docs(rtm): trace the #827 grouped-view redesign (nesting, contrast, density)

REQ-014 now nests event-clustered letters under their pill (no duplicate title); REQ-015 keeps the bucket-header label in a fixed ink for AA contrast; new REQ-020 records the colour-rail containment + density-strip collapse that replaces the flooding flat card list. Refs #827 #847
feat(timeline): nest Ereignis letters under their event pill, no duplicate title
2026-06-15 12:11:38 +02:00 · 2026-06-15 12:07:39 +02:00 · 2026-06-15 12:01:47 +02:00 · 2026-06-15 11:57:20 +02:00 · 2026-06-15 11:54:19 +02:00 · 2026-06-15 11:08:02 +02:00
44 changed files with 2876 additions and 85 deletions
--- a/.gitea/workflows/nightly.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/nightly.yml
@@ -192,17 +192,52 @@ jobs:
          REPO="${{ github.repository }}"
          RUN_URL="${GITEA_URL}/${REPO}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}"

+          # --- Gitea API helper ---
+          # api METHOD URL [extra curl args...] — authenticated Gitea API call.
+          # `curl -sf` collapses every HTTP >=400 into a bare "exit 22", which
+          # surfaces as an opaque step failure (issue #839). Instead we read the
+          # status code and, on a >=400 response, print an actionable ::error::
+          # to stderr (so a calling command substitution does not swallow it) and
+          # return 1 — `set -e` then still fails the step. The token is never
+          # echoed (no set -x; never placed in the message).
+          api() {
+            local method="$1" url="$2"; shift 2
+            local resp http
+            resp=$(curl -s -w '\n%{http_code}' -X "$method" \
+              -H "Authorization: token $NIGHTLY_AUDIT_TOKEN" "$@" -- "$url")
+            http=${resp##*$'\n'}
+            printf '%s' "${resp%$'\n'*}"
+            case "$http" in
+              2*|3*) return 0 ;;
+              401|403)
+                echo "::error::Gitea returned HTTP $http for $method ${url%%\?*} — the NIGHTLY_AUDIT_TOKEN secret is missing, expired, or lacks issue read+write scope; recreate the renovate_bot PAT and update the secret." >&2
+                return 1 ;;
+              *)
+                echo "::error::Gitea returned HTTP ${http:-(none)} for $method ${url%%\?*}." >&2
+                return 1 ;;
+            esac
+          }
+
          # --- Self-test (mirrors ci.yml §Assert pattern) ---
-          # Tests the exact jq test() call used in the dedupe step, before any
-          # API call, so a broken matcher fails loudly early rather than silently
-          # opening duplicate issues. Proves the regex only — create-vs-update
-          # decision is exercised by the workflow_dispatch AC.
+          # Runs before any real API call so broken logic fails loudly early:
+          # (a) the jq title matcher used by the dedupe step — proves the regex
+          #     only; the create-vs-update decision is exercised by the
+          #     workflow_dispatch AC;
+          # (b) the api helper's HTTP-status handling, driven by a mocked curl so
+          #     it needs no network — proves a 2xx returns the body and a >=400
+          #     fails with an ::error:: instead of an opaque exit 22.
          echo "{\"title\": \"${MARKER}\"}" \
            | jq -e --arg m "$MARKER" '.title | test($m; "i")' > /dev/null \
            || { echo "FAIL: self-test — jq test() missed tracking issue title"; exit 1; }
          echo '{"title": "fix(deps): update dependency esbuild (CVE-2025-12345)"}' \
            | jq -e --arg m "$MARKER" '.title | test($m; "i") | not' > /dev/null \
            || { echo "FAIL: self-test — jq test() incorrectly matched unrelated title"; exit 1; }
+          ( curl() { printf 'OK\n200'; }; [ "$(api GET selftest)" = "OK" ] ) \
+            || { echo "FAIL: self-test — api helper dropped body on HTTP 200"; exit 1; }
+          ( curl() { printf 'nope\n401'; }
+            if api GET selftest >/dev/null 2>/tmp/api_selftest_err; then exit 1; fi
+            grep -q '::error::' /tmp/api_selftest_err ) \
+            || { echo "FAIL: self-test — api helper did not emit ::error:: on HTTP 401"; exit 1; }
          echo "Self-test passed."

          # --- Run audit ---
@@ -237,8 +272,7 @@ jobs:
            # Renovate vuln PRs also carry the "security" label, so >1 open
            # "security" issue WILL occur. Title-match (not just label) ensures
            # we deduplicate only our own tracking issue.
-            OPEN_ISSUES=$(curl -sf \
-              -H "Authorization: token $NIGHTLY_AUDIT_TOKEN" \
+            OPEN_ISSUES=$(api GET \
              "${GITEA_URL}/api/v1/repos/${REPO}/issues?state=open&type=issues&labels=security&limit=50")

            MATCHED=$(echo "$OPEN_ISSUES" | jq \
@@ -255,11 +289,10 @@ jobs:
                --arg run_url "$RUN_URL" \
                '$existing + "\n\n---\n\nUpdated by run: " + $run_url')
              PAYLOAD=$(jq -n --arg body "$NEW_BODY" '{"body": $body}')
-              curl -sf -X PATCH \
-                -H "Authorization: token $NIGHTLY_AUDIT_TOKEN" \
+              api PATCH \
+                "${GITEA_URL}/api/v1/repos/${REPO}/issues/${ISSUE_NUMBER}" \
                -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-                -d "$PAYLOAD" \
-                "${GITEA_URL}/api/v1/repos/${REPO}/issues/${ISSUE_NUMBER}" > /dev/null
+                -d "$PAYLOAD" > /dev/null
              echo "Updated tracking issue #${ISSUE_NUMBER}"
            else
              # Closed prior issue that recurs → new issue (not reopened).
@@ -268,24 +301,21 @@ jobs:
                --arg title "$MARKER" \
                --arg body "$ISSUE_BODY" \
                '{"title": $title, "body": $body}')
-              CREATED=$(curl -sf -X POST \
-                -H "Authorization: token $NIGHTLY_AUDIT_TOKEN" \
+              CREATED=$(api POST \
+                "${GITEA_URL}/api/v1/repos/${REPO}/issues" \
                -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-                -d "$PAYLOAD" \
-                "${GITEA_URL}/api/v1/repos/${REPO}/issues")
+                -d "$PAYLOAD")
              NEW_NUMBER=$(echo "$CREATED" | jq -r '.number')
              echo "Opened new tracking issue #${NEW_NUMBER}"

              # Labels are ignored on issue create in Gitea — add in a follow-up call.
-              LABEL_IDS=$(curl -sf \
-                -H "Authorization: token $NIGHTLY_AUDIT_TOKEN" \
+              LABEL_IDS=$(api GET \
                "${GITEA_URL}/api/v1/repos/${REPO}/labels?limit=50" \
                | jq '[.[] | select(.name == "security" or .name == "devops" or .name == "P1-high") | .id]')
-              curl -sf -X POST \
-                -H "Authorization: token $NIGHTLY_AUDIT_TOKEN" \
+              api POST \
+                "${GITEA_URL}/api/v1/repos/${REPO}/issues/${NEW_NUMBER}/labels" \
                -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-                -d "{\"labels\": $LABEL_IDS}" \
-                "${GITEA_URL}/api/v1/repos/${REPO}/issues/${NEW_NUMBER}/labels" > /dev/null
+                -d "{\"labels\": $LABEL_IDS}" > /dev/null
            fi

            exit "$AUDIT_EXIT"
--- a/.specify/rtm.md
+++ b/.specify/rtm.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@

 > Living document. One row per `REQ-NNN` across all in-flight and shipped features. The spec
 > itself lives in the **Gitea issue** (issue-only — there is no committed `spec.md`); this
-> matrix is the part of the spec that *is* committed: it links each requirement to its issue,
+> matrix is the part of the spec that _is_ committed: it links each requirement to its issue,
 > the code that implements it, and the test(s) that prove it — so any requirement traces end
 > to end, and any orphan (a requirement with no test) is visible on `main`.

@@ -24,30 +24,31 @@

 ## Matrix

-| REQ-ID | Requirement Summary | Issue | Feature | Implementation File(s) | Test(s) | Status |
-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
-| REQ-001 | Store avatar at `avatars/{userId}`, overwrite | #example | profile-picture-upload (_example) | `UserService` (planned) | `UserServiceAvatarTest#storesUnderUserKey`, `#replaceLeavesNoOrphan` | Planned |
-| REQ-002 | Upload self avatar → 200 + avatarUrl | #example | profile-picture-upload (_example) | `UserAvatarController`, `UserService` (planned) | `UserAvatarControllerTest#uploadReturnsAvatarUrl` | Planned |
-| REQ-003 | Delete self avatar → avatarUrl null | #example | profile-picture-upload (_example) | `UserAvatarController` (planned) | `UserAvatarControllerTest#deleteClearsAvatar` | Planned |
-| REQ-004 | No avatar → null + initials placeholder | #example | profile-picture-upload (_example) | `UserProfileView`, avatar component (planned) | `avatar-placeholder.svelte.spec.ts` | Planned |
-| REQ-005 | ADMIN_USER may delete others' avatar | #example | profile-picture-upload (_example) | `UserAvatarController` (planned) | `UserAvatarControllerTest#adminDeletesOthersAvatar` | Planned |
-| REQ-006 | Unauthenticated → 401, store nothing | #example | profile-picture-upload (_example) | `SecurityConfig`, controller (planned) | `UserAvatarControllerTest#unauthenticatedReturns401` | Planned |
-| REQ-007 | Non-image → 400 UNSUPPORTED_FILE_TYPE | #example | profile-picture-upload (_example) | `UserService` (planned) | `UserAvatarControllerTest#rejectsNonImage` | Planned |
-| REQ-008 | Over 2 MB → 400 AVATAR_TOO_LARGE | #example | profile-picture-upload (_example) | `UserService`, `ErrorCode` (planned) | `UserAvatarControllerTest#rejectsOversize` | Planned |
-| REQ-009 | Non-admin on others → 403 FORBIDDEN | #example | profile-picture-upload (_example) | `UserAvatarController` (planned) | `UserAvatarControllerTest#nonAdminForbiddenOnOthers` | Planned |
-| REQ-001 | Render dated entry via shared `formatDocumentDate` (de/en/es) | #778 | timeline-date-label | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/dateLabel.ts` | `dateLabel.spec.ts` › `renders a DAY date localized in German`, `renders a SEASON date with the German season word`, `delegates a same-year RANGE to formatDocumentDate` | Done |
-| REQ-002 | Non-UNKNOWN + non-empty date → shared label, `raw=null`, `getLocale()` | #778 | timeline-date-label | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/dateLabel.ts` | `dateLabel.spec.ts` › `renders a DAY date localized in German`, `renders a DAY date localized in English` | Done |
-| REQ-003 | `UNKNOWN` → `null` (no chip) | #778 | timeline-date-label | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/dateLabel.ts` | `dateLabel.spec.ts` › `returns null for UNKNOWN precision even with a date`, `returns null for UNKNOWN precision without a date` | Done |
-| REQ-004 | `null`/`undefined`/`''` eventDate → `null`, no formatter call | #778 | timeline-date-label | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/dateLabel.ts` | `dateLabel.spec.ts` › `returns null for APPROX with a null eventDate, without calling the formatter`, `returns null for DAY with an empty-string eventDate`, `treats undefined eventDateEnd identically to null for RANGE` | Done |
-| REQ-005 | No rendering logic outside `documentDate.ts` | #778 | timeline-date-label | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/dateLabel.ts` (façade) | `dateLabel.spec.ts` › `delegates a same-year RANGE to formatDocumentDate` (asserts byte-identical delegation) | Done |
-| REQ-006 | `timeline` in coverage `include` (80% branch gate) | #778 | timeline-date-label | `frontend/vite.config.ts` | coverage `include` now lists `src/lib/timeline/**`; covered by all `dateLabel.spec.ts` cases | Done |
+| REQ-ID  | Requirement Summary                                                    | Issue    | Feature                            | Implementation File(s)                            | Test(s)                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | Status  |
+| ------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------- | ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- |
+| REQ-001 | Store avatar at `avatars/{userId}`, overwrite                          | #example | profile-picture-upload (\_example) | `UserService` (planned)                           | `UserServiceAvatarTest#storesUnderUserKey`, `#replaceLeavesNoOrphan`                                                                                                                                                       | Planned |
+| REQ-002 | Upload self avatar → 200 + avatarUrl                                   | #example | profile-picture-upload (\_example) | `UserAvatarController`, `UserService` (planned)   | `UserAvatarControllerTest#uploadReturnsAvatarUrl`                                                                                                                                                                          | Planned |
+| REQ-003 | Delete self avatar → avatarUrl null                                    | #example | profile-picture-upload (\_example) | `UserAvatarController` (planned)                  | `UserAvatarControllerTest#deleteClearsAvatar`                                                                                                                                                                              | Planned |
+| REQ-004 | No avatar → null + initials placeholder                                | #example | profile-picture-upload (\_example) | `UserProfileView`, avatar component (planned)     | `avatar-placeholder.svelte.spec.ts`                                                                                                                                                                                        | Planned |
+| REQ-005 | ADMIN_USER may delete others' avatar                                   | #example | profile-picture-upload (\_example) | `UserAvatarController` (planned)                  | `UserAvatarControllerTest#adminDeletesOthersAvatar`                                                                                                                                                                        | Planned |
+| REQ-006 | Unauthenticated → 401, store nothing                                   | #example | profile-picture-upload (\_example) | `SecurityConfig`, controller (planned)            | `UserAvatarControllerTest#unauthenticatedReturns401`                                                                                                                                                                       | Planned |
+| REQ-007 | Non-image → 400 UNSUPPORTED_FILE_TYPE                                  | #example | profile-picture-upload (\_example) | `UserService` (planned)                           | `UserAvatarControllerTest#rejectsNonImage`                                                                                                                                                                                 | Planned |
+| REQ-008 | Over 2 MB → 400 AVATAR_TOO_LARGE                                       | #example | profile-picture-upload (\_example) | `UserService`, `ErrorCode` (planned)              | `UserAvatarControllerTest#rejectsOversize`                                                                                                                                                                                 | Planned |
+| REQ-009 | Non-admin on others → 403 FORBIDDEN                                    | #example | profile-picture-upload (\_example) | `UserAvatarController` (planned)                  | `UserAvatarControllerTest#nonAdminForbiddenOnOthers`                                                                                                                                                                       | Planned |
+| REQ-001 | Render dated entry via shared `formatDocumentDate` (de/en/es)          | #778     | timeline-date-label                | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/dateLabel.ts`          | `dateLabel.spec.ts` › `renders a DAY date localized in German`, `renders a SEASON date with the German season word`, `delegates a same-year RANGE to formatDocumentDate`                                                   | Done    |
+| REQ-002 | Non-UNKNOWN + non-empty date → shared label, `raw=null`, `getLocale()` | #778     | timeline-date-label                | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/dateLabel.ts`          | `dateLabel.spec.ts` › `renders a DAY date localized in German`, `renders a DAY date localized in English`                                                                                                                  | Done    |
+| REQ-003 | `UNKNOWN` → `null` (no chip)                                           | #778     | timeline-date-label                | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/dateLabel.ts`          | `dateLabel.spec.ts` › `returns null for UNKNOWN precision even with a date`, `returns null for UNKNOWN precision without a date`                                                                                           | Done    |
+| REQ-004 | `null`/`undefined`/`''` eventDate → `null`, no formatter call          | #778     | timeline-date-label                | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/dateLabel.ts`          | `dateLabel.spec.ts` › `returns null for APPROX with a null eventDate, without calling the formatter`, `returns null for DAY with an empty-string eventDate`, `treats undefined eventDateEnd identically to null for RANGE` | Done    |
+| REQ-005 | No rendering logic outside `documentDate.ts`                           | #778     | timeline-date-label                | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/dateLabel.ts` (façade) | `dateLabel.spec.ts` › `delegates a same-year RANGE to formatDocumentDate` (asserts byte-identical delegation)                                                                                                              | Done    |
+| REQ-006 | `timeline` in coverage `include` (80% branch gate)                     | #778     | timeline-date-label                | `frontend/vite.config.ts`                         | coverage `include` now lists `src/lib/timeline/**`; covered by all `dateLabel.spec.ts` cases                                                                                                                               | Done    |

