Encyclopedia/3. History, Societies & Civilizations/09. Modern Nations/05. Europe • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
History of Vatican City (AI-generated, sourced to Wikipedia).
Chronological Storyline (32 Milestones)
Oct 13, 64 CE
St. Peter martyred in Rome
According to tradition, the Apostle Peter was crucified upside down at Vatican Hill during Emperor Nero's persecution of Christians following the Great Fire of Rome. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
Cropped image of the early 6th-century encaustic Byzantine icon depicting Saint Peter the Apostle. By Unknown author - File:Saint_Peter-Sinai_(6th_Century).jpg, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=160995820
Feb 1, 313 CE
Edict of Milan grants tolerance
Emperor Constantine and Licinius proclaimed religious tolerance throughout the Roman Empire, ending state persecution of Christians. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
MuseiVaticani |Unknown |Colossal head of Emperor Constantine. Marble, Roman artwork, 4th century CE. |Unspecified |Unspecified |Inv. 1749 |Museo Chiaramonti |Jastrow (2006) }} {{fr|Tête colossale de l'empereur By Marie-Lan Nguyen - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1301576
326 CE
Old St. Peter's Basilica built
Emperor Constantine commissioned the original St. Peter's Basilica over the traditional burial site of Saint Peter on Vatican Hill. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
w:Old St Peter's Basilica, Rome, about the year 1450 restored from ancient authorities Drawn in 1891 by w:Henry William Brewer By Henry William Brewer (1836-1903) - https://www.ribapix.com/old-st-peters-basilica-rome-about-the-year-1450-restored-from-ancient-authorities_riba127584, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=151052485
756 CE
Donation of Pepin creates Papal States
Frankish King Pepin the Short formally granted territories in central Italy to the Pope, establishing the Papal States as a temporal power. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
The Donation of Pepin the Short to Pope Stephen II, in 756, laying the foundation for the Papal States. By English: A fresco painter from the school of Giovan Battista Ricci (c. 1537–1627); by the time the fresco was created, the original document of King Pepin was irretrievably lost ("irrimediabilmente perduto"). - Painting is in the Vatican Secret Archives, in the Sala di Mercurio e Pegaso, or "Hall of Mercury and Pegasus." See here for description: "Vatican Secret Archives, Piano Nobile, Hall of Mercury and Pegasus, a painter close to the style of Giovan Battista Ricci, Abbot Fulrado, legate of Pepin, King of the Franks, delivers the Exarchate of Italy and the Pentapolis to Stephen II.", Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1724944
Dec 25, 800 CE
Charlemagne crowned Emperor
Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor in St. Peter's Basilica, linking papal authority with imperial power in Western Christendom. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
Appartient à l’ensemble documentaire : MonnFrCar By Charlemagne. Autorité émettrice de monnaie indéterminé. Atelier monétaire. Émetteur - Bibliothèque nationale de France, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=136608827
Jul 16, 1054 CE
East-West Schism divides Christianity
The mutual excommunications between Rome and Constantinople formalized the split between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
The map of the eastern/western allegiances in 1054 with the former country borders (showing dominant religions on a state level). By Barrikader (talk · contribs) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16895504
1309 CE
Papacy moves to Avignon
Pope Clement V relocated the papal seat from Rome to Avignon, France, beginning a period of seventy years of French-dominated papal rule. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
The Flag of Vatican City State, as per the 2023 w:en:Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, reproducing Annex A which contains the official depiction of this version. See 2023 Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, art. 23, n. 1. This 2023 flag is very similar to the flag used in the 1929 Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, see here, p. 35. Thus, it is in the public domain. By Goran_tek-en - Allegato A Requested by and knowledge from Veverve, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=135585807
1378 CE
Western Schism begins
Disputed papal elections led to rival popes in Rome and Avignon, splitting Western Christendom for nearly four decades. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
Enluminure symbolisant le Schisme de 1130 By Unknown author - This file comes from Gallica Digital Library and is available under the digital ID btv1b84472995/f423, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3286084
Nov 11, 1417 CE
Western Schism ends
The Council of Constance elected Pope Martin V, ending the Western Schism and restoring a single papal line in Rome. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
A scene from the meeting of the Council of Constance with Master Jan Hus. By Václav Brožík - W.Rebel, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14702142
