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Theory:Timeline - Cybermen

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Index → Timey-wimey detector → Timeline - Cybermen
Spoilers are strongly policed here.
If this thread's title doesn't specify it's spoilery, don't bring any up.

This page lists appearances of the Cybermen in the order in which they experienced them. This timeline is based upon observations of the Doctor Who universe and the events that occur during each of these stories.

Origins[[edit source]]

There are several conflicting origin stories for the Cybermen, including Mondasians converting themselves to deal with deteriorating planetary conditions (AUDIO: Spare Parts), ancient Cybermen predating the Mondasian Cybermen (COMIC: The Cybermen), and Mondas being another name for Marinus (COMIC: The World Shapers). These accounts seem impossible to reconcile. However, TV: World Enough and Time and The Doctor Falls establish that Cybermen are subject to Parallel Evolution, explaining contradictory sources of their origins. For more information, consult Creation of the Cybermen.

Appearance[[edit source]]

Mondasian[[edit source]]

Origins[[edit source]]

Ancient Mondas[[edit source]]

Later Mondas[[edit source]]

Over 2,000 years after The Future Perfect, Mondas breaks from its orbit. At this time, the first modern Cybermen are created.
A Mondasian colony ship becomes trapped in the orbit of a black hole, while the inhabitants are gradually cyber-converted. As a result of time dilation, the Cybermen rapidly evolve from the original patients to primitive "Mondasians", Cybus-style and ultimately Cyberiad-style Cybermen. Spending the last 491 years of his life aboard the ship, Nardole ensures that the remaining Mondasian colonists "sort" their conflict with the Cybermen. (PROSE: Twice Upon a Time)
In a parallel event, Cybermen also arise on Mondas, a planet which at this stage only has a few thousand inhabitants.
Following its seperation from Earth, the Cybermen rule Mondas.

Early invasions[[edit source]]

At this point, Mondas is 200 light years away from Earth. A Mondasian Cyberman scout sent to find Earth crash lands on the planet but fails to report its location.
In 1879, a Cybermat appears at Winston Churchill's 5th birthday party. It is smashed by the Fourth Doctor. (PROSE: The Lost Diaries of Winston Spencer Churchill)
A single Cyberman of unknown origin became stranded in Berlin after being displaced from ite original location.
The Seventh Doctor and Ace delay the Mondasian Cybermen's attack on Earth.
In the alternate timeline which is ultimately reversed by the Twelfth Doctor and Rassilon, the CyberMondasians appear on Earth where they capture the First Doctor, interrupting the events of An Unearthly Child.
The Second Doctor and his grandchildren thwart an attempt by the Mondasian Cybermen take over Earth using a Cyber-Mole.
The Mondasian Cybermen attempt to hijack an American B-52 bomber but are defeated by the Second Doctor.
Subject to UNIT dating but roughly between c.1969 and c.1979. The early CyberFaction, led by a Cyber-Planner who recognises the Second Doctor and Jamie McCrimmon from Planet 14, invade Earth but are destroyed by UNIT. This is the first invasion of Earth recorded by both the Faction's history computer and the independent ArcHive.
Shortly following The Invasion, a Cyber-Controller, identical to the one later seen in The Tomb of the Cybermen, leads the Cybermen in a second attempt to invade Earth, from Isos II, but they are destroyed by the Second Doctor and his companions.
During the former's exile on Earth, the Third Doctor and Liz Shaw encounter a ship of Cybermen.
In the alternate timeline which is ultimately reversed by the Twelfth Doctor and Rassilon, a time distortion interrupts one of the many battles between the Earth-bound Third Doctor and the Master, converting the latter into a CyberNomad.
The Third Doctor and Jo Grant stop a Cyberman leftover from The Invasion.
The Sixth Doctor briefly meets a Cyberman on Mondas.
As Hegelia suggests, the early CyberFaction, still based on the dark side of the Moon, are contacted by future CyberNeomorphs or "CyberIsomorphs". Having already failed to change history by destroying Earth in 1985, the Neomorphs convince their ancestors not to interfere in the coming Mondasian invasion and instead move to the asteroid belt. The Isomorphs themselves remain on the Moon and are apparently all destroyed in 1988. (AUDIO: The Ultimate Cybermen)
The Second Doctor and his grandchildren fight the Mondasian Cybermen who, led by a Cyber-Controller, have established a Cyber-City on an unidentified planet. These Cybermen fail to recognise the Second Doctor and his companions.
The Mondasian Cyber-Empire is at its height. The Cybermen capture thousands of Earthmen to build a Cyber-City in honour of the Cyber-Controller, who now sports a cape. The Second Doctor and his grandchildren topple the city and enable the humans to return home.
The Second Doctor and his grandchildren thwart a plot by the Mondasian Cybermen to destroy Earth with a bomb. The Cybermen mistake the Doctor for an Earthling.
Leads directly into The Tenth Planet from the Cybermen's perspective.
Mondas, where the Cyber-Controller resides, returns to the solar system. The CyberMondasians launch a failed invasion of Earth which ends with the destruction of Mondas. This is the second invasion of Earth recorded by both the Faction's history computer and the independent ArcHive. The encounter with the First Doctor is recalled by the Neomorphs in Earthshock.

