Dark Times


 * Not to be confused with the The Dark Time, a period in the history of Gallifrey.

The Dark Times was one of the earliest aeons in the history of the Universe.

Beings
The Doctor described this as a time of chaos "before our reality" when the Nestenes and Great Vampires flourished, (DW: The Infinite Quest) as well as the Carrionites (DW: The Shakespeare Code) and the Racnoss, the last-named species having its defeat at the hands of the Fledgling Empires. (DW: The Runaway Bride) Species such as Vashta Nerada, Weeping Angels and Mandragora Helix were also thought to have originated during this period. The Carrionites waged a war with the Hervoken. (NSA: Forever Autumn) Krafayis evolved and began to swarm across the Universe towards the end of this period. (DW: Vincent and the Doctor) It was during this time period, too, that the legendary spaceship Infinite was created. (DW: The Infinite Quest)

War
The Time Lords fought the Great Vampires during this time and, led by Rassilon, they made Bowships to kill the beasts. They killed all but one after a war so long and bloody that the Time Lords were sickened of violence and officially began their long period of non-interference. (DW: State of Decay)

Other
Rassilon also wrote his Record of Rassilon during this period. It instructed Time Lords to kill the King Vampire if they encountered it. (DW: State of Decay)

Chronological placement
When the Dark Times actually occurred is not known. The Doctor implied that the Dark Times ended with the destruction of the Racnoss, which occurred 4.5 billion years ago. (DW: The Runaway Bride) On the other hand, the war between the Hervoken and the Carrionites was said to occur a mere million years ago. (NSA: Forever Autumn)