title: What is the best way to handle bc dates in .net / sql server?
body: <p>I'm planning to create a timeline application that stores and displays information for specific dates.
  For example: Aristotle 384 BC - 322 BC; but also ad dates like Immanuel Kant 22.04.1724 - 12.02.1804). </p>
  
  <p>I want to use a sql compact edition database. The datetime format allows dates from 1/1/1753 12:00:00:00 AM to 12/31/9999 11:59:59 PM. So I can't use the native datetime format.
  .Net also doesn't allow bc dates using the native DateTime class (0001.01.01 is the first day).</p>
  
  <p>Do I have to define my own format using a varchar column and in .Net parse those values?</p>