The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia

Hyrule Historia: Zelda no Densetsu Taizen (lit. "Hyrule Historia: Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia"), published as The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia by Dark Horse, is a 276-page book commemorating the 25th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda series. In order, it features a foreword by Shigeru Miyamoto, concept artwork for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, the public release of the series timeline, concept artwork for other games, a design retrospective on the main characters, an afterword from Eiji Aonuma, and a Skyward Sword prequel manga by Akira Himekawa. It was originally released in Japan on December 21, 2011. A digital Wii U version was released as part of a bundle with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD.

As described below, the timeline splits into three distinct paths during the events of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Timeline
This brief summary contains Hyrule's history as far as the timeline's version of events goes.

Creation of the World
The three golden goddesses created the land that will come to be known as Hyrule and leave behind the Triforce, golden triangles bearing the goddesses' power, wisdom, and courage.

The Goddess Hylia
Evil appears from beneath the land. The Goddess Hylia, entrusted with the Triforce and the protection of the world, seals away Demise. She knows that Demise will come again and she will be powerless to stop him. A goddess cannot use the Triforce, so she gives up her divine form to unlock the power of the Triforce for her and a chosen hero so that they might defeat Demise.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Emergence of the Demon King. The Goddess Hylia is reborn as Zelda. Guided by a spirit, a young man tempers the Goddess Sword into the Master Sword and takes his place as the chosen hero. The power of the Triforce destroys Demise.

Sealing of the Sacred Realm
The Sage Rauru builds the Temple of Time and seals the entrance to the Sacred Realm in an effort to quell the conflict over the Triforce.

Founding of the Kingdom of Hyrule
The kingdom of Hyrule is founded in the land watched over by Hylia.

The Minish Legend
The Minish gift the Hero of Men with the powerful Picori Blade, and the royal family with the sacred Light Force. The hero seals away the evil plaguing Hyrule.

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
The Light Force is targeted by the wizard Vaati. The Four Sword is forged from the legendary sword of the Picori, and Vaati, having become a demon, is sealed.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords
After being tricked by Vaati into drawing the Four Sword and releasing him, Link defeats him and seals him once again.

Hyrulean Civil War
Conflict among the different races continues ceaselessly across the land. The king of Hyrule quells the war and unifies the Hyrulean people under him.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The thief Ganondorf invades the Sacred Realm. He touches the Triforce, and the Triforce splits into three. Link, chosen as the Hero of Time wields the Master Sword and, traveling across seven years, awakens the Seven Sages.

A Battle for Time
The Triforce of Power that remained with Ganondorf, the Triforce of Wisdom within Princess Zelda, and the Triforce of Courage within the Hero of Time, Link, reunite once more in a decisive battle. The fate of Hyrule changes depending on the outcome.

Sealing Ganon
Link fails. Ganondorf steals the Triforces of Wisdom and Courage and transforms into the Dark Beast Ganon. The Seven Sages, including Princess Zelda, seal the unified entrance to the Sacred Realm and Ganon in it.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Ganon, sealed in the Sacred Realm, transformed into the Dark World, plots his revival in the Light World. A boy descended from a clan of knights defeats Ganon. He recovers the Triforce, and peace returns to the world.

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Link departs on a training journey and washes ashore on Koholint Island.

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons & The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
A young man, Link, visiting Hyrule Castle is whisked away to realms of trials known as Holodrum and Labrynna, guided by the Triforce. He becomes a hero and stops the complete revival of Ganon.

The Triforce Separates
The Triforce pieces separate and reside within the souls of Link, Princess Zelda, and Ganon.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
The sorcerer Yuga, from a parallel world known as Lorule, targets the Triforce. Yuga awakens the soul of Ganon in Lorule, but Link manages to defeat their combined form and unify the Triforce once more.

Tri Force Heroes
Hytopia gathers heroes. They save Princess Styla, who was cursed by the Drablands Witch.

A Kingdom of Prosperity
The king of Hyrule uses the Triforce to make the kingdom prosperous. When the king dies, Princess Zelda refuses to tell her unworthy brother the location of the Triforce of Courage. She is then put into a cursed slumber.

The Kingdom Declines
The kingdom declines and its borders recede.

The Legend of Zelda
While Hyrule is small and vulnerable, Ganon awakens. The Triforce of Power is stolen. Princess Zelda splits the Triforce of Wisdom into eight pieces and hides them. A young hero, Link, gathers the pieces and defeats Ganon.

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
The boy who defeated Ganon takes on a series of trials left by the old king. He obtains the Triforce of Courage, hidden in the Great Palace, and awakens the sleeping Princess Zelda. The three pieces of the Triforce are unified in the kingdom of Hyrule.

Return of the Hero
Princess Zelda and the rest of the Seven Sages seal away Ganondorf and the Triforce of Power. Link, having returned to his original time along with Princess Zelda, stops Ganondorf's ambitions before they can take shape. At this time, Link possesses the Triforce of Courage.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Link, searching for his fairy partner, Navi, wanders into the world of Termina.

The Failed Execution of Ganondorf
The kingdom of Hyrule attempts to execute Ganondorf as a traitor. However, since he was chosen by the Triforce of Power and had been blessed with the power of the goddesses, it was impossible to execute Ganondorf. He could only be banished to the Twilight Realm by the Sages.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Ganondorf, a spirit in the Twilight Realm, manages to return to the Light World. The Twili invade the Kingdom of Hyrule. He attempts to regain his former power, only to be destroyed by Link.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
Ganondorf reincarnates. He obtains the evil Trident and becomes Demon King Ganon, breaking the seal on the demon Vaati. Link obtains the Four Sword, defeats Vaati, and seals away Ganon.

Sealing Ganon
Ganon is sealed along with the Triforce of Power. Link disappears, having returned to his original time. With Link gone, the Triforce of Courage splits into eight pieces and scatters.

Hyrule Submerged
Ganon returns. Link does not. To prevent the destruction of the world, the goddesses submerge and seal Hyrule, along with Ganon, beneath the Great Sea.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Ganondorf revives again. The ancient king of Hyrule guides Link and Princess Zelda, and they once again unite the Triforce. The king uses the Triforce to bury both Ganon and Hyrule beneath the ocean.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Princess Zelda and her crew depart for a new land. They continue their voyage while becoming caught up in the Temple of the Ocean King, freeing it from the grips of the monster known as Bellum.

Founding the Nation of Hyrule
They arrive at the land of the Spirits of Good and make peace with the Lokomo tribe there.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
The Demon King, Malladus, sealed long ago, returns. Princess Zelda and Link defeat the demon. The Lokomo guardians return to the heavens, and the new land is entrusted to the people of Hyrule.