Dark Times


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

''"There was a time when the universe was so much smaller than it is now. A darker, older time of chaos. Creatures like the Racnoss, the Nestenes, and the Great Vampires rampaged through the void." - ''The Doctor

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

History
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 raged a war with the Hervoken. (NSA: Forever Autumn). Krafayis evolved and began to swarm across the Universe towards the end of this period. It was during this time period, too, that the legendary spaceship Infinite was created. (DW: The Infinite Quest) The Time Lords fought the Great Vampires during this time. 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)

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)