The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Kaliningrad, Russia. The city was known as Königsberg (, ) prior to 1945 and Twangste prior to 1255.
Prior to 15th century
1255 – Fortress built by Teutonic Knights during Prussian Crusade, on the basis of a Prussian settlement Twangste. 1256 – Settlement formed north of the fortress. 1262 – Prussians begin to besiege castle during the Great Prussian Uprising. 1264 – Settlement developed south of the castle. 1286 – Königsberg chartered. 1299 – Privilege granted to weavers and brewers. 1300 – Town of Löbenicht founded. 1312 – Marshal, chief military administrator of the Teutonic Order, took up residence in the castle. 1324 – Town of Kneiphof founded. 1333 – Construction of Königsberg Cathedral begins. 1340 – Königsberg joins Hanseatic League. 1360 – Main trading office of the Teutonic Order founded. 1377 – Köttelbrücke (bridge) built. 1379 (or 1397) – Schmiedebrücke (bridge) built. 1380 – Cathedral built in Kneiphof (approximate date). 1387 – Kneiphof Town Hall renovated.
15th century 1403 – City granted staple right. 1414 – Hunger War: The Polish-Lithuanian army approaches the city, and the demolition of houses in Lipnik begins in order to secure the Old Town. 1440 – The city becomes a founding member of the anti-Teutonic Prussian Confederation. 1454 14 February: Burghers seized the Teutonic Castle. March: Inclusion of the city, in Polish known as Królewiec, within the borders of the Kingdom of Poland following a request of the Prussian Confederation. March: The local mayor pledged allegiance to the Polish King during the incorporation of the region in Kraków.Górski, pp. 71–72 March: City authorized by the Polish king to mint Polish coins.Górski, p. 63 April: City becomes the capital of the Królewiec Voivodeship within Poland. Pfundzoll tax abolished by King Casimir IV. King Casimir IV allowed local merchants to sell goods throughout entire Poland. 19 June: Public ceremony, during which the mayors of the Old Town, Knipawa and Lipnik, officially recognize Polish rule and pay homage to Poland. 1455 – Captured by Teutonic Knights during the Thirteen Years' War. 1457 – City becomes capital of the State of the Teutonic Order. 1464 – Georg Steinhaupt becomes mayor. 1465 Landing force from Polish-allied Elbląg destroyed the shipyard near the Old Town, preventing the Teutonic Knights from rebuilding their fleet until the end of the Thirteen Years' War. Anti-Teutonic rebellion in the city. 1466 City officials press the Teutonic Knights to accept Polish peace terms, and the mayors of the Old Town and Knipawa take part in peace talks. Second Peace of Thorn: the city remains part of the State of the Teutonic Order, which becomes a fief of the Polish Crown. The seals of all three towns are attached to the documents of the peace treaty. 1467 – The city introduces custom duties on ships carrying salt from Gdańsk, Poland to Lithuania. 1478 – City comes into conflict with Grand Master of the Teutonic Order Martin Truchseß von Wetzhausen, who wants to cut ties with Poland, and pressures him to pay homage to King Casimir IV Jagiellon.
16th century 1519–21 – Polish-Teutonic War. The city opposed the Teutonic Knights' war against Poland and demanded peace. 1520 – Mikolaj Firlej lays siege to the town Polish forces capture the Haberberg suburb. 1521–24 – Secularization of the Teutonic Order 1523 – Printing press in operation. 1525 – Treaty of Kraków: Königsberg/Królewiec becomes the capital of the Duchy of Prussia, Albert becomes first Duke of Prussia as a vassal of Poland. Treaty confirmed by city representatives. 1529 – Castle Library established 1542 – Pedagogium founded by Albert Hohenzollern in Kneiphof 1544 – Albertina University (Lutheran) founded by Albert, Duke of Prussia. 1545 – Oldest Polish catechism published by Jan Seklucjan.
