Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1360
The twin town of Berlin-Cölln joins the Hanseatic League but never plays a major role
in the alliance and quits its membership in 1518.
1411
German King Sigismund puts Friedrich von Hohenzollern in charge as administrator
of Brandenburg, marking the beginning of 500 years of Hohenzollern rule.
1415
Friedrich von Hohenzollern's grip on power solidifies when Sigismund promotes him
to elector and margrave of Brandenburg at the Council of Constance.
1443
Construction of the Berliner Stadtschloss (City Palace) on the Spree island begins
and becomes the electors' permanent residence in 1486.
1539
Elector Joachim II celebrates the first Lutheran service and a year later passes a
church ordinance making the new religion binding throughout Brandenburg.
1618
Religious conflict and territorial power struggles escalate into the bloody Thirty Years'
War, devastating Berlin financially and halving its population, to a mere 6000 people.
1631
An outbreak of the plague kills around 2000 Berliners, about a fifth of the population.
1640
Friedrich Wilhelm, who will go down in history as the Great Elector, comes to power
and restores a semblance of normality by building fortifications and infrastructure.
1665
After major fires, a new law requires barns to move outside the city boundaries,
thereby creating today's Scheunenviertel (Barn Quarter).
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