Warning: THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS SPOILERS! The basic storyline may be an integral part of the Birthright backstory, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some things in this novel that are better appreciated when read rather than stumbled upon. After all, isn’t half the fun in getting there? If you haven’t yet read The Iron Throne, and you consider yourself at all a Birthright fan, you owe it to yourself to go out and get your hands on a copy right away.

This chronology is the first, tentative step towards a comprehensive chronology of all things Cerilian(and Adurian, and Djaparan, etc.). Before the year is out, I hope to have updated this timeline to include the events of Simon Hawke’s sequel, War, and some speculation as to the plot of its’ late and much-lamented follow-up Siege. Questions, corrections and any other comments can be directed to the above email address.

All dates, unless otherwise noted, are in Haelyn’s Count(HC).

0 HC, post-Deismaar- Prince Raesene(bringing his battle standard with him) flees to the north with his followers to the lands known as the Crown, carving out a domain and building the fortress of Kal-Saitharak(now(c. 973) called Battlewaite: the walled city that grew up around it is called Kal-Saitharak) over the centuries; by c. 860, rumors have spread that he has gone hopelessly insane- these rumors are still believed c. 973(IT: 399-400, 402,434, 436)

c. 450- Halflings start crossing over to Cerilia(IT: 16)

"since before Michael’s grandfather was born" - Fhilerwyn begins ruling(IT: 139)

c. 850- Callador is born(IT: 375)- This is only a vague guess: Callador is described as being "ancient" on pages 261and 437, presumably having used magic to augment his lifespan, and his halfling ancestry(pg. 308) may have granted him extra years.

c. 860- The last recorded meeting with the Gorgon: a trader’s visit to Kal-Saitharak(the actual account is stored in the Imperial Library at Anuire c. 973)(IT: 401-402)

c. 880- Hadrian IV Roele born(IT:4)

c. 882- Baladore Trevane is born(IT: 149)

c. 890- Lord Korven is born(IT: 208, 382)

c. 895- Sylvanna Aurealis is born(IT: 163)

c. 900- Callador contracts a disease that makes most of his body hair fall out(IT: 261)- The exact date is unknown, only that it was before 958.

c. 900- Rhialla(senior midwife of the Imperial palace in 973) is born(IT: 381)

c. 905- Arwyn Boeruine is born(IT: 58, 63)

c. 915- Empress Raesa is born(IT: 4, 384), Count Basil of Norcross is born(IT: 406-407)

c. summer(beginning of June) 930- Hadrian and Raesa are married(it is an arranged marriage- IT: 385)(IT: 4- Biologically, the latest possible date that the Imperial couple could have begun producing their 8 children was summer 933(As of summer 950, all 7 daughters were still alive and escaped with Tieran(IT: 58,152))

c. winter (February)931- Laera Roele is born(IT: 58)

c. 931- Caelum Ghieste and Taelan Alam born(IT: 198, 203, 276)

c. 932- Moergan Aerenwe is born, as is his future wife Vivianne (IT: 388)

c. 932- Rhiannon Roele is born(the actual birth order of the last 6 Roele girls is unknown)(IT)

Veneration of the Sleeping(autumnal equinox), 932- Aedan Dosiere is born in the City of Anuire(IT: 3,12, 230). *Note: Aedan’s statement that he will turn 69 on next year’s autumnal equinox is obviously wrong, since this would make the current date Eve of the Dead, 1000.

c. 933- Corielle Roele is born(IT)

c. 934- Kristana Roele is born(IT)

c. 935- 5th Roele girl is born(IT)

c. 936- 6th Roele girl is born(IT)

c. 937 - 7th Roele girl is born(IT)

c. 937- Derwyn Boeruine is born(IT: 11, 252, 265- he was part of Michael’s ‘army’, so he could not have been more than 13 in 950)

938- Lady Ariel is born(IT: 26)

Night of Fire(summer solstice), 938- Michael Roele is born at Summer Court(IT: 3, 4,13).