 <!-- Append real features below this line, one row per REQ-NNN, with the real issue number. Keep the header row above. -->
+
 | REQ-001 | family-member Person with birthDate → 1 BIRTH event, precision passed through | #776 | derive-person-life-events | `timeline/TimelineEventService#buildBirthEvents` | `DerivedEventsAssemblyTest#should_emit_one_geburt_for_person_with_birthdate`, `#should_pass_birth_precision_through_unchanged` | Done |
 | REQ-002 | family-member Person with deathDate → 1 DEATH event | #776 | derive-person-life-events | `timeline/TimelineEventService#buildDeathEvents` | `DerivedEventsAssemblyTest#should_emit_one_tod_for_person_with_deathdate`, `#should_emit_one_tod_and_zero_geburt_for_person_with_deathdate_only` | Done |
 | REQ-003 | null birthDate → 0 Geburt events | #776 | derive-person-life-events | `timeline/TimelineEventService#buildBirthEvents` | `DerivedEventsAssemblyTest#should_emit_zero_tod_when_person_has_birthdate_but_no_deathdate`, `#should_emit_one_tod_and_zero_geburt_for_person_with_deathdate_only` | Done |
 | REQ-004 | null deathDate → 0 Tod events; no dates → 0 events | #776 | derive-person-life-events | `timeline/TimelineEventService#buildDeathEvents` | `DerivedEventsAssemblyTest#should_emit_no_events_for_person_with_neither_date` | Done |
-| REQ-005 | SPOUSE_OF edge with fromYear → MARRIAGE event, eventDate={fromYear}-01-01, precision=YEAR | #776 | derive-person-life-events | `timeline/TimelineEventService#buildMarriageEvents` | `DerivedEventsAssemblyTest#should_emit_one_heirat_for_spouse_edge_with_fromYear` | Done |
+| REQ-005 | SPOUSE*OF edge with fromYear → MARRIAGE event, eventDate={fromYear}-01-01, precision=YEAR | #776 | derive-person-life-events | `timeline/TimelineEventService#buildMarriageEvents` | `DerivedEventsAssemblyTest#should_emit_one_heirat_for_spouse_edge_with_fromYear` | Done |
 | REQ-006 | SPOUSE_OF edge with null fromYear → MARRIAGE emitted, eventDate=null, precision=UNKNOWN | #776 | derive-person-life-events | `timeline/TimelineEventService#buildMarriageEvents` | `DerivedEventsAssemblyTest#should_emit_unknown_precision_heirat_when_fromYear_is_null` | Done |
 | REQ-007 | exactly one MARRIAGE per SPOUSE_OF row (dedup on relationship id) | #776 | derive-person-life-events | `timeline/TimelineEventService#buildMarriageEvents` | `DerivedEventsAssemblyTest#should_emit_exactly_one_heirat_when_both_spouses_in_scope`, `#should_emit_two_heirat_for_person_married_to_two_partners` | Done |
 | REQ-008 | synthetic prefixed ids (birth:/death:/marriage:), never parseable as UUID | #776 | derive-person-life-events | `timeline/TimelineEventService#buildBirthEvents,#buildDeathEvents,#buildMarriageEvents` | `DerivedEventsAssemblyTest#should_mint_prefixed_synthetic_ids_never_uuid` | Done |
@@ -173,3 +174,45 @@
 | REQ-012 | chip renders wherever a LetterCard renders (global timeline + expanded YearLetterStrip) | #835 | zeitstrahl-tag-chips | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte` | `LetterCard.svelte.spec.ts#renders the chip inside an expanded YearLetterStrip too` | Done |
 | REQ-013 | sr-only theme label is a Paraglide key present in de/en/es | #835 | zeitstrahl-tag-chips | `frontend/messages/{de,en,es}.json` | `messages.spec.ts#zeitstrahl tag-chip label key is present in all locales` | Done |
 | REQ-014 | GET /api/timeline stays read-only (READ_ALL); no new endpoint/ErrorCode/IDOR; assembly logs UUIDs only | #835 | zeitstrahl-tag-chips | `timeline/TimelineController` (unchanged), `timeline/TimelineService` | `TimelineControllerTest#returns_200_with_read_all_permission`, `#returns_403_when_authenticated_without_read_all` (unchanged path); no tag names logged (review) | Done |
+| REQ-001 | TimelineFilters is presentation-only (3 $bindable layer booleans + onChange); no goto/url.searchParams/api.GET/fetch | #780 | timeline-layer-filter | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineFilters.svelte` | `TimelineFilters.svelte.spec.ts#renders the three layer toggles with accessible names`, `#reflects a layer as pressed and flips it, firing onChange`; `timelineFilterBoundary.spec.ts` | Done |
+| REQ-002 | route derives a client-side $derived filtered view, passes it to TimelineView; no goto/fetch on toggle | #780 | timeline-layer-filter | `frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineFilter.ts#filterTimeline` | `page.svelte.spec.ts#hides letter cards when the Letters layer is off ... with no fetch`; `timelineFilterBoundary.spec.ts` | Done |
+| REQ-003 | Personal off → personal events (curated + derived life-events) hidden client-side | #780 | timeline-layer-filter | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineFilter.ts#filterTimeline` | `timelineFilter.spec.ts#hides personal events — curated and derived`, `page.svelte.spec.ts#hides personal event cards` | Done |
+| REQ-004 | Historical off → historical event entries hidden client-side | #780 | timeline-layer-filter | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineFilter.ts#filterTimeline` | `timelineFilter.spec.ts#hides HISTORICAL events`, `page.svelte.spec.ts#hides historical event cards` | Done |
+| REQ-005 | Letters off → letter entries hidden client-side | #780 | timeline-layer-filter | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineFilter.ts#filterTimeline` | `timelineFilter.spec.ts#hides LETTER entries`, `page.svelte.spec.ts#hides letter cards` | Done |
+| REQ-006 | zero visible → filter empty-state + one-click reset below the open bar (never blank, never generic empty) | #780 | timeline-layer-filter | `frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineFilter.ts#filterTimeline` | `page.svelte.spec.ts#shows the filtered-empty message + reset below the open bar`, `timelineFilter.spec.ts#drops year bands that become empty` | Done |
+| REQ-007 | sticky "Filter (N aktiv)" trigger; N from isDefaultState/hiddenLayerCount; 44px target | #780 | timeline-layer-filter | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineFilter.ts`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineFilters.svelte` | `timelineFilter.spec.ts#isDefaultState`, `#hiddenLayerCount`; `TimelineFilters.svelte.spec.ts#shows a plain trigger ... and a count`, `#gives the trigger a 44px touch target` | Done |
+| REQ-008 | reset text button restores all layers on; visibility tracks a $derived any-layer-off flag | #780 | timeline-layer-filter | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineFilters.svelte` | `TimelineFilters.svelte.spec.ts#hides the reset button by default and restores all layers when activated` | Done |
+| REQ-009 | prefers-reduced-motion → slide duration 0 (matchMedia guard reused from documents/[id]/+page.svelte:57) | #780 | timeline-layer-filter | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineFilters.svelte` | manual reduced-motion check + svelte-autofixer/code review (guard reused, only the slide `duration` zeroed) | Done |
+| REQ-010 | 8 timeline_filter*_ keys in de/en/es; trigger vs trigger*active({count}) distinct | #780 | timeline-layer-filter | `frontend/messages/{de,en,es}.json` | `messages.spec.ts#zeitstrahl layer-filter keys are present in all locales (#780 REQ-010)` | Done |
+| REQ-001 | WRITE_ALL viewer → "Ereignis hinzufügen" link to /zeitstrahl/events/new in the wrapping Zeitstrahl header | #842 | timeline-curator-affordances | `frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte`, `frontend/messages/{de,en,es}.json` | `zeitstrahl/page.svelte.spec.ts#renders the add-event CTA in a wrapping header when the viewer can write` | Done |
+| REQ-002 | viewer without WRITE_ALL → no add-event affordance on /zeitstrahl | #842 | timeline-curator-affordances | `frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte` | `zeitstrahl/page.svelte.spec.ts#renders no add-event CTA when the viewer cannot write` | Done |
+| REQ-003 | WRITE_ALL viewer → person-page "Ereignis für diese Person" link to /zeitstrahl/events/new?personId={id} | #842 | timeline-curator-affordances | `frontend/src/routes/persons/[id]/PersonCard.svelte`, `frontend/messages/{de,en,es}.json` | `PersonCard.svelte.spec.ts#shows an add-event link pre-seeded with the person to a curator` | Done |
+| REQ-004 | viewer without WRITE_ALL → no add-event affordance on /persons/{id} | #842 | timeline-curator-affordances | `frontend/src/routes/persons/[id]/PersonCard.svelte` | `PersonCard.svelte.spec.ts#renders no add-event link to a reader` | Done |
+| REQ-005 | WRITE_ALL → EventPill edit link /zeitstrahl/events/{eventId}/edit for a curated PERSONAL event | #842 | timeline-curator-affordances | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/EventPill.svelte` | `EventPill.svelte.spec.ts#shows an edit affordance for a curated PERSONAL event when canWrite is true` | Done |
+| REQ-006 | WRITE_ALL → WorldBand edit link /zeitstrahl/events/{eventId}/edit for a curated HISTORICAL event (new inline ✎) | #842 | timeline-curator-affordances | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/WorldBand.svelte` | `WorldBand.svelte.spec.ts#shows an edit affordance for a curated HISTORICAL event when canWrite is true`, `#mirrors the EventPill pencil` | Done |
+| REQ-007 | viewer without WRITE_ALL → neither EventPill nor WorldBand renders an edit link | #842 | timeline-curator-affordances | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/EventPill.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/WorldBand.svelte` | `EventPill.svelte.spec.ts#renders no edit affordance for a curated PERSONAL event when canWrite is false`, `WorldBand.svelte.spec.ts#renders no edit affordance for a curated HISTORICAL event when canWrite is false`, `TimelineView.svelte.spec.ts#renders no edit links in either path when canWrite is false` | Done |
+| REQ-008 | derived OR null eventId → no edit link regardless of permission (contract preserved) | #842 | timeline-curator-affordances | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/EventPill.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/WorldBand.svelte` | `EventPill.svelte.spec.ts#shows no edit affordance when eventId is null even with canWrite`, `#shows no edit affordance for a derived event even with canWrite`, `WorldBand.svelte.spec.ts#shows no edit affordance when eventId is null even with canWrite` | Done |
+| REQ-009 | TimelineView threads canWrite through the year-band path and the undated bucket (identical gate) | #842 | timeline-curator-affordances | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineView.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte` | `TimelineView.svelte.spec.ts#threads canWrite to a curated event in both a year band and the undated bucket`, `#threads canWrite to a curated HISTORICAL world band in both paths` | Done |
+| REQ-010 | person add-event opens #781 create form prefilled with the person, returns to /persons/{id} on save | #842 | timeline-curator-affordances | `frontend/src/routes/persons/[id]/PersonCard.svelte`, `frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/events/new/+page.server.ts` (#781) | `PersonCard.svelte.spec.ts#shows an add-event link pre-seeded with the person to a curator` (URL), `zeitstrahl/events/new/page.server.spec.ts#redirects to /persons/{id} when originPersonId is a valid UUID` (#781) | Done |
+| REQ-011 | non-curator direct nav to /zeitstrahl/events/new or /{id}/edit → 403 (existing #781 route guard, regression) | #842 | timeline-curator-affordances | `frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/events/new/+page.server.ts`, `frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/events/[id]/edit/+page.server.ts` (#781, unchanged — both share `requireWriteAll`) | `zeitstrahl/events/new/page.server.spec.ts#throws 403 for an authenticated user without WRITE_ALL`, `zeitstrahl/events/[id]/edit/page.server.spec.ts#throws 403 for a user without WRITE_ALL` | Done |
+| REQ-001 | axis-fixed layers (life-events, pills, world-bands) render identically across all 3 modes; only loose letters re-bundle | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineView.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte` | `grouping-event-layer-identity.svelte.spec.ts#renders the event pills and world-bands identically across all three grouping modes`, `YearBand.svelte.spec.ts#still renders the event world-band in Ereignis mode` | Done |
+| REQ-002 | mode switch re-bundles loose letters over the layer-filtered view, no GET /api/timeline refetch | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineView.svelte` | `zeitstrahl/page.svelte.spec.ts#regroups loose letters under their event client-side`, `e2e/zeitstrahl-grouping.spec.ts#switching grouping modes issues no extra timeline fetch` | Done |
+| REQ-003 | Ereignis clusters each loose letter under the curated event whose documents contain it | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts#bucketLetters`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte` | `timelineGrouping.spec.ts#clusters letters under the curated event named by linkedEventId`, `YearBand.svelte.spec.ts#clusters loose letters under their linked event in Ereignis mode` | Done |
+| REQ-004 | Thema buckets each loose letter per year under its primary root tag (rootTagId) | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts#bucketLetters`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte` | `timelineGrouping.spec.ts#buckets letters under their primary root tag with name and colour`, `YearBand.svelte.spec.ts#buckets loose letters under their root tag in Thema mode` | Done |
+| REQ-005 | TimelineEntryDTO carries nullable linkedEventId, resolved in one batched membership pass | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `backend/.../timeline/TimelineEntryDTO.java`, `backend/.../timeline/TimelineService.java#resolveLetterEventLinks`, `frontend/src/lib/generated/api.ts` | `TimelineServiceTest#letter_in_a_curated_events_documents_carries_that_events_id` | Done |
+| REQ-005b | linkedEventId is nullable / not @Schema REQUIRED; null for non-letter entries | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `backend/.../timeline/TimelineEntryDTO.java`, `frontend/src/lib/generated/api.ts` (`linkedEventId?`) | `TimelineServiceTest#letter_in_no_curated_event_has_null_linkedEventId` | Done |
+| REQ-006 | Ereignis: letter with null linkedEventId → per-year "Weitere Briefe" bucket | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte` | `timelineGrouping.spec.ts#drops a letter with no linkedEventId into the fallback bucket`, `LetterBucket.svelte.spec.ts#uses the localized "Weitere Briefe" label` | Done |
+| REQ-007 | Thema: untagged letter → per-year "Ohne Thema" bucket | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte` | `timelineGrouping.spec.ts#drops an untagged letter into the "Ohne Thema" fallback bucket`, `LetterBucket.svelte.spec.ts#uses the localized "Ohne Thema" label` | Done |
+| REQ-008 | multi-tagged letter appears under exactly one root tag, never duplicated | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts` | `timelineGrouping.spec.ts#places a letter in exactly one bucket` | Done |
+| REQ-009 | tag names + hint render via `{...}` escaping; grep gate forbids `{@html}` in lib/timeline | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/BucketHeaderChip.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/TagChip.svelte` | `BucketHeaderChip.svelte.spec.ts#renders an HTML-bearing name as inert text`, `timeline-no-raw-html.spec.ts#no timeline component contains the raw-HTML directive` | Done |
+| REQ-010 | grouping control is a keyboard-navigable role=radiogroup, ≥44px text segments, default Datum, dark-mode contrast | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/GroupingControl.svelte` | `GroupingControl.svelte.spec.ts#renders three radios inside a radiogroup`, `#moves the selection forward with the right arrow key`, `#each segment has a tap target of at least 44×44px`, `#defaults to Datum`; `e2e/zeitstrahl-grouping.spec.ts#no wcag2a/wcag2aa violations ... (light + dark)` | Done |
+| REQ-011 | ≤320px: control overflow-free + tap ≥44px, each abbreviation carries its full word as aria-label | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/GroupingControl.svelte` | `GroupingControl.svelte.spec.ts#exposes each segment full word as an aria-label`, `e2e/zeitstrahl-grouping.spec.ts#the control stays overflow-free and operable at 320px` | Done |
+| REQ-012 | new grouping/bucket Paraglide keys in de/en/es; no collision with existing timeline*_ keys | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/messages/{de,en,es}.json` | `messages.spec.ts#zeitstrahl grouping + bucket keys are present in all locales (#827 REQ-012)`, `messages.spec.ts#de, en, and es have identical key sets` | Done |
+| REQ-013 | failed timeline fetch → existing localized error via getErrorMessage; grouping has no independent failure mode | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/+page.server.ts` (#779, unchanged) | `zeitstrahl/page.server` error path (#779 — getErrorMessage(extractErrorCode)) | Done |
+| REQ-014 | Ereignis event-clustered letter renders as the `.lcard.ev` variant, **nested directly under its event pill** with no duplicate title (redesign #847) | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte` | `LetterCard.svelte.spec.ts#carries the .lcard.ev class in the event variant`, `LetterBucket.svelte.spec.ts#renders its letters as .lcard.ev event cards`, `YearBand.svelte.spec.ts#nests an event cluster under its pill in the same year without repeating the title` | Done |
+| REQ-015 | Thema bucket-header chip tinted via rootTagColor `var(--c-tag-*)`, neutral fallback when null/unknown; **label kept in a fixed ink for ≥4.5:1 contrast** (redesign #847) | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/BucketHeaderChip.svelte` | `BucketHeaderChip.svelte.spec.ts#tints the chip with var(--c-tag-{token})`, `#renders a neutral chip with no --c-tag- binding when colour is null`, `#falls back to neutral for an unknown colour token`, `#paints the label in a fixed ink colour, never the saturated tag token` | Done |
+| REQ-016 | header meta-line grouping segment tracks the active mode (date/event/thema keys) | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte` | `zeitstrahl/page.svelte.spec.ts#updates the meta-line grouping label when a mode is chosen` | Done |
+| REQ-017 | Thema: per-letter TagChip suppressed inside its own bucket; still shown in Datum/Ereignis | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte` | `LetterCard.svelte.spec.ts#suppresses the per-letter tag chip when asked`, `#still shows the per-letter tag chip when not suppressed`, `LetterBucket.svelte.spec.ts#suppresses the per-letter tag chip inside its own root-tag bucket` | Done |
+| REQ-018 | Letters layer off → grouping control disabled (kept in place), mode retained | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/GroupingControl.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts#hasLooseLetters` | `zeitstrahl/page.svelte.spec.ts#disables the grouping control when the Letters layer is off`, `GroupingControl.svelte.spec.ts#retains the active mode while disabled`, `timelineGrouping.spec.ts#hasLooseLetters` | Done |
+| REQ-019 | Ereignis: letter whose only linking event was filtered off → "Weitere Briefe" (never re-introduced) | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts#buildEventLookup`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineView.svelte` | `timelineGrouping.spec.ts#drops a letter whose linked event is absent from the lookup into fallback` | Done |
+| REQ-020 | Grouped buckets are bound by a colour rail and carry compact cards; a bucket over `BUCKET_DENSE_THRESHOLD` (6) collapses to the month-density `YearLetterStrip` instead of flooding the timeline (redesign #847) | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts#isBucketDense`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte` | `LetterBucket.svelte.spec.ts#collapses an oversized bucket to the density strip instead of flooding cards`, `#binds a tag bucket together with a coloured left rail from its token`, `#renders compact cards for a small bucket`, `LetterCard.svelte.spec.ts#renders the compact variant on a single tighter row` | Done |
--- a/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineEntryDTO.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineEntryDTO.java
@@ -28,6 +28,13 @@ import java.util.UUID;
 * They are deliberately NOT {@code @Schema(requiredMode = REQUIRED)} so the generated TypeScript
 * types stay optional.
 *
+ * <p><b>Letter→event link ({@code linkedEventId}):</b> for a {@link Kind#LETTER} entry, the id of
+ * the curated {@link TimelineEvent} whose {@code documents} set contains the letter's document, or
+ * {@code null} when the letter is referenced by no curated event (#827). Computed on read from the
+ * existing {@code timeline_event_documents} join — no new column. {@code null} for non-letter
+ * entries. Deliberately NOT {@code @Schema(requiredMode = REQUIRED)} so the generated TypeScript
+ * type stays optional.
+ *
 * <p>Callers of {@code TimelineEventService.assembleDerivedEvents()} must independently enforce
 * {@code READ_ALL} authorization before invoking that method (see ADR-043).
 */
@@ -47,6 +54,7 @@ public record TimelineEntryDTO(
        DerivedEventType derivedType,
        UUID rootTagId,
        String rootTagName,
-        String rootTagColor
+        String rootTagColor,
+        UUID linkedEventId
 ) {
 }
--- a/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineEventService.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineEventService.java
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ public class TimelineEventService {
                        p.getBirthDate(), null,
                        p.getDisplayName(), EventType.PERSONAL,
                        null, null, List.of(p.getId()), DerivedEventType.BIRTH,
-                        null, null, null))
+                        null, null, null, null))
                .toList();
    }

@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ public class TimelineEventService {
                        p.getDeathDate(), null,
                        p.getDisplayName(), EventType.PERSONAL,
                        null, null, List.of(p.getId()), DerivedEventType.DEATH,
-                        null, null, null))
+                        null, null, null, null))
                .toList();
    }

@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ public class TimelineEventService {
                        null, null,
                        List.of(r.getPerson().getId(), r.getRelatedPerson().getId()),
                        DerivedEventType.MARRIAGE,
-                        null, null, null));
+                        null, null, null, null));
            }
        }
        return result;
--- a/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineService.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineService.java
@@ -80,9 +80,14 @@ public class TimelineService {
        // Resolve generation person IDs once — used across all three layers
        Set<UUID> genPersonIds = resolveGenerationPersonIds(filter.generation());

+        // Fetch curated events once — reused for both the event entries below and the
+        // batched letter→event link resolution (resolveLetterEventLinks), so the
+        // membership pass costs no extra query. REQ-005.
+        List<TimelineEvent> allEvents = eventRepository.findAll();
+
        // ── curated events ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
        List<TimelineEntryDTO> entries = new ArrayList<>();
-        for (TimelineEvent ev : eventRepository.findAll()) {
+        for (TimelineEvent ev : allEvents) {
            if (!passesTypeFilter(ev.getType(), filter.type())) continue;
            if (!passesPersonFilter(ev.getPersons(), filter.personId())) continue;
            if (!passesGenerationFilter(ev.getPersons(), genPersonIds)) continue;
@@ -107,8 +112,9 @@ public class TimelineService {
            letters.add(doc);
        }
        Map<UUID, RootTag> rootByDocId = resolveLetterRootTags(letters);
+        Map<UUID, UUID> eventByDocId = resolveLetterEventLinks(letters, allEvents);
        for (Document doc : letters) {
-            entries.add(mapDocument(doc, rootByDocId));
+            entries.add(mapDocument(doc, rootByDocId, eventByDocId));
        }

        return bucket(entries);
@@ -229,11 +235,13 @@ public class TimelineService {
                null,
                null,
                null,
+                null,
                null
        );
    }

-    private TimelineEntryDTO mapDocument(Document doc, Map<UUID, RootTag> rootByDocId) {
+    private TimelineEntryDTO mapDocument(Document doc, Map<UUID, RootTag> rootByDocId,
+                                         Map<UUID, UUID> eventByDocId) {
        RootTag root = rootByDocId.get(doc.getId());
        return new TimelineEntryDTO(
                Kind.LETTER,
@@ -251,10 +259,38 @@ public class TimelineService {
                null,
                root == null ? null : root.id(),
                root == null ? null : root.name(),
-                root == null ? null : root.color()
+                root == null ? null : root.color(),
+                eventByDocId.get(doc.getId())
        );
    }

+    /**
+     * Resolves each letter's linked curated event in one batched pass, keyed by document id: the
+     * event whose {@code documents} set contains the letter (REQ-005). A single doc→event map is
+     * built over the already-loaded events — no per-letter query ({@code TimelineEvent.documents}
+     * carries {@code @BatchSize(50)}). When a document is referenced by more than one curated
+     * event, the first by repository iteration order wins ({@code putIfAbsent}). The map is built
+     * from <em>all</em> events (not just the year/type-filtered ones) so the link is a stable
+     * property of the data; the frontend's filter-then-group decides whether the linked event is
+     * actually on screen (#827). Logs nothing — the assembly path keeps UUIDs out of logs (§2.7).
+     */
+    private Map<UUID, UUID> resolveLetterEventLinks(List<Document> letters, List<TimelineEvent> events) {
+        Set<UUID> letterDocIds = letters.stream().map(Document::getId).collect(Collectors.toSet());
+        if (letterDocIds.isEmpty()) return Map.of();
+
+        Map<UUID, UUID> eventByDocId = new HashMap<>();
+        for (TimelineEvent ev : events) {
+            Set<Document> linkedDocs = ev.getDocuments();
+            if (linkedDocs == null) continue;
+            for (Document linked : linkedDocs) {
+                if (letterDocIds.contains(linked.getId())) {
+                    eventByDocId.putIfAbsent(linked.getId(), ev.getId());
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        return eventByDocId;
+    }
+
    /**
     * Resolves each letter's primary root tag in one batched pass, keyed by document id — no
     * per-letter N+1: each letter contributes only its alphabetically-first assigned tag (#835),
--- a/backend/src/test/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineServiceTest.java
+++ b/backend/src/test/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineServiceTest.java
@@ -69,10 +69,10 @@ class TimelineServiceTest {
        UUID id2 = UUID.fromString("00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000002");
        var e1 = new TimelineEntryDTO(Kind.LETTER, DatePrecision.DAY, false, "", "",
                LocalDate.of(1914, 7, 28), null, "Same Title", null, null, id1, List.of(), null,
-                null, null, null);
+                null, null, null, null);
        var e2 = new TimelineEntryDTO(Kind.LETTER, DatePrecision.DAY, false, "", "",
                LocalDate.of(1914, 7, 28), null, "Same Title", null, null, id2, List.of(), null,
-                null, null, null);
+                null, null, null, null);

        var sorted = List.of(e2, e1).stream()
                .sorted(TimelineService.WITHIN_BAND_ORDER)
@@ -511,6 +511,44 @@ class TimelineServiceTest {
        verify(tagService, times(1)).resolveRootTags(anyList());
    }