1547 – Catechism of Martynas Mažvydas, the oldest printed book in Lithuanian, published. 1550 – Population: 14,000. 1552 – Visit of King Sigismund II Augustus of Poland. 1553 – Oldest Polish translation of the New Testament, by Stanisław Murzynowski, published. 1560 – 28 March: King Sigismund II Augustus of Poland confers university privileges on the Albertina University, on a par with the Jagiellonian University. 1561 – First acquisition of citizenship in the city by a Scot. 1566 Duke Albert attempted to introduce absolutist rule in violation of the Treaty of Kraków. August–October: Stay and intervention of Polish Royal commissioners, restoration of the previous legal order. 4 October: Decree expanding the rights of Polish rulers and of the nobility and cities in the duchy. 22 October: Decree settling the city's conflict with Duke Albert, instituted by Polish Royal commissioners. 1568 – March: Albert Frederick becomes Duke of Prussia. 1577 – City opposes the regency of George Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach. 1579 – Renewed city resistance to the regency of George Frederick. The city supports the nobility's request to the Polish King to send a Polish Royal Commission to the city. 1580 – Arrival of George Frederick to establish his rule.
1582 – The Polish-language Chronicle of Poland, Lithuania, Samogitia and all of Ruthenia by Polish historian and writer Maciej Stryjkowski published in the city. It is considered the first printed book on the history of Eastern Europe and Lithuania. 1589 – Visit of King Sigismund III Vasa of Poland. 1590 – Green Bridge rebuilt. 1594 – Schlosskirche (castle church) dedicated
17th century 1616 A Catholic church erected by order of King Sigismund III Vasa and the bishop of Warmia Szymon Rudnicki. It hosted Polish, German and Lithuanian services. First German Reformed service held. 1618 Duchy of Prussia passes under control of Electors of Brandenburg, August: John Sigismund becomes Duke of Prussia Polish-language services introduced in the Cathedral, Löbenicht Church and Altstadt Church. 1619 – December: George William becomes Duke of Prussia 1626 – City walls built. 1629 City refuses to pay taxes to the duchy. Reformed cemetery founded. 1632 – King Władysław IV Vasa of Poland supports the city in its dispute with Duke George William. 1635 January: Agreement between the King of Poland and the city, granting the city the right to organize its military defense against a possible Swedish attack in exchange for exemption from taxes. July: Visit of King Władysław IV Vasa. July: Jerzy Ossoliński appointed the Polish governor of the duchy by King Władysław IV Vasa. Jerzy Ossoliński completes the fortification of the city against a potential Swedish attack. 1636 – Visit of King Władysław IV Vasa. 1640 – December: Frederick William becomes Duke of Prussia 1645 – The King of Poland allowed the Reformed community to hold services in the castle. 1646 – Reformed congregation founded with its consistory composed of three Englishmen, two Dutchmen, two Germans, and one Scot. 1647 – Neurossgarten Church dedicated 1649 – Full religious freedom granted to the Reformed community by the Polish King. 1655 – First Polish Reformed Church service at the Königsberg Castle. 1655–1660 – Sweden's invasion of Poland. City willingly passed new taxes to finance the fight against the Swedish invaders. 1657 Brandenburg Gate built. Fort Friedrichsburg under construction City opposes the rule of Elector Frederick William, and sides with Poland. 1658 – Reformed school founded.
1662 City sends a letter to King John II Casimir Vasa of Poland, opposing the rule of Elector Frederick William. 8 July: Confederation formed in the city to maintain Poland's sovereignty over the city and region. 27 October: The Brandenburg Elector and his army enter the city. 30 October: Hieronymus Roth, leader of the city's anti-Elector opposition, abducted by Brandenburg forces, and then imprisoned. 1663 – City burghers, forced by Frederick William, swear an oath of allegiance to him, however, in the same ceremony they still also pledge allegiance to Poland. 1686 – French Huguenot community and congregation founded. 1688 – April: Frederick becomes Duke of Prussia.
