Timeline of Alexandria

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Alexandria, Egypt.

Greek era (331-30 BCE)

See also: History of Alexandria in the Greek era

Part of a series on the
History of Egypt
Prehistoric Egypt pre–3100 BC
Ancient Egypt Early Dynastic Period 3100–2686 BC Old Kingdom 2686–2181 BC 1st Intermediate Period 2181–2055 BC Middle Kingdom 2055–1650 BC 2nd Intermediate Period 1650–1550 BC New Kingdom 1550–1069 BC 3rd Intermediate Period 1069–664 BC Late Period 664–332 BC
Classical antiquity Macedonian and Ptolemaic Egypt 332–30 BC Roman and Byzantine Egypt 30 BC–641 AD Sasanian Egypt 619–629
Middle Ages Islamic Egypt 641–969 Fatimid Egypt 969–1171 Ayyubid Egypt 1171–1250 Mamluk Egypt 1250–1517
Early modern Ottoman Egypt 1517–1867 French occupation 1798–1801 Egypt under Muhammad Ali 1805–1882 Khedivate of Egypt 1867–1914
Modern Egypt British occupation 1882–1922 Sultanate of Egypt 1914–1922 Kingdom of Egypt 1922–1953 Republic 1953–present
Egypt portal

• 331 BCE – Rhacotis renamed "Alexandria" by Alexander the Great (approximate date).
• 330 BCE - Cleomenes of Naucratis appointed Governor of Egypt by Alexander, begins to turn the small village into the Capitol of Egypt.

323-30 BCE

Egypt's capital under Ptolemaic dynasty

• 323 BCE - Alexander dies. Ptolemy I Soter appointed "Satrap" of Egypt.
• 305 BCE - Ptolemy I proclaims himself king.
• 283 BCE – Library of Alexandria opens (approximate date).
• 247 BCE – Lighthouse of Alexandria built (approximate date).
• 170 BCE - Selucid "Emperor" Antiochus IV Epiphanes briefly conquers Egypt
• 168 BCE - First Roman intervention. City briefly invaded.
• 1st century BC – Caesareum built.

50 BC–330 CE

Romans in power

• 48 BCE – Julius Caesar conquers Alexandria.
• 48 BCE – Great Royal Library of Alexandria burned.
• 47 BCE – Siege of Alexandria.
• 47 BCE – Caesar victorious.
• 44 BCE – Assassination of Julius Caesar in Rome.
• 40 BCE – Cleopatra VII marries Roman triumvir Mark Antony.
• 31 BCE – Death of Antony and Cleopatra.
• 30 BCE – Battle of Alexandria.
• 29 BCE – Augustus takes city. Cornelius Gallus first prefect of Egypt.
• 25 BCE – Strabo, the Greek geographer and philosopher, visits Alexandria.
• 19 CE – Germanicus resident in city.

Alexandria, 16th century

• 38 CE – Pogrom against Jews.
• 115 CE – City sacked during a Jewish revolt. Possible genocide.
• 122 CE – Hadrian rebuilds city.
• 175 CE – Failed revolution of Avidius Cassius.
• 176 CE – Catechetical School of Alexandria (oldest such school in the world) founded. Some records say 190 AD. See article.
• 297 CE – Pompey's Pillar built.
• 365 CE – The Great Tsunami.^[1][2] Much of the city falls into the sea.

Byzantine rule 390–650

• 391 CE – Theodosius I orders destruction of pagan temples.
• 395 CE – Roman Empire formally split in two. Official start of so-called Byzantine Empire.
• 415 CE – Lynching of the philosopher Hypatia by a radical Christian mob.
• 619 CE – City besieged; Sassanid Persians in power.
• 641–642 CE – City besieged; Arabs in power;^[3] capital of Egypt relocates from Alexandria to Fustat.
• 645 CE – Byzantines back in power.

Muslim Rule 700-1800

• 680 CE – Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral rebuilt.
• 956 CE – Earthquake.
• 1303 CE – Earthquake.^[4]
• 1323 CE – Earthquake.^[4] The Pharos lighthouse collapses.
• 1354 CE – Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue built.
• 1365 CE – October: City besieged by Cypriot forces.
• 1381 CE – Zaradel Synagogue established^[5]
• 1477 CE – Citadel of Qaitbay established.
• 1519 CE - Ottoman conquest
• 1775 – El-Mursi Abul Abbas Mosque built.
• 1798 - French forces under Napoleon Bonaparte besiege and conquer what is now a just a town.
• 1800 - Nadir of the city. Population: a mere 8,000.^[6]