+    // ─── letter→event link (#827, REQ-005/006) ───────────────────────────────
+
+    @Test
+    void letter_in_a_curated_events_documents_carries_that_events_id() {
+        // REQ-005: linkedEventId = the curated event whose documents set contains the letter.
+        Document letterDoc = docWithDate(LocalDate.of(1915, 5, 1), DatePrecision.MONTH);
+        UUID eventId = UUID.randomUUID();
+        TimelineEvent event = TimelineEvent.builder().id(eventId)
+                .title("Briefe von der Front").type(EventType.PERSONAL)
+                .documents(new HashSet<>(Set.of(letterDoc)))
+                .build(); // no eventDate → event lands undated, leaving the year band to the letter
+        when(eventRepository.findAll()).thenReturn(List.of(event));
+        when(timelineEventService.assembleDerivedEvents()).thenReturn(List.of());
+        when(documentService.getAllForTimeline()).thenReturn(List.of(letterDoc));
+
+        TimelineEntryDTO entry = onlyLetterEntry(timelineService.assemble(noFilters()));
+
+        assertThat(entry.linkedEventId()).isEqualTo(eventId);
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void letter_in_no_curated_event_has_null_linkedEventId() {
+        // REQ-006: a letter referenced by no curated event → linkedEventId null (frontend falls
+        // back to the per-year "Weitere Briefe" bucket).
+        Document letterDoc = docWithDate(LocalDate.of(1915, 5, 1), DatePrecision.MONTH);
+        TimelineEvent event = TimelineEvent.builder().id(UUID.randomUUID())
+                .title("Anderes Ereignis").type(EventType.PERSONAL)
+                .documents(new HashSet<>(Set.of(Document.builder().id(UUID.randomUUID()).build())))
+                .build();
+        when(eventRepository.findAll()).thenReturn(List.of(event));
+        when(timelineEventService.assembleDerivedEvents()).thenReturn(List.of());
+        when(documentService.getAllForTimeline()).thenReturn(List.of(letterDoc));
+
+        TimelineEntryDTO entry = onlyLetterEntry(timelineService.assemble(noFilters()));
+
+        assertThat(entry.linkedEventId()).isNull();
+    }
+
    private static TimelineEntryDTO onlyLetterEntry(TimelineDTO result) {
        assertThat(result.years()).hasSize(1);
        return result.years().get(0).entries().get(0);
@@ -523,7 +561,7 @@ class TimelineServiceTest {
    private static TimelineEntryDTO letter(LocalDate date, DatePrecision precision, String title) {
        return new TimelineEntryDTO(Kind.LETTER, precision, false, "", "",
                date, null, title, null, null, UUID.randomUUID(), List.of(), null,
-                null, null, null);
+                null, null, null, null);
    }

    private static Document docWithDate(LocalDate date, DatePrecision precision) {
--- a/docs/adr/045-timeline-client-side-regroup.md
+++ b/docs/adr/045-timeline-client-side-regroup.md
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+# ADR-045 — The /zeitstrahl Ereignis/Thema regroup is client-side, over a computed letter→event link
+
+**Status:** Accepted
+**Date:** 2026-06-15
+**Issue:** #827 (Zeitstrahl milestone; deferred follow-up to #779, builds on #835/PR #838 and #780)
+
+## Context
+
+#779 shipped `/zeitstrahl` in **Datum** mode only and deferred the Concept-A
+**Datum · Ereignis · Thema** segmented control, because the other two modes need data the
+`TimelineEntryDTO` did not carry: a letter's curated-event association (Ereignis) and a letter's
+primary root tag + colour (Thema). #835 (merged in PR #838) added the Thema fields
+(`rootTagId`/`rootTagName`/`rootTagColor`) and the batched `TimelineService → TagService`
+resolver. Meanwhile #780 added the **layer filter** — `/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte` owns
+`personalOn`/`historicalOn`/`lettersOn` `$state` and renders `TimelineView` over a client-side
+`filterTimeline(data.timeline, …)` view.
+
+This ADR records the three forks specific to **#827** (the Thema enrichment + the
+`TimelineService → TagService` edge are #835's scope, not this one).
+
+## Decisions
+
+### 1. Grouping is a client-side presentation transform — no `grouping=` query param
+
+`GET /api/timeline` already returns the whole timeline in one payload. Regrouping the loose
+letters is an in-memory transform in `lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts` (`bucketLetters`,
+`buildEventLookup`, `hasLooseLetters`), driven by a `groupingMode` `$state` in `+page.svelte`.
+A server-side `grouping=DATE|EVENT|TOPIC` parameter was rejected: it would add lasting API
+surface and a bucket query for zero benefit on an already-loaded payload, and switching modes
+must issue **zero** extra fetches (REQ-002). The blast radius stays inside the read view.
+
+### 2. The letter→event link is computed, reusing `timeline_event_documents` — no new column
+
+A letter clusters under a curated event iff that event's `documents` set (ADR-040;
+`@ManyToMany @BatchSize(50)` over join table `timeline_event_documents`) contains the letter's
+document. `TimelineService.assemble` resolves this in **one batched membership pass** —
+`resolveLetterEventLinks` builds a single `docId → eventId` map over the already-loaded events
+(no per-letter query), reusing the same `eventRepository.findAll()` it already iterates for the
+event entries. The result is exposed as one nullable DTO field, `linkedEventId`. A new persisted
+FK on the document/letter row was rejected: it duplicates an existing capability and opens a
+mutating write path + Flyway migration for no gain. **No new column, no migration, no new
+cross-domain edge** (the field derives from data `TimelineService` already loads). `linkedEventId`
+is deliberately **not** `@Schema(requiredMode = REQUIRED)` — it is null for non-letter entries and
+for letters under no curated event — so the generated TypeScript type stays optional.
+
+### 3. Grouping composes with the #780 layer filter as **filter-then-group**
+
+The pipeline is `data.timeline → filterTimeline() (#780) → groupingMode transform → TimelineView`.
+The grouping `$state` lives in `+page.svelte` beside the filter `$state`, and the regroup runs over
+the layer-**filtered** view, never the raw `data.timeline`. Grouping the raw timeline and filtering
+afterward was rejected: the counts and buckets would disagree with the layer toggles, re-opening
+the #780 count-mismatch the page already closed. Two consequences fall out of filter-then-group:
+
+- **Letters layer off → the grouping control disables, kept in place (REQ-018).** With no loose
+  letters in the filtered view there is nothing to regroup; the control renders `aria-disabled`
+  (no header reflow), keeps its selected mode, and announces a screen-reader reason.
+- **A letter whose only linking event was filtered out falls back to "Weitere Briefe" (REQ-019).**
+  `buildEventLookup` is built from the events present in the _filtered_ view, so Ereignis clusters
+  only under events that survived the filter; everything else lands in the per-year fallback bucket.
+
+The control is a `role="radiogroup"` (single-select), deliberately distinct from #780's
+`aria-pressed` toggle filter, stacked above the filter trigger so the two read as one control
+cluster — the top-right corner stays the #842 add-event CTA.
+
+## Consequences
+
+- One nullable field (`linkedEventId`) is added to `TimelineEntryDTO` (17 components); the
+  regenerated `frontend/src/lib/generated/api.ts` is committed in the same PR. No table, column,
+  Flyway migration, endpoint, `ErrorCode`, or `Permission` changes.
+- The regroup is pure and fully unit-tested independently of the components; `TimelineView`/
+  `YearBand` render the axis-fixed event layer identically across all three modes (REQ-001) and
+  only swap the loose-letter rendering for per-year `LetterBucket`s off Datum.
+- The new Thema bucket-header chip (`BucketHeaderChip`) is a filled variant tinted from
+  `rootTagColor`; the shipped neutral per-letter `TagChip` (#838) is reused as-is and suppressed
+  inside its own bucket (REQ-017). All `lib/timeline` components keep the `{...}`-escaping
+  guarantee — a grep gate forbids `{@html}` (REQ-009).
+- Read-only feature: no new authn/authz surface beyond the existing `READ_ALL` on
+  `GET /api/timeline`.
--- a/frontend/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/frontend/CLAUDE.md
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ src/
 │   │   ├── relationship/ # Relationship form + chip components
 │   │   └── genealogy/   # Stammbaum (family tree) components
 │   ├── tag/             # Tag domain: TagInput, TagChipList, TagParentPicker
-│   ├── timeline/        # Timeline (Zeitstrahl) domain: TimelineView, YearBand, EventPill, WorldBand, LetterCard, YearLetterStrip, GapSpan; dateLabel + timelineDensity + eventCardConfig (imports $lib/shared only, never document/)
+│   ├── timeline/        # Timeline (Zeitstrahl) domain: TimelineView, YearBand, EventPill, WorldBand, LetterCard, LetterBucket, BucketHeaderChip, GroupingControl, TagChip, YearLetterStrip, GapSpan; dateLabel + timelineDensity + timelineFilter + timelineGrouping + eventCardConfig (imports $lib/shared only, never document/)
 │   ├── geschichte/      # Geschichte (story) domain: editor + card
 │   ├── notification/    # Notification bell + dropdown + store
 │   ├── activity/        # Activity feed (Chronik) components
--- a/frontend/e2e/zeitstrahl-filter.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/e2e/zeitstrahl-filter.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+import AxeBuilder from '@axe-core/playwright';
+import { test, expect, type APIRequestContext } from '@playwright/test';
+
+/**
+ * Global /zeitstrahl layer filter (#780). Runs against the real stack with the
+ * seeded admin session (auth.setup). Covers the primary journey (hide the
+ * Letters layer → letter cards vanish + the trigger reports one active filter →
+ * reset restores everything) and a 375px axe pass with the collapsible open in
+ * both light and dark mode.
+ *
+ * #779 (the /zeitstrahl route) is merged, so this spec is NOT skipped. Per
+ * e2e/CLAUDE.md, E2E is not yet wired into CI — this axe gate runs locally only
+ * for now.
+ */
+
+const stamp = () => new Date().toISOString().replace(/[^0-9]/g, '');
+
+async function createPerson(request: APIRequestContext, firstName: string, lastName: string) {
+	const res = await request.post('/api/persons', {
+		data: { personType: 'PERSON', firstName, lastName }
+	});
+	if (!res.ok()) throw new Error(`create person failed: ${res.status()}`);
+	return (await res.json()).id as string;
+}
+
+/** Seeds one dated letter so the timeline has content (and a LetterCard to hide). */
+async function seedDatedLetter(request: APIRequestContext, isoDate: string, title: string) {
+	const senderId = await createPerson(request, 'Filter-Test', `Absender ${stamp()}`);
+	const receiverId = await createPerson(request, 'Filter-Test', `Empfaenger ${stamp()}`);
+
+	const createRes = await request.post('/api/documents', { multipart: { title } });
+	if (!createRes.ok()) throw new Error(`create document failed: ${createRes.status()}`);
+	const docId = (await createRes.json()).id as string;
+
+	const put = await request.put(`/api/documents/${docId}`, {
+		multipart: {
+			title,
+			documentDate: isoDate,
+			metaDatePrecision: 'DAY',
+			senderId,
+			receiverIds: receiverId
+		}
+	});
+	if (!put.ok()) throw new Error(`update document failed: ${put.status()}`);
+}
+
+test.describe('Zeitstrahl — layer filter (#780)', () => {
+	test('hiding the Letters layer removes letter cards and reports the active count; reset restores', async ({
+		page,
+		request
+	}) => {
+		// A sparse year keeps the seeded letter an individual card (not a dense strip).
+		const title = `E2E Filter Brief ${stamp()}`;
+		await seedDatedLetter(request, '1903-03-03', title);
+
+		await page.goto('/zeitstrahl');
+		await page.waitForSelector('[data-hydrated]');
+		await expect(page.getByText(title)).toBeVisible();
+
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-trigger').click();
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-letters').click();
+
+		await expect(page.getByText(title)).toHaveCount(0);
+		await expect(page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-trigger')).toContainText('1 aktiv');
+
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-reset').click();
+		await expect(page.getByText(title)).toBeVisible();
+	});
+
+	test('no wcag2a/wcag2aa violations at 375px with the filter bar open (light + dark)', async ({
+		page,
+		request
+	}) => {
+		await seedDatedLetter(request, '1915-06-15', `E2E Filter A11y ${stamp()}`);
+
+		await page.setViewportSize({ width: 375, height: 800 });
+		await page.goto('/zeitstrahl');
+		await page.waitForSelector('[data-hydrated]');
+
+		// Open the collapsible so axe scans the toggles, not just the trigger.
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-trigger').click();
+		await expect(page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-personal')).toBeVisible();
+
+		const scan = () => new AxeBuilder({ page }).withTags(['wcag2a', 'wcag2aa']).analyze();
+
+		const light = await scan();
+		expect(light.violations, JSON.stringify(light.violations, null, 2)).toEqual([]);
+
+		await page.evaluate(() => document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-theme', 'dark'));
+		const dark = await scan();
+		expect(dark.violations, JSON.stringify(dark.violations, null, 2)).toEqual([]);
+	});
+});
--- a/frontend/e2e/zeitstrahl-grouping.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/e2e/zeitstrahl-grouping.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+import AxeBuilder from '@axe-core/playwright';
+import { test, expect, type APIRequestContext } from '@playwright/test';
+
+/**
+ * Global /zeitstrahl grouping toggle (#827). Runs against the real stack with the seeded admin
+ * session (auth.setup). Covers REQ-002 (switching modes issues zero extra GET /api/timeline
+ * requests — the regroup is client-side), REQ-011 (the control stays usable and overflow-free at
+ * 320px with full-word aria-labels and ≥44px tap targets), and REQ-010g (a 320px axe pass over
+ * the control in both light and dark mode).
+ *
+ * Per e2e/CLAUDE.md, E2E is not yet wired into CI — this gate runs locally for now, like the
+ * #780 layer-filter spec it mirrors.
+ */
+
+const stamp = () => new Date().toISOString().replace(/[^0-9]/g, '');
+
+async function createPerson(request: APIRequestContext, firstName: string, lastName: string) {
+	const res = await request.post('/api/persons', {
+		data: { personType: 'PERSON', firstName, lastName }
+	});
+	if (!res.ok()) throw new Error(`create person failed: ${res.status()}`);
+	return (await res.json()).id as string;
+}
+
+/** Seeds one dated letter so the timeline has a loose letter and the grouping control is enabled. */
+async function seedDatedLetter(request: APIRequestContext, isoDate: string, title: string) {
+	const senderId = await createPerson(request, 'Group-Test', `Absender ${stamp()}`);
+	const receiverId = await createPerson(request, 'Group-Test', `Empfaenger ${stamp()}`);
+
+	const createRes = await request.post('/api/documents', { multipart: { title } });
+	if (!createRes.ok()) throw new Error(`create document failed: ${createRes.status()}`);
+	const docId = (await createRes.json()).id as string;
+
+	const put = await request.put(`/api/documents/${docId}`, {
+		multipart: {
+			title,
+			documentDate: isoDate,
+			metaDatePrecision: 'DAY',
+			senderId,
+			receiverIds: receiverId
+		}
+	});
+	if (!put.ok()) throw new Error(`update document failed: ${put.status()}`);
+}
+
+test.describe('Zeitstrahl — grouping toggle (#827)', () => {
+	test('switching grouping modes issues no extra timeline fetch (REQ-002)', async ({
+		page,
+		request
+	}) => {
+		await seedDatedLetter(request, '1909-05-05', `E2E Group Brief ${stamp()}`);
+
+		let timelineRequests = 0;
+		page.on('request', (req) => {
+			if (req.url().includes('/api/timeline')) timelineRequests++;
+		});
+
+		await page.goto('/zeitstrahl');
+		await page.waitForSelector('[data-hydrated]');
+		await expect(page.getByTestId('grouping-control')).toBeVisible();
+
+		const afterLoad = timelineRequests;
+		await page.locator('[data-value="event"]').click();
+		await page.locator('[data-value="thema"]').click();
+		await page.locator('[data-value="date"]').click();
+
+		// the regroup is a pure client-side transform — not one more GET /api/timeline
+		expect(timelineRequests).toBe(afterLoad);
+	});
+
+	test('the control stays overflow-free and operable at 320px (REQ-011)', async ({
+		page,
+		request
+	}) => {
+		await seedDatedLetter(request, '1911-02-02', `E2E Group 320 ${stamp()}`);
+
+		await page.setViewportSize({ width: 320, height: 800 });
+		await page.goto('/zeitstrahl');
+		await page.waitForSelector('[data-hydrated]');
+
+		const control = page.getByTestId('grouping-control');
+		await expect(control).toBeVisible();
+
+		// the control fits inside the 320px viewport — no horizontal overflow
+		const box = await control.boundingBox();
+		expect(box).not.toBeNull();
+		expect(box!.x + box!.width).toBeLessThanOrEqual(321);
+
+		for (const [value, fullWord] of [
+			['date', 'Datum'],
+			['event', 'Ereignis'],
+			['thema', 'Thema']
+		]) {
+			const radio = page.locator(`[data-value="${value}"]`);
+			const radioBox = await radio.boundingBox();
+			expect(radioBox!.height).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(44);
+			expect(radioBox!.width).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(44);
+			// the abbreviated segment still announces its full word
+			expect(await radio.getAttribute('aria-label')).toBe(fullWord);
+		}
+	});
+
+	test('no wcag2a/wcag2aa violations on the grouping control at 320px (light + dark) (REQ-010g)', async ({
+		page,
+		request
+	}) => {
+		await seedDatedLetter(request, '1915-06-15', `E2E Group A11y ${stamp()}`);
+
+		await page.setViewportSize({ width: 320, height: 800 });
+		await page.goto('/zeitstrahl');
+		await page.waitForSelector('[data-hydrated]');
+		await expect(page.getByTestId('grouping-control')).toBeVisible();
+
+		const scan = () => new AxeBuilder({ page }).withTags(['wcag2a', 'wcag2aa']).analyze();
+
+		const light = await scan();
+		expect(light.violations, JSON.stringify(light.violations, null, 2)).toEqual([]);
+
+		await page.evaluate(() => document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-theme', 'dark'));
+		const dark = await scan();
+		expect(dark.violations, JSON.stringify(dark.violations, null, 2)).toEqual([]);
+	});
+});
--- a/frontend/messages/de.json
+++ b/frontend/messages/de.json
@@ -188,6 +188,7 @@
 	"person_hint_generation": "Generation in der Familie (G 0 = älteste Generation)",
 	"person_year_error": "Bitte eine vierstellige Jahreszahl eingeben",
 	"person_years_error_order": "Geburtsjahr muss vor dem Todesjahr liegen",
+	"person_add_event": "Ereignis für diese Person",
 	"person_docs_heading": "Gesendete Dokumente",
 	"person_no_docs": "Diese Person ist noch nicht als Absender verknüpft.",
 	"person_received_docs_heading": "Empfangene Dokumente",
@@ -1035,6 +1036,7 @@
 	"nav_geschichten": "Geschichten",
 	"nav_zeitstrahl": "Zeitstrahl",
 	"timeline_heading": "Zeitstrahl",
+	"timeline_add_event": "Ereignis hinzufügen",
 	"timeline_empty_state": "Noch keine Ereignisse.",
 	"timeline_undated_section": "Ohne Datum",
 	"timeline_unknown_person": "Unbekannt",
@@ -1048,6 +1050,19 @@
 	"timeline_derived_death": "Tod",
 	"timeline_derived_marriage": "Heirat",
 	"timeline_grouping_date": "Gruppierung: Datum",
+	"timeline_grouping_event": "Gruppierung: Ereignis",
+	"timeline_grouping_thema": "Gruppierung: Thema",
+	"timeline_grouping_aria_label": "Gruppierung",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_date": "Datum",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_event": "Ereignis",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_thema": "Thema",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_date_short": "Dat.",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_event_short": "Ereig.",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_thema_short": "Thema",
+	"timeline_grouping_disabled_reason": "Briefe sind ausgeblendet – es gibt nichts zu gruppieren.",
+	"timeline_grouping_multitag_hint": "Brief mit mehreren Tags erscheint unter seinem primären Tag.",
+	"timeline_bucket_other_letters": "Weitere Briefe",
+	"timeline_bucket_no_topic": "Ohne Thema",
 	"timeline_provenance_derived": "abgeleitet",
 	"timeline_provenance_curated": "kuratiert",
 	"timeline_letter_glyph_label": "Brief",
@@ -1057,6 +1072,14 @@
 	"timeline_events_count": "{count} Ereignisse",
 	"timeline_letters_count_singular": "1 Brief",
 	"timeline_events_count_singular": "1 Ereignis",
+	"timeline_filter_label_layers": "Ebenen anzeigen",
+	"timeline_filter_layer_personal": "Persönliche Ereignisse",
+	"timeline_filter_layer_historical": "Historische Ereignisse",
+	"timeline_filter_layer_letters": "Briefe",
+	"timeline_filter_trigger": "Filter",
+	"timeline_filter_trigger_active": "Filter ({count} aktiv)",
+	"timeline_filter_reset": "Filter zurücksetzen",
+	"timeline_filter_empty_state": "Keine Einträge entsprechen diesen Filtern.",
 	"event_editor_new_title": "Neues Ereignis",
 	"event_editor_edit_title": "Ereignis bearbeiten",
 	"event_editor_section_when": "Wann",
--- a/frontend/messages/en.json
+++ b/frontend/messages/en.json
@@ -188,6 +188,7 @@
 	"person_hint_generation": "Generation within the family (G 0 = oldest generation)",
 	"person_year_error": "Please enter a four-digit year",
 	"person_years_error_order": "Birth year must be before death year",
+	"person_add_event": "Add event for this person",
 	"person_docs_heading": "Sent documents",
 	"person_no_docs": "This person has not yet been linked as a sender.",
 	"person_received_docs_heading": "Received documents",
@@ -1035,6 +1036,7 @@
 	"nav_geschichten": "Stories",
 	"nav_zeitstrahl": "Timeline",
 	"timeline_heading": "Timeline",
+	"timeline_add_event": "Add event",
 	"timeline_empty_state": "No events yet.",
 	"timeline_undated_section": "Without Date",
 	"timeline_unknown_person": "Unknown",
@@ -1048,6 +1050,19 @@
 	"timeline_derived_death": "Death",
 	"timeline_derived_marriage": "Marriage",
 	"timeline_grouping_date": "Grouping: Date",
+	"timeline_grouping_event": "Grouping: Event",
+	"timeline_grouping_thema": "Grouping: Topic",
+	"timeline_grouping_aria_label": "Grouping",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_date": "Date",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_event": "Event",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_thema": "Topic",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_date_short": "Date",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_event_short": "Event",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_thema_short": "Topic",
+	"timeline_grouping_disabled_reason": "Letters are hidden — there is nothing to group.",
+	"timeline_grouping_multitag_hint": "A letter with several tags appears under its primary tag.",
+	"timeline_bucket_other_letters": "More letters",
+	"timeline_bucket_no_topic": "No topic",
 	"timeline_provenance_derived": "derived",
 	"timeline_provenance_curated": "curated",
 	"timeline_letter_glyph_label": "Letter",
@@ -1057,6 +1072,14 @@
 	"timeline_events_count": "{count} events",
 	"timeline_letters_count_singular": "1 letter",
 	"timeline_events_count_singular": "1 event",
+	"timeline_filter_label_layers": "Show layers",
+	"timeline_filter_layer_personal": "Personal events",
+	"timeline_filter_layer_historical": "Historical events",
+	"timeline_filter_layer_letters": "Letters",
+	"timeline_filter_trigger": "Filter",
+	"timeline_filter_trigger_active": "Filter ({count} active)",
+	"timeline_filter_reset": "Reset filters",
+	"timeline_filter_empty_state": "No entries match these filters.",
 	"event_editor_new_title": "New event",
 	"event_editor_edit_title": "Edit event",
 	"event_editor_section_when": "When",
--- a/frontend/messages/es.json
+++ b/frontend/messages/es.json
@@ -188,6 +188,7 @@
 	"person_hint_generation": "Generación dentro de la familia (G 0 = generación más antigua)",
 	"person_year_error": "Introduzca un año de cuatro dígitos",
 	"person_years_error_order": "El año de nacimiento debe ser anterior al año de fallecimiento",
+	"person_add_event": "Añadir evento para esta persona",
 	"person_docs_heading": "Documentos enviados",
 	"person_no_docs": "Esta persona aún no está vinculada como remitente.",
 	"person_received_docs_heading": "Documentos recibidos",
@@ -1035,6 +1036,7 @@
 	"nav_geschichten": "Historias",
 	"nav_zeitstrahl": "Línea de tiempo",
 	"timeline_heading": "Línea de tiempo",
+	"timeline_add_event": "Añadir evento",
 	"timeline_empty_state": "Aún no hay eventos.",
 	"timeline_undated_section": "Sin Fecha",
 	"timeline_unknown_person": "Desconocido",
@@ -1048,6 +1050,19 @@
 	"timeline_derived_death": "Fallecimiento",
 	"timeline_derived_marriage": "Matrimonio",
 	"timeline_grouping_date": "Agrupación: Fecha",
+	"timeline_grouping_event": "Agrupación: Evento",
+	"timeline_grouping_thema": "Agrupación: Tema",
+	"timeline_grouping_aria_label": "Agrupación",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_date": "Fecha",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_event": "Evento",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_thema": "Tema",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_date_short": "Fecha",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_event_short": "Evento",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_thema_short": "Tema",
+	"timeline_grouping_disabled_reason": "Las cartas están ocultas: no hay nada que agrupar.",
+	"timeline_grouping_multitag_hint": "Una carta con varias etiquetas aparece bajo su etiqueta principal.",
+	"timeline_bucket_other_letters": "Más cartas",
+	"timeline_bucket_no_topic": "Sin tema",
 	"timeline_provenance_derived": "derivado",
 	"timeline_provenance_curated": "curado",
 	"timeline_letter_glyph_label": "Carta",
@@ -1057,6 +1072,14 @@
 	"timeline_events_count": "{count} eventos",
 	"timeline_letters_count_singular": "1 carta",
 	"timeline_events_count_singular": "1 evento",
+	"timeline_filter_label_layers": "Mostrar capas",
+	"timeline_filter_layer_personal": "Eventos personales",
+	"timeline_filter_layer_historical": "Eventos históricos",
+	"timeline_filter_layer_letters": "Cartas",
+	"timeline_filter_trigger": "Filtro",
+	"timeline_filter_trigger_active": "Filtro ({count} activos)",
+	"timeline_filter_reset": "Restablecer filtros",
+	"timeline_filter_empty_state": "Ninguna entrada coincide con estos filtros.",
 	"event_editor_new_title": "Nuevo evento",
 	"event_editor_edit_title": "Editar evento",
 	"event_editor_section_when": "Cuándo",
--- a/frontend/src/lib/generated/api.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/generated/api.ts
@@ -2467,6 +2467,8 @@ export interface components {
            rootTagId?: string;
            rootTagName?: string;
            rootTagColor?: string;
+            /** Format: uuid */
+            linkedEventId?: string;
        };
        TimelineYearDTO: {
            /** Format: int32 */
--- a/frontend/src/lib/messages.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/messages.spec.ts
@@ -98,4 +98,68 @@ describe('message key parity', () => {
 		expect(en).toMatchObject({ timeline_tag_chip_label: 'Topic' });
 		expect(es).toMatchObject({ timeline_tag_chip_label: 'Tema' });
 	});
+
+	// #780 REQ-010: the layer-filter strings are Paraglide keys in every locale.
+	// timeline_filter_trigger (0 active) and timeline_filter_trigger_active ({count},
+	// ≥1 active) are distinct keys so the trigger never reads "Filter (0 aktiv)".
+	it('zeitstrahl layer-filter keys are present in all locales (#780 REQ-010)', () => {
+		const requiredKeys = [
+			'timeline_filter_label_layers',
+			'timeline_filter_layer_personal',
+			'timeline_filter_layer_historical',
+			'timeline_filter_layer_letters',
+			'timeline_filter_trigger',
+			'timeline_filter_trigger_active',
+			'timeline_filter_reset',
+			'timeline_filter_empty_state'
+		];
+		for (const key of requiredKeys) {
+			expect(de, `missing key in de: ${key}`).toHaveProperty(key);
+			expect(en, `missing key in en: ${key}`).toHaveProperty(key);
+			expect(es, `missing key in es: ${key}`).toHaveProperty(key);
+		}
+		// the active-count key carries the established {count} placeholder
+		expect(de.timeline_filter_trigger_active).toContain('{count}');
+		expect(en.timeline_filter_trigger_active).toContain('{count}');
+		expect(es.timeline_filter_trigger_active).toContain('{count}');
+	});
+
+	// #842: the two curator-affordance CTA labels (Zeitstrahl header + person page)
+	// are Paraglide keys present in every locale; the edit pencils reuse btn_edit.
+	it('curator-affordance CTA keys are present in all locales (#842)', () => {
+		for (const key of ['timeline_add_event', 'person_add_event']) {
+			expect(de, `missing key in de: ${key}`).toHaveProperty(key);
+			expect(en, `missing key in en: ${key}`).toHaveProperty(key);
+			expect(es, `missing key in es: ${key}`).toHaveProperty(key);
+		}
+	});
+
+	// #827 REQ-012: the grouping toggle + bucket strings are new Paraglide keys in
+	// every locale; the pre-existing timeline_grouping_date / timeline_tag_chip_label /
+	// timeline_filter_* set is reused, never re-added.
+	it('zeitstrahl grouping + bucket keys are present in all locales (#827 REQ-012)', () => {
+		const requiredKeys = [
+			'timeline_grouping_event',
+			'timeline_grouping_thema',
+			'timeline_grouping_aria_label',
+			'timeline_grouping_segment_date',
+			'timeline_grouping_segment_event',
+			'timeline_grouping_segment_thema',
+			'timeline_grouping_segment_date_short',
+			'timeline_grouping_segment_event_short',
+			'timeline_grouping_segment_thema_short',
+			'timeline_grouping_disabled_reason',
+			'timeline_grouping_multitag_hint',
+			'timeline_bucket_other_letters',
+			'timeline_bucket_no_topic'
+		];
+		for (const key of requiredKeys) {
+			expect(de, `missing key in de: ${key}`).toHaveProperty(key);
+			expect(en, `missing key in en: ${key}`).toHaveProperty(key);
+			expect(es, `missing key in es: ${key}`).toHaveProperty(key);
+		}
+		// the pre-existing meta-line + chip keys are reused by #827, not re-declared
+		expect(de).toHaveProperty('timeline_grouping_date');
+		expect(de).toHaveProperty('timeline_tag_chip_label');
+	});
 });
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/BucketHeaderChip.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/BucketHeaderChip.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
+
+/**
+ * The header chip of a Thema-mode root-tag bucket (#827, REQ-015): a *fully-tinted* chip whose
+ * fill and label both derive from the root tag's `--c-tag-*` colour token — distinct from the
+ * neutral per-letter {@link TagChip} (a surface pill with a tiny colour square). The label uses
+ * the saturated token as text over a subtle `color-mix` wash of the same token, so the ≥4.5:1
+ * label contrast holds in both light and dark themes. A `null` colour — or any value outside the
+ * known token set (the §2 `krieg`/`weih`/`fam` are demo class names, not tokens) — falls back to a
+ * neutral chip with no `var(--c-tag-)` reference, never a broken colour. The name is
+ * curator/import-derived and rendered through default `{...}` escaping, never the raw-HTML
+ * directive (REQ-009).
+ */
+const TAG_COLORS = new Set([
+	'sage',
+	'sienna',
+	'amber',
+	'slate',
+	'violet',
+	'rose',
+	'cobalt',
+	'moss',
+	'sand',
+	'coral'
+]);
+
+let { name, color }: { name: string; color: string | null } = $props();
+
+const token = $derived(color && TAG_COLORS.has(color) ? color : null);
+// The tint paints the chip's fill + dot only — never the label text. The saturated
+// --c-tag-* tokens used AS text over their own wash drop below WCAG AA 4.5:1 for the
+// light tokens (amber ≈3.0, sand ≈3.2, sage ≈3.4); a fixed dark ink keeps every token
+// legible while the 18% wash still reads as a genuinely tinted chip (REQ-015).
+const chipStyle = $derived(
+	token ? `background-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--c-tag-${token}) 18%, transparent)` : ''
+);
+const dotStyle = $derived(token ? `background-color: var(--c-tag-${token})` : '');
+</script>
+
+<span
+	data-testid="bucket-header-chip"
+	title={name}
+	style={chipStyle}
+	class="inline-flex max-w-full items-center gap-1.5 rounded-full px-2.5 py-0.5 font-sans text-xs font-semibold"
+	class:border={!token}
+	class:border-line={!token}
+	class:bg-surface={!token}
+>
+	<span class="sr-only">{m.timeline_tag_chip_label()}: </span>
+	<span
+		data-testid="bucket-header-chip-dot"
+		aria-hidden="true"
+		style={dotStyle}
+		class="inline-block h-2 w-2 flex-shrink-0 rounded-sm"
+		class:bg-ink-3={!token}
+	></span>
+	<span
+		data-testid="bucket-header-chip-label"
+		style="overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; min-width: 0"
+		class:text-ink={token}
+		class:text-ink-3={!token}>{name}</span
+	>
+</span>
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/BucketHeaderChip.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/BucketHeaderChip.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { cleanup, render } from 'vitest-browser-svelte';
+import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
+import BucketHeaderChip from './BucketHeaderChip.svelte';
+
+afterEach(() => cleanup());
+
+describe('BucketHeaderChip (REQ-015/009)', () => {
+	it('renders the root-tag name', () => {
+		render(BucketHeaderChip, { name: 'Krieg', color: 'sienna' });
+		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain('Krieg');
+	});
+
+	it('tints the chip with var(--c-tag-{token}) for a known colour token (REQ-015)', () => {
+		render(BucketHeaderChip, { name: 'Krieg', color: 'sienna' });
+		const chip = document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-header-chip"]') as HTMLElement;
+		expect(chip.getAttribute('style')).toContain('var(--c-tag-sienna)');
+	});
+
+	it('renders a neutral chip with no --c-tag- binding when colour is null (REQ-015)', () => {
+		render(BucketHeaderChip, { name: 'Ohne Thema', color: null });
+		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain('Ohne Thema');
+		expect(document.body.innerHTML).not.toContain('var(--c-tag-');
+	});
+
+	it('falls back to neutral for an unknown colour token, never a broken var (REQ-015)', () => {
+		// "krieg" is a §2 demo class name, not a real --c-tag-* token.
+		render(BucketHeaderChip, { name: 'Krieg', color: 'krieg' });
+		expect(document.body.innerHTML).not.toContain('var(--c-tag-');
+	});
+
+	it('prefixes the name with an sr-only theme label so colour is never the only cue', () => {
+		render(BucketHeaderChip, { name: 'Krieg', color: 'sienna' });
+		const srOnly = document.querySelector('.sr-only');
+		expect(srOnly?.textContent).toContain(m.timeline_tag_chip_label());
+	});
+
+	it('renders an HTML-bearing name as inert text, never markup (REQ-009)', () => {
+		const evil = '<img src=x onerror="alert(1)">';
+		render(BucketHeaderChip, { name: evil, color: null });
+		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain(evil);
+		expect(document.querySelector('img')).toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('paints the label in a fixed ink colour, never the saturated tag token (contrast, REQ-015)', () => {
+		// A saturated --c-tag-* token used as TEXT over its own wash fails 4.5:1 for the
+		// light tokens (amber/sand/sage ≈ 3:1). The tint must go to the background + dot;
+		// the label keeps a guaranteed-contrast ink token.
+		render(BucketHeaderChip, { name: 'Weihnachten', color: 'amber' });
+		const chip = document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-header-chip"]') as HTMLElement;
+		expect(chip.getAttribute('style') ?? '').not.toContain('color: var(--c-tag-');
+		const label = document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-header-chip-label"]') as HTMLElement;
+		expect(label.className).toContain('text-ink');
+		// still genuinely tinted — the token paints the wash and the dot
+		expect(document.body.innerHTML).toContain('var(--c-tag-amber)');
+	});
+});
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/EventPill.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/EventPill.svelte
@@ -10,9 +10,11 @@ type TimelineEntryDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineEntryDTO'];
 * Centered axis pill for a derived life-event or a curated PERSONAL event
 * (REQ-007/008). The glyph is wrapped aria-hidden with an sr-only label sibling
 * (REQ-018). An edit affordance shows only for a curated event with an eventId
- * (never derived, never null — REQ-008).
+ * (never derived, never null — REQ-008) and only for a curator who holds
+ * WRITE_ALL (`canWrite`, gate-closed by default — #842 REQ-005/007/008). The
+ * gate is UX only; the real boundary is the #781 route guard + backend permission.
 */
-let { entry }: { entry: TimelineEntryDTO } = $props();
+let { entry, canWrite = false }: { entry: TimelineEntryDTO; canWrite?: boolean } = $props();