Lying low[[edit source]]

Around the year 1990 by Hegelia's reckoning, the CyberNomads' begin a two century period of proliferation throughout Mutter's Spiral. (AUDIO: The Cyber Nomads)
The Cybermen have been driven from Planet 14.
An unidentified Cyber-group unleashes a computer virus.
The virus is eradicated by P.R.O.B.E.. (PROSE: The Last Dose)
The survivors of The Tenth Planet have settled on Lonsis, however they are depicted as the Cybermen from The Invasion. They have never heard of Telos and know only of the Doctor from their meeting in The Tenth Planet
In the alternate timeline which is ultimately reversed by the Twelfth Doctor and Rassilon, the Cybermen succeed in conquering Earth.
The survivors of The Invasion plan a second invasion.
A ship of Cybermen, identical to Pete's World but with an engraved Cyber face in place of the Cybus brand, had been caught in a time storm and crashed in the Arctic ten thousand years prior. Converting a human expedition into Cyberslaves, they are destroyed following a confrontation with the Eleventh Doctor.
The Eleventh Doctor finds a Cyber Legion ship has crashed on Earth "centuries ago". Intending to convert Earth, the surviving Cybermen only manage to upgrade several humans before they are destroyed.
The Ninth Cyber Legion invade London but are destroyed by the Eleventh Doctor. This event is possibly the same as the later mentioned Cybermen invasion of 2012.
Cybus-style Cybermen surround the Eleventh Doctor's TARDIS at Roald Dahl Plass in Cardiff.
The Twelfth Doctor finds an army of Nightmare in Silver Cybermen created by Missy, who intends to upgrade the Earth. However, converted Danny Pink leads the Cybermen in destroying themselves; soon after, the converted Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart seemingly kills Missy before leaving to parts unknown.
A single Nightmare in Silver Cyberman, possibly Lethbridge-Stewart, is a resident of the Trap Street, London.
Following the first Flux event, the Cyber-Warriors fight for control of what remains of the universe with the Daleks and the Sontarans.
The Cyber-Warriors, along with the Daleks, are tricked into assembling their forces to be destroyed by the final Flux event by the Sontarans, who are themselves destroyed when they are outwitted by the Thirteenth Doctor.

