Forum:SH:Timeline of Star Wars Rebels Events

One of the few but persistent challenges in creating articles for Star Wars Rebels, particularly event articles, is knowing where they fall in the timeline in relation to the Battle of Yavin. When the show started, Lucasfilm said that it was set five years before A New Hope. Within a few episodes, however, we were told that it was the fifteenth anniversary of the Galactic Empire, which would mean the show had advanced to be around four years before A New Hope. Now, the Lucasfilm announcement for the episode "A Princess on Lothal" says that the episode is set three years before the Battle of Yavin.

That got me thinking, and I think I have an effective solution to the ambiguity around the Rebels dates. Just like the big TCW timeline before it, this thread will outline the timeline of Rebels episodes and other media with corresponding dates. It's not the typical dating system we use, but I think it's a good one to use for Rebels articles.

Considerations
First, some backstory:
 * We know from Season One press releases, news articles, and more that the show starts about five years before the Battle of Yavin. Here is a tweet from Leland Chee with the chronology as well. Episode I is Year 0, Rebels is Year 27, and Episode IV is Year 32. Therefore, with simple math, we can know that Rebels began in the fifth year before the Battle of Yavin.
 * The events of the episodes "Empire Day" and "Gathering Forces" take place on the fifteenth anniversary of the Galactic Empire. Ancillary work such as Ezra's Duel with Danger specifically call it the fifteenth anniversary. Using the same tweet from Leland Chee, we can deduce the year change. Episode III, when the Empire was founded, is Year 13. Fifteen years later means it becomes Year 28, or four years before the Battle of Yavin.
 * The announcement for "A Princess on Lothal" says that the episode takes place three years before the events of A New Hope. That suggests we are now into Year 29.

Given that, we can assume the following: the events of Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion through the end of "Out of Darkness" take place in the fifth year before the Battle of Yavin. The events of "Empire Day" through "Legacy" take place in the fourth year before the Battle of Yavin. The events of "A Princess on Lothal" through the foreseeable future, at least the rest of Season Two, take place in the third year before the Battle of Yavin.

Now, note my phrasing there. I'm not saying "five years before the Battle of Yavin," "four years before the Battle of Yavin," or "three years before the Battle of Yavin." I am saying the fifth, fourth, and third years before the Battle of Yavin, so sometime within those years. Because we don't have a standard canon dating system yet, we shouldn't say "3 years before the Battle of Yavin" like that's a year. It's better to say "in the third year before the Battle of Yavin." It's more accurate and provides more wiggle room.

So knowing all of that, the following is the timeline of events pertaining to Star Wars Rebels.

In the sixth year before the Battle of Yavin

 * Servants of the Empire: Edge of the Galaxy
 * Westhills bombing attempt
 * Westhills massacre
 * Westhills skirmish

In the fifth year before the Battle of Yavin

 * Star Wars Rebels: Ghost Raid
 * "The Machine in the Ghost"
 * Raid on an Imperial supply convoy
 * "Art Attack"
 * Attack on a Lothal airfield
 * "Entanglement"
 * Ezra's Gamble
 * "Property of Ezra Bridger"
 * Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion
 * Heist in Capital City
 * Mission to free Wookiee prisoners
 * "Droids in Distress"
 * Mission to steal Imperial disruptors
 * "Fighter Flight"
 * Attack on Imperial Troop Transports
 * "Ring Race"
 * "Rise of the Old Masters"
 * Duel on Stygeon Prime
 * "Learning Patience"
 * "Breaking Ranks"
 * Mission to destroy a kyber crystal
 * Servants of the Empire: Rebel in the Ranks
 * Transportation Ministry data breach
 * "The fake Jedi"
 * "Kallus' Hunt"
 * "Out of Darkness"
 * Attack on an Imperial convoy
 * The events on Fort Anaxes

