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An '''alternate timeline''' was a reality that diverged from the "true" [[timeline]] due to the actions of [[time travel]]lers or other [[time|temporal]] phenomena. They were different from [[parallel universe]]s in that they did not separate cleanly at the point of creation resulting in the new timeline destroying the old one. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Imperial Moon (novel)|Imperial Moon]]'') The phenomena was also described as an "interstitial spillage of time." ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Project Lazarus (audio story)|Project: Lazarus]]'')
An '''alternate timeline''' was a reality that diverged from the "true" [[timeline]] due to the actions of [[time travel]]lers or other [[time|temporal]] phenomena. They were different from [[parallel universe]]s in that they did not separate cleanly at the point of creation resulting in the new timeline destroying the old one. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Imperial Moon (novel)|Imperial Moon]]'') The phenomenon was also described as an "interstitial spillage of time." ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Project Lazarus (audio story)|Project: Lazarus]]'')


== Physics ==
== Physics ==
Alternate timelines could be visited accidentally by contact with a [[time track]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Space Museum]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Mutant Phase]]'') or other anomalies ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Colditz (audio story)|Colditz]]'') in the [[Time Vortex]]. Deliberate travel to these timelines was possible if the traveller possessed something, such as the [[sigil ring]], that allowed them to change [[time stream]]s. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Goth Opera]]'')
Alternate timelines could be visited accidentally by contact with a [[time track]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Space Museum]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Mutant Phase]]'') or other anomalies ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Colditz (audio story)|Colditz]]'') in the [[Time Vortex]]. Deliberate travel to these timelines was possible if the traveller possessed something, such as the [[sigil ring]], that allowed them to change [[time stream]]s. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Goth Opera]]'')


They may have diverged from points in history where there was [[Fixed points in time|temporal fluctuation]]. The power required to adjust the timeflow and overcome [[temporal inertia]] on such a scale couldn't fit on a single planet, but beings with enough power were capable of doing so, such as [[Sutekh]], the [[Guardians of Time]], [[Rassilon]], and the [[Chronovore]]s. Even [[the Doctor]] or [[the Master]] could have the know-how or inclination to create them. Because the universe only had a finite amount of mass and energy to exist as ''one'' universe, the creation of an alternate timeline adversely affected the real timeline, causing chaos throughout the universe; releasing enough energy could destroy the timeline and set history back on its correct course. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Blood Heat]]'')
They may have diverged from points in history when there was [[Fixed points in time|temporal fluctuation]]. The power required to adjust the timeflow and overcome [[temporal inertia]] on such a scale couldn't fit on a single planet, but beings with enough power were capable of doing so, such as [[Sutekh]], the [[Guardians of Time]], [[Rassilon]], and the [[Chronovore]]s. Even [[the Doctor]] or [[the Master]] could have the know-how or inclination to create them. Because the universe only had a finite amount of mass and energy to exist as ''one'' universe, the creation of an alternate timeline adversely affected the real timeline, causing chaos throughout the universe; releasing enough energy could destroy the timeline and set history back on its correct course. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Blood Heat]]'')


Though a timeline may be negated, memories of it could still be retained. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'', ''[[The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)|The Impossible Astronaut]]'')
Though a timeline could be negated, memories of it could still be retained. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'', ''[[The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)|The Impossible Astronaut]]'')


== Metaphysics ==
== Metaphysics ==
From a metaphysical viewpoint, alternate timelines were always being extinguished as fewer and fewer choices became open. This is particularly affected by time travellers who changed the future whenever they arrived in a new time. This was the cosmic pain of the universe and in this manner [[Gabriel]] and [[Tanith]] were personifications of the timelines that never existed. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Falls the Shadow]]'')
From a metaphysical viewpoint, alternate timelines were always being extinguished as fewer and fewer choices became open. This was particularly affected by time travellers who changed the future whenever they arrived in a new time. This was the cosmic pain of the universe and in this manner [[Gabriel]] and [[Tanith]] were personifications of the timelines that never existed. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Falls the Shadow]]'')


== Terminology ==
== Terminology ==
The phrase "alternate/alternative timeline/universe" was sometimes used interchangably with "[[parallel universe]]" however alternate timelines usually changed after a single moment in time, whereas parallel universes usually had more than one difference from the "normal" universe.
The phrase "alternate/alternative timeline/universe" was sometimes used interchangably with "[[parallel universe]]"; however, alternate timelines usually changed after a single moment in time, whereas parallel universes usually had more than one difference from the "normal" universe.


