Brief chronology of key events in the history of Baku

Chronology

8th millennium B.C	Birth of the first settlements on the Absheron Peninsula
6th с. B.C.	Foundation of “Ateshi—Baguan”, the temple of fire worshippers on the Absheron Peninsula
6th с. B.C.	Construction of the Maiden Tower
the beginning of the 5th c. B.C.	Invasion of Azerbaijan by Huns
the mid of the 6th c.-the end of the 8th c.	The rule of Khazars in Azerbaijan
the beginning of the 8th c.	Islam becomes the dominant religion in Azerbaijan
the 60s of the 9th c.	Regaining of independence by Shirvan
1027-1037	The rule of Manuchohr Shirvanshah
1078	Construction of the mosque of Mohammed (“Sinig gala”), the most ancient architectural memorial
the 70s—80s of the 11th c.	Annexation of Azerbaijan by Saljuglus
1220-1222	The first march of Mongols to Azerbaijan
1231-1239	The second march of Mongols to Azerbaijan
1258	The third march of Mongols headed by Hulaku Khan. Occupation of Shirvan and Baku
1382-1417	The rule of Ibrahim Shirvanshah I
1417-1465	The rule of Khalilullah Shirvanshah I
14th-15th c.	The construction of the complex of Shirvanshahs’ Palace in Baku
1465-1500	The rale of Farrukh Yassar Shirvanshah
1501	The rule of Bahram bey Shirvanshah
1501-1502	The rule of Sultan Mohammed Gazi Shirvanshah
1502-1524	The rule of Sheykh Ibrahim Shirvanshah II
1524-1535	The rule of Khalilullah Shirvanshah II
1538	Annexation of Shirvan by Safavids
1683	The visit of the Swedish Ambassador to Baku and E. Kempfer’s paintings of Baku
1722-1723	The Caspian march of Peter I. Occupation of the western and south-eastern coast of the Caspian Sea
1723, July 10	The occupation of Baku by the Russian squadron
the end of 40s of the 18th c.	The foundation of independent and semi-independent khanates in Azerbaijan
1804-1813	The Russo-Persian War
October 3, 1806	The abolition of the Baku khanate
1826-1828	The Russo-Persian War
1828-1829	The Russo-Turkish War
July 10, 1840	The approval of the “Principles of ruling of the Transcaucasian region” and foundation of the Baku uyezd among other administrative regions of Russia
1848	The drilling of the first oil well in the world in Baku (in Bibi Heybat)
December 2, 1859	The renaming of Shamakhi province into Baku province and elevation of Baku into the rank of a provincial city
1859	The construction of the first oil refinery in Baku (in Surakhani) The laying of the first city garden
1861	The first photos of Baku taken by A.Ulsky, captain— lieutenant of the Russian Fleet
1863	The foundation of the first kerosene plant in the world
February 6, 1868	The opening of telegraph line between Baku and Tbilisi
1872	The abolition of the farming system for “Oil Lands” in Russia
1873	The foundation of the national theater of Azerbaijan
1874	The opening of the realni school in Baku The foundation of the oil school in Baku
1879	The foundation of the oil production company “Nobel Brothers”
May, 1883	The completion of the construction of the Baku - Tbilisi Transcaucasusian Railway
1885	The foundation of the Rotshild Oil-industry and commercial company in the Caspian-Black Sea region
1892	The first public transport – (horse-driven tramway) in Baku
August, 1894	The foundation of the first library and reading room in Azerbaijan by N. Narimanov
1894	The exploitation of the first water distiller in Baku
1896	The foundation of the first women’s college in the East by H.Z. Tagiyev in Baku The foundation of the commercial college in Baku
1897-1901	The construction of the textile factory by H.Z. Tagiyev in Baku
1897-1907	The construction of the Baku-Batumi oil pipeline
1898	The foundation of the “Russian Oil” company in Baku The elaboration of the first professional platform the development of Baku by the civil engineer Von der None
March, 1905	The foundation of the “Nijat” Education Association
August, 1906	The first Congress of Teachers of Azerbaijan
October, 1906	The foundation of the “Union of the Workers of Oil Industry” in Baku
October 12, 1908	The staging of the first opera in the East- “Leyli and Majnun” by U. Hajibeyov
1911	The foundation of the political party “Musavat” The construction of the first branch of the Baku water- supply system The construction of the first cement producing plant in Baku
January 20, 1912	The approval of the Law “On the cease of the temporary- obligatory and dependent relations of peasants to the landlords in the Transcaucasia (including Baku province) by the way of redemption of their lands into their property under the assistance of the government” by the Russian Duma
1916	The creation of the first feature film “In the kingdom of oil and millions”
February 27, 1917	The victory of the February Bourgeois Democratic Revolution in Russia, overthrow of the Russian Autocracy
March 6, 1917	The foundation of the Baku Council of Deputies of Labourers
February 23, 1918	The foundation of the Transcaucasia Seim
March 29-31, 1918	The anti-Azerbaijani massacres in Baku by the Armenian-Bolshevik military forces
April 25, 1918	The foundation of the Baku Council of People’s Commissars
May 26, 1918	The dissolution of the Transcaucasian Seim
June 2, 1918	The decree of the Baku Council of People’s Commissars on the nationalization of the oil industry
July 31, 1918	The overthrow of the Soviet power in Baku
August 1, 1918	The arrival of the contingent of British troops in Baku
August 12, 1918	The order of V. Lenin on immediate sending of the Russian troops to Baku
September 15, 1918	The arrival of the regular Turkish troops in Baku
August 25, 1919	The departure of the British Army from Baku
