Timeline of Kaliningrad explained

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Kaliningrad, Russia. The city was known as Königsberg (pl|Królewiec, lt|Karaliaučius) prior to 1945 and Twangste prior to 1255.

Era of Teutonic Order

• 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.^[1]
• 1324 – Town of Kneiphof founded.
• 1333 - Construction of Königsberg Cathedral begins.
• 1340 – Königsberg joins Hanseatic League.
• 1377 – Köttelbrücke (bridge) built.^[2]
• 1379 (or 1397) – Schmiedebrücke (bridge) built.^[3]
• 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.^[4]
  • March: The local mayor pledged allegiance to the Polish King during the incorporation of the region in Kraków.^[5]
  • March: City authorized by the Polish king to mint Polish coins.^[6]
  • 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.^[7]
• 1466 – Second Treaty of Thorn: the city becomes a part of Poland as a fief held by the Teutonic Order.^[8]

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.^[9]
• 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.^[1]
• 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.^[10]
• 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.^[11]
• 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.^[12]
  • 27 March: Stanisław Leszczyński left the city for France on March 27, 1736.^[12]
• 1756 – Synagogue built.
• 1758
  • 14 January: Forces of the Kingdom of Prussia withdraw from the city.^[13]
  • 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.^[14]
• 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.^[15]
• 1875
  • Johann Karl Adolf Selke becomes mayor.
  • Königsberg Stock Exchange built in Vorstadt.
• 1878 – Königsberger Allgemeine Zeitung (newspaper) in publication.^[16]
• 1880
  • Bronsart Fort built.
  • Population: 140,800.^[17]
• 1883 – High Bridge rebuilt.
• 1886 – Siemering Museum established.^[18]
• 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.^{[19] [20]}
  • (newspaper) in publication.^[21]
• 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.^[22]
• 1920 – 24 April: Consulate of Poland opened.^[23]
• 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.^[24]
  • August–September: Persecution of Poles, incl. mass arrests of Polish students and arrests of local Polish consul Jerzy Warchełowski and attaché Witold Winiarski.^[25]
  • October: The Germans established a forced labour camp for Romani people.^[26]
• 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.^[27]
• 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.^[28]
• 1945
  • January: Subcamp of the Stutthof concentration camp dissolved.^[28]
  • 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.^[29]
  • 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.^[30]
• 1967 – Kaliningrad State University active.
• 1979
  • Khrabrovo Airport terminal built.
  • Kaliningrad Amber Museum opens.
• 1985 - Population: 385,000.^[31]
• 1988 – Kaliningrad State Art Gallery established.^[32]
• 1989 – Population: 401,280; oblast 871,283.
• 1990
  • Chamber of Commerce founded.^{[33] [34]}
  • City opens to foreign tourists.^[35]
• 1994 – Kaliningrad State Technical University active.
• 1996 – Leonid Gorbenko becomes governor of Kaliningrad Oblast.^[36]
• 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.^[37]
  • Kaiser Bridge reconstructed (approximate date).
  • Georgy Boos becomes governor of Kaliningrad Oblast.
• 2007
  • Alexander Jaroschuk becomes mayor.^[38]
  • Khrabrovo Airport new terminal opens.^[39]
• 2008 – Cathedral of Christ the Saviour consecrated.
• 2010
  • 30 January: Protest against governor Georgy Boos.^[40]
  • Population: 431,500;^[41] oblast 941,873.
  • Nikolay Tsukanov becomes governor of Kaliningrad Oblast.
• 2012 – Poland-Russia border near Kaliningrad Oblast opens.^[42]

See also

• History of Kaliningrad
• Königsberg
• List of monarchs of Prussia, 1525-1701
• Timelines of other cities in the Northwestern Federal District of Russia: Pskov, St. Petersburg

References

This article incorporates information from the German Wikipedia and Russian Wikipedia.

Bibliography

in English

Published in the 18th-19th century

• • • • Book: Augustus Bozzi Granville . St. Petersburgh: A journal of travels to and from that capital . 1829. H. Colburn . (Königsberg) . https://books.google.com/books?id=kjUEAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA347. Augustus Bozzi Granville .
  • Book: Penny Cyclopaedia . Königsberg . https://books.google.com/books?id=wQ5CAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA251 . 1839 . London . Penny Cyclopaedia .
• Book: . London . 1877 . Handbook for North Germany . Königsberg . https://archive.org/stream/handbookfornort00firgoog#page/n286/mode/1up .

Published in the 20th century

• Königsberg . 15 . 894 - 895 . 1910 . 1.
  • Book: James Charles Roy. The Vanished Kingdom: Travels Through the History of Prussia . 1999. Basic Books. 978-0-8133-3793-7.
• Historical Representation and the Politics of Memory in Kaliningrad, Former Königsberg . Olga Sezneva . Polish Sociological Review . 323–338 . 131 . 2000 . 41274763 .