19th century

• 1801
  • 21 March: Battle between French and British forces.
  • 17 August – 2 September: City besieged by British forces.
  • 2 September: Capitulation to British.
• 1819 – Mahmoudiyah Canal constructed.^[7]
• 1821 – Population: 12,528.^[6]
• 1829 – Dockyard and arsenal open.
• 1833 – April: Luxor Obelisk shipped to Paris.
• 1834 – Ras el-Tin Palace construction begins.
• 1840 – Population: 60,000.^[6]
• 1847 – Ras el-Tin Palace built.
• 1850 – Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue restored.
• 1853 – Azouz Synagogue rebuilt.
• 1856
  • Cairo-Alexandria railway begins operating.^[8]
  • Cathedral of Evangelismos dedicated.
• 1859
  • Institut d'Egypte founded.^[9]
  • Theatre Europeen reopens.^[10]
• 1860 – Alexandria Ramleh Train Station established.
• 1862 – Theatre Zizinia built.^[10]
• 1861 – Cotton boom.
• 1863
  • Horse-drawn trams begin operating.
  • Population: 170,000.^[6]
• 1865 – Gas lighting introduced.^[6]
• 1865–1869 – New port created.
• 1872 – Population ca. 200,000 (ca. 20% foreigners).
• 1873
  • Breakwater built in harbour.^[8]
  • Statue unveiled in Midan Muhammad Ali.^[6]
• 1875 – Al-Ahram newspaper begins publication.
• 1877 – One of Cleopatra's Needles shipped to London.
• 1880 – The Egyptian Gazette launched in Alexandria.
• 1880 – One of Cleopatra's Needles shipped to New York City.
• 1880 – Zaradel Synagogue restored.
• 1881 – al-Tankit wa al-Tabkit newspaper begins publication.^[6]
• 1882
  • 11 July: Anti-European riots; city bombarded by British naval forces.^[6]
  • Population: 232,626.^[6]
• 1883 – Alexandria Stock Exchange founded.
• 1887 – El-Hakaneia Palace built.
• 1892
  • Graeco-Roman Museum established.
  • Salamlek Palace built.

20th century

Aerial view of Alexandria, 1990

• 1901 – Green Synagogue established.
• 1902
  • Electric trams begin operating.
  • Victoria College founded.
• 1903 – Khedivial yacht club built.^[8]
• 1905 – Sea wall constructed.^[8]
• 1907 – Population: 332,246.^[8]
• 1910 – Hellenic Football Club Alexandria formed.
• 1910 – Sasson Synagogue established.
• 1914 – Al Ittihad Alexandria Club formed.
• 1917 – Population ca. 460,000 (ca. 20% foreigners).
• 1919 – Princess Fatma Al-Zahra palace built.
• 1920 – Castro Synagogue established.
• 1920 – Nezah Israel Synagogue established.
• 1921 – Alexandria Opera House opens.
• 1922 – Shaaré Tefila Synagogue established.
• 1925 – Scottish School for Girls founded.
• 1927 – Population ca. 600,000 (ca. 17% foreigners).
• 1928 – Collège Saint Marc founded.
• 1929
  • Alexandria Stadium opens.
  • English Boys' School established.
• 1930 – Alexandria Aquarium opens.
• 1932 – Al-Haramlik Palace built.
• 1934 – Corniche constructed.^[11]
• 1935 – English Girls College founded.
• 1937 – Eliahou Hazan Synagogue established.
• 1938 – Publication of The Egyptian Gazette moved from Alexandria to Cairo.
• 1941 – 19 December: Conflict between Italian and British naval forces.
• 1942 – Farouk University established.
• 1947 – Population: 919,024;^[12] (ca. 7% foreigners).
• 1950 – Hassab hospital established.
• 1952 – Egyptian Revolution.
• 1954 – 26 October: Attempted assassination of Nasser during speech in Mansheya.
• 1958 – Alexandria Zoo opens.
• 1960 – Siddiq Abdul-Latif becomes mayor.
• 1964 – September: Arab League summit held.
• 1965 – Population ca. 1.5 million.^[13]
• 1969 – St. Takla Haymanot's Church consecrated.
• 1974 - Population: 2,259,000.^[14]
• 1980 - El Alamein-Alexandria highway constructed.^[15]
• 1986
  • Ismail El-Gawsaqi becomes mayor.
  • Port of Dekheila constructed.
  • Royal Jewelry Museum inaugurated.
• 1990 – Senghor University founded.
• 1992 - Population: 3,380,000 (estimate).^[16]
• 1996 – Alexandria Institute Of Technology founded.
• 1997 – Abdel-Salam El-Mahgoub becomes mayor.
• 1999 – Swedish Institute Alexandria established.

21st century

• 2001 – Alexandria Center of Arts opens.
• 2002 – Bibliotheca Alexandrina inaugurated.
• 2003
  • Harras El-Hedoud Stadium opens.
  • Alexandria National Museum inaugurated.
• 2006
  • Adel Labib becomes mayor.
  • January–February: 2006 Africa Cup of Nations held.
  • Population: 4,110,015.
  • Pharos University established.
• 2007
  • Borg El Arab Stadium opens.
  • San Stefano Grand Plaza built.
• 2009 – Sadat Museum inaugurated.
• 2010 – Population: 4,358,439.^[17]
• 2011
  • Egyptian revolution
  • 1 January: Bombing of Saints Church.
• 2012 – Protests against state president Mohamed Morsi.
• 2013 – January: Anti-Morsi protests.^[18]

See also

• History of Alexandria
• List of mayors of Alexandria since 1960 (in French)
• Of Alexandria
• Timelines of other cities in Egypt: Cairo, Port Said
• Timeline of Egypt

References

This article incorporates information from the French Wikipedia and the German Wikipedia.

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alexandria.

• "(Alexandria)" – via Qatar National Library, Qatar Digital Library.  (Images, etc.)
• "(Alexandria)" – via Europeana.  (Images, etc.)
• "(Alexandria)" – via Digital Public Library of America.  (Images, etc.)
• "(Alexandria)". Internet Library Sub-Saharan Africa. Germany: Frankfurt University Library.  (Bibliography)
• "(Alexandria)". Connecting-Africa. Leiden, Netherlands: African Studies Centre.  (Bibliography)
• "(Alexandria)". AfricaBib.org.  (Bibliography)