Timeline

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Part of the series on
Timelines of the Battlestar Galactica series


The timeline below chronicles the events depicted in the Original Series.

This timeline excludes the spin-off series Galactica 1980 and does not include any information from separate continuity works such as novels and comics. Nor does it include information from the inaccurate Encyclopedia Galactica reference released in 1979.

The timeline is given in yahrens, the Colonial term for "years." The date around which the timeline revolves is 7322, the only date given in the series, and one from the Colonial calendar. This was the yahren when the Cylons attacked Umbra on Caprica, as mentioned in "The Man with Nine Lives".

Ancient history[edit]

History of the Colonial and Cylon Conflict[edit]

The Seventh Millennium of Time[edit]

7349 and later[edit]

Main article: Timeline (1980)

The period between the Original Series and Galactica 1980, and the episodes and events of the Galactica 1980 happened in this period. Of course, as Battlestar Wiki treats 1980 as a divergent continuity, and thus a separate timeline page is available.

References[edit]

  1. This information is based on the ages of Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict at the time of filming, which was 33.
  2. This information is based on Noah Hathaway's age at the time of filming, which was seven.
This article or section has been marked for cleanup and revision.
Should there be a need to discuss the merits of the claim, discuss them on the talk page.
Part of the series on
Timelines of the Battlestar Galactica series


The timeline below chronicles the events depicted in the classic Battlestar Galactica television program and its spin-off, Galactica 1980.

The timeline is given in "Earth" years, BC and AD, not by Colonial yahren.


On Kobol[edit]

  • Before c. 5397 BC
The Beings of Light intervene at the beginning of human development on the planet that would come to be known as Kobol. Adama refers to these beings as the "Mother Race".
  • c. 5397 BC
The beginning of the Colonial calendar.
  • c. 4050 BC
The beginning of recorded human history, on the mother world - the planet Kobol. [1]

The Exodus[edit]

  • c. 4050 BC to c. 40 AD
The original 13 tribes leave Kobol and head out into space. Twelve of the tribes settle near each other in the area known as the Twelve Colonies of Man. The remaining Thirteenth Tribe heads to Earth.

Exodus through 20th Century[edit]

  • 69 BC - 30 BC
Life of Cleopatra VII of Egypt.[2]
  • c. 950 AD
The Cylons attack the Hasari, whose territory neighbors the Colonies, who intervene to assist their neighbor. As a result of this intervention, the Thousand Yahren War begins between the Colonies and the Cylon Empire. [3]
  • c. 1450 AD
Approximate time that Galactica is launched. Back then, the celestial chambers on Galactica were used to confirm navigational headings. [4]
  • 1776 AD
Xavier arrives in Revolutionary America and tries to change history. Troy, Dillon and Jamie Hamilton follow him, and thwart his plans, but he apparently escapes to another time frame. [5]
  • prior to 1850
Adama is born. [6]

1900-1949[edit]

1950[edit]

The destruction of the Colonies, thirty years before Galactica discovers Earth.[15][16]

The episodes and events of the Original Series are set during this period.

1951 - 1979[edit]

The period between Battlestar Galactica (TOS) and Galactica 1980.

The Cylons, over this 30 year period, develop completely new technologies and evolve considerably - "beyond the wildest fears" of the Colonials, according to Dr. Zee. These new technologies include improved Cylon Raiders and the creation of humanoid Cylons.[17]

Also, during this period, the Imperious Leader is apparently replaced, as his voice is considerably different by 1980.[18]

Sometime prior to 1970, Captain Apollo dies.[19]

  • 1951: Dillon is born in space aboard a vessel in the Colonial Fleet. [20]
  • 1960: The last attack by the Cylons on the Colonial fleet until 1980. [22]
  • After 1970:
Dr. Zee's ship catches up to the Fleet. [24].
Lt. Boomer is promoted to Colonel.[25]
Commander Adama grows a beard.[26]
Boxey begins to go by the name "Troy" as he grows older.[27]
  • 1977:
Dr. Donald Mortinson begins work on his nuclear degeneration formula.[28]

1980[edit]

Galactica's long range probes arrive in the Solar System. They positively identify the third planet as Earth. Galactica and the Colonial Fleet reach Earth. [29]

Galactica 1980 episodes "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I" through "Part III"

Troy, Dillon and Jamie head back in time to World War II and then to the American Revolution to find Xavier. [30] The team is apparently successful in stopping Xavier, as there are no apparent changes to Earth's history.[31] Xavier escapes being brought into custody, however, and remains in Earth's past. While there, he perfects a process of cellular transformation which can allow him to assume the appearance of others. [32]
Jamie returns to Earth, and back to the job she was offered with the United Broadcasting Corporation. [33]
In light of the unknown aircraft violating U.S. airspace, which are in reality Colonial Vipers, the United States Air Force dedicates new funds to the tracking of U.F.O.s.
Dr. Zee leads a project to build a new saucer-shaped fighter craft, designed to thwart the Cylons.[34]
The Cylons determine to test some of their new technologies on the Colonial refugees. They plan to first attack the freighter Delphi, a straggling vessel in the Colonial Fleet, which happens to function as the Fleet' school.[35]

Galactica 1980 episodes "The Super Scouts, Part I" and "Part II"

Troy and Dillon spend a few days away from the children on an unknown mission.[36]
Having spent an inordinate amount of money investigating the Super Scouts, Colonel Sydell's budget is questioned by his superiors in the United States Air Force.[37]
Xavier returns to the present time from Earth's past, and assumes the form of Lt. Nash of Galactica. [38]

Galactica 1980 episode "Spaceball."

Xavier remains at large on Earth, without a Viper, stranded in the present and on the ground.
In another test of their new technologies, the Cylons send out new, advanced fighters, manned by Centurions and humanoid Cylons, to search for the elusive Colonial fleet.[39]
October 31 - November 1, 1980
Galactica 1980 episode "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I" [40]
Galactica 1980 episode "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part II"[41]
Late 1980
The Imperious Leader and his three base ships, catch up to Galactica and the Fleet, but the location of Earth remains elusive. [42]
Galactica 1980 episode "Space Croppers".
Galactica maintains its first colony on Earth, and the Super Scouts remain there, relocating from the baseball camp where they had been staying.
Galactica 1980 episode "The Return of Starbuck".
The scripted but only partially shot episode "The Day They Kidnapped Cleopatra" would have taken place here.

