Timeline of Istanbul

The following is a timeline of the history of the town of Istanbul, Turkey.

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.

Prior to 4th century

See also: Byzantium

• 1000 BCE - Thracian tribes founded the settlements of Lygos and Semistra.
• 657 BCE – Byzantium founded by Greeks.
• 513 BCE – City taken by Persians under the rule of Darius the Great.^[1]
• 479 BCE – Spartans take control of Byzantium from the Persians following their victory at the Battle of Plataea.^[1]
• 411 BCE – Captured by Sparta.
• 408 BCE – Captured by Athens.
• 340 BCE – Besieged unsuccessfully by the forces of Philip II of Macedon.
• 317 BCE – Battle of Byzantium.
• 193 CE
  • Besieged by Septimius Severus.
  • Population: 15,000
• 196 – Captured by Septimius Severus.^[2] Walls demolished and city razed.
• 203
  • Septimius Severus rebuilds the city.
  • Hippodrome built (approximate date).
  • Mese main street built.
  • Baths of Zeuxippus built (approximate date).
  • Walls rebuilt (approximate date).
• 267 – Captured by the Herules.

4th–15th centuries

See also: Constantinople and Timeline of the Latin Empire

• 315 – Hagia Irene church built (approximate date).
• 324
  • 8 November: Constantine renames the city as Constantinoupolis and begins large-scale rebuilding.
  • Serpent Column relocated to Byzantium.
  • Hippodrome enlarged.
  • Population: 20,000
• 328 – 4 November: Constantine dedicates Constantinople as capital.
• 330
  • 11 May: Column of Constantine dedicated.
  • Church of the Holy Apostles built (approximate date).
  • Chora Church built (approximate date).
  • Milion erected (approximate date).
• 332
  • 18 May: Free distribution of food to citizens. 80,000 rations a day from 117 distribution points.
• 359 – First urban prefect appointed.
• 360 – 15 February: Great Church of Holy Wisdom inaugurated.
• 362 – Kontoskalion built.
• 365 – City taken by forces of Procopius.^[3]
• 368
  • Valens Aqueduct completed.
  • Magnaura palace built (approximate date).
  • Population: 150,000
• 378 – Battle of Constantinople (378): Gothic attack on the city.
• 381 – First Council of Constantinople held in the Hagia Irene church.
• 382
  • Drought.
  • Second line added to the Valens Aqueduct.
• 390 – Obelisk of Theodosius installed.
• 393
  • Forum of Theodosius rebuilt.
  • Column of Theodosius erected.
  • Arch of Theodosius completed.
  • Population: 200,000
• 395 – Earthquake (approximate date).
• 400 – City occupied by the rebel forces of Gainas for several months.
• 401 – Construction of the Column of Arcadius begins.
• 403
  • Forum of Arcadius built.
  • Column of Aelia Eudoxia erected.
  • Earthquake.
• 407 – 1 April: Earthquake.
• 413 – Theodosian Walls built.
• 415 – 10 October: Church of Theodosius II inaugurated.
• 420 – Palace of Lausus built (approximate date).
• 421 – Cistern of Aetius built.
• 425 – 27 February: Pandidakterion school founded by emperor Theodosius II.
• 428 – Theodosius Cistern built (approximate date).
• 430 – Palace of Antiochos built.
• 433 – August: Fire destroys buildings along the Golden Horn.
• 437 – 25 September: Constantinian and Theodosian Walls damaged by an earthquake.
• 439 – Boukoleon Palace built (approximate date).
• 440 – Saint Andrew in Krisei built (approximate date).
• 447
  • 26 January: Walls damaged by an earthquake.
  • Walls rebuilt in 60 days by 16,000 workers under praetorian prefect Constantinus.
  • 6 November: Constantinian and Theodosian Walls damaged by an earthquake.
• 450
  • Column of Marcian erected (approximate date).
  • Church of St. Mary of Blachernae built.
• 459
  • Construction of the Cistern of Aspar begins.
  • Augustaion rebuilt.
• 462 – Monastery of Stoudios founded.
• 464 – September: Fire begins in the dockyards of the Golden Horn and damages eight of the city's fourteen regions.
• 473 – Imperial Library of Constantinople burned.
• 476 – Basilica Cistern rebuilt (approximate date).
• 478 – 25 September: Walls damaged by an earthquake.
• 498 – Riot by the Greens damages the Hippodrome and surrounding area.
• 500
  • Cistern of Mocius built (approximate date).
  • Palace of Blachernae built (approximate date).
  • Byzantine structure that would become the Balaban Aga Mosque built (approximate date).
• 524 – Church of St. Polyeuctus built.
• 527 – Construction of the Church of the Saints Sergius and Bacchus begins.
• 532
  • January: Nika riots.
