Im thinking of doing a redguard character on my next playthrough, my question is would it be appropriate to make him a Ra Gada? If I did how old would he need to be?

The Ra Gada? About a millenium, I believe.

Their Warrior wave was in 1E 808 or so. He'd be dead by the time of the games.

So then make him a Forebear?

Is their a timeline somewhere of major events?

The http://www.imperial-library.info/content/tamriel-timeline over at TIL has all the events. If you're looking for Redguard specific stuff, I suggest the http://www.imperial-library.info/content/pocket-guide-empire-third-edition-ra-gada-hammerfell.