The following is a timeline of the history of the municipality of Geneva, Switzerland.
Prehistory Year Date Eventc. 18'000 BC Deglaciation is underway in the western Geneva basin, and a large periglacial lake occupies the western part of the basin in front of the Rhône glacier.c. 16'000 BC The front of the Rhône glacier stands at the site of modern Geneva and deposits the sediments that later form the hill of the old town.c. 13'400–12'900 BC Magdalenian reindeer hunters occupy the rock shelters of Veyrier, one of the oldest known prehistoric sites in the region.c. 5000 BCFarming communities begin clearing large areas for cultivation.c. 3000–2900 BC The first occupation of the hill of Choully at Satigny/Crédery dates to the beginning of the Late Neolithic.c. 2450–2050 BC A final prehistoric occupation phase at Crédery is associated with the Bell Beaker culture.c. 650–450 BC Remains from the Hallstatt D culture are attested at Vandœuvres.c.The Allobrogians establish a large sanctuary.
Antiquity Year Date Event The Allobrogian fortified settlement is conquered by the Roman Republic.c. The port is rebuilt.c. A monumental wooden statue is erected by the port.Caesar arrives in Geneva and orders the bridge across the Rhône to be destroyed. A 28 km fortification is built to block the Helvetii. Geneva is placed under the colony of Vienne. A defensive wall is built at Carouge.c. Fire. Fire. Alemannic invasion devastates the town. The city is promoted to the rank of civitas. A new city wall is built.c. The first Christian sanctuary is established. A large cathedral complex is completed. The Diocese of Geneva is established. Geneva becomes capital of the Kingdom of the Burgundians.
Middle Ages Year Date Eventc. War between Godegisel of Geneva and his brother Gundobad of Lyon. Sigismund is made co-king at Carouge. St. Peter's Cathedral is rebuilt by King Sigismund after the Burgundian Civil War. Sigismund is crowned king of the Burgundians at Carouge. The Franks conquer the city. A tsunami on Lake Geneva devastates the city. Emperor Charlemagne holds a council of war at St. Peter's Cathedral. 10 August Geneva becomes part of Middle Francia under the Treaty of Verdun.February Geneva becomes part of East Francia under the Treaty of Ribemont.c. The people and clergy are granted the right to elect their bishop. Geneva becomes part of the second Kingdom of Burgundy.c. The bishop entrusts the priory of Saint-Victor to Cluny.c. The right of coinage is granted.6 September Geneva passes to Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor, after the death of Rudolph of Burgundy.1 AugustConrad II is crowned King of Burgundy in St. Peter's Cathedral. The Treaty of Seyssel confirms the bishop’s sovereignty over Geneva. Emperor Frederick Barbarossa grants the bishop imperial immediacy.Construction of the present St. Peter's Cathedral begins under Arducius de Faucigny. Emperor Frederick Barbarossa confirms the bishops' independence and raises them to the rank of imperial princes. The count of Geneva is ordered to restore church possessions to the bishop.. Bishop Aymon de Grandson builds the Château de l'Île.13 May The count of Savoy obtains a ruinous fine against the count of Geneva.c. The Geneva fairs begin to flourish. Dominicans arrive. Franciscans arrive.29 September First "Commune of Geneva" annulled by the bishop. Amadeus V of Savoy captures the Château de l'Île.St. Peter's Cathedral is completed.August The cathedral is bombarded by the count of Geneva and the Dauphin of Viennois. A new communal revolution breaks out. Amadeus V of Savoy besieges and takes the counts castle. The bishop recognises the citizens' right to elect syndics.c. A new market hall is built at the Molard. Fire. Fire. Syndics begin judging criminal cases. Construction of a new city wall begins.23 May The town charter is granted, giving the right to elect four syndics. Population: 4,000.c. Geneva becomes Europe's leading financial centre. Around 13 Jewish families are confined to a ghetto, the only one in present-day Switzerland. Fire.9 March Antipope Felix V, the former Duke of Savoy, appoints himself bishop of Geneva. The city's franchises are extended to the banks of the Arve. Louis XI favours the Lyon fairs, ending Geneva's economic boom. Geneva is fined by the Swiss after the Burgundian Wars. Poor Clares settle at the Bourg-de-Four.14 NovemberAn alliance is formed with Bern and Fribourg. The first local printing press is in operation.c. Augustinian hermits settle near the Arve bridge. The city council orders the expulsion of the Jews.
