Timeline of Leipzig

The following is a timeline of the history of the German city of Leipzig.

Prior to 18th century

 * 920 AD - Emperor Henry the Fowler "built a castle here about 920."
 * 1082 - Leipzig sacked by forces of Vratislaus II of Bohemia.
 * 1134 - Leipzig "came into the possession of Conrad, Margrave of Meissen".
 * 1165
 * Leipzig granted market and city privileges.
 * St. Nicholas Church built (approximate date).
 * 1170 - Easter and Michaelmas fairs begin (approximate date).
 * 1212 - Thomasschule zu Leipzig and Thomanerchor founded.
 * 1231 - Klosterkirche St. Pauli built.
 * 1409 - University of Leipzig founded.
 * 1420 - Fire.
 * 1458 - New year's fair begins.
 * 1479 - Printing press in operation.
 * 1485 - Treaty of Leipzig.
 * 1496 - St. Thomas Church consecrated.
 * 1519 - June: Martin Luther and Andreas Karlstadt debate John Eck.
 * 1530 - Auerbachs Keller built (approximate date).
 * 1539 - "Leipsic formally espoused the Protestant cause."
 * 1542 - Leipzig Botanical Garden first established.
 * 1543 - Leipzig University Library established.
 * 1547
 * City besieged by John Frederick I of Saxony.
 * Pleissenburg re-built, replaced in 1905 by the New Town Hall.
 * 1554 - Moritzbastei constructed.
 * 1556 - Old City Hall built.
 * 1631 - Battle of Breitenfeld (1631).
 * 1642 - Battle of Breitenfeld (1642).
 * 1650 - Einkommende Zeitungen (newspaper) begins publication.
 * 1680 - Plague.
 * 1681 - Weidmannsche Buchhandlung relocates to Leipzig.
 * 1687 - Alte Handelsbörse (trade exchange) was built.
 * 1693 - Opera house opens.
 * 1699 - Population: 15,653.

18th century

 * 1701 - Oil-fuelled street lighting introduced.
 * 1702 - Collegium Musicum founded.
 * 1704 - Romanus house built.
 * 1706 - Polish Preaching Society established.
 * 1710 - King Augustus II the Strong first presented Meissen porcelain at the local fair.
 * 1716 - Sorbian Lusatian Preaching Society established.
 * 1717 - What became Schillerhaus first built.
 * 1723
 * Breitkopf publishing established.
 * Johann Sebastian Bach begins as Kapellmeister (music director) at St. Thomas Church
 * 1724 - Premiere performance of Bach's St John Passion.
 * 1729 - Premiere of Bach's St Matthew Passion.
 * 1731 - Zedler's Universal-Lexicon encyclopedia published.
 * 1745 - City "taken by the Prussians."
 * 1750 - Death of Johann Sebastian Bach Kapellmeister of St. Thomas Church
 * 1755 - Stadtbibliothek Leipzig (municipal library) opens.
 * 1756 - City occupied by Prussian forces during the Seven Years' War.
 * 1759
 * August: "Prussians withdraw from Leipzig."
 * September: "Prussians recapture Leipzig."
 * 1760 - October: "Prussians withdraw from Leipzig."
 * 1764 - Academy of Visual Arts and Leipzig Economic Society founded.
 * 1766 - Theater auf der Rannischen Bastei opens.
 * 1768 - Societas Jablonoviana founded by Józef Aleksander Jabłonowski.
 * 1777 - April: Premiere of Klinger's play Sturm und Drang.
 * 1781
 * Gewandhaus built.
 * Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra formed.
 * 1784
 * City fortifications dismantled.
 * Philological Society founded.
 * 1785 - Augustusplatz laid out.
 * 1789 - Linnean Society founded.
 * 1790 - Observatory set up in Pleissenburg.
 * 1797 - Population: 31,847.
 * 1798
 * Tauchnitz publishers established.
 * Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung (music magazine) begins publication.

