__NOTOC__ This is a timeline of German history, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in Germany and its predecessor states. To read about the background to these events, see History of Germany. See also the list of German monarchs and list of chancellors of Germany and the list of years in Germany.

Centuries: 1st3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th13th14th15th16th17th18th19th20th21st

BC YearDateEventSourcec. 1.33 million years BP The first stone tools were made in the Upper Rhine Plain609,000 ± 40,000 BPThe hominid to whom the Mauer 1 mandible (discovered in 1907 in Mauer) belonged, the type specimen of Homo heidelbergensis, dies.~225,000 BPThe hominid to whom the Steinheim skull (discovered in 1933 in Steinheim an der Murr) belonged (previously sometimes dubbed Homo steinheimensis) dies.~130,000 BPThe Neanderthal (named after its initial site of discovery, the Neandertal valley) emerges in Europe.~45,000 BPHomo sapiens first appears in Europe (sometimes called EEMH or Cro-Magnon).35,000–45,000 BPThe Venus of Hohle Fels is made.>32,000 BPThe Löwenmensch figurine is made.~23,000 BPThe Venus of Willendorf is made.Antl-Weiser, Walpurga (2009). "The time of the Willendorf figurines and new results of palaeolithic research in Lower Austria". Anthropologie. Brno. 47 (1–2): 131–141.~11,500 BPThe Pleistocene (Last Glacial Period (LGP)) ends.~10,000 BCThe Ahrensburg culture prospers in northern Germany and southern Scandinavia.5,500–5,000 BCSedentary agriculture is adopted in central Europe, following a southeastern-to-northwestern trajectory of spread. The Linear Pottery culture is present in central Europe.~4,500 BCThe Linear Pottery culture disintegrates into more distinct regional styles, such as the Michelsberg culture and the Funnelbeaker culture.3rd millennium BCThe Corded Ware culture (emerging from Poland around 2,800 BC) and the Bell Beaker culture are present in central Europe.Late 3rd Millennium BCWith the discovery of Bronze, the Neolithic ends and the Bronze Age begins. The Unetice culture spreads.~1,300 BCThe Urnfield culture (also known as Tumulus period) spreads.~800 BCThe Hallstatt culture (named for Hallstatt, Austria) spreads.5th century BCThe Hallstatt culture develops into the La Tène culture, the first distinctly Celtic cultural group.390 BCBattle of the Allia: Rome, then the capital of the growing Roman Republic, is sacked by Celtic warriors.113–101 BCCimbrian War: The Cimbri and Teutons undertake migratory movements during which they clash with Roman forces (Battle of Noreia, Battle of Arausio, Battle of Aquae Sextiae, Battle of Vercellae). The Cimbri and Teutons are later added by Julius Caesar to the category of "Germans", even though they were perceived as Celts by the Romans of their own time.58–50 BCGallic Wars: Julius Caesar marches his forces into Gaul for purposes of conquest, broadly categorizing the people he encountered into "Gauls", "Aquitani", "Belgae", and "Germans" (using the Rhine river as a boundary between Germania and Gaul). He classifies Ariovistus as "King of the Germans", and defeats the forces of Ariovistus at the Battle of Vosges. Caesar documents his military campaigns in his Commentarii de Bello Gallico.

1st century Year Date EventSource 9 Battle of the Teutoburg Forest: An alliance of Germanic tribes under the leadership of Arminius ambushed and decisively destroyed three Roman legions and their auxiliaries, led by Publius Quinctilius Varus. 15 Battle at Pontes Longi 16 Battle of the Angrivarian Wall fought near Porta Westfalica between the Roman general Germanicus and an alliance of Germanic tribes commanded by Arminius. 16 Battle of Idistaviso fought between Roman legions commanded by Roman emperor Tiberius' heir and adopted son Germanicus, and an alliance of Germanic peoples commanded by Arminius. 98The Roman historian Tacitus finishes his influential Germania (in the original: "De origine et situ Germanorum"), describing Ancient Germany and its inhabitants.

3rd century Year Date EventSource 235 Battle at the Harzhorn 235 Roman emperor Severus Alexander died at Mogantiacum (Mainz). 260 The Romans make Cologne their capital city. 297 The Roman emperor allowed the Salian Franks to settle among the Batavi.

4th century Year Date EventSource 310 A bridge was constructed near Cologne. 313 The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cologne was founded. 314 The Roman Catholic Diocese of Mainz was founded. 357 The Battle of Strasbourg took place. 368 The Battle of Solicinium took place.