1981[edit]

The planned but never filmed Starbuck episode "The Wheel of Fire" would have taken place at this time.

1990[edit]

In Dr. Zee's projection of what could have happened in the future, environmental damage and population expansion has rendered Paradise Valley polluted and crowded. If Dr. Zee's warning was in fact heeded by the people of Paradise Valley, however, these events may not have come to pass.[43]

Notes[edit]

The central year of this timeline is 1980, the year when the series is set. In promotional material and subsequent interviews, it has been noted that Galactica 1980 was set 30 years after the events of the Original Series. This was done in large part to explain the cast changes, and is chiefly supported on screen by the aging of Troy, who was a child in the first series.

References[edit]

  1. At the beginning of "Saga of a Star World," it is mentioned that the peace conference is being held at the beginning of the 7th millennium of human history, which would mean human history was just crossing into its 6,000th year. 6,000 years prior to "Saga of a Star World," which is noted later in this timeline as happening in 1950, would be circa 4,000 BC.
  2. A partially filmed, but never aired episode of Galactica 1980, entitled "The Day They Kidnapped Cleopatra" was partially set in 30 BCE. The announcement of the cancellation of the series by ABC came during the filming, and the episode was never completed. This episode would have brought back the time travel plot device used in the first episode. Additionally, Egyptian themes were used frequently in Battlestar Galactica, such as the city of Eden in "Lost Planet of the Gods".
  3. The Thousand Yahren War begins 1,000 years before "Saga of a Star World" which, as noted later in this timeline, is set around 1950.
  4. A 500 year old celestial chamber is depicted in "The Hand of God".
  5. The trip to 1776 is referred to at the end of "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part III" but not shown on screen. Xavier's plans are mentioned at the start of "Spaceball".
  6. Adama reveals he is over a hundred yahrens old in "Lost Planet of the Gods".
  7. Based on the age of Dirk Benedict during the filming of the Original Series. Starbuck is revealed to be from Caprica, as well as Chameleon being his father in "The Man with Nine Lives".
  8. Jamie Hamilton makes a slight error when she tells the Galacticans that "20 years later, in 1939, World War II broke out" in "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I". However, she was reciting this from memory, so it's an understandable error.
  9. As confirmed by Jamie Hamilton in her conversation to the Galacticans in Zee's chamber (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II").
  10. This calculation is based on Noah Hathaway's age during the filming of the Original Series. This would make Boxey seven years old in "Saga of a Star World" and 37 years of age in "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I"—which happened to be the age of Kent McCord when he played the role.
  11. Described in "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II".
  12. 12.0 12.1 Depicted in "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II" and "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part III".
  13. Project Blue Book is mentioned in a disclaimer at the end of every Galactica 1980 episode. Colonel Sydell's new organization within the US Air Force in the series has a similar mandate, and the disclaimer was apparently put in place to assure viewers that Sydell's organization was fictitious, and not to be confused with the real project that had concluded years before.
  14. Two yahrens prior to the events of "The Living Legend, Part I".
  15. Officially, Galactica 1980 was set 30 years after the events of the Original Series. This piece of information is never specifically mentioned on screen, but was mentioned in promotional advertising and noted in background material for the program.
  16. http://www.tv.com/galactica-1980/show/1252/summary.html
  17. The increased technological prowess of the Cylons is described in "The Super Scouts, Part I" and "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I".
  18. When the Imperious Leader is shown in "Space Croppers," he is no longer voiced by Patrick Macnee, but instead by Dennis Haysbert.
  19. Troy refers to Apollo's death in "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I". This apparently happens before the events depicted in "The Return of Starbuck" as Starbuck does not mention Apollo when relating to Boomer people he wishes to say goodbye to. In addition, Apollo's death is apparently a mystery to the Fleet, or so the script for the unfilmed episode "The Wheel of Fire" indicates.
  20. Based on the age of Barry Van Dyke at the time of filming.
  21. Based on the age of actress Robyn Douglass at the time of filming, who portrayed Jamie Hamilton. She identifies herself as an American in "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part III".
  22. There has not been a Cylon attack in almost a generation prior to "The Super Scouts, Part I". A generation is typically denoted as 20 years.
  23. Events of the flashback sequence of "The Return of Starbuck". Dr. Zee is a pre-teen child, who appears to be roughly ten years of age. Reasoning backward, he was born c. 1970.
  24. The voyage of Dr. Zee's ship is shown in "The Return of Starbuck"
  25. By the time of "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I" Boomer has assumed this rank, while he still held this rank in the flashback scenes in "The Return of Starbuck".
  26. Adama has a large Moses like beard throughout 1980, but did not have it in the flashback scenes in "The Return of Starbuck".
  27. Troy mentions this in "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I," although Adama still refers to him as Boxey in a private conversation before being shown the invisibility field.
  28. According to Dorothy Carlyle, Dr. Mortinson had been working on nuclear degeneration for three years as of "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I".
  29. "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I".
  30. Troy, Dillon and Jamie are about to head off on this mission at the end of "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part III"
  31. No reference to Xavier having achieved his goals is made in the subsequent episodes.
  32. Xavier's activities are related in "Spaceball".
  33. As of "The Super Scouts, Part I," Jamie is back at work at UBC.
  34. The saucer project is revealed in "The Super Scouts, Part II" and shown again in "Space Croppers".
  35. Just prior to "The Super Scouts, Part I"
  36. Briefly mentioned in "[Spaceball]]".
  37. Just prior to "Spaceball"
  38. Just prior to "Spaceball"
  39. Just prior to "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I"
  40. "The Night the Cylons Landed" is specifically noted to occur on Halloween.
  41. Episode ends in the early hours of November 1.
  42. Just prior to "Space Croppers"
  43. Possible future revealed in "The Super Scouts, Part II".
Part of the series on
Timelines of the Battlestar Galactica series


This article plots the events which were shown or mentioned in the history of the Twelve Colonies from the Re-imagined Series and Caprica.