19th century

 * 1800 - Edition Peters and Leipzig Singakademie (chorus) established.
 * 1801 - Population: 31,887.
 * 1807
 * Friedrich Hofmeister Musikverlag (publisher) founded.
 * Leipziger Tageblatt (newspaper) begins publication.
 * 1810 - Westermann Verlag founded.
 * 1813
 * 22 May: Richard Wagner born.
 * October: Battle of Leipzig.
 * 1825 - Börsenverein der Deutschen Buchhändler formed.
 * 1826
 * Consulate of the United States established.
 * Wool market active.
 * 1828
 * Reclam Verlag established.
 * Hôtel de Pologne founded.
 * 1829 - Medical Society founded.
 * 1830 - "Political disturbance."
 * 1831
 * November: Establishment of a committee to help Polish insurgents fleeing the Russian Partition of Poland after the unsuccessful Polish November Uprising. Collection of funds to help Poles, mainly among guilds and city guards.
 * Flight of Polish insurgents from the Russian Partition of Poland to the Great Emigration through the city begins.
 * 1832
 * January: Mass escape of Polish insurgents from the Russian Partition of Poland through the city.
 * January: Polish national hero Józef Bem expelled from the city by authorities fearful of stirring up a revolution.
 * July: The committee to help Poles officially closed, although its members continued their activities in the following years.
 * 1833 - Accession to the Zollverein.
 * 1835 - Felix Mendelssohn becomes music director of Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra.
 * 1836 - Augusteum built.
 * 1837 - Leipziger Kunstverein (art association) established.
 * 1839 - Leipzig–Dresden railway opened.
 * 1842 - Leipzig Bayerischer Bahnhof built.
 * 1843
 * Illustrirte Zeitung (newspaper) begins publication.
 * Conservatory of Music founded.
 * Bach monument, Leipzig erected.
 * 1844 - Museum of Antiquities of Leipzig University on display.
 * 1846
 * 1 July: Saxonian Academy of Sciences and Humanities founded.
 * 29 August: Hôtel de Pologne fire.
 * 1848
 * "Museum of Fine Arts" founded.
 * Hôtel de Pologne rebuilt as the city's largest hotel.
 * "Political disturbance."
 * 1850 - Bach Gesellschaft organized.
 * 1853 - Blüthner piano manufacturer in business.
 * 1855 - Leipzig synagogue built on Gottschedstrasse.
 * 1856 - Händel-Gesellschaft organized.
 * 1858 - Municipal museum inaugurated.
 * 1861 - Population: 78,495.
 * 1863 - General German Workers' Association founded in Leipzig.
 * 1864 - Schrebergärten (community garden) association formed.
 * 1866 - Austro-Prussian War leads to Prussian occupation in 1866–67.
 * 1868 - Opera house built.
 * 1869
 * Leipzig Museum of Ethnography founded.
 * Leipzig Alpine Club founded.
 * 1872
 * Harrassowitz publishing firm established.
 * Verlag Karl Baedeker relocates to Leipzig.
 * Trams in Leipzig start.
 * 1874
 * Museum of Arts and Crafts founded.
 * Ernst Eulenburg (musical editions) established.
 * Bibliographisches Institut relocates to Leipzig.
 * 1878
 * Leipzig Zoo opens.
 * "Leipzig is growing into an industrial town of the first rank."
 * 1879
 * Reichsgericht headquartered in Leipzig.
 * Südfriedhof established.
 * 1880 - Population: 149,081.
 * 1884 - Leipziger Baumwollspinnerei founded.
 * 1886
 * Georg Thieme Verlag established.
 * Lutherkirche (Leipzig) and Neue Börse (Leipzig) (stock exchange) built.
 * 1889 - Anger-Crottendorf and Reudnitz (Leipzig) become part of city.
 * 1890
 * Eutritzsch, Gohlis, Neureudnitz, Neuschönefeld, Neustadt, Sellerhausen, Thonberg, and Volkmarsdorf become part of city.
 * Population: 295,025.
 * 1891
 * Leipzig University Library opens in relocation.
 * Connewitz, Kleinzschocher, Lindenau, Lössnig, Plagwitz, and Schleussig become part of city.
 * 1892
 * Neusellerhausen becomes part of city.
 * SSV Stötteritz football club founded.
 * Mendelssohn monument erected.
 * 1894 - Leipziger Volkszeitung (newspaper) begins publication.
 * 1895
 * Reichsgericht (supreme court) established.
 * Altes Grassimuseum built.
 * Muster-Messe fair begins.
 * Population: 399,995.
 * 1898 - Handelshochschule Leipzig founded.
 * 1900 - Population: 456,156.

