History of Pokémon (Part1)

Below is a timeline of events in the history of the Pokémon world, primarily those established in the canon of the Pokémon games since these apply most to other forms of canon. There is also a separate timeline of events for the anime series as well as one for Pokémon Adventures.

There are many stories and legends surrounding the history of the Pokémon world. It is not entirely clear if legends are true or not, but there are many hints in the games, anime and manga that suggest that they are.

Please note that the below timeline is based on speculation and possible information from different aspects of the Pokémon franchise.

Beginning of the universe

This information is based primarily on the mythology of both the Hoenn and Sinnoh regions.

• In a vortex of complete chaos and nothingness, a single Egg comes into being, which then hatches into Arceus, the first Pokémon in existence. Arceus then creates Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina, giving them power over time, space, and antimatter respectively. Giratina, as punishment for its destructive nature, is sent by Arceus to live in the Distortion World. Dialga and Palkia then succeed in creating the universe and Pokémon world and retreat into their own dimensions afterwards, with a point of access being at the ancient Spear Pillar in Sinnoh.
• Arceus creates Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf, giving knowledge, emotion, and willpower to all living things that come into existence in the Pokémon world. The three dive into caves at the bottom of Lake Verity, Lake Valor, and Lake Acuity in Sinnoh, giving them the name "lake guardians".
• Kyogre is formed by the pressure in the deep sea trenches, Groudon is formed deep inside the Earth, likely from hardened magma and earth, and Rayquaza is formed by the minerals of the ozone layer. Rayquaza proceeds to fly around in the ozone layer, occasionally coming to rest at Sky Pillar.
• Kyogre and Groudon then proceed to fill the sea and create land, respectively. A chance meeting turns the two into rivals, and a conflict for dominance over the Pokémon world begins. This battle continues until Rayquaza quells it, causing Kyogre and Groudon to retreat to special caverns, where they rest until the events of Generation III many years later. The Red and Blue Orbs are created to prevent the reawakening of Kyogre and Groudon, and are left at Mt. Pyre for safekeeping. At this time, Mew may have been plentiful and lived in large numbers.
• Landmasses such as Mt. Coronet are created, and Regigigas moves the continents, forming the regions, and creates the three titans, Regirock, Regice, and Registeel, out of clay, ice, and magma, respectively.
• The Sinnoh region is created around Mt. Coronet. During this violent procedure, Stark Mountain is created due to shifts in the crust of the world and Heatran is formed in a pool of lava. Arceus creates the Adamant, Lustrous, and Griseous Orbs before falling into a deep slumber.

Prehistory

This information is based primarily on the study of Fossils and other archaeological remains. Some of this information is also based on scientific research.

Millions of years before Generation I:

• The earliest known prehistoric Pokémon existed at this time. It is possible that the Mew population may have decreased at this stage, as they slowly gave way to other Pokémon species. The first humans also appeared around this time.
• Anorith is stated to have existed in primordial seas, with its eight legs at some point developing into its known eight wings.
• 300 million years ago: An ancient version of Genesect was born. Kabuto and Kabutops lived in the sea.
• Team Plasma later used Genesect's DNA to create an infinitely stronger version of it with cybernetic technology.
• An unspecified hundreds of millions of years ago: Carbink begins its undisturbed underground sleep after its birth. It was born from deep underground temperatures and pressures.
• 100 million years ago: Species such as Aerodactyl, Lileep, Cranidos, Shieldon, Tirtouga, Archen, Tyrantrum and Amaura were supposedly widespread. They all ultimately went extinct, but not before Archen gave rise to bird Pokémon and Tirtouga gave rise to turtle Pokémon.
• A fossil is found millions of years later in Hoenn and revived scientifically by the Devon Corporation.
• Shellder is known to be the prey of Omastar.
• Carracosta and Archeops preyed on Omanyte. Only Carracosta is known to have eaten Omastar.
• Relicanth is said to have remained unchanged in over 100 million years.
• 20,000 years ago the first Claydol was brought to life from a clay doll.
• 10,000 years ago: During the last Ice Age, the Mamoswine population flourished, then decreased when the Ice Age ended.
• At some point in the distant past, the Magikarp population mutates due to unknown reasons and becomes weaker.
• At some point after the Iron Age, Regigigas is sealed away in the Snowpoint Temple, and Regirock, Regice and Registeel are sealed away at various points across the Hoenn region after years of human worship.

3000 years before Generation V:

• The Relic items are created.

3000 years before Generation VI:

• The Kalos war occurred, the ultimate weapon was created underneath Geosenge Town, and AZ was given eternal life. This sets a chain of events into motion that leads to the discovery of Mega Evolution.

2500 years before Generation V:

• The Relic Castle is built.
• The Dragonspiral Tower is known as Unova's oldest structure, though its age is unstated.

2000 years before Generation V:

• Conkeldurr is said to have taught humans how to make concrete using centrifugal force.

2000 years before Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire:

• Hoenn is plagued by meteor showers. A meteor turns the homeplace of the Draconid people into Meteor Falls.
• The world overflowed with natural energy which Groudon and Kyogre, in their primal forms, fought over. They ravaged the earth and were only calmed by Rayquaza after the Draconid people summoned it using a wish on a meteor at Meteor Falls. The people of Hoenn begin to revere Rayquaza as a savior.

1500 years before Generation I:

• The earliest known system for writing is developed and used at the Ruins of Alph, Tanoby Ruins, and Solaceon Ruins. Archaeologists are currently unsure whether the nearly identical Unown preceded or succeeded the writing system, but it is assumed they share some sort of connection.
• The Farfetch'd population decreases due to overhunting.

1000 years before Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire:

• A thousand years after the events at Meteor Falls, a meteor struck Hoenn, creating Sootopolis City. Groudon and Kyogre reawakened to fight over the wellspring of primal energy which came from it. The people of Hoenn wished on Rayquaza to save them, and using the meteor, Rayquaza performed the world's first Mega Evolution and calmed the two. Sky Pillar was built in Rayquaza's honour, and the Draconid people promised to pass down the prophecy that in 1000 years the meteor would return - causing the events of the Delta Episode.

800 years before X and Y:

• Xerneas released life energy throughout the Kalos region and fled to a forest, where it went to sleep in the form of a tree.
• Yveltal absorbed life energy throughout the Kalos region and fled to the mountains, where it went to sleep in the form of a cocoon.

Recent history

This information is based on historic records.

Hundreds of years before Generation I:

• The legends of Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs's past.

Hundreds of years before Generation II:

• The Sinjoh Ruins were built by two groups of people, from Sinnoh and Johto's Ruins of Alph. The site's architecture expresses a fusion of the two group's ideas and mythology.

c. 700 years before Generation I:

• Bell Tower and Brass Tower are constructed in Ecruteak City, and Lugia and Ho-Oh perch at their tops.

c. 500 years before Generation I:

• The first Spiritomb is sealed in the Hallowed Tower for its unforgivable misdeeds.
• The Cianwood City Pharmacy is built.
• The guardian deities fought against Solgaleo and Lunala.
• Magearna is created by a scientist who used the life energy of other Pokémon to create its Soul-Heart, and is presented to a king's daughter.