== Timelines encountered by the Doctor ==
== Timelines encountered by the Doctor ==
Line 18: Line 18:
|'''Timeline''' || '''Negated By''' || '''Featured in'''
|'''Timeline''' || '''Negated By''' || '''Featured in'''
|-
|-
|The [[First Doctor]] and his companions become exhibits in the [[Morok]]s' [[Space Museum]]||[[First Doctor]], [[Ian Chesterton]], [[Barbara Wright]], [[Vicki]]||[[TV]]: ''[[The Space Museum]]''
|The [[First Doctor]] and his companions became exhibits in the [[Morok]]s' [[Space Museum]]||[[First Doctor]], [[Ian Chesterton]], [[Barbara Wright]], [[Vicki]]||[[TV]]: ''[[The Space Museum]]''
|-
|-
|[[Barbara Wright]] marries [[Ptolemy I]] and becomes [[Queen]] of [[Alexandria]]||Alternate Barbara||[[PROSE]]: ''[[The Book of Shadows]]''
|[[Barbara Wright]] married [[Ptolemy I]] and became [[Queen]] of [[Alexandria]]||Alternate Barbara||[[PROSE]]: ''[[The Book of Shadows]]''
|-
|-
|[[WOTAN]] conquers [[Earth]] (this was the correct timeline before it was changed by the Doctor)||[[First Doctor]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[The Time Travellers]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[The War Machines]]''
|[[WOTAN]] conquered [[Earth]] (this was the correct timeline before it was changed by the Doctor)||[[First Doctor]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[The Time Travellers]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[The War Machines]]''
|-
|-
|[[Nancy Norton|Nancy Grover]] uses [[Grold]] technology to become a [[god]]dess||[[Third Doctor]] and [[Liz Shaw]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[The Eye of the Giant]]''
|[[Nancy Norton|Nancy Grover]] used [[Grold]] technology to become a [[god]]dess||[[Third Doctor]] and [[Liz Shaw]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[The Eye of the Giant]]''
|-
|-
|The [[Power Elite]] take over Earth||[[Third Doctor]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Prisoners of the Sun]]''
|The [[Power Elite]] took over Earth||[[Third Doctor]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Prisoners of the Sun]]''
|-
|-
|Freedom fighters from the [[22nd century]] assassinate Sir [[Reginald Styles]]||[[Third Doctor]] and [[Jo Grant]]||[[TV]]: ''[[Day of the Daleks]]''
|Freedom fighters from the [[22nd century]] assassinated Sir [[Reginald Styles]]||[[Third Doctor]] and [[Jo Grant]]||[[TV]]: ''[[Day of the Daleks]]''
|-
|-
|[[Theodore Cassells]]'s experiments lead to a global war which devastates Earth||[[Third Doctor]]||[[COMIC]]: ''[[A Stitch in Time (comic story)|A Stitch in Time]]''
|[[Theodore Cassells]]'s experiments led to a global war which devastated Earth||[[Third Doctor]]||[[COMIC]]: ''[[A Stitch in Time (comic story)|A Stitch in Time]]''
|-
|-
|The [[Third Doctor]] dies on [[Dust]] and [[regeneration|regenerates]]||[[Eighth Doctor]] by destroying [[Gallifrey]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Ancestor Cell]]'')||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Interference - Book One]]'', ''[[Interference - Book Two]]''
|The [[Third Doctor]] died on [[Dust]] and [[regeneration|regenerated]]||[[Eighth Doctor]] by destroying [[Gallifrey]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Ancestor Cell]]'')||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Interference - Book One]]'', ''[[Interference - Book Two]]''
|-
|-
|[[Sutekh]] is freed and devastates Earth||[[Fourth Doctor]] and [[Sarah Jane Smith]]||[[TV]]: ''[[Pyramids of Mars]]''
|[[Sutekh]] was freed and devastated Earth||[[Fourth Doctor]] and [[Sarah Jane Smith]]||[[TV]]: ''[[Pyramids of Mars]]''
