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

Greek era (331–30 BC)

Part of a series on the
History of Egypt
Prehistoric Egypt Predynastic Period 6000–3000 BC
Ancient Egypt Early Dynastic Period 3150–2686 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
Greco-Roman Egypt Argead dynasty 332–310 BC Ptolemaic dynasties 310–30 BC Roman and Byzantine Egypt 30 BC–641 AD Sasanian Egypt 619–629
Medieval Egypt Rashidun caliphate 641–661 Umayyad caliphate 661–750 Abbasid dynasty 750–935 Tulunid dynasty 868–905 Ikhshidid dynasty 935–969 Fatimid dynasty 969–1171 Ayyubid dynasty 1171–1250 Mamluk dynasty 1250–1517
Early modern Egypt Ottoman Egypt 1517–1867 French occupation 1798–1801 Muhammad Ali dynasty 1805–1953 Khedivate of Egypt 1867–1914
Late Modern Egypt British occupation 1882–1922 Sultanate of Egypt 1914–1922 Kingdom of Egypt 1922–1953 Republic 1953–present
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• 331 BC – Rhacotis renamed "Alexandria" by Alexander the Great (approximate date).
• 330 BC – Cleomenes of Naucratis appointed Governor of Egypt by Alexander, begins to turn the small village into the Capitol of Egypt.

48 BC–365 AD Romans in power

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

Alexandria, 16th century

• 38 AD – Pogrom against Jews.
• 115 AD – City sacked during a Jewish revolt. Possible genocide.
• 122 AD – Hadrian rebuilds city.
• 175 AD – Failed revolution of Avidius Cassius.
• 176 AD – Catechetical School of Alexandria (oldest such school in the world) founded. Some records say 190 AD; see article.
• 297 AD – Pompey's Pillar built.
• 365 AD – The 365 Crete earthquake affects the Greek island of Crete with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme), causing a destructive tsunami that affects the coasts of Libya and Egypt, especially Alexandria. Many thousands were killed.

Byzantine rule 390–650

• 391 – Theodosius I orders destruction of pagan temples.
• 395 – Roman Empire formally split in two. The official start of so-called Byzantine Empire.
• 415 – Lynching of the philosopher Hypatia by a radical Christian mob. The expulsion of the Jews from Alexandria, in 414 or 415 under the leadership of Saint Cyril. Around 100,000 Jews expelled—another Pogrom or "Alexandria Expulsion".^[1][2]
• 619 – City besieged; Sassanid Persians in power.
• 641–642 – City besieged; Arabs in power;^[3] capital of Egypt relocates from Alexandria to Fustat.
• 645 – Byzantines back in power.
• 646 – Arabs back in power, following the Battle of Nikiou

Muslim Rule 700–1800

• 680 – Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral rebuilt.
• 956 – Earthquake.
• 1303 – Earthquake.^[4]
• 1323 – Earthquake.^[4] The Pharos lighthouse collapses.
• 1354 – Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue built.
• 1365 – October: City besieged by Cypriot forces.
• 1381 – Zaradel Synagogue established^[5]
• 1477 – Citadel of Qaitbay established.
• 1519 – Ottoman conquest
• 1775 – El-Mursi Abul Abbas Mosque built.
• 1798 – French forces under Napoleon Bonaparte besiege and conquer what is now 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.
• 1807
  • 7 March - September 25: City occupied by the British forces
• 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 c. 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 c. 460,000 (c. 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 c. 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] (c. 11% foreigners).
• 1950 – Hassab hospital established.
• 1952 – Egyptian coup d'état.
• 1954 – 26 October: Alleged assassination attempt of Nasser during speech in Mansheya.
• 1958 – Alexandria Zoo opens.
• 1960 – Siddiq Abdul-Latif becomes mayor.
• 1964 – September: Arab League summit held.
• 1965 – Population c. 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.
  • City named World Book Capital by UNESCO.
• 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]
• 2017 – Population: 5,163,750 (urban agglomeration).^[19]

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 History of Alexandria.

• "(Alexandria)". Directory of Open Access Journals. UK. (Bibliography of open access articles)
• "(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)