# Timeline of Plovdiv

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

## Prior to 20th century

* 342 BCE – Philip II of Macedon conquered the Thracian settlement Pulpudeva and renamed it "Philippopolis."
* 2nd C. CE – Roman theatre built by Emperor Trajan.
* 250/251 CE – Battle of Philippopolis; town sacked by Goths.
* 340's – Christian church council held in Philippopolis.
* 836 – Town becomes part of the First Bulgarian Empire under Khan Malamir.
* 971 – John I Tzimiskes captures Philippopolis in his campaign against Sviatoslav I.
* 1205 –Philippopolis surrenders to Kaloyan of Bulgaria.
* 1208 – June: Battle of Philippopolis (1208).
* 1262 – Byzantines under Michael VIII retook the city.
* 1323 – Tatar forces attempted unsuccessful siege.
* 1344 – Anna of Savoy ceded the city to Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria.
* 1363 – City taken by Turkish forces under Lala Şahin Pasha.
* 1364 – Ottomans in power; town renamed "Filibe".
* 1420's – Great Mosque built.
* 1440's – Imaret Mosque [bg] built.
* 1818 – Earthquake.
* 1832 – Church of St Constantine and Helena rebuilt.
* 1835 – St. Nicholas church, Plovdiv [bg] rebuilt.
* 1836 – St. Petka Church school established.
* 1844 – Church of the Holy Mother of God, Plovdiv rebuilt.
* 1846 – Fire.
* 1847 – Textile factory in operation.
* 1856 – St. Marina church [bg] rebuilt.
* 1861 – Cathedral of St Louis built.
* 1870 - Plovdiv Central railway station opened.
* 1875 – Greek Zariphios School established.
* 1878
** Battle of Philippopolis (1878).
** City becomes capital of Eastern Roumelia per the Congress of Berlin.
** Danov publisher in business.
** Tomasian tobacco manufacturer in business (approximate date).
* 1879 – Naroden Glas newspaper in publication.
* 1881 – International Theatre Luxembourg opens.
* 1882 – Plovdiv Regional Archaeological Museum [bg] opens.
* 1885
** "Bloodless revolution at Philippopolis."
** Еко де Балкан (1885) [bg] newspaper published.
* 1886 – November: "State of siege at Philippopolis on account of brigandage and Russian agency."
* 1891 – City master plan approved.
* 1892
** August: "First Bulgarian exhibition" opens.
** Exhibition Park laid out.
** Plovdiv Synagogue built.
* 1893
** "Socialist organization" founded by Dimiter Blagoev.
** Population: 41,068.

## 20th century

* 1906
** Anti-Greek unrest.
** Population: 45,572.
* 1908 – Plovdiv Central railway station built.
* 1909 – Pathé cinema opens.
* 1910 – Population: 47,981.
* 1912 – Amer Gaazi Dzami (mosque) demolished.
* 1917 – Plovdiv Regional Ethnographic Museum established.
* 1921 – FC Maritsa Plovdiv (football club) formed.
* 1926 – Todor Diev Stadium opens.
* 1928 – April: 1928 Chirpan–Plovdiv earthquakes.
* 1932 – Тодор Александров (1932) [bg] newspaper begins publication.
* 1934
** Annual Plovdiv Fair begins.
** Population: 99,883.
* 1938 - Plovdiv Regional Ethnographic Museum new location.
* 1940 – 1940 Bulgaria tobacco strike [bg].
* 1945
** Plovdiv Medical University founded.
** Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra established.
* 1947 – FC Spartak Plovdiv (football club) and Detska Kitka Choir formed.
* 1950 – Plovdiv Stadium built.
* 1951 – Plovdiv Regional Historical Museum established.
* 1953
** 1953 Plovdiv strike [bg].
** Opera house established.
* 1955 – Trolleybus begins operating.
* 1956 – Population: 161,836.
* 1957 – Alyosha Monument, Plovdiv erected.
* 1960 – Plovdiv Regional Museum of Natural History [bg] founded.
* 1961 – Hristo Botev Stadium (Plovdiv) opens.
* 1964
** Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts (Plovdiv) [bg] established.
** Population: 203,800.
* 1965 – Plovdiv Airport new terminal opens.
* 1972 – Plovdiv University "Paisii Hilendarski" active.
* 1981 – Expo 81 held in city.
* 1985 – Population: 342,131.
* 1987 – Administrative Plovdiv okrug (province) created.
* 1991
** Maritsa newspaper begins publication.
** Museum of Aviation, Plovdiv [bg] founded.
* 1993 – Population: 345,205 (estimate).
* 1999 – Ivan Chomakov becomes mayor.

## 21st century

* 2005 – "Night of museums" begins.
* 2007 – Slavcho Atanasov becomes mayor.
* 2011 – Ivan Totev [bg] becomes mayor.
* 2013 – Population: 341,041.
* 2014 – February: Anti-Muslim unrest.
* 2019 – European Capital of Culture