938- Aedan learns about the Shadow World from the older boys at court(IT: 17)

c. 940- Duchess Eugenie Sariele begins to rule Coeranys in the stead of her sick husband(IT: 199)

943- Michael learns about the Shadow World from Aedan(IT: 17)

944- Laera is promised to Arywn- the marriage was to take place in the spring of 951(IT:58,63)

947- Michael forces Aedan to play "Gheallie sidhe" with him(IT: 18)

948- Aedan protests to Tieran about Michael(IT: 23); Davan Durien’s 2nd-youngest son is born(IT: 348)

shortly after autumnal equinox, 950- Aedan’s first visit to the Green Basilisk(IT: 117), a few months before Hadrian’s death(IT:120)

sometime between c. 937 and Summer Court 950- Derwyn’s mother dies(IT: 251)

post-Night of Fire summer(Michael was already 12), 950- Book I- Abduction

1st day, afternoon- mock battle(IT: 11-36)

2 hours later- Corwin released(IT: 46)

that evening- Aedan talks w/Tieran(IT: 49)

almost midnight- Laera and Aedan’s 1st ‘encounter’(IT: 58)

next afternoon- Aedan is forced to tie Michael to the bed, until he agrees not to make a break for it(IT: 45)

next day- Michael’s ‘bed rest’ is ended(IT:45)

over the next several weeks- Laera continues to carry on with Aedan(IT: 73), Hadrian’s health worsens, Raesa continues in her attempts to marry off her daughters(IT: 47)

By now, the summer season is barely half over(IT: 53)

Morning, kidnapping day- Aedan repudiates Laera, Michael sets out alone, Aedan hurries after him(IT: 73)

Hadrian dies(IT: 151)

~ 1 hour after Aedan argues with Laera- Michael and Aedan are captured(IT: 84)

Arwyn sets out with a "search party"; Tieran takes the royal family and heads for Anuire(IT: 152)

afternoon- Goblins stop for a rest(IT: 92)

well after dark- Goblins stop for the night(IT: 99)

early morning("a few hours before dawn"(IT: 123)- escape and rescue(IT: 102)- first time either Aedan or Michael had ever seen elves(IT: 122)

afternoon- touchdown in Tuarhievel(IT: 130)

3 days after Hadrian’s death- Tieran and the Imperial family arrive in Anuire(IT: 153)

Over the next year(IT: 181)(Just about a week to Aedan and Michael(IT: 190))

Talinie and Taeghas declare for Arwyn(IT: 188-189)

Avanil declares for Tieran(IT: 191)

Brosengae declares for Arwyn, Diemed declares for Tieran(IT: 191)

summer, 951- A little over a year after Hadrian’s death- Tieran receives Aedan’s letter(IT: 190)

Book II- Birthright

2 days after they leave Tuaranreigh- Aedan, Michael, and the elves ‘cross over’ to the Shadow World in the Stonecrowns(IT: 173)

Arrival at Anuire, coronation of Michael(IT: 196), alliance w/ Tuarhievel

Refusals of aid from the outlying provinces, Ghieste being raided by gnolls from the Spiderfell(IT: 196)

summer, 951(after Michael’s 13th birthday)- 1st campaign(IT: 192,193,197-198)- Ghieste declares for Michael; Caelum Ghieste joins Michael with a third of Ghieste’s army

c. 951- Vaesil marries Caitlin(IT: 290)

Dhalaene and Elinie presumably declare for Michael, since the Imperial Army would have to cross those lands on a campaign into Elinie(IT)

Arwyn allies with Thurazor, recruits mercenaries from the 5 Peaks(IT: 195)

(c. 952?)-1st Coeranys campaign(IT: 200-201)

952- Davan Durien’s youngest son born(IT: 348); presumably by now Aedan has begun to let his beard grow in(IT: 6)

2nd Coeranys campaign(IT: 200-201), Boeruine’s attack on Alamie and Avanil(IT: 201-205); Alamie and Western Alamie declare for Michael; Viscount Taelan Alam joins Michael with part of Alamie’s army; Michael conceives the idea of the "Shadow World offense"

Awnsheghlien become restless, Markazor attacks human holdings in the area, Ghamouran raiders attack Osoerde, gnolls from the Iron Hills attack Coeranys(between 2nd Coeranys campaign and 953)(IT: 205-206)

953- this year marks the point at which Arwyn would have run out of money, had Brosengae’s guilds not given him massive loans(IT: 259)

Michael turns 15(IT: 207)

Summer 953- gnolls attack Coeranys, 3rd Coeranys campaign(IT: 205-207)- Coeranys declares for Michael

c. 953(?)- Michael hits puberty, his blood ability "protection from evil" manifests(IT: 235), Caitlin’s father dies and leaves his business to her and Vaesil(IT: 291)

954- Michael turns 16, manifests the blood ability "divine wrath" in battle against gnolls(probably during another Coeranys campaign)(IT: 240)

c. 954(?)-Campaigns in Osoerde, Mhoried, Alamie(vs. Arwyn) and Baruk-Azhik after 3rd Coeranys campaign(IT: 207)

c. 955(?)- Michael’s beard begins to grow in; Derwyn and Michael sight each other on the battlefield(IT: 25)

