View source for A Timeline of Events

* Before 300 - The temple of the Parcae founded

* Before 750 - Criamon the Founder is resident at the caves beneath Hoellech. Bonisagus, Guernicus and Trianoma are all active around the Alps and in the Black Forest. 

* Before 800 - Krok is king in Bohemia; the legend of the sisters Teta, Kazi and Libuše. 

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* '''767 - The Thirteen Founders and some of their most powerful apprentices gather in the Black Forest and swear the Code of Hermes. The Order of Hermes begins.''' 

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* 770 - Bonisagus, Verditius and Criamon all compete for the favour of the Priestesses of the Parcae. Bonisagus wins, and Ends of the Earth is founded. 

* 770-780 - With assistance from Verditius and Mercere, Jerbiton moves the foundations and treasures of the Temple of the Muses from Mount Helicon in Greece to Valnastium to protect the Temple from the ongoing iconoclasm in the Byzantine Empire. 

* 800 - Charlemagne the Great is crowned Holy Roman Emperor, with the secret collusion of the Founders Flambeau and Jerbiton. Flambeau is intimately involved with the attempt to reclaim Moorish Iberia for Christendom.

* 812 - Mercere's apprentice Tancred locates the Temple of Mercury Victor in the high alpine passes - covenant of Carthago in Montibus founded. 

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* 814-816 - '''The War Against The Spider'''. A powerful Pictish magician raises an army in the British isles and one of Tytalus' apprentices, Pralix, unites Britain's magical traditions to defeat him. Pralix' victorious coalition briefly stands as a rival to the Order before winning membership as House ex Miscellanea. 

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* 814 - The Alpine covenant of Spear of Taranis, a stronghold of the House Forgotten, is an early catastrophic casualty of the Spider. Out of the scramble to seize its resources, the Covenant of the Icy North forms, laying the foundations for both the concept of Chapterhouses and for the concept of magi of differing Houses living together. The Bavarian Common rules for vis distribution are laid down in their earliest form. 

* 965 - earliest mention of a Jewish quarter in Prague

* c. 1000 -  an ex Miscellanea tradition emerges in Bohemia claiming descent from, or alignment with, the mythical figures Kazi and Teta. The tradition skirts carefully around the presence of the Kaballah in Prague and an informal accommodation is come to. 

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* 1003 - 1017 - House Flambeau and the House Unnamed unite to prosecute mass conflict against The House Forgotten in what comes to be known as '''The Schism War'''. Losses are heavy and eventually the Quaesitori and Mercere step in to stop the conflict, but at the cost of the annihilation of The House Forgotten. 

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* 1053 - Shadow of the Moon founded, the last new covenant to be allowed to incorporate in the Greater Alps. 

* 1100-1204 - '''The Golden Age''' - the height of the Order's power and prestige. 

* 1192 - Joachim of Fiore, a Cistercian Monk, publishes his work '''Expositio in Apocalypsim''',  positing that a third Christian age, of the Holy Spirit, was imminent and that in this age, there would be no need for intercessory clergy between people and God. While his work is suppressed by a Church in no hurry to abolish itself, it catches the attention of Margherita Boninsegna, a young maga who would in time rise to become Prima Jerbiton, who undertakes a series of "Joachimite Experiments" over the succeeding decades. 

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* 1204 - '''The Year Of Catastrophes''' - The House Unnamed is exposed as having been corrupted by their researches into immortality and have fallen to vampirism. They are Renounced and several years of conflict, known as '''The Massassa Wars''', follow, resulting in their extinction as a House. Constantinople falls to the Fourth Crusade, with magi on both sides of the conflict throwing the Tribunals of the Levant and Thebes into chaos. 

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* 1244 - '''The Albigensian Crusade''' - Magi in Provence and the Languedoc had become intimately entwined with and involved with the Cathar heresy, and when the Papal crusade struck they made no distinction between the Cathars and their fellow travellers. Magi seek to defend the heretics and are rooted out by the Crusade; covenants fall, the Provence Tribunal never recovers. 

* 1262 - An accord is reached between the Order and the Jewish society known as the '''Kabballah'''; this names two cities, Barcelona and Prague, as "neutral" where neither Order will interfere with the others' business, and allows for a limited exchange of ideas. Albertus Magnus is instrumental in this. 

