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Late 9th century Prince Bořivoj I builds a timber fort on Hradčany. c935 Duke Wenceslas (later patron saint of Bohemia) is murdered by his brother, Boleslav. 1085 Vratislav II is crowned first King of Bohemia by the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry IV. 1234 Founding of the Staré Město (Old Town), which is fortified with towers, walls and a moat. 1257 Otokar II invites German merchants and tradesmen to settle in the Malá Strana (Lesser Quarter). 1346-78 The reign of Charles IV, Prague's Golden Age. Work begins on St Vitus's Cathedral and the Charles Bridge. The Karolinum (Prague University) and the Nové Město (New Town) are founded. 1415 The religious reformer, Jan Hus, is burnt at the stake for heresy at the Council of Constance in Switzerland. 1419 Hussite rebels throw several city councillors from the windows of the New Town Hall, an incident known to history as the First Defenestration of Prague. 1576-1611 Reign of Emperor Rudolph II. A man of wide and varied interests, he invites the astronomers Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler to the city. 1618 Second Defenestration of Prague. Several of Ferdinand II's councillors are hurled from the windows of Prague Castle, this time by Protestant noblemen. The incident triggers the Thirty Years' War. 1620 Battle of the White Mountain. Bohemia's Protestants are defeated and the Counter-Reformation triumphs. 1848 Czech nationalism is strengthened following a revolt by students and workers, which is ruthlessly suppressed by the Austrian General Windischgrätz. 1883 The National Theatre is completed and becomes the cultural focus of opposition to Hapsburg rule. 1914-18 World War I. The Czechs are dragged into the conflict on the Austrian side, although many Czech conscripts desert. 1918 With the defeat of Austria-Hungary, the new Republic of Czechoslovakia is proclaimed in Obecní Dům. Tomáš Masaryk is elected as first president. 1939 Hitler dismembers what remains of Czechoslovakia after the Munich agreement. The Nazis set up the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. Prague's Jews are rounded up and sent to concentration camps. 1939-45 World War II. The German Occupation continues until 1945, when the people of Prague liberate their city and welcome the arrival of the Red Army. 1948 The Communist Party seizes power in what amounts to a coup d'état. Beginning of one party rule and Stalinist repression. 1968 Prime Minister Alexander Dubček introduces the reforms known as 'The Prague Spring'. In August Soviet troops lead the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. 1977 The dissident playwright, Václav Havel, is one of the founders of Charter '77, a movement protest-ing against the violation of human rights. 1989 'The Velvet Revolution'. After weeks of demonstrations, the Communist government resigns on 10 December and on the 29th Václav Havel is elected president. 1990 Havel's Civic Forum captures more than half the seats in the first free elections. 1993 On 1 January Czechoslovakia splits into separate Czech and Slovak states. Prague becomes the capital of the Czech Republic and Havel begins a new five-year term as president. 1999 The Czechs are formally admitted to NATO and are preparing to enter the European Union.
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