Continued conquests[[edit source]]

The Second Doctor thwarts a plot by CyberTelosians to use the Graviton to destroy all life on Earth from the Moon. These Cybermen identify as descendants of the first space travellers from Mondas and represent a "Cyberman Empire". At this point, humans believe the Cybermen to have died out years ago. (AUDIO: The Early Cybermen)
In the alternate timeline which is ultimately reversed by the Twelfth Doctor and Rassilon, the CyberTelosians successfully upgrade the Second Doctor.
The Second Doctor, accompanied by his grandchildren, infiltrates the Mondasian Cybermen, based at a Cyber Out-post on an unidentified planet.
The Second Doctor fights the Mondasian Cybermen on an unidentified planet with Joe. These Cybermen have a Cyber-Empire and recognise the Doctor.
The Cybermen are of the "late CyberFaction". The encounter with the Second Doctor is recalled in Earthshock.
The Cybermen launch a second attack on the Wheel, but are pulled into the Land of Fiction.
Cyberiad Cybermen launch a failed invasion of the human colony world of Tiestus.
The Second Doctor and his grandchildren elude the Mondasian Cybermen in a Time Museum with exhibits up to 2150.
The Second Doctor, accompanied by his grandchildren, engages a Mondasian Cyberman in an arena operated by a race who capture time travellers.
Occurs some time during the second half of the 22nd century.
Around the year 2190 by Hegelia's reckoning, the CyberNomads' period of proliferation ends. (AUDIO: The Cyber Nomads)
The CyberNomads have recently fought the Vogan War.
CyberNomads make an incursion into the Federation universe but are thwarted by the Fourth Doctor.
Dated 23rd century
Cybus-style Cybermen attempt to combine the Doctor's universe with the Federation universe. Their plot to convert both universes is thwarted by the Eleventh Doctor.
Set during the last days of the Great Cyber War, and ten years later.

The Great Cyber War[[edit source]]

The Cybermen are defeated on Voga, leading to the end of the great cyber war.

Post Cyber War[[edit source]]

The Cyber-War began twenty years ago and has been over for some years.
Joylove is working for Eric Klieg and The Brotherhood of Logicians, setting this before The Tomb of the Cybermen.
The Cybermen have been assumed extinct for five centuries.
Following their defeat in the Cyber-War, the Cybermen are believed by some to have died out. A CyberNomad ship attempts to destroy Voga is thwarted by the Fourth Doctor, resulting in their own destruction.
As hypothesised by Hegelia, another group of CyberNomads come across Telos and revive the CyberTelosians. Combining their respective Cyber-technology, the two groups of Cybermen form a new Cyber-subspecies, the CyberNeomorphs, who proliferate throughout the 26th century. (AUDIO: The Cyber Nomads, PROSE: Killing Ground)

The Orion War[[edit source]]

According to the Eighth Doctor, the Cybermen are all tucked away in their tombs on Telos in the aftermath of the Cyber-War. The Orion War has been ongoing for the last eight years. An old Cybermen destroyer class ship is awoken by the crew of the Vanguard.
Occurs light years from the Orion War front lines.
According to one account, Telos is destroyed by an asteroid impact in the early 26th century. (AUDIO: Telos)
Occurs "over twenty years" into the Orion War, which began in 2495.

26th century war[[edit source]]

Thanks to the Fifth Doctor, the Cybermen fail to stop a conference on Earth which they predict will unite powers against them in a war they will not be able to win. The Cyber-Leader recalls the Doctor's involvement in the events of The Tenth Planet, The Wheel in Space and Revenge of the Cybermen; he is unfamiliar with the Fifth Doctor, only recognising him through the presence of the TARDIS.
According to Hegelia, Attack of the Cybermen takes place after Earthshock. The Cybermen attempt to leave Telos but are defeated by the Sixth Doctor, who destroys the Cyber-Controller. (AUDIO: The Ultimate Cybermen)

Neomorphs in the past[[edit source]]

As the Cybermen attempt to leave Telos in the 26th century, other CyberNeomorphs are planted on Earth. Their aim is to use Halley's Comet comet to destroy the Earth of 1985, thus preventing the destruction of Mondas 1986. However, the plot is thwarted by the Sixth Doctor. (AUDIO: The Ultimate Cybermen)
As Hegelia suggests, the defeated CyberNeomorphs abandon their base in the London sewers and fall back to the dark side of the Moon, where the early CyberFaction are. Convincing their ancestors to leave the Moon for the asteroid belt, the Neomorphs remain and observe events on Earth. Subtlely changing their form, the Neomorphs become what Hegelia dubs as "CyberIsomorphs", being isolated from their home time. (AUDIO: The Ultimate Cybermen)
The "CyberIsomorphs" attempt to turn Earth into the New Mondas but are defeated by the Seventh Doctor, who destroys their Cyber-Fleet, apparently vanquishing this Cyber-subspecies. (AUDIO: The Ultimate Cybermen)
Dated to 1992 by Warlock's Cross. The Cybermen are Neomorphs.

