Timeline of Cologne

Prior to the 14th century

13 CE - Germanicus headquartered in Cologne.

15 CE - Town becomes administrative capital of Germania Inferior (approximate date).

50 - Romans establish Colonia.

80 - Eifel Aqueduct built.

90 - Population: 45,000.

260 - Cologne becomes capital of Gallic Empire.

310 - Bridge built over Rhine.

313 - Catholic diocese of Cologne established (approximate date).

459 - Ripuarian Franks take power.

716 - Battle of Cologne.

795 - City becomes Archbishop's see.

974 - St. Andreas Church consecrated.

980 - Church of St. Pantaleon consecrated.

1003 - Deutz Abbey founded.

1065 - St. Maria im Kapitol built.

1106 - Church of the Holy Virgins built (approximate date).

1114 - Coat of arms of Cologne in use.

1160 - St. Cäcilien church built (approximate date).

1182 - City expands.

1184 - Richerzeche formed (approximate date).

1227 - St. Gereon's Basilica built.

1247 - St. Kunibert church consecrated.

1248 - Cologne Cathedral construction begins.

1250 - Great St. Martin Church built.

1260 - Church of the Minorites built (approximate date).

1288 - Battle of Worringen.

14th-18th centuries

1322 - Municipal archive in operation (approximate date).

1334 - Cologne Charterhouse founded.

1388 - University of Cologne established.

1396 - Constitution of Cologne in effect.

1400 - Gothic artist known as "Master of Saint Veronica" active (approximate date).

1414 - Jews expelled.

1447 - Gürzenich built.

1450 - Dreikönigsgymnasium founded.

1466 - Ulrich Zell sets up printing press.

1475 - City becomes free imperial city.

1569 - Cologne City Hall building expanded.

1583 - Cologne War begins.

1584 - Apostolic Nuncio established.

1586 - Battle of Werl.

1608 - Protestants banished.

1626

Bertram Hilden sets up printing business.

Witch trials begin (approximate date).

1709 - Eau de Cologne launched by Giovanni Maria Farina.

1734 - Gazette de Cologne begins publication.

1783 - Theater an der Schmierstraße built.

1794 - Population: 40,000.

1795 - City directory published.

1796 - City annexed by France.

1798 - Kölnische Zeitung newspaper begins publication.

19th century

1802 - Hänneschen puppet theatre founded.

1815 - Prussians take power.

1823 - Rosenmontag (carnival) begins.

1827 - Cölner Concert-Gesellschaft formed.

1839 - Stollwerck confectionery established.

1840 - Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne active.

1842

Rheinische Zeitung begins publication.

Central Cathedral Building Society formed.

1848 - Neue Rheinische Zeitung begins publication.

1849 - Population: 94,789 in city; 497,330 in region.

1850 - Conservatorium der Musik founded.

1853 - Diözesanmuseum founded.

1857 - Hotel du Dome opens.

1859

Cathedral Bridge built.

Köln Hauptbahnhof opens.

1860 - Zoo founded.

1861

Wallraf-Richartz Museum and Glockengasse Synagogue built.

Population: 120,568 in city; 567,435 in region.

1863 - Hotel Ernst opens.

1864 - Flora park laid out.

1872

Theater in der Glockengasse built.

Zimmermann bakery in business.

1874 - Wolkenburg (Köln) restored.

1876 - Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger begins publication.

1885

Population: 239,437.

City walls dismantled.

1888 - Bayenthal, Ehrenfeld, Lindenthal, and Nippes incorporated into city.

1890 - Public Library established.

1894 - Main station rebuilt.

1900-1945

1900 - Population: 370,685.

1902 - Theater am Habsburger Ring built.

1904 - Oper der Stadt Köln formed.

1905 - Population: 428,503.

1906 - Schnütgen Museum founded.

1908 - 21 September: Mathematician Minkowski delivers "Raum und Zeit" lecture on spacetime.

1910

Kalk and Vingst incorporated into city.

Population: 516,527.

1911 - Hohenzollern Bridge built.

1913 - Rheinpark and Köln Messe/Deutz station open.

1914 - Werkbund Exhibition held.

1917 - Konrad Adenauer becomes mayor.

1919 - Population: 633,904.

1921 - Jawne school built.

1925 - Population: 705,477.

1926

Airport opens.

Kölner Werkschulen established.

1928 - Messeturm Köln built.

1934 - University of Cologne reopens.

1938 - Kristallnacht.

1940 - Bombing begins.

1944 - Ehrenfeld Group executed.

1945 - American troops capture city.

1946-1990s

1946 - Kölnische Rundschau begins publication.

1947

27 March: Food protest.

Sport University founded.

Nordwestdeutschen Rundfunk orchestra formed.

1949

Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger resumes publication.

Cologne Furniture Fair begins.

1950 - Photokina trade fair begins.

1951 - Cologne Bonn Airport opens.

1954 - Cappella Coloniensis formed.

1955 - Gaffel Haus rebuilt.

1957

Central Station rebuilt.

Opera house built.

Cable Car begins operating.

City hosts Bundesgartenschau (national horticulture biennial).

1960

Stadtwerke Köln established.

Population: 803,616.

1964

Express (German newspaper) newspaper begins publication.

School massacre.

Forstbotanischer Garten created.

1967 - Kölner Kunstmarkt begins.

1971 - Cologne University of Applied Sciences formed.

1973 - Association of Islamic Cultural Centres headquartered in city.

1976 - Gebühreneinzugszentrale and Museum Ludwig established.

1977 - Gesellschaft für Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit headquartered in city.

1981 - Colonius tower built.

1983 - Akademie för uns Kölsche Sproch established.

1984

Centrum Schwule Geschichte established.

Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs headquartered in city.

Feminale film festival begins.

1985

Käthe Kollwitz Museum opens.

St. George's School founded.

1986 - Islamic Council for the Federal Republic of Germany headquartered in city.

1988 - NS Documentation Center established.

1990 - Academy of Media Arts Cologne established.

1991 - Cologne Conference (television and film festival) and Cologne Comedy Festival begin.

1992 - Cologne Festival of Early Music begins.

1993

Imhoff-Schokoladenmuseum opens.

Cologne Business School established.

Ringfest begins.

1994 - Central Council of Muslims in Germany headquartered in city.

1996 - Summerjam reggae festival begins.

1998 - Lanxess Arena opens.

1999

City website online (approximate date).

25th G8 summit held in Cologne.

21st century

2000

Internationale filmschule köln established.

Population: 962,884.

2001 - KölnTurm built.

2002 - Köln–Frankfurt high-speed rail line begins operating.

2004 - MediaPark constructed.

2005

City hosts Catholic World Youth Day.

Weltstadthaus built.

2006

International Women's Film Festival Dortmund/Cologne begins.

KölnTriangle built.

2009 - Jürgen Roters becomes mayor.

2010 - Population: 1,007,119.