The is timeline published in the World of Warcraft Official Strategy Guide in 2004. This timeline contains paraphrases and quotes from the original source, and is presented unaltered, for historical publishing record. Any possible inconsistencies with other timelines were part of the source, and should not be altered for the record's sake.Template:Cite See Timeline (unofficial) for the timeline created through user contributions, and Timeline (APG) for the most recent officially published timeline.
Before Warcraft
- -10000
Night elves awaken in the world, and found a great society in Kalimdor. They mess with primitive magic, and release it in the world. War of the Ancients begins.
- -6000
A small band of night elves is exiled from Kalimdar, and found the kingdom of Quel'Thalas
- -2900
Arathor is founded in Lordaeron. It expands to encompass Azeroth.
- -2700
The High Elves seek the aid of of the humans of Arathor against the trolls. The trolls teach humans magic.
- -2600
The humans reckless use of magic allows agents of the burning legion into the world. The Order of Tirisfal is founded. Guardians of Tirisfal are charged with fighting a secret war against the Legion.
- -200
Arathor fragments due to internal struggles and pressures of over-expansion.
- -45
Aegwynn, the Guardian, defeats Sargeras, in single combat. His soul binds with her unborn child.
- -40
The Burning Legion corrupts the orc clans of Draenor. They become the Horde under the rule of the Shadow Council. They destroy all the draenei with little loss. The orcs could think of only war and bloodlust. Without an enemy to fight they battles among themselves.
- -37
Aegwyn gives birth to Medivh, the Last Guardian.
- -1
Medhiv is driven mad by the spirit of Sargeras and opens the Dark Portal. He contacts Gul'dan leader of the Shadow Council to make a dark deal. In exchange for the destruction of Azeroth, Medivh agrees to hand over the location of the tomb of Sargeras. Orcish Horde begins its invasion of Azeroth.
Warcraft: Orcs and Humans
- 0
Medhiv is killed by Lothar, and Khadger. Gul'dan goes into a coma from being in Medivh's mind when he died. After five years, the Horde finally conquers the nations of Azeroth and Khaz Modan, and claims Blackrock Spire as its base of operations.
Blackhand is slain and is replaced by Orgrim Doomhammer. Doomhammer disbands gropus of Raiders who were loyal to Blackhand. Doomhammer tortures Garona, learning where the Warlocks are and slaughtering them. Gul'dan bows to his new superior, and slaughters his own necrolytes, and used their spirits to create Death Knights.
Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness
- 6
Orgrim Doomhammer, launches his fleets to invade Lordaeron. They push their way into the heartland of Lordaeron and succeed in destroying Quel'Thalas. Gul'dan attempts to free Sargeras. Orgrim discovers the plan and kills Gul'dan.
The Alliance forces push back, but Lord Lothar is killed during hte siege of Blackrock spire. Spurred by the death of their beloved leader, the Alliance armies crush Blackrock Spire and push the horde back to the threshold of the Dark Portal. The Dark Portal is destroyed by Khadger and the Horde is defeated. The renegade orcs are rounded up and placed into internment camps by the Alliance.
Warcraft II Expansion: Beyond the Dark Portal
- 8
The ancient orc shaman, nerzhul, rallies the few clans still left on Draenor and reopens the Dark Portal. He orders his clans to steal a number of artifacts from Azeroth that will allow him to open multiple portals in Draenor. The alliance sends its armies, ledy byt he wizard Khadger, through the Dark Portal in order to stop Ner'zhuls schemes. The two armies clash throughout the hellish world of Draenor for months.
Empowered by the stolen artifacts, Ner'Zhul opens a number of portals in Draenor. Yet, before he can lead his clans through them, their energies spiral out of control and begin to destroy the very fabric of that world. The Alliance heroes, knowing that they would be trapped forever, are forced to destroy the Dark Portal so that Azeroth is not consumed by the raging energies.
The blasted world of Draenor tears itself apart. The Alliance grows uneasy as the Orcish internment camps are reopened. Only a few, scattered orc clans evade the Alliance's wrath and eke out a living in the harsh wilderness.
Thrall's Tale: Lord of the Clans
- 18
Thrall, a young orc raised as a human slave and gladiator, escapes from bondage and sets off on a quest to discover his stolen heritage. Thrall succeeds in reuniting a number of renegade orc clans and leads them in revolt against the Alliance Regional Wardens. With the threat of a new Horde looming over them, the Alliance nations begin to bicker and quarrel. Tensions run high amongst the human leaders.
Thrall becomes the new Warchief of the Horde and helps to reintroduce his people to their abandoned shamanistic culture. The reinvigorated Horde finally begins to lose the last races of the Legion's demonic corruption. Civil strife rages through the nations of the Alliance as threat of a new, unseen foe draws near. The Burning Legion returned.
Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos
- 20
Withoug the Guardians of Tirisfal, human forces begin to crumble. The night elves at Kalimdor sense the disturbance and feel that they are somehow responsible. Warcraft 3 begins. Ner'Zhul returns as a Lich King, who has long transformed his loyal followers into minions of the living dead. Named by others as the Scourge, Ner'zhul takes hold of frozen continent of Northrend. From here he seeks to rule a world of the dead.
Prince Arthas rides forth to battle the Scourge and instead falls prey to the cursed Blade Frostmourne. He beocmes one of the most powerful Deathknights and rides out to bring a plague to his own people of Lordaeron. After killing his own father, Arthas is lead on a series of tasks until at last the Alliance is formed at the promptings of the prophet Medivh and the Burning Legion's connection to the Well of Eternity is cut off forever.
Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne
- 21
After 10000 years of being imprisoned, Illidan is set free. At the behest of Kil'jaeden, he sets off to destroy the Frozen Throne in order to destroy the Lich King. He is thwarted in his plans by his former jailor Maiv and fails his mission. After being recaptured and then set free again. Illidan sets out to destroy the Lich King once more. The Lich King, sensing his danger as he is imprisoned in his frozen throne, calls Arthas again.
Arthas manages to outmaneuver Illidan and uses Frostmourne to shatter the icy throne freeing the helm and breastplate of the Lich King. Donning the armor, Arthas merges with the old Lich and becomes the new Lich King. An uneasy truce between the Horde and the Alliance is reached as both sides move on to lick their wounds and rebuild.
The orcs leave for kalimdar to resettle in a new land. Jaina Proudmoore resettles on the Coust of Southern Kalimdor. Grand Admiral Daelin arrives with a large Armada looking for survivors. His hatred for the Horde is great and he sets against them once more only for his own daughter, Jaina Proudmoore to set herself and her forces against him. The orc allow Jaina Proudmoore to resettle in peace, but tensions are still there.
- 25
World of Warcraft Begins...