WH40k Canon Timeline of the T'au Empire

This page covers knowledge of the T'au Empire's short, yet relevant history. Presented here are the periods that cover the major events of the Empire's history and quest for spreading their philosophy to the dark and cruel Galaxy. Many of these events are of great importance to the various fan-made homebrews based on this particular faction, and as such, some of them will definitely have a great impact over the story of your characters.

Note : All the dates are meant to be the most precise possible, but many of them were lost through history, or are even contradictory between many sources. The contributors of this archive have made the best effort to provide the most precise timeline possible.

Note: All events that happende after the Gathering Storm event and is affected by the Cicatrix Maledictum must be placed after the 13th Black Crusade Section, in the Dark Imperium Section. If an event, such as the War for Armageddon or the Devastation of Baal starts before the appearance of the Great Rift but is affected by it, then all parts that happen after the formation of the Warp Storm must be written in the Dark Imperium Section. This is made to assure the Timeline is as precise as possible.

The Birth of the Tau'Va : M35-M36
From the ashes of war rises a new empire of hope and reason. Guided by the Ethereals, this period is defined by the uniting of the T’au’s divided castes in the name of the Greater Good.

The First Sphere of Expansion : M37-M38
A time of great scientific and cultural evolution, during which the T’au advance into nearby space and colonize the first septs of their fledgling empire.

The Second Sphere of Expansion: M39-M40
The Ethereal Supreme, Aun’Wei of the Whispered Wisdom, gives the signal to begin the long-planned Second Sphere of Expansion. Aun’Wei’s famous speech is well remembered, ending with the nod that launched a million ships. With new advances in propulsion technology and an already established space empire, the second expansion is marked by more contact with aliens and larger wars.

The Third Sphere of Expansion: M41
After careful preparation, the new Ethereal Supreme, Aun’Va, launches the Third Sphere of Expansion.

Fourth and Fifth Sphere of Expansion: M42
A new and darker age dawns for theT’au Empire, beginning with the greatest naval disaster in its history.