Timeline of Alexandria

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

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Greek era (331–30 BC)

• 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 Capital of Egypt.

323–30 BC

Egypt's capital under Ptolemaic dynasty

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

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.^{[citation needed]}
• 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 – Zizinia Theatre 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.
• 1871 – International Cotton Exchange (Bourse) of Minet el-Bassal built.
• 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.
• 1896 – First Cinema Projection in the city took place.

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.^{[citation needed]}
• 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.^{[citation needed]}
• 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 [fr]