1451 CE
Vatican Library founded
Pope Nicholas V established the Vatican Apostolic Library, which would become one of the world's most important repositories of manuscripts. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
da sinistra, Giovanni della Rovere, Girolamo Riario, Bartolomeo Platina, Giuliano della Rovere (più tardi Julius II), Raffaele Riario, tutti nipoti del papa, Sixtus IV By Melozzo da Forlì - The Yorck Project (2002) 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei (DVD-ROM), distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH. ISBN: 3936122202., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=155449
1473 CE
Sistine Chapel construction begins
Pope Sixtus IV commissioned the construction of the Sistine Chapel, which would become one of the most celebrated artistic spaces in history. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
The Sistine Chapel, Vatican City By The original uploader was Snowdog at Italian Wikipedia. - http://artchive.com/ftp_site.htm Transferred from it.wikipedia to Commons by Pierpao using CommonsHelper., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18462479
Jan 22, 1506 CE
Swiss Guard established
Pope Julius II founded the Pontifical Swiss Guard, creating a military corps of Swiss mercenaries to protect the Pope and the Vatican. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
BANDERA GUARDIA VATICA LEOXIV By Versaldi - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=165149225
Apr 18, 1506 CE
New St. Peter's Basilica begun
Pope Julius II laid the foundation stone for the new St. Peter's Basilica, replacing the 4th-century church with a grander Renaissance structure. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
Main facade of Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome By Alvesgaspar - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43509289
1506 CE
Vatican Museums founded
Pope Julius II placed the sculpture of Laocoön and His Sons on public display, establishing what would become the Vatican Museums. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
The coat of arms of the Musei Vaticani By Original: Fabio Mochi Vector: Kaidor - Own work based on: Musei vaticani Coat of Arms.jpg, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78091996
May 1, 1508 CE
Michelangelo paints Sistine ceiling
Michelangelo began painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling at the commission of Pope Julius II, completing the masterpiece in 1512. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
Brighter version of Sistine Chapel ceiling photograph to illuminate paintings By Antoine Taveneaux - File:Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_02.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=117824241
May 6, 1527 CE
Sack of Rome by imperial troops
Mutinous troops of Emperor Charles V stormed Rome, killing Swiss Guardsmen defending the Pope and devastating the city. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
Sack of Rome by imperial troops By Johannes Lingelbach - L'Histoire April-June 2009, p.74, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6632076
Dec 13, 1545 CE
Council of Trent opens
The Council of Trent convened to address Protestant Reformation challenges, defining Catholic doctrine and launching the Counter-Reformation. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
Council of Trent, painting in the Museo del Palazzo del Buonconsiglio, Trento By Laurom - Self-photographed Laurom Taken on 11 November 2009, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8465486
Sep 1, 1586 CE
Vatican Obelisk raised in square
Pope Sixtus V ordered the ancient Egyptian obelisk to be moved and erected in the center of St. Peter's Square, a remarkable engineering feat. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
Obelisk of St. Peter By Livioandronico2013 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35045331
Nov 18, 1626 CE
New St. Peter's Basilica consecrated
Pope Urban VIII consecrated the completed new St. Peter's Basilica after 120 years of construction involving Bramante, Michelangelo, and Bernini. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
Main facade of Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome By Alvesgaspar - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43509289
Feb 1, 1849 CE
Roman Republic proclaimed
Revolutionaries declared a Roman Republic, forcing Pope Pius IX to flee Rome, though French intervention restored papal rule later that year. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
Flag of the Roman Republic (19th century) By F l a n k e r - currently expired link, It linked to a thai porn website, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1655353
Dec 8, 1869 CE
First Vatican Council convenes
Pope Pius IX convened the First Vatican Council, which defined the doctrine of papal infallibility before being interrupted by war in 1870. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
Baie 15 de l'église Saint-Melaine de Domalain (35). Proclamation du dogme de l'infaillibilité papale par Pie IX le 18 juillet 1870. Maître-verrier : Chauvel, de Vitré. By GO69 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48217371
