Ever wondered how Frankfurt became the vibrant city it is today? Frankfurt’s story stretches back to 794 AD. It was then known as Franconovurt or City of the Franks. Emperor Charlemagne held an important church council here.
By 822 AD, Frankfurt was a royal palatinate. Parliaments met here. Emperor Ludwig Pious ordered the city’s residences renovated. Frankfurt’s royal connections continued. In 1074, a royal tariff was imposed. Frederick I, or Barbarossa, was elected King of Germany here.
Medieval Frankfurt thrived. An annual autumn fair began around 1150. By the mid-13th century, Frankfurt became a trade fair center. Frederick II granted visitors safe passage. Tax records from 1241 show Frankfurt was Germany’s most profitable city. In 1372, it became a Free Imperial City. As part of the Reichstag, it answered only to the Emperor.
Book merchants arrived in 1478 for the first Frankfurt Fair. This linked the city to the publishing world. The fair also dealt in weapons, textiles, and spices. The bourse or stock exchange was created in 1585. Frankfurt controlled its own money. By this time, Frankfurt was a leading German trading center.
The 17th century brought change. Social unrest targeted the Jewish community. During the Thirty Years’ War, Swedish troops occupied Frankfurt. The revocation of the Edict of Nantes brought Huguenot refugees. By the late 18th century, royal ties weakened. The final imperial coronation took place in 1792. Frankfurt’s military role ended. In 1804, fortifications were demolished. The land became parkland for the city’s residents.
The 19th century modernized Frankfurt. A railway connected Wiesbaden and Hochst in 1839. This established Frankfurt as a rail hub. The main railway station opened in 1888. By the early 20th century, Frankfurt had 400,000 residents. It was a modern trade and industrial center. The Goethe University of Frankfurt was founded in 1914. It was named after Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The university now has almost 40,000 students.
After World War One, Ernst May created the New Frankfurt. Many buildings were destroyed in World War Two. Allied bombing raids devastated the old city center. US forces briefly occupied Frankfurt. In 1947, it became headquarters for the French, British, and American zones. Frankfurt was not chosen as the capital of West Germany in 1949. Still, the city grew. In 1957, the Deutsche Bundesbank was established here.
More recent developments include a subway line in the late 1960s. The Messeturm skyscraper was built in the late 1980s. In 1997, the Commerzbank Tower was built. It remains one of Europe’s tallest office buildings. Together, they make up Frankfurt’s skyline. Today, Frankfurt continues to evolve blending history with modern innovation. It holds onto its past. It embraces the future. It stands as a testament to resilience.