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.
20th century
1901 – Green Synagogue established.
1902
Electric trams begin operating.
Victoria College founded.
1903 – Khedivial yacht club built.
1905 – Sea wall constructed.
1907 – Population: 332,246.
1910 – Hellenic Football Club Alexandria formed.
1910 – Sasson Synagogue established.
1914 – Al Ittihad Alexandria Club formed.
1917 – Population c. 460,000 (c. 20% foreigners).
1919 – Princess Fatma Al-Zahra palace built.
1920 – Castro Synagogue established.
1920 – Nezah Israel Synagogue established.
1921 – Alexandria Opera House opens.
1922 – Shaaré Tefila Synagogue established.
1925 – Scottish School for Girls founded.
1927 – Population c. 600,000 (ca. 17% foreigners).
1928 – Collège Saint Marc founded.
1929
Alexandria Stadium opens.
English Boys' School established.
1930 – Alexandria Aquarium opens.
1932 – Al-Haramlik Palace built.
1934 – Corniche constructed.
1935 – English Girls College founded.
1937 – Eliahou Hazan Synagogue established.
1938 – Publication of The Egyptian Gazette moved from Alexandria to Cairo.
1941 – 19 December: Conflict between Italian and British naval forces.
1942 – Farouk University established.
1947 – Population: 919,024; (c. 11% foreigners).
1950 – Hassab hospital established.
1952 – Egyptian coup d'état.
1954 – 26 October: Alleged assassination attempt of Nasser during speech in Mansheya.
1958 – Alexandria Zoo opens.
1960 – Siddiq Abdul-Latif becomes mayor.
1964 – September: Arab League summit held.
1965 – Population c. 1.5 million.
1969 – St. Takla Haymanot's Church consecrated.
1974 – Population: 2,259,000.
1980 – El Alamein-Alexandria highway constructed.
1986
Ismail El-Gawsaqi becomes mayor.
Port of Dekheila constructed.
Royal Jewelry Museum inaugurated.
1990 – Senghor University founded.
1992 – Population: 3,380,000 (estimate).
1996 – Alexandria Institute Of Technology founded.
1997 – Abdel-Salam El-Mahgoub becomes mayor.
1999 – Swedish Institute Alexandria established.
21st century
2001 – Alexandria Center of Arts opens.
2002
Bibliotheca Alexandrina inaugurated.
City named World Book Capital by UNESCO.
2003
Harras El-Hedoud Stadium opens.
Alexandria National Museum inaugurated.
2006
Adel Labib becomes mayor.
January–February: 2006 Africa Cup of Nations held.
Population: 4,110,015.
Pharos University established.
2007
Borg El Arab Stadium opens.
San Stefano Grand Plaza built.
2009 – Sadat Museum inaugurated.
2010 – Population: 4,358,439.
2011
Egyptian revolution
1 January: Bombing of Saints Church.
2012 – Protests against state president Mohamed Morsi.