12BC- 16AD

Under Emperor Augustus, the northern frontier of the Roman Empire is marked by the rivers Danube and Rhine. Between 12BC to 6AD, Roman generals Germanicus and Tiberius try to conquer additional territories, up to and including the river Elbe, such as to establish a new Roman province Germania Magna. In 9AD, this effort fails with the decisive defeat of general Varus in the Teutoburg Forest. The northern border of the Roman Empire remains at Danube and Rhine.

600-700

Exactly when Magdeburg was first settled remains unknown. Presumably it was founded by Vikings (nordic seafarers and warriors), because the name means ‘mighty fortress’ in nordic languages.

805

Emperor Karl der Große (‘Carolus Magnus’ in Latin, ’Charlemagne’ in French) decrees Magdeburg as the easternmost place of trade with Slavic and Mongolian tribes (Wenden, Avaren).

923-924

Magdeburg is destroyed by the Hungarians and their Slavic allies. Queen Editha, wife of Emperor Otto I the Great, and former princess of Wessex in England, rebuilds and fortifies the town.

1135

Emperor Lothar II convenes a "Reichstag" in Magdeburg. At this time, the “Reich” (Empire) includes much of present-day Germany and Italy and is still called “Heilige Römische Reich” (Holy Roman Empire), even though no Romans are involved. Calling together the ”Kurfürsten” (most powerful nobles) in this places testifies to the growing importance of Magdeburg.

1188

On a more practical level, Archbishop Wichmann codifies the Magdeburg municipal charter, which subsequently becomes the most widely adopted municipal law in all of Europe.

1233

On an even larger scale, Eike of Repgow collected existing, customary law of Saxons in the so-called "Sachsenspiegel" (Mirror of Saxons).  This was the first written legal code in Germany and also one of the first major works of Middle Low German prose.

1517

Archbishop Albrecht of Magdeburg and his abusive sale of ‘dispensations’ (God’s forgiveness for sins committed) outrages Martin Luther in nearby Wittenberg. Partly with Albrecht in mind, Martin Luther publishes his famous 95 ‘propositions against dispensations’. Thanks to newly invented printing presses, these spread rapidly and inflame public opinion throughout Europe. This resulting “Reformation” divides Western Christianity into Protestant and Catholic camp, and triggers religious wars on a continental scale, lasting almost 150 years.

1524-1531

Magdeburg is among the first large imperial towns to adopt the Reformation, through the efforts of Amsdorf. Protestant refugees stream to Magdeburg.

1527-1528

Magdeburg does not submit to catholic emperor Karl V and continues to welcome displaced protestants.

1550

Kurfürst (Count) Moritz of Saxony besieges Magdeburg, but the citizenry fights valiantly and finally submits on favourable terms (full pardon and freedom of religion).

1626-1631

Besieged again by some 20,000 catholic troops under Pappenheim and Tilly, the 2,000 defenders under Falkenberg put up desperate resistance, hoping to be rescued by their ally, King Gustav Adolf of Sweden. When catholic troops break through the defenses, the population burns the town rather than surrender it to the enemy.

1631

Catholic troops exact horrific retribution, massacring some 90% of the 36,000 inhabitants. For centuries, the collective memory of Europe retained the siege of Magdeburg as the proverbial horror of war.  This reputation faded only after the even greater infamies of the 19th and 20th centuries.

1632-1646

Arriving just after siege and massacre are over, the Swedes start to rebuild the town. Otto von Guericke becomes building supervisor and mayor and helps to construct new bridges and fortifications. Von Guericke was also a leading European scientist of the time, with wide interests in physics and cosmology (see also below).

1666

Magdeburg fails in its efforts to remain independent and becomes part of the Kingdom of Prussia, a new and rising power. Many Huguenot (protestant) refugees from France settle in Magdeburg.

1806-1814

Magdeburg survives the Napoleonic wars without damage, for once, because it surrendered to French forces without a fight.

1896

Removal of the old fortifications allows rapid expansion of the town. Magdeburg becomes a prosperous center for trade and industry, with many beautiful buildings in the style of Biedermeier, Historismus, Gründerzeit, and Jugendstil. Its architecture is considered to be among the most beautiful in Germany.

1918-1931

Magdeburg benefits from the construction of canals and new housing areas.

1945

Shortly before the end of World War II, about 90% of the city centre is destroyed by British air bombardment. After the war ends, Magdeburg is in the Soviet occupation zone. Soon afterwards the “Iron Curtain” divides Germany and Europe and the “Cold War” begins.

1949

A civilian (German) magistrate receives authority from the Soviet city commander. The east German government nationalizes industry and makes Magdeburg into a center of heavy machinery.

1990

The Cold War ends with the collapse of the Soviet Union and both Europe and Germany are reunified. The sudden adoption of hard currency renders Magdeburg's industrial infrastructure uncompetitive, which in turn leads to high unemployment and population loss. On the positive side, Magdeburg becomes the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt and begins to invest heavily in higher education.

1992

The Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (LIN) is founded by the Leibniz Society as a successor to the “Institut für Neurobiologie und Hirnforschung” (INH), laying the foundation for all subsequent investments into neuroscience research in Magdeburg.

1993

The Otto-von-Guericke University is founded by merging three previously existing institutions: Technical University, Pedagogical University, and Medical Academy.  

1993

The new university is named after Otto von Guericke (1602-1686), the famous scientist and Magdeburg mayor (see also above). Von Guericke established experimental physics in Germany and is best known for his work on vacuum and on electricity. His interest in vacuum (space without matter) was cosmological: he created this condition in order to show that the universe may well be mostly empty.