Timeline of Benghazi

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Benghazi, Libya.

Prior to 20th century

 * 7th century BCE - Euesperides founded by Cyrenians near site of present-day Benghazi.
 * 1517 CE - Cyrenaica becomes part of Ottoman Tripolitania.
 * 1577 - Atiq Mosque built.
 * 1816/1817 - occurs at the.
 * 1820 - Alhadadp Mosque founded.(ar)
 * 1827 - British consulate established.
 * 1858 - Plague outbreak.
 * 1869 - Administrative Benghazi mutessariflik (province) created.
 * 1874 - Plague outbreak.
 * 1895
 * built in Al-Berka.
 * Italian "Società d'Esplorazione Commerciale in Africa" active in Benghazi.

1900s-1940s

 * 1906 - burns down.
 * 1911
 * 19 October: Town occupied by Italian forces during the Italo-Turkish War.
 * Population: 35,000.
 * 1913 - Albergo Italia (hotel) built.
 * 1914 - begins operating.
 * 1916 - built.
 * 1922 - Benghazi Lighthouse built.
 * 1924 - City Hall built.
 * 1926 - begins operating.
 * 1927
 * begins operating.
 * Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Cyrenaica established.
 * 1928 - opens.
 * 1931 - September: Trial of Omar Mukhtar, leading to his execution on 16 September in nearby Suluq.
 * 1934
 * Pier built in the Port of Benghazi.
 * Administrative Benghazi Province created.
 * 1936 - built.
 * 1937 - March: Mussolini visits Benghazi.
 * 1939 - Benghazi Cathedral built.
 * 1942
 * November: British forces take city during the Battle of El Agheila in World War II.
 * Italian rule ends.
 * Omar al-Mukhtar Society formed.
 * 1945 - Population: 60,000 (approximate).
 * 1947 - Ahly Benghazi football club active.

1950s-1990s

 * 1952
 * Al-Hilal SC (sport club) formed.
 * University of Oxford's Ashmolean Expedition to Cyrenaica begins its archaeological excavation of Euesperides site.
 * 1953 - City boundary established.
 * 1954 - Al Tahaddy SC (football club) formed.
 * 1955 - University of Libya founded.
 * 1956 - Benghazi Zoo founded.
 * 1957 - Benghazi Military University Academy established.
 * 1964 - Population: 137,295.
 * 1967 - Stadium and Suliman Ad-Dharrath Arena open.
 * 1970s - Giuliana Bridge opens.
 * 1973
 * University of Benghazi active.
 * Population: 266,000.
 * 1980 - February: Protest at French consulate.
 * 1982
 * March: Part of 1982 African Cup of Nations football contest held in Benghazi.
 * built.
 * 1984 - Population: 442,860.
 * 1986 - 15 April: Aerial bombing of city by United States forces.
 * 1989 - Tibesti Hotel (hi-rise) built.
 * 1990 - Population: 800,000 (estimate).
 * 1991 - "Administrative Office Complex" (hi-rise) built.
 * 1993 - September: Great Man-Made River constructed; water begins flowing to Benghazi.
 * 2000
 * 1 September: Al-Ahly football stadium demolished.
 * September: Unrest.

21st century

 * 2005 - Population: 685,367 (estimate).
 * 2006 - 15 February: Protest against Muhammad cartoons.
 * 2007 - Quryna newspaper begins publication.
 * 2008 - construction begins.
 * 2009 - Martyrs of February Stadium opens in nearby Benina.
 * 2011
 * 15 February: Arab Spring-related protest; Libyan Civil War (2011) begins.
 * Al Kalima newspaper begins publication.
 * 2012
 * 19 May: Local election held.
 * June: "Pro-autonomy mob ransacks the election commission building."
 * September: United States consulate attacked.
 * 2014
 * 16 May: Benina International Airport closes due to fighting.
 * 15 October: Battle of Benghazi begins.
 * 2017
 * 18 April: Abdelrahman Alabbar becomes mayor.
 * 15 July: Benina Airport reopens.
 * 27 July: Battle of Benghazi officially concludes.