Old Time

The Old Time, (TV: The Deadly Assassin, PROSE: Christmas on a Rational Planet, The Game of Death, AUDIO: Signs and Wonders, et al.) also known as the Old Times (PROSE: The Infinity Doctors, AUDIO: Omega, House of Blue Fire, et al.) and sometimes used interchangeably with the Dark Times, (PROSE: Gallifrey - Notes on the Planet's Background) was a period of Gallifreyan history related to Rassilon's foundation of the Time Lord civilisation (TV: The Deadly Assassin) and known in the wider universe as a primordial period of magic (PROSE: Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible, The Parliament of Rats, AUDIO: Omega) home to the Elder Gods. (AUDIO: The Magic Mousetrap, et al.) Specifics of this time were detailed in the Book of the Old Time. (TV: The Deadly Assassin)

By some accounts, the Old Time referred to all history on the Pythias' side of the Gate of the Past or Future, with the other side being the Time Lords' New Time. (PROSE: Lungbarrow) Expanding on this, the term "Old Time" literally referred to an old form of time which was replaced by a new form of time in the anchoring of the thread. (PROSE: Christmas on a Rational Planet, The Parliament of Rats, Weapons Grade Snake Oil) The Seventh Doctor similarly spoke of the Old Times as a state of existence which could return through the actions of the Elder Gods. (AUDIO: House of Blue Fire)

In later millennia, the historical boundaries and subdivision of the Old Time were an area of debate among Time Lord historians, with Quartinian's history outlining that the Old Time was all of pre-Rassilonian history, containing the Age of the Pythias which was divided into the Time of Empire and the Time of Chaos / Dark Time. (PROSE: Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible) A Brief History of Time Lords claimed that the Old Time was smaller in scope, being the era of Rassilon's rule which followed the Dark Times. (PROSE: A Brief History of Time Lords) The Seventh Doctor considered the Old Times to include the birth pangs and infancy of the universe. (AUDIO: The Magic Mousetrap, Black and White, Gods and Monsters)

History

Gallifreyan civilisation

During this time, the Great Schism occurred, a war between the forces loyal to Rassilon and the female priesthood of the Pythia. Pythia lost, her ruling matriarchy destroyed and she was banished from Gallifrey. As punishment for her defeat, Pythia cursed the Time Lords with sterility. This led to the creation of Looms, as a means of reproducing without sex. (PROSE: Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible)

Rassilon during this period harnessed the exploding energy of a collapsing star, in the process creating the Eye of Harmony from which the Time Lords gained their power of time travel. The event was described in the Book of the Old Time:

"...and Rassilon journeyed into the black void with a great fleet. Within the void, no light, would shine and nothing of that outer nature continue in being, except that which existed within the Sash of Rassilon. Now Rassilon found the Eye of Harmony which balances all things, that they may neither flux, nor wither, nor change their state in any measure. And he caused the eye to be brought to the world of Gallifrey wherein he sealed this beneficence with the great key. Then the people rejoiced..." (TV: The Deadly Assassin)

According to one account, when Rassilon first opened a black hole to draw the power of time travel, he burst open a hole into an inhabited plane, upon which the Great Vampires, or the Yssgaroth, were accidentally unleashed into the universe, starting the Eternal War. (TV: State of Decay; PROSE: Interference - Book One, The Pit)

During this period too, both validium (TV: Silver Nemesis), and the Hand of Omega were created. (TV: Remembrance of the Daleks) Artron inadvertently created the Ravenous on Kolstarn during the Old Time. He also discovered artron energy. (AUDIO: Day of the Master)

Ending

By some accounts, the Old Time ended with the death of the 508th Pythia, who had been declining in power ever since the start of Rassilon's rise. (PROSE: Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible, Lungbarrow)

Legacy

Lady Peinforte threatened to reveal the Doctor's secret "from the Old Time, the Time of Chaos". (TV: Silver Nemesis)

The Seventh Doctor told the Mi'en Kalarash that he was afraid of the Old Time, that he remembered it and feared its return. (AUDIO: House of Blue Fire)

Behind the scenes

• The introduction of Starships and Spacestations uses the term "Old Times" to describe when the Vampire War took place.