# Timeline of Benghazi

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Benghazi, Libya.

## Prior to 20th century

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* 7th century BCE - Euesperides founded by Cyrenians near the site of present-day Benghazi.
* 1517 CE - Cyrenaica becomes part of Ottoman Tripolitania.
* 1577 - Atiq Mosque built.
* 1816/1817 - Massacre [ar] occurs at the Ottoman fortress [ar].
* 1820 - Alhadadp Mosque founded.
* 1827 - British consulate established.
* 1858 - Plague outbreak.
* 1869 - Administrative Benghazi mutessariflik (province) created.
* 1874 - Plague outbreak.
* 1895
** Barracks [ar] built in Al-Berka.
** Italian "Società d'Esplorazione Commerciale in Africa" active in Benghazi.

## 20th century
### 1900s-1940s

* 1906 - Market [ar] burns down.
* 1911
** 19 October: Town occupied by Italian forces during the Italo-Turkish War.
** Population: 35,000.
* 1913 - Albergo Italia (hotel) built.
* 1914 - Benghazi–Benina railway [it] begins operating.
* 1916 - Benghazi Central Station [it] built.
* 1922 - Benghazi Lighthouse built.
* 1924 - City Hall built.
* 1926 - Benghazi-Suluq Railway [it] begins operating.
* 1927
** Benghazi–Marj railway [it] begins operating.
** Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Cyrenaica established.
* 1928 - Berenice Theatre [ar] opens.
* 1931 - September: Trial of Omar Mukhtar, leading to his execution on 16 September in nearby Suluq.
* 1934
** Pier built in the Port of Benghazi.
** Administrative Benghazi Province created.
* 1936 - Hotel Berenice [ar] built.
* 1937 - March: Mussolini visits Benghazi.
* 1939 - Benghazi Cathedral built.
* 1942
** November: British forces take city during the Battle of El Agheila in World War II.
** Italian rule ends.
** Omar al-Mukhtar Society formed.
* 1945 - Population: 60,000 (approximate).
* 1947 - Ahly Benghazi football club active.

### 1950s-1990s

* 1952
** Al-Hilal SC (sport club) formed.
** University of Oxford's Ashmolean Expedition to Cyrenaica begins its archaeological excavation of Euesperides site.
* 1953 - City boundary established.
* 1954 - Al Tahaddy SC (football club) formed.
* 1955 - University of Libya founded.
* 1956 - Benghazi Zoo founded.
* 1957 - Benghazi Military University Academy established.
* 1964 - Population: 137,295.
* 1967 - Stadium and Suliman Ad-Dharrath Arena open.
* 1970s - Giuliana Bridge opens.
* 1973
** University of Benghazi active.
** Population: 266,000.
* 1980 - February: Protest at French consulate.
* 1982
** March: Part of 1982 African Cup of Nations football contest held in Benghazi.
** Convention centre [ar] built.
* 1984 - Population: 442,860.
* 1986 - 15 April: Aerial bombing of city by United States forces.
* 1989 - Tibesti Hotel (hi-rise) built.
* 1990 - Population: 800,000 (estimate).
* 1991 - "Administrative Office Complex" (hi-rise) built.
* 1993 - September: Great Man-Made River constructed; water begins flowing to Benghazi.
* 2000
** 1 September: Al-Ahly football stadium demolished.
** September: Unrest.

## 21st century

* 2005 - Population: 685,367 (estimate).
* 2006 - 15 February: Protest against Muhammad cartoons.
* 2007 - Quryna newspaper begins publication.
* 2008 - Sirt–Benghazi Railway [de] construction begins.
* 2009 - Martyrs of February Stadium opens in nearby Benina.
* 2011
** 15 February: Arab Spring-related protest; Libyan Civil War (2011) begins.
** Al Kalima newspaper begins publication.
* 2012
** 19 May: Local election held.
** June: Pro-autonomy mob ransacks the election commission building.
** September: United States consulate attacked.
* 2014
** 16 May: Benina International Airport closes due to fighting.
** 15 October: Battle of Benghazi begins.
* 2017
** 18 April: Abdelrahman Alabbar becomes mayor.
** 15 July: Benina Airport reopens.
** 27 July: Battle of Benghazi officially concludes.