By convention, all dates are relative to the Fall of the Twelve Colonies. Events before the Fall are marked as "BCH," or "Before Cylon holocaust". Given the few and somewhat contradictory dates about the Colonials' ancient history and the exodus from Kobol, that part of the timeline is speculative.

The Cylon holocaust occurs more than 150,000 years ago.

Ancient History[edit]

See also: History of the Twelve Colonies, Sacred Scrolls
  • Unspecified time period: Humans on the planet Kobol organize themselves into twelve tribes (TRS: "Miniseries"). According to at least one scripture, they "live in utopia with the gods." The humans become sufficiently advanced to establish viable space travel and artificial, robotic life. Artificial life-forms, machines similar in nature to the later day Cylons, are created by the humans. A war against the machines occurs. At one point the machines evolve and take humanoid form, either before, during or after the war. This group of humanoid Cylons are later referred to in the Sacred Scrolls as the "Thirteenth Tribe," although said text does not specify that they were a tribe of Cylons (TRS: "Sometimes a Great Notion").
  • Over 17,000 years BCH: A supernova creates the Ionian nebula.
  • ca. 4,000 years BCH: The Thirteenth Tribe reportedly leaves Kobol and builds the Temple of Hopes on another planet [1] This contradicts Ellen Tigh's statement that the temple was built 3,000 years ago (TRS: "No Exit"). They pray for guidance and are shown the way to Earth, the planet they colonize.
  • ca. 3,600 years BCH: Pythia records her prophecies. Aside from reports of the landing on Earth and drawings of temples there, this book describes "the exile and rebirth of the human race" and a "dying leader" not making it to a "promised land," though how long before her writings that such events took place is not revealed.
  • ca. 3,000 years BCH: A beacon is left at the Lion's Head Nebula, later marking the way to Earth. At some undated point, someone travels from Earth to Kobol, passing on information about Earth, including a map of its night sky [2]
  • ca. 3,000 years to 2,000 years BCH: The humanoid Cylons of the Thirteenth Tribe prosper and begin to reproduce sexually. The technology of "organic memory transfer," or downloading, is abandoned.
    • The Thirteenth Tribe produce their own mechanical Centurions to act as laborers for their civilization.
  • ca. 2,000 years BCH: (The order of events on Kobol and Earth is uncertain.)
    • Samuel Anders, Tory Foster, Ellen Tigh, Saul Tigh, and Galen Tyrol, later collectively known as the "Final Five," are born on Earth.
    • The Final Five work together in a research lab attempting to re-develop downloading technology. The effort is spearheaded by Galen Tyrol and Ellen Tigh.
    • All five Cylons receive visions of beings nobody else can see warning them of an impending rebellion by Earth's Centurion population. The Final Five prepare a resurrection ship and leave it in orbit.
    • The remaining Twelve Tribes leave Kobol and settle the Twelve Colonies[1].
    • Lord of Kobol "Athena" kills herself in despair over this. A tomb is built for her containing a 3-D projection showing Earth and its Zodiac. The projection is activated by the Arrow of Apollo, which travels with the twelve tribes.
    • The Centurion uprising occurs and the Thirteenth Tribe exterminates itself in a nuclear holocaust. Earth is left a nuclear wasteland. The Final Five die in the attack, and are resurrected on board their orbiting ship.
    • The Final Five begin a journey back to Kobol to find the other twelve tribes and inform them of Earth's fate. They are aware of the cyclical nature of history and believe that the twelve tribes will create Cylons again. They want to warn them to treat them right. However, their ship is not equipped with a conventional FTL drive and journeys at relativistic sublight speeds.
  • 2,000 years to 52 years BCH: The Twelve Colonies grow and prosper. Each colony acts as a sovereign nation, complete with inter-colonial wars.
    • The Final Five stop at the Temple of Hopes as they retrace their tribe's path.
    • The Final Five arrive at Kobol, finding the planet abandoned. They continue on in pursuit of the twelve tribes, heading toward the colonies.

Recent Colonial History[edit]

The most recent history could also be dated using the calendar from Caprica, but the method was not used in the re-imagined series and remained in the background even on the new show. Furthermore, it is not known whether the calendar is specific to the planet Caprica or common to the twelve worlds.

First Cylon War[edit]

See Timeline - Caprica (RDM)
  • 58—52 years BCH: With the use of a meta-cognitive processor stolen from Tauron rival Tomas Vergis, the Caprican tech CEO Daniel Graystone creates the first Cylons of the Twelve Colonies to aid in hard labor and warfare. A virtual copy of his dead monotheist daughter Zoe Graystone's consciousness is downloaded into one (CAP: "Pilot"). Humanity is unaware that they are repeating the actions of their ancestors on Kobol.
  • ca. 58 BCH:
  • 52 years BCH:
  • 51 years BCH: Colonial ship Brenik is lost after a boarding action by Cylon Centurions (Valley of Darkness, deleted scene).
  • ca. 50 years BCH: Battlestar Galactica enters service.
  • 42 years BCH:
    • William Adama begins his service in the Colonial Fleet as a Raptor pilot aboard Galactica with co-pilot and ECO Coker Fasjovik, 10 years into the Cylon War ("Hero," Blood and Chrome). He is later promoted to Lieutenant and is assigned his first Viper, a Mark III, and a special task force comprised of top pilots for dangerous missions.
    • Battlestar Archeron destroyed by Cylon forces in Sector 12. All hands lost (TRS: "Blood and Chrome").
    • Battlestar Osiris destroyed over Djerba in suicide maneuver against lone Cylon Baseship. All hands lost. Fate of Lt. Jim Kirby (AWOL) unknown.
    • Becca Kelly succeeds in her mission on Djerba, and is later killed by the Cylons. Ghost Fleet Offensive successful, decimating Cylon military holdings in five sectors.
    • Mechanical Cylons begin experiments constructing humanoid forms of Cylon.
  • 42-41 years BCH: Coker Fasjovik presumably musters out of Fleet after termination of second mandatory tour.
  • 40 years BCH:
    • Experiments on "humanoid" Cylons culminate in the creation of the First Hybrid and subsequent Hybrids, but no fully humanoid forms.
    • The Final Five arrive in the Twelve Colonies in the waning days of the war.
    • The Five meet the local Cylons and negotiate an end to the war. They will give the Cylons biological bodies complete with resurrection technology if the Cylons agree to end the war.
    • Operation Raptor Talon conducted by the Colonial Fleet, where William Adama flies his first official Viper mission. Battlestar Columbia destroyed (TRS: "Razor Flashbacks").
    • Armistice ends the Cylon War. Cylons exile themselves from the Twelve Colonies (TRS: "Miniseries"). The First Hybrid and his Guardians part company with the other Cylons.
    • William Adama musters out of the Colonial Fleet ("Scattered," Adama's dossier).