20th century

 * 1901
 * Städtisches Kaufhaus built.
 * Insel Verlag (publisher) in business.
 * 1904 - Bachfest begins.
 * 1905
 * Reudnitz, Volkmarsdorf, Gohlis, Eutritzsch, Plagwitz and Lindenau were incorporated with the city.
 * New Town Hall opens. The Old Town Hall is going to house the Museum of the History of the City of Leipzig.
 * Population: 503,672.
 * 1906
 * Naturkundemuseum Leipzig established.
 * Leipzig Prison built.
 * 1907 - Edeka founded at Hôtel de Pologne.
 * 1908 - Rowohlt Verlag founded.
 * 1912 - German National Library established.
 * 1913
 * Kurt Wolff Verlag (publisher) in business.
 * Monument to the Battle of the Nations erected.
 * 1915
 * Leipzig Hauptbahnhof and Alfred-Kunze-Sportpark open.
 * Mockau and Schönefeld become part of city.
 * 1916
 * German National Library building opened.
 * Institute for Newspaper Research (Institut für Zeitungskunde) was founded at the University of Leipzig
 * 1917
 * January: Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe (city transport company) formed.
 * February: American Consulate closed. Its building became a temporary residence for Americans and Allied refugees from Serbia, Romania and Japan.
 * Hôtel de Pologne closed.
 * 1918 - Karl Rothe becomes mayor.
 * 1919
 * Church Music Institute founded.
 * Der Drache begins publication.
 * Population: 604,397.
 * 1921
 * Leipzig War Crimes Trials held.
 * December: American Consulate reopened.
 * 1922
 * Grosszschocher, Leutzsch, Paunsdorf, and Wahren become part of city.
 * Bruno-Plache-Stadion opens.
 * Goldmann (publisher) founded.
 * 1923
 * 1 January: Consulate of Poland opened.
 * MDR Symphony Orchestra founded.
 * 1927 - Leipzig/Halle Airport opened.
 * 1929 - Museum of Musical Instruments of the University of Leipzig opens.
 * 1930 - Abtnaundorf, Knautkleeberg, Schönau, and Thekla become part of city.
 * 1933 - Population: 713,470.
 * 1935 - Portitz becomes part of city.
 * 1936 - Knauthain and Gut Lauer become part of city.
 * 1938 - Expulsion of Polish Jews by Nazi Germany. 1,300 Polish Jews sheltered in the Polish Consulate and saved from deportation.
 * 1939
 * September: Mass arrests of local Polish activists (see also Nazi crimes against the Polish nation).
 * September: Polish Consulate seized by Germany during the invasion of Poland at the start of World War II. Confiscation of the Polish Consulate's library.
 * 1941 - German-ordered closure of the American Consulate.
 * 1943
 * 6 March: Leipzig-Thekla subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp established. Over 1,800 men, mostly Soviet, Polish, French, Belgian and Czechoslovak, were held there as slave labour.
 * December: Bombing of city by British.
 * 1944
 * Bombing.
 * 11 May: Leipzig-Engelsdorf subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp established. Over 250 men, mostly Polish, Russian, Czech and Ukrainian, were held there.
 * 9 June: HASAG Leipzig subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp established. Over 5,000 women and children, mostly Polish, Soviet, French and Jewish, were held there.
 * 22 August: Leipzig-Schönau subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp established. Over 500 Jewish women were held there.
 * 15 November: Subcamp of Buchenwald for men established at the HASAG factory. Around 700 men, mostly Jewish, French and Italian, were held there.
 * 24 November: Leipzig-Engelsdorf subcamp dissolved. Prisoners deported to Wansleben am See and Rothenburg.
 * 1945
 * 17 February: 600 prisoners brought to the Leipzig-Thekla subcamp from a subcamp of the Gross-Rosen concentration camp in Jasień.
 * 13 April: Leipzig-Thekla, Leipzig-Schönau and both HASAG subcamps dissolved. Most prisoners sent on death marches.
 * 18 April: Abtnaundorf massacre. Prisoners of the Leipzig-Thekla subcamp who were ill or unable to march, mostly Poles and Soviets, were massacred by the Gestapo, SS, Volkssturm and German civilians. Some prisoners were saved by Polish prisoners of another camp.
 * 19 April: City captured by American troops.
 * July: City under Soviet control.
 * Population: 584,593.
 * 1950
 * International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition begins.
 * Bach-Archiv founded.
 * Population: 617,574.
 * 1951 - Erich Uhlich becomes mayor.
 * 1953 - Theaterhochschule Leipzig established, later named after Hans Otto
 * 1954
 * Staatsarchiv Leipzig (archives) founded.
 * Zentralstadion built.
 * 1955 - Festival of Cultural and Documentary Films begins.
 * 1956 - Zentralstadion opens.
 * 1959 - Walter Kresse becomes mayor.
 * 1960
 * Opera house built.
 * Chess Olympiad held.
 * Population: 589,632.
 * 1969
 * 6 February: Polish Institute founded.
 * Leipzig-Halle S-Bahn established.
 * 1970 - Karl-Heinz Müller (politician) becomes mayor.
 * 1972
 * Polish Consulate reopened.
 * City-Hochhaus Leipzig built.
 * 1974 - Moritzbastei rebuilt.
 * 1977 - Sportmuseum founded.
 * 1983 - Wagner monument, Leipzig erected.
 * 1989 - Monday demonstrations.
 * 1990
 * Neuer Leipziger Kunstverein (art association) founded.
 * Hinrich Lehmann-Grube becomes mayor.
 * 1991
 * Euro-scene Leipzig theatre festival begins.
 * Mendelssohn House, Leipzig opens.
 * 1992
 * Technischen Hochschule founded.
 * Wave-Gotik-Treffen begins.
 * Leipzig-Altenburg Airport opens.
 * American Consulate reopened.
 * 1993 - Hartmannsdorf becomes part of city.
 * 1994 - Museum of Antiquities of the University of Leipzig opens.
 * 1995
 * Lausen and Plaussig become part of city.
 * Population: 471,409.
 * 1996
 * Leipzig Trade Fair building opens.
 * Saxonia International Balloon Fiesta begins.
 * 1997
 * Gottscheina, Hohenheida, and Seehausen become part of city.
 * Leipziger Versorgungs- und Verkehrsgesellschaft (city utility company) established.
 * Federal Administrative Court of Germany headquartered in Leipzig.
 * 1998
 * Podelwitz-Süd becomes part of city.
 * Wolfgang Tiefensee becomes mayor.
 * 1999 - Böhlitz-Ehrenberg, Engelsdorf, Holzhausen, Liebertwolkwitz, Lindenthal, Miltitz and Mölkau become part of city.