|-
|-
|[[Dalek]]s undergo the [[Mutant Phase]]||[[Dalek Emperor]]||[[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Mutant Phase]]''
|[[Dalek]]s underwent the [[Mutant Phase]]||[[Dalek Emperor]]||[[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Mutant Phase]]''
|-
|-
|[[Melanicus]] creates the [[Millennium Wars]]||[[Fifth Doctor]], Sir [[Justin]] and [[Shayde]]||[[COMIC]]: ''[[The Tides of Time (comic story)|The Tides of Time]]''
|[[Melanicus]] created the [[Millennium Wars]]||[[Fifth Doctor]], Sir [[Justin]] and [[Shayde]]||[[COMIC]]: ''[[The Tides of Time (comic story)|The Tides of Time]]''
|-
|-
|[[Walter Raleigh]] goes back in time and encounters aliens||[[Sixth Doctor]]||[[AUDIO]]: ''[[Voyage to the New World (audio story)|Voyage to the New World]]''
|[[Walter Raleigh]] went back in time and encountered aliens||[[Sixth Doctor]]||[[AUDIO]]: ''[[Voyage to the New World (audio story)|Voyage to the New World]]''
|-
|-
|Humans evolve into [[Haemovore]]s||[[Seventh Doctor]] and [[Ace]]||[[TV]]: ''[[The Curse of Fenric]]''
|Humans evolved into [[Haemovore]]s||[[Seventh Doctor]] and [[Ace]]||[[TV]]: ''[[The Curse of Fenric]]''
|-
|-
|The [[Dark Matrix]] terrorises [[England]]||[[Seventh Doctor]] and [[Ace]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Matrix (novel)|Matrix]]''
|The [[Dark Matrix]] terrorised [[England]]||[[Seventh Doctor]] and [[Ace]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Matrix (novel)|Matrix]]''
|-
|-
|The [[Nazi]]s win [[World War II]] after a piece of laser technology is left at [[Colditz Castle]]||[[Johann Schmidt|Alternate Eighth Doctor]] and [[Elizabeth Klein]] (inadvertantly)||[[AUDIO]]: ''[[Colditz (audio story)|Colditz]]'', ''[[Klein's Story]]''
|The [[Nazi]]s won [[World War II]] after a piece of laser technology was left at [[Colditz Castle]]||[[Johann Schmidt|Alternate Eighth Doctor]] and [[Elizabeth Klein]] (inadvertantly)||[[AUDIO]]: ''[[Colditz (audio story)|Colditz]]'', ''[[Klein's Story]]''
|-
|-
|[[Vladimir Khrushgov]] succeeds [[Konstantin Chernenko]] as leader of the [[Soviet Union]] causing [[World War III]] to occur in [[1989]]||[[Seventh Doctor]]||[[AUDIO]]: ''[[Protect and Survive (audio story)|Protect and Survive]]''
|[[Vladimir Khrushgov]] succeeded [[Konstantin Chernenko]] as leader of the [[Soviet Union]], causing [[World War III]] to occur in [[1989]]||[[Seventh Doctor]]||[[AUDIO]]: ''[[Protect and Survive (audio story)|Protect and Survive]]''
|-
|-
|[[Adolf Hitler]] uses the [[Timewyrm]]'s power to enable [[Nazi]] [[Germany]] to conquer [[Earth]]||[[Seventh Doctor]] and [[Ace]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Timewyrm: Exodus]]''
|[[Adolf Hitler]] used the [[Timewyrm]]'s power to enable [[Nazi]] [[Germany]] to conquer [[Earth]]||[[Seventh Doctor]] and [[Ace]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Timewyrm: Exodus]]''
|-
|-
|[[Chad Boyle]] kills [[Dorothy McShane]] with a brick to the head||[[Ace]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Timewyrm: Revelation]]''
|[[Chad Boyle]] killed [[Dorothy McShane]] with a brick to the head||[[Ace]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Timewyrm: Revelation]]''
|-
|-
|The [[Process]] enslaves the [[Time Scaphe]] crew||[[Seventh Doctor]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible]]''
|The [[Process]] enslaved the [[Time Scaphe]] crew||[[Seventh Doctor]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible]]''
|-
|-
|'''[[Silurian Earth]]'''||Destroyed, not negated, by [[Seventh Doctor]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Blood Heat]]''
