Episodes IV, V and VI

Star Wars Timeline Of Key Events

NOTE: This Timeline is based on the Battle Of Yavin being the Standard Year Zero (the film Star Wars: A New Hope). Events take plave BBY (before the Battle Of Yavin0 and ABY (after the Battle Of Yavin).

5,000 - 4,990 BBY
Pioneering hyperspace explorers Gav and Jori Daragon stumble upon the mighty Sith Empire, which is ruled by Dark Loads of the Sith and thrives on the dark-side Force powers. This eventually leads to a major battle between the Old Republic and the Sith Empire.

4,000 - 3,998 BBY
The Jedi Knights act as guardians for the Old Republic. Two in particular stand out, Ulic Qel-Droma - who helps to end a planetary civil war - and Nomi Sunrider. They team up during the Freedon Nadd uprising.

3,997 - 3,996 BBY
The Sith threat returns as Dark Load Exar Kun seduces dozens of Jedi Knights to the dark-side, including Ulic Qel-Droma. Kun is destroyed as a Jedi army invades his base on Yavin 4, but his spirit remains trapped for a millennia.

896 BBY
Jedi Master Yoda is born.

200 BBY
The Wookiee Chewbacca is born on the planet Kashyyyk.

60 BBY
Ben 'Obi-Wan' Kenobi is born.

41 BBY
Anakin Skywalker is born.

32 BBY
Emperor Palpatine begins to rise to power. Anakin Skywalker starts his training to be a Jedi by Qui Gon Jinn. Qui Gon Jinn and a Sith called Darth Maul are killed in a trio battle with Obi Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan takes over training Anakin.

29 BBY
Han Solo is born.

22-20 BBY
Anakin Skywalker is seduced by the dark-side of the Force and becomes Darth Vader.

18 BBY
Luke Skywalker and his twin sister Leia and born.

10 BBY
A teenage Han Solo develops into a hot shot pilot and smuggler, and eventually win the Millennium Falcon from gambler Lando Calrissian.

10-5 BBY
The droid companions C-3PO and R2-D2 are involved in a series of harrowing adventures in the service of several different owners.

1-0 BBY
Rebel agent Kyle Katarn steals the Empire's Death Star plans.

0
The Imperial Senate is dissolved and Emperor Palpatine declares a New Order. Luke Skywalker, Ben Kenobi, Han Solo and Chewbacca save Princess Leia, confront Darth Vader, and help destroy the Darth Star at the Battle Of Yavin, but not before it is used to destroy Leia's adopted planet of Alderaan. Kenobi lets himself be struck down by Vader and becomes one with the Force.

0+ ABY
Luke and Leia search for the Kaiburr crystal, which contains great Force powers, and encounter Darth Vader. The Rebel base of Yavin 4 is evacuated and search is begun for another, eventually ending on the planet Hoth. The Rebel Alliance heroes encounter bounty hunters on the planet Ord Mantell.

3 ABY
The Empire strikes back, routing the Rebel Alliance during the Battle Of Hoth. Luke Skywalker goes to DAgobah to train under Jedi Master Yoda. Leia, Han, Chewbacca and C-3PO are captured by Darth Vader on Bespin's Cloud City and held as bait for young Skywalker. Solo is frozen in carbonite and given to bounty hunter Boba Fett for delivery to crime lord Jabba the Hutt. Luke confronts Vader, who claims to be Luke's father, and Luke loses his hand and lightsaber, but is rescued by Leia and Lando Calrissian.

3+ ABY
Young Cindel Towani and her family crash on the forest moon of Endor. They are helped by a tribe of native Ewoks.

3.5 ABY
Prince Xizor, head of the Black Sun criminal organisation plots to discredit Vader and become the Emperor's second-in-command by having Luke Skywalker assassinated. Instead, it is Xizor who is terminated. Luke builds his own lightsaber.

4 ABY
Luke Skywalker destroys Jabba the Hutt and rescues Han Solo. Returning to Dagobah, he finds Yoda's life force ebbing . There Luke learns that Vader is truly his father, and Leia is his sister. On a moon of Endor, with the help of the Ewoks, Han and Leia destroy a shield generator that had been protecting a new, more powerful orbiting Death Star, which is destroyed by Lando and X-Wing pilot Wedge Antilles during the Battle Of Endor. Vader saves his son, Luke from certain death at the hands of the Emperor, but is killed in the process.

4.5 ABY
Rogue Sqadron's X-Wing pilots begin a systematic retaking of the galaxy, planet by planet.

6.5-7.5 ABY
Rogue Squadron, under the leadership of Wedge Antilles, liberates the Imperial capital planet of Coruscant and engages the former head of Imperial Intelligence in a fierce struggle over the galaxy's supply of curative bacta.

8 ABY
Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa finally get married,but only after Solo 'kidnaps' Leia and takes her to the planet Dathomir.

9 ABY
Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn returns from the far reaches of the galaxy and becomes a major threat to the New Republic, thpugh ultimatly he is killed by his own bodyguard. Leia Solo gives birth to twins, Jaina and Jacen.

10 ABY
Two different clones of Emperor Palpatine, backed by forces wielding new super-weapons such as the Galaxy Gun and World Devastators, bring chaos to the New Republic, and Luke nearly succumbs to the dark-side. Imperial forces briefly regain Coruscant. Leia gives birth to her third child, whom she names Anakin.

11 ABY
Luke establishes a Jedi training academy on Yavin 4, but is nearly killed by the reawakened spirit of an ancient Dark Lord Exar Kun.

12-13 ABY
Luke has an epic - but ultimatly unfulfilled - romance with one-time Jedi Knight Callista, as he is trapped aboard an Imperial battle moon, and battles a Hutt crime lord, and deals with a mysterious outbreak of a dealy plague.

14 ABY
Leia and Han's three children are kidnapped by a one-time Imperial official who has established an 'Empire Reborn' movement.

15 ABY
Luke Skywalker achieves the ability to cloak objects - cool!

16-17 ABY
The New Republic is threatened by the cruel and xenophobic Yevethan species. Luke searchs for clues about his mother. Wedge Antilles becomes a general.

17 ABY
Kueller, a one time pupil at the Jedi academy, becomes a dark-side menace.

18 ABY
Thracken Sal-Solo, Han's nearly identical cousin, leads a brutal revoltionary army intent on ruling the Corellian sector. The Solo children help to stop him by disabling Sal-Solo's star bursting weapon.

22-23 ABY
Anakin Solo begins his instruction at the Jedi academy.

23-24 ABY
Jaina and Jacen Solo train at the Jedi academy and help to take on the evil Second Imperium.