To Faedeur
Originally Posted by Deku Tree Sprout
Some time ago, before the King of Hyrule unified this country, there was a fierce war in our world.
It seems quite strange that Hyrule was united prior to this fierce war. The DTS does not draw a direct line between the war and the unficiation, however, since both of them must take place between Link was a baby and the game itself, it is for all practical reasons possible to connect the two events.
To Dekunub
Well, I have reason to believe what I know of the timeline to go like this. SS>OOT>MM>TP>WW>ALTTP>LOZ>AOL>
I am not aware if you are familiar with the Split Timeline or not. If you are not, I think that Zelda Dungeon has an excellent guide in explaining that crucial event in the Zelda timeline. However, you are of course free to think whatever you want of the timeline.
However, in short does the Split Timeline mean that the timeline splits after OoT, with one branch going to MM and TP while the other goes into WW and PH and ultimately ST. These games are also confirmed story arcs by the developers themselvses. When Zelda sends Link back in time, the timeline where Link sealed Ganon did not disappear, but continued without Link. In the ending we can both see people celebrating the victory over Ganondorf and Link being a child again. Moreover, WW deals with the events following the Adult parts of OoT while MM follows the Child parts, since Link is a child.
--------/---WW/PH---ST
SS---OoT
--------\MM---TP
now, I am rather unversed in these timeline theorys, but as a Zelda enthusiast, I do know some things. Firstly we all know SS is supposed to be the new begining. Then it's easy to remember, OOT was supposed to be the first, Majoras Mask is a direct sequel, as weird as it was. Now, why do I think Twilight Princess comes next? Well, it's overall similarity to OOT mainly. And the "heros clothes" I could be mistaken, but I believe Link was refered to as the "Hero of ____" begining in OOT. So that is kind of a weak reason to believe TP being next in line, but it's all I got until I'm as learned as the rest of you no doubt, fine folks. Now, WW is next. If hyrule is under water entirely, that's a weird thing. I've not played it, but perhaps it happened before ALLTP.
From Wind Waker
Link, do you know the legend of the Hero of Time? Once, long ago, he defeated Ganon and brought peace to the Kingdom of Hyrule... A piece of the Triforce was given to the Hero of Time and he kept it safe, much as Zelda kept hers. That sacred piece is known as the Triforce of Courage. When the Hero of Time was called to embark on another journey and [travelled through time and] left the land of Hyrule, he was separated from the elements that made him a hero. It is said that at that time, the Triforce of Courage was split into eight shards and hidden throughout the land.
The part in [ ] are to clarify a line that was omitted in the English translation.
More Wind Waker
After his defeat at the hands of the Hero of Time, Ganondorf was sealed away...but not for all time. He was revived, and he returned to Hyrule in a red wrath. He attacked this temple and stole my soul, knowing that he had to remove the power contained in that enchanted blade. In order to return the power to repel evil to your sword, you must find another to take my stead in this temple and ask the gods for their assistance.
This clearly describes the events of the Adult parts of OoT. This means that WW must follow those events.
From Majora's Mask
In the land of Hyrule, there echoes a legend. A legend held dearly by the Royal Family that tells of a boy... A boy who, after battling evil and saving Hyrule, crept away from the land that had made him a legend... Done with the battles he once waged across time, he embarked on a journey. A secret and personal journey... A journey in search of a beloved and invaluable friend... A friend with whom he parted ways when he finally fulfilled his heroic destiny and took his place among legends...
This shows that Link's adventure as a child continues after OoT. However, both WW and MM can't take place at the same time. This problem is effectively solved by the Split Timeline.
What about TP? Well...
Question: When does Twilight Princess take place?
Aonuma: In the world of Ocarina of Time, a hundred and something years later.
Question: And the Wind Waker?
Aonuma: The Wind Waker is parallel. In Ocarina of Time, Link flew seven years in time, he beat Ganon and went back to being a kid, remember? Twilight Princess takes place in the world of Ocarina of Time, a hundred and something years after the peace returned to kid Link’s time. In the last scene of Ocarina of Time, kids Link and Zelda have a little talk, and as a consequence of that talk, their relationship with Ganon takes a whole new direction. In the middle of this game [Twilight Princess], there's a scene showing Ganon's execution. It was decided that Ganon be executed because he'd do something outrageous if they left him be. That scene takes place several years after Ocarina of Time. Ganon was sent to another world and now he wants to obtain the power...
So, TP takes place after OoT (and obviosuly after MM). This was also the interview where the Split-Timeline was confirmed. Nevertheless, what are we going to do with AlttP? Since WW and TP follows OoT, it seems strange that OoT still would be the back story of AlttP. However, this subject is much debated.
I think that AlttP takes place on the "Child Timeline" (the timeline where MM and TP happen), since the Master Sword is lost at the bottom fo the sea in WW, while it's in a forest in TP; because AlttP takes place in the same land as Ocarina of Time, which we know was flooded in WW, whereas it is very much dry in TP and for some other reasons.
LoZ and AoL was confirmed to follow AlttP, but they can be separated. LA is widely considered, and in one way confirmed, as a sequel to AlttP.
I hope this might help you!
/Blue Window