  • 23 February: Construction of the Hagia Sophia church begins.
  • Basilica Cistern rebuilt and enlarged.
• 533 – Earthquake.
• 536 – Church of the Saints Sergius and Bacchus finished.
• 537
  • 26 December: Hagia Sophia completed.
  • Population: 300,000–500,000
• 541 – Plague of Justinian kills 40% of the population.
• 543 – Column of Justinian erected.
• 545 – Wheat and wine shortage.
• 548 – Hagia Irene rebuilt.
• 550 – 28 June: Church of the Holy Apostles rebuilt.
• 553 – Second Council of Constantinople held.
• 554 – 16 August: 554 Anatolia earthquake.
• 555 – May–July: Bread shortage.
• 557 – 14 December: 557 Constantinople earthquake destroys large parts of the city.
• 558 – February–July: Re-occurrence of the plague of Justinian.
• 560 – Monastery of the Mother of God at the Spring built.
• 562 – November: Drought.
• 570
  • Chrysotriklinos built by emperor Justin II (approximate date).
  • Orphanage of Saint Paul founded (approximate date).
• 573–574 – Re-occurrence of the plague of Justinian.
• 575 – Kontoskalion harbor deepened and enlarged.
• 576 – Valens Aqueduct repaired and expanded.
• 582 – Famine.
• 586 – Re-occurrence of the plague of Justinian.
• 599 – Re-occurrence of the plague of Justinian.
• 626 – Siege of Constantinople (626) by Avars, Slavs and Sassanian Persians.
• 674–678 – Siege of Constantinople (674–78).
• 680 – Third Council of Constantinople held.
• 690 – Hall of Justinianos built by emperor Justinian II (approximate date).
• 692 – Quinisext Council held.
• 698 – Outbreak of plague.
• 717–718 – Siege of Constantinople (717–18).
• 740 – October 26: 740 Constantinople earthquake.
• 747 – Outbreak of plague.
• 753 – Hagia Irene rebuilt.
• 758 – Drought.
• 766 – Valens Aqueduct restored.
• 769 – Church of the Virgin of the Pharos in existence.
• 813 – City besieged by Bulgarian forces.
• 821 – City besieged by forces of Thomas the Slav.
• 860 – Siege of Constantinople (860).
• 869 – A portion of the walls collapses in an earthquake.
• 870 – Fourth Council of Constantinople (Catholic Church) held.
• 880
  • Fourth Council of Constantinople (Eastern Orthodox) held.
  • 1 May: Nea Ekklesia built.
• 907 – Siege of Constantinople (907).
• 908 – Lips Monastery built.
• 920 – Myrelaion built.
• 922 – Battle of Constantinople (922).
• 941 – Siege of Constantinople (941).
• 971 – Church of Christ of the Chalke built by emperor John I Tzimiskes.
• 1000 – Hagios Theodoros built (approximate date).
• 1030 – Monastery of St. Mary Peribleptos built by emperor Romanos III Argyros.
• 1045 – Monastery of St. George of Mangana built (approximate date).
• 1047 – September: Siege by rebels under Leo Tornikios.
• 1049 — Theotokos Euergetis Monastery founded.
• 1059 – Saint Thekla of the Palace of Blachernae built.
• 1060 – Pammakaristos Church built (approximate date).
• 1081 – Chora Church rebuilt.
• 1087 – Monastery of Christ Pantepoptes built.
• 1100
  • Paper in use.^[4]
  • Saint John the Forerunner by-the-Dome built.
• 1110
  • Kecharitomene Monastery built.
  • Maiden's Tower built.
• 1136 – Monastery of the Pantocrator completed.
• 1147 – September: Battle of Constantinople (1147)
• 1181 – 2 May: Uprising of Maria Komnene against the rule of Alexios Komnenos suppressed.
• 1182 – April: Massacre of the Latins.
• 1197 – 25 July: Fire destroys the Latin Quarter and other buildings.
• 1200 – Theotokos Kyriotissa built (approximate date).
• 1203 – Siege of Constantinople (1203) by the Fourth Crusade, in which Alexius IV was able to usurp the throne after Alexius III fled to Thrace.
• 1204 – April: Siege of Constantinople (1204) by the Fourth Crusade, in which the Byzantines were overwhelmed and the city thoroughly sacked.
• 1235 – Siege of Constantinople (1235).
• 1260 – Siege of Constantinople (1260).
• 1261
  • 25 July: Captured by Nicaean forces under Alexios Strategopoulos.
  • Population: 35,000
• 1268 – Kyra Martha nunnery founded.
• 1289 – June: Earthquake.
• 1304 – South Church of Lips Monastery built.
• 1307 – Monastery of Christ Philanthropos built.
• 1325 – Church of San Domenico built.
• 1332 – 17 January: Earthquake.
• 1347
  • 14 October: Earthquake.
  • 18 October: Earthquake.
• 1348
  • Galata Tower built.
  • Population: 80,000
• 1351 – 28 May: Fifth Council of Constantinople completed.
• 1376 – City besieged by forces of Andronikos IV Palaiologos.
• 1394
  • Blockade of the city begun by Ottoman forces under Bayezid I.
  • Anadoluhisarı fortress built.