956- Rodric, son of Count Basil of Norcross, is born(IT: 407)

957- Tieran Dosiere dies while Aedan and Michael are on campaign, his wife Lady Jessica survives him(IT: 183,192); Faelina Aerenwe is born(IT: 388)

c. 957- Laera becomes a spy for Arwyn(IT: 308)

958- the half-elf Gella is born(IT: 409)

by 958- the Heartlands and most of the Eastern Marches(possibly Osoerde remains outside Imperial control) are secured, the Northern Marches and the Rjurik Highlands are still independent, and there have been no campaigns in eastern Cerilia(IT: 209); Eline has definitely re-entered the Imperial fold by this time(IT: 333)

c. 958- Seamist dwarves are currently having orog problems(IT: 348)

950- 958(The War of Rebellion- IT: 360,442)- repeated attempts by Imperial forces to overrun the West Coast, across both the northern and southern Seamists, are defeated(IT: 211); ogre(orog?) tribes in the Seamists grow stronger due to human distraction with the war(IT: 358); Rhuobhe Manslayer expands his territory into the forests of Boeruine and the foothills of western Alamie, raiding the surrounding river valleys of Alamie extensively(it is uncertain whether the current(c. 1524 HC) borders reflect this expansion)(IT: 358); Moergan Aerenwe serves with the Emperor in some of the most difficult campaigns of the war, most likely as a ‘hostage’, much like Caelum Ghieste and Taelan Alam(IT: 389); both sides fortify the Seamist Gap(IT: 417)

summer(?) 958- unsuccessful SW campaign(IT: 214-215), Battle of Sorrow Field(IT: 332-340)

1st day- Michael leaves Anuire with the army(IT: 245)

3rd day- battle with ogres in the Seamists(IT: 214)

evening, 5th day- sighting of the Cold Rider(IT: 221)

morning, 6th day- undead ambush, Spiderfell battle(IT: 244)

6th- 8th days- Imperial army waits outside the Spiderfell for stragglers(IT: 281)

evening of 9th day- Army arrives in Anuire, Laera informs Arwyn(IT: 245)

that night- Aedan and Sylvanna stay at the Green Basilisk(IT:272)

next morning- Arwyn leaves Seaharrow with his army(IT:305)

3 days after the army’s return- Michael sobers up(IT: 311)

that night- Ariel short-circuits Laera’s plot(IT: 314, 326)

next day- Aedan and Ariel announce their coming marriage(IT: 320), Michael reveals that he knew about Aedan’s involvement with Laera and Sylvanna(IT: 382)

several days later- Aedan and Ariel are married(IT: 322)

1 day later- Battle of Sorrow Field(IT: 335, 418) - Viscount Ghieste dies(IT: 336), Arwyn Boeruine dies(IT: 338); Gylvain, Sylvanna and the elven honor guard depart immediately after the battle(IT: 340)

Book III: The Gorgon

after the battle- Callador disappears(leaving his apprentice behind) and eventually comes into the service of the Gorgon(IT: 344, 373-374)

Michael’s victory speech at the parade ground in Anuire(IT: 346-349)- Permanent embassies to the baronies and duchies are established, Michael betroths 4 of his sisters

next 7days- the Festival of Seven Days(becomes an annual event)(IT: 349, 350)

after festival- Laera leaves for Boeruine with Derwyn(IT: 350)

~ a week later- Laera and Derwyn arrive in Boeruine and are married(IT: 350,412 for the mileage)

1 week later- Laera and Derwyn consummate their marriage(IT: 353)

after a few weeks- Laera begins to ‘open up’(IT: 354)

a month later- 3rd stage of Laera’s plan begins(IT: 354)

8 months into the marriage- Laera still not pregnant(IT: 355)

a year later- Laera gets ‘repentant’(IT: 355)

~ a few months later- Laera tells Derwyn she loves him(IT: 357)

a month later(c. 960)- Laera is pregnant with a son(IT: 357)

(c. 960?)- Gaelin of Dhalaene is born(IT: 388)

early 961?- Laera gives birth to Aerin(Judging from his age in War, Aerin was more likely born in 969 or thereabouts, but his age in War could conceivably be fudged to around 39. Although Aerin’s character in the sequel rests somewhat on his not having known his mother during his formative years, his character defects in the sequel might be traced back to Laera’s malignant influence in this timeline(he would have been 12 when she died, according to the calculations: plenty of time for the rot to set in. This needs more analysis to fit properly into the timeline.)(IT: 368, 457). Judging from the evidence on pg. 368(and the order of the succession on pg. 371), this appears to have been the first offspring that any of the 7 Roele girls produced, although this is probably a misinterpretation of the evidence at hand.

