Timeline of Alexandria

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

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 Capitol 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.
 * 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".
 * 619 – City besieged; Sassanid Persians in power.
 * 641–642 – City besieged; Arabs in power; 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.
 * 1323 – Earthquake. The Pharos lighthouse collapses.
 * 1354 – Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue built.
 * 1365 – October: City besieged by Cypriot forces.
 * 1381 – Zaradel Synagogue established
 * 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.

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.
 * 1821 – Population: 12,528.
 * 1829 – Dockyard and arsenal open.
 * 1833 – April: Luxor Obelisk shipped to Paris.
 * 1834 – Ras el-Tin Palace construction begins.
 * 1840 – Population: 60,000.
 * 1847 – Ras el-Tin Palace built.
 * 1850 – Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue restored.
 * 1853 – Azouz Synagogue rebuilt.
 * 1856
 * Cairo-Alexandria railway begins operating.
 * Cathedral of Evangelismos dedicated.
 * 1859
 * Institut d'Egypte founded.
 * Theatre Europeen reopens.
 * 1860 – Alexandria Ramleh Train Station established.
 * 1862 – Theatre Zizinia built.
 * 1861 – Cotton boom.
 * 1863
 * Horse-drawn trams begin operating.
 * Population: 170,000.
 * 1865 – Gas lighting introduced.
 * 1865–1869 – New port created.
 * 1872 – Population c. 200,000 (ca. 20% foreigners).
 * 1873
 * Breakwater built in harbour.
 * Statue unveiled in Midan Muhammad Ali.
 * 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.
 * 1882
 * 11 July: Anti-European riots; city bombarded by British naval forces.
 * Population: 232,626.
 * 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



 * 1901 – Green Synagogue established.
 * 1902
 * Electric trams begin operating.
 * Victoria College founded.
 * 1903 – Khedivial yacht club built.
 * 1905 – Sea wall constructed.
 * 1907 – Population: 332,246.
 * 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.
 * 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; (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.
 * 1969 – St. Takla Haymanot's Church consecrated.
 * 1974 – Population: 2,259,000.
 * 1980 – El Alamein-Alexandria highway constructed.
 * 1986
 * Ismail El-Gawsaqi becomes mayor.
 * Port of Dekheila constructed.
 * Royal Jewelry Museum inaugurated.
 * 1990 – Senghor University founded.
 * 1992 – Population: 3,380,000 (estimate).
 * 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.
 * 2011
 * Egyptian revolution
 * 1 January: Bombing of Saints Church.
 * 2012 – Protests against state president Mohamed Morsi.
 * 2013 – January: Anti-Morsi protests.
 * 2017 – Population: 5,163,750 (urban agglomeration).