Published in the 21st century

• Kaliningrad . Peter Savodnik . Wilson Quarterly . 27 . 2 . 16–22 . 2003 . 40261179 .
• Book: Ann Kennard . Old Cultures, New Institutions: Around the New Eastern Border of the European Union . 2010. LIT Verlag Münster. 978-3-643-10751-0 . Case Study 1: Kaliningrad . 133–161.

in other languages

• Book: Karl Faber. Die Haupt- und Residenz-Stadt Königsberg in Preußen . Capital and Residence City of Königsberg in Prussia . 1840. Gräfe und Unzer . Königsberg . de .
• Book: Alexander Jung . Königsberg und die Königsberger . 1846. Hermann Kirchner . Leipzig . de .
• Book: Zur sechshundertjährigen Jubelfeier der Stadt Königsberg . 600th Jubilee Celebration of the City of Königsberg . F.W. Schubert . Königsberg . Verlag von Schubert und Seidel . 1855 . de .
• Book: Biblioteca geographica: Verzeichniss der seit der Mitte des vorigen Jahrhunderts bis zu Ende des Jahres 1856 in Deutschland . 1858. Leipzig. Wilhelm Engelmann. de . Konigsberg. https://books.google.com/books?id=p6o6AQAAIAAJ&pg=PA615. (bibliography)
• Book: August Wilhelm Grube . Charakterbilder Deutschen Landes und Lebens fur Schule und Haus . 10th . 1875. F. Brandstetter . Leipzig . Königsberg . https://books.google.com/books?id=qNcBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1 . de.
• Book: Brockhaus' Konversations-Lexikon . Leipzig . Brockhaus . 1898 . 14th . de . Königsberg . https://archive.org/stream/brockhauskonver00unkngoog#page/n651/mode/1up .
• Book: P. Krauss . E. Uetrecht. Meyers Deutscher Städteatlas . Meyer's Atlas of German Cities . 1913. Bibliographisches Institut. Leipzig . de. http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009018394. Konigsberg.
  • Małłek. Janusz. 1992. Polityka miasta Królewca wobec Polski w latach 1525–1701. Komunikaty Mazursko-Warmińskie. pl. 3–4.
• Podbereski. Wacław. 2010. Królewiec – Koenigsberg – Kaliningrad. Znad Wilii. 4 . pl. 44. 1392-9712.
• Book: Wolfgang Adam . Siegrid Westphal . Handbuch kultureller Zentren der Frühen Neuzeit: Städte und Residenzen im alten deutschen Sprachraum . 2012. De Gruyter. 978-3-11-029555-9 . de . Königsberg. 1153+ . .

External links

• Europeana. Items related to Kaliningrad, various dates.
• Digital Public Library of America. Items related to Kaliningrad, various dates
• Links to fulltext city directories for Konigsberg via Wikisource

