Timeline of Geneva
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following is a timeline of the history of the municipality of Geneva, Switzerland.
Prehistory
| Year | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| c. 18'000 BC | Deglaciation is underway in the western Geneva basin, and a large periglacial lake occupies the western part of the basin in front of the Rhône glacier.[1] | |
| c. 16'000 BCE | The front of the Rhône glacier stands at the site of modern Geneva and deposits the sediments that later form the hill of the old town.[1] | |
| c. 13'400–12'900 BCE | Magdalenian reindeer hunters occupy the rock shelters of Veyrier, one of the oldest known prehistoric sites in the region.[2] | |
| c. 5000 BCE | Farming communities begin clearing large areas for cultivation.[1] | |
| c. 3000–2900 BCE | The first occupation of the hill of Choully at Satigny/Crédery dates to the beginning of the Late Neolithic.[3] | |
| c. 2450–2050 BCE | A final prehistoric occupation phase at Crédery is associated with the Bell Beaker culture.[3] | |
| c. 650–450 BCE | Remains from Hallstatt D culture are attested at Vandœuvres.[4] | |
| c.120 BC | The Allobrogians establish a large sanctuary.[4] |
Antiquity
| Year | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 121 BC | The Allobrogian fortified settlement gets conquered by the Roman Republic [5] | |
| 58 BC | Caesar arrives in Geneva and orders the bridge crossing the Rhône river to be destroyed. A 28km fortification is constructed, to block the Helvetii.[6] | |
| AD 150 | Fire [5] | |
| AD 280 | The city gets promoted to civitas [5] | |
| AD 380 | A large cathedral complex is completed [5] | |
| AD 400 | The Diocese of Geneva is established with Isaac of Monteluco becoming the bishop. | |
| AD 426 | Geneva becomes capital of the Kingdom of the Burgundians.[7] |
Middle Ages
| Year | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| AD 515 | St. Peter's Cathedral get's rebuild by King Sigismund after the Burgundian Civil War.[8] | |
| AD 534 | The Franks conquer the city.[9] | |
| AD 563 | A Tsunami on Lake Geneva devestates the city.[10] | |
| AD 773 | Emperor Charlemagne holds a council of war at St. Peter's Cathedral. [11] | |
| AD 843 | 10 August | Geneva becomes part of the Middle Francia after the Treaty of Verdun.[8] |
| AD 880 | February | Geneva becomes part of the East Francia after the Treaty of Ribemont. |
| c.1020 AD | The right of coinageis granted.[5] | |
| 1032 AD | 6 September | Geneva reverts to Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor after the death of Rudolph of Burgundy [5] |
| 1034 AD | 1 August | Conrad II is crowned as King of Burgundy in St. Peter's Cathedral. [12] |
| 1124 AD | The Treaty of Seyssel confirms the bishop’s supremacy over Geneva. | |
| 1162 AD | Emperor Frederick Barbarossa confirms the bishops independence and elevates them to the rank of imperial princes. | |
| 1321 AD | Fire.[9] | |
| 1333 AD | Fire.[9] | |
| 1387 AD | 23 May | The Town charter is granted, giving the right to elect four syndics.[13] |
| 1420 AD | Around 13 Jewish families are confined to a ghetto. The only one in today's Switzerland.[14] | |
| 1430 AD | Fire.[9] | |
| 1434 AD | 9 March | Antipope Felix V, the former Duke of Savoy, appoints himself as bishop of Geneva.[8] |
| 1477 AD | 14 November | An alliance is formed with Bern and Fribourg.[5] |
| 1478 AD | The first local printing press in operation.[15][16] | |
| 1490 AD | The city council orders the expulsion of the Jews.[17] |
Early modern period
| Year | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1519 AD | Geneva allies with Freibourg.[18] | |
| 1524 AD | "The Genevese shake off the yoke of Savoy."[13] | |
| 1526 AD | Geneva allies with Bern.[18] | |
| 1530 AD | Geneva became its own mistress within, while allied externally with the Swiss confederation.[11] | |
| 1535 AD | Catholic bishop Pierre de La Baume ousted by Calvinists.[13] | |
| 1536 AD | 21 May | Grand Council of Geneva adopts Protestant religion.[11] |
| Protestant leader John Calvin active in Geneva.[13][19] | ||
| Area of city expanded.[11] | ||
| 1541 AD | The Republic of Geneva and Genevan Consistory established. | |
| 1545 AD | 2 June | Divorce granted.[20] |
| 1553 AD | 27 October | Michael Servetus executed for heresy.[13] |
