| 1222 |
A stone bridge over the river Main is referred to for the first time. |
| 1240 |
Friedrich II grants visitors to the Frankfurt Fair the privilege of royal protection for the outward and return journeys. This marks the beginning of the city’s long tradition of international trade fairs. |
| 1254 |
Frankfurt joins the Rhenish League. |
| 1356 |
The Golden Bull [Constitution of the Holy Roman Empire] confirms Frankfurt as the election place of German kings. |
| 1372 |
Frankfurt becomes free imperial city and thus member of the Reichstag [Imperial Diet], i.e. a self-administering city-state ruled by the Emperor only. |
| 1405 |
The city council acquires the houses “Zum Römer” and “Zum Goldenen Schwan” and converts them into a town hall. |
| 1460 |
A Judengasse (Jewish ghetto) is established to which all Jews are obliged to move. |
| 1478 |
For the first time, booksellers ply their trade at the Frankfurt Fair. In the following decades, Frankfurt becomes one of Germany’s leading trade centres. The first cashless financial transactions take place. |
| 1509 |
Roman law is gradually introduced and legalised by a systematic codification of Frankfurt’s town law [so-called Frankfurt Reformation]. |
| 1533 |
Frankfurt embraces the Protestant Reformation; secular authorities forbid the practising of the Catholic religion in public for the next 15 years. |
| 1585 |
A bourse is established which officially controls money changing in Frankfurt for the first time. By the close of the Middle Ages Frankfurt had become one of the richest and most influential trade centres in Germany. |
| 1612/1614 |
A constitutional conflict arises between the city council and the citizens, which is decided by the intervention of the Emperor [Fettmilch Revolt]. During the Thirty Years’ War, Swedish soldiers occupy Frankfurt. The plague breaks out. |
| 1711 |
The Great Jewish Fire burns down the Judengasse. A second fire follows. |
| 1742-1745 |
Frankfurt briefly becomes a royal seat under Emperor Charles VII. |
| 1749 |
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is born on 28 August. |
| 1763 |
The physician Christian Senckenberg establishes the Senckenberg Foundation to promote natural sciences. |
| 1792 |
The last imperial coronation, of Franz I, takes place. |
| 1800 |
The population of Frankfurt is c. 35,000 inhabitants. |
| 1804 |
The city council destroys the city walls and fortifications and transforms the ramparts into a large park. |
| 1815 |
Following the establishment of the German Federation by the Viennese Congress, Frankfurt is declared Free City and Seat of the Bundestag [Federal Assembly]. |
| 1839 |
The opening of the Taunus railway line connecting Frankfurt with Höchst and Wiesbaden heralds the beginning of Frankfurt’s development as an important railway hub. |
| 1848 |
The First German National Assembly is held at Paulskirche in Frankfurt. In March 1849, the First German Constitution is ratified, but never fully comes into force. The rejection of the imperial crown by Frederic William IV of Prussia results in the collapse of the reform attempts of the Paulskirche Assembly. |
| 1866 |
The annexation of Frankfurt by Prussia spells the end of its status as free city. |
| 1871 |
The Treaty of Frankfurt ends the Franco-Prussian War. |
| 1875 |
The population of Frankfurt exceeds 100,000 and reaches 400,000 only 30 years later. |
| 1880/1888 |
The Alte Oper [old opera house] and the Hauptbahnhof [main station] are inaugurated. |
| 1912 |
The Rebstock area becomes an airship dock. Frankfurt airport takes up regular service in 1924. In 1936, a larger airport in the municipal forest replaces the one at Rebstock. |
| 1914 |
The Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University is founded on 10 June. |
| 1925-1930 |
Following his appointment as Frankfurt’s director of town planning by Lord Mayor Ludwig Landmann, Ernst May designs numerous new housing estates – the New Frankfurt. |
| 1928-1931 |
The architect Hans Poelzig builds what is today known as the Poelzig-Bau [Poelzig building] or IG Farben-Haus as the headquarters of the IG Farben company. After the WWII, it becomes the seat of the U.S. military administration. |
| 1933 |
Following the March communal elections, the National Socialists take over the town hall and begin their Gleichschaltung. Lord Mayor Landmann is forced out of office and flees to the Netherlands via Berlin. |
| 1943/1944 |
Frankfurt’s city centre and old town are almost completely destroyed during Allied airstrikes. |
| 1945 |
At the end of May, American forces occupy the city; it is declared independent city of Hesse. In 1947, Frankfurt becomes seat of the unified economic area of the American, British and French occupied zones. One year later the Bank Deutscher Länder [German Federal States Bank] organizes the currency reform. |
| 1949 |
In May, civil aviation recommences at Frankfurt airport. In 1958, it becomes Germany’s first jet-aircraft airport. Frankfurt misses becoming capital of the Federal Republic of Germany by just a few votes. The traditional trade and business centre develops into a major economic hub. |
| 1955 |
The population of Frankfurt exceeds 600,000. |
| 1957 |
On 25 July, the Bundesbank [German Federal Bank], the successor of the Bank Deutscher Länder [German Federal States Bank], takes up operations in Frankfurt. With the Stock Exchange and the opening of numerous domestic and foreign banks, Frankfurt soon develops into a leading European financial centre. The first high-rise office blocks are built (AEG-Hochhaus, Bienenkorbhaus, Fernmeldehochhaus, and Zürichhaus). |
| 1963-1965 |
The Auschwitz trial takes place in Frankfurt.
|
| 1968 |
The opening of the first underground line heralds the realisation of a new public transport concept. |
| 1981 |
The new Alte Oper is opened. |
| 1984 |
Development commences on the Museum Riverbank, which is to become the city’s art and culture mile. |
| 1988 |
The Messeturm [Trade Fair Tower], 256 m tall, is Frankfurt’s new landmark and a symbol of the city’s economic strength. |
| 1993 |
The European Monetary Institute (EMI) is established in Frankfurt. |
| 1994 |
Frankfurt celebrates its 1200th anniversary. During the mid-90s, Frankfurt’s skyline continues to grow. In 1997, the Commerzbanktower – at 299 m (to the
tip of the antenna) Europe’s tallest office tower – is completed. |
| 1998 |
Frankfurt is chosen as headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB), the successor of the European Monetary Institute. |
| 2001 |
Frankfurt University’s Department of Arts & Humanities relocates to the Poelzig Building, due to the latter’s history a controversial move indeed. |
|
2008/2009
2010
2012
2014
2015
2018
|
Decision to redesign 800 m of the Zeil, Frankfurt’s shopping mile.
Decision to redesign the old city center next to the Römer
Frankfurt grows and counts over 700.000 inhabitants
The Goethe-Universität celebrates her 100th birthday
Opening of the new building of the European Central Bank accompanied by protest
Opening of the New Old Town with reconstructed historic buildings
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