Timeline of Kaliningrad

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Kaliningrad, Russia. The city was known as Königsberg (Polish: Królewiec, Lithuanian: Karaliaučius) prior to 1945 and Twangste prior to 1255.

Era of Teutonic Order

1255 – Fortress built by Teutonic Knights during Prussian Crusade, on the basis of a Prussian settlement Twangste.
1256 – Settlement formed north of the fortress.
1262 – Prussians begin to besiege castle during the Great Prussian Uprising.
1264 – Settlement developed south of the castle.
1286 – Königsberg chartered.
1300 – Town of Löbenicht built.
1324 – Town of Kneiphof founded.
1333 - Construction of Königsberg Cathedral begins.
1340 – Königsberg joins Hanseatic League.
1377 – Köttelbrücke (bridge) built.
1379 (or 1397) – Schmiedebrücke (bridge) built.
1380 – Cathedral built in Kneiphof (approximate date).
1387 – Kneiphof Town Hall renovated.

15th century

1440 – The city becomes a founding member of the anti-Teutonic Prussian Confederation.
1454
- March: Inclusion of the city, in Polish known as Królewiec, within the borders of the Kingdom of Poland following a request of the Prussian Confederation.
- March: The local mayor pledged allegiance to the Polish King during the incorporation of the region in Kraków.
- March: City authorized by the Polish king to mint Polish coins.
- April: City becomes the capital of the Królewiec Voivodeship within Poland.
1455 – Captured by Teutonic Knights during the Thirteen Years' War.
1457 – City becomes capital of the State of the Teutonic Order.
1464 – Georg Steinhaupt becomes mayor.
1465 – Landing force from Polish-allied Elbląg destroyed the shipyard near the Old Town, preventing the Teutonic Knights from rebuilding their fleet until the end of the Thirteen Years' War.
1466 – Second Treaty of Thorn: the city becomes a part of Poland as a fief held by the Teutonic Order.

16th century

1519–21 – Polish-Teutonic War. The city opposed the Teutonic Knights' war against Poland and demanded peace.
1520 – Mikolaj Firlej lays siege to the town
1521–24 – Secularization of the Teutonic Order
1523 – Printing press in operation.
1525 – Treaty of Kraków: Königsberg/Królewiec becomes the capital of the Duchy of Prussia, Albert becomes first Duke of Prussia as a vassal of Poland. Treaty confirmed by city representatives.
1529 – Castle Library established
1542 – Pedagogium founded by Albert Hohenzollern in Kneiphof
1544 – Albertina University (Lutheran) founded by Albert, Duke of Prussia.
1545 – Oldest Polish catechism published by Jan Seklucjan.
1547 – Catechism of Martynas Mažvydas published.
1550 – Population: 14,000.
1553 – Oldest Polish translation of the New Testament, by Stanisław Murzynowski, published.
1560 – 28 March: King Sigismund II Augustus of Poland confers university privileges on the Albertina University, on a par with the Jagiellonian University.
1561 – First acquisition of citizenship in the city by a Scot.
1566
- Duke Albert attempted to introduce absolutist rule in violation of the Treaty of Kraków.
- August–October: Stay and intervention of Polish Royal commissioners, restoration of the previous legal order.
- 4 October: Decree expanding the rights of Polish rulers and of the nobility and cities in the duchy.
- 22 October: Decree settling the city's conflict with Duke Albert, instituted by Polish Royal commissioners.
1568 – March: Albert Frederick becomes Duke of Prussia.
1577 – City opposes the regency of George Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach.
1579 – Renewed city resistance to the regency of George Frederick. The city supports the nobility's request to the Polish King to send a Polish Royal Commission to the city.
1580 – Arrival of George Frederick to establish his rule.
1590 – Green Bridge rebuilt.
1594 – Schlosskirche (castle church) dedicated