* 1292 - '''The Exodus of the Hedge Wizards''' - the movement of House ex Miscellanea magi toward the west is first noted in retrospect - their movements were subtle and carefully arranged over the following decade to avoid attracting significant attention. A spate of ex Miscellanea-on-ex Miscellanea wizard wars occur around the same timeframe, which in retrospect look like the House eliminating those opposing its retreat. 

* 1296 - 1308 - '''The Shadow Flambeau''' - A significant cadre of House Flambeau involved in the ongoing Reconquista in Spain are exposed as devil-worshippers and summoners of demons. The Iberian Tribunal tears itself apart over a period of twelve years trying to clean house, causing massive reputational and physical damage in the process. The attention of secular and Church power is brought to the affair and the consequences for the covenants of Iberia are grim. House Flambeau's strength, and reputation, are shattered. 

* 1298 - Vlkava Teta, last of the ex Miscellanea tradition claiming descent from the Bohemian witches, changes House to Jerbiton, sponsored by Albertus Magnus, after fending off two Wizard Wars from other ex Miscellanea magi. The harassment ceases after the change of House. 

* 1299 - House Merinita calls for all its membership to gather at their Domus Magna in the Rhine Tribunal at midwinter 1299. '''None are ever heard of again'''. The winter of 1300 is one of the worst and most savage on record. Occasional sightings of lone Merinita magi occur after this, but all seem to be associated with those magi - presumed stragglers - heading for remaining sites associated with the Fae. In the years following, access to site known to be strong in faerie influence becomes more and more difficult for European magi. 

* 1300 - Hermetic Magi first begin to report being unable to successfully cross the English Channel. Portals to Britain inexplicably fail, and boats carrying magi founder or become lost in fog. 

* 1302 - the pagan magicians of Scandinavia, long regarded by the Order as implacably hostile but in retreat before the encroachment of Christianity in Denmark and Sweden, abruptly commence a well co-ordinated series of hostilities focussed against House Bjornaer magi in their northern strongholds. While not acting  in concert with the ongoing Livonian Crusades, the attacks certainly seem to take advantage of them. 

* 1303 - Pope Benedict XI becomes Pope. 

* 1305 - Pope Clement V (Bertrand de Got, Archbishop of Bordeaux) claims the Holy See after Benedict XI is rumoured to be murdered by poison.

* 1306 - A deserted mountain in the southern Alps is the subject of destruction magics of unparalleled degree; over the course of the next year it will be carved, slowly, into a tower. Greater Alps magi marvel at this. 

* 1307 - The Prima Jerbiton, Margherita Boninsegna, is captured masquerading as the Joachimite heretic preacher Margaret of Trent at Lake Garda. She is sentenced to burn at the stake and, rather than give up Order involvement, refuses to use her magic to escape and is killed by Papal forces. Casiodorus is elected to succeed her at an election from which Albertus Magnus, the obvious candidate, is mysteriously absent. Casiodorus immediately calls a halt to all "Joachimite" experiments. 

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* 1307 - 1314 - '''The Templar Affair''' - The Pope declares an investigation into The Knights Templar, who are accused of heresy and idolatry; they are discredited, tried, and their leaders (who are exposed as Guernicus Magi) are executed, but not before exposing under torture the existence of the Guernicus Domus Magna beneath the Vatican. There is a major confrontation in Rome, resulting in catastrophic exposure of House Guernicus and enormous reputational damage to the Order of Hermes in the Church. The Order does little to avenge House Guernicus because it is seen as just-desserts for their hypocrisy - standing in judgement while infiltrating the Templars as a tool for mundane interference. 

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* 1308 - The Icy North chapterhouse of Morgarten, a Guernicus stronghold, is destroyed by forces loyal to the French King. Empedocles ex Guernicus and his filius Alecto are missing believed dead in the slaughter. 

* 1309 - '''Pietro, Jacinta, Alcmene''' and '''Simnel''' arrive and take up residence at Icy North from Iberia. Pietro arrives at Juno's Spire and immediately challenges the resident, Archmage Nauvi ex Tytalus, for Archmage status, which he wins. Nauvi cedes Juno's Spire to him and leaves the Tribunal, never to be heard from again. Jacinta claims the Tower of Ashes (see 1306) and moves in, claiming the resources of the fallen Morgarten chapterhouse. It requires few demonstrations before this is ratified.  

