The Hyrulian Chronology Theory: Jade's Spin

Among Zelda fans alike, we each have our own opinions as to how each Zelda game fits into a sort of "timeline". A timeline may not exist at all, or there may never be an official one due to so many impossible disputes and evidence that contradicts. Here is my version of the Hyrulian Chronology: I think it is the most accurate and best supported (with my evidence) timeline that there is out there right now. What is important about Zelda games is: The Games happen in a timeline YOU WANT, and I think that is how Miyamoto wanted it. Nonetheless, here we go.


Creation of Hyrule
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We know the story. Din, Firore and Nayru descend and create the land. Where they depart is the sacred realm; at the exact point of departure; the Triforce is left behind.


1.)Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Link is a boy growing up in the Kokiri forest after his Hylian mother could not go on to live. The Great Deku tree saw to it to watch the boy (She dies of injuries from the great war). As he evolves as a hero, Link becomes the Hero of Time. With the Ocarina of Time, he sets to travel forward in time to clean up the world there, and to stop Ganon (there can only ever be One Zelda, Gannondorf, or Link in any one time or realm due to their powers of the Triforce) and his evil bidding. With the Help of Zelda and the other sages, Link deals the "final" blow to Ganon, and they seal him into the sacred realm. I debate even sealing him there (I would have not done it unless I had to) because Ganonndorf will find some way to break out, and/or pollute the realm. The Triforce was also sealed away with him, but I don't believe (and we have no evidence) that Gannon actually got a reach of it. More likely, the individual pieces resonated with their partners inside of them, locking the Triforce of Power away with Gannondorf. If one posesses a triforce piece, they cannot die (explaining Gannondorf living for hundreds of years). The Master Sword is returned to the Pedastal of Time, and Link back to his original time from 7 years ahead. Most fans agree that Ocarina of Time is the beginning of the theorized "Hyrulian Chronology Theory".


2.) Legend of Zelda: Majoras Mask
We have evidence from Nintendo that this happened direcctly AFTER Ocarina of Time. Link goes to search for his lost fairy friend, Navi when he is attacked by the Skull Kid. Turned into a Deku, Link has 3 days to stop the fall of the moon onto the land of Termina, a land due North or South of Hyrule (as far as I know, if I am wrong correct me). Link manages to call the four giants to stop the moon, and defeats the cuse known as Majora.


3.) Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (Any order)
Both games take place in lands East and West of Hyrule. These games and their stories are debated, and I don't have much information on them as I have not played them. They are thus "filler", and can fit in nearly anywhere in the storyline.

3.) Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (Any order)
Both games take place in lands East and West of Hyrule. These games and their stories are debated, and I don't have much information on them as I have not played them. They are thus "filler", and can fit in nearly anywhere in the storyline.

4.) Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The game takes place after Ocarina of Time due to the Temple of Time still standing, yet the Grove the Master Sword rests in is pre-A Link to the Past. This is our strongest evidence of the placement. Also, the Twilight Realm may be a prelude to problems with the "Dark World" and Gannondorf's involvement with the future of this issue. Many of the older temples (a prime example is the water temple under Lake Hylia) still exist from Ocarina of Time.


5.) Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
The game is set in Hyrule, and as far as we know Ganon is again sealed into the realm from another great war. Gannondorf, as far as we know, was sealed by the next generation of Sages. A wizard named Aganahim takes over Hyrule, boots out the King, and kidnaps Princess Zelda. Link retrieves the pendants needed for the Master Sword to be released, and releases it. We have strong evidence here, that the pedastal he pulls it out of its a late generation temple of time pedastal, so we can assume there is correlation between the Temple of Time being there and the current lost woods (See Temple of Time Article). Also, Ganon was "just" released from the realm as the sword was pulled. Link steps into a portal (much like from Twilight Princess) and enters the Dark World. Link rescues the decendants of the Sages, reforms the Triforce of Courage, and manages to seal Ganon (yet again) into the Sacred Realm (or "Dark World" after what Ganon did to it). It is presumed that Ganon has worked on the "Dark World" since being sealed in Ocarina of Time. The Master Sword is returned to the pedastal, sealing Ganon back in.

6.) Legend of Zelda: Four Swords
7.) Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
8.) Legend of Zelda: Diminish Cap
9.) Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

Again these are side stories such as OOS, OOA and Majoras mask, so I have no further information as to where they go. I would guess to the best of my knowledge that Link's Awakening happens before The Wind Waker. They are thus "filler", and can fit in nearly anywhere in the storyline.

10.) Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Hyrule is yet again in turmoil as Ganon breaks the seal out of the sacred realm. Over the generations, the Master Sword was either removed and moved, or Hyrule Castle was built into or on top of the Temple of Time ruins. Hyrule is flooded by the Gods, and all that remained of Hyrule was deep underwater. Survivers and newgoers established islands on the very mountain peaks that once stood tall in Hyrule. Link's sister has been kidnapped, and Link must once again defeat the evil and now get his sister back. Link retrieves the 3 lost pearls and enters the Tower of the Gods to prove himself. He well indeed proves himself, and is transported down with the King of Red Lions to the underwater castle that is Hyrule Castle. We believe that the castle was built either on the Temple of Time because time was frozen, or the weakened power of the Master Sword was causing a fuss. Either way, Link makes his way down into the familiar chambers, removes the Master Sword, and restores time to underwater Hyrule. Before the sword was pulled, we knew that Gannondorf was somehow active above water. As the Triforce is called down in the final battle, Gannondorf makes a wish to revive Hyrule and receive the title of King with it. Over about a millenia of fighting multiple Links, Zeldas, battles, and wars, he IRONICALLY FORGETS TO TOUCH THE TRIFORCE. One must touch the triforce to have his or her wish granted. The King of Red Lions (revealed as the king of hyrule) touches the sacred triangle and wishes for a prosperous future for the world above, and for the Hyrule of Old to be forgotten. Now that the Triforce had been called upon, it will split forever into the underwater world as designed (after a wish, they triangles split). Link, Zelda, and Gannondorf all battle it out to the end. In the end, Link ends up stabbing the very blade of evil's bane into the forhead of Ganon. The blade is so powerful and energized at this point from the last generation of sages, that the blade turns him to stone. It is my belief that since Ganon no longer had the Triforce of Power (he couldn't transform into a piggie!) that this killed him, sunk him underwater along with the Master Sword, all to be forgotten with Hyrule.


Most people disagree with Wind Waker being last, however it is a fitting story to be put at the end. How Hyrule can be unflooded and Gannondorf survivng after losing the triforce of power (let alone dying) is the most inconsitent and inaccurate arguement against other timelines. Not to say, mine has weaknesses as well but that is how it is for me.