When does “In the Beginning” take place? (2245–2248, approx.)
Earth–Minbari War retold; framing in 2278.
Open event →Introduction
Babylon 5 stands at a literal and diplomatic crossroads. In the wake of devastating wars and fragile ceasefires, this independent station is commissioned as neutral ground where ambassadors negotiate, traders meet, and patrols keep the shipping lanes open. Over a handful of decisive years the outpost transforms from a customs checkpoint into a fulcrum for interstellar politics, emergency coalitions, and first‑contact protocols. The timeline below traces those watershed moments in order so you can place each crisis, vote, patrol action, and scientific discovery in its proper context.
What follows is a practical record: station activation, the early diplomatic tests that establish trust, the long shadow of prior conflicts, and the ripple effects that spread far beyond the sector. Each entry focuses on the event itself—what visibly happens on the station, in hyperspace, or on the frontier—and why contemporaries consider it pivotal. You won’t find endings or private fates here; this is a chronicle of public actions, broadcasts, council minutes, and official dispatches. Read it as the League, the Great Council, and the Earth Alliance would: a living logbook that explains how a single habitat with a jumpgate becomes the hinge of its age.
When does “The Gathering” take place? (2257)
Pilot introduces the station and key conflicts.
Open event →When does the Babylon 5 series take place? (2258–2262)
Seasons 1–5 timeline anchor.
Open event →When does “Thirdspace” take place? (2261)
Mid–Season 4 incident with an ancient gateway.
Open event →When does “The River of Souls” take place? (2263)
Post-series TV film with Soul Hunters.
Open event →When does “A Call to Arms” take place? (2266)
Prelude to Crusade and the Drakh threat.
Open event →When does “Crusade” take place? (2267)
Excalibur’s mission to cure the Drakh plague.
Open event →When does “The Road Home” take place? (~2262)
Animated return set around post–Season 5.
Open event →FAQ
Q: What is the Babylon 5 timeline order?
A: The Gathering (2257) → Series S1–S5 (2258–2262) → Thirdspace (2261) → The River of Souls (2263) → A Call to Arms (2266) → Crusade (2267). Also see In the Beginning (2245–2248; framed 2278) and The Road Home (~2262).