|'''[[Silurian Earth]]'''||Destroyed, not negated, by [[Seventh Doctor]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Blood Heat]]''
|-
|-
|[[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]] is shot and killed by a [[Vardan]] in [[1976]]||[[Artemis]] the [[Chronovore]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[No Future]]''
|[[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]] was shot and killed by a [[Vardan]] in [[1976]]||[[Artemis]] the [[Chronovore]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[No Future]]''
|-
|-
|'''[[Alternate timeline (Time & Time Again)]]'''||[[Seventh Doctor]], [[Ace]] and [[Bernice Summerfield]]||[[COMIC]]: ''[[Time & Time Again (comic story)|Time & Time Again]]''
|'''[[Alternate timeline (Time & Time Again)]]'''||[[Seventh Doctor]], [[Ace]] and [[Bernice Summerfield]]||[[COMIC]]: ''[[Time & Time Again (comic story)|Time & Time Again]]''
|-
|-
|The [[Knights of Velyshaa]] conquer [[Gallifrey]]||[[Fifth Doctor]], [[Sixth Doctor]], [[Seventh Doctor]], the [[Temperon]]||[[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Sirens of Time]]''
|The [[Knights of Velyshaa]] conquered [[Gallifrey]]||[[Fifth Doctor]], [[Sixth Doctor]], [[Seventh Doctor]], the [[Temperon]]||[[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Sirens of Time]]''
|-
|-
|[[Elizabeth Klein]] creates the [[Galactic Reich]] after stealing [[the Doctor's TARDIS]] and making repeated corrections to the timeline||[[Seventh Doctor]] and [[Elizabeth Klein]] and the [[Selachian]]s (both inadvertantly after being manipulated by the Doctor)||[[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Architects of History]]''
|[[Elizabeth Klein]] created the [[Galactic Reich]] after stealing [[the Doctor's TARDIS]] and making repeated corrections to the timeline||[[Seventh Doctor]] and [[Elizabeth Klein]] and the [[Selachian]]s (both inadvertantly after being manipulated by the Doctor)||[[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Architects of History]]''
|-
|-
|Humans don't evolve and Earth is a [[Tractis]] colony known as [[Paratractis]]||[[Eighth Doctor]], [[Sam Jones]], [[Jo Grant]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Genocide (novel)|Genocide]]''
|Humans didn't evolve and Earth was a [[Tractis]] colony known as [[Paratractis]]||[[Eighth Doctor]], [[Sam Jones]], [[Jo Grant]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Genocide (novel)|Genocide]]''
|-
|-
|[[Sato Katsura]] forms the [[Church of the Glorious Dead]]; the Church, led by Sato, conquer [[Earth]] and rename it Dhakan; the Church begin invading and massacring other [[planet]]s they view as "unbelieving"||[[Kroton (Throwback: The Soul of a Cyberman)|Kroton]]||[[COMIC]]: ''[[The Glorious Dead (comic story)|The Glorious Dead]]''
|[[Sato Katsura]] formed the [[Church of the Glorious Dead]]; the Church, led by Sato, conquered [[Earth]] and renamed it Dhakan; the Church began invading and massacring other [[planet]]s they viewed as "unbelieving"||[[Kroton (Throwback: The Soul of a Cyberman)|Kroton]]||[[COMIC]]: ''[[The Glorious Dead (comic story)|The Glorious Dead]]''
|-
|-
|[[Pete Tyler]] doesn't die and [[Reaper]]s begin consuming humanity||Pete Tyler||[[TV]]: ''[[Father's Day]]''
|[[Pete Tyler]] didn't die and [[Reaper]]s began consuming humanity||Pete Tyler||[[TV]]: ''[[Father's Day]]''
|-
|-
|'''[[The Year That Never Was]]'''||[[Tenth Doctor]], [[Martha Jones]] and Captain [[Jack Harkness]] ||[[TV]]: ''[[Last of the Time Lords]]''