Inter-War Period[edit]

  • 37 BCH: William Adama enlists as merchant marine and serves aboard inter-colony freighters ("Scattered," Adama's dossier).
  • 37 to ca. 30 BCH:
    • The Cylons establish a secret base known as The Colony, built around and connected with the original ship of the Final Five. This is the place where research and development equipment belonging to the Final Five is stored.
    • The Final Five create John Cavil, the first of the new humanoid Cylons that are their "children," and designate him model Number One. They raise him for some time.
    • John matures and assists the Final Five in the creation of seven other humanoid Cylon models. A resurrection system is built for the new models based on technology left over from the Thirteenth Tribe.
  • ca. 30 BCH:
    • Cavil murders model Number Seven, Daniel, out of jealousy by poisoning the amniotic fluid in which the Seven copies were maturing.
    • The Final Five are murdered by Cavil and their consciousnesses are boxed.
    • Cavil erases all knowledge of the Final Five and the missing model Number Seven from his fellow humanoid Cylon models and specifically programs them not to think about either.
    • Saul Tigh is resurrected and introduced to the colonies as a military officer with false history of fighting in the war.
    • Ellen Tigh is resurrected and introduced into Colonial society sometime thereafter.
  • ca. 28 BCH:
  • ca. 27 BCH: William and Carolanne Adama meet and marry. [7]
  • ca. 26 BCH: Lee Adama born. [7]
  • ca. 24 BCH: Zak Adama born. [7]
  • 23 years BCH: William Adama reinstated in the Colonial Fleet at the rank of Captain and is assigned to the battlestar Universal [8] ("Scattered" deleted scene, Adama's dossier).
  • 21 years BCH: Saul Tigh reinstated in the Colonial Fleet at the rank of Captain by now-Major Adama (Scattered). [9] [10]
  • 20 years BCH:
  • 17 BCH: William Adama assigned to the battlestar Atlantia, where he makes his 1000th Viper landing (Adama's dossier, "Act of Contrition").
  • 13 years BCH: William Adama assigned as executive officer to the new battlestar Columbia (Adama's dossier).
  • 11 years BCH: Laura Roslin begins her career in politics (TRS: "Litmus").
  • ca. 10 years BCH: Galen Tyrol enlists in the Colonial Fleet as a non-commissioned officer.[11]
  • 9 years BCH: William Adama promoted to commander and assigned as commander of the battlestar Valkyrie (Adama's dossier, "Hero").
  • 7 years BCH: Saul and Ellen Tigh meet and marry again, unaware that it is the second time ("Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I," deleted scene).
  • 6 years BCH: William Adama leads an aborted covert intelligence mission aboard Valkyrie. Daniel Novacek is shot down and captured by the Cylons. Adama and Tigh are subsequently assigned to Galactica (Adama's dossier, "Hero"). [12]
  • 5 years BCH:
  • 4 years BCH:
  • 3 years BCH: Felix Gaeta assigned to Galactica (Miniseries).
  • 2 years BCH:
  • 1 Year BCH:
    • Last time William and Carolanne Adama speak (Miniseries).
    • Carolanne Adama gets engaged (Miniseries).
    • Anastasia Dualla last visits her home (TRS: "Final Cut").
  • Between 5 and 1 Year BCH:

1 ACH[edit]

1 ACH (After Colonial Holocaust) denotes a period of 365 days, the epoch of which is the Fall of the Twelve Colonies. The events of this time period correspond to the majority of Season 1 and Season 2, in addition to:

Return of the Cylons[edit]

Season 1[edit]

See Timeline - Season 1 (RDM)

Season 2[edit]

See Timeline - Season 2 (RDM)

2 ACH to 3 ACH[edit]

The "one year time jump" depicted at the end of the Re-imagined Series' "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II" occurs during 2 ACH, beginning with the Cylon invasion of New Caprica as a result of Gina Inviere's Cloud 9 explosion, forcing the subsequent retreat of the last two battlestars, Galactica and Pegasus.

Season 3[edit]

See Timeline - Season 3 (RDM)

3 ACH to 4 ACH[edit]

Season 4[edit]

See Timeline - Season 4 (RDM)