15th–18th centuries

• 1402
  • Ottoman blockade lifted.
  • Earthquake.
• 1410 – June: Battle of Kosmidion.
• 1411 – Siege of Constantinople (1411).
• 1422 – Siege of Constantinople (1422).
• 1427 – Church of Saint Benoit built.
• 1437
  • 4 September: Earthquake.
  • 25 November: Earthquake.
• 1452 – Rumelihisarı fortress built.
• 1453
  • 6 April-29 May: Final Siege of Constantinople; City besieged by Ottoman forces; Mehmed II in power.
  • Capital of the Ottoman Empire relocated to Constantinople from Edirne.^[5]
  • Hagia Sophia (converted from Orthodox cathedral to mosque) in use.^[6]
  • Medrese predecessor of Istanbul University established.
  • Population: 40,000–50,000
• 1454
  • 18 April: Treaty of Constantinople (1454)
  • Imperial Arsenal established.
  • Phanar Greek Orthodox College founded.
  • Ağa hamamı built.^{[citation needed]}
• 1458
  • Yedikule Fortress built.
  • Eyüp Sultan Mosque built.
• 1460 – Grand Bazaar built (approximate date).^[7]
• 1465 – Topkapı Palace construction begins.
• 1467 – Turkish State Mint established.
• 1470
  • Fatih Mosque built.
  • Sahn-ı Seman Medrese established.
• 1471 – Rum Mehmed Pasha Mosque built.
• 1472 – Tiled Kiosk built.
• 1478 – Galata Mosque in use.
• 1479 – 25 January: Treaty of Constantinople (1479)
• 1481 – Galatasaray High School established.
• 1488 – Complex of Sultan Bayezid II built.
• 1491 – Firuz Agha Mosque built in Fatih.
• 1497 – Gazi Atik Ali Pasha Mosque built.
• 1505 – İskender Pasha Mosque, Fatih built (approximate date).
• 1506 – Bayezid II Mosque built.
• 1509 – 1509 Constantinople earthquake.^[6]
• 1512 – Vasat Atik Ali Pasha Mosque built.
• 1520 – Suleiman the Magnificent becomes Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
• 1521 – Ibrahim Pasha Palace in use.
• 1528 – Yavuz Selim Mosque built.
• 1531 – Piri Mehmed Pasha Mosque built.
• 1533 – 22 July: Treaty of Constantinople (1533).
• 1535 – French embassy established.
• 1539 – Haseki Sultan Complex built.
• 1541 – Tomb of Hayreddin Barbarossa built.
• 1542 – Defterdar Mosque built.
• 1548
  • Mihrimah Sultan Mosque (Üsküdar) built.
  • Şehzade Mosque built.
• 1550
  • Mosque with the Spiral Minaret built.
  • Yavuz Sultan Selim Madras built.
• 1551 – Hadim Ibrahim Pasha Mosque built.
• 1554 – Coffee house in business.^[8]
• 1555 – November/December: Sinan Pasha Mosque (Istanbul) built.
• 1556 – Bath-house of Haseki Hurrem Sultan built.
• 1557
  • Süleymaniye Mosque built.
  • Süleymaniye Hamam bath built.
• 1559 – Caferağa Medresseh built.
• 1560 – İskender Pasha Mosque, Kanlıca built.
• 1563 – Rüstem Pasha Mosque built.
• 1567 – Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque (Büyükçekmece) built.
• 1570 – Mihrimah Sultan Mosque (Edirnekapı) built.
• 1571 – Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque (Kadırga) built.
• 1572 – Kara Ahmed Pasha Mosque built.
• 1573 – Piyale Pasha Mosque built.
• 1577 – Observatory of Taqi al-Din built.
• 1578 – Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque (Azapkapı) built.
• 1580 – Kılıç Ali Pasha Complex built.
• 1581 – Şemsi Pasha Mosque built.
• 1583 – 26 March: First British ambassador to Constantinople arrives.
• 1584
  • Çemberlitaş Hamamı (bath) built.
  • Molla Çelebi Mosque built.
  • Church of St. Mary Draperis, Istanbul established.
• 1586
  • Atik Valide Mosque built.
  • Mesih Mehmed Pasha Mosque built.
• 1590
  • 21 March: Treaty of Constantinople (1590).
  • Zal Mahmud Pasha Mosque built.
• 1604 – Church of SS Peter and Paul, Istanbul built.
• 1612 – 20 November: Treaty of Nasuh Pasha.
• 1613 – Aynalıkavak Palace built.
• 1615 – Cossack raid on Istanbul (1615)
• 1616 – Sultan Ahmed Mosque built.
• 1620 – Cossack raid on Istanbul (1620)
• 1624 – Cossack raids on Istanbul (1624)
• 1648 – Atmeydanı incident.
• 1656 – 26 February: Çınar incident.
• 1660
  • 24–26 July: Great Fire of 1660.
  • New Bazaar built.
• 1665 – Valide Sultan Mosque built.
• 1678 – Church of St. Mary Draperis rebuilt.
• 1700 – 13 July: Treaty of Constantinople (1700).
• 1710 – Yeni Valide Mosque built.
• 1728 – Fountain of Ahmed III built.
• 1729 – Fountain of Ahmed III (Üsküdar) built.
• 1730 – 20 September: Patrona Halil rebellion.
• 1732 – Tophane Fountain built.
• 1736 – 24 September: Treaty of Constantinople (1736).
• 1742 – 15 April: Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinople established.
• 1746 – Kalenderhane Mosque consecrated.
• 1753 – Yedikule Hospital founded.
• 1755 – Nuruosmaniye Mosque built.
• 1758 – Şemsipaşa Primary School established.
• 1763 – Laleli Mosque built.
• 1766 – Earthquake.
• 1769 – Zeynep Sultan Mosque built.
• 1771 – Fatih Mosque rebuilt.
• 1773 – Naval Engineering at Golden Horn Naval Shipyard college founded.
• 1774 – Rami Barracks built.
• 1781 – Emirgan Mosque built.
• 1793 – Balıklı Greek Hospital rebuilt.
• 1795
  • Imperial School of Military Engineering established.
  • Mühendishane-i Berri Hümayun printing house established.