|'''[[The Year That Never Was]]'''||[[Tenth Doctor]], [[Martha Jones]] and Captain [[Jack Harkness]] ||[[TV]]: ''[[Last of the Time Lords]]''
Line 76: Line 76:
|'''[[Donna's World]]'''||alternate [[Donna Noble]], with assistance from [[Rose Tyler]]||[[TV]]: ''[[Turn Left]]''
|'''[[Donna's World]]'''||alternate [[Donna Noble]], with assistance from [[Rose Tyler]]||[[TV]]: ''[[Turn Left]]''
|-
|-
|The [[Progenitor]] [[Dalek]]s repopulate [[Skaro]] and exterminate humanity to extinction in [[1963]]||[[Eleventh Doctor]] and [[Amy Pond]]||[[GAME]]: ''[[City of the Daleks (video game)|City of the Daleks]]''
|The [[Progenitor]] [[Dalek]]s repopulated [[Skaro]] and exterminated humanity to extinction in [[1963]]||[[Eleventh Doctor]] and [[Amy Pond]]||[[GAME]]: ''[[City of the Daleks (video game)|City of the Daleks]]''
|-
|-
|[[The Doctor's TARDIS]] explodes, creating [[Time Field|Cracks in Time]] which begin erasing the universe's history||[[Eleventh Doctor]], [[Amy Pond]], [[Rory Williams (Auton)]] and [[River Song]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang]]'')||[[TV]]: [[Series 5 (Doctor Who)|Series 5]]
|[[The Doctor's TARDIS]] exploded, creating [[Time Field|Cracks in Time]] which began erasing the universe's history||[[Eleventh Doctor]], [[Amy Pond]], [[Rory Williams (Auton)]] and [[River Song]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang]]'')||[[TV]]: [[Series 5 (Doctor Who)|Series 5]]
|-
|-
|[[Amy Pond]] is stranded on [[Apalapucia]] for 36 years||[[Eleventh Doctor]]||[[TV]]: ''[[The Girl Who Waited]]''
|[[Amy Pond]] was stranded on [[Apalapucia]] for 36 years||[[Eleventh Doctor]]||[[TV]]: ''[[The Girl Who Waited]]''
|-
|-
|'''[[River Song's World]]'''||[[Eleventh Doctor]], [[Amy Pond]], [[Rory Williams]], [[River Song]], the [[Teselecta]]||[[TV]]: ''[[The Wedding of River Song]]''
|'''[[River Song's World]]'''||[[Eleventh Doctor]], [[Amy Pond]], [[Rory Williams]], [[River Song]], the [[Teselecta]]||[[TV]]: ''[[The Wedding of River Song]]''
|-
|-
|The [[Silurian]]s attempt to pump poison onto Earth's surface to reclaim it||[[Eleventh Doctor]] and [[River Song]]||[[GAME]]: ''[[The Eternity Clock (video game)|The Eternity Clock]]''
|The [[Silurian]]s attempted to pump poison onto Earth's surface to reclaim it||[[Eleventh Doctor]] and [[River Song]]||[[GAME]]: ''[[The Eternity Clock (video game)|The Eternity Clock]]''
|-
|-
|The Progenitor Daleks invade and destroy [[London]] in or before [[2106]]||[[Eleventh Doctor]] and [[River Song]]||[[GAME]]: ''[[The Eternity Clock (video game)|The Eternity Clock]]''
|The Progenitor Daleks invaded and destroyed [[London]] in or before [[2106]]||[[Eleventh Doctor]] and [[River Song]]||[[GAME]]: ''[[The Eternity Clock (video game)|The Eternity Clock]]''
|-
|-
|The [[Cyberman|Cybermen]] conquer the galaxy||[[Eleventh Doctor]] and [[Jean-Luc Picard]]||[[COMIC]]: ''[[Assimilation²]]''
|The [[Cyberman|Cybermen]] conquered the galaxy||[[Eleventh Doctor]] and [[Jean-Luc Picard]]||[[COMIC]]: ''[[Assimilation²]]''
|-
|-
|[[Rory Williams]] remains imprisoned in [[Winter Quay]] for the rest of his life||[[Rory Williams]], [[Amy Pond]]||[[TV]]: ''[[The Angels Take Manhattan]]''
|[[Rory Williams]] remained imprisoned in [[Winter Quay]] for the rest of his life||[[Rory Williams]], [[Amy Pond]]||[[TV]]: ''[[The Angels Take Manhattan]]''
|-
|-
|The TARDIS is damaged and self-destructs||[[Eleventh Doctor]]||[[TV]]: ''[[Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS]]''
|The TARDIS was damaged and self-destructed||[[Eleventh Doctor]]||[[TV]]: ''[[Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS]]''
|}
|}


