diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/eventCardConfig.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/eventCardConfig.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8fd33355
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/eventCardConfig.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import { getAccentConfig } from './eventCardConfig';
+import type { components } from '$lib/generated/api';
+
+type TimelineEntryDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineEntryDTO'];
+
+function event(overrides: Partial<TimelineEntryDTO>): TimelineEntryDTO {
+	return {
+		kind: 'EVENT',
+		precision: 'YEAR',
+		derived: false,
+		senderName: '',
+		receiverName: '',
+		...overrides
+	};
+}
+
+describe('getAccentConfig', () => {
+	it('maps a derived birth to the * glyph and "Geburt"', () => {
+		const cfg = getAccentConfig(event({ derived: true, derivedType: 'BIRTH' }));
+		expect(cfg.glyph).toBe('*');
+		expect(cfg.label).toBe('Geburt');
+		expect(cfg.accent).toBe('derived');
+	});
+
+	it('maps a derived death to the † glyph and "Tod"', () => {
+		const cfg = getAccentConfig(event({ derived: true, derivedType: 'DEATH' }));
+		expect(cfg.glyph).toBe('†');
+		expect(cfg.label).toBe('Tod');
+		expect(cfg.accent).toBe('derived');
+	});
+
+	it('maps a derived marriage to the ⚭ glyph and "Heirat"', () => {
+		const cfg = getAccentConfig(event({ derived: true, derivedType: 'MARRIAGE' }));
+		expect(cfg.glyph).toBe('⚭');
+		expect(cfg.label).toBe('Heirat');
+		expect(cfg.accent).toBe('derived');
+	});
+
+	it('maps a HISTORICAL event to the world glyph and "Weltgeschehen"', () => {
+		const cfg = getAccentConfig(event({ type: 'HISTORICAL' }));
+		expect(cfg.glyph).toBe('◍');
+		expect(cfg.label).toBe('Weltgeschehen');
+		expect(cfg.accent).toBe('historical');
+	});
+
+	it('maps a curated PERSONAL event to the ★ glyph and "Familie"', () => {
+		const cfg = getAccentConfig(event({ type: 'PERSONAL', eventId: 'e-1' }));
+		expect(cfg.glyph).toBe('★');
+		expect(cfg.label).toBe('Familie');
+		expect(cfg.accent).toBe('curated');
+	});
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/eventCardConfig.ts b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/eventCardConfig.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..715249b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/eventCardConfig.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
+import type { components } from '$lib/generated/api';
+
+type TimelineEntryDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineEntryDTO'];
+
+/** Styling discriminant for an axis pill/band. */
+export type TimelineAccent = 'derived' | 'curated' | 'historical';
+
+export interface AccentConfig {
+	/** Visible Unicode glyph — render `aria-hidden`, paired with an sr-only label. */
+	glyph: string;
+	/** German layer/life-event label — used as the sr-only text and as visible chrome. */
+	label: string;
+	accent: TimelineAccent;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Maps a timeline EVENT entry to its glyph, redundant non-color label, and accent
+ * (REQ-007/008/018). Derived life-events use the * / † / ⚭ glyphs that match
+ * `personLifeDates.ts`; HISTORICAL events get the muted world band; everything
+ * else (curated PERSONAL) gets the mint family pill.
+ */
+export function getAccentConfig(entry: TimelineEntryDTO): AccentConfig {
+	if (entry.derived) {
+		switch (entry.derivedType) {
+			case 'BIRTH':
+				return { glyph: '*', label: m.timeline_derived_birth(), accent: 'derived' };
+			case 'DEATH':
+				return { glyph: '†', label: m.timeline_derived_death(), accent: 'derived' };
+			case 'MARRIAGE':
+				return { glyph: '⚭', label: m.timeline_derived_marriage(), accent: 'derived' };
+		}
+	}
+	if (entry.type === 'HISTORICAL') {
+		return { glyph: '◍', label: m.timeline_layer_world(), accent: 'historical' };
+	}
+	return { glyph: '★', label: m.timeline_layer_family(), accent: 'curated' };
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/test-factories.ts b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/test-factories.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..25bc3026
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/test-factories.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import type { components } from '$lib/generated/api';
+
+type TimelineEntryDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineEntryDTO'];
+type TimelineYearDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineYearDTO'];
+type TimelineDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineDTO'];
+
+/**
+ * Builds a `TimelineEntryDTO` mirroring the real wire shape (no `year`,
+ * `description`, or `snippet` fields). Defaults to a dated DAY-precision letter;
+ * override `kind`/`derived`/`type`/`derivedType` etc. for events.
+ */
+export function makeEntry(overrides: Partial<TimelineEntryDTO> = {}): TimelineEntryDTO {
+	return {
+		kind: 'LETTER',
+		precision: 'DAY',
+		derived: false,
+		senderName: 'Karl Raddatz',
+		receiverName: 'Elfriede Raddatz',
+		eventDate: '1915-06-15',
+		title: 'Brief aus dem Feld',
+		documentId: '11111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111',
+		...overrides
+	};
+}
+
+export function makeYear(year: number, entries: TimelineEntryDTO[]): TimelineYearDTO {
+	return { year, entries };
+}
+
+export function makeTimelineDTO(
+	opts: { years?: TimelineYearDTO[]; undated?: TimelineEntryDTO[] } = {}
+): TimelineDTO {
+	return { years: opts.years ?? [], undated: opts.undated ?? [] };
+}