“If you start to take Vienna - take Vienna” claimed Napoleon not knowing that this determination would eventually lead to his decline. The history of the city involves numerous attacks, fightings and wars. Nevertheless, bearing witness to its rich history with historical buildings and monuments on every corner, Vienna today is one of the most attractive European cites.
| 12-14th Century |
| 1155 |
Henry Jasomirgott makes Vienna his capital. |
| 1156 |
Austria becomes a duchy and Vienna the seat of the duke. Schottenstift (a Roman Catholic monastery) is founded at that time. |
| 1192 |
Richard the Lionheart is captured by Leopold V the Virtuous near Vienna and a ransom of 5,000 silver marks is paid for him.
|
| 1200 |
Around this year the mint and city walls are built. |
| 1221 |
Vienna receives the rights of a city and a staple port, which means that all traders passing through the city have to offer their goods at the markets. This allows Vienna to create a network of trade relations and to become one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire. |
| 1278 |
Rudolf I takes control over Austrian lands and tries to establish Habsburg rule. In Vienna it is not that easy because there are partisans of Ottokar who resist for a long time. |
| 1280 |
Jans der Enikel writes 'Fürstenbuch' - the first history of the city. |
| 1327 |
Frederic the Handsome publishes his edict which allows the city to have its Eisenbuch listing its privileges. |
| 1365 |
The University of Vienna is founded. |
| 15-17th Century |
| 1408 |
The mayor Konrad Vorlauf is executed. |
| 1421-1422 |
King Albert II drives away the Jewish population of Vienna. |
| 1522 |
Leading members of the opposition within the city are executed which leads to a destruction of political structures. From then on, the city is under direct imperial control. |
| 1529 |
Vienna is besieged by the Ottoman Turks, but not conquered. |
| 1548 |
Vienna is expanded to a fortress. It is surrounded by a moat and protected by with eleven bastions. |
| 1556 |
Vienna becomes the seat of the Emperor.
|
| 1660 |
Melchior Khlesh becomes the bishop of Vienna. |
| 1679 |
A pandemic decimates the city.
|
| 1683 |
The Second Turkish Siege takes place, but the army is defeated by the Polish king Jan Sobieski. |
| Modern History 18-20th Century |
| 1704 |
An outer fortification is built around the Vorstädte. Vienna is turned into a Baroque city little by little. |
| 1713 |
Another plague occurs.
|
| 1724 |
About 150,000 people live in Vienna.
|
| 1783 |
The city administration is modernized under Emperor Joseph II. The Magistrate is created.
|
| 1790 |
The population of Vienna amounts to 200,000 citizens. |
| 1805 |
Vienna is taken by Napoleon. |
| 1809 |
Vienna is taken by Napoleon for the second time but soon after that he is defeated at Aspern. |
| September 18, 1814-June 9, 1915 |
The Congress of Vienna takes place and the European map is redrawn. |
| 1830 |
The great Danube flood takes place.
|
| 1837 |
Vienna is attached to the railway network.
|
| 1850 |
The city is expanded to include the area within Linienwall. |
| 1858 |
Ringstraße boulevard is built in the place of demolished fortifications. |
| 1873 |
The World Exhibition takes place and this is the peak of Vienna's development, just before the market crash. |
| 1861 |
The Liberals win the first relatively free elections. |
| 1860s |
River branches are made to be avoid flood in the future.
|
| 1869 |
A census was carried out for the first time. |
| 1890 |
The city is expanded for the second time. Suburbs beyond Linienwall are incorporated into the town. |
| 1900 |
Vienna becomes an arts centre.
|
| 1918 |
The republic of Deutsch-Österreich is proclaimed in front of the Parliament. |
| 1921 |
Vienna becomes a state of its own, separated from the surrounding Lower Austria. |
| 1923-1924 |
A well organized and equipped military group known as the Republican Protective Alliance is formed. |
| 1927 |
The fire of the Palace of Justice break out because of a judicial mistake which provoked violent demonstrations. |
| 1933 |
The dissolution of parliament. |
| 1934 |
Civil War. |
| 1938 |
The Anschluss to German Empire. |
| 1944 and 1945 |
Vienna is bombarded and conquered by Russian troops. The city is destroyed. |
| April 29, 1945 |
The Democratic Republic of Austria is reinstated. |
| November 1945 |
The first municipal elections are held.
|
| May 15, 1955 |
Austria regains its freedom with the Austrian State Treaty. |
| 1978 |
The first part of the public transport network-U-Bahn is opened. |
| 1970's |
Vienna is the third official centre of the United Nations. |