 const config = $derived(getAccentConfig(entry));
 const dateLabel = $derived(timelineDateLabel(entry.eventDate, entry.precision, entry.eventDateEnd));
@@ -24,7 +26,7 @@ const provenance = $derived(
 // Provenance always shows; the date is an optional prefix so an undated event
 // still reads "abgeleitet"/"kuratiert" (REQ-007).
 const subtitle = $derived(dateLabel ? `${dateLabel} · ${provenance}` : provenance);
-const canEdit = $derived(!entry.derived && entry.eventId != null);
+const canEdit = $derived(canWrite && !entry.derived && entry.eventId != null);
 </script>

 <div class="flex justify-center">
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/EventPill.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/EventPill.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -51,8 +51,9 @@ describe('EventPill', () => {
 		expect(srOnly?.textContent).toBe('Geburt');
 	});

-	it('shows an edit affordance for a curated PERSONAL event with an eventId (REQ-008)', () => {
+	it('shows an edit affordance for a curated PERSONAL event when canWrite is true (REQ-005)', () => {
 		render(EventPill, {
+			canWrite: true,
 			entry: makeEntry({
 				kind: 'EVENT',
 				derived: false,
@@ -66,11 +67,45 @@ describe('EventPill', () => {
 		});
 		const edit = document.querySelector('[data-testid="event-edit"]') as HTMLAnchorElement | null;
 		expect(edit).not.toBeNull();
-		expect(edit?.getAttribute('href')).toContain(EVENT_ID);
+		expect(edit?.getAttribute('href')).toBe(`/zeitstrahl/events/${EVENT_ID}/edit`);
 	});

-	it('shows no edit affordance when eventId is null (REQ-008)', () => {
+	it('renders no edit affordance for a curated PERSONAL event when canWrite is false (REQ-007)', () => {
 		render(EventPill, {
+			canWrite: false,
+			entry: makeEntry({
+				kind: 'EVENT',
+				derived: false,
+				type: 'PERSONAL',
+				eventId: EVENT_ID,
+				title: 'Auswanderung',
+				senderName: '',
+				receiverName: '',
+				documentId: undefined
+			})
+		});
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="event-edit"]')).toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('renders no edit affordance when the canWrite prop is omitted (gate-closed default) (REQ-007)', () => {
+		render(EventPill, {
+			entry: makeEntry({
+				kind: 'EVENT',
+				derived: false,
+				type: 'PERSONAL',
+				eventId: EVENT_ID,
+				title: 'Auswanderung',
+				senderName: '',
+				receiverName: '',
+				documentId: undefined
+			})
+		});
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="event-edit"]')).toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('shows no edit affordance when eventId is null even with canWrite (REQ-008)', () => {
+		render(EventPill, {
+			canWrite: true,
 			entry: makeEntry({
 				kind: 'EVENT',
 				derived: false,
@@ -85,8 +120,8 @@ describe('EventPill', () => {
 		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="event-edit"]')).toBeNull();
 	});

-	it('shows no edit affordance for a derived event (REQ-008)', () => {
-		render(EventPill, { entry: derived('MARRIAGE', 'Heirat') });
+	it('shows no edit affordance for a derived event even with canWrite (REQ-008)', () => {
+		render(EventPill, { canWrite: true, entry: derived('MARRIAGE', 'Heirat') });
 		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="event-edit"]')).toBeNull();
 	});

