# 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

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^A Not internationally recognized. ^B Not fully controlled. :
Timeline860–1721 • 1721–1796 • 1796–1855 1855–1894 • 1894–1917 • 1917–1927 1927–1953 • 1953–1964 • 1964–1982 1982–1991 • 1991–present :
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* 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).
* 1734 – 8 August: Polish King Stanisław Leszczyński stops in the city.
* 1735 – Math problem "Seven Bridges of Königsberg" presented.
* 1736
** 26 January: Stanisław Leszczyński signed an act of renunciation of the Polish crown in the city.
** 27 March: Stanisław Leszczyński left the city for France on March 27, 1736.
* 1756 – Synagogue built.
* 1758
** 14 January: Forces of the Kingdom of Prussia withdraw from the city.
** 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 [de] (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.