Historical Landmarks

603BC Milan founded by the Gauls.

222BC Romans occupy Milan.

AD286 Milan becomes capital of the Western Roman Empire.

452 Attila the Hun plunders Milan.

563 Milan is razed by the Goths.

568 Invasion of the Lombards.

774 Charlemagne brings Lombard rule to an end.

1045 Milan becomes a free commune, or city-state.

1162 Frederick Barbarossa brings the city under Imperial control.

1176 Lombard League defeats Barbarossa at Legnano.

1183 Milan regains independence, along with other northern Italian cities.

1277–1447 Domination of Milan and Lombardy by the ruling Visconti dynasty.

1447 Rise of the Sforza dynasty; Milan becomes one of the leading cities of the Renaissance.

1535 Milan falls to Spain.

1629–31 The plague devastates Milan.

1706 Milan is ceded to Austria.

1796 Napoleon makes Milan capital of his Cisalpine Republic.

1815 Congress of Vienna gives Milan again to the Austrians.

1848 Cinque Giornate revolt in Milan; Austrians re-enter Milan.

1859 Austrians defeated at the Battle of Magenta; troops of Vittorio Emanuele and France re-enter Milan.

1919 Mussolini founds the first Fascist party in Milan.

1943 Milan suffers heavy bombardment in World War II.

1945 Mussolini is executed and his body strung up in Milan.

2001 Coalition headed by Milan’s Silvio Berlusconi wins general election.

2004 The Teatro alla Scala reopens after a three-year renovation.

2011 Milan’s Museo del Novecento (Museum of the 20th century) opens to great acclaim.

2012 Milan introduces a congestion charge to decrease pollution and the Central Station is revamped.

2015 Milan hosts the Expo Universal Exhibition. Construction of Il Dritto (Allianz Tower), part of the CityLife project, is completed.

2016 Giuseppe is elected Milan’s new mayor. Chinese company Suning Commerce Group takes over Inter Milan football club.