Line 99: Line 99:
|'''Timeline''' || '''Negated By''' || '''Featured in'''
|'''Timeline''' || '''Negated By''' || '''Featured in'''
|-
|-
|The [[Seventh Doctor]] defeats the [[Vardan]] invasion of [[Earth]] by leaving clues for his past self||[[The Monk]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[No Future]]''
|The [[Seventh Doctor]] defeated the [[Vardan]] invasion of [[Earth]] by leaving clues for his past self||[[The Monk]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[No Future]]''
|-
|-
|[[Insect]]s of [[the Mind]] evolve as the dominant life on [[Earth]]||The existence of time travel||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Falls the Shadow]]''
|[[Insect]]s of [[the Mind]] evolved as the dominant life on [[Earth]]||The existence of time travel||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Falls the Shadow]]''
|-
|-
|[[Britain]] is a conformist republic||The existence of time travel||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Falls the Shadow]]''
|[[Britain]] was a conformist republic||The existence of time travel||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Falls the Shadow]]''
|-
|-
|'''[[Andrea Yates' World]]'''||alternate [[Andrea Yates]]||[[TV]]: ''[[Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane?]]''
|'''[[Andrea Yates' World]]'''||alternate [[Andrea Yates]]||[[TV]]: ''[[Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane?]]''
Line 109: Line 109:
|'''[[The Trickster's World]]'''||[[Eddie Smith|Eddie]] and [[Barbara Smith]]||[[TV]]: ''[[The Temptation of Sarah Jane Smith]]''
|'''[[The Trickster's World]]'''||[[Eddie Smith|Eddie]] and [[Barbara Smith]]||[[TV]]: ''[[The Temptation of Sarah Jane Smith]]''
|-
|-
|[[Ship]] erases [[Sarah Jane Smith]], [[Luke Smith]] and [[Clyde Langer]]||[[Adam Lloyd]]||[[TV]]: ''[[The Mad Woman in the Attic]]''
|[[Ship]] erased [[Sarah Jane Smith]], [[Luke Smith]] and [[Clyde Langer]]||[[Adam Lloyd]]||[[TV]]: ''[[The Mad Woman in the Attic]]''
|-
|-
|[[Deindum]] from the future conquer the galaxy||[[Bernice Summerfield]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Present Danger]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Escaping the Future]]''
|[[Deindum]] from the future conquered the galaxy||[[Bernice Summerfield]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[Present Danger]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Escaping the Future]]''
|}
|}