| 1559 AD | Collège de Genève founded.[18] | |
| 1560 AD | English-language Geneva Bible published. | |
| 1580 AD | Population: 17,330.[21] | |
| 1584 AD | "Geneva forms an alliance with the Swiss cantons."[13] | |
| 1602 AD | 12 December | "Savoy fails to conquer Geneva, an event celebrated as the 'Escalade'."[22] |
| 1679 AD | French embassy established.[23] | |
| 1690 AD | Population: 16,220.[21] | |
| 1712 AD | 28 June | Jean-Jacques Rousseau born. |
| 1738 AD | "The republic adopts a regular constitution."[13] | |
| 1763 AD | Geneva is "made independent."[9] | |
| 1766 AD | Théâtre de Rosimond built. | |
| 1770 AD | "Insurrection suppressed."[13] | |
| 1781 AD | April-July | Geneva Revolution of 1782.[7] |
| 1783 AD | Théâtre de Neuve built. |
Late modern period
| Year | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 AD | Trade show held.[20] | |
| 1794 AD | July | "Government overthrown;"[18] "executions, etc."[7] |
| 1798 AD | April | Geneva becomes capital of the Léman (department) of the First French Republic (later the First French Empire).[9][21][11] |
| Population: 24,331.[21] | ||
| 1813 AD | 31 December | Restoration of the Republic.[24] |
| 1815 AD | Canton of Geneva created.[11][24] | |
| Canton of Geneva becomes part of the Swiss Confederation.[22][11] | ||
| 1816 AD | Treaty of Turin nearly doubled the size of the Canton of Geneva.[25] | |
| 1817 AD | Botanical garden created in the Parc des Bastions. | |
| 1821 AD | Catholic diocese of Lausanne and Geneva established.[26] | |
| 1825 AD | Prison begins operating.[27] | |
| 1826 AD | Musée Rath built.[18] | |
| 1828 AD | Société genevoise d'utilité publique (public welfare society) founded. | |
| 1829 AD | Töpffer's Adventures of Dr. Festus comic book created.[28] | |
| 1834 AD | 5 February | Polish-Sardinian unrest.[13] |
| Population: 27,177.[21] | ||
| 1835 AD | Conservatoire de Musique de Genève founded. | |
| 1837 AD | Société d'histoire et d'archéologie de Genève founded.[29] | |
| 1841 AD | Jews granted freedom of establishment in the canton of Geneva.[30] | |
| 1842 AD | Political unrest.[18] | |
| Geneva municipality created.[11][21] | ||
| 1845 AD | Gas lighting installed.[9] | |
| 1846 AD | Political unrest;[13] "constitution made more democratic."[7] | |
| 1847 AD | "Radical party" in power.[18] | |
| 1848 AD | Banque de Geneve founded.[31] | |
| 1849 AD | Fortifications begin to be demolished.[13][21] | |
| 1850 AD | Population: 37,724 in city; 64,146 in canton.[32] | |
| 1851 AD | Watchmaker Patek Philippe & Co. in business. | |
| 1852 AD | Union Chrétienne de Jeunes Gens branch established.[33] | |
| Communauté Israélite de Genève founded. | ||
| 1854 AD | Jardin Anglais (park) laid out. | |
| 1856 AD | Quai Gustave-Ador built. | |
| 1858 AD | Genève-Cornavin railway station opens. | |
| Ecole Saint-Antoine (school) built.[34] | ||
| 1860 AD | Population: 82,876 in canton.[32] | |
| 1863 AD | International Committee of the Red Cross headquartered in Geneva. | |
| 1864 AD | August | International "Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field" signed in Geneva,[35] i.e. "the fundamental rules of war."[22] |
| 22–23 August | "Election riots, with loss of life, through the indiscretion of M. Fazy;"[7] city occupied by federal forces.[13] | |
| Monument erected in Port-Noir.[citation needed] | ||
| 1867 AD | September | International "Congress of Peace" held in Geneva.[13] |
| Salle de la Réformation inaugurated.[33] | ||
| 1873 AD | University of Geneva active.[18] | |
| Christian Catholic Church is formally established.[11] | ||
| 1879 AD | Grand Théâtre de Genève opens.[18] | |
| 1879 AD | Brunswick Monument erected. | |
| 1880 AD | Population: 99,712 in canton.[32] | |
| 1881 AD | Société Genevoise de Photographie founded.[36] | |
| 1883 AD | 23 November | Steamboat collision on Lake Geneva.[7] |
| 1886 AD | Geneva Seal adopted. | |
| 1886 AD | Jet d'Eau (fountain) installed. | |
| 1891 AD | International Peace Bureau headquartered in Geneva.[37] | |
| 1892 AD | 9 July | Steamboat explosion on Lake Geneva.[7] |
| 1893 AD | Piolet Club (hiking group) formed.[38] | |
| 1894 AD | Victoria Hall (concert hall) built. | |
| 1896 AD | 1 May | Swiss National Exposition opens in Geneva.[7] |
| 1900 AD | Population: 97,359 in city; 132,609 in canton.[32][11] | |