19th century

• 1800 – Eyüp Sultan Mosque rebuilt.
• 1801 – Big Selimiye Mosque built.
• 1806 – Taksim Military Barracks built.
• 1807 – 29 May: Coup of 1807.
• 1808 – 28 July: Coup of 1808.
• 1813 – Hidayet Mosque built.
• 1814 – Sultan Mahmut Fountain built.
• 1821 – Constantinople massacre of 1821.
• 1825 – Pangaltı Mkhitaryan School established.
• 1826
  • 15 June: Auspicious Incident.
  • Nusretiye Mosque built.
• 1828
  • 6 February: Selimiye Barracks built.
  • Beyazıt Tower built.
• 1831 – October: Takvim-i Vekayi newspaper established.
• 1832
  • February: Treaty of Constantinople (1832).
  • Beylerbeyi Palace Tunnel built.
  • Davutpaşa Barracks built.
• 1833 – 8 July: Treaty of Hünkâr İskelesi.
• 1834
  • Military Academy established.
  • 31 May: Surp Pırgiç Armenian Hospital opened.
• 1836 – 3 September: Hayratiye Bridge built.
• 1837 – Surp Agop Hospital opened.
• 1843 – Church of SS Peter and Paul rebuilt.
• 1844 – Naum Theatre opened.
• 1845
  • Galata Bridge built.
  • 21 September: Mekteb-i Fünun-ı İdadiye military high school established.
• 1846
  • Cathedral of the Holy Spirit built.
  • 1 July: Armenian Evangelical Church established.
  • 23 July: House of Multiple Sciences established (predecessor of Istanbul University).
• 1848
  • Küçük Mecidiye Mosque built.
  • Nusretiye Clock Tower built.
  • Ottoman Military College established.
• 1849 – 9 October: Bulgarian St. Stephen Church inaugurated.
• 1850
  • 21 March: Istanbul Girls High School inaugurated.
  • 22 March: Cağaloğlu Anadolu Lisesi established.
• 1851
  • Hırka-i Şerif Mosque built.
  • Emirgan Pier opened.
• 1852
  • Taşkışla houses built.
  • Taksim German Hospital founded.
• 1853 – Üsküdar Ferry Terminal opened.
• 1854 – Teşvikiye Mosque built.
• 1855
  • Ihlamur Palace built.
  • Dolmabahçe Mosque built.
• 1856
  • 27 November: Lycée Notre Dame de Sion Istanbul established.
  • Dolmabahçe Palace built in Beşiktaş.
  • Ortaköy Mosque built.
  • Ottoman Bank founded.
  • Fenerbahçe Lighthouse built.
• 1857
  • Küçüksu Palace built.
  • Ahırkapı Feneri lighthouse built.
• 1859
  • 12 February: Mekteb-i Mülkiye-i Şahane college established.
  • Şişli Greek Orthodox Cemetery founded.
• 1861
  • 14 April: Bulgarian Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinople established.
  • Adile Sultan Palace built.
  • Al-Jawâ'ib begins publication.
  • Liceo Italiano di Istanbul founded.
• 1862 – Tekel tobacco company founded.
• 1863
  • 16 September: Robert College opened.
  • First painting exhibition sponsored by Sultan Abdülaziz.
• 1865
  • Beylerbeyi Palace built.
  • Altunizade Mosque built.
• 1866 – Gedikpaşa Tiyatrosu theatre established.
• 1867 – Çırağan Palace built.
• 1868
  • 1 April: Court of Cassation established.
  • 1 May: Deutsche Schule Istanbul founded.
  • Kandilli Observatory established.
  • Galatasaray Museum established.
• 1870
  • June 5: Fire in Pera.^[9]
  • 24 November: Diyojen magazine founded.
  • Malta Kiosk built.
• 1871
  • Feriye Palace built.
  • American College for Girls established in Arnavutköy.^[6]
• 1872
  • Pertevniyal Valide Sultan Mosque built.
  • Haydarpaşa railway station opened.
  • Pertevniyal High School founded.
  • El Tiempo Ladino-language newspaper founded.
  • 22 July:
    • Bakırköy railway station opened.
    • Küçükçekmece railway station opened.
  • 27 July: Sirkeci railway station opened.
  • 22 September:
    • Bostancı railway station opened.
    • Erenköy railway station opened.
    • Feneryolu railway station opened.
    • Kartal railway station opened.
    • Küçükyalı railway station opened.
• 1873
  • 27 April: Fenerbahçe railway station opened.
  • Darüşşafaka High School founded.
• 1874 – Population: 827,750
• 1875
  • 17 January:
    • Beyoğlu (Tünel) railway station opened.
    • Karaköy (Tünel) railway station opened.
  • Esma Sultan Mansion built.
• 1876
  • 3 January: Akhtar Persian-language magazine established.
  • Muharrir magazine established.
  • Üsküdar American Academy founded.
  • Göztepe railway station built.
• 1877 – 18 December: Central Committee for Defending Albanian Rights formed.
• 1878
  • 26 June: Tercüman-ı Hakikat newspaper first published.
  • Istanbul Bar Association established.
• 1879
  • 12 October: Society for the Publication of Albanian Writings formed.
• 1880
  • 14 September: Hagia Triada Greek Orthodox Church, Istanbul built.
  • Yıldız Palace built.
• 1882
  • Palazzo Corpi built.
  • Ottoman Public Debt Administration building constructed.
  • School of Fine Arts established.
  • Numune-i Terakki school founded.
  • 14 January: Istanbul Chamber of Commerce established.
• 1883
  • School of Economics established.^[6]
  • Orient Express (Paris–Istanbul) begins operating.
  • Drita Albanian magazine begins publishing.
• 1886
  • 1 September: Getronagan Armenian High School established.
  • Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque built.
• 1887
  • Ertuğrul Tekke Mosque built.
  • Hidayet Mosque rebuilt.
• 1890
  • Yıldız Clock Tower built.
  • Kum Kapu demonstration.
  • Tekel Birası brewery established.
• 1891 – 13 June: Imperial Museum founded.
• 1892
  • Pera Palace Hotel built.
  • Mekteb-i Aşiret-i Humayun school established.
• 1893 – Zografeion Lyceum inaugurated.
• 1894
  • 10 July: an earthquake in the Gulf of İzmit kills about 1,349 people.^[10]
  • Pando's Creamery in business.^[11]
• 1895
  • Dolmabahçe Clock Tower built.
  • Russian Archaeological Institute of Constantinople established.
  • Lycée Sainte-Euphémie established.
• 1896
  • 1 January: Kurtuluş S.K. founded.
  • 26 August: Occupation of the Ottoman Bank.
• 1897
  • Treaty of Constantinople (1897).
  • Istanbul Naval Museum established.
  • Tokatlıyan Hotels built.
• 1899 – 20 April: Port of Haydarpaşa opened.