17th century

1616 – A Catholic church erected by order of King Sigismund III Vasa and the bishop of Warmia
1618 – Duchy of Prussia passes under control of Electors of Brandenburg, August: John Sigismund becomes Duke of Prussia
1619 – December: George William becomes Duke of Prussia
1626 – City walls built.
1629 – City refuses to pay taxes to the duchy.
1632 – King Władysław IV Vasa of Poland supports the city in its dispute with Duke George William.
1635
- January: Agreement between the King of Poland and the city, granting the city the right to organize its military defense against a possible Swedish attack in exchange for exemption from taxes.
- July: Visit of King Władysław IV Vasa.
- July: Jerzy Ossoliński appointed the Polish governor of the duchy by King Władysław IV Vasa.
- Jerzy Ossoliński completes the fortification of the city against a potential Swedish attack.
1636 – Visit of King Władysław IV Vasa.
1640 – December: Frederick William becomes Duke of Prussia
1647 – Neurossgarten Church dedicated
1657
- Brandenburg Gate built.
- Fort Friedrichsburg under construction
- City opposes the rule of Elector Frederick William, and sides with Poland.
1662
- City sends a letter to King John II Casimir Vasa of Poland, opposing the rule of Elector Frederick William.
- 8 July: Confederation formed in the city to maintain Poland's sovereignty over the city and region.
- 27 October: The Brandenburg Elector and his army enter the city.
- 30 October: Hieronymus Roth, leader of the city's anti-Elector opposition, abducted by Brandenburg forces, and then imprisoned.
1663 – City burghers, forced by Frederick William, swear an oath of allegiance to him, however, in the same ceremony they still also pledge allegiance to Poland.
1688 – April: Frederick becomes Duke of Prussia.

18th century

1701
- 18 January: Coronation of Frederick I of Prussia in the Schlosskirche.
- Capital of Duchy of Prussia relocated from Königsberg to Berlin.
1709 – Plague.
1718
- City Library opens.
- Poczta Królewiecka Polish-language newspaper begins publication (ceased in 1720).
1724
- 22 April: Birth of Immanuel Kant, philosopher.
- June: City of Königsberg expanded by uniting Altstadt, Kneiphof, and Löbenicht.
- Königsberg City Archive is located in the Town Hall (approximate date).
1735 – Math problem "Seven Bridges of Königsberg" presented.
1756 – Synagogue built.
1758
- 16 January: Russian forces enter city.
- 24 January: City becomes part of Russia.
1764 – Russian occupation ends.
1765 – Gumbinnen Gate built.
1780 – Theodor Gottlieb von Hippel becomes mayor.
1790 – Königshalle built.

19th century

1804 – 12 February: Death of Immanuel Kant, philosopher.
1807 – French in power.
1809 – Paradeplatz city garden established.

1810 – August Wilhelm Heidemann becomes mayor.
1812 – School of church music founded.
1813 – Koenigsberg Observatory built.
1814 – Carl Friedrich Horn becomes mayor.
1826 – Johann Friedrich List becomes mayor.
1828 – Royal and University Library formed.
1830 – Population: 54,000.
1831 – Polish poet Wincenty Pol interned in the city following the unsuccessful Polish November Uprising. He wrote his first poems there.
1833 – University's Department of Chemistry opens in Neurossgarten.
1838 – Rudolf von Auerswald becomes mayor.
1845
- Union Giesserei foundry in business.
- New Altstadt Church dedicated.
- Art academy opens.
1851 – Grolman Bastion built.
1855
- Sailing Club founded.
- Rossgarten Gate rebuilt.
1856 – Königsberg Cathedral restored.
1858 – Dohna Tower built.
1860 – Astronomic Bastion built.
1861
- 18 October: Coronation of William I, German Emperor, in the Schlosskirche.
- Albertina University new campus dedicated.
1863–1864 – Arms trafficking for Polish insurgents during the January Uprising in the Russian Partition of Poland, co-organized by Wojciech Kętrzyński.
1867 – Population: 101,507.
1875
- Johann Karl Adolf Selke becomes mayor.
- Königsberg Stock Exchange built in Vorstadt.
1878 – Königsberger Allgemeine Zeitung (newspaper) in publication.
1880
- Bronsart Fort built.
- Population: 140,800.
1883 – High Bridge rebuilt.
1886 – Siemering Museum established.
1889 – Eisenbahnbrücke (bridge) opens.