Back to the future[[edit source]]

Dated by AHistory.
Dated by AHistory.
Set a couple of centuries after The Tomb of the Cybermen to the best of the Fourth Doctor's knowledge. The Cybermen attempt to invade Krelos but are defeated by the Doctor and Leela.

30th century[[edit source]]

The Cybermen from the 30th century visit 1940.

4th millennium[[edit source]]

6th millennium[[edit source]]

The Twelfth Cyber Legion is destroyed by the Eleventh Doctor and Rory Williams.
The Cybermen, identical to those seen in Nightmare in Silver, participate in the 900 year long Siege of Trenzalore.

9th millennium[[edit source]]

In the 82nd century, the Cyber-Empire is led by the Cyber-Emperor. It is "demolished" during the Skeletoid invasion of Mutter's Spiral. The Cybermen are depicted as CyberNeomorphs.

Third Cyberwar[[edit source]]

Set during the early years of the Third Cyberwar, in which the Cybermen face an expanding human empire. The Cybermen are of Cyberiad design and use Cybermats of the type used by the Cyber Legions.
Cybermen of the Eleventh Cyber Legion, with Cyberiad designs, invade various worlds, including the human colony world Agrippina.
Set in the aftermath of the Cybermen's invasion of Agrippina.

The War is ended when humanity destroys the Tiberian Spiral galaxy, leading to the presumed extinction of the Cybermen for a thousand years (TV: Nightmare in Silver)

Later history[[edit source]]

Highly advanced Cybermen, still unable to convert non-humans, travel back in time to 2005, where they attempt to convert Earth. They are destroyed by the Eighth Doctor.

The Last Cybermen[[edit source]]

A Cyber-Warrior emerges through the Time Fracture to Earth in 2020.
Following the Cyber-War, the Cyber-Empire is in ruins. (TV: Fugitive of the Judoon) The lone Cyberman, resembling a Cyberiad Cyberman, pursues and ultimately reclaims the Cyberium from Earth in 1816 before returning to the future with the Thirteenth Doctor and Team TARDIS in pursuit.
In the immediate aftermath of the Cyber-Wars, both humanity and the Cybermen have been nearly wiped out. As surviving humans attempt to flee from the Cybermen, the lone Cyberman returns to this time with the Cyberium and, joined by Cyber Legion models, discovers a Cyber-Army of "warrior class" troops.
Summoning the Cybermen to Gallifrey, the Master kills the lone Cyberman in order to access the Cyberium. Creating the CyberMasters from the bodies of the dead Time Lords, the Master and his Cyber-Army are apparently destroyed by Ko Sharmus with a Death particle.
Having survived the events on Gallifrey, the Master returns with an army of modified CyberMasters as well as a clone of the lone Cybermen, who assist him in the Master's Dalek Plan. This plot is thwarted by the Doctor, and the Master's Cybermen are seemingly all destroyed.
Authorial intent places Nightmare in Silver "a quarter of a million years into the future"[1] The Cyber-Wars, which appear to be different to the one with Voga, were 1,000 years ago when the Tiberian spiral galaxy was destroyed. Both Cybus and Cyber Legion suits are seen as relics of the war. A new army of Cyberiad Cybermen appear at Hedgewick's World of Wonders but are destroyed, with the exception of a single Cybermite. The Eleventh Doctor's Gallifreyan physiology barely resists cyber-conversion.
The Cyberleader is one of the last Cybermen.
The cyber-technology from The Reaping is used to enhance human medical technology.
Banished from Gallifrey by the Twelfth Doctor, Rassilon joins forces with the Cybermen. Conquering Gallifrey, the Cybermen attack various points in history in a bid to convert all of time and space. Ultimately, the Cybermen betray Rassilon, who works with the Doctor to regenerate the universe, reverting all the damage they had caused.