20th century

• 1900 – Port of Istanbul opened.
• 1901
  • 27 January: German Fountain inaugurated.
  • Ulus Sephardi Jewish Cemetery established.
• 1903
  • 4 March: Beşiktaş J.K. founded.
  • Moda F.C. founded.
• 1904
  • Istanbul Football League established.
  • Elpis F.C. founded.
  • HMS Imogene F.C. founded.
• 1905
  • 21 July: Yıldız assassination attempt.
  • 30 October: Galatasaray S.K. founded.
• 1907
  • 3 May: Fenerbahçe S.K. (football) founded.
  • Khedive Palace built.
  • Etfal Hospital Clock Tower built.
• 1908
  • Istanbul declared a province with nine constituent districts.
  • Ottoman National Olympic Society founded.
  • Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium inaugurated.
  • Kabataş Erkek Lisesi established.
  • Karagöz magazine established.
  • Osmanischer Lloyd established.
  • Demet magazine established.
  • Jamanak Armenian-language newspaper established.
  • El Gugeton Ladino-language newspaper established.
  • Vefa S.K. founded.
  • Beykoz S.K.D. founded.
  • Üsküdar Anadolu S.K. founded.
  • Strugglers F.C. founded.
• 1909
  • 31 March Incident
  • National Bank of Turkey established.
  • Scouting and Guiding Federation of Turkey predecessor formed.
  • Al-Muntada al-Adabi formed.
  • Shehbal magazine founded.
  • Altınordu İdman Yurdu S.K. founded.
• 1910
  • Mısır Apartment built.
  • Suadiye railway station opened.
  • Hamevasser newspaper established.
  • Apikoğlu company founded.
  • 22 April: Hikmet magazine established.
• 1911
  • Yıldız Technical University established.
  • Istanbul International Community School established.
  • Erenköy Girls High School established.
  • Marmnamarz sports magazine begins publishing.
  • Küçükçekmece S.K. founded.
  • Beylerbeyi S.K. founded.
  • Rumblers F.C. founded.
  • 11 June: Greek Byzantine Catholic Church established.
  • 23 July: Monument of Liberty, Istanbul completed.
• 1912
  • İnterbank moves to Constantinople.
  • Church of St. Anthony of Padua, Istanbul built.
  • Gülhane Park opens.
  • Orfeon Records established.
  • Istanbul Friday League established.
  • Hilal S.K. founded.
  • Telefoncular F.C. founded.
  • 25 March: Turkish Hearths founded.
• 1913
  • 23 January: 1913 Ottoman coup d'état.
  • 29 September: Treaty of Constantinople
  • Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum opens.^[12]
  • Bebek Mosque built.
  • Veliefendi Race Course opened.
  • Anadolu Hisarı İdman Yurdu S.K. founded.
• 1914
  • Population: 1,125,000
  • 25 January: Electric tram line begins operating on the European side.
  • 11 February: Silahtarağa Power Station opened.
  • 28 June: Darülbedayi founded.
  • Metrohan Building built.
  • Darülbedayi theatre founded.
  • Istanbul Championship League established.
  • Beyoğlu S.K. established.
• 1915
  • 24 April: Deportation of Armenian intellectuals on 24 April 1915.
  • 15 June: The 20 Hunchakian gallows hanging occurs in Beyazıt Square.
  • Göztepe railway station rebuilt.
• 1916
  • Aviation Martyrs' Monument completed.
  • Kandilli Anatolian High School for Girls established.
• 1917 – Darülelhan conservatory established.
• 1918
  • 13 November: Occupation of Constantinople by Allied forces begins, per Armistice of Mudros.^[13]
  • November: Karakol society founded against the occupation of Constantinople.
• 1919
  • Sultanahmet demonstrations.
  • Sultanahmet Jail built.
  • Eyüpspor founded.
• 1920 – 5 March: Green Crescent established.
• 1921
  • 15 January: Kasımpaşa S.K. founded.
  • Taksim Stadium established.
  • Istanbul Men's Volleyball League established.
• 1922 – Tayyare Apartments built.
• 1923
  • 4 October: Allied occupation ends and the newly-formed Republic of Turkey takes control.
  • 13 October: Turkish capital relocated from Istanbul to Ankara.^[2]
  • Vatan newspaper established.
  • Istanbul Maltepespor founded.
• 1924
  • 7 May: Cumhuriyet newspaper established.
  • 15 October: Bakırköy Psychiatric Hospital founded.
  • Airport opened in Yeşilköy.
  • Emek (movie theater) opened.
• 1925 – 12 July: Apoyevmatini Greek-language newspaper founded.
• 1926
  • 4 January: İstanbulspor founded.
  • Istanbul 4th Vakıf Han built.
  • Fatih Karagümrük S.K. founded.
• 1927
  • 6 March: Süreyya Opera House opened.
  • Istanbul Basketball League established.
  • Feriköy S.K. founded.
• 1928
  • Electric tram line begins operating on the Asian side.
  • Paşakapısı Prison established.
• 1929 – Istanbul Medical Chamber founded.
