Well, poo.
This game is re-writing the entire storyline and if my dates are correct, this is starting at the middle of Soul Edge with Groh.
But this is where things get tricky...
It doesn't look like Mitsurugi even begins searching for the sword until 1586, after Nightmare is destroyed. And Nightmare himself gets three years of terror instead of two like in the original Soul Calibur story.
But then there's also the Main Story timeline which seems to indicate major events happening regardless of each character's notable movements.
The banner is also blocking probably 3 character names and their notable points.
From what I can tell, it's either Tira or Talim beneath Groh, since that point begins the Evil Seed Disaster with the breakage of the shards.
Cervantes looks to be beneath Ivy.
Tira (or Talim) beneath Sophitia.
Others are too hard to tell, but I would assume Astaroth is the second blank beneath Ivy, and Voldo just above Nightmare.
The game still ends at 1590, which is where Soul Calibur 2 begins.