Pete's World[[edit source]]

Cybus Industries activities go back as early as 2004. (WC: Tardisode 5)
The Tenth Doctor discovers the Cybermen in a parallel Earth, created by Cybus Industries CEO John Lumic. Converted into Cyber-Controller, Lumic intends to upgrade all of humanity but is killed when London's Cybus factory is destroyed. However, other factories existed across the world. Mickey Smith decides to "liberate Paris".
An order is given for the upgrade, and deletion of the incompatible, to commence across the world.
A Cybus factory worker salvages some parts. (PROSE: Going Off the Rails)
The Preachers neutralise the Cybus factory in Paris.
The factory worker's son and a friend use the parts to assemble a Cyberman. Both unfamiliar with the Cyberman, they manage to destroy it before it can upgrade them.
A war is raged across Earth between the Preachers and the Cybermen. Ultimately, the Preachers win and the Cybermen are sealed in their factories.
Over a period of three years, approximately 5 million Cybermen travel through the void to N-Space, resulting in the Battle of Canary Wharf. These Cybermen are eventually sucked back into the Void by the Tenth Doctor.
A group of Cybermen escape from the Void and end up in London in the 1850s, where they are destroyed by the Tenth Doctor.
Lisa Hallett, who was partially converted into a Cyberman at Canary Wharf, is found and killed at Torchwood Three.
Less than half a dozen Cybermen from Canary Wharf attempt to build up the Cyber race but are defeated by the Tenth Doctor.
A new army of Cybus Cybermen are constructed by a thief who stole information from the Torchwood Archive. Turning on and converting the thief, the new Cybermen invade Centuria but are defeated by the Tenth Doctor. However, potential survivors remain.

Third universe[[edit source]]

Cybermen of a third universe attempt to conquer N-Space only to be destroyed by the War Master.

Unplaced[[edit source]]

A Cyberman of the "early CyberFaction" is captured in a miniscope.
A squad of CyberNeomorphs are placed in the Death Zone by Borusa.
The Cybermen are part of the Alliance led by the Supreme Controller, actually the Fifth Doctor, in the war against Morbius. They deem the battle "excellent".
The Cybermen face Ice Warriors on Yama-10. The two species are unfamiliar with one another.
The CyberNeomorphs work with the Daleks in an attempt to invade 1980s Earth, however it is unclear as to whether time travel is involved with their invasion. The Daleks claim to have invaded Earth in the past.
Cybermen that sound like those from The Tenth Planet but have the appearance of those from The Invasion.
The Doctor encounters a Cybermen timesquad which had been dispatched into "the future" before making an emergency exit from the vortex into 500,002. Their distress signal was unanswered, so they then plan to cyberconvert 1942 Earth and bring restart the cyber race in 500,002. The remnants of the squad move between 20th century and the 5001st century every time there is a storm, until 2008. Their origin time is unknown.
Cybus-style Cybermen attempt to capture Dalek weapons bases but are wiped out by the New Dalek Paradigm.
Early members of the CyberFaction use a crude form of time travel to invade Earth in the 19th century.

CyberHive Timeline[[edit source]]

Main article: Theory:Timeline - CyberHive

Discontinuity Guide Timeline[[edit source]]

Main article: Theory:Timeline - The Discontinuity Guide's Cyber History

aHistory Timeline[[edit source]]

This timeline is from the fourth edition of aHistory. Most of the dates given here are speculative.

Footnotes[[edit source]]

  1. ↑ https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-05-05/doctor-who-neil-gaiman-sets-the-scene-for-nightmare-in-silver/
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