Stone Age
First human settlements in the Elbe valley basin between Meissen and Pirna in the Palaeolithic period.
Circa 600 AD
Slavic tribes live in the area.
10th Century
King Heinrich I subdues the Slavs and founds Meissen Castle.
1089
The royal house of Wettin is granted the Margravate of Meissen as a fief.
12th Century
The Wettins finally prevail as Margraves of Meissen; they rule in Saxony until the 20th century.
Commencement of work on a margravial castle on the Taschenberg mountain.
1206
First documented mention of Drezdany (left side of the Elbe) as "Dresdene".
1216
Documented mention of Dresden (left side of the Elbe) as a city.
1292
Confirmation of the city charter and election of a mayor.
1299
First mention of Dresden`s city fortifications.
1403
Granting of the city charter of Altendresden (right side of the Elbe).
1423
Saxony- Wittenberg (Sachsen- Wittenberg) passes to the Wettins, and with it the Electorate.
Soon after this the entire region is referred to as "Sachsen" or "Kursachsen" (Electorate of Saxony).
1455
Granting of depot rights for Elbe trading and warehousing rights for goods destined for Bohemia.
1464
The Wettins choose Dresden as their permanent residence. Expansion of the castle.
1485
Dresden becomes the chief residence of the Albertinian Wettins following the division at Leipzig of the
Wettin estates between the Ernestine and Albertinian lineages.
1491
Half of the city is destroyed by a fire. A new building code is passed requiring tile roofs and stone structures
for corner houses and frontages up to the first story.
16. Jahrhundert
Renaissance style additions to the Castle.
1539
Duke Heinrich the Pious introduces the Reformation in Dresden.
1547
Duke Moritz is granted the Electrate for Albertinian Saxony.
1550
Passing of a royal edict integrating Altendresden into the city.
from 1676
Laying-out of the Great Park (Grosser Garten) and construction of the Palais from 1678-83.
1685
Altendresden burns to the ground; a new city plan is drawn up, which is used as the basis
for the construction of the "New City by Dresden
under August the Strong, whitch is later known as the "Neustadt" or "New Town".
Circa 1700
The reign of Friedrich August I, known as August the Strong, begins in 1694.
In 1697 August converts to Catolicism and becomes King August II of Poland, giving the local royal
capital of Dresden European status. In the following decades the city becomes a centre of the arts.
1709
J. F. Böttger invents European porcelain. A porcelain factory is founded in Meißen in 1710.
1710-32
Construction of the Zwinger complex by the architect M.D. Pöppelmann and the sculptor B. Permoser.
1720-23
Construction of Pillnitz Castle by M.D. Pöppelmann.
1726-43
Construction of the Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche), most important work of G. Bähr.
1733
Death of August the Strong. His successor is Friedrich August II. (König August III. of Poland),
who continues the building projects and work on the art collections.
1738-55
Construction of the Catolic Cathedral (Katolische Hofkirche), designed by G. Chiaveri.
1756-63
Destruction of over 500 buildings by Prussian artillery in the Seven Years` War. After losing the war
Saxony is forced to pay heavy reparations to Prussia.
1806
Saxony joins Napoleon`s Confederation of the Rhine and becomes a kingdom.
1809-29
Demolition of the city fortifications at Napoleon`s order.
1813
Napoleon wins his last victory at the Battle of Dresden.
1815
Following the Congress of ienna, Saxony is forced to cede the majority of its territory to Prussia.
1817
C. M. von Weber is appointed to the post of Court Conductor.
1838-41
Construction of the Hoftheater (the first Semper Opera).
1849
Suppression of the "May Uprising" in Dresden (May 3-9) by Saxon and Prussian troops.
1871-78
Rebuilding of the Semper Opera following the fire of 1869.
1918
The government of Saxony is thrown out of office during the November Revolution.
Abdication of the king and declaration of a republic.
1920
Ratification of the constitution of the Free State of Saxony.
1945
Destruction of Dresden by air raids in World War II. Over 30,000 people die in the raids,
whitch reduce the city to ruins.
1952
Dissolution of the former GDR state- level administrations and formation of districts.
Dresden is made one of the fourteen district centres.
1989
Revolution in East Germany and fall of the SED regime, followed by the opening of the borders in the autumn.
1990
German reunification. Dresden becomes the copital of the Free State of Saxony.
1993
The rubble is cleared from the ruins of the Church of Our Lady.
1994
27. Mai - official commencement of the reconstruction of the Curch of Our Lady.
1995
Reopening of the Taschenbergpalais as a luxury hotel following extensive rebuilding work.
Staging of the first Dresden Opera Festival.
1997
Festival week and exhibition "Under One Crown" to mark the 300th anniversary of the enthronement of August
the Strong.