Early modern period Year Date Event Geneva allies with Fribourg. "The Genevese shake off the yoke of Savoy."25 February Geneva allies with Bern and Fribourg.24 March Attack by the Confrérie de la Cuiller fails (Nuit des échelles). Geneva becomes self-governing internally.10 October Genevan troops defeat the Cuiller alliance at Meyrin.22 August Bishop Pierre de La Baume leaves Geneva.10 August The Mass is banned.10 October A relief force from Neuchâtel defeats the Savoyards at Gingins.26 November The Council of Two Hundred assumes the right to mint coins.29 November Hôpital général founded.21 May The General Council adopts the Reformation and compulsory schooling. Protestant leader John Calvin active in Geneva. Area of city expanded. The Republic of Geneva and Genevan Consistory established.20 November Ecclesiastical Ordinances adopted.2 June Divorce granted.27 October Michael Servetus executed for heresy. Collège de Genève founded. English-language Geneva Bible published. Population: 17,330. A Savoyard siege of Geneva fails. The alliance with Bern is extended to Zurich.AprilHeavy fighting at Carouge, during war with savoy. Genevan troops take the fort of Versoix.12 December Savoy fails to conquer Geneva, an event celebrated as the "Escalade".Spring Geneva launches a campaign against Savoy.July The Treaty of Saint-Julien implicitly recognises Geneva's independence. French embassy established. Population: 16,220.28 June Jean-Jacques Rousseau born. Temple Neuf inaugurated. Société des catéchumènes founded. "The republic adopts a regular constitution."15 August Territorial exchange with France (Treaty of Paris).30 May Territorial exchange with the Kingdom of Sardinia (Treaty of Turin). Vacheron Constantin founded. Théâtre de Rosimond built. "Insurrection suppressed."c. Jacob Schweppe begins producing carbonated water.2 July Geneva sieged by French, Sardinian and Bernese troops.21 November Geneva Revolution of 1782 reversed by an edict of pacification. Théâtre de Neuve built.
Late modern period Year Date Event Trade show held.2 March The decrees against Rousseau are declared of no effect.December Revolution ends the Ancien Régime.5 February New constitution introduces direct democracy.July "Government overthrown;" "executions, etc."15 April French troops occupy Geneva.April Geneva becomes capital of the Léman (department) of the First French Republic (later the First French Empire). Population: 24,331.31 December Restoration of the Republic.1 March French counter-offensive repulsed by Austrian troops at the Battle of Saint-Julien.1 June Swiss troops land at Port-Noir. Canton of Geneva created. Canton of Geneva becomes part of the Swiss Confederation. The Treaty of Turin nearly doubles the size of the Canton of Geneva. Botanical garden created in the . Catholic diocese of Lausanne and Geneva established. Philhellenic committee founded in support of Greek independence. Prison begins operating. Musée Rath built. (public welfare society) founded. Töpffer's Adventures of Dr. Festus comic book created. Pont des Bergues built.5 February Polish-Sardinian unrest. Population: 27,177. Conservatoire de Musique de Genève founded. Société d'histoire et d'archéologie de Genève founded. Jews granted freedom of establishment in the canton of Geneva.22 November Revolution; universal male suffrage introduced. Geneva municipality created. Gas lighting installed. Political unrest; "constitution made more democratic." "Radical party" in power. Banque de Genève founded. Fortifications demolished. Population: 37,724 in city; 64,146 in canton. Watchmaker Patek Philippe & Co. in business. Union Chrétienne de Jeunes Gens branch established. Communauté Israélite de Genève founded. Construction of Notre-Dame begins. Anglican church consecrated. Jardin Anglais (park) laid out. Quai Gustave-Ador built. Coulouvrenière bridge built. Construction of the synagogue begins. Genève-Cornavin railway station opens. Ecole Saint-Antoine (school) built. Population: 82,876 in canton. Mont-Blanc bridge completed. Horse-drawn tramway opens. International Committee of the Red Cross headquartered in Geneva.August International "Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field" signed in Geneva, i.e. "the fundamental rules of war."22–23 August "Election riots, with loss of life, through the indiscretion of M. Fazy;" city occupied by federal forces. Monument erected in Port-Noir. Russian Orthodox church built.September Japanese delegation under Tokugawa Akitake visits.September International "Congress of Peace" held in Geneva. Salle de la Réformation inaugurated.14 September Alabama Claims arbitration award rendered.June–July Iwakura Mission visits. University of Geneva active. Christian Catholic Church is formally established. Grand Théâtre de Genève opens. Brunswick Monument erected. Population: 99,712 in canton. Société Genevoise de Photographie founded.23 November Steamboat collision on Lake Geneva. Geneva Seal adopted. Jet d'Eau (fountain) installed. International Peace Bureau headquartered in Geneva. Lake level permanently regulated.9 July Steamboat explosion on Lake Geneva. Piolet Club (hiking group) formed. Victoria Hall (concert hall) built.1 May Swiss National Exhibition opens in Geneva.10 September Empress Elisabeth of Austria assassinated by Luigi Lucheni. Population: 97,359 in city; 132,609 in canton.23 December Cathedral bombing. Geneva Motor Show begins. The Genevese vote to separate Church and State. Museum of Art and History built. Monument to the Reformation built. International Labour Organization headquartered in Geneva. League of Nations headquartered in city. Alhambra cinema active.15 November First Assembly of the League of Nations. Inter-Parliamentary Union headquartered in Geneva. International School of Geneva established.23 December Phoebus cartel founded.17 June Geneva Protocol signed.26 September International "Convention to Suppress the Slave Trade and Slavery" signed in Geneva. Compagnie de 1602 (heritage society) formed.27 July International "Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War" signed.April Honsen-ji temple bell returned to Shinagawa. Population: 124,121 in city; 171,366 in canton. Les Eaux-Vives, and Plainpalais merge with the city.1 February International disarmament conference begins.31 May Jean Uhler becomes Geneva's 101st mayor.9 November 1932 Geneva unrest30 June Haile Selassie addresses the League of Nations. World Jewish Congress is founded. Palace of Nations built. Geneva International Music Competition begins. Geneva hosts the World Zionist Congress. Start of Trolleybuses in Geneva.8 June Jules Peney becomes Geneva's 112th mayor.
Contemporary era