[[Category:Other realities]]
[[Category:Other realities]]

Revision as of 14:49, 14 May 2013

An alternate timeline was a reality that diverged from the "true" timeline due to the actions of time travellers or other temporal phenomena. They were different from parallel universes in that they did not separate cleanly at the point of creation resulting in the new timeline destroying the old one. (PROSE: Imperial Moon) The phenomenon was also described as an "interstitial spillage of time." (AUDIO: Project: Lazarus)

Physics

Alternate timelines could be visited accidentally by contact with a time track (TV: The Space Museum, AUDIO: The Mutant Phase) or other anomalies (AUDIO: Colditz) in the Time Vortex. Deliberate travel to these timelines was possible if the traveller possessed something, such as the sigil ring, that allowed them to change time streams. (PROSE: Goth Opera)

They may have diverged from points in history when there was temporal fluctuation. The power required to adjust the timeflow and overcome temporal inertia on such a scale couldn't fit on a single planet, but beings with enough power were capable of doing so, such as Sutekh, the Guardians of Time, Rassilon, and the Chronovores. Even the Doctor or the Master could have the know-how or inclination to create them. Because the universe only had a finite amount of mass and energy to exist as one universe, the creation of an alternate timeline adversely affected the real timeline, causing chaos throughout the universe; releasing enough energy could destroy the timeline and set history back on its correct course. (PROSE: Blood Heat)

Though a timeline could be negated, memories of it could still be retained. (TV: The Big Bang, The Impossible Astronaut)

Metaphysics

From a metaphysical viewpoint, alternate timelines were always being extinguished as fewer and fewer choices became open. This was particularly affected by time travellers who changed the future whenever they arrived in a new time. This was the cosmic pain of the universe and in this manner Gabriel and Tanith were personifications of the timelines that never existed. (PROSE: Falls the Shadow)

Terminology

The phrase "alternate/alternative timeline/universe" was sometimes used interchangably with "parallel universe"; however, alternate timelines usually changed after a single moment in time, whereas parallel universes usually had more than one difference from the "normal" universe.

