Ok, so I have done an insane amount of research on this topic as I have been trying to construct as accurate a timeline as I can for my game. The inconvenient conclusion, is that the sources are giving us conflicting information that does not work chronologically. However, with some creative outside the box thinking, I have come up with what I think are plausible explanations.
First, remember that the D&D multiverse is exactly that, a multiverse, which means, " (in physics and cosmology) a hypothetical collection of identical or diverse universes, including our own." https://www.dictionary.com/browse/multiverse.
Therefore, one answer, is that all of the sources are true and accurate, but not necessarily all within the same universe. This is also what makes homebrew make perfect sense to me, because even if my game deviates from official canon, it is easily explained as just a similar, but slightly different universe within an infinite multiverse.
Second, Baator is a lawful evil plane ruled by Asmodeus, who has many names, one of which is the Lord of Lies. Asmodeus is not the only lier in Baator, he is simply the best at it, or at least the top dog in charge of everyone else, but in Baator, lieing is rampant. Think of the archdukes as super evil politicians who are also really scary in every other imaginable way too. When you consider this it starts to make sense that the history of Baator doesn't really make sense, because yup, you guessed it, someone is full of it. So, with this in mind let me lay out what makes sense to me. I will put calendar dates in where I believe I know them to be accurate in Dale Reckoning.
In the beginning: ( I don't know when Baator first came to be, but maybe during or following the Dawn War?)
Zariel = True Lord of the First ------------ Bel probably comes to be as a lemur or whatever early on and works his way into prominence over time (I don't really know the full history of Bel).
Tiamat then takes over as Archduke, and she is listed as such according to 1st addition rulebooks. Further, MidnightPlat who posted early in this thread stated, "So the Forgotten Realms wiki article Fandom has Tiamat as a god who falls from godhood and becomes an archfiend at -1071 DR, after which Asmoedeus gives her rule of Avernus. It seems like Bel replaced, but I don't think there was ever a Zariel then Bel then back to Zariel (I could very well be wrong there)."
(---------Respectfully MidnightPlat, I believe there was/is a Zariel => Tiamat => Zariel => Bel => Zariel flow according to source material)
Later sources however, talk about Bel taking over from Zariel, so we can assume that Zariel must regain rulership over Avernus again from Tiamat, so:
Zariel = True Lord of the First
Next, due to at least one version of the Reckoning, Zariel is unseated by the Dark Eight, who then place Bel in power over Avernus, though he is really more of a puppet Archdevil who really answers to the Dark Eight, who in turn answer to Asmodeus.
Bel = Lord of the First according to multiple sources, primarily 3.0/3.5, thus, it should be safe to assume Bel is in charge at least between 1358 DR - 1372 DR. He probably took over a little before this, and sources don't indicate Zariel taking back over until I believe 1444 DR, but I am not 100 percent on this one as I have not read D/A yet. That said, where it really gets convoluted, is that sources talk about Zariel coming to Avernus in 1354 DR. I'm a little hazy on the exact difference between what Zariel did in 1354 DR as compared to 1444 DR, but without more research, it seems like in 1354 Zariel was still an Angel fighting the good fight, but in 1444, Zariel fell from grace and became an Archdevil. I would love to get clarity on this point. Either way Zariel is the one who supposedly takes control back from Bel.
Zariel = The Archduchess of Avernus and the Lord of the First
So here is where the deception and politics come into play. Since the timelines don't make sense I think that Asmodeus and the Dark Eight are the ones pulling the strings here. Notice I gave Zariel a different title the last time that I listed her. That was not a mistake, I think, the original fallen angel was named Zariel, When Tiamat first came to Avernus, perhaps they fought and Tiamat took over for a spell, or perhaps they came to an understanding, and Tiamat took over b/c that was what Zariel wanted so that she could do other things (fight in the Blood War, espionage on other Archdukes, conspire with allies against her rivals, etc...) Sources do indicate that Tiamat failed at her job as Lord of Avernus, and was removed from her position, but Asmodeus still valued her for other reasons. She was then turned into the Guardian of Dis (this must have put her under Zariel again). Then it continues to make sense that the original Zariel was imprisoned in Bel's Bronze Citadel in a hidden room under his throne. Following Bel, we have what I am calling New Zariel arriving in 1354 DR. I think it makes sense that this was in fact an Angel, like Zariel, but not actually Zariel. However, when this New Zariel falls, Asmodeus sees an opportunity to take this incredible bloodthirsty champion and place her on the throne over Avernus, while simultaneously ousting Bel the puppet. Further, rather than presenting this new comer as the leader, Asmodeus is smart enough to know that if he instead makes her take on the name "Zariel", then she will already have recognition and support. The devils of Avernus, will more easily rally behind her believing her to be the original ruler of Avernus returned.
As an extra little something, sources say that Bel fed on the flesh or essence or whatever of Zariel while she was imprisoned, slowly draining her of her power, and conversely increasing Bel's. I think it makes sense that Asmodeus, would have fed the remaining body and essence of the original Zariel to the New Zariel, as part of her trial to prove herself worthy of the throne. In doing so, It would make sense that New Zariel's soul/essence/thoughts would be corrupted and perhaps divided into different personalities and mamories, and it may also give New Zariel more power, and perhaps the ability to take on the form of the original Zariel as well.
Here is a link to a site that I found a lot of info on including info on Zariel's original form (spider legs, etc....), as well as where to find (what source material) a lot of what I am talking about above.
Ok, so I have done an insane amount of research on this topic as I have been trying to construct as accurate a timeline as I can for my game. The inconvenient conclusion, is that the sources are giving us conflicting information that does not work chronologically. However, with some creative outside the box thinking, I have come up with what I think are plausible explanations.