after the birth- Laera plants the seeds of rebellion in Derwyn’s mind(IT: 370)

~ a week later- the news of Aerin’s birth arrives in Anuire(IT: 412 for the mileage); Laera is released from the compression bandage(IT: 369)

~ 6 days after the birth- Callador appears to Laera(IT: 377)

~ 8 days after the birth- Laera resolves that she should stop worrying about the Gorgon(IT: 399)

a week after Aerin’s birth- Derwyn returns to Laera’s bed; Callador begins schooling Laera in the mystic arts and it becomes clear she has a natural aptitude for magic(IT: 403-404)

961- Laera reflects on her plan(IT: 353); Moergan Aerenwe’s second and youngest daughter is born(IT: 388)

c. 961(?)- Aedan and Ariel’s first child, a girl, is born(could be any time from 959 to 973)(IT: 366)

958- 962- Periodic Imperial campaigns are launched in coordination with Taeghas and Brosengae to hold the growing Seamist ogre population at bay; goblin and gnoll tribes in the Stonecrowns raid farms and villages in Mhoried and herdsmen in southern Markazor, where the Empire is attempting to expand it’s frontiers; Coeranys continues to suffer from periodic humanoid raiding from the Iron Hills, as well Khinasi pirate raids during the spring and summer months; a chain of strong garrisons are built in western Alamie to contain Rhuobhe; raiding out of the Five Peaks necessitates the establishment of outposts along Alamie’s northern border; the punitive expedition against Thurazor continues to be put off because of more important strategic concerns; the Rjurik still remain free for the most part(only Stjordvik seems to lie within the Imperial sphere(see the "973" map on the back of the Atlas of Cerilia)(IT: 358-359); Michael personally leads many campaigns of expansion, as well as punitive campaigns against bandits, gnolls and goblins on the frontier; the size of the army increases every year(these years see a significant increase in the numbers of mercenaries in the Imperial forces and a rise in crime in the City of Anuire(IT: 362-363))(IT: 361); Empress Raesa grows tired of life in the palace and retires to a walled estate on the east side of the city, declining to participate in any official functions from now on: Michael visits her on occasion(IT: 383-385); Michael commissions a memorial for Sorrow Field(IT: 418)

spring(?)962- Aedan reflects on the achievements of the last 4 years(IT: 358); by this point the Imperial treasury is seriously depleted(IT: 361); Aedan and Anuire’s city council establish curfews and city ordinances, and the army is used to help police the city(IT: 363-364)

962- 973- The Empire reasserts it’s control over Brechtür and Khinasi(AoC, "973" map); the push into southern Markazor is abandoned(circumstantial evidence: the "973" map shows no Imperial holdings in Markazor’s territory)

*Note- the "973" map is the only extant evidence for the Empire’s expansion into Khinasi under Michael. Fortunately, although The Iron Throne essentially ignores Anuire’s overseas possessions(except for Suirene, on pg. 196), the published information on Brechtür seems to confirm that there was still a significant Anuirean presence in the region by 973(despite Simon Hawke’s blurb about the free "Vos" inhabitants of Kiergard) and the available Rjurik material establishes that Anuire had re-imposed some kind of ‘subject state’ status on the Taelshore realms. However, the Khinasi material says nothing about any Anuirean presence outside of Suirene during this period. Of course, much of the relevant Khinasi material is written ‘in-character’, and why would any self-respecting Khinasi go out of his way to mention a brief Anuirean resurgence in the region(let us assume that Michael spent the years 970-973 campaigning in the area), when "el-Arrasi’s victory banished the western infidels from our lands forever" is much more succinct and inspiring?