• 1930
  • City renamed "Istanbul".^[14]
  • Istanbul Shield established.
• 1931 – Italian Synagogue established.
• 1932 – Fil Bridge built.
• 1933
  • 1 August: Istanbul University established.^[6]
  • October: Güneş S.K. founded.
  • Istanbul Zoology Museum established.
• 1934 – 26 September: Haydarpaşa High School established.
• 1936 –
  • Istanbul University Observatory established.
  • Beşiktaş Atatürk Anadolu Lisesi high school founded.
• 1938 – 10 November: Death of Atatürk.
• 1940
  • 31 August: Marmara (newspaper) Armenian-language newspaper begins publishing.
  • Berlin–Baghdad railway begins operating.
  • Atatürk Bridge built.
  • Sarıyer S.K. founded.
  • Taksim S.K. founded.
  • Population: 789,346.^[2]
• 1942 –
  • VitrA (sanitaryware) company established.
  • Istanbul Football Cup established.
• 1943 – Taksim Gezi Park built.
• 1944
  • 22 February: Ülker company established.
  • Faculty of Arts and Sciences Building, Istanbul University built.
  • Yıldız Holding established.
• 1945
  • Population: 860,558.^[15]
  • Ali Sami Yen Stadium built.
  • Beyti (Istanbul) restaurant founded.
  • Aşiyan Museum established.
  • Yıldırım Bosna S.K. founded.
• 1946
  • Cezmi Or Memorial established.
  • Modaspor (basketball) founded.
• 1947
  • 19 May: İnönü Stadium opens in Beşiktaş.
  • 9 August: Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre opened.
  • 29 October: Şalom begins publishing.
• 1948
  • 1 May: Hürriyet newspaper begins publishing.
  • Bütün Dünya periodical begins publishing.
• 1949
  • 3 June: Istanbul Lütfi Kırdar International Convention and Exhibition Center opened.
  • 18 August: Kartal S.K. founded.
  • Şişli Mosque built.
  • İstanbul newspaper begins publishing.
  • Bakırköyspor founded.
• 1950
  • Population: 1,000,022.^[6]
  • 3 May: Milliyet begins publishing.
  • Hünkar (restaurant) established.
  • Pendikspor founded.
  • Paşabahçe S.K. founded.
  • Alibeyköy S.K. founded.
• 1951
  • 25 March: Neve Shalom Synagogue inaugurated.
  • Ismet Baba Fish Restaurant established.
• 1952
  • 9 March: ITU TV broadcast. First Turkish television broadcast.
  • Türk Ticaret Bankası relocated to Istanbul.
• 1953
  • 1 March: ITU School of Mines established.
  • Tiled Kiosk opens as a museum.
  • Zeytinburnuspor founded.
• 1954
  • Arçelik company established.
  • Alarko Holding company established.
  • Migros Türk company established.
  • İçmeler railway station opened.
  • Akbank moves to Istanbul.
  • Tuzlaspor founded.
• 1955
  • 10 June: Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus opened.
  • 6–7 September: Istanbul pogrom.
  • 4 December:
    • Cankurtaran railway station opened.
    • Florya railway station opened.
    • Kazlıçeşme railway station opened.
    • Yenimahalle railway station opened.
    • Zeytinburnu railway station opened.
  • Beko company founded.
  • Kadıköy Anadolu Lisesi founded.
  • Adam Mickiewicz Museum, Istanbul founded.
  • Küçükçekmece railway station rebuilt.
  • Istanbul Women's Volleyball League established.
• 1956
  • Divan Istanbul built.
  • Demirören Group founded.
  • Tekfen Construction and Installation founded.
  • Tabanlıoğlu Architects founded.
  • Yeşilyurt Women's Volleyball Team founded.
• 1957
  • Enka İnşaat ve Sanayi A.Ş. company founded.
  • Pudding Shop restaurant opened.
• 1958
  • Birleşik Fon Bankası founded.
  • Banks Association of Turkey founded.
  • Küçük Emek cinema opens.^[16]
• 1959
  • Beşiktaş Anadolu Lisesi founded.
  • Sait Faik Abasıyanık Museum opened.
  • Karaköy Pier opened.
  • Güzelyalı railway station opened.
  • Bayrampaşaspor founded.
• 1960
  • Erler Film company founded.
  • Ekonomist magazine founded.
• 1961
  • March: Hürriyet Daily News founded.
  • Yenibosna S.K. founded.
• 1962
  • E.C.A. Elginkan Anadolu Lisesi founded.
  • Telsiz ve Radyo Amatörleri Cemiyeti founded.
• 1963 – Gaziosmanpaşaspor founded.
• 1964
  • Askam (trucks) company founded.
  • Harbiye Muhsin Ertuğrul Stage opens.
• 1965
  • Population: 2,293,823 (districts of Adalar, Bakırköy, Beşiktaş, Beykoz, Beyoğlu, Çatalca, Eyüp, Fatih, Gaziosmanpaşa, Kadıköy, Kartal, Sarıyer, Silivri, Şile, Şişli, Üsküdar, Yalova, and Zeytinburnu).^[17]
  • Yapı Merkezi company founded.
• 1966 – İdealtepe railway station opened.
• 1967
  • 15 June: Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey holds first meeting.
  • Kaynarca railway station opened.
  • Moğollar established.
• 1968