In the fourth year before the Battle of Yavin

 * "Empire Day" and "Gathering Forces"
 * Bombing at the Empire Day parade
 * Rescue of Tseebo
 * "Return of the Slavers"
 * "Path of the Jedi"
 * Ezra's trials in the Lothal Jedi Temple
 * "Sabotaged Supplies"
 * "Idiot's Array"
 * Mission to Calrissian's farm
 * Servants of the Empire: Imperial Justice
 * Assault on the Gray Syndicate
 * "Vision of Hope"
 * Trap in the Old Republic Senate Building
 * "Ezra's Vision"
 * "Becoming Hunted"
 * "Assessment"
 * "Call to Action"
 * Raid near Jalath
 * Capture of Kanan Jarrus
 * "Rebel Resolve"
 * "Fire Across the Galaxy"
 * Rescue of Kanan Jarrus
 * Servants of the Empire: The Secret Academy
 * Rescue of Dhara Leonis
 * "Senate Perspective"
 * "Ocean Rescue"
 * Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal
 * Mission to steal Imperial shield generators
 * Siege of Lothal
 * Mission to Lothal
 * Attack on the Phoenix fleet
 * "The Lost Commanders" and "Relics of the Old Republic"
 * Assault on Seelos
 * "Secrets of Sienar"
 * "Always Two There Are"
 * Skirmish aboard a Republic medical station
 * "Brothers of the Broken Horn"
 * Skirmish in Nixus Hub 218
 * "Wings of the Master"
 * Blockade of Ibaar
 * "Blood Sisters" *
 * Skirmish in the Garel City Spaceport
 * "Stealth Strike"
 * Rescue on the Imperial Interdictor
 * Rescue on the Imperial Interdictor

* It is possible that the events of "Blood Sisters" mark a change in year. It is exactly one year after the airing of "Empire Day," which also marked a year change. Until there is clarity, however, all Season Two episodes until "The Future of the Force" are treated as being part of the fourth year before the Battle of Yavin. It can be deduced that "The Future of the Force" and "Legacy" take place in the third year before the battle of Yavin, as both episodes take place shortly before "A Princess on Lothal".

In the third year before the Battle of Yavin

 * "The Future of the Force"
 * Duel in Hammertown
 * "Legacy"
 * Revolt in an Imperial prison
 * Battle on Garel
 * "A Princess on Lothal"
 * Raid on the Lothal Depot
 * "The Protector of Concord Dawn"
 * "Legacy of Lasan"
 * "The Call"
 * "Homecoming"
 * "The Honorable Ones"

This list will continue to be updated as the series moves forward.

Episodes
For events taking place in the fifth year before the Battle of Yavin, use this citation:


 * In the fifth year before the Battle of Yavin

For events taking place in the fourth year before the Battle of Yavin, use this citation:


 * In the fourth year before the Battle of Yavin

For events taking place in the third year before the Battle of Yavin, use this citation:


 * In the third year before the Battle of Yavin

Feel free to tweak it as necessary depending on the context of the article, but that should suffice.

Not included
I got bored and reformatted it as an Appearances section, and comparing it to others you're missing a few things. Note that I'm not knowledgeable as to whether or not these belong; you can keep this as a section for things without a placement yet. (feel free to edit) Cade    Calrayn  16:15, January 14, 2016 (UTC)


 * A New Dawn (meh if it's not part of the list)
 * A New Hero
 * The Secret Jedi: The Adventures of Kanan Jarrus: Rebel Leader
 * Star Wars: Kanan
 * HoloNet:
 * And these games:
 * Star Wars Rebels: Recon Missions
 * Star Wars Rebels: Rebel Strike
 * Star Wars Rebels: Strike Missions
 * And these games:
 * Star Wars Rebels: Recon Missions
 * Star Wars Rebels: Rebel Strike
 * Star Wars Rebels: Strike Missions
 * And these games:
 * Star Wars Rebels: Recon Missions
 * Star Wars Rebels: Rebel Strike
 * Star Wars Rebels: Strike Missions
 * Star Wars Rebels: Recon Missions
 * Star Wars Rebels: Rebel Strike
 * Star Wars Rebels: Strike Missions

