: imperial consolidation, Jedi survival, occupation, and early rebellion.

Age of RebellionRoughly 5 BBY–4 ABY: cells become an Alliance; Scarif, Yavin, Hoth, and Endor.

New RepublicAfter Endor into the pre-sequel decades: Jakku, reconstruction, Mandalore, and Imperial remnants.

Rise of the First Order34–35 ABY: the sequel trilogy and the final Sith-backed attempt to restore authoritarian rule.

New Jedi OrderAfter Exegol: an official future-facing era with a still-developing canon story corpus; Legends supplies comparison, not canon fact.

For collectors: A card can be a cross-era object. Ahsoka links the Clone Wars, the Empire, and the New Republic; Bo-Katan links the Clone Wars, imperial occupation, and Mandalorian restoration; Cassian links the Empire’s everyday violence to the Alliance’s victory; Revan belongs to the Old Republic’s Legends gaming archive. Use the era files to keep those appearances connected to the social worlds that produced them.