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.