April 27, 1920	The establishment of the Temporary Revolutionary Committee of Azerbaijan. The arrival of the Red Army in Baku
April 28, 1920	The establishment of the Soviet power in Azerbaijan and foundation of the Azerbaijan SSR
March 12, 1922	The establishment of the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic and with Azerbaijan in it
1923	The laying of a hotbed for planting trees and gardens in the city
April, 1923	The foundation of the first off - shore oil field in the world “the Bay of Ilych” in the place of the artificial harbor
November 2, 1923	The foundation of the Association of Exploration and Research of Azerbaijan
1924-1937	The elaboration of variants of the general plan of development of Baku
February 8, 1924	The first tramway line in Baku
July 6, 1926	The first electric railway between Baku and the Balakhani-Sabunchu area
September, 1932	The foundation of the Azerbaijan branch of the section of the Transcaucasia Academy of Sciences of the USSR
October, 1935	The reorganization of the Transcaucasian branch into the Azerbaijan branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR
1936	The approval by the Soviet of People’s Commissars of the USSR and the Central Committee of the All-Russian Communist Party of Bolsheviks of the Decree “On the improvement of the construction work and reduction of costs of construction”
March 4, 1936	The opening of the First Congress of Architects of Azerbaijan in Baku
July 22, 1941	The beginning of the aggression of the German troops against the USSR, beginning of the Great Patriotic War
June 25-October 9, 1942	The Battle for the Caucasus
March 23, 1945	The transformation of the Azerbaijan branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR into the Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR
May 9, 1945	The Day of the Victory over the fascist Germany
January 5, 1946	The decree of the Soviet of People’s Commissars of the USSR “On Measures for the Improvement of the Urban Economy of Baku”
November, 1949	The first well drilled in the area of the ‘Oil Rocks” offshore deposit
November 1, 1950	The opening of the Azerbaijan Polytechnic Institute in Baku
1952-1954	The elaboration of the General Plan of Development of Baku for the period till 1976 by a group of architects from the State Projecting Institute
1960	The construction of the first house-building plant in Baku
November 5, 1960	The starting up of the first energetic unit of open type in the USSR in HES “North” in Baku
1967	The opening of the first line of Baku Metro
July 12, 1969	The plenary session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan, election of Heydar Aliyev to the post of the First Secretary of the Central Committee of Communist Party of Azerbaijan
March 28, 1971	The celebration of the production of a billion ton of oil from beginning of industrial oil developments in Azerbaijan
December 25, 1975	The starting up of the Air Conditioners Plant in Baku
March 5, 1976	The election of Heydar Aliyev to the post of the candidate member of the Political Bureau of the CC CPSU at the plenary session of the Central Committee of the USSR Communist Party
November 24, 1977	The awarding of Baku with Order of Lenin by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR
August 24, 1979	The awarding of Heydar Aliyev with the title of the Hero of the Socialistic Labor by the Decree of the Presidium of Supreme Soviet of the USSR
April 16, 1980	The awading of Baku with the Red Banner of the CC of CPSU, the All-Soviet Labor Unions Organization and Komsomol Organization for its victory in All-Union Socialist Competition of 1979
1982	The development of the General Plan of the Economic and Social Development of Baku for the period till 2000
November 17 - December 4, 1988	The mass meetings in Baku connected with the conflict in Garabag
January 19-20, 1990	The occupation of Baku by the Soviet troops and the January massacre
October 18, 1991	The declaration of the independence of Azerbaijan
May 14 -15, 1992	The rule of the Popular Front in Azerbaijan
June 4, 1993	“Ganja events”, the threat of civil war
October 3, 1994	The nationwide election of H. A. Aliyev as the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
November 12, 1995	The adoption of the first Constitution
October 19, 1997	The beginning of the exploitation of the Baku-Novorossiysk oil pipeline by the Azerbaijan International Oil Company (A1OC)
November 12, 1997	The production of the first oil on the off shore platform “Chirag” by the AIOC
December 29, 1998	Decree No 50 of the President of Azerbaijan Republic on granting national park status to the Seaside Boulevard
February 17, 2003	Decree No 1125 of the President of Azerbaijan Republic on some measures related to protection and restoration of the State Historical-Architectural Reserve “Icherisheher”
February 10, 2005	Decree No 629 of the President of Azerbaijan Republic on establishment of the State Historical-Architectural Reserve “Icherisheher” under the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan Republic
February 27, 2006	"Action Program on acceleration of socio-economic development of settlements of Baku city for 2006-2007 years"
August 18, 2006	Decree No 1633 of the President of Azerbaijan Republic on protection and restoration of historical and architectural monuments in the capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Baku
December 19, 2007	Decree No 2564 of the President of Azerbaijan Republic on declaration of Ateshgah Temple area the State Historical-Architectural Reserve in Surakhani district of Baku city