54.7167°N 20.5167°W

Notes and References

1. Book: William Blackwood . 1830 . Edinburgh . Edinburgh Encyclopædia . David Brewster . Königsberg . https://archive.org/stream/edinburghencyclo12edinuoft#page/489/mode/1up . Edinburgh Encyclopædia .
2. Book: Geschichte der königl. Haupt- und Residenzstadt Königsberg in Preussen . History of the Royal Capital and Residence City of Königsberg in Prussia . Richard Armstedt . Stuttgart . Hobbing & Büchle . 1899 . de .
3. Web site: Sites and projects. sg39.ru. 2018-01-30.
4. Book: Górski, Karol. Związek Pruski i poddanie się Prus Polsce: zbiór tekstów źródłowych. 1949. Instytut Zachodni. Poznań. pl. 54.
5. Górski, pp. 71–72
6. Górski, p. 63
7. Web site: Kalendarz dat: 1465. Dzieje.pl. 16 July 2022. pl.
8. Górski, pp. 96–97, 214–215
9. Book: Henri Bouchot . H. Grevel . London . The book: its printers, illustrators, and binders, from Gutenberg to the present time. 1890. H. Grevel & Co. . https://books.google.com/books?id=5ycxAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA367 . Topographical index of the principal towns where early printing presses were established . Henri Bouchot .
10. Feduszka. Jacek. 2009. Szkoci i Anglicy w Zamościu w XVI-XVIII wieku. Czasy Nowożytne. pl. Zarząd Główny Polskiego Towarzystwa Historycznego. 22. 52. 1428-8982.
11. Book: Ciesielski, Tomasz. Gieszczyński. Witold. Kasparek. Norbert. 2010. Wielkie wojny w Prusach. Działania militarne między dolną Wisłą a Niemnem na przestrzeni wieków. pl. Dąbrówno. 108. Prusy Wschodnie w trakcie polskiej wojny sukcesyjnej i wojny siedmioletniej. 978-83-62552-00-9.
12. Ciesielski, p. 113
13. Ciesielski, p. 165
14. Book: Richard Armstedt. Heimatkunde von Königsberg. 1895. Koch . Königsberg . de .
15. Book: J. Niederstetter. Staats-Almanach für das Königreich Preußen . 1867. Heymann . Berlin . de .
16. Web site: Kaliningrad Newspapers . USA . WorldCat . . 11 November 2013.
17. Königsberg . 15 . 894 - 895 . 1910 .
18. Book: Königliche Museen zu Berlin. Kunsthandbuch für Deutschland . 6th . de . 1904. Georg Reimer.
19. East Baltic Ports and Boundaries: With Special Reference to Königsberg . Eugene van Cleef . Geographical Review . 35 . 2 . 257–272 . 1945 . 211478 . 10.2307/211478 .
20. Book: United States Hydrographic Office . Baltic Pilot . 1 . 1917. Government Printing Office . Washington, D.C. . United States Hydrographic Office .
21. Web site: Zeitungsinformationssystem ZEFYS . Newspaper Information System . de . . 19 November 2016 .
22. Book: Statesman's Year-Book . 1921 . London . Macmillan and Co.. Germany: Principal Towns . Hathi Trust . 2027/njp.32101072368440 . Statesman's Year-Book .
23. Book: Ceranka. Paweł. Szczepanik. Krzysztof. 2020. Urzędy konsularne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej 1918–1945. Informator archiwalny. pl. Warszawa. Naczelna Dyrekcja Archiwów Państwowych, Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych. 196. 978-83-65681-93-5.
24. Cygański. Mirosław. 1984. Hitlerowskie prześladowania przywódców i aktywu Związków Polaków w Niemczech w latach 1939-1945. Przegląd Zachodni. pl. 4. 41.
25. Cygański, p. 42
26. Web site: Lager für Sinti und Roma Königsberg. Bundesarchiv.de. 7 May 2022. de.
27. Web site: Memorial Plaque to the Victims of the First Deportation from Königsberg. Information Portal to European Sites of Remembrance . Stiftung Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas. Berlin, Germany. 2019-07-18.
28. Gliński. Mirosław. Podobozy i większe komanda zewnętrzne obozu Stutthof (1939–1945). Stutthof. Zeszyty Muzeum. pl. 3. 173. 0137-5377.
29. International Affairs: The Postwar World Map: New States and Boundary Changes . Russell H. Fifield . American Political Science Review . 42 . 3 . 533–541 . 1948 . 1949917 . 10.2307/1949917 . 147617453 .
30. Book: https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/1960_round.htm . Demographic Yearbook 1965 . 1966 . . New York . Population of capital cities and cities of 100,000 and more inhabitants .
31. Book: https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/1980_round.htm . 1985 Demographic Yearbook . 1987 . United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Statistical Office . New York . Population of capital cities and cities of 100,000 and more inhabitants . 247–289 .
32. Web site: Russianmuseums.info . Russian Cultural Heritage Network . 11 November 2013 .
33. Book: Europa World Year Book 2004 . 1857432533 . Taylor & Francis .
34. Web site: http://www.kaliningrad-cci.ru/about/history/ . ru:История Палаты . History of the Chamber . ru. Калининградская торгово-промышленная палата (Kaliningrad Chamber of Commerce). 11 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20120412031414/http://www.kaliningrad-cci.ru/about/history/. live. 12 April 2012.
35. Old cities, new pasts: Heritage planning in selected cities of Central Europe . G.J. Ashworth . J.E. Tunbridge . GeoJournal . 49 . 1 . 105–116 . 1999 . 41147404 . 10.1023/A:1007010205856 . 133089435 .
36. Web site: In a Russian Region Apart, Corruption Is King . 5 April 2000 . New York Times . Patrick E. Tyler . 11 November 2013. Patrick Tyler .
37. Web site: Kaliningrad marks key anniversary . 3 July 2005 . . 11 November 2013.
38. Web site: Mayors in Europe . London . City Mayors.com . . 11 November 2013.
39. News: Kaliningrad profile . 31 May 2012 . . 11 November 2013.
40. Web site: Restlessness in Russia's Western Outpost . 25 March 2010 . New York Times . 11 November 2013.
41. Web site: Population of Capital Cities and Cities of 100,000 or More Inhabitants . Demographic Yearbook 2011 . 2012 . .
42. Web site: Crack in the EU: Poland and Kaliningrad Open Borders for Locals . 2 August 2012 . . 11 November 2013.