21st century

 * 2000 - Burghausen und Rückmarsdorf become part of city.
 * 2002
 * Arena Leipzig built.
 * Games Convention begins.
 * 2004
 * Leipziger Internet Zeitung begins publication.
 * Museum der bildenden Künste opens.
 * Leipzig Botanical Garden renovated.
 * Leipzig is the German candidate city for the 2012 Summer Olympics
 * 2005
 * Art galleries open in Leipziger Baumwollspinnerei.
 * BMW Central Building constructed.
 * City hosts the 2005 World Fencing Championships.
 * Population: 502,651.
 * 2006
 * Amazon.com distribution centre begins operating.
 * Burkhard Jung becomes mayor.
 * 2007
 * Paulinum reconstruction begins.
 * July: City hosts the 2007 World Archery Championships.
 * 2010
 * Haus der Computerspiele (museum) active.
 * German Music Archive relocates to Leipzig.
 * 2012
 * German organ donor scandal reported.
 * Paulinum reconstruction finished.
 * 2013
 * New Propsteikirche begins construction.
 * Leipzig City Tunnel opened.
 * Leipzig is the most livable German city.
 * 2014 - Population: 551,871.
 * 2015
 * January: Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident demonstration.
 * Erfurt–Leipzig/Halle high-speed railway opened.
 * 2017
 * July: City hosts the 2017 World Fencing Championships.
 * December: City co-hosts the 2017 World Women's Handball Championship.
 * 2018 - Leipzig wins the European Cities of Future prize in the category of "Best Large City for Human Capital & Lifestyle"
 * 2019 - Leipzig is European City of the Year

in English

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in German

 * (bibliography)
 * (includes city timeline)