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Tyrol says that "Our initial radiocarbon dating suggests that the temple's at least 4,000 years old, which lines up with the exodus of the Thirteenth Tribe." (TRS: "The Eye of Jupiter"). This is the oldest date noted in the series's timeline, but also conflicts with the prior date of Pythia and her works as described by Elosha in "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I," where she states that the exodus of all 13 tribes occurred approximately 2,000 years ago.
  2. Adama says that "According to Cottle, the virus was an exact match to one reported over 3000 years ago, right around the time that the 13th colony left Kobol" (TRS: "A Measure of Salvation"). This contradicts the two other dates of 2,000 and 4,000 years. While the dating is uncertain, it is the only clue to the beacon's age. That someone traveled back to Kobol is speculation, but an explanation for how Earth's sky could be displayed there. If true, it is still unknown on which of these two voyages the beacon was left behind.
  3. Doctor Cottle notes the time as "a couple hundred years ago," which is an indeterminate amount of time, but likely less than four or five hundred years.
  4. From Ronald D. Moore's scifi.com blog post of April 11, 2005: "Colonial Day occurs every year and it is the anniversary of the founding of the "federal" system of government which was a relatively recent event. Before that time, the Colonies functioned more or less on their own, possibly with various attempts at alliances or even complete Colonial government over the centuries since the exodus from Kobol, none of which were successful. When the first Cylons were created, individual Colonies still warred against one another and it wasn't until the Cylon rebellion that the 12 Colonies finally came together in a permanent way. Presumably, the Articles of Colonization were not made up out of whole cloth, however, and there may well be principles and ideas of justice that date back to the original colonists."
  5. At the time of the Cylon attack, Tyrol has "ten years experience" (TRS: "Miniseries"), and has "served on battlestars since I was 18" (TRS: "Resistance"). This puts his birth in approximately 28 BCH, allowing for a few years leeway with the first comment.
  6. The podcast for "Scattered" places their meeting "twenty years ago". In "Torn," Adama states that he has known Tigh for 30 years. Furthermore, Adama's dossier places his reinstatement into the Colonial Fleet at 23 BCH. Battlestar Wiki choses to use the more consistent dates.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 This date is assumed as follows: Zak died 2 BCH. Since he graduated from some kind of military academy, he would be at least 22 years old, following real world models. On a photograph of William Adama with his sons, Lee seems to be about two years older than Zak. Adama and his wife probably met not long before Lee's birth.
  8. This information comes from a prop used in the episode "Scattered".
  9. The time between Adama's and Tigh's reinstatement is not specified on screen. The February/March issue of Battlestar Galactica: The Official Magazine gives it as two years: "Adama reenlisted with the service and Tigh spent two years drinking before Adama pulled strings to get him back into service."
  10. In actually, this is Saul Tigh's entrance into the Colonial Fleet, not his return, as he did not serve in the Cylon War and all documents of his service and retirement were forged by John Cavil.
  11. At the time of the Cylon attack, Tyrol has "ten years experience" (TRS: "Miniseries"). It is likely that Tyrol (and the two other remaining members of the Final Five, Samuel Anders and Tory Foster), was introduced into Colonial society at or around this point by John Cavil as part of his plan for revenge on his creators, human and Cylon alike (TRS: "No Exit").
  12. While dialogue from "Hero" places these events at 1 BCH, this contradicts previously established dates about the time Adama and others served on Galactica. See Hero#Analysis for a detailed explanation why Battlestar Wiki chooses to treat this as a continuity error and change the date.
  13. Since Adama states that Tyrol has been under his commander for "over five years," this might also be one year earlier.
Part of the series on
Timelines of the Battlestar Galactica series


The following timeline includes the events of the series Caprica and how they relate to its parent-series Battlestar Galactica. Some of the events listed in this timeline are speculative.

Pre-Caprica[edit]

00BYR[edit]

Caprica[edit]

Note: All years in Caprica are prefixed by "19," unless otherwise noted. See: Colonial calendar.

00YR/1900BYR[edit]

01YR[edit]

12YR[edit]

26YR[edit]

27YR[edit]

31YR[edit]

32YR[edit]

41YR[edit]

  • Aprilus 9: Ben Stark is caught out after curfew and interviewed by police regarding wires and detonates in his possession. The tape of the interview is mislabeled "Ben Starke."

42YR[edit]