January 10, 2008	Decree No 699 of the President of Azerbaijan Republic on the establishment of the Seaside Boulevard Office under the Cabinet of Ministers
December 16, 2009	Decree of the President of Azerbaijan Republic on the measures related to the State Historical-Architectural Reserve “Icherisheher”
February 10, 2010	The adding of the State Historical-Architectural Reserve Museum “Shirvanshahs Palace Complex” to the structure of the Administration of the State Historical-Architectural Reserve “Icherisheher” under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan
March 12, 2010	The opening of the Baku Business Center
March 16, 2010	The opening of a dry-cargo port station in Baku bay
April 26, 2010	A summit of world religious leaders in Baku
May 17, 2010	The inaguration of a monument to the founder of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Baku
September 1, 2010	The opening of the National Flag Square in Baku
November 9, 2010	The opening of the Flag Museum in Baku
May 4, 2011	"2011-2013 State Program on socio-economic development of Baku and surrounding settlements"
December 24, 2011	A ceremony of laying a foundation stone of the Baku White City
December 26, 2011	The inauguration of an open-air museum in the Gobustan State Historical-Artistic Reserve
December 29, 2011	The opening of the Intellectual Transport Management Center in Baku
February 21, 2012	The opening ceremony of the monument to national hero Koroglu in Nasimi district of Baku
May 7, 2012	The opening of the Baku Crystal Hall which has 25,000-seat audience
May 10, 2012	The opening of the Heydar Aliyev Center
May 26, 2012	The Eurovision Song Contest’s final in Baku
June 29, 2012	The official opening of Crans Montana Forum in Baku
2013, April 8	The World Economic Forum (Davos forum) on the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the South Caucasus and Central Asia in Baku
2013, May 7	The first South Caucasus Forum in Baku
2013, May 30	The opening of the 2nd World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku
2013, December 13	The opening ceremony of the Kitabi Dede Gorgud monument and Dede Gorgud Park
February 3, 2014	A monumentto the prominent composer Gara Garayev in Baku
April 16, 2014	The Opening of the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku
April 28, 2014	The official opening of the 2nd Global Shared Societies Forum in Baku
October 2, 2014	The 4th Baku International Humanitarian Forum
December 26, 2014	The opening of the Heydar mosque in Baku
May 18, 2015	The 3rd World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku
June 1, 2015	The opening of BakuWhite City Boulevard
June 8, 2015	The opening of the Bayil boulevard
June 12-28, 2015	The Baku 2015 European Games
September 1-13, 2016	The 42nd Chess Olympiad in Baku
September 29-30, 2016	The 6th Baku International Humanitarian Forum
December 24, 2016	The opening of Marionette Theatre in Icherisheher
February 2, 2017	The unveiling of a monument to the prominent conductor of Azerbaijan, maestro Niyazi
March 16, 2017	The 5th Global Baku Forum on “Future of international relations: Power and interests”
May 5, 2017	The 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue on “Advancing Intercultural Dialogue – New avenues for human security, peace and sustainable development” in Baku
May 12-22, 2017	The 4th Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku
October 30, 2017	A solemn opening ceremony of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway at Baku International Sea Trade Port
November 8, 2017	A solemn ceremony to celebrate two billion tons of oil production in Azerbaijan
December 21, 2017	An international conference on “2017 - Islamic Solidarity: Religions and Intercultural Dialogue” in Baku
March 15-16, 2018	The 6th Global Baku Forum on “Bridging Gaps to Create Inclusive Societies”
May 28, 2018	An official reception on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku.
May 29, 2018	The official opening ceremony of the Southern Gas Corridor in Sangachal terminal
June 26, 2018	A military parade on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan in the Azadlig (Liberty) Square in Baku
September 15, 2018	A solemn parade to mark the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Baku from Bolshevik-Dashnak occupation
January 29, 2019	"2019-2023 State Program on socio-economic development of Baku and surrounding settlements"
March 14-16, 2019	The VII Global Baku Forum on the theme “New foreign policy of the world” was held
May 2-3, 2019	Baku hosted the V World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue under the motto "Building a dialogue to fight against discrimination, inequality and violent conflict"
December 10, 2020	A Victory parade dedicated to Victory in the Patriotic War was held at the Azadlig Square, Baku.
May 29, 2021	The opening of "November 8" station of Baku Metro
June 4-6, 2021	Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the sixth round of the 2021 Formula One World Championship
May 26-29, 2022	TEKNOFEST Azerbaijan Aerospace and Technology Festival held for the first time in Baku with participation of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan
October 2-6, 2023	Baku hosted the 74th International Astronautical Congress
November 11-23, 2024	The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) under Azerbaijan's presidency held in Baku
April 4, 2025	The 11th Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council Ministerial Meeting and the 3rd Green Energy Advisory Council Ministerial Meeting held at the Gulustan Palace