1890 – Population: 161,666.
1892 – Baltika Stadium opens.
1893 – Hermann Theodor Hoffmann becomes mayor.
1896 – Zoo founded.
1897 – Königsberger Tageblatt (newspaper) in publication.
1898 – Palaestra Albertina established.
1900
- Football Club Königsberg formed.
- Population: 187,897.

20th century

1900-1945

1901
- Queen Louise Memorial Church and Pillau-Königsberg canal built.
- Königsberger Volkszeitung (newspaper) in publication.
1903 – Siegfried Körte becomes mayor.
1905 - Population: 219,862.
1906 – Bismarck tower built near city.
1907 – Church of the Holy Family built.
1912 – Stadthalle opens.
1913
- New Tragheim Church dedicated.
- Kunsthalle Königsberg (art gallery) opens.
1914 – City bombed by Russian forces.
1919
- Hans Lohmeyer becomes mayor.
- City becomes part of the German Reich.
- Population: 260,895.
1920 – 24 April: Consulate of Poland opened.
1921 – Königsberg Devau Airport opens.

1927 – City Hall relocated to Hansaplatz.
1928 – Königsberg City Museum opens.
1929 – Central railway terminal opens.
1931 – Last Polish book in the pre-1945 city published.
1933 – Hellmuth Will becomes mayor.
1934 – Hansaplatz renamed Adolf-Hitler-Platz.
1939
- Lasch Bunker built in Paradeplatz.
- Population: 368,433.
- 25 August: The local Gestapo issued an arrest warrant for all Polish teachers in the region.
- August–September: Persecution of Poles, incl. mass arrests of Polish students and arrests of local Polish consul Jerzy Warchełowski and attaché Witold Winiarski.
- October: The Germans established a forced labour camp for Romani people.
1941 – 1 September: Aerial bombing by Soviet forces begins.
1942 – 24 June: The Nazi SS sends the first deportation of Jews from Königsberg and the province of East Prussia to extermination camps.
1944
- August: Aerial bombing by British forces; city extensively damaged.
- 19 August: The Germans established a subcamp of the Stutthof concentration camp, in which around 500 Jews were subjected to forced labour.
1945
- January: Subcamp of the Stutthof concentration camp dissolved.
- January: Battle of Königsberg begins.
- February: Metgethen massacre.
- 9 April: Battle of Königsberg ends; Soviets in power.

1946-1990s

1946
- April: City becomes part of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, per Potsdam Agreement.
- City renamed Kaliningrad after Bolshevik Mikhail Kalinin.
- City becomes seat of the newly formed Kaliningrad Oblast.
- Kaliningrad Regional Museum of History and Arts founded.
- Kaliningradskaya Pravda newspaper begins publication.
1947 – Kaliningrad Regional Drama Theatre established.
1954 – Pishchevik Kaliningrad football club formed.
1956 – Population: 188,000.

1960 – Theatre on Mira Avenue rebuilt.
1965 - Population: 253,000.
1967 – Kaliningrad State University active.
1979
- Khrabrovo Airport terminal built.
- Kaliningrad Amber Museum opens.
1985 - Population: 385,000.
1988 – Kaliningrad State Art Gallery established.
1989 – Population: 401,280; oblast 871,283.
1990
- Chamber of Commerce founded.
- City opens to foreign tourists.
1994 – Kaliningrad State Technical University active.
1996 – Leonid Gorbenko becomes governor of Kaliningrad Oblast.
1998 – The Voice from the Pregel Polish-language magazine in publication.

21st century

2001 – Vladimir Yegorov becomes governor of Kaliningrad Oblast.
2005
- July: 750th anniversary of city founding.
- Kaiser Bridge reconstructed (approximate date).
- Georgy Boos becomes governor of Kaliningrad Oblast.
2007
- Alexander Jaroschuk becomes mayor.
- Khrabrovo Airport new terminal opens.
2008 – Cathedral of Christ the Saviour consecrated.
2010
- 30 January: Protest against governor Georgy Boos.
- Population: 431,500; oblast 941,873.
- Nikolay Tsukanov becomes governor of Kaliningrad Oblast.
2012 – Poland-Russia border near Kaliningrad Oblast opens.