  • Ianuarius 23: Maglev No. 23 is bombed by Ben Stark, killing himself, Zoe Graystone, Tamara Adama, Shannon Adama, and dozens of others (CAP: "Pilot").
  • Februarius 6:
  • Februarius 8:
  • Februarius 9: Daniel hacks into Zoe's e-sheet and finds Zoe's avatar in the V-Club, but is thrown out of v-world when he follows her (CAP: "Pilot").
  • Februarius 10:
  • Februarius 11:
    • Daniel persuades Lacy to take him to Zoe's avatar in the V-Club, then forcibly downloads the avatar onto his home computer.
    • the Guatrau instructs Joseph to deliver a message to Caprican Defense Minister Val Chambers (CAP: "Pilot").
  • Februarius 12:
    • Agent Duram questions Lacy Rand and Clarice Willow regarding Zoe's involvement in the STO.
    • Daniel, Joseph, and Willie attend a C-Bucs pyramid game, after which Daniel mentions the possibility of Joseph seeing Tamara again (CAP: "Pilot").
  • Februarius 13:
    • Daniel scans Joseph into v-world and explains how Zoe and Tamara might be resurrected as avatars.
    • Joseph declares Daniel insane, but Daniel still asks Joseph to arrange for the theft of a meta-cognitive processor chip from Tomas Vergis (CAP: "Pilot").
  • Februarius 14:
    • Daniel delivers breakfast in bed to Amanda.
    • Joseph asks Sam to arrange the MCP theft.
    • Joseph informs Chambers that the Guatrau does not condone his political actions, which are detrimental to the Ha'la'tha, but Chambers insults Joseph before dismissing him.
    • Sam visits the Chambers residence at night and assassinates the Defense Minister (CAP: "Pilot").
  • Februarius 15:
    • Lacy confesses her involvement with the STO to Clarice, and learns that Clarice also belongs to the STO.
    • Daniel uses Zoe's program to create an avatar of Tamara (CAP: "Pilot").
    • the MCP is stolen from the Vergis Corporation, and two Vergis employees are murdered in the process (CAP: "Know Thy Enemy").
  • Februarius 16:
    • Joseph delivers the MCP to Daniel.
    • Joseph enters v-world to meet Tamara's avatar, but she panics when she cannot feel her heartbeat, and Joseph declares the entire project an abomination (CAP: "Pilot").
  • Februarius 17:
    • Daniel downloads Zoe's avatar into the MCP and installs it into the U-87.
    • the avatar briefly communicates with Daniel through the U-87 before the datastream breaks down, and Daniel discovers that Zoe's avatar is gone from v-world.
    • Joseph tells Willie that he was named after his grandfather William, who died in the Tauron Civil War (CAP: "Pilot").
  • Februarius 19:
    • Daniel stages an enormously successful demonstration of the U-87 for Caprican Defense Secretary Joan Leyte, and coins the term "Cylon".
    • Zoe's avatar latar contacts Lacy from within the U-87 (CAP: "Pilot").
  • Februarius 21:
    • Cyrus and Daniel realize that the U-87 prototype and the MCP chip have bonded in a way that cannot be reproduced with any other robotic unit, and Daniel orders the U-87 prototype sent to his home lab for study.
    • Amanda watches home movies of Zoe.
    • Clarice invites Lacy to lunch at her home on Saturday.
    • Zoe's avatar tells Lacy not to tell Clarice about her existence (CAP: "Rebirth").
  • Februarius 22:
    • Daniel and Amanda attend the Buccaneers/Stallions pyramid game.
    • Joseph accidentally drives to Tamara's school when he tries to pick up Willie.
    • Philomon and Drew pack up the U-87 for delivery to the Graystone residence.
    • Joseph returns home to find Willie, as well as an invitation to a memorial service for the Maglev No. 23 victims.
    • Agent Duram visits Amanda to inquire about Ben Stark, and discovers that Amanda did not know Zoe had a boyfriend.
    • the U-87 tries to break free while in transit, and Philo calms it.
    • during dinner, Joseph experiences a hallucination of Tamara at the table.
    • Philo and Drew deliver the U-87 to the Graystone residence, and the robot bites off one of Drew's fingers (CAP: "Rebirth").
  • Februarius 23 (Saturday):
    • Amanda visits Lacy at her home and learns that Zoe intended to find a new family on Gemenon.
    • Daniel and Philo discuss the uniqueness of the U-87 prototype.
    • while Sam takes Willie to Little Tauron, he takes a call before heading to a business where he smashes a window, and Sam and Willie get arrested.
    • Lacy visits Clarice's family for lunch, and Clarice prods Lacy for information about Zoe's computer work.
    • Daniel and Amanda argue about going to the memorial, but Daniel agrees to go if Amanda wants to.
    • Sam and Willie are released from custody, and Willie returns home where Joseph questions his absence from school.
    • Clarice visits an opium den.
    • Zoe contacts Lacy, and Lacy visits the Graystone residence to see the U-87 (CAP: "Rebirth").
  • Februarius 24:
    • Daniel and Amanda attend the memorial ceremony.
    • Amanda meets Ben's mother Natalie Stark, who gives Amanda a package of Zoe's possessions, including an Infinity pin.
    • Joseph finds Daniel, and demands to see Tamara's avatar again.
    • Amanda realizes that Zoe belonged to the STO, and announces to the crowd at the memorial ceremony that her daughter was responsible for the bombing of Maglev No. 23 (CAP: "Rebirth").
  • Februarius 25: Amanda resigns her position at Caprica General Hospital.
  • Februarius 26: Lacy is targeted by fellow students at the Athenian Academy.
  • Februarius 27:
  • Februarius 28:
    • Graystone Industries suffers as public opinion turns against holoband and v-world.
    • Joseph is berated by a judge for not personally delivering a bribe on behalf of Plexico Amarcord.
    • Clarice tries to convince Lacy to tell her about Zoe's work.
    • Daniel and Amanda discuss her public announcement of Zoe's STO affiliation.
  • Martius 1:
    • GDD director Gara Singh berates Duram's partner for having interviewed and released Ben Stark a year before the bombing.
    • Duram and his partner leak to the press the fact that "bureaucratic red tape" is preventing a search of the Graystone residence.
  • Martius 2:
    • Zoe wirelessly interfaces the U-87 with v-world and visits Lacy in v-world, telling Lacy not to trust Clarice.
    • Zoe and Lacy find Tamara's avatar and help her escape into the virtual world.
  • Martius 3:
    • Cyrus and Priyah Magnus try to convince Daniel to appear on Sarno's show to defend his company, v-world, and holobands.
    • Tamara parts ways with Zoe and Lacy in v-world, and Zoe instructs Lacy to find Keon Gatwick to get the U-87 to Gemenon.
    • Clarice discusses her search for Zoe's avatar with Alvo.
  • Martius 4:
    • Lacy convinces Keon to help her with Zoe's plan.
    • Daniel takes Joseph back to v-world, but they are unable to find Tamara's avatar.
    • Daniel sees news of the bad publicity against the Graystones, and calls Priyah to have her book him Backtalk the next night.
    • Joseph asks Sam to murder Amanda Graystone in reprisal for Shannon's death (CAP: "Reins of a Waterfall").
  • Martius 5:
    • an empty holocafe is bombed.
    • Clarice receives a warning that the Athenian Academy will be raided, and alerts Keon, who clears bomb materials out of his locker.
    • Agent Duram leads GDD agents on a fruitless raid of the Academy.
    • Sam monitors Amanda from across the lake on the Graystone's property.
    • Philo runs diagnostics on the U-87.
    • Willie cuts school again and returns home, and his grandmother prompts him to decide what he wants to do with his life.
    • Agent Duram leads a raid on the Graystone residence, and the GDD confiscates everything in Zoe's room.
    • Lacy finds Keon at a mechanics shop and persuades him to contact STO operative Barnabas.
    • Agent Duram gets authorization to confiscate Academy students' e-sheets and communications.
    • Daniel appears on Backtalk, debating the morality of v-world with Sarno.
    • Amanda storms the stage in defense of her daughter.
    • Daniel concedes that v-world has adverse moral implications.
    • Clarice learns that Daniel interacted with a virtual avatar of Zoe after her death.
    • Ruth tells Joseph that Shannon and Tamara cannot rest in death until they are avenged, insisting that she could murder Amanda herself.
    • Daniel vows that Graystone Industries will not longer profit from v-world or the holobands.
    • Sam poses as a driver for the studio, and offers to drive Amanda home after the show.
    • Sam detours through Little Tauron with Amanda, indicating that he lost his sister-in-law and niece in the Maglev bombing.
    • Joseph tries to contact Sam in order to call off the murder, but cannot reach him.
    • Sam returns to Joseph's house and, after recounting the details of a horrific murder, admits that he dropped Amanda Graystone off, safe but scared, at her house because he knew that Joseph would not go through the murder.
    • Daniel and Amanda discuss Zoe, and decide not to watch their own interview on Backtalk (CAP: "Gravedancing").
  • Martius 7:
    • Cyrus tells Daniel that Graystone Industries' Board of Directors are holding a meeting to decide whether to replace Daniel as CEO.
    • Willie cuts school again to spend time with Sam at Goldie's Off Track Betting.
    • Joseph gets a call from Willie's principal informing him that Willie hasn't attended school in a week.
    • Joseph drives to Goldie's Off Track Betting to bring Willie home (CAP: "There is Another Sky").
  • Martius 8:
    • Daniel attends the Board's meeting with the U-87 prototype, claiming that holobands and v-world are no longer worth the investment, and that the artificially sentient Cylons are the future of Graystone Industries.
    • the Board votes to keep Daniel as CEO.
  • Martius 9: Joseph takes Willie fishing, but a nearby group of teenagers make racist comments until Willie attacks one of them, beating him viciously.
  • Martius 11:
    • Joseph and Willie perform the Tauron Death Rites so that Shannon and Tamara can rest in peace.
    • afterwards, Joseph gets a visit from Tad Thorean, who believes that Tamara has fallen asleep with her holoband on.
    • Joseph informs Tad that Tamara is dead, and Tad flees (CAP: "There is Another Sky").
  • Martius 13:
    • Daniel and Amanda attend a fundraiser, where Tomas Vergis corners Daniel, revealing that two of his friends and employees were killed during the MCP theft.
    • Joseph buys a holoband from Emptor Electronics, but cannot get beyond the user menus of v-world.
    • Daniel and Cyrus discuss their acquisition of the MCP, and agree that Daniel should meet with Vergis again.
    • Daniel meets with Joseph first to discern who else might have known about the MCP theft (CAP: "Know Thy Enemy").
  • Martius 14:
    • Another empty holocafe is bombed.
    • Clarice is given a swipe-drive, that can wirelessly steal data from any computer, by her husband.
    • Clarice calls Amanda, claiming to have books of Zoe's that she would like to return, in order to visit the Graystone residence.
    • Joseph is assured by Sam that nothing can connect them to the MCP theft.
    • Daniel meets Vergis for lunch, and Vergis offers him 300-million cubits to purchase C-Bucs.
    • Clarice visits Amanda to talk about Zoe, and Amanda shows Clarice the U-87, during which Clarice uses the swipe-drive to steal the data from Daniel's computer.
    • Philo checks his v-match profile and finds no interested women.
    • Keon meets with Barnabas to arrange Lacy's meeting (CAP: "Know Thy Enemy").
  • Martius 15:
    • Clarice updates Alvo on her progress.
    • Daniel and Cyrus discuss Vergis' offer.
    • Zoe interfaces with the computer to send a message to Philo's v-match.
    • Philo meets Zoe, under the alias of "Rachel," in v-world for a date.
    • Vergis appears on Backtalk (CAP: "Know Thy Enemy").