| 1902 AD | 23 December | Cathedral bombing.[7] |
| 1905 AD | Geneva Motor Show begins. | |
| 1907 AD | The Genevese voted to separate Church and State.[11] | |
| 1910 AD | Musée d'Art et d'Histoire (Geneva) built. | |
| 1917 AD | Monument to the Reformation built. | |
| 1919 AD | International Labour Organization headquartered in Geneva. | |
| 1920 AD | League of Nations headquartered in city.[39] | |
| Alhambra cinema active.[40] | ||
| 1921 AD | Inter-Parliamentary Union headquartered in Geneva.[37] | |
| 1924 AD | International School of Geneva established. | |
| 1926 AD | 26 September | International "Convention to Suppress the Slave Trade and Slavery" signed in Geneva.[35] |
| Compagnie de 1602 (heritage society) formed. | ||
| 1929 AD | 27 July | International "Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War" signed.[35] |
| 1930 AD | Population: 124,121 in city; 171,366 in canton.[32] | |
| Les Eaux-Vives, Le Petit-Saconnex and Plainpalais become part of city.[21] | ||
| 1932 AD | November | 1932 Geneva unrest |
| International disarmament conference held in city.[22] | ||
| 1936 AD | World Jewish Congress is founded as political platform of solidarity for persecuted Jews and to combat anti-Semitism.[41] | |
| 1938 AD | Palace of Nations built. | |
| 1939 AD | Geneva International Music Competition begins. | |
| Geneva hosts the World Zionist Congress. | ||
| 1942 AD | Start of Trolleybuses in Geneva. |
Contemporary era
| Year | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 AD | United Nations Economic Commission for Europe headquartered in Geneva.[35] | |
| 1948 AD | World Health Organization and World Council of Churches headquartered in Geneva. | |
| 1949 AD | 12 August | International "Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War" signed in Geneva.[35] |
| 1950 AD | United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees headquartered in Geneva.[35] | |
| Population: 202,918 in canton.[32] | ||
| 1954 AD | International conference related to Korea and Indochina held in Geneva.[42] | |
| European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) headquartered in nearby Meyrin. | ||
| 1955 AD | L'horloge fleurie flowerbed created in the Jardin Anglais. | |
| 1957 AD | Electric toothbrush invented.[20] | |
| 1960 AD | Women's suffrage effected in canton.[23] | |
| 1961 AD | Centre islamique de Genève founded. | |
| 1963 AD | United Nations Institute for Training and Research headquartered in Geneva.[35] | |
| 1964 AD | United Nations Conference on Trade and Development headquartered in Geneva.[35] | |
| 1970 AD | Population: 173,618 in city; 331,599 in canton.[32] | |
| 1972 AD | Tour du Lac rowing contest begins. | |
| 1977 AD | Geneva Symphony Orchestra established.[43] | |
| 1978 AD | Geneva Mosque built.[44] | |
| 1980 AD | Banque de Patrimoines Privés Genève established. | |
| 1986 AD | Geneva City Archives established. | |
| 1987 AD | Geneva Airport railway station opens. | |
| 1988 AD | International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum opens. | |
| 1989 AD | March | World Wide Web concept invented by Berners-Lee of CERN.[20] |
| 1997 AD | Sculpture "Broken Chair" installed in the Place des Nations. | |
| 2000 AD | Population: 177,964 in city; 413,673 in canton.[32] | |
| 2002 AD | City website online (approximate date).[45][chronology citation needed] | |
| 2004 AD | Genève-Sécheron railway station opens. | |
| 2005 AD | Geneva Citizens' Movement established. | |
| 2007 AD | RHINO (squat) evicted. | |
| 2009 AD | November | Anti-WTO protest.[46] |
| November–December | World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference of 2009 held in Geneva. | |
| Calvin Jubilee held.[47] | ||
| 2010 AD | ||
| 2013 AD | Revised constitution of the Canton of Geneva effected; created by the Assemblée constituante de Genève. | |
| Population: 469,433 in canton.[48] | ||
| 2014 AD | Nuclear bunkers converted to homeless shelters.[49] | |
| 2015 AD | August | Intern-in-tent reported.[50] |
| Esther Alder becomes mayor. | ||
| 2019 AD | Opening of the CEVA rail line to Annemasse in France, operated by the Léman Express train service. |
See also
- History of Geneva
- List of cultural property of national significance in Switzerland: Geneva
- Timelines of other municipalities in Switzerland: Basel, Bern, Zürich