5th century Year Date EventSource406 21 December Battle of Mainz, Crossing of the Rhine 450 King Chlodio of the Salian Franks died. Chlodio's son Merovech became king of the Salian Franks with the support of the Western Roman dux Flavius Aetius. 451 20 June Battle of the Catalaunian Plains: The Franks joined a coalition led by the Western Roman Empire which defeated the Huns in modern northeastern France. 457 Merovech died. He was succeeded as king of the Salian Franks by his son Childeric I. 463 Battle of Orleans (463): The Salian Franks and forces loyal to the magister militum Aegidius defeated an attack by the Visigothic Kingdom at Orléans. 481 Childeric died. He was succeeded as king of the Salian Franks by his son Clovis I. 486 Franco-Roman war: An alliance of Franks led by Clovis conquer North-Gaul and put an end to the Roman enclaves of Syagrius and Arbogast. Syagrius, the king of Soissons fled to the Visigothic Kingdom. The Visigoths surrendered Syagrius to the Salian Franks to be executed. 496 Battle of Tolbiac: A Frankish force under Clovis defeated the Alemanni in modern Zülpich. The former credited his victory to Jesus.He was baptized by Saint Remigius, bishop of Reims.See Daly 1994:640 and note.The date of the death of Childeric, commonly given as 481/82, is thus calculated as fifteen years before Tolbiac, as dated by Gregory.A single Frankish-Alemannic combat, in summer 506, is presented, for example, in J.M. Wallace-Hadrill, Long-Haired Kings p 168, or Rolf Weiss, Chlodwigs Taufe: Reims 508 (Bern) 1971; the debate is briefly summarised in William M. Daly, "Clovis: How Barbaric, How Pagan?" Speculum 69.3 (July 1994, pp. 619–664) p 620 note. Clovis was baptized Catholic at Reims. 500 Clovis commissioned the Salic Law, the first written code of civil law among the Franks. The law forbade women from inheriting land.

6th century Year Date EventSource 507 Battle of Vouillé: A Frankish force led by Clovis defeated the Visigothic Kingdom at Vouillé. The Visigothic king Alaric II was killed. Clovis annexed Aquitaine. 508 Clovis was crowned king of the Franks with his capital at Paris. 511 First Council of Orléans: A synod of Catholic bishops called by Clovis at Orléans granted some legal powers and immunities to the Catholic Church. 28 November Clovis died. His domain was split among his four sons Theuderic I, Chlodomer, Childebert I and Chlothar I the Old, who became kings ruling at Reims, Orléans, Paris, and Soissons, respectively. 524 25 June Battle of Vézeronce: A Frankish invasion of Burgundy was halted near modern Vézeronce-Curtin. The Burgundian king Sigismund of Burgundy was captured and Chlodomer was killed. Chlodomer's wife Guntheuc married Chlothar. Chlothar had two of Chlodomer's sons killed. The third, Clodoald, fled to Provence. 531 Battle of the Unstrut River (531): Theuderic conquered the Thuringii near the Unstrut. 532 Battle of Autun: Childebert and Chlothar defeated Burgundy near Autun. 534 Theuderic died. His son Theudebert I inherited his throne. The Burgundian king Godomar was killed by Frankish forces. 30 April The pro-Byzantine regent of the Ostrogothic Kingdom, Amalasuntha, was murdered on the orders of her cousin and coregent Theodahad. Gothic War: The Byzantine Empire invaded the Ostrogothic Kingdom. 535 Council of Clermont (535): A synod was held in modern Clermont-Ferrand which limited the rights of Catholic bishops to appeal to the state and which condemned marriage between Christians and Jews and between relatives. 539 Frankish forces under Theudebert I drove Byzantine and Ostrogothic armies from their encampments on the Po. November The Frankish army on the Po, suffering from dysentery, surrendered to the Byzantines. 548 Theudebert I died. His son Theudebald inherited his kingdom. 549 October Fifth Council of Orléans: A synod presided over by Sacerdos of Lyon in Orléans condemned Nestorianism and simony. 554 Battle of the Volturnus (554): A Byzantine force cut off and destroyed a joint Frankish-Ostrogothic army at their camp on the Volturno. 555 Theudebald died, childless. His kingdom passed to Chlothar. Garibald, head of the frankisch Agilolfing noble family becomes the first Duke of Bavaria 558 13 December Childebert I died without male heirs. Chlothar inherited his kingdom. 560 December Conomor, king of Domnonée, who had allied with Chlothar's son Chram against him, was killed in battle by Chlothar's forces. 561 Chram was captured and executed. 29 November Chlothar died of pneumonia. His kingdom was divided among his surviving sons Charibert I, Guntram, Sigebert I and Chilperic I. 567 December Charibert I died. His kingdom was divided among his brothers Guntram, Chilperic I and Sigebert I, the latter of whose domains become known as Austrasia, the eastern land, with its capital at Metz. 575 Sigebert I died. He was succeeded by his young son Childebert II, with his wife Brunhilda of Austrasia acting as regent. 577 Guntram's sons died of dysentery. 584 September Chilperic I was stabbed to death. His infant son Chlothar II the Great, the Young inherited his kingdom under the regency of his mother Fredegund. 587 Guntram and Brunhilda agreed to the Treaty of Andelot, according to which the former adopted Childebert II as his son and heir. 591 Childebert II appointed Tassilo I of Bavaria king of Bavaria. 592 28 January Guntram died. His kingdom passed to Childebert II. 595 Childebert II died. Austrasia was divided between his two sons Theudebert II and Theuderic II. 599 Theudebert II expelled Brunhilda from his kingdom. Theuderic II declared war on Theudebert II.

7th century