883
The Normans conquer Duisburg and spend the winter here. Records mention Duisburg for the first time.

about 1120
City fortifications are built.

1136
Foundation of the Abbey of Hamborn.

after 1200
The course of the Rhine flows away from Duisburg.

1274 - 1275
The constitution of the council is established with two mayors.

13 th century
City walls are built, their remains can still be seen today.

1350
Pogrom against the Jews in Duisburg.

1392
Ruhrort's harbour is mentioned in records for the first time.

1479
The foundation stone of the Salvator Church's present tower is laid.

1552
Gerhard Mercator (1512 - 1594) settles in Duisburg.

1566
Johannes Corputius completes his coloured plan of the city.

1579
The first printed city chronicle appears.

1655
Inauguration of the University of Duisburg (to 1818).

1674
Regular shipping traffic (market boat service) links Duisburg to Nimwegen.

1824
Development of large-scale chemical industry begins with Fr. W. Curtius' sulphuric acid factory.

1833
Demolition of the last mediaeval city gate.

1867
Coal mining begins in Hamborn.

1873
Duisburg becomes a self-governing city.

1894
Meiderich is given the status of a city.

1902
Inauguration of the new city hall.

1905
The cities of Duisburg, Ruhrort and Meiderich merge.

1911
Hamborn is given the status of a city.

1912
Opening of Duisburg City Theatre.

1921
Homberg is given the status of a city.

1929
The cities of Duisburg, Hamborn and "South Duisburg" merge. Rheinhausen is given the status of a city in 1934.

1934
Opening of Duisburg Zoo.

1950
After its destruction and partial rebuilding, the City Theatre is reopened.

1958
Walsum is given the status of a city.

1962
Last coal extracted from the Neumühl pit.

1964
Wilhelm-Lehmbruck Museum is opened.
1972
University of Duisburg (amalgamated university) founded.

1975
Duisburg, Walsum, Homberg, Rheinhausen, Rumeln-Kaldenhausen and Baerl are combined to form the new city of Duisburg.

1979
The Museum of German Inland Waterways is opened in Duisburg-Ruhrort.

1983
City Jubilee - 1100 Years Duisburg.

1986
6th Conference of the Hanseatic Cities in modern times.

1990
Opening of the free harbour.

1991
275th anniversary of Duisburg's Rhine/Ruhr Harbour.

1992
Opening of the city railway. Work starts on transforming the inland harbour.

1993
Krupp-Hoesch-Hüttenwerk mill is closed.

1994
Gerhard Mercator Year to celebrate the 400th anniversary of his death. The University is renamed Gerhard Mercator University.

1997
Election of first full time lady mayor.

1999
Inauguration of the Jewish Community Centre.

1999
The mayor is elected directly for the first time.

2000
Logport Project begins (general reorganisation plan for Krupp/Rheinhausen), Lehmbruck Foundation established, 50 years twinning with Portsmouth.

2001
1st marina in the inland harbour opened, foundation stone for a mosque is laid in Bruckhausen.

2003
Universities of Duisburg and Essen merge, foundation stone for the MSV Arena is laid, inauguration of the Fatih Mosque in Bruckhausen.

2004
Opening of the "Atlantis" Childrens' Museum, CDU majority in local elections for the first time since 1946, first CDU mayor since 1948.

2005
Demolition of the Mercator Hall, foundation stone laid for the City Palais.
World Games 2005 in Duisburg.

2006
World champions: the victorious Italian national team at the FIFA football world cup finals held in Germany in 2007 resided and trained in Duisburg during the entire tournament.

2007
Grand Opening of the CityPalais including the new Mercator Hall and the Casino.