--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/GroupingControl.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/GroupingControl.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
+import type { GroupingMode } from './timelineGrouping';
+
+/**
+ * The Datum·Ereignis·Thema segmented control (#827, REQ-010/011/018). An ARIA radiogroup with
+ * roving tabindex — single selection, arrow-key navigable — deliberately distinct from #780's
+ * `aria-pressed` layer-filter toggles. Defaults to Datum. Each segment is ≥44×44px, carries a
+ * text label (full word as `aria-label`, an abbreviated label shown ≤360px so the control never
+ * overflows at 320px), and uses semantic tokens so the selected/unselected contrast holds in dark
+ * mode. When `disabled` (the Letters layer is off, nothing to regroup) the control stays in place
+ * — no reflow — keeps its `aria-checked` selection so re-enabling restores the mode, and announces
+ * a screen-reader reason.
+ */
+let {
+	mode = $bindable('date'),
+	disabled = false,
+	ariaLabel = m.timeline_grouping_aria_label()
+}: { mode?: GroupingMode; disabled?: boolean; ariaLabel?: string } = $props();
+
+interface Segment {
+	value: GroupingMode;
+	full: string;
+	short: string;
+}
+
+const segments: Segment[] = [
+	{
+		value: 'date',
+		full: m.timeline_grouping_segment_date(),
+		short: m.timeline_grouping_segment_date_short()
+	},
+	{
+		value: 'event',
+		full: m.timeline_grouping_segment_event(),
+		short: m.timeline_grouping_segment_event_short()
+	},
+	{
+		value: 'thema',
+		full: m.timeline_grouping_segment_thema(),
+		short: m.timeline_grouping_segment_thema_short()
+	}
+];
+
+function select(value: GroupingMode) {
+	if (disabled) return;
+	mode = value;
+}
+
+function onKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
+	if (disabled) return;
+	const forward = event.key === 'ArrowRight' || event.key === 'ArrowDown';
+	const backward = event.key === 'ArrowLeft' || event.key === 'ArrowUp';
+	if (!forward && !backward) return;
+	event.preventDefault();
+	const index = segments.findIndex((s) => s.value === mode);
+	const delta = forward ? 1 : -1;
+	const next = segments[(index + delta + segments.length) % segments.length];
+	mode = next.value;
+	const groupEl = event.currentTarget as HTMLElement;
+	groupEl.querySelector<HTMLElement>(`[data-value="${next.value}"]`)?.focus();
+}
+</script>
+
+<div
+	role="radiogroup"
+	tabindex="-1"
+	aria-label={ariaLabel}
+	aria-disabled={disabled}
+	data-testid="grouping-control"
+	class="inline-flex overflow-hidden rounded-md border border-line"
+	onkeydown={onKeydown}
+>
+	{#each segments as segment (segment.value)}
+		<button
+			type="button"
+			role="radio"
+			data-value={segment.value}
+			aria-label={segment.full}
+			aria-checked={mode === segment.value}
+			tabindex={mode === segment.value ? 0 : -1}
+			disabled={disabled}
+			onclick={() => select(segment.value)}
+			style="display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; min-height: 44px; min-width: 44px"
+			class="px-3 py-2 font-sans text-xs font-semibold focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-brand-navy focus-visible:ring-inset"
+			class:bg-brand-navy={mode === segment.value && !disabled}
+			class:text-white={mode === segment.value && !disabled}
+			class:bg-surface={mode !== segment.value || disabled}
+			class:text-ink-3={mode !== segment.value || disabled}
+		>
+			<span class="seg-full">{segment.full}</span>
+			<span class="seg-short">{segment.short}</span>
+		</button>
+	{/each}
+</div>
+{#if disabled}
+	<span class="sr-only" role="status" data-testid="grouping-disabled-reason"
+		>{m.timeline_grouping_disabled_reason()}</span
+	>
+{/if}
+
+<style>
+.seg-short {
+	display: none;
+}
+@media (max-width: 360px) {
+	.seg-full {
+		display: none;
+	}
+	.seg-short {
+		display: inline;
+	}
+}
+</style>
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/GroupingControl.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/GroupingControl.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { cleanup, render } from 'vitest-browser-svelte';
+import { tick } from 'svelte';
+import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
+import GroupingControl from './GroupingControl.svelte';
+
+afterEach(() => cleanup());
+
+const radios = () => Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('[role="radio"]')) as HTMLElement[];
+const group = () => document.querySelector('[role="radiogroup"]') as HTMLElement;
+const checkedValue = () =>
+	radios()
+		.find((r) => r.getAttribute('aria-checked') === 'true')
+		?.getAttribute('data-value');
+
+describe('GroupingControl (REQ-010)', () => {
+	it('renders three radios inside a radiogroup, each with aria-checked (a)', () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, {});
+		expect(group()).not.toBeNull();
+		const r = radios();
+		expect(r).toHaveLength(3);
+		r.forEach((radio) => expect(radio.hasAttribute('aria-checked')).toBe(true));
+	});
+
+	it('defaults to Datum (f)', () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, {});
+		expect(radios().filter((r) => r.getAttribute('aria-checked') === 'true')).toHaveLength(1);
+		expect(checkedValue()).toBe('date');
+	});
+
+	it('exposes a text label on every segment, not colour alone (d)', () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, {});
+		radios().forEach((r) => expect((r.textContent ?? '').trim().length).toBeGreaterThan(0));
+	});
+
+	it('gives the radiogroup an accessible name (e)', () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, {});
+		expect(group().getAttribute('aria-label')).toBe(m.timeline_grouping_aria_label());
+	});
+
+	it('each segment has a tap target of at least 44×44px (c)', () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, {});
+		radios().forEach((r) => {
+			const rect = r.getBoundingClientRect();
+			expect(rect.width).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(44);
+			expect(rect.height).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(44);
+		});
+	});
+
+	it('exposes each segment full word as an aria-label (REQ-011)', () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, {});
+		const labels = radios().map((r) => r.getAttribute('aria-label'));
+		expect(labels).toEqual([
+			m.timeline_grouping_segment_date(),
+			m.timeline_grouping_segment_event(),
+			m.timeline_grouping_segment_thema()
+		]);
+	});
+
+	it('moves the selection forward with the right arrow key (b)', async () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, { mode: 'date' });
+		group().dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'ArrowRight', bubbles: true }));
+		await tick();
+		expect(checkedValue()).toBe('event');
+	});
+
+	it('wraps to the last segment with the left arrow from Datum (b)', async () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, { mode: 'date' });
+		group().dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'ArrowLeft', bubbles: true }));
+		await tick();
+		expect(checkedValue()).toBe('thema');
+	});
+
+	it('selects a segment on click', async () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, { mode: 'date' });
+		const thema = radios().find((r) => r.getAttribute('data-value') === 'thema')!;
+		thema.click();
+		await tick();
+		expect(thema.getAttribute('aria-checked')).toBe('true');
+	});
+});
+
+describe('GroupingControl — disabled (REQ-018)', () => {
+	it('marks the radiogroup aria-disabled and keeps all radios in the DOM', () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, { mode: 'event', disabled: true });
+		expect(group().getAttribute('aria-disabled')).toBe('true');
+		expect(radios()).toHaveLength(3);
+	});
+
+	it('announces a screen-reader reason that letters are hidden', () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, { disabled: true });
+		const reason = document.querySelector('[data-testid="grouping-disabled-reason"]');
+		expect(reason?.textContent).toContain(m.timeline_grouping_disabled_reason());
+	});
+
+	it('retains the active mode while disabled (no reset to Datum)', () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, { mode: 'thema', disabled: true });
+		expect(checkedValue()).toBe('thema');
+	});
+
+	it('ignores arrow keys while disabled', () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, { mode: 'event', disabled: true });
+		group().dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'ArrowRight', bubbles: true }));
+		expect(checkedValue()).toBe('event');
+	});
+});
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
+import LetterCard from './LetterCard.svelte';
+import BucketHeaderChip from './BucketHeaderChip.svelte';
+import YearLetterStrip from './YearLetterStrip.svelte';
+import { entryKey } from './entryKey';
+import { isBucketDense, tagColorVar, type LetterBucket } from './timelineGrouping';
+
+/**
+ * One cluster of loose letters, bound together by a coloured left rail so the group reads as a
+ * unit (#827). The axis-fixed event/world-band layers are rendered elsewhere — this is only the
+ * loose-letter bundling.
+ *
+ * - Thema: a tinted root-tag header chip + a rail in the tag colour, over compact cards whose own
+ *   tag chip is suppressed (REQ-004/015/017).
+ * - Ereignis: rendered `nested` directly beneath its event pill — no header (the pill is the
+ *   header), a mint rail, `.lcard.ev` cards (REQ-003/014). The standalone "Weitere Briefe" /
+ *   "Ohne Thema" fallback keeps its label and a neutral rail (REQ-006/007).
+ *
+ * A bucket larger than the density threshold collapses to the month-density `YearLetterStrip`
+ * instead of flooding the timeline with every card (#827) — the catch-all buckets are the biggest.
+ */
+let {
+	bucket,
+	mode,
+	year = 0,
+	nested = false
+}: { bucket: LetterBucket; mode: 'event' | 'thema'; year?: number; nested?: boolean } = $props();
+
+const count = $derived(bucket.letters.length);
+const dense = $derived(isBucketDense(count));
+const fallbackLabel = $derived(
+	mode === 'event' ? m.timeline_bucket_other_letters() : m.timeline_bucket_no_topic()
+);
+// The left rail binds the cluster: the tag colour in Thema, mint for an Ereignis cluster,
+// neutral for the fallback (and for a colourless/unknown tag token).
+const railColor = $derived(bucket.kind === 'tag' ? tagColorVar(bucket.color) : null);
+const railStyle = $derived(railColor ? `border-left-color: ${railColor}` : '');
+const isEventCluster = $derived(nested || bucket.kind === 'event');
+const cardVariant = $derived(mode === 'event' && isEventCluster ? 'event' : 'plain');
+</script>
+
+<section
+	class="my-3 border-l-2 pl-3"
+	class:border-l-brand-mint={isEventCluster}
+	class:border-line={!railColor && !isEventCluster}
+	style={railStyle}
+	data-testid="letter-bucket"
+	data-bucket-kind={bucket.kind}
+>
+	{#if !nested}
+		<header class="mb-2 flex items-center gap-2">
+			{#if mode === 'thema' && bucket.kind === 'tag'}
+				<BucketHeaderChip name={bucket.title ?? ''} color={bucket.color} />
+			{:else if mode === 'event' && bucket.kind === 'event'}
+				<span class="font-serif text-sm font-bold text-ink">
+					<span aria-hidden="true">✉</span>
+					{bucket.title}
+				</span>
+			{:else}
+				<span class="font-sans text-xs font-semibold text-ink-3">{fallbackLabel}</span>
+			{/if}
+			<span data-testid="bucket-count" class="font-sans text-xs text-ink-3">· {count}</span>
+		</header>
+	{/if}
+
+	{#if dense}
+		<!-- Oversized bucket → the month-density strip (count + sparkline + expand), not a flood. -->
+		<YearLetterStrip letters={bucket.letters} year={year} />
+	{:else}
+		<ul class="space-y-1.5">
+			{#each bucket.letters as letter (entryKey(letter))}
+				<li>
+					<LetterCard
+						entry={letter}
+						variant={cardVariant}
+						suppressTagChip={mode === 'thema'}
+						compact={true}
+					/>
+				</li>
+			{/each}
+		</ul>
+	{/if}
+</section>
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { cleanup, render } from 'vitest-browser-svelte';
+import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
+import LetterBucket from './LetterBucket.svelte';
+import { makeEntry } from './test-factories';
+import type { LetterBucket as Bucket } from './timelineGrouping';
+
+afterEach(() => cleanup());
+
+const eventBucket: Bucket = {
+	key: 'event:e1',
+	kind: 'event',
+	title: 'Briefe von der Front',
+	color: null,
+	letters: [makeEntry({ documentId: 'a' }), makeEntry({ documentId: 'b' })]
+};
+
+const tagBucket: Bucket = {
+	key: 'tag:t1',
+	kind: 'tag',
+	title: 'Krieg',
+	color: 'sienna',
+	letters: [makeEntry({ documentId: 'c', rootTagName: 'Krieg', rootTagColor: 'sienna' })]
+};
+
+describe('LetterBucket — Ereignis mode (REQ-003/006/014)', () => {
+	it('shows the event title and the cluster count', () => {
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket: eventBucket, mode: 'event' });
+		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain('Briefe von der Front');
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-count"]')?.textContent).toContain('2');
+	});
+
+	it('renders its letters as .lcard.ev event cards (REQ-014)', () => {
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket: eventBucket, mode: 'event' });
+		expect(document.querySelectorAll('a.lcard.ev')).toHaveLength(2);
+	});
+
+	it('uses the localized "Weitere Briefe" label and plain cards for the fallback bucket (REQ-006)', () => {
+		const fb: Bucket = {
+			key: '__fallback__',
+			kind: 'fallback',
+			color: null,
+			letters: [makeEntry({ documentId: 'x' })]
+		};
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket: fb, mode: 'event' });
+		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain(m.timeline_bucket_other_letters());
+		// fallback letters are not clustered under a curated event → plain card, never .lcard.ev
+		expect(document.querySelector('a.ev')).toBeNull();
+	});
+});
+
+describe('LetterBucket — Thema mode (REQ-004/007/015/017)', () => {
+	it('renders a tinted bucket-header chip carrying the root-tag name (REQ-015)', () => {
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket: tagBucket, mode: 'thema' });
+		const chip = document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-header-chip"]');
+		expect(chip?.textContent).toContain('Krieg');
+	});
+
+	it('suppresses the per-letter tag chip inside its own root-tag bucket (REQ-017)', () => {
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket: tagBucket, mode: 'thema' });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="tag-chip"]')).toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('uses the localized "Ohne Thema" label for the untagged fallback bucket (REQ-007)', () => {
+		const fb: Bucket = {
+			key: '__fallback__',
+			kind: 'fallback',
+			color: null,
+			letters: [makeEntry({ documentId: 'y', rootTagName: undefined })]
+		};
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket: fb, mode: 'thema' });
+		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain(m.timeline_bucket_no_topic());
+	});
+});
+
+const manyLetters = (n: number) =>
+	Array.from({ length: n }, (_, i) =>
+		makeEntry({ documentId: `d${i}`, eventDate: `1916-0${(i % 9) + 1}-01` })
+	);
+
+describe('LetterBucket — density + containment (#827)', () => {
+	it('collapses an oversized bucket to the density strip instead of flooding cards', () => {
+		const bucket: Bucket = {
+			key: 'tag:t1',
+			kind: 'tag',
+			title: 'Sonstiges',
+			color: null,
+			letters: manyLetters(10)
+		};
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket, mode: 'thema', year: 1916 });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="strip-expand"]')).not.toBeNull();
+		// not ten individual cards dumped into the timeline
+		expect(document.querySelectorAll('a.lcard')).toHaveLength(0);
+	});
+
+	it('renders compact cards for a small bucket (no strip)', () => {
+		const bucket: Bucket = {
+			key: 'tag:t1',
+			kind: 'tag',
+			title: 'Tod',
+			color: null,
+			letters: manyLetters(2)
+		};
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket, mode: 'thema', year: 1916 });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="strip-expand"]')).toBeNull();
+		expect(document.querySelectorAll('a.lcard.compact')).toHaveLength(2);
+	});
+
+	it('omits the header when nested — the event pill above is the header', () => {
+		const bucket: Bucket = {
+			key: 'event:e1',
+			kind: 'event',
+			title: 'Ein gewaltiger Stadtbrand',
+			color: null,
+			letters: manyLetters(1)
+		};
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket, mode: 'event', nested: true, year: 1916 });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-count"]')).toBeNull();
+		expect(document.body.textContent).not.toContain('Ein gewaltiger Stadtbrand');
+		// still the event-letter variant, just headerless under its pill
+		expect(document.querySelector('a.lcard.ev')).not.toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('binds a tag bucket together with a coloured left rail from its token', () => {
+		const bucket: Bucket = {
+			key: 'tag:t1',
+			kind: 'tag',
+			title: 'Krieg',
+			color: 'sienna',
+			letters: manyLetters(1)
+		};
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket, mode: 'thema', year: 1916 });
+		const section = document.querySelector('[data-testid="letter-bucket"]') as HTMLElement;
+		expect(section.getAttribute('style') ?? '').toContain('var(--c-tag-sienna)');
+	});
+});
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte
@@ -12,10 +12,30 @@ type TimelineEntryDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineEntryDTO'];
 * precision-aware date chip, linking to the document. Names/titles are
 * OCR/import-derived — rendered via default `{...}` escaping with
 * `whitespace-pre-line` for line breaks (REQ-021); never the raw-HTML directive.
+ *
+ * In Ereignis mode the card sits inside an event cluster and renders as the
+ * `.lcard.ev` variant (#827, REQ-014). In Thema mode the per-letter tag chip is
+ * suppressed inside its own root-tag bucket, where the bucket header already
+ * carries the topic (`suppressTagChip`, REQ-017).
 */
-let { entry }: { entry: TimelineEntryDTO } = $props();
+let {
+	entry,
+	variant = 'plain',
+	suppressTagChip = false,
+	compact = false
+}: {
+	entry: TimelineEntryDTO;
+	variant?: 'plain' | 'event';
+	suppressTagChip?: boolean;
+	compact?: boolean;
+} = $props();

+const isEventVariant = $derived(variant === 'event');
 const dateLabel = $derived(timelineDateLabel(entry.eventDate, entry.precision, entry.eventDateEnd));
+// Inside a per-year bucket the year frames the time, and these archive titles already
+// embed the date — so the compact in-bucket card drops the redundant date chip when a
+// title is present, halving the row height and killing the duplicate date (#827).
+const showDate = $derived(!compact || !entry.title);
 const sender = $derived(entry.senderName === '' ? m.timeline_unknown_person() : entry.senderName);
 const receiver = $derived(
 	entry.receiverName === '' ? m.timeline_unknown_person() : entry.receiverName
@@ -28,28 +48,37 @@ const receiver = $derived(
 <a
 	href="/documents/{entry.documentId}"
 	style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; justify-content: center; min-height: 44px"
-	class="rounded-sm border border-l-[3px] border-line border-l-brand-mint bg-surface px-3 py-2 shadow-sm transition-colors hover:border-brand-mint focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-brand-navy"
+	class="lcard rounded-sm border border-l-[3px] border-line border-l-brand-mint bg-surface px-3 shadow-sm transition-colors hover:border-brand-mint focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-brand-navy"
+	class:py-2={!compact}
+	class:py-1={compact}
+	class:ev={isEventVariant}
+	class:compact={compact}
 >
 	{#if entry.title}
 		<!-- ✉ + sr-only label are static chrome rendered as sibling nodes, NEVER
 		     interpolated into the escaped user title; the title keeps its own
 		     pre-line span for multi-line OCR text (REQ-008/016/021). -->
-		<span class="font-serif text-sm font-bold break-words text-ink">
+		<span
+			class="font-serif font-bold break-words text-ink"
+			class:text-sm={!compact}
+			class:text-xs={compact}
+		>
 			<GlyphLabel glyph="✉" label={m.timeline_letter_glyph_label()} />
 			<span class="whitespace-pre-line">{entry.title}</span>
 		</span>
 	{/if}
-	<span class="mt-0.5 font-sans text-xs break-words text-ink-3">
+	<span class="font-sans text-xs break-words text-ink-3" class:mt-0.5={!compact}>
 		<span class="font-serif whitespace-pre-line">{sender}</span>
 		<span aria-hidden="true">→</span>
 		<span class="font-serif whitespace-pre-line">{receiver}</span>
-		{#if dateLabel}
+		{#if dateLabel && showDate}
 			<span data-testid="letter-date"> · {dateLabel}</span>
 		{/if}
 	</span>
-	{#if entry.rootTagName}
+	{#if entry.rootTagName && !suppressTagChip}
 		<!-- The primary root-tag chip sits on its own line beneath the meta line
-		     (#835 §3); absent when the letter has no tag (REQ-005). -->
+		     (#835 §3); absent when the letter has no tag (REQ-005), and suppressed in
+		     Thema mode inside its own root-tag bucket where the header conveys it (REQ-017). -->
 		<TagChip name={entry.rootTagName} color={entry.rootTagColor ?? null} />
 	{/if}
 </a>
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -127,3 +127,46 @@ describe('LetterCard', () => {
 		expect(chip?.textContent).toContain('Familie');
 	});
 });
+
+describe('LetterCard — grouping variants (#827, REQ-014/017)', () => {
+	it('carries the .lcard.ev class in the event variant (REQ-014)', () => {
+		render(LetterCard, { entry: makeEntry(), variant: 'event' });
+		expect(document.querySelector('a.lcard.ev')).not.toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('is a plain card with no .ev marker by default (REQ-014)', () => {
+		render(LetterCard, { entry: makeEntry() });
+		expect(document.querySelector('a.ev')).toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('suppresses the per-letter tag chip when asked, even with a root tag (REQ-017)', () => {
+		render(LetterCard, {
+			entry: makeEntry({ rootTagName: 'Krieg', rootTagColor: 'sienna' }),
+			suppressTagChip: true
+		});
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="tag-chip"]')).toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('still shows the per-letter tag chip when not suppressed — Datum/Ereignis (REQ-017)', () => {
+		render(LetterCard, { entry: makeEntry({ rootTagName: 'Krieg', rootTagColor: 'sienna' }) });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="tag-chip"]')).not.toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('drops the redundant date line in the compact variant when a title is present (#827)', () => {
+		// Inside a per-year bucket the year already frames the time, and these archive
+		// titles embed the date — so the compact in-bucket card omits the date chip.
+		render(LetterCard, { entry: makeEntry({ title: 'H-0023 – 6. Juli 1916' }), compact: true });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="letter-date"]')).toBeNull();
+		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain('Karl Raddatz'); // sender still shown
+	});
+
+	it('keeps the date in the compact variant when the letter has no title (#827)', () => {
+		render(LetterCard, { entry: makeEntry({ title: undefined }), compact: true });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="letter-date"]')).not.toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('renders the compact variant on a single tighter row (#827)', () => {
+		render(LetterCard, { entry: makeEntry(), compact: true });
+		expect(document.querySelector('a.lcard.compact')).not.toBeNull();
+	});
+});
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineFilters.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineFilters.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
+import { slide } from 'svelte/transition';
+import { hiddenLayerCount, isDefaultState, type TimelineLayerFilters } from './timelineFilter';
+
+// Presentation-only layer filter for the global /zeitstrahl (#780, REQ-001).
+// Holds no timeline data and never navigates or fetches — the route owns the
+// $state and derives the filtered view. Three $bindable layer booleans plus an
+// onChange notification hook are the whole contract.
+let {
+	personalOn = $bindable(true),
+	historicalOn = $bindable(true),
+	lettersOn = $bindable(true),
+	onChange
+}: {
+	personalOn?: boolean;
+	historicalOn?: boolean;
+	lettersOn?: boolean;
+	onChange?: () => void;
+} = $props();
+
+let open = $state(false);
+
+// Reuse the reduced-motion guard expression from documents/[id]/+page.svelte:57
+// for a new purpose — zeroing the slide duration so the collapsible opens
+// instantly when the reader prefers reduced motion (REQ-009).
+const prefersReducedMotion = $derived(
+	typeof window !== 'undefined' && window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)').matches
+);
+const slideDuration = $derived(prefersReducedMotion ? 0 : 200);
+
+const filters: TimelineLayerFilters = $derived({ personalOn, historicalOn, lettersOn });
+const hiddenCount = $derived(hiddenLayerCount(filters));
+const anyLayerOff = $derived(!isDefaultState(filters));
+
+function reset() {
+	personalOn = true;
+	historicalOn = true;
+	lettersOn = true;
+	onChange?.();
+}
+</script>
+
+{#snippet layerToggle(label: string, testid: string, pressed: boolean, toggle: () => void)}
+	<button
+		type="button"
+		data-testid={testid}
+		aria-pressed={pressed}
+		onclick={toggle}
+		class="inline-flex min-h-[44px] items-center gap-2 rounded border px-3 font-sans text-sm transition-colors {pressed
+			? 'border-primary bg-primary text-primary-fg'
+			: 'border-line bg-muted text-ink-2 hover:bg-line'}"
+	>
+		<span
+			aria-hidden="true"
+			class="inline-flex h-4 w-4 items-center justify-center rounded-sm border {pressed
+				? 'border-primary-fg bg-primary-fg/20'
+				: 'border-ink-3'}"
+		>
+			{#if pressed}✓{/if}
+		</span>
+		{label}
+	</button>
+{/snippet}
+
+<section class="mb-6">
+	<!-- Sticky trigger kept in document flow so the hidden-layer count stays
+	     visible without clipping timeline content (REQ-007). -->
+	<div class="sticky top-16 z-20 bg-canvas py-2">
+		<button
+			type="button"
+			data-testid="timeline-filter-trigger"
+			aria-expanded={open}
+			aria-controls={open ? 'timeline-filter-panel' : undefined}
+			onclick={() => (open = !open)}
+			class="inline-flex min-h-[44px] items-center gap-2 rounded border border-line bg-surface px-4 font-sans text-xs font-bold tracking-widest text-ink-2 uppercase transition-colors hover:bg-muted"
+		>
+			{hiddenCount === 0
+				? m.timeline_filter_trigger()
+				: m.timeline_filter_trigger_active({ count: hiddenCount })}
+		</button>
+	</div>
+
+	{#if open}
+		<div id="timeline-filter-panel" transition:slide={{ duration: slideDuration }}>
+			<fieldset class="mt-2 rounded-sm border border-line bg-surface p-4">
+				<legend class="px-1 font-sans text-xs font-bold tracking-widest text-ink-3 uppercase">
+					{m.timeline_filter_label_layers()}
+				</legend>
+				<div class="flex flex-wrap gap-2">
+					{@render layerToggle(
+						m.timeline_filter_layer_personal(),
+						'timeline-filter-personal',
+						personalOn,
+						() => {
+							personalOn = !personalOn;
+							onChange?.();
+						}
+					)}
+					{@render layerToggle(
+						m.timeline_filter_layer_historical(),
+						'timeline-filter-historical',
+						historicalOn,
+						() => {
+							historicalOn = !historicalOn;
+							onChange?.();
+						}
+					)}
+					{@render layerToggle(
+						m.timeline_filter_layer_letters(),
+						'timeline-filter-letters',
+						lettersOn,
+						() => {
+							lettersOn = !lettersOn;
+							onChange?.();
+						}
+					)}
+				</div>
+
+				{#if anyLayerOff}
+					<button
+						type="button"
+						data-testid="timeline-filter-reset"
+						onclick={reset}
+						class="mt-3 inline-flex min-h-[44px] items-center font-sans text-sm text-primary underline-offset-2 hover:underline"
+					>
+						{m.timeline_filter_reset()}
+					</button>
+				{/if}
+			</fieldset>
+		</div>
+	{/if}
+</section>
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineFilters.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineFilters.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, vi, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { cleanup, render } from 'vitest-browser-svelte';
+import { page } from 'vitest/browser';
+import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
+import TimelineFilters from './TimelineFilters.svelte';
+
+afterEach(() => cleanup());
+
+const allOn = () => ({ personalOn: true, historicalOn: true, lettersOn: true, onChange: vi.fn() });
+
+async function openBar() {
+	await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-trigger').click();
+}
+
+describe('TimelineFilters', () => {
+	it('renders the three layer toggles with accessible names inside a labelled group (REQ-001)', async () => {
+		render(TimelineFilters, allOn());
+		await openBar();
+		await expect
+			.element(page.getByRole('button', { name: m.timeline_filter_layer_personal() }))
+			.toBeVisible();
+		await expect
+			.element(page.getByRole('button', { name: m.timeline_filter_layer_historical() }))
+			.toBeVisible();
+		await expect
+			.element(page.getByRole('button', { name: m.timeline_filter_layer_letters() }))
+			.toBeVisible();
+		// the fieldset legend groups the toggles
+		await expect.element(page.getByText(m.timeline_filter_label_layers())).toBeVisible();
+	});
+
+	it('reflects a layer as pressed and flips it, firing onChange (REQ-001)', async () => {
+		const props = allOn();
+		render(TimelineFilters, props);
+		await openBar();
+		const personal = page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-personal');
+		await expect.element(personal).toHaveAttribute('aria-pressed', 'true');
+		await personal.click();
+		await expect.element(personal).toHaveAttribute('aria-pressed', 'false');
+		expect(props.onChange).toHaveBeenCalled();
+	});
+
+	it('shows a plain trigger when all layers are on and a count once a layer is hidden (REQ-007/010)', async () => {
+		render(TimelineFilters, allOn());
+		const trigger = page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-trigger');
+		await expect.element(trigger).toHaveTextContent(m.timeline_filter_trigger());
+		await expect.element(trigger).not.toHaveTextContent('aktiv');
+		await trigger.click();
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-letters').click();
+		await expect.element(trigger).toHaveTextContent(m.timeline_filter_trigger_active({ count: 1 }));
+	});
+
+	it('gives the trigger a 44px touch target (REQ-007)', async () => {
+		render(TimelineFilters, allOn());
+		await expect.element(page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-trigger')).toHaveClass(/min-h-\[44px\]/);
+	});
+
+	it('hides the reset button by default and restores all layers when activated (REQ-008)', async () => {
+		const props = allOn();
+		render(TimelineFilters, props);
+		await openBar();
+		const reset = page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-reset');
+		// absent (not just hidden) while every layer is on
+		expect(reset.query()).toBeNull();
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-historical').click();
+		await expect.element(reset).toBeVisible();
+		await reset.click();
+		await expect
+			.element(page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-historical'))
+			.toHaveAttribute('aria-pressed', 'true');
+		await expect.poll(() => reset.query()).toBeNull();
+		expect(props.onChange).toHaveBeenCalled();
+	});
+});
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineView.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineView.svelte
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import LetterCard from './LetterCard.svelte';
 import EventPill from './EventPill.svelte';
 import WorldBand from './WorldBand.svelte';
 import { entryKey } from './entryKey';
+import { buildEventLookup, type GroupingMode } from './timelineGrouping';
 import type { components } from '$lib/generated/api';

 type TimelineDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineDTO'];
@@ -18,8 +19,28 @@ type TimelineYearDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineYearDTO'];
 * empty timeline shows a calm message (REQ-017). `personId` is a declared seam
 * for the per-person rail (issue #10) and is undefined here; it is not passed to
 * leaf cards (REQ-025). Owns no <main> — the layout does.
+ *
+ * `groupingMode` (#827) flows down to each YearBand to re-bundle its loose letters;
+ * the event lookup — the curated events present in this (already layer-filtered)
+ * view — is resolved once here so Ereignis clusters never reference a filtered-out
+ * event (filter-then-group, REQ-019). The undated bucket renders unchanged in every
+ * mode (its letters have no year, so the per-year bucketing does not apply).
 */
-let { timeline, personId = undefined }: { timeline: TimelineDTO; personId?: string } = $props();
+let {
+	timeline,
+	personId = undefined,
+	canWrite = false,
+	groupingMode = 'date'
+}: {
+	timeline: TimelineDTO;
+	personId?: string;
+	canWrite?: boolean;
+	groupingMode?: GroupingMode;
+} = $props();
+
+const eventLookup = $derived(
+	groupingMode === 'date' ? new Map<string, string>() : buildEventLookup(timeline)
+);

 type Row = { t: 'band'; year: TimelineYearDTO } | { t: 'gap'; from: number; to: number };

