The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Palermo, Sicily, Italy.
Prehistory
Between 14,000 and 10,000 BC - Human settlements on Monte Pellegrino create the Addaura cave engravings. Between the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC - The Sicani settle in the area of present-day Palermo. Classical antiquity
734 BC - The city is founded by Phoenicians from Tyre. The city's names are initially Mabbonath ("camp") and later Zyz ("flower"). The Paleopolis, the oldest nucleus of the city, develops. The city becomes the most important city of the so-called "Phoenician triangle" of Sicily, which also includes Mozia and Solunto. 6th-5th century BC - The city progressively expands, with the construction of the Neapolis and the consequent development of the so-called "Phoenician Foot". 5th century BC - Greek-Siceliot cultural influence over the city increases. The name Panormos ("all port") begins to circulate in Punic coinage. 480 BC - Palermo becomes involved in the conflict between the Siceliots and the Carthaginians, culminating in the First Battle of Himera. 409 BC - An incursion by the armies of the Syracusan general Hermocrates against the city. The assault fails, but around 500 inhabitants are killed. The Second Battle of Himera is fought in the same year. 397 BC - The city, allied with Carthage, is sacked by Dionysius I of Syracuse. 276 BC - During his campaign against the Carthaginians, Pyrrhus conquers the city. 275 BC - Pyrrhus leaves Sicily and Palermo returns to Carthaginian control. 264 BC - The First Punic War breaks out between Carthage and Rome. Palermo is a key strategic point militarily. 254 BC - Roman victory in the First Battle of Palermo. 251 BC - Roman victory in the Second Battle of Palermo, also known as the Battle of Mount Ercta. 247 BC - Hamilcar Barca conducts military operations against the Romans from Mount Ercta (Monte Pellegrino). 241 BC - End of the First Punic War. Palermo becomes permanently a Roman city. 1st century BC - Palermo is granted the status of Civitas libera et immunis by Rome. A Roman colony is established and the city undergoes urban development. 1st century AD - According to tradition, the first bishop of Palermo is sent by Saint Peter. Christianity spreads.
Late antiquity 216 - The great physician Galen dies near Palermo; Arab sources attest to his burial at Misilmeri. 250 - Saint Agatha takes refuge in Palermo to escape persecution. After being discovered, she is taken back to Catania, where she suffers martyrdom. c. 313 - Following the Edict of Milan, the first nucleus of the Palermo Cathedral is erected on the site of a pagan temple in the Neapolis. 316 - The martyrdom of the Palermitan Saint Nympha takes place at Portus, near Rome. Early Middle Ages
440 - The Vandals of Genseric attack Palermo and occupy the city. The Cathedral is destroyed. Bishop Mamilian is exiled to Carthage. c. 440-484 - Palermo, like the rest of Sicily, is incorporated into the Vandal Kingdom. 463 - On 10 June, the martyrdom of the Palermitan Saint Olivia takes place in Tunis. 491 - The city is occupied by the Ostrogoths of Theodoric. 535 - Capture of Palermo by the Byzantines led by Belisarius during the Gothic War. 590-604 - Reconstruction of Palermo Cathedral in the Byzantine style, dedicated to the Assumption. 598 - A letter by Pope Gregory the Great provides the first attestation of Palermo's Jewish community, although its origins appear to be older. 678 - The Palermitan bishop Agatho is elected the 79th Pope. 687 - The Palermitan bishop Sergius I is elected the 84th Pope. 9th century 830 - In August, as part of the Muslim conquest of Sicily, the siege of Palermo begins at the hands of the Aghlabid armies. 831 - On 11 September, the Byzantine commander Simeon surrenders: the city is conquered by the Muslims. Palermo, called Balarm by the Arabs, becomes the seat of Muslim government and begins to develop into the capital of Sicily, replacing Syracuse. Palermo Cathedral is converted into the Jami Mosque, or Great Friday Mosque.
831-850 - The city's new ethnic composition begins to take shape, with an influx of soldiers, craftsmen and merchants from various parts of the Islamic world (Arabs, Berbers, Persians, etc.), while Christian and Jewish communities continue to exist. 869 - The original nucleus of the future Castello di Maredolce and the Parco della Favara is built at the behest of the emir Muhammad ibn Khafaja. 878 - Syracuse falls. Palermo is consolidated as the political centre of Sicily. The city continues to grow demographically.
10th century 909 - End of Aghlabid rule. The Fatimids, who follow Shia Islam, seize power in Ifriqiya, and Sicily comes under their authority. 934 - The Chronicle of Cambridge reports a major flood in Palermo. 937 - Construction begins on the fortified citadel of al-Halisa, present-day Kalsa, promoted by the emir Khalil ibn Ishaq al-Tamimi. The centre of power moves from the ancient al-Qasr to the new citadel. 948-1040 - The period of the Kalbid dynasty and the gradual process of independence of the new Emirate of Sicily. 973 - The traveller and geographer Ibn Hawqal visits Palermo and describes the city, also called Medina. His account describes a very populous Palermo, divided into several districts and equipped with numerous mosques and commercial establishments. The geographer also mentions a purported tomb of Aristotle in the Jami Mosque. 998 - Ja'far al-Kalbi II becomes emir of Sicily. At his initiative, the Castello di Maredolce is built over an earlier structure.
Late Middle Ages
11th century 1050 - Palermo is established as the second most populous city in Western Europe, after Córdoba. 1052 - The emir Hasan al-Samsam, the last of the Kalbids, is deposed. Power passes to an oligarchy of notables. 1063 - Sack of Palermo by the Pisan fleet. The Cathedral of Pisa is begun with a tenth of the booty. 1068 - Norman victory at the Battle of Misilmeri, a few kilometres from the city. 1071 In August, the Hautevilles begin the siege of Palermo. Construction begins on the Church of San Giovanni dei Lebbrosi, the city's first Arab-Norman building.