  • Yedikule Anadolu Lisesi founded.
  • Küçükköyspor founded.
• 1969
  • 17 January: Vehbi Koç Foundation established.
  • 16 February: Bloody Sunday (1969).
  • 12 April: Atatürk Cultural Center dedicated.
  • Efes Beverage Group established.
• 1970
  • Eyüboğlu High School founded.
  • 22 April: Türkiye newspaper begins publishing.
• 1971
  • 2 November: Beyoğlu station re-opened after reconstruction.
  • Turkish Industry and Business Association established.
  • Turkish Society for Electron Microscopy established.
• 1972 – Desa company established.
• 1973
  • 12 January: Millî Gazete begins publishing.
  • 19 April: Dostluk S.K. founded.
  • Bosphorus Bridge built.
  • Ömerli Dam built.
  • 50th Anniversary of the Republic Sculptures erected.
  • Istanbul International Music Festival begins.
  • Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts established.
• 1974
  • 10 September: Haliç Bridge opened.
  • Derimod company founded.
• 1975
  • 30 January: Turkish Airlines Flight 345 crash.
  • Çukurova (construction firm) established.
  • Istanbul Technical University Turkish Music State Conservatory founded.
• 1976
  • Muhammad Maarifi Mosque built.
  • Çamlıca TRT Television Tower built.
  • Polin Waterparks company founded.
• 1977
  • 1 May: Taksim Square massacre.
• 1978 – December: Kadınca women's magazine begins publishing.
• 1979 – Istanbul Marathon begins.
• 1980
  • 14 October: Sadberk Hanım Museum opened.
  • Cengiz Holding established.
  • Bogazici University Sports Fest founded.
• 1981
  • 2 March: Dünya founded.
  • Koçbank founded.
  • Can Yayınları publishing company founded.
  • Metris Prison established.
• 1982
  • 19 February: Güneş founded.
  • International Istanbul Film Festival begins.
  • Istanbul Book Fair inaugurated.
  • Atatürk High School of Science, Istanbul established.
  • World Trade Center Istanbul established.
  • Timas Publishing Group established.
  • İletişim Yayınları publishing company established.
  • Kaynak Yayınları publishing company established.
  • Malta Kiosk restored and re-opened.
  • Ezginin Günlüğü band formed.
• 1983
  • ITU Mustafa Inan Library opened.
  • Enka SK founded.
  • İstanbul Güngörenspor founded.
• 1984
  • March: Hotel Yeşil Ev established.
  • March 23: Municipality of Greater Istanbul established.
  • Population: 2,951,000 (estimate).^[18]
• 1986 – 6 September: Neve Shalom Synagogue massacre. Gunmen kill 22 Jews in an attack orchestrated by Palestinian militant Abu Nidal.
• 1987
  • The districts of Büyükçekmece, Kağıthane, Küçükçekmece, Pendik and Ümraniye are created.^[19]
  • 1 October: Galleria Ataköy opened.
• 1988
  • 9 May: TGC Press Media Museum established.
  • 3 July: Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge built.
  • Koç School opened.
• 1989
  • 3 September: Istanbul Metro begins operating.
  • Kadıköy Haldun Taner Stage in use.
• 1990
  • İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. established.
  • The district of Bayrampaşa is created.^[20]
• 1991 – Swissôtel The Bosphorus opened.
• 1992
  • 1 March: Neve Shalom Synagogue bomb attack. No casualties or damage.
  • The districts of Avcılar, Bağcılar, Bahçelievler, Güngören, Maltepe, Sultanbeyli, and Tuzla are created.^[21]
  • 13 June: T1 (Istanbul Tram) line opened.
  • Istanbul Hezarfen Airfield opened.
• 1993
  • Sabancı Center built.
  • International Defence Industry Fair established.
  • Akbank Sanat opened.
  • Koç University opened.
  • 6–7 May: 2nd ECO Summit held.
  • 18 December: Akmerkez opened.
  • The district of Esenler is created.^[22]
• 1994
  • 31 October: Istanbul Bilgi University established.
  • December: Galata Bridge rebuilt.
  • Esenler Coach Terminal built.
  • Recep Tayyip Erdoğan becomes mayor of greater Istanbul.
  • Population: 7,615,500 in city (approximate estimate).^[23]
• 1995
  • 12–15 March: Gazi Quarter riots.
  • The district of Yalova is separated from Istanbul Province and Yalova Province is created.^[24]
• 1996
  • United Nations Conference on Human Settlements held.
  • Üsküdar Belediyespor founded.
• 1998 – Ahmet Cömert Sport Hall built.
• 1999
  • 13–14 March: 1999 Istanbul bombings.
  • 26 July – 1 August: 1999 European Aquatics Championships held.
  • The 7.6 M_w İzmit earthquake shakes northwestern Turkey with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), leaving 17,118–17,127 dead and 43,953–50,000 injured in the region.
  • Changa (restaurant) established.