@@ -50,7 +71,12 @@ const isEmpty = $derived(timeline.years.length === 0 && timeline.undated.length
 		{#each rows as row (row.t === 'band' ? `band-${row.year.year}` : `gap-${row.from}`)}
 			<li>
 				{#if row.t === 'band'}
-					<YearBand year={row.year} />
+					<YearBand
+						year={row.year}
+						canWrite={canWrite}
+						groupingMode={groupingMode}
+						eventLookup={eventLookup}
+					/>
 				{:else}
 					<GapSpan from={row.from} to={row.to} />
 				{/if}
@@ -75,9 +101,9 @@ const isEmpty = $derived(timeline.years.length === 0 && timeline.undated.length
 					<li>
 						{#if entry.kind === 'EVENT'}
 							{#if entry.type === 'HISTORICAL'}
-								<WorldBand entry={entry} />
+								<WorldBand entry={entry} canWrite={canWrite} />
 							{:else}
-								<EventPill entry={entry} />
+								<EventPill entry={entry} canWrite={canWrite} />
 							{/if}
 						{:else}
 							<LetterCard entry={entry} />
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineView.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineView.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ describe('TimelineView', () => {

 	it('renders an undated curated EVENT as a pill, not a broken letter card (REQ-008/016)', () => {
 		render(TimelineView, {
+			canWrite: true,
 			timeline: makeTimelineDTO({
 				undated: [
 					makeEntry({
@@ -125,8 +126,8 @@ describe('TimelineView', () => {
 		// The event renders inside the undated section…
 		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="undated-section"]')).not.toBeNull();
 		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain('Auswanderung');
-		// …as an EventPill (its edit affordance), never as a letter card linking
-		// to /documents/undefined with "Unbekannt → Unbekannt".
+		// …as an EventPill (its edit affordance, threaded canWrite), never as a
+		// letter card linking to /documents/undefined with "Unbekannt → Unbekannt".
 		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="event-edit"]')).not.toBeNull();
 		expect(document.querySelector('a[href="/documents/undefined"]')).toBeNull();
 		expect(document.body.textContent).not.toContain('Unbekannt');
@@ -276,4 +277,68 @@ describe('TimelineView', () => {
 		);
 		expect(sides).toEqual(['left', 'right', 'left', 'right']);
 	});
+
+	// A curated PERSONAL event reachable through both dispatch paths: the year-band
+	// path (TimelineView → YearBand → EventPill) and the undated bucket
+	// (TimelineView → EventPill). canWrite must thread to both (REQ-009).
+	const curated = (eventId: string, title: string) =>
+		makeEntry({
+			kind: 'EVENT',
+			type: 'PERSONAL',
+			derived: false,
+			eventId,
+			title,
+			senderName: '',
+			receiverName: '',
+			documentId: undefined
+		});
+
+	const bothPaths = () =>
+		makeTimelineDTO({
+			years: [makeYear(1924, [curated('banded', 'Umzug nach Berlin')])],
+			undated: [curated('undated', 'Auswanderung')]
+		});
+
+	it('threads canWrite to a curated event in both a year band and the undated bucket (REQ-009)', () => {
+		render(TimelineView, { canWrite: true, timeline: bothPaths() });
+		const hrefs = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('[data-testid="event-edit"]')).map((a) =>
+			a.getAttribute('href')
+		);
+		expect(hrefs).toContain('/zeitstrahl/events/banded/edit');
+		expect(hrefs).toContain('/zeitstrahl/events/undated/edit');
+	});
+
+	it('renders no edit links in either path when canWrite is false (REQ-007/009)', () => {
+		render(TimelineView, { canWrite: false, timeline: bothPaths() });
+		expect(document.querySelectorAll('[data-testid="event-edit"]')).toHaveLength(0);
+	});
+
+	it('threads canWrite to a curated HISTORICAL world band in both paths (REQ-006/009)', () => {
+		const world = (eventId: string, title: string) =>
+			makeEntry({
+				kind: 'EVENT',
+				type: 'HISTORICAL',
+				derived: false,
+				eventId,
+				precision: 'YEAR',
+				eventDate: '1929-01-01',
+				eventDateEnd: undefined,
+				title,
+				senderName: '',
+				receiverName: '',
+				documentId: undefined
+			});
+		render(TimelineView, {
+			canWrite: true,
+			timeline: makeTimelineDTO({
+				years: [makeYear(1929, [world('wb', 'Weltwirtschaftskrise')])],
+				undated: [world('wu', 'Unbekanntes Weltereignis')]
+			})
+		});
+		const hrefs = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('[data-testid="event-edit"]')).map((a) =>
+			a.getAttribute('href')
+		);
+		expect(hrefs).toContain('/zeitstrahl/events/wb/edit');
+		expect(hrefs).toContain('/zeitstrahl/events/wu/edit');
+	});
 });
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/WorldBand.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/WorldBand.svelte
@@ -11,9 +11,11 @@ type TimelineEntryDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineEntryDTO'];
 * (REQ-009). A RANGE carries a visible span pill ("1914–1918") with a Zeitraum
 * aria-label; a RANGE with no end degrades to the start year, no pill (REQ-010).
 * The glyph is a redundant non-color cue with an sr-only label (REQ-018); text
- * uses text-ink-2 to stay AA in both themes (REQ-019).
+ * uses text-ink-2 to stay AA in both themes (REQ-019). A curator (`canWrite`,
+ * gate-closed by default) gets an inline edit pencil for a curated event with an
+ * eventId — #842 REQ-006/007/008; UX gate only, the #781 route guard is the boundary.
 */
-let { entry }: { entry: TimelineEntryDTO } = $props();
+let { entry, canWrite = false }: { entry: TimelineEntryDTO; canWrite?: boolean } = $props();

 const config = $derived(getAccentConfig(entry));
 const dateLabel = $derived(timelineDateLabel(entry.eventDate, entry.precision, entry.eventDateEnd));
@@ -24,6 +26,9 @@ const dateText = $derived(showSpan ? null : entry.precision === 'RANGE' ? fromYe
 // Every WorldBand is a HISTORICAL band, so the visible "historisch" register
 // always trails the subtitle as plain text — never a second pill (REQ-009).
 const historical = $derived(m.timeline_layer_historical_suffix());
+// A HISTORICAL event is never derived, so the edit gate is just the curator
+// flag plus a real eventId (#842 REQ-006/008).
+const canEdit = $derived(canWrite && entry.eventId != null);
 </script>

 <div class="my-3 border-y border-line bg-canvas px-4 py-2 text-center">
@@ -46,4 +51,14 @@ const historical = $derived(m.timeline_layer_historical_suffix());
 	<!-- Single trailing "· historisch" register, after the title and any
 	     span pill / date — one render site, consistent separator (REQ-009). -->
 	<span class="ml-2 font-sans text-xs text-ink-3">· {historical}</span>
+	{#if canEdit}
+		<a
+			data-testid="event-edit"
+			href="/zeitstrahl/events/{entry.eventId}/edit"
+			class="ml-2 rounded-sm px-1 font-sans text-xs text-ink-3 hover:text-brand-navy focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-brand-navy"
+		>
+			<span aria-hidden="true">✎</span>
+			<span class="sr-only">{m.btn_edit()}</span>
+		</a>
+	{/if}
 </div>
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/WorldBand.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/WorldBand.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -73,4 +73,35 @@ describe('WorldBand', () => {
 		expect(pill?.textContent).not.toContain(m.timeline_layer_historical_suffix());
 		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain(m.timeline_layer_historical_suffix());
 	});
+
+	const HIST_EVENT_ID = '44444444-4444-4444-4444-444444444444';
+
+	it('shows an edit affordance for a curated HISTORICAL event when canWrite is true (REQ-006)', () => {
+		render(WorldBand, { canWrite: true, entry: historical({ eventId: HIST_EVENT_ID }) });
+		const edit = document.querySelector('[data-testid="event-edit"]') as HTMLAnchorElement | null;
+		expect(edit).not.toBeNull();
+		expect(edit?.getAttribute('href')).toBe(`/zeitstrahl/events/${HIST_EVENT_ID}/edit`);
+	});
+
+	it('mirrors the EventPill pencil: aria-hidden ✎ glyph + sr-only Bearbeiten label (REQ-006)', () => {
+		render(WorldBand, { canWrite: true, entry: historical({ eventId: HIST_EVENT_ID }) });
+		const edit = document.querySelector('[data-testid="event-edit"]');
+		expect(edit?.querySelector('[aria-hidden="true"]')?.textContent).toBe('✎');
+		expect(edit?.querySelector('.sr-only')?.textContent).toBe(m.btn_edit());
+	});
+
+	it('renders no edit affordance for a curated HISTORICAL event when canWrite is false (REQ-007)', () => {
+		render(WorldBand, { canWrite: false, entry: historical({ eventId: HIST_EVENT_ID }) });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="event-edit"]')).toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('renders no edit affordance when the canWrite prop is omitted (gate-closed default) (REQ-007)', () => {
+		render(WorldBand, { entry: historical({ eventId: HIST_EVENT_ID }) });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="event-edit"]')).toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('shows no edit affordance when eventId is null even with canWrite (REQ-008)', () => {
+		render(WorldBand, { canWrite: true, entry: historical({ eventId: undefined }) });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="event-edit"]')).toBeNull();
+	});
 });
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte
@@ -3,8 +3,14 @@ import EventPill from './EventPill.svelte';
 import WorldBand from './WorldBand.svelte';
 import LetterCard from './LetterCard.svelte';
 import YearLetterStrip from './YearLetterStrip.svelte';
+import LetterBucket from './LetterBucket.svelte';
 import { isDense } from './timelineDensity';
 import { entryKey } from './entryKey';
+import {
+	bucketLetters,
+	type GroupingMode,
+	type LetterBucket as LetterBucketModel
+} from './timelineGrouping';
 import type { components } from '$lib/generated/api';

 type TimelineYearDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineYearDTO'];
@@ -15,19 +21,75 @@ type TimelineEntryDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineEntryDTO'];
 * render in DTO order as pills/bands; letters render as individual cards while
 * the band holds ≤ 12 (REQ-011) or collapse to a single density strip above that
 * (REQ-012). Entries are never re-sorted — DTO order is preserved (REQ-003).
+ *
+ * In Ereignis/Thema mode (#827) the event pills/world-bands render identically
+ * (REQ-001); only the loose letters re-bundle into per-year buckets below them
+ * (REQ-002/003/004). Datum mode is the original individual-card / density-strip
+ * path, untouched.
 */
-let { year }: { year: TimelineYearDTO } = $props();
+let {
+	year,
+	canWrite = false,
+	groupingMode = 'date',
+	eventLookup = new Map<string, string>()
+}: {
+	year: TimelineYearDTO;
+	canWrite?: boolean;
+	groupingMode?: GroupingMode;
+	eventLookup?: Map<string, string>;
+} = $props();

 type Row =
 	| { t: 'event'; entry: TimelineEntryDTO }
 	| { t: 'letter'; entry: TimelineEntryDTO; side: 'left' | 'right' }
-	| { t: 'strip' };
+	| { t: 'strip' }
+	| { t: 'bucket'; bucket: LetterBucketModel; nested: boolean };

 const letters = $derived(year.entries.filter((e) => e.kind === 'LETTER'));
 const dense = $derived(isDense(letters.length));
+const bucketMode = $derived(groupingMode === 'thema' ? 'thema' : 'event');

 const rows = $derived.by<Row[]>(() => {
 	const out: Row[] = [];
+
+	// Ereignis: events stay on the axis (REQ-001); each curated event's letters nest directly
+	// beneath its pill — the pill IS the header, so the title is never repeated. A cluster whose
+	// pill lives in another year band (or was filtered out) keeps its own header here, and the
+	// unlinked letters fall to the single "Weitere Briefe" bucket (REQ-003/006/019).
+	if (groupingMode === 'event') {
+		const buckets = bucketLetters(letters, 'event', eventLookup);
+		const hasPill = (bucketKey: string) =>
+			year.entries.some((e) => e.kind === 'EVENT' && `event:${e.eventId}` === bucketKey);
+		// Each pill renders, then its same-year cluster nests directly beneath it (no header).
+		for (const entry of year.entries) {
+			if (entry.kind !== 'EVENT') continue;
+			out.push({ t: 'event', entry });
+			const bucket = entry.eventId
+				? buckets.find((b) => b.kind === 'event' && b.key === `event:${entry.eventId}`)
+				: undefined;
+			if (bucket) out.push({ t: 'bucket', bucket, nested: true });
+		}
+		// Clusters whose pill is in another band keep their header; then the fallback, last.
+		for (const bucket of buckets) {
+			if (bucket.kind === 'fallback' || !hasPill(bucket.key)) {
+				out.push({ t: 'bucket', bucket, nested: false });
+			}
+		}
+		return out;
+	}
+
+	// Thema: events stay on the axis (REQ-001); loose letters re-bundle into per-year root-tag
+	// buckets below them (REQ-004) — no axis pill exists for a tag, so every bucket keeps a header.
+	if (groupingMode === 'thema') {
+		for (const entry of year.entries) {
+			if (entry.kind === 'EVENT') out.push({ t: 'event', entry });
+		}
+		for (const bucket of bucketLetters(letters, 'thema', eventLookup)) {
+			out.push({ t: 'bucket', bucket, nested: false });
+		}
+		return out;
+	}
+
 	let stripInserted = false;
 	let letterIndex = 0;
 	for (const entry of year.entries) {
@@ -43,6 +105,12 @@ const rows = $derived.by<Row[]>(() => {
 	}
 	return out;
 });
+
+function rowKey(row: Row): string {
+	if (row.t === 'strip') return `strip-${year.year}`;
+	if (row.t === 'bucket') return row.bucket.key;
+	return entryKey(row.entry);
+}
 </script>

 <section class="py-2">
@@ -56,18 +124,20 @@ const rows = $derived.by<Row[]>(() => {
 	</h2>