Discussion
Anyone have any thoughts, suggestions, or general feedback? Let me know what you think! I will also note that I have not included the Rebels comics from the Star Wars Rebels Magazine in this, as I have not yet been able to look at them to see when they may fit into the events of the series. - Brandon Rhea (talk) 00:58, January 12, 2016 (UTC)
 * FYI, the writer of those comics (Martin Fisher) has detailed notes about when each story fits. He is on Twitter and is very reachable. I can make a spreadsheet if you like, in the next few days. --LelalMekha (talk) 01:45, January 12, 2016 (UTC)
 * That'd be great! I'll take a look at it and then add the events to this timeline. - Brandon Rhea (talk) 01:48, January 12, 2016 (UTC)
 * I have contacted Martin Fisher, and he will provide me with a list that reveals the placement of all the Rebels stories of his that have been published so far. I will upload said list on WP as soon as I have it. Every time a new comic gets released, I will take the responsibility to ask him the timeline placement on Twitter and update the spreadsheet. --LelalMekha (talk) 19:21, January 12, 2016 (UTC)
 * Much appreciated. Thanks Lelal. If you haven't, feel free to show him this forum too so he knows what the project is behind your questions. - Brandon Rhea (talk) 19:28, January 12, 2016 (UTC)
 * This is a very worthy endeavor. I'm glad that you're taken the time and effort to compile a chronology of Star Wars Rebels. It will certainly make our lives easier on this Wikia. Andykatib 03:40, January 13 2016 (UTC)
 * Martin Fisher's answer has arrived, and it's been posted here, folks! --LelalMekha (talk) 14:57, January 14, 2016 (UTC)
 * Thanks Lelal. I've added them to the timeline. - Brandon Rhea (talk) 15:40, January 14, 2016 (UTC)

Re: Cade's list of things that are not included yet. Yeah some things aren't included yet, since I'm still going through stuff. This is by no means complete. Couple of notes in that regard: - Brandon Rhea (talk)
 * Kanan will be added once I figure out the exact placement of the "present day" and flashback stuff.
 * A New Dawn will be added once I figure out where the prologue fits with Kanan: First Blood.
 * I need to read Rebel Bluff again because I know it's set after "Call to Action" and The Siege of Lothal but I'm not entirely sure on where.
 * I recall The Secret Jedi being more of a source than an appearance but I'll have to check that again.
 * I couldn't even tell you where those games go since they're not that story-focused.
 * The Team Tactics game is a loose adaptation of Siege of Lothal and Ghost Raid takes place before any episodes. The other games are all over the place and hard to pinpoint, though. --Dentface (talk) 08:31, January 15, 2016 (UTC)
 * Regarding Kanan, the exact placement still isn't confirmed, but the present day story line is likely set between Spark of Rebellion and "Droids in Distress." Ezra doesn't appear to have built his lightsaber yet, Tarkintown hasn't been destroyed, and Ahsoka still goes by "Fulcrum." The series will probably be easier to place once it finishes in March.  CC7567  (talk) 20:08, January 15, 2016 (UTC)
 * You mean between Spark of Rebellion and Path of the Jedi? Because they didn't know about Fulcrum until after Droids in Distress. - Brandon Rhea (talk) 21:06, January 15, 2016 (UTC)
 * That's true. It's definitely somewhere within the first half of Season One, but exactly where is hard to say.  CC7567  (talk) 22:41, January 15, 2016 (UTC)

How come Empire Day and onwards is considered four years prior to the Battle of Yavin? Leland Chee tweeted a while back that that only works if Empire Day occurs on the same day as the Battle of Yavin. Cevan   (talk)  02:07, January 16, 2016 (UTC)
 * It's fifteen years after Episode III, which according to Leland's own timeline makes it approximately four years before the Battle of Yavin. That's why this timeline uses approximations like "in the fourth year before" instead of "four years before." I would interpret Leland's tweet to say that "Empire Day" is not exactly four years before the Battle of Yavin. Plus now that we know that "A Princess on Lothal" has moved into the third year before the Battle of Yavin, it makes "Empire Day's" placement a bit less vague. This type of timeline is the best we have to go on until a clearer timeline is established. - Brandon Rhea (talk) 02:23, January 16, 2016 (UTC)
 * Got it. Cevan  IMPpress.svg  (talk)  02:43, January 16, 2016 (UTC)

Has there been any confirmation by the Powers That Be regarding the placement of the "modern" / framing sections of the Kanan comic? I don't think there's been anything in the comics themselves, but I don't know whether Hidalgo/Chee/whoever have said anything on it. EDIT: Oh, and also I see nobody has mentioned Eyes on the Prize so far. &mdash; DigiFluid(Whine here) 08:59, January 16, 2016 (UTC)