21st century

• 2000
  • Population: 10,018,735.^[25]
  • Tekstilkent Plaza built.
  • 6 May: Istanbul Postal Museum established.
  • 26 August: Isbank Tower 1 built.
  • 16 September: M2 (Istanbul Metro) opened.
• 2001
  • Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport opened.
  • 21 September: Tepe Nautilus mall opened.
• 2002
  • Tekfen Tower built.
  • Endem TV Tower built.
  • Sakıp Sabancı Museum opened.
• 2003
  • Istanbul Pride begins.
  • 2 May: Miniatürk opened.
  • November: 2003 Istanbul bombings.^[14]
  • Miniatürk park opens.^[26]
• 2004
  • City boundaries become coterminous with those of Istanbul Province.
  • Kadir Topbaş becomes mayor of Greater Istanbul.
  • March 9, 2004 attack on Istanbul restaurant.
  • 12 and 15 May: Eurovision Song Contest 2004 held.
  • 28–29 June: City hosts 2004 Istanbul summit.^[14]
  • 11 December: İstanbul Modern museum of art opened.
• 2005 – April: Sabancı Performing Arts Center opens in Tuzla.
• 2006 – 6 June: Kanyon Shopping Mall opened.
• 2007
  • 19 January: Assassination of Hrant Dink.
  • 29 April: Republic Protest.
  • 12 September: T4 (Istanbul Tram) opened.
  • Şişli Plaza built.
  • Süreyya Opera House in Kadıköy.
• 2008
  • The districts of Arnavutköy, Ataşehir, Başakşehir, Beylikdüzü, Çekmeköy, Esenyurt, Sancaktepe, and Sultangazi are created. The district Eminönü is abolished and merged into Fatih.^[27]
  • 1 February: Istanbul fireworks explosion in Davutpaşa.
  • 9 July: 2008 United States consulate in Istanbul attack.
  • 21 July: 70 Million Steps Against Coups.
  • 27 July: 2008 Istanbul bombings.
  • Labour strike in Tuzla.^{[citation needed]}
• 2009
  • 7 May: Şakirin Mosque opened.
  • 17 October: Istanbul Congress Center opened
  • City districts increased from 32 to 39.
  • Istanbul Congress Center built.
  • Depo art space founded.^[28]
• 2010
  • 14 January: Harbiye Muhsin Ertuğrul Stage rebuilt.
  • 28 August – 12 September: 2010 FIBA World Championship held.
  • 31 October: 2010 Istanbul bombing.
  • Baklahorani (carnival) revived.^[29]

• 2011
  • 4 March: Istanbul Sapphire opened.
  • 18 March: Istanbul Shopping Fest inaugurated.
  • July: Istanbul Justice Palace built.
  • 6 October: Ora Arena opened.
• 2012
  • 26 February 2012 Istanbul rally to commemorate the Khojaly massacre held.
  • 17 August: M4 (Istanbul Metro) line opened.
  • Sancaklar Mosque built.
  • MEF University opened.
  • Forensic Science Institute of Turkey opened.
  • Museum of Innocence opens.^[30]
  • Population: 13,854,740.
• 2013
  • 28 May: Gezi Park protests begin in Taksim Square.
  • 14 June: M3 (Istanbul Metro) line opened.
  • 10 October: Zorlu Center opened.
  • 29 October:
    • Marmaray Tunnel phase of the Marmaray project opened for public use.^[31]
    • Ayrılık Çeşmesi railway station opened.
• 2014
  • 15 February: Golden Horn Metro Bridge opened.
  • 1 September: Raffles Istanbul hotel opened.
  • 29 November: Pope Francis visit to meet with Patriarch Bartholomew I and Muslim leaders.^[32]
  • Sancaklar Mosque built in Büyükçekmece.
  • Istanbul Half Marathon established.
• 2015
  • 6 January: 2015 Istanbul suicide bombing.
  • 17 March: 2015 SAHA Istanbul, Defence, Aviation and Space Clustering Association established.^[33]
  • 19 April: M6 (Istanbul Metro) line opened.
  • 26 May: Mehmet Çakır Cultural and Sports Center opened.
  • 1 December: 2015 Istanbul metro bombing.
  • 23 December: 2015 Sabiha Gökçen Airport bombing.
• 2016
  • 12 January: January 2016 Istanbul bombing.
  • 19 March: March 2016 Istanbul bombing.
  • 11 April: Vodafone Park opened.
  • 7 June: June 2016 Istanbul bombing.
  • 28 June: Istanbul Atatürk Airport attack.
  • 15–16 July: 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt.
  • 20 August: Beykoz University established.
  • 23 August: Özgürlükçü Demokrasi launched.
  • 26 August: Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge opened.
  • 6 October: October 2016 Istanbul bombing.
  • 10 December: December 2016 Istanbul bombings.
  • 22 December: Eurasia Tunnel opened.
• 2017
  • 1 January: 2017 Istanbul nightclub shooting.^[34]
  • 9 July: 2017 March for Justice.
  • 29 October: F3 (Istanbul Metro) line opened.
  • 15 December: M5 (Istanbul Metro) line opened.
  • Population: 15,029,231 (estimate, urban agglomeration).^[35]
• 2018
  • Saha Expo first held.^[36]
  • 20–23 September: Teknofest Istanbul held.^[37]
  • 29 October: Istanbul Airport opened.^[38]
  • Prince MBS of Saudi Arabia sends a group of government agents to murder prominent critic, Jamal Khashoggi. His death is just a few days before his sixtieth birthday.^[39]
• 2019
  • Opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu won the repeat race for Istanbul's mayor.^[40]
• 2022
  • 13 November: an explosion on İstiklal Avenue in the Beyoğlu district left at least six people dead and 81 injured.^[41]
• 2024
  • 2024 Istanbul Palace of Justice attack: an armed attack on a police station took place near the Istanbul Justice Palace.^[42]
  • Ekrem İmamoğlu was reelected as Istanbul Mayor for a second term in 2024.^[43]
• 2025
  • 2025 Turkish protests: hundreds of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators gathered in the streets of Istanbul.^[44]

See also

• History of Istanbul
• List of mayors of Istanbul
• List of sultans of the Ottoman Empire, 1450s–1920s
• Timelines of other cities in Turkey: Ankara, Bursa, İzmir