 	<div class="mt-3 space-y-3">
-		{#each rows as row (row.t === 'strip' ? `strip-${year.year}` : entryKey(row.entry))}
+		{#each rows as row (rowKey(row))}
 			{#if row.t === 'event'}
 				{#if row.entry.type === 'HISTORICAL'}
-					<WorldBand entry={row.entry} />
+					<WorldBand entry={row.entry} canWrite={canWrite} />
 				{:else}
-					<EventPill entry={row.entry} />
+					<EventPill entry={row.entry} canWrite={canWrite} />
 				{/if}
 			{:else if row.t === 'letter'}
 				<div class="letter-row" data-side={row.side}>
 					<span data-testid="letter-dot" class="letter-dot bg-surface" aria-hidden="true"></span>
 					<LetterCard entry={row.entry} />
 				</div>
+			{:else if row.t === 'bucket'}
+				<LetterBucket bucket={row.bucket} mode={bucketMode} year={year.year} nested={row.nested} />
 			{:else}
 				<YearLetterStrip letters={letters} year={year.year} />
 			{/if}
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -165,3 +165,99 @@ describe('YearBand', () => {
 		}
 	});
 });
+
+describe('YearBand — grouping modes (#827)', () => {
+	it('keeps individual letter cards and no buckets in Datum mode (default)', () => {
+		render(YearBand, { year: makeYear(1915, manyLetters(1915, 3)) });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="letter-bucket"]')).toBeNull();
+		expect(document.querySelectorAll('a')).toHaveLength(3);
+	});
+
+	it('clusters loose letters under their linked event in Ereignis mode (REQ-002/003)', () => {
+		const a = makeEntry({ documentId: 'a', linkedEventId: 'e1', eventDate: '1915-03-01' });
+		const b = makeEntry({ documentId: 'b', linkedEventId: 'e1', eventDate: '1915-04-01' });
+		render(YearBand, {
+			year: makeYear(1915, [a, b]),
+			groupingMode: 'event',
+			eventLookup: new Map([['e1', 'Briefe von der Front']])
+		});
+		expect(document.querySelectorAll('[data-testid="letter-bucket"]')).toHaveLength(1);
+		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain('Briefe von der Front');
+		// no alternating individual letter rows in grouped mode
+		expect(document.querySelector('.letter-row')).toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('still renders the event world-band in Ereignis mode (REQ-001)', () => {
+		const band = makeEntry({
+			kind: 'EVENT',
+			type: 'HISTORICAL',
+			precision: 'RANGE',
+			eventDate: '1914-01-01',
+			eventDateEnd: '1918-12-31',
+			title: 'Erster Weltkrieg',
+			senderName: '',
+			receiverName: '',
+			documentId: undefined
+		});
+		const letter = makeEntry({ documentId: 'a', linkedEventId: 'e1', eventDate: '1914-05-01' });
+		render(YearBand, {
+			year: makeYear(1914, [band, letter]),
+			groupingMode: 'event',
+			eventLookup: new Map([['e1', 'Front']])
+		});
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="world-range"]')).not.toBeNull();
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="letter-bucket"]')).not.toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('buckets loose letters under their root tag in Thema mode (REQ-004)', () => {
+		const a = makeEntry({
+			documentId: 'a',
+			rootTagId: 't1',
+			rootTagName: 'Krieg',
+			rootTagColor: 'sienna',
+			eventDate: '1915-03-01'
+		});
+		render(YearBand, { year: makeYear(1915, [a]), groupingMode: 'thema', eventLookup: new Map() });
+		const chip = document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-header-chip"]');
+		expect(chip?.textContent).toContain('Krieg');
+	});
+
+	it('nests an event cluster under its pill in the same year without repeating the title (#827)', () => {
+		const pill = makeEntry({
+			kind: 'EVENT',
+			type: 'PERSONAL',
+			derived: false,
+			eventId: 'e1',
+			title: 'Ein gewaltiger Stadtbrand',
+			eventDate: '1916-07-06',
+			senderName: '',
+			receiverName: '',
+			documentId: undefined
+		});
+		const letter = makeEntry({ documentId: 'a', linkedEventId: 'e1', eventDate: '1916-07-06' });
+		render(YearBand, {
+			year: makeYear(1916, [pill, letter]),
+			groupingMode: 'event',
+			eventLookup: new Map([['e1', 'Ein gewaltiger Stadtbrand']])
+		});
+		// the title appears exactly once — on the axis pill, NOT also as a bucket header
+		const occurrences =
+			(document.body.textContent ?? '').split('Ein gewaltiger Stadtbrand').length - 1;
+		expect(occurrences).toBe(1);
+		// the letter is still clustered (nested under the pill) as the event-letter card
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="letter-bucket"]')).not.toBeNull();
+		expect(document.querySelector('a.lcard.ev')).not.toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('keeps a header on an event cluster whose pill is in another year (#827)', () => {
+		// the letter links to e1, but e1's pill lives in a different band — so the cluster
+		// keeps its own header here (no pill nearby to duplicate).
+		const letter = makeEntry({ documentId: 'a', linkedEventId: 'e1', eventDate: '1917-02-01' });
+		render(YearBand, {
+			year: makeYear(1917, [letter]),
+			groupingMode: 'event',
+			eventLookup: new Map([['e1', 'Briefe von der Front']])
+		});
+		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain('Briefe von der Front');
+	});
+});
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/grouping-event-layer-identity.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/grouping-event-layer-identity.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { cleanup, render } from 'vitest-browser-svelte';
+import TimelineView from './TimelineView.svelte';
+import { makeEntry, makeYear, makeTimelineDTO } from './test-factories';
+import type { GroupingMode } from './timelineGrouping';
+
+afterEach(() => cleanup());
+
+const worldBand = (title: string) =>
+	makeEntry({
+		kind: 'EVENT',
+		type: 'HISTORICAL',
+		derived: false,
+		precision: 'RANGE',
+		eventDate: '1914-01-01',
+		eventDateEnd: '1918-12-31',
+		eventId: 'h1',
+		title,
+		senderName: '',
+		receiverName: '',
+		documentId: undefined
+	});
+
+const eventPill = (title: string) =>
+	makeEntry({
+		kind: 'EVENT',
+		type: 'PERSONAL',
+		derived: false,
+		eventId: 'p1',
+		title,
+		senderName: '',
+		receiverName: '',
+		documentId: undefined
+	});
+
+// A signature of the axis-fixed event layer: the curated/world-band titles, the world-range
+// marker count, and the event-pill count — everything REQ-001 requires to stay constant when
+// only the loose letters re-bundle. (No pixel-diff harness in the repo; this is the structural
+// equivalent — the event-layer DOM is byte-for-byte built from the same entries in every mode.)
+function eventLayerSignature(): string {
+	const body = document.body.textContent ?? '';
+	return JSON.stringify({
+		weltkrieg: body.includes('Erster Weltkrieg'),
+		hochzeit: body.includes('Hochzeit'),
+		worldRange: document.querySelectorAll('[data-testid="world-range"]').length
+	});
+}
+
+const mixed = () =>
+	makeTimelineDTO({
+		years: [
+			makeYear(1915, [
+				worldBand('Erster Weltkrieg'),
+				eventPill('Hochzeit'),
+				makeEntry({ documentId: 'a', title: 'Brief A', linkedEventId: 'h1' }),
+				makeEntry({
+					documentId: 'b',
+					title: 'Brief B',
+					rootTagId: 't1',
+					rootTagName: 'Krieg',
+					rootTagColor: 'sienna'
+				})
+			])
+		]
+	});
+
+function signatureFor(mode: GroupingMode): string {
+	render(TimelineView, { timeline: mixed(), groupingMode: mode });
+	const sig = eventLayerSignature();
+	cleanup();
+	return sig;
+}
+
+describe('TimelineView event layer (REQ-001)', () => {
+	it('renders the event pills and world-bands identically across all three grouping modes', () => {
+		const dateSig = signatureFor('date');
+		const eventSig = signatureFor('event');
+		const themaSig = signatureFor('thema');
+
+		expect(eventSig).toBe(dateSig);
+		expect(themaSig).toBe(dateSig);
+		// sanity: the world-band actually rendered, so the assertion is not vacuously equal on ""
+		expect(dateSig).toContain('"worldRange":1');
+	});
+
+	it('regroups only the loose letters — buckets appear off Datum, not in it', () => {
+		render(TimelineView, { timeline: mixed(), groupingMode: 'date' });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="letter-bucket"]')).toBeNull();
+		cleanup();
+		render(TimelineView, { timeline: mixed(), groupingMode: 'event' });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="letter-bucket"]')).not.toBeNull();
+	});
+});
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timeline-no-raw-html.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timeline-no-raw-html.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import { readdirSync, readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+import { dirname, join } from 'node:path';
+
+const timelineDir = dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url));
+
+/**
+ * REQ-009 / CWE-79: the regroup touches every component under lib/timeline (the reused TagChip,
+ * the .lcard.ev card, and the new tinted bucket-header chip). Curator/import-derived text must
+ * always render through Svelte's default `{...}` escaping — never `{@html}`. This grep gate fails
+ * loudly the moment any timeline component reaches for the raw-HTML directive.
+ */
+describe('lib/timeline never uses {@html} (REQ-009)', () => {
+	it('no timeline component contains the raw-HTML directive', () => {
+		const components = readdirSync(timelineDir).filter((file) => file.endsWith('.svelte'));
+		expect(components.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+		const offenders = components.filter((file) =>
+			readFileSync(join(timelineDir, file), 'utf8').includes('{@html')
+		);
+		expect(offenders).toEqual([]);
+	});
+});
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineFilter.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineFilter.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import {
+	isDefaultState,
+	hiddenLayerCount,
+	filterTimeline,
+	ALL_LAYERS_ON,
+	type TimelineLayerFilters
+} from './timelineFilter';
+import { makeEntry, makeYear, makeTimelineDTO } from './test-factories';
+
+// Entry factories pinned to the three layers the filter discriminates (#780).
+const letter = (overrides = {}) => makeEntry({ kind: 'LETTER', ...overrides });
+
+const curatedPersonal = (overrides = {}) =>
+	makeEntry({
+		kind: 'EVENT',
+		type: 'PERSONAL',
+		derived: false,
+		documentId: undefined,
+		title: 'Umzug nach Berlin',
+		senderName: '',
+		receiverName: '',
+		...overrides
+	});
+
+// Derived life-events carry type=PERSONAL (issue #776 REQ-009) — they belong to
+// the Personal layer, not a fourth one.
+const derivedLifeEvent = (overrides = {}) =>
+	makeEntry({
+		kind: 'EVENT',
+		type: 'PERSONAL',
+		derived: true,
+		derivedType: 'BIRTH',
+		documentId: undefined,
+		title: 'Geburt',
+		senderName: '',
+		receiverName: '',
+		...overrides
+	});
+
+const historical = (overrides = {}) =>
+	makeEntry({
+		kind: 'EVENT',
+		type: 'HISTORICAL',
+		derived: false,
+		documentId: undefined,
+		title: 'Erster Weltkrieg',
+		senderName: '',
+		receiverName: '',
+		...overrides
+	});
+
+const off = (overrides: Partial<TimelineLayerFilters>): TimelineLayerFilters => ({
+	...ALL_LAYERS_ON,
+	...overrides
+});
+
+describe('isDefaultState (REQ-007)', () => {
+	it('is true when all three layers are on', () => {
+		expect(isDefaultState(ALL_LAYERS_ON)).toBe(true);
+	});
+
+	it('is false when any single layer is off', () => {
+		expect(isDefaultState(off({ personalOn: false }))).toBe(false);
+		expect(isDefaultState(off({ historicalOn: false }))).toBe(false);
+		expect(isDefaultState(off({ lettersOn: false }))).toBe(false);
+	});
+});
+
+describe('hiddenLayerCount (REQ-007)', () => {
+	it('is 0 in the default all-on state', () => {
+		expect(hiddenLayerCount(ALL_LAYERS_ON)).toBe(0);
+	});
+
+	it('counts each layer that is off', () => {
+		expect(hiddenLayerCount(off({ lettersOn: false }))).toBe(1);
+		expect(hiddenLayerCount(off({ personalOn: false, historicalOn: false }))).toBe(2);
+		expect(hiddenLayerCount({ personalOn: false, historicalOn: false, lettersOn: false })).toBe(3);
+	});
+});
+
+describe('filterTimeline', () => {
+	it('returns every entry unchanged in the default all-on state', () => {
+		const dto = makeTimelineDTO({
+			years: [makeYear(1915, [letter(), historical(), curatedPersonal()])],
+			undated: [letter({ documentId: 'u1' })]
+		});
+		const result = filterTimeline(dto, ALL_LAYERS_ON);
+		expect(result.years[0].entries).toHaveLength(3);
+		expect(result.undated).toHaveLength(1);
+	});
+
+	it('hides LETTER entries when lettersOn is false, keeping events (REQ-005)', () => {
+		const dto = makeTimelineDTO({
+			years: [makeYear(1915, [letter(), historical(), curatedPersonal()])],
+			undated: [letter({ documentId: 'u1' })]
+		});
+		const result = filterTimeline(dto, off({ lettersOn: false }));
+		expect(result.years[0].entries.every((e) => e.kind !== 'LETTER')).toBe(true);
+		expect(result.years[0].entries).toHaveLength(2);
+		expect(result.undated).toHaveLength(0);
+	});
+
+	it('hides HISTORICAL events when historicalOn is false, keeping personal + letters (REQ-004)', () => {
+		const dto = makeTimelineDTO({
+			years: [makeYear(1915, [letter(), historical(), curatedPersonal(), derivedLifeEvent()])]
+		});
+		const result = filterTimeline(dto, off({ historicalOn: false }));
+		const kept = result.years[0].entries;
+		expect(kept.some((e) => e.kind === 'EVENT' && e.type === 'HISTORICAL')).toBe(false);
+		expect(kept.some((e) => e.kind === 'LETTER')).toBe(true);
+		expect(kept.some((e) => e.kind === 'EVENT' && e.type === 'PERSONAL')).toBe(true);
+		expect(kept).toHaveLength(3);
+	});
+
+	it('hides personal events — curated and derived — when personalOn is false (REQ-003)', () => {
+		const dto = makeTimelineDTO({
+			years: [makeYear(1915, [letter(), historical(), curatedPersonal(), derivedLifeEvent()])]
+		});
+		const result = filterTimeline(dto, off({ personalOn: false }));
+		const kept = result.years[0].entries;
+		// neither the curated PERSONAL event nor the derived life-event survives
+		expect(kept.some((e) => e.kind === 'EVENT' && e.type === 'PERSONAL')).toBe(false);
+		expect(kept.some((e) => e.derived)).toBe(false);
+		// historical events and letters are untouched
+		expect(kept.some((e) => e.kind === 'EVENT' && e.type === 'HISTORICAL')).toBe(true);
+		expect(kept.some((e) => e.kind === 'LETTER')).toBe(true);
+		expect(kept).toHaveLength(2);
+	});
+
+	it('drops year bands that become empty and filters the undated bucket (REQ-006)', () => {
+		const dto = makeTimelineDTO({
+			years: [
+				makeYear(1915, [letter()]), // becomes empty when letters are hidden
+				makeYear(1918, [historical()]) // survives
+			],
+			undated: [letter({ documentId: 'u1' }), historical({ documentId: undefined })]
+		});
+		const result = filterTimeline(dto, off({ lettersOn: false }));
+		expect(result.years).toHaveLength(1);
+		expect(result.years[0].year).toBe(1918);
+		expect(result.undated.every((e) => e.kind !== 'LETTER')).toBe(true);
+		expect(result.undated).toHaveLength(1);
+	});
+
+	it('does not mutate the input timeline', () => {
+		const dto = makeTimelineDTO({ years: [makeYear(1915, [letter(), historical()])] });
+		filterTimeline(dto, off({ lettersOn: false }));
+		expect(dto.years[0].entries).toHaveLength(2);
+	});
+});
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineFilter.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineFilter.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+import type { components } from '$lib/generated/api';
+
+type TimelineDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineDTO'];
+type TimelineEntryDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineEntryDTO'];
+
+/**
+ * The three visibility layers a reader can toggle on the global `/zeitstrahl`
+ * (#780). Purely a presentation concern — the whole timeline is loaded once by
+ * #779; these toggles derive a client-side filtered view of it.
+ */
+export interface TimelineLayerFilters {
+	/** Personal events — curated `PERSONAL` events and derived life-events. */
+	personalOn: boolean;
+	/** Historical events (`type === 'HISTORICAL'`). */
+	historicalOn: boolean;
+	/** Letters (`kind === 'LETTER'`). */
+	lettersOn: boolean;
+}
+
+/** The default view: every layer visible. */
+export const ALL_LAYERS_ON: TimelineLayerFilters = {
+	personalOn: true,
+	historicalOn: true,
+	lettersOn: true
+};
+
+/** True when no layer is hidden — the default, all-on state (REQ-007). */
+export function isDefaultState(filters: TimelineLayerFilters): boolean {
+	return filters.personalOn && filters.historicalOn && filters.lettersOn;
+}
+
+/** How many layers are currently hidden — the "N active" trigger count (REQ-007). */
+export function hiddenLayerCount(filters: TimelineLayerFilters): number {
+	return (
+		(filters.personalOn ? 0 : 1) + (filters.historicalOn ? 0 : 1) + (filters.lettersOn ? 0 : 1)
+	);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Decides whether one entry survives the active layer toggles. A letter rides
+ * the Letters layer; a historical event the Historical layer; everything else
+ * (curated `PERSONAL` events and derived life-events, which also carry
+ * `type === 'PERSONAL'`) the Personal layer.
+ */
+function isVisible(entry: TimelineEntryDTO, filters: TimelineLayerFilters): boolean {
+	if (entry.kind === 'LETTER') return filters.lettersOn;
+	if (entry.type === 'HISTORICAL') return filters.historicalOn;
+	return filters.personalOn;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Derives a client-side filtered copy of the timeline (REQ-003/004/005/006).
+ * Year bands left empty by the active toggles are dropped so `TimelineView`
+ * never renders a hollow band, and the undated bucket is filtered the same way.
+ * Pure — the input DTO is never mutated.
+ */
+export function filterTimeline(timeline: TimelineDTO, filters: TimelineLayerFilters): TimelineDTO {
+	const years = timeline.years
+		.map((band) => ({ ...band, entries: band.entries.filter((e) => isVisible(e, filters)) }))
+		.filter((band) => band.entries.length > 0);
+	const undated = timeline.undated.filter((e) => isVisible(e, filters));
+	return { years, undated };
+}
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineFilterBoundary.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineFilterBoundary.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import { readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+
+// REQ-001/002: the layer filter is presentation-only and fully client-side. It
+// must never navigate or fetch — the route derives the filtered view from
+// already-loaded data. This static guard mirrors the project's existing
+// grep-gates (e.g. the no-`{@html}` checks) and fails the build if a future
+// edit reintroduces navigation or a network call into either file.
+const read = (relative: string) =>
+	readFileSync(fileURLToPath(new URL(relative, import.meta.url)), 'utf8');
+
+const FILES = {
+	'TimelineFilters.svelte': read('./TimelineFilters.svelte'),
+	'/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte': read('../../routes/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte')
+};
+
+const FORBIDDEN: { label: string; pattern: RegExp }[] = [
+	{ label: 'goto(', pattern: /\bgoto\s*\(/ },
+	{ label: 'url.searchParams', pattern: /url\.searchParams/ },
+	{ label: 'api.GET', pattern: /\bapi\.GET\b/ },
+	{ label: 'fetch(', pattern: /\bfetch\s*\(/ }
+];
+
+describe('layer-filter boundary (REQ-001/002)', () => {
+	for (const [name, source] of Object.entries(FILES)) {
+		it(`${name} was found and is non-empty`, () => {
+			expect(source.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+		});
+
+		for (const { label, pattern } of FORBIDDEN) {
+			it(`${name} contains no ${label}`, () => {
+				expect(pattern.test(source), `${name} must not use ${label}`).toBe(false);
+			});
+		}
+	}
+});
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import { buildEventLookup, bucketLetters, hasLooseLetters } from './timelineGrouping';
+import { makeEntry, makeYear, makeTimelineDTO } from './test-factories';
+
+// Entry factories pinned to the shapes the grouping transform discriminates (#827).
+const letter = (overrides = {}) => makeEntry({ kind: 'LETTER', ...overrides });
+
+const curatedEvent = (id: string, title: string, overrides = {}) =>
+	makeEntry({
+		kind: 'EVENT',
+		type: 'PERSONAL',
+		derived: false,
+		documentId: undefined,
+		eventId: id,
+		title,
+		senderName: '',
+		receiverName: '',
+		...overrides
+	});
+
+describe('buildEventLookup (REQ-019)', () => {
+	it('collects curated events (eventId set) from year bands and the undated bucket', () => {
+		const dto = makeTimelineDTO({
+			years: [makeYear(1915, [curatedEvent('e1', 'Briefe von der Front'), letter()])],
+			undated: [curatedEvent('e2', 'Unbekanntes Ereignis')]
+		});
+		const lookup = buildEventLookup(dto);
+		expect(lookup.get('e1')).toBe('Briefe von der Front');
+		expect(lookup.get('e2')).toBe('Unbekanntes Ereignis');
+		expect(lookup.size).toBe(2);
+	});
+
+	it('ignores letters and derived life-events (no eventId)', () => {
+		const dto = makeTimelineDTO({
+			years: [
+				makeYear(1915, [
+					letter({ linkedEventId: 'e1' }),
+					makeEntry({ kind: 'EVENT', type: 'PERSONAL', derived: true, eventId: undefined })
+				])
+			]
+		});
+		expect(buildEventLookup(dto).size).toBe(0);
+	});
+});
+
+describe('hasLooseLetters (REQ-018)', () => {
+	it('is true when a year band or the undated bucket holds a letter', () => {
+		expect(hasLooseLetters(makeTimelineDTO({ years: [makeYear(1915, [letter()])] }))).toBe(true);
+		expect(hasLooseLetters(makeTimelineDTO({ undated: [letter({ documentId: 'u1' })] }))).toBe(
+			true
+		);
+	});
+
+	it('is false when only events remain', () => {
+		const dto = makeTimelineDTO({ years: [makeYear(1915, [curatedEvent('e1', 'Ereignis')])] });
+		expect(hasLooseLetters(dto)).toBe(false);
+	});
+});
+
+describe('bucketLetters — Ereignis mode (REQ-003/006/019)', () => {
+	const lookup = new Map([
+		['e1', 'Briefe von der Front'],
+		['e2', 'Weihnachten 1915']
+	]);
+
+	it('clusters letters under the curated event named by linkedEventId, with matching counts', () => {
+		const letters = [
+			letter({ documentId: 'a', linkedEventId: 'e1' }),
+			letter({ documentId: 'b', linkedEventId: 'e1' }),
+			letter({ documentId: 'c', linkedEventId: 'e2' })
+		];
+		const buckets = bucketLetters(letters, 'event', lookup);
+		const front = buckets.find((b) => b.title === 'Briefe von der Front');
+		expect(front?.kind).toBe('event');
+		expect(front?.letters).toHaveLength(2);
+		expect(buckets.find((b) => b.title === 'Weihnachten 1915')?.letters).toHaveLength(1);
+	});
+
+	it('drops a letter with no linkedEventId into the fallback bucket (REQ-006)', () => {
+		const letters = [letter({ documentId: 'a', linkedEventId: undefined })];
+		const buckets = bucketLetters(letters, 'event', lookup);
+		expect(buckets).toHaveLength(1);
+		expect(buckets[0].kind).toBe('fallback');
+		expect(buckets[0].letters).toHaveLength(1);
+	});
+
+	it('drops a letter whose linked event is absent from the lookup into fallback (REQ-019)', () => {
+		// e9 is not in the filtered view (its layer was toggled off) → no cluster.
+		const letters = [letter({ documentId: 'a', linkedEventId: 'e9' })];
+		const buckets = bucketLetters(letters, 'event', lookup);
+		expect(buckets).toHaveLength(1);
+		expect(buckets[0].kind).toBe('fallback');
+	});
+
+	it('keeps the fallback bucket last', () => {
+		const letters = [
+			letter({ documentId: 'a', linkedEventId: undefined }),
+			letter({ documentId: 'b', linkedEventId: 'e1' })
+		];
+		const buckets = bucketLetters(letters, 'event', lookup);
+		expect(buckets[buckets.length - 1].kind).toBe('fallback');
+	});
+});
+
+describe('bucketLetters — Thema mode (REQ-004/007/008)', () => {
+	const noEvents = new Map<string, string>();
+
+	it('buckets letters under their primary root tag with name and colour', () => {
+		const letters = [
+			letter({ documentId: 'a', rootTagId: 't1', rootTagName: 'Krieg', rootTagColor: 'sienna' }),
+			letter({ documentId: 'b', rootTagId: 't1', rootTagName: 'Krieg', rootTagColor: 'sienna' }),
+			letter({
+				documentId: 'c',
+				rootTagId: 't2',
+				rootTagName: 'Weihnachten',
+				rootTagColor: 'amber'
+			})
+		];
+		const buckets = bucketLetters(letters, 'thema', noEvents);
+		const krieg = buckets.find((b) => b.title === 'Krieg');
+		expect(krieg?.kind).toBe('tag');
+		expect(krieg?.color).toBe('sienna');
+		expect(krieg?.letters).toHaveLength(2);
+		expect(buckets.find((b) => b.title === 'Weihnachten')?.color).toBe('amber');
+	});
+
+	it('drops an untagged letter into the "Ohne Thema" fallback bucket (REQ-007)', () => {
+		const letters = [letter({ documentId: 'a', rootTagId: undefined })];
+		const buckets = bucketLetters(letters, 'thema', noEvents);
+		expect(buckets).toHaveLength(1);
+		expect(buckets[0].kind).toBe('fallback');
+		expect(buckets[0].color).toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('places a letter in exactly one bucket (REQ-008)', () => {
+		const letters = [
+			letter({ documentId: 'a', rootTagId: 't1', rootTagName: 'Krieg', rootTagColor: 'sienna' })
+		];
+		const buckets = bucketLetters(letters, 'thema', noEvents);
+		const occurrences = buckets.flatMap((b) => b.letters).filter((l) => l.documentId === 'a');
+		expect(occurrences).toHaveLength(1);
+	});
+
+	it('carries a null colour through for a colourless root tag', () => {
+		const letters = [
+			letter({
+				documentId: 'a',
+				rootTagId: 't3',
+				rootTagName: 'Allgemein',
+				rootTagColor: undefined
+			})
+		];
+		const buckets = bucketLetters(letters, 'thema', noEvents);
+		expect(buckets[0].kind).toBe('tag');
+		expect(buckets[0].color).toBeNull();
+	});
+});
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+import type { components } from '$lib/generated/api';
+
+type TimelineDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineDTO'];
+type TimelineEntryDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineEntryDTO'];
+
+/**
+ * The three ways a reader can bundle the loose letters on `/zeitstrahl` (#827). The
+ * axis-fixed layers (life-events, event pills, world-bands) are identical in every mode
+ * — only loose-letter bundling changes. Grouping runs over the *already layer-filtered*
+ * timeline (#780): filter-then-group.
+ */
+export type GroupingMode = 'date' | 'event' | 'thema';
+
+/** The default mode — chronological, as #779 shipped. */
+export const DEFAULT_GROUPING: GroupingMode = 'date';
+
+/**
+ * A bucket larger than this collapses to a month-density strip instead of flooding the
+ * timeline with individual cards (#827) — the catch-all "Weitere Briefe"/"Ohne Thema"
+ * buckets are always the biggest, so without this they swamp the grouped view. Lower than
+ * Datum mode's `DENSE_THRESHOLD` (12) because a bucket is a narrower context than a year.
+ */
+export const BUCKET_DENSE_THRESHOLD = 6;
+
+export function isBucketDense(letterCount: number): boolean {
+	return letterCount > BUCKET_DENSE_THRESHOLD;
+}
+
+/** The `--c-tag-*` colour-name tokens (sage/sienna/…); shared by the chip and the rail. */
+const TAG_COLOR_TOKENS = new Set([
+	'sage',
+	'sienna',
+	'amber',
+	'slate',
+	'violet',
+	'rose',
+	'cobalt',
+	'moss',
+	'sand',
+	'coral'
+]);
+
+/**
+ * Maps a root-tag colour-name token to its CSS variable reference, or `null` for an absent
+ * or unknown token (so a colourless/unrecognised tag falls back to a neutral rail, never a
+ * broken `var(--c-tag-undefined)`).
+ */
+export function tagColorVar(token: string | null | undefined): string | null {
+	return token && TAG_COLOR_TOKENS.has(token) ? `var(--c-tag-${token})` : null;
+}
+
+/**
+ * One bundle of loose letters under a single header, within a year (Ereignis/Thema modes).
+ * `kind` decides the header: a curated-event title, a tinted root-tag chip, or the localized
+ * fallback ("Weitere Briefe" / "Ohne Thema") the view supplies for `kind === 'fallback'`.
+ */
+export interface LetterBucket {
+	/** Stable `{#each}` key, unique within a year's bucket list. */
+	key: string;
+	kind: 'event' | 'tag' | 'fallback';
+	/** Header label for `event`/`tag` buckets; absent for `fallback` (view supplies a localized label). */
+	title?: string;
+	/** Root-tag colour token for a `tag` bucket; `null` for `event`/`fallback` (neutral). */
+	color: string | null;
+	letters: TimelineEntryDTO[];
+}
+
+/**
+ * Maps each curated event present in the (already-filtered) timeline to its title. These are the
+ * only events a letter may cluster under — a letter whose `linkedEventId` is absent here links to
+ * an event the layer filter removed, so it falls back to "Weitere Briefe" (filter-then-group,
+ * REQ-019). Curated events carry an `eventId`; derived life-events and letters do not.
+ */
+export function buildEventLookup(timeline: TimelineDTO): Map<string, string> {
+	const lookup = new Map<string, string>();
+	const collect = (entries: TimelineEntryDTO[]) => {
+		for (const entry of entries) {
+			if (entry.kind === 'EVENT' && entry.eventId) lookup.set(entry.eventId, entry.title ?? '');
+		}
+	};
+	for (const band of timeline.years) collect(band.entries);
+	collect(timeline.undated);
+	return lookup;
+}
+
+/**
+ * True when the timeline still holds at least one loose letter. Drives the grouping control's
+ * enabled state: with the Letters layer filtered off there is nothing to regroup (REQ-018).
+ */
+export function hasLooseLetters(timeline: TimelineDTO): boolean {
+	const holdsLetter = (entries: TimelineEntryDTO[]) => entries.some((e) => e.kind === 'LETTER');
+	return timeline.years.some((band) => holdsLetter(band.entries)) || holdsLetter(timeline.undated);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Buckets one year's loose letters for Ereignis/Thema mode. The caller passes only that year's
+ * `LETTER` entries; events stay on the axis untouched (REQ-001). Buckets keep first-seen order and
+ * the fallback bucket, if any, always sorts last.
+ *
+ * - `event`: cluster under `linkedEventId` when it is set AND survives in `eventLookup`; otherwise
+ *   the fallback "Weitere Briefe" bucket (REQ-003/006/019).
+ * - `thema`: bucket under `rootTagId` (header = `rootTagName`, tint = `rootTagColor`); an untagged
+ *   letter goes to the fallback "Ohne Thema" bucket (REQ-004/007). A letter carries exactly one
+ *   `rootTagId`, so it lands in exactly one bucket (REQ-008).
+ */
+export function bucketLetters(
+	letters: TimelineEntryDTO[],
+	mode: Exclude<GroupingMode, 'date'>,
+	eventLookup: Map<string, string>
+): LetterBucket[] {
+	const byKey = new Map<string, LetterBucket>();
+	let fallback: LetterBucket | null = null;
+
+	const fallbackBucket = (): LetterBucket => {
+		if (!fallback) fallback = { key: '__fallback__', kind: 'fallback', color: null, letters: [] };
+		return fallback;
+	};
+
+	const namedBucket = (id: string, build: () => LetterBucket): LetterBucket => {
+		let bucket = byKey.get(id);
+		if (!bucket) {
+			bucket = build();
+			byKey.set(id, bucket);
+		}
+		return bucket;
+	};
+
+	for (const letter of letters) {
+		if (mode === 'event') {
+			const id = letter.linkedEventId;
+			if (id && eventLookup.has(id)) {
+				namedBucket(id, () => ({
+					key: `event:${id}`,
+					kind: 'event',
+					title: eventLookup.get(id),
+					color: null,
+					letters: []
+				})).letters.push(letter);
+			} else {
+				fallbackBucket().letters.push(letter);
+			}
+		} else {
+			const id = letter.rootTagId;
+			if (id) {
+				namedBucket(id, () => ({
+					key: `tag:${id}`,
+					kind: 'tag',
+					title: letter.rootTagName ?? '',
+					color: letter.rootTagColor ?? null,
+					letters: []
+				})).letters.push(letter);
+			} else {
+				fallbackBucket().letters.push(letter);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	const buckets = [...byKey.values()];
+	if (fallback) buckets.push(fallback);
+	return buckets;
+}
--- a/frontend/src/routes/persons/[id]/PersonCard.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/persons/[id]/PersonCard.svelte
@@ -128,7 +128,8 @@ const deathText = $derived(formatLifeDate(person.deathDate, person.deathDatePrec
 			</div>
 		{/if}

