Toreador spread across the ancient world, playing prominent roles in Crete, Mesopotamia and other lands, but Ancient Greece hosted the first concentration of the clan. Here they brought about the establishment of civilization as they perceived it should be.

The Kindred were as gods to the kine, and some Toreador claim they inspired Homer and others in creating the tales that become Greek mythology. Even after the age of heroes, vampires continued to play an important role in Greece, and the Toreador were a major factor in Athens. Even faeries and mages joined the Kindred there. For a while, it appeared as if Arikel was trying to establish the third city, one far greater than the first two.

The Lasombra and Ventrue who controlled Sparta had no desire to see Athens overtake their city in political influence. Thus, the Peloponnesian Wars were fought. The war left the Toreador in power, but any chance of turning Athens into a great city had passed. Within a few generations, the Ventrue and Brujah of Macedonia invaded Greece. They cast the Toreador from power, Arikel's messengers disappeared, and the clan was no longer united.

The Punic Wars

After the decline of Greece, Toreador spread out across the Mediterranean and into Persia. A number of Toreador went to the city of Carthage, joining the Brujah to continue their pursuit of the arts. Over time, Carthage drew not just Brujah and Toreador, but Kindred of all bloodlines. Together, they began a united quest for Golconda.

At the same time, Rome, controlled by the Ventrue and Malkavains, was becoming a major power. The Ventrue wanted control over Carthage, and this led to the Punic Wars. At first it appeared as though Carthage would triumph, but the wars were long and bloody. Eventually, most Kindred realized both sides were near equals. Rumor has it that a Toreador traitor provided the Ventrue with the information they needed to defeat the Carthaginians, though the Toreador say this is typical of Brujah whinning.

Whatever the case, the Ventrue and their mortal legionnaires protected the Toreador who came to Rome after the sack of Carthage. Toreador like to brag that it was the Toreador art, architecture, theatre, and love of beauty that made Roman civilization great.

By the time the Roman Empire fell, many of its Toreador had moved to Byzantium, where they believed they were safe. Some claim that if the Toreador had never left, the Western half of the Empire would have never fallen. Others say a traitorous Toreador provided the Brujah, Tzimisce, Giovanni, Lasombra and Gangrel with the information and aid they needed to destroy Rome. Many elder Ventrue believe this, and they secretly harbor a grudge against the Toreador they will, one night, repay.

Byzantium

The Toreador benefited greatly from the decline of the Ventrue in Rome. They established themselves in Byzantium, secretly controlling much of what happened there. While there were grave conflicts with various groups of mages, as seen through the Iconoclast Controversy, the Toreador claimed a great deal of power.

Haughty and proud, the Toreador of Byzantium managed to offend almost all the other groups of Kindred, but no one could equal their incredible talents at intrigue and subterfuge. Indeed some Cainite scholars say this period shaped the Jyhad into what it is today, and "Byzantine" became a lasting word for intrigue and complexity. Under Toreador direction, Byzantium had its Golden Age.