Sep 20, 1870 CE
Papal States annexed by Italy
Italian troops breached the walls of Rome, completing the unification of Italy and ending the Pope's temporal rule over the Papal States. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
Photograph of the Capture of Rome By Ludovico Tuminello - https://www.raicultura.it/raicultura/foto/2020/07/Fotografie-del-20-settembre-1870-f0fb6c67-b5c4-4386-a6b4-e71e96374658.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=183815114
May 15, 1891 CE
Vatican Observatory founded
Pope Leo XIII re-established the Vatican Observatory to demonstrate the Church's commitment to scientific research and astronomical study. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
Vatican Observatory Telescope on the roof of the Ponticial Palace in Castel Gandolfo By Rb85 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4353648
Feb 11, 1929 CE
Lateran Treaty creates Vatican City
The Holy See and Italy signed the Lateran Treaty, establishing Vatican City as an independent sovereign state and resolving the Roman Question. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
2/20/1929-Rome, Italy- Cardinal 2/20/1929-Rome, Italy- Cardinal Gaspari and Premier Mussolini are shown in the center of a group of Vatican and Italian government notables posing at the Lateran Palace before signing of treaty. By Unknown author. - https://www.flickr.com/photos/waffenss561/42411814051/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=70466054
Mar 2, 1939 CE
Pius XII elected amid war
Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli was elected Pope Pius XII on his 63rd birthday, leading the Vatican through World War II with a stance of neutrality. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
Pius XII elected amid war By Michael Pitcairn - Postimages, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=139350754
Oct 11, 1962 CE
Second Vatican Council opens
Pope John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Council, initiating sweeping reforms to modernize the Catholic Church's liturgy and engagement with the world. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
Council bishops on Saint Peter's Square (1962, Italy) By Peter Geymayer - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4090784
Oct 16, 1978 CE
John Paul II elected pope
Cardinal Karol Wojtyła of Kraków was elected Pope John Paul II, becoming the first non-Italian pope in 455 years and the first from Poland. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
ADAMELLO - PAPA - Giovanni Paolo II -Papa Giovanni Paolo II celebra la Santa Messa davanti all'altare costruito sulle cime dell' Adamello, il 16 luglio 1988 By Gregorini Demetrio - https://web.archive.org/web/20161014164640/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/30571702, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=128271762
May 13, 1981 CE
Assassination attempt on pope
Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Ağca shot and seriously wounded Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square, an attack the Pope survived. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
The site of the en:1981 Pope John Paul II assassination attempt. Self taken, 2006. By ProhibitOnions at English Wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by ProhibitOnions., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4446146
Apr 19, 2005 CE
Benedict XVI elected pope
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict XVI, becoming the first German pope in nearly a thousand years and the first pope born in the 20th century. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
Benedict XVI during a canonization mass By Kancelaria Prezydenta RP - prezydent.pl, GFDL 1.2, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11813191
Mar 13, 2013 CE
Francis elected first Latin American pope
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires was elected Pope Francis, becoming the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
2014 Pastoral Visit of Pope Francis to Korea Closing Mass for Asian Youth Day August 17, 2014 Haemi Castle, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do By Korea.net / Korean Culture and Information Service (Jeon Han) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/koreanet/14758513027/ (unwatermarked version supplied via email by Jeon Han), CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=164990884
Apr 27, 2014 CE
Two popes canonized
Pope Francis canonized Popes John XXIII and John Paul II in an unprecedented double canonization ceremony attended by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
Popes John Paul II and John XXIII, who were canonized together on 27th April 2014 By Various:Original: unknownNew version: Stv26 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=116749039
Dec 31, 2022 CE
Pope Benedict XVI dies
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who had stunned the world by resigning in 2013, died at the age of 95 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in Vatican City. Source — Wikipedia, "Vatican City":
Benedict XVI during a canonization mass By Kancelaria Prezydenta RP - prezydent.pl, GFDL 1.2, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11813191