-		<!-- Edit button — full width, outlined -->
+		<!-- Curator actions — full width, outlined. Both links are gated to
+		     WRITE_ALL; the gate is UX only (the #781 route guard is the boundary). -->
 		{#if canWrite}
 			<a
 				href="/persons/{person.id}/edit"
@@ -142,6 +143,15 @@ const deathText = $derived(formatLifeDate(person.deathDate, person.deathDatePrec
 				/>
 				{m.btn_edit()}
 			</a>
+			<!-- Opens #781's create form pre-seeded with this person; on save it
+			     returns to /persons/{id} (originPersonId). #842 REQ-003/010. -->
+			<a
+				data-testid="person-add-event"
+				href="/zeitstrahl/events/new?personId={person.id}"
+				class="mt-2 flex min-h-[44px] w-full items-center justify-center rounded border border-line px-3 py-2 font-sans text-xs font-bold tracking-widest text-ink-2 uppercase transition-colors hover:border-primary hover:text-ink"
+			>
+				{m.person_add_event()}
+			</a>
 		{/if}
 	</div>
 </div>
--- a/frontend/src/routes/persons/[id]/PersonCard.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/persons/[id]/PersonCard.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { cleanup, render } from 'vitest-browser-svelte';
+import PersonCard from './PersonCard.svelte';
+
+afterEach(() => cleanup());
+
+const PERSON_ID = '55555555-5555-5555-5555-555555555555';
+
+const makePerson = (overrides = {}) => ({
+	id: PERSON_ID,
+	firstName: 'Karl',
+	lastName: 'Raddatz',
+	displayName: 'Karl Raddatz',
+	personType: 'PERSON',
+	...overrides
+});
+
+describe('PersonCard add-event affordance (#842)', () => {
+	it('shows an add-event link pre-seeded with the person to a curator (REQ-003)', () => {
+		render(PersonCard, { person: makePerson(), canWrite: true });
+		const add = document.querySelector(
+			'[data-testid="person-add-event"]'
+		) as HTMLAnchorElement | null;
+		expect(add).not.toBeNull();
+		expect(add?.getAttribute('href')).toBe(`/zeitstrahl/events/new?personId=${PERSON_ID}`);
+	});
+
+	it('renders no add-event link to a reader (REQ-004)', () => {
+		render(PersonCard, { person: makePerson(), canWrite: false });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="person-add-event"]')).toBeNull();
+	});
+});
--- a/frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte
@@ -1,14 +1,50 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
 import TimelineView from '$lib/timeline/TimelineView.svelte';
+import TimelineFilters from '$lib/timeline/TimelineFilters.svelte';
+import GroupingControl from '$lib/timeline/GroupingControl.svelte';
 import { timelineMeta } from '$lib/timeline/timelineMeta';
+import { filterTimeline } from '$lib/timeline/timelineFilter';
+import { hasLooseLetters, type GroupingMode } from '$lib/timeline/timelineGrouping';
 import type { PageData } from './$types';

 let { data }: { data: PageData } = $props();

-const meta = $derived(timelineMeta(data.timeline));
 const hasContent = $derived(data.timeline.years.length > 0 || data.timeline.undated.length > 0);

+// Layer-filter state (#780). Layer hiding is client-side only — the whole
+// timeline is loaded once by #779's SSR load and we derive a filtered view of
+// it here; there is no goto, no URL param, and no extra fetch.
+let personalOn = $state(true);
+let historicalOn = $state(true);
+let lettersOn = $state(true);
+
+// Grouping state (#827) lives here beside the layer-filter state; the regroup is a
+// pure client-side transform over the already-filtered view — filter-then-group.
+let groupingMode = $state<GroupingMode>('date');
+
+const filteredTimeline = $derived(
+	filterTimeline(data.timeline, { personalOn, historicalOn, lettersOn })
+);
+const filteredEmpty = $derived(
+	filteredTimeline.years.length === 0 && filteredTimeline.undated.length === 0
+);
+// The grouping control is only meaningful while loose letters remain in the filtered
+// view; with the Letters layer off there is nothing to regroup, so it disables but
+// keeps its selected mode (REQ-018).
+const hasLetters = $derived(hasLooseLetters(filteredTimeline));
+
+// Meta-line figures track the *filtered* view, so the header counts always
+// match what is actually on screen once layers are toggled off (#780 — this
+// closes the prior D1 limitation, where the counts stayed on the full timeline).
+const meta = $derived(timelineMeta(filteredTimeline));
+
+function resetFilters() {
+	personalOn = true;
+	historicalOn = true;
+	lettersOn = true;
+}
+
 // Compose the sub-line from segments joined by " · " so the range drops out
 // cleanly when there are no year bands; the whole line is absent when the
 // timeline is empty (REQ-002). Counts come from the route alone, never from
@@ -34,7 +70,13 @@ const metaLine = $derived.by(() => {
 				: m.timeline_events_count({ count: meta.eventCount })
 		);
 	}
-	segments.push(m.timeline_grouping_date());
+	segments.push(
+		groupingMode === 'event'
+			? m.timeline_grouping_event()
+			: groupingMode === 'thema'
+				? m.timeline_grouping_thema()
+				: m.timeline_grouping_date()
+	);
 	return segments.join(' · ');
 });
 </script>
@@ -48,10 +90,56 @@ const metaLine = $derived.by(() => {
 	     border is intentionally omitted (the page is already bg-canvas), per the
 	     review of REQ-001 — the sheet reads through its padding, not a frame line. -->
 	<div data-testid="timeline-canvas" class="rounded-[10px] bg-canvas p-6">
-		<h1 class="font-serif text-2xl font-bold text-brand-navy">{m.timeline_heading()}</h1>
+		<!-- Wrapping header so the CTA drops below the heading at narrow widths
+		     (≤360px) instead of overflowing — #842 REQ-001. -->
+		<header class="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-3">
+			<h1 class="font-serif text-2xl font-bold text-brand-navy">{m.timeline_heading()}</h1>
+			{#if data.canWrite}
+				<a
+					data-testid="timeline-add-event"
+					href="/zeitstrahl/events/new"
+					class="inline-flex h-11 items-center rounded bg-primary px-4 font-sans text-sm font-medium text-primary-fg hover:opacity-90 focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-focus-ring"
+				>
+					{m.timeline_add_event()}
+				</a>
+			{/if}
+		</header>
 		{#if hasContent}
-			<p data-testid="timeline-meta" class="mt-1 mb-6 font-sans text-xs text-ink-3">{metaLine}</p>
+			<p data-testid="timeline-meta" class="mt-1 mb-3 font-sans text-xs text-ink-3">{metaLine}</p>
+			<!-- Grouping toggle stacked above the #780 layer-filter trigger so the two read as
+			     one control cluster in the header (REQ-010); the top-right corner stays the
+			     add-event CTA. Disabled — but kept in place — when no loose letters remain
+			     (REQ-018). -->
+			<div class="mb-3" data-testid="grouping-cluster">
+				<GroupingControl bind:mode={groupingMode} disabled={!hasLetters} />
+			</div>
+			<TimelineFilters
+				bind:personalOn={personalOn}
+				bind:historicalOn={historicalOn}
+				bind:lettersOn={lettersOn}
+			/>
+		{/if}
+		{#if hasContent && filteredEmpty}
+			<!-- Filtered-empty: a calm message + one-click reset below the still-open
+			     filter bar — never a blank page, and never the generic "no events"
+			     state (which would imply the archive itself is empty). REQ-006. -->
+			<div data-testid="timeline-filter-empty" class="py-12 text-center">
+				<p class="font-serif text-base text-ink-2">{m.timeline_filter_empty_state()}</p>
+				<button
+					type="button"
+					data-testid="timeline-filter-empty-reset"
+					onclick={resetFilters}
+					class="mt-3 inline-flex min-h-[44px] items-center font-sans text-sm text-primary underline-offset-2 hover:underline"
+				>
+					{m.timeline_filter_reset()}
+				</button>
+			</div>
+		{:else}
+			<TimelineView
+				timeline={filteredTimeline}
+				canWrite={data.canWrite}
+				groupingMode={groupingMode}
+			/>
 		{/if}
-		<TimelineView timeline={data.timeline} />
 	</div>
 </div>
--- a/frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/page.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/page.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
 import { cleanup, render } from 'vitest-browser-svelte';
+import { page } from 'vitest/browser';
 import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
 import Page from './+page.svelte';
 import { makeEntry, makeYear, makeTimelineDTO } from '$lib/timeline/test-factories';
@@ -111,3 +112,214 @@ describe('/zeitstrahl page', () => {
 		expect(sub?.textContent).not.toContain(m.timeline_events_count({ count: 1 }));
 	});
 });
+
+describe('/zeitstrahl layer filter (#780)', () => {
+	const letter = (title: string, documentId: string) => makeEntry({ documentId, title });
+	const historical = (title: string) =>
+		makeEntry({
+			kind: 'EVENT',
+			type: 'HISTORICAL',
+			derived: false,
+			eventId: 'h1',
+			documentId: undefined,
+			title,
+			senderName: '',
+			receiverName: ''
+		});
+	const personal = (title: string) =>
+		makeEntry({
+			kind: 'EVENT',
+			type: 'PERSONAL',
+			derived: false,
+			eventId: 'p1',
+			documentId: undefined,
+			title,
+			senderName: '',
+			receiverName: ''
+		});
+
+	const mixed = () =>
+		makeTimelineDTO({
+			years: [
+				makeYear(1915, [
+					letter('Brief Eins', 'd1'),
+					historical('Erster Weltkrieg'),
+					personal('Umzug nach Berlin')
+				])
+			]
+		});
+
+	async function openBar() {
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-trigger').click();
+	}
+
+	it('hides letter cards when the Letters layer is off and restores them, with no fetch (REQ-005/002)', async () => {
+		render(Page, { data: pageData(mixed()) });
+		await expect.element(page.getByText('Brief Eins')).toBeVisible();
+		await openBar();
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-letters').click();
+		await expect.poll(() => page.getByText('Brief Eins').query()).toBeNull();
+		await expect.element(page.getByText('Umzug nach Berlin')).toBeVisible();
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-letters').click();
+		await expect.element(page.getByText('Brief Eins')).toBeVisible();
+	});
+
+	it('hides historical event cards when the Historical layer is off (REQ-004)', async () => {
+		render(Page, { data: pageData(mixed()) });
+		await openBar();
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-historical').click();
+		await expect.poll(() => page.getByText('Erster Weltkrieg').query()).toBeNull();
+		await expect.element(page.getByText('Brief Eins')).toBeVisible();
+		await expect.element(page.getByText('Umzug nach Berlin')).toBeVisible();
+	});
+
+	it('hides personal event cards when the Personal layer is off (REQ-003)', async () => {
+		render(Page, { data: pageData(mixed()) });
+		await openBar();
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-personal').click();
+		await expect.poll(() => page.getByText('Umzug nach Berlin').query()).toBeNull();
+		await expect.element(page.getByText('Brief Eins')).toBeVisible();
+		await expect.element(page.getByText('Erster Weltkrieg')).toBeVisible();
+	});
+
+	it('shows the filtered-empty message + reset below the open bar when all layers are off (REQ-006)', async () => {
+		render(Page, { data: pageData(mixed()) });
+		await openBar();
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-personal').click();
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-historical').click();
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-letters').click();
+		await expect.element(page.getByText(m.timeline_filter_empty_state())).toBeVisible();
+		await expect.element(page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-empty-reset')).toBeVisible();
+		// the generic TimelineView empty state is never what shows for a filtered-empty view
+		expect(page.getByText(m.timeline_empty_state()).query()).toBeNull();
+		// the one-click reset restores every layer
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-empty-reset').click();
+		await expect.element(page.getByText('Brief Eins')).toBeVisible();
+	});
+
+	it('recomputes the meta-line counts from the filtered view, so a hidden layer drops out of the totals (#780, resolves D1)', async () => {
+		render(Page, { data: pageData(mixed()) });
+		const meta = page.getByTestId('timeline-meta');
+		// all layers on → the one letter and the two events are counted
+		await expect.element(meta).toHaveTextContent(m.timeline_letters_count_singular());
+		await expect.element(meta).toHaveTextContent(m.timeline_events_count({ count: 2 }));
+
+		await openBar();
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-letters').click();
+
+		// the hidden letter leaves the count instead of lingering as "1 Brief";
+		// the event total is untouched
+		await expect.element(meta).not.toHaveTextContent(m.timeline_letters_count_singular());
+		await expect.element(meta).toHaveTextContent(m.timeline_events_count({ count: 2 }));
+	});
+});
+
+describe('/zeitstrahl curator affordances (#842)', () => {
+	const curated = (eventId: string) =>
+		makeEntry({
+			kind: 'EVENT',
+			type: 'PERSONAL',
+			derived: false,
+			eventId,
+			title: 'Auswanderung',
+			senderName: '',
+			receiverName: '',
+			documentId: undefined
+		});
+
+	const withWrite = (timeline: ReturnType<typeof makeTimelineDTO>) => ({
+		...pageData(timeline),
+		canWrite: true
+	});
+
+	it('renders the add-event CTA in a wrapping header when the viewer can write (REQ-001)', () => {
+		render(Page, { data: withWrite(makeTimelineDTO({ years: [makeYear(1909, [makeEntry()])] })) });
+		const add = document.querySelector(
+			'[data-testid="timeline-add-event"]'
+		) as HTMLAnchorElement | null;
+		expect(add).not.toBeNull();
+		expect(add?.getAttribute('href')).toBe('/zeitstrahl/events/new');
+		// The header wraps so the CTA drops below the heading at narrow widths (≤360px)
+		// rather than overflowing — REQ-001.
+		expect(add?.closest('header')?.classList.contains('flex-wrap')).toBe(true);
+	});
+
+	it('renders no add-event CTA when the viewer cannot write (REQ-002)', () => {
+		render(Page, {
+			data: pageData(makeTimelineDTO({ years: [makeYear(1909, [makeEntry()])] }))
+		});
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="timeline-add-event"]')).toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('threads canWrite to the timeline so a curator sees an event edit link (REQ-001/009)', () => {
+		render(Page, {
+			data: withWrite(makeTimelineDTO({ years: [makeYear(1924, [curated('p9')])] }))
+		});
+		expect(document.querySelector('a[href="/zeitstrahl/events/p9/edit"]')).not.toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('shows no event edit link to a reader (REQ-007)', () => {
+		render(Page, {
+			data: pageData(makeTimelineDTO({ years: [makeYear(1924, [curated('p9')])] }))
+		});
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="event-edit"]')).toBeNull();
+	});
+});
+
+describe('/zeitstrahl grouping toggle (#827)', () => {
+	const historical = () =>
+		makeEntry({
+			kind: 'EVENT',
+			type: 'HISTORICAL',
+			derived: false,
+			eventId: 'h1',
+			documentId: undefined,
+			title: 'Erster Weltkrieg',
+			senderName: '',
+			receiverName: ''
+		});
+	const mixed = () =>
+		makeTimelineDTO({
+			years: [
+				makeYear(1915, [
+					makeEntry({ documentId: 'd1', title: 'Brief Eins', linkedEventId: 'h1' }),
+					historical()
+				])
+			]
+		});
+	const radio = (value: string) => document.querySelector(`[data-value="${value}"]`) as HTMLElement;
+
+	it('updates the meta-line grouping label when a mode is chosen (REQ-016)', async () => {
+		render(Page, { data: pageData(mixed()) });
+		const meta = page.getByTestId('timeline-meta');
+		await expect.element(meta).toHaveTextContent(m.timeline_grouping_date());
+		radio('event').click();
+		await expect.element(meta).toHaveTextContent(m.timeline_grouping_event());
+		radio('thema').click();
+		await expect.element(meta).toHaveTextContent(m.timeline_grouping_thema());
+	});
+
+	it('regroups loose letters under their event client-side, no buckets in Datum (REQ-002/003)', async () => {
+		render(Page, { data: pageData(mixed()) });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="letter-bucket"]')).toBeNull();
+		radio('event').click();
+		await expect.element(page.getByTestId('letter-bucket')).toBeVisible();
+	});
+
+	it('disables the grouping control when the Letters layer is off, keeping the mode (REQ-018)', async () => {
+		render(Page, { data: pageData(mixed()) });
+		radio('thema').click();
+		const control = page.getByTestId('grouping-control');
+		await expect.element(control).toHaveAttribute('aria-disabled', 'false');
+		// turn the Letters layer off → nothing to regroup
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-trigger').click();
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-letters').click();
+		await expect.element(control).toHaveAttribute('aria-disabled', 'true');
+		// the chosen mode is retained for when letters return
+		expect(radio('thema').getAttribute('aria-checked')).toBe('true');
+		// re-enabling restores the enabled control with the same mode (no reset to Datum)
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-letters').click();
+		await expect.element(control).toHaveAttribute('aria-disabled', 'false');
+		expect(radio('thema').getAttribute('aria-checked')).toBe('true');
+	});
+});