42-47YR[edit]

  • Joseph Adama marries his assistant Evelyn. They bear a son, William "Bill" Adama.
  • Cylons are integrated into Colonial society.
  • Clarice Williow proselytizes God to the Cylons in v-world.
  • Lacy Rand has assumed the role of the Blessed Mother.
  • Zoe corresponds with the Final Five in v-world. They teach her the means of constructing an artificial body.[1] Zoe, aided by her parents, uses this information to be brought back into the real world as the first "skin job" in the Twelve Colonies. (CAP: "Apotheosis")

Battlestar Galactica[edit]

Note: All years in Caprica are prefixed by "19," unless otherwise noted. See: Colonial calendar.

48YR[edit]

50YR[edit]

58YR[edit]

60YR[edit]

  • The Cylons abandon the Colonies to find their own home world, ending the First Cylon War.

00YR/2000BYR[edit]

Main article: Timeline (RDM)

04YR/2004BYR[edit]

Main article: Timeline (RDM) - Season 4

152,104BYR[edit]

Main article: Timeline (RDM) - Season 4
  • Earth is home to an advanced society that greatly resembles that of the Colonials, though without interplanetary spaceflight, and begins to develop robots. Hera Agathon's remains have been discovered and identified as Mitochondrial Eve, most recent common ancestor strictly through female descent of all living humans on the new Earth (TRS: "Daybreak, Part III").[2]

References[edit]

  1. Although this encounter is not depicted onscreen, this was planned to be recounted in flashback had the show been renewed for a second season.[1]
  2. Contrary to what is read from the fictional National Geographic Article, mitochondrial Eve is not the "most recent common ancestor" of humanity. That person perhaps lived 90,000 years later, and virtually all breeding persons living more than 60,000 years before the present (of whom mitochondrial Eve is merely one) were common ancestors of all humanity.
This article has a separate continuity.
This article is in a separate continuity, which is related to the Original Series. Be sure that your contributions to this article reflect the characters and events specific to this continuity only.
Part of the series on
Timelines of the Battlestar Galactica series


The timeline below chronicles the events depicted in the Original Series, as well as the events that occurred in the various separate continuity sources.

The timeline for the Berkley novelizations does include elements from the spin-off series Galactica 1980, because of the Galactica Discovers Earth novelization.

The timeline is given in yahrens, the Colonial term for "years." The date around which the timeline revolves is 7322, the only date given in the series, and one from the Colonial calendar. This was the yahren when the Cylons attacked Umbra on Caprica, as mentioned in "The Man with Nine Lives."