* 1309 - '''Pope Clement moves the Papacy to Avignon.''' He is now fully aware of the nature and existence of the Order of Hermes and House Jerbiton's leadership engage with him directly to try and control the damage. 

* 1309 - Opizzo Fieschi and the Futurists' wagon crosses through High Pass from the collapsed Provence Tribunal and sends word to Valnastium seeking to claim position as a chapterhouse - this is swiftly granted. 

* 1311 - Fillipo di Chiarissimo di Medici ex Mercere is killed by Papal forces; his son Salvestro escapes in the confusion. Harco Covenant in the Roman Tribunal takes drastic steps to magically conceal itself from prying eyes. Salvestro is sponsored by Ovid into Carthago in Montibus. 

* 1312 - '''Phillip of France completely abolishes the Knights Templar accusing them of witchcraft.'''  A catastrophic three year famine begins in Europe, which is blamed on Templar witchcraft. 

* 1314 - Louis IV crowned Holy Roman Emperor. Pope Clement V dies of a terrible affiction of the flesh. The church where his body lies in state is hit by lightning, and his body burned to ash. Within days of this, King Phillip of France also dies under highly suspicious circumstances, while hunting, involving a lightning strike. The Papacy remains vacant and in chaos for two years. 

* 1316 - Pope Clement V is succeeded by Pope John XXII, who remains at Avignon, fearful of "witch-haunted Rome". King Phillip V of France is crowned. 

* 1316 - Emperor Louis IV declares "The Independence of Switzerland" defining such as almost perfectly the territory of the Greater Alps Tribunal... 

* 1317 - The Final Act of '''the Livonian Crusades''' - a series of ethnic cleansing and aggressive anti-pagan crusades around the Baltic Sea prosecuted by the Teutonic Order and the Livonian Sword Brothers finally come to a head, targeting the region around the Bjornaer centres of power and their associated communities. The Bjornaer, already hard pressed by Scandinavian sorcerers from outside the Order, appeal for assistance. 

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* 1318 - '''The Devil's Tribunal''' - A Grand Tribunal is held under the chairmanship of '''Malatesta, prima Bonisagus''' where House Guernicus is found guilty of breaking the Code through interference with mundanes; many Guernicus magi still extant had seen the writing on the wall and vanished. The same Grand Tribunal, fearful of further mundane interference, declines to send aid to the Bjornaer in Livonia. 

* Many attribute the disastrous outcome to Malatesta's deliberate ordering of votes, accusing her of sacrificing the Bjornaer and Guernicus to save the Jertbiton from the consequences of Margherita Boninsegna's actions. 

* These decision result in a near-successful attempt to overthrow the legality of the Tribunal led by Carpocrates ex Bonisagus and triggers mass walkouts - no Grand Tribunal has been held since. Most of the Guernicus magi and many of the Flambeau present at the Tribunal declared their intent to defy the ruling and go north to aid the Bjornaer regardless. Many magi regard this as the beginning of the end for the Order of Hermes.

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* 1318 - An assassination attempt on Archmage Simeon at Icy North drives him into a prolonged Twilight. He remains immobilised at the Motherhouse and therefore is absent from the events of the following year...

* 1319 - Rumour emerges of a terrible slaughter at the site of the Bjornaer Domus Magna in Livonia. House Bjornaer, embedded among the locals and sharing religious alignment with them, had stayed out of the conflict as long as possible but were targeted by the Livonian Sword Brothers and the Teutonic Knights, with the covert support of sorcerers from Denmark and Sweden. The Bjornaer, Flambeau outraged by the Tribunal decisions in 1218 and some of the former Guernicus fought and died. Surviving Bjornaer fled east and north, assuming their animal forms and turning their back on Europe. The Teutonic Order never recovers from the casualties, and the Livonian Sword brothers are effectively extinct. 

* 1320 - Prompted by events in Rome and Livonia, '''John XXII issues the Papal Bull ''Super Illius Specula''''' condemning all ritual magic as diabolism and heresy in the eyes of the Catholic Church. He cuts off all contact with House Jerbiton. Simeon recovers from his Twilight aided by Carpocrates and Mater Suspirorum. 