18th century 1701 18 January: Coronation of Frederick I of Prussia in the Schlosskirche. Capital of Duchy of Prussia relocated from Königsberg to Berlin. 1706 – Polish Reformed congregation relocated from the Reformed school to the Reformed church. 1709 – Plague.
1718 City Library opens. Poczta Królewiecka Polish-language newspaper begins publication (ceased in 1720). 1724 22 April: Birth of Immanuel Kant, philosopher. June: City of Königsberg expanded by uniting Altstadt, Kneiphof, and Löbenicht. Königsberg City Archive is located in the Town Hall (approximate date). 1734 – 8 August: Polish King Stanisław Leszczyński stops in the city. 1735 – Math problem "Seven Bridges of Königsberg" presented. 1736 26 January: Stanisław Leszczyński signed an act of renunciation of the Polish crown in the city.Ciesielski, p. 113 27 March: Stanisław Leszczyński left the city for France on March 27, 1736. 29 July: Rococo French Reformed Church inaugurated. 1740 – French Reformed preachers houses built. 1756 – Synagogue built. 1758 14 January: Forces of the Kingdom of Prussia withdraw from the city.Ciesielski, p. 165 16 January: Russian forces enter city. 24 January: City becomes part of Russia. 1764 – Russian occupation ends. 1765 – Gumbinnen Gate built. 1780 – Theodor Gottlieb von Hippel becomes mayor. 1787 – French Reformed secondary school founded. 1790 – Königshalle built.
19th century 1804 – 12 February: Death of Immanuel Kant, philosopher. 1806 – Last Polish Reformed service held. 1807 French in power. Members of the French congregation persuaded Napoleon to reduce war contributions from 20 to 12 million francs. Reformed Castle Church and French Reformed Church used as a military hospitals. 1809 – Paradeplatz city garden established.
1810 – August Wilhelm Heidemann becomes mayor. 1812 – School of church music founded. 1813 – Koenigsberg Observatory built. 1814 – Carl Friedrich Horn becomes mayor. 1817 – Polish-language services discontinued in the Cathedral, Löbenicht Church and Altstadt Church. 1821 – Polish removed from the curriculum of the Reformed school. 1825 – French Reformed secondary school closed. 1826 – Johann Friedrich List becomes mayor. 1828 – Royal and University Library formed. 1830 – Population: 54,000. 1831 – Polish poet Wincenty Pol interned in the city following the unsuccessful Polish November Uprising. He wrote his first poems there. 1832 – French Reformed elementary school closed. 1833 – University's Department of Chemistry opens in Neurossgarten. 1835 – Nowiny o Rozszerzeniu Wiary Chrześcijańskiej Polish-language Christian magazine begins publication. 1838 – Rudolf von Auerswald becomes mayor. 1843 – Polish Reformed Congregation dissolved. 1845 Union Giesserei foundry in business. New Altstadt Church dedicated. Art academy opens. 1851 – Grolman Bastion built. 1855 Sailing Club founded. Rossgarten Gate rebuilt. 1856 – Königsberg Cathedral restored. 1858 – Dohna Tower built. 1860 – Astronomic Bastion built. 1861 18 October: Coronation of William I, German Emperor, in the Schlosskirche. Albertina University new campus dedicated. 1862 – The city becomes a center of Polish preparations for a planned Polish uprising. 1863–1864 – Arms trafficking for Polish insurgents during the January Uprising in the Russian Partition of Poland, co-organized by Wojciech Kętrzyński. 1863 2 January: Pruski Przyjaciel Ludu Polish-language newspaper begins publication. 1 August: Piotr Drzewiecki becomes the leader of the local Polish insurgent organization, succeeding Kazimierz Szulc, who was forced to flee pursued by the Prussian authorities. 9 August and 22 August: Prussian authorities seize weapons intended for Polish insurgents.