Timelines encountered by the Doctor

Timeline Negated By Featured in
The First Doctor and his companions became exhibits in the Moroks' Space Museum First Doctor, Ian Chesterton, Barbara Wright, Vicki TV: The Space Museum
Barbara Wright married Ptolemy I and became Queen of Alexandria Alternate Barbara PROSE: The Book of Shadows
WOTAN conquered Earth (this was the correct timeline before it was changed by the Doctor) First Doctor PROSE: The Time Travellers, TV: The War Machines
Nancy Grover used Grold technology to become a goddess Third Doctor and Liz Shaw PROSE: The Eye of the Giant
The Power Elite took over Earth Third Doctor PROSE: Prisoners of the Sun
Freedom fighters from the 22nd century assassinated Sir Reginald Styles Third Doctor and Jo Grant TV: Day of the Daleks
Theodore Cassells's experiments led to a global war which devastated Earth Third Doctor COMIC: A Stitch in Time
The Third Doctor died on Dust and regenerated Eighth Doctor by destroying Gallifrey (PROSE: The Ancestor Cell) PROSE: Interference - Book One, Interference - Book Two
Sutekh was freed and devastated Earth Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith TV: Pyramids of Mars
Daleks underwent the Mutant Phase Dalek Emperor AUDIO: The Mutant Phase
Melanicus created the Millennium Wars Fifth Doctor, Sir Justin and Shayde COMIC: The Tides of Time
Walter Raleigh went back in time and encountered aliens Sixth Doctor AUDIO: Voyage to the New World
Humans evolved into Haemovores Seventh Doctor and Ace TV: The Curse of Fenric
The Dark Matrix terrorised England Seventh Doctor and Ace PROSE: Matrix
The Nazis won World War II after a piece of laser technology was left at Colditz Castle Alternate Eighth Doctor and Elizabeth Klein (inadvertantly) AUDIO: Colditz, Klein's Story
Vladimir Khrushgov succeeded Konstantin Chernenko as leader of the Soviet Union, causing World War III to occur in 1989 Seventh Doctor AUDIO: Protect and Survive
Adolf Hitler used the Timewyrm's power to enable Nazi Germany to conquer Earth Seventh Doctor and Ace PROSE: Timewyrm: Exodus
Chad Boyle killed Dorothy McShane with a brick to the head Ace PROSE: Timewyrm: Revelation
The Process enslaved the Time Scaphe crew Seventh Doctor PROSE: Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible
Silurian Earth Destroyed, not negated, by Seventh Doctor PROSE: Blood Heat
Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart was shot and killed by a Vardan in 1976 Artemis the Chronovore PROSE: No Future
Alternate timeline (Time & Time Again) Seventh Doctor, Ace and Bernice Summerfield COMIC: Time & Time Again
The Knights of Velyshaa conquered Gallifrey Fifth Doctor, Sixth Doctor, Seventh Doctor, the Temperon AUDIO: The Sirens of Time
Elizabeth Klein created the Galactic Reich after stealing the Doctor's TARDIS and making repeated corrections to the timeline Seventh Doctor and Elizabeth Klein and the Selachians (both inadvertantly after being manipulated by the Doctor) AUDIO: The Architects of History
Humans didn't evolve and Earth was a Tractis colony known as Paratractis Eighth Doctor, Sam Jones, Jo Grant PROSE: Genocide
Sato Katsura formed the Church of the Glorious Dead; the Church, led by Sato, conquered Earth and renamed it Dhakan; the Church began invading and massacring other planets they viewed as "unbelieving" Kroton COMIC: The Glorious Dead
Pete Tyler didn't die and Reapers began consuming humanity Pete Tyler TV: Father's Day
The Year That Never Was Tenth Doctor, Martha Jones and Captain Jack Harkness TV: Last of the Time Lords
Donna's World alternate Donna Noble, with assistance from Rose Tyler TV: Turn Left
The Progenitor Daleks repopulated Skaro and exterminated humanity to extinction in 1963 Eleventh Doctor and Amy Pond GAME: City of the Daleks
The Doctor's TARDIS exploded, creating Cracks in Time which began erasing the universe's history Eleventh Doctor, Amy Pond, Rory Williams (Auton) and River Song (TV: The Big Bang) TV: Series 5
Amy Pond was stranded on Apalapucia for 36 years Eleventh Doctor TV: The Girl Who Waited
River Song's World Eleventh Doctor, Amy Pond, Rory Williams, River Song, the Teselecta TV: The Wedding of River Song
The Silurians attempted to pump poison onto Earth's surface to reclaim it Eleventh Doctor and River Song GAME: The Eternity Clock
The Progenitor Daleks invaded and destroyed London in or before 2106 Eleventh Doctor and River Song GAME: The Eternity Clock
The Cybermen conquered the galaxy Eleventh Doctor and Jean-Luc Picard COMIC: Assimilation²
Rory Williams remained imprisoned in Winter Quay for the rest of his life Rory Williams, Amy Pond TV: The Angels Take Manhattan
The TARDIS was damaged and self-destructed Eleventh Doctor TV: Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS

Timelines encountered by others

Timeline Negated By Featured in
The Seventh Doctor defeated the Vardan invasion of Earth by leaving clues for his past self The Monk PROSE: No Future
Insects of the Mind evolved as the dominant life on Earth The existence of time travel PROSE: Falls the Shadow
Britain was a conformist republic The existence of time travel PROSE: Falls the Shadow
Andrea Yates' World alternate Andrea Yates TV: Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane?
The Trickster's World Eddie and Barbara Smith TV: The Temptation of Sarah Jane Smith
Ship erased Sarah Jane Smith, Luke Smith and Clyde Langer Adam Lloyd TV: The Mad Woman in the Attic
Deindum from the future conquered the galaxy Bernice Summerfield PROSE: Present Danger, AUDIO: Escaping the Future
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