Dynamite Entertainment comics[edit]

The Dynamite Entertainment comics, particularly the Battlestar Galactica: Starbuck series, make specific mention of key cornerstone yahrens that are the basis of this particular timeline:

Ancient history[edit]

Thousand-Yahren War[edit]

Maximum Press comics[edit]

In War of Eden 2, Rob Liefeld noted that Maximum Press follows the established canon of the Original Series, eschewing Galactica 1980. Therefore, the timeline of the Original Series' episodes is included here, interspersed with data from the comics. It is later noted in the timeline printed in Starbuck 1 admits to using the Encyclopedia Galactica reference.

The acronym "CY" is for the term "Colonial Yahren," which appears in the Maximum Press comics.

Ancient history[edit]

History of the Colonial and Cylon conflict[edit]

The Seventh Millennium of Time (7342—62 CY)[edit]

  • 7357: Wilker paralyzed in a Cylon attack, pursues research into transferring a human consciousness into positronic brains, which succeeds (The Enemy Within 3).
  • 7362 (T-minus ~3 sectons): "A few sectons" before the jump to Earth, Starbuck modifies his reverse boosters, that allow him to evade two pursuing Cylons (War of Eden 1).

Discovery of Earth (7362—? CY)[edit]

  • 7362:
    • Zero Hour: 0—36 centons: Commander Apollo and all 162 vessels in the Fleet make the final jump to Earth, finding the planet devoid of human life. Apollo orders all Viper squadrons to scan the planet for signs of the Thirteenth Tribe (War of Eden 1).
    • 6 centaurs, 36 centons: Lieutenant Box, Captain Starbuck and Colonel Boomer detect a low intensity energy probe from Central Africa that locks on their ships.
    • 6 centaurs, 56 centons—to 7 centaurs:
      • After obtaining permission to land, Box, Boomer and Starbuck discover the Earth is inhabited by dinosaurs, with the exception of an odd pyramid possibly from Kobol. Box is nearly killed by the dinosaur, which itself is killed (War of Eden 12).
      • Count Iblis appears to Baltar, offering him the way to Earth in order to fight a great battle there; this battle he calls the "War of Eden" (War of Eden 12).
    • Sometime later: Adama extracted from status (War of Eden 2), only to die at Baltar's hands later (War of Eden 4).
    • 6 sectons:
      • Discovery of a Kobolian craft on course for Earth.
    • 6 sectons, 34 centons: Cain reports this to Apollo, who sends out a boarding party that recovers Ares, a Cylon android apparently in suspended animation. Later, after awakening, he claims to be a member of the Thirteenth Tribe (The Enemy Within 1).

References[edit]

  1. Despite Starbuck claiming "it's been fifteen yahrens," this is an exaggeration; it has been 13 yahrens.
  2. This information is based on the ages of Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict at the time of filming, which was 33.
  3. This information is based on Noah Hathaway's age at the time of filming, which was seven.
This article has a separate continuity.
This article is in the Richard Hatch continuation separate continuity, which is related to the Original Series. Be sure that your contributions to this article reflect the characters and events specific to this continuity only.
Part of the series on
Timelines of the Battlestar Galactica series


The timeline below chronicles the events depicted in the Original Series, as well as the events that occurred in the novels penned by Richard Hatch.

The timeline is given in yahrens, the Colonial term for "years." The date around which the timeline revolves is 7322, the only date given in the series, and one from the Colonial calendar. This was the yahren when the Cylons attacked Umbra on Caprica, as mentioned in "The Man with Nine Lives".

Pre-Colonial History[edit]

Considered ancient history, these events and their particular placement in the timeline remain unknown, for information is lost to only a few, including those who have accessed the Kobollian archives.

  • Parnassus, the font of all humanity, is besieged by various conflicts. The Lords of the House of Kobol develops interstellar travel, encountering numerous cultures in their infancy, including the Cylon (RH: Armageddon).
  • The House of Kobol and its servants leave Parnassus, after that homeworld is no longer able to support life (RH: Armageddon).
  • This self-destructive cycle repeats, wherein the Lords of Kobol (having long ascended beyond the petty concerns of the human race) leave their subjects behind on a new planet, Kobol, including those of the House of Kobol. Kobol becomes uninhabitable and another exodus occurs, with the members of the pure Kobollian bloodline settling on Caprica, one of the Twelve Colonies of Man (RH: Armageddon).

History of the Colonial and Cylon Conflict (6342-7342)[edit]

The Seventh Millennium of Time (7342—60)[edit]

Armageddon (7360)[edit]

  • 7360:
    • Galactic Events
      • Binary 13's Ochoa is destroyed, torn apart by its unstable orbit between two stars.
      • Iblis returns, seeking vengeance against the remaining humans who have rejected him.
      • Apollo establishes contact with the Sky near Binary 13.
    • Within the Fleet
      • Ambassador Puck is killed by Count Iblis aboard Agro-3; Iblis assumes Puck's identity.
      • Adama dies after a series of cardiac attacks, leaving a power vacuum regarding the command of the Fleet and Galactica itself.
      • Dalton becomes the youngest to graduate from Warrior training at age 17.
      • The first of the Scarlet-class Vipers is issued to Apollo, with at least four others being bulit on Hephaestus.
    • Within the Cylon Empire
      • Baltar is removed from power by Imperious Leader.
      • A new breed of Cylon have been created, their logic circuits patterned after Baltar's.
      • New deadlier Cylon fighter craft have also been deployed, including those capable of stealth technology.

References[edit]

  1. This information is based on the ages of Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict at the time of filming, which was 33.
  2. Hatch, Richard; Christopher Golden (1997). Armageddon. Byron Preiss, p. 31.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Hatch, Richard; Christopher Golden (1997). Armageddon. Byron Preiss, p. 81.
  4. Hatch, Richard; Christopher Golden (1997). Armageddon. Byron Preiss, p. 114.
  5. Hatch, Richard; Christopher Golden (1997). Armageddon. Byron Preiss, p. 7.
  6. Hatch, Richard; Christopher Golden (1997). Armaggedon. Byron Preiss, p. pg. 117.

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