Bologna: History, Former Names & Timeline
City on the Emilian plain. Its university, traditionally dated to 1088, is counted the oldest in Europe and was famed in the Middle Ages for the study of Roman law.
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Former names of Bologna
| From | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 189 BC | Bononia | Roman colony |
| 1100 | Bologna |
Timeline of Bologna
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 189 BC | Rome founds the colony of Bononia |
| 1088 | The University of Bologna is founded (traditional date) |
| 1506 | Pope Julius II brings Bologna into the Papal States |
| 1530 | Pope Clement VII crowns Charles V emperor in Bologna |
| 1796 | French troops occupy Bologna |
| 1860 | Bologna joins the Kingdom of Sardinia, soon to become Italy |
Who ruled Bologna
Derived from the border maps; each row runs until the next recorded border change.
| Period | State |
|---|---|
| 500 BC–324 BC | Boii |
| 323 BC–201 BC | Unclaimed / no data |
| 200 BC–101