1072 - On 10 January, Robert Guiscard and Roger I, the Great Count receive the keys to Palermo. Muslim rule over the city ends. The centre of political power moves from the Kalsa to the Palazzo dei Normanni. The Cathedral, handed over to Bishop Nicodemus, returns to Christian worship. 1072-1085 - Palermo is under the jurisdiction of Robert Guiscard until his death. It then passes to his son Roger Borsa. 1091 - Roger Borsa cedes jurisdiction over half of Palermo to his uncle Roger the Great Count in exchange for military assistance. 12th century
1105 - Following the deaths of his father Roger I and his brother Simon, Roger II of Hauteville becomes Count of Sicily. 1109 - King Sigurd I of Norway, as part of the Norwegian Crusade, visits Count Roger II. 1112 - Adelaide del Vasto, regent for her son Roger II, designates Palermo as the capital of the County of Sicily. 1117 - Marriage between Roger II and Princess Elvira of Castile. 1122 - Roger II obtains from his cousin William II of Apulia jurisdiction over the remaining half of Palermo held by the heirs of Guiscard. 1130 Foundation of the Kingdom of Sicily and the Sicilian Parliament. 25 December - Coronation of Roger II of Hauteville at Palermo Cathedral with the titles of Rex Siciliae, ducatus Apuliae et principatus Capuae. Palermo acquires the titles of Prima Sedes, Corona Regis et Regni Caput. Birth of Saint Rosalia, according to tradition in the Olivella district. 1131 - Completion of the Admiral's Bridge at the behest of George of Antioch. 1132 - Construction begins on the Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti at the behest of Roger II. 1133-1134 - The famous Coronation Mantle of Roger II is produced at the Nobiles Officinae.
1140 Roger II establishes the Magna Curia, based at the Royal Palace. 28 April - Consecration of the Palatine Chapel, commissioned by Roger II. 1143 - Construction begins on the Church of the Martorana at the initiative of Admiral George of Antioch. c. 1150 - Foundation of the Great Synagogue of Palermo in the Giudecca. 1154 Commissioned by Roger II, the Muslim geographer Muhammad al-Idrisi compiles the Tabula Rogeriana. 26 February - Roger II dies in Palermo and is buried in the Cathedral. His son William I the Bad is crowned. 2 November - Constance of Hauteville, posthumous daughter of Roger II of Sicily, is born in Palermo. Construction begins on the Church of San Cataldo at the initiative of Admiral Maio of Bari. 1160 - On 10 November, Admiral Maio of Bari is killed by Matthew Bonellus. 1161 - Matthew Bonellus conspires against King William I and attacks the Royal Palace.
1162 - Henry Aristippus dies in Palermo; he was among the first translators of the works of Ptolemy, Plato and Aristotle from Greek into Latin. 1165 - Construction begins on the royal residence of Zisa Palace. 1166 - William I dies in Palermo. His son William II is crowned in the Cathedral under the regency of his mother Margaret of Navarre. 1169 - The powerful earthquake of Saint Agatha is felt in Palermo as well. 1170 - On 4 September, the hermit and future patron saint of the city, Saint Rosalia, dies on Mount Pellegrino. 1172 - Construction begins on Monreale Cathedral, just outside Palermo, at the behest of William II. 1177 - The marriage of William II and Joan of England is celebrated at the Palatine Chapel.
1180 - Construction begins on the royal residence of Cuba Palace. 1184 - The Arab-Andalusian traveller Ibn Jubayr visits Palermo. 1185 - At the initiative of Archbishop Walter, reconstruction of Palermo Cathedral begins after the damage caused by the 1169 earthquake. 1186 - Marriage in Milan between Henry VI of Swabia and Constance of Hauteville, future consort of the Holy Roman Empire. 1189 - King William II the Good dies childless in Palermo. He is buried in Monreale Cathedral. 1190 - The Sicilian Parliament elects Tancred of Hauteville as king, crowned in Palermo Cathedral. 1191 - Construction of the Basilica of the Holy Trinity, the last Arab-Norman building in the city, begins at the initiative of the Chancellor Matthew of Ajello. 1194 20 February - King Tancred dies in Palermo and is buried in the Basilica of the Holy Trinity. He is succeeded by his son William III under the regency of his mother Sibylla of Acerra. 20 November - Henry VI of Swabia marches on Palermo and takes the crown, deposing William III. 26 December - In Jesi, while travelling to Palermo, Constance of Hauteville gives birth to Frederick II.
1197 - Henry VI dies and is buried in the Cathedral. Constance of Hauteville becomes regent for her son Frederick. 1198 18 May - Coronation of the young Frederick in Palermo Cathedral. 27 November - Constance of Hauteville dies in Palermo and is buried in the Cathedral. Frederick is placed under the guardianship of Pope Innocent III.
13th century 1200 – Between the end of the 12th and the beginning of the 13th century, Palermo is the most populous city in Western Europe. 1201–1206 – Regencies of Markward von Annweiler and William of Capparone. 1209 – Marriage in Palermo between Frederick II and Constance of Aragon. 1220 – Frederick II is crowned in Rome as Holy Roman Emperor. Palermo is de facto the imperial capital. 1222–1233 – Suppression of the Muslim rebels and deportation to the colony of Lucera.
c. 1230 – At his itinerant court, Frederick II establishes the Sicilian School of poetry. 1250 – Frederick II dies at Fiorentino di Puglia. He is succeeded by his son Conrad. 1251 – On 25 February, Frederick II is buried in Palermo Cathedral. 1255 – Construction begins on the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. 1258 – On 10 August, Manfred of Sicily, son of Frederick II, is crowned in Palermo Cathedral.