(c. 963?)- Moergan Aerenwe’s youngest daughter is betrothed to Gaelin of Dhalaene(IT: 388)

c. 967- Aedan begins losing his hair, so he begins to crop it short: it also starts going gray(IT: 6, 384)

between 958 and 973- Rozgarr replaces Zornak as regent of Markazor(IT: 255, 485)

winter(?) 973- Laera begins her affair with Rodric(IT: 407)

one winter night in 973- Aedan and Ariel conceive of the idea of finding Michael a wife(IT: 395, 366)

within a month or two- the Imperial nobility begins to respond to the call for a bride(IT: 378)

a few weeks later- Ariel takes over for a weary Aedan(IT: 380)

within a few weeks- Ariel and her committee have narrowed down the choices(IT: 381)

Aedan visits with the Empress Raesa(IT: 383)

that night- Ariel announces she has found the perfect wife for Michael(IT: 387)

the next morning, at breakfast- Aedan meets Faelina and Moergan Aerenwe(IT: 389)

after breakfast- Faelina and Michael go hawking(IT: 392)

1 week later- their betrothal is officially announced(IT: 395); by this time, Ariel is pregnant, this time with a son

spring 973- Michael and Faelina are married: for the first time in his reign, Michael does not carry out a spring campaign(IT: 395)

spring 973- Gella is sentenced to hang for stabbing a merchant, is "rescued" by Laera(IT: 409)

in the weeks preceding Summer Court- Seaharrow is hurriedly prepared and spruced up(IT: 429)

Laera meets Raesene, endures his ‘attentions’ and escapes with Callador’s locket the next morning(IT: 433, 450)

summer 973- The Imperial couple and their entourage leave for Summer Court(IT: 412)

the second day of the trip- the Imperial party passes Sorrow Field(IT: 417)

that night- the party makes camp near the Seamist fortifications; Michael resolves not to carry out any campaigns in 974 and to finally defeat Thurazor and Rhuobhe during the coming summer and fall(IT: 419, 425,427)

a week later - The Imperial party arrives at Seaharrow; Faelina is not yet pregnant(IT: 412, 453)

during the intervening period- Gella continues to administer the contraceptive to Faelina(IT: 454)

towards the middle of the month- the Imperial forces arrive from Anuire to prepare for the Thurazor campaign, planned for midsummer(the middle of next month- several weeks away- Rodric will be going with them)(IT: 455)

1 week prior to the summer solstice- Gella stops giving Faelina the contraceptive(IT:454)

night of the summer solstice- Gella administers the Gorgon’s potion to Faelina and surreptitiously steals both her own and Callador’s lockets(IT: 455, 460

~ midnight- Faelina dies giving birth to the Gorgon’s offspring, which Michael kills shortly thereafter(IT: 456, 469)

afterwards- Aedan helps subdue Michael, after which he heads to a small tavern to get drunk(he had not been drunk since that fateful night in 958); Gella confesses to him, upon which he confronts Laera, who is killed by Lady Ariel(IT: 470, 481)

the following day- Callador is found in Seasedge and dies of a heart attack during his sentencing; Derwyn orders Laera’s body be buried in a remote and desolate place(IT: 484)

Lord Korven asks to accompany the Emperor on the march to Kal-Saitharak, but Michael orders him to stay at home(IT: 486)

Michael musters the largest army seen in Anuire since Deismaar- Dukes Flaertes and Alam strip their provinces of all but skeleton garrisons; Avanil, Osoerde, Elinie and Dhalaene send their armies to join Michael in northern Alamie; Baron Moergan force-marches his army from Aerenwe to join the Army at the borders of Markazor, as do detachments from Avanil and Ilien and the armies of Diemed and Ghieste (IT: 483)

The Army of the Gorgon begins to assemble at Kal-Saitharak(IT: 487)

The Imperial Army advances into Markazor and routs the forces of King Rozgarr(IT: 485)

The dwarves of Mur-Kilad are defeated after a desultory resistance(IT: 485)

The Imperial Army enters Kiergard; the Brecht natives offer them material support(IT: 485-486)

Michael stops at the edge of the Kiergard forest and orders the building of siege engines and assault equipment(IT: 487)

The Imperial Army takes up a position at the entrance of the Valley of Shadows(IT: 486)

973- the Battle of Battlewaite- Michael Roele dies but grounds his power, denying the Gorgon any bloodtheft(IT: 499); elven troops from Tuarhievel rescue the Anuireans and force the Gorgon’s troops to quit the field(IT: 501); Derwyn is seriously wounded in the battle(IT: 503)

after the battle- Aedan returns to Anuire and assumes the regency of the Empire(IT: 503)

winter 973/spring 974- Aedan’s 1st son(presumably Davan, his successor in 1000) is born(IT: 395, 426)

between 973 and 999- Aedan’s wife, Ariel, passes away; the provinces shear off the Empire and establish themselves as independent nations(IT: 503)

Eve of the Dead(winter solstice), 999- Aedan and Gylvain meet for the first time since Battlewaite(IT: 1,6)

the following morning, just before dawn- Aedan Dosiere dies(IT: 504)