First, remember that the D&D multiverse is exactly that, a multiverse, which means, " (in physics and cosmology) a hypothetical collection of identical or diverse universes, including our own." https://www.dictionary.com/browse/multiverse.
Therefore, one answer, is that all of the sources are true and accurate, but not necessarily all within the same universe. This is also what makes homebrew make perfect sense to me, because even if my game deviates from official canon, it is easily explained as just a similar, but slightly different universe within an infinite multiverse.
Second, Baator is a lawful evil plane ruled by Asmodeus, who has many names, one of which is the Lord of Lies. Asmodeus is not the only lier in Baator, he is simply the best at it, or at least the top dog in charge of everyone else, but in Baator, lieing is rampant. Think of the archdukes as super evil politicians who are also really scary in every other imaginable way too. When you consider this it starts to make sense that the history of Baator doesn't really make sense, because yup, you guessed it, someone is full of it. So, with this in mind let me lay out what makes sense to me. I will put calendar dates in where I believe I know them to be accurate in Dale Reckoning.
In the beginning: ( I don't know when Baator first came to be, but maybe during or following the Dawn War?)
Zariel = True Lord of the First
------------ Bel probably comes to be as a lemur or whatever early on and works his way into prominence over time (I don't really know the full history of Bel).
Tiamat then takes over as Archduke, and she is listed as such according to 1st addition rulebooks. Further, MidnightPlat who posted early in this thread stated, "So the Forgotten Realms wiki article Fandom has Tiamat as a god who falls from godhood and becomes an archfiend at -1071 DR, after which Asmoedeus gives her rule of Avernus. It seems like Bel replaced, but I don't think there was ever a Zariel then Bel then back to Zariel (I could very well be wrong there)."
(---------Respectfully MidnightPlat, I believe there was/is a Zariel => Tiamat => Zariel => Bel => Zariel flow according to source material)
Later sources however, talk about Bel taking over from Zariel, so we can assume that Zariel must regain rulership over Avernus again from Tiamat, so:
Zariel = True Lord of the First
Next, due to at least one version of the Reckoning, Zariel is unseated by the Dark Eight, who then place Bel in power over Avernus, though he is really more of a puppet Archdevil who really answers to the Dark Eight, who in turn answer to Asmodeus.
Bel = Lord of the First according to multiple sources, primarily 3.0/3.5, thus, it should be safe to assume Bel is in charge at least between 1358 DR - 1372 DR. He probably took over a little before this, and sources don't indicate Zariel taking back over until I believe 1444 DR, but I am not 100 percent on this one as I have not read D/A yet. That said, where it really gets convoluted, is that sources talk about Zariel coming to Avernus in 1354 DR. I'm a little hazy on the exact difference between what Zariel did in 1354 DR as compared to 1444 DR, but without more research, it seems like in 1354 Zariel was still an Angel fighting the good fight, but in 1444, Zariel fell from grace and became an Archdevil. I would love to get clarity on this point. Either way Zariel is the one who supposedly takes control back from Bel.
Zariel = The Archduchess of Avernus and the Lord of the First
So here is where the deception and politics come into play. Since the timelines don't make sense I think that Asmodeus and the Dark Eight are the ones pulling the strings here. Notice I gave Zariel a different title the last time that I listed her. That was not a mistake, I think, the original fallen angel was named Zariel, When Tiamat first came to Avernus, perhaps they fought and Tiamat took over for a spell, or perhaps they came to an understanding, and Tiamat took over b/c that was what Zariel wanted so that she could do other things (fight in the Blood War, espionage on other Archdukes, conspire with allies against her rivals, etc...) Sources do indicate that Tiamat failed at her job as Lord of Avernus, and was removed from her position, but Asmodeus still valued her for other reasons. She was then turned into the Guardian of Dis (this must have put her under Zariel again). Then it continues to make sense that the original Zariel was imprisoned in Bel's Bronze Citadel in a hidden room under his throne. Following Bel, we have what I am calling New Zariel arriving in 1354 DR. I think it makes sense that this was in fact an Angel, like Zariel, but not actually Zariel. However, when this New Zariel falls, Asmodeus sees an opportunity to take this incredible bloodthirsty champion and place her on the throne over Avernus, while simultaneously ousting Bel the puppet. Further, rather than presenting this new comer as the leader, Asmodeus is smart enough to know that if he instead makes her take on the name "Zariel", then she will already have recognition and support. The devils of Avernus, will more easily rally behind her believing her to be the original ruler of Avernus returned.
As an extra little something, sources say that Bel fed on the flesh or essence or whatever of Zariel while she was imprisoned, slowly draining her of her power, and conversely increasing Bel's. I think it makes sense that Asmodeus, would have fed the remaining body and essence of the original Zariel to the New Zariel, as part of her trial to prove herself worthy of the throne. In doing so, It would make sense that New Zariel's soul/essence/thoughts would be corrupted and perhaps divided into different personalities and mamories, and it may also give New Zariel more power, and perhaps the ability to take on the form of the original Zariel as well.
Here is a link to a site that I found a lot of info on including info on Zariel's original form (spider legs, etc....), as well as where to find (what source material) a lot of what I am talking about above.
https://thealexandrian.net/wordpress/45170/roleplaying-games/a-textual-history-of-zariel-part-2-previous-zariel-continuity
Hope this info helps, and if anyone can bring further clarity to the timing of different rulerships over Avernus on the DR calendar I would love that.
Thanks,
This is the best explanation of the timeline I have seen. Wizards should take note.
Thanks Diabolyn,
Very kind of you to say.