* 1320 - in the aftermath of the Devil's Tribunal, and with no Guernicus magi extant, a meeting of all magi from other Houses holding Quaesitori status is held. A route forward is sketched out for the upholding of the Code, which these magi commit to taking on. Some legal scholars suggest that, according to the peripheral Code, a Quaesitor in good standing must be sworn in by the Primus Quaesitor, and therefore no magus sworn in as a Quaesitor after 1320 is legally allowed to pass judgement. Others suggest that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's legally competent. 

* 1321 - Dante publishes ''The Divine Comedy'' - and dies. House Jerbiton heavily imply he was a Larta Magus. 

* 1322 - The Chapterhouse of Chateau de Chillon added to covenant of Carthago in Montibus. 

* 1326 - First known use of gunpowder in war in Europe, by the King of England, following on from the work of Walter de Milimete. German troops are using black powder weapons within two years. 

* 1327 - '''Durenmar''', the Domus Magna Bonisagus and site of the Founding in the Black Forest, experiences a still-unknown magical catastrophe. There is sufficient warning that magi capable of doing so execute a frantic rescue operation - known as "'''The Flight of Hypatia'''" - to save as much of Durenmar's legendary library and history as possible. Ends of the Earth in the Greater Alps are heavily involved in the Flight, claiming to have predicted the disaster with days to spare. House Bonisagus is scattered and wounded, but not bowed, and many Bonisagus regroup in the Alps. 

* 1330 - The Alchemists Quarter chapterhouse of Valnastium is founded. Elissa ex Mercere resigns as Mercurius, stating a dresire to spend her remaining years on the road. Salvestro succeeds her. 

* 1332 - The last Verdi Competition, won by Jacopa Spini ex Verditius with her demonstration of black powder weaponry and a unique defence against such. 

* 1334 - Benedict XII becomes Pope, succeeding John XXII. 

* 1335 - Benedict issues orders for reform of the monastic orders. He indicates he is willing to meet with representatives of the Order, but only those with no magical gift. 

* 1337 - Phllip of France seizes the Aquitaine, a possession of the English King. England declares war. 

* 1338 - The Electors of the Holy Roman Empire formally sever the connection between the Empire and the Papacy. Europe gears up for war. 

* 1342 - Clement VI becomes Pope. Gioffre de Chillon ex Jerbiton dies of the flux at the age of 53 after his longevity potion inexplicably fails. His son Uillem is hastily sworn into House Jerbiton and inherits the castle and lands.

* 1345 - '''Malatesta''', Prima Bonisagus and First Maga of the Order of Hermes, passes into Final Twilight leaving no named successor. Her final years had been obsessed with discovering the cause of the loss of Durenmar, and many believed her heart was broken. Her position remains vacant. 

* 1345 - The covenant of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, claiming former membership of the Provence Tribunal, makes contact with magi of Carthago-in-Montibus covenant and petitions to be admitted to the Greater Alps. 

* 1346 - England invades France. The Domus Magna Tytalus, on the Normandy coast, goes abruptly silent. Several other Normandy covenants behind English lines do likewise. The English crush the French at the Battle of Crecy; the Flambeau Prima, '''Ilduara''', dies in the battle at the hands of a black powder weapon. Her position remains vacant. 

* 1346 - Charles IV assumes the throne of the Holy Roman Empire; the University of Prague is founded with significant input from House Jerbiton; Italian patriot Cola di Rienzi assumes power in Rome calling himself "Tribune". Scattered Bonisagus magi across the north flank of the Alps gather together to consider their options and discuss a successor to Malatesta. 

* 1346 (winter) - a mysterious face starts to appear in reflections, scryings and magical undertakings by magi across the Alps. 

* April 1347 - As the Alps emerge from winter, '''The Tribunal is to be held'''.


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[[A Timeline of Events]] - [[The Houses in 1346]] - [[The Greater Alps in 1346]] - [[The Structure of the Tribunal Meeting of 1347]] - [[The Peripheral Code of the Greater Alps]]

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[[Introduction|Introduction to Ars Magica]] - [[The Order in 1346]] - [[A Who's Who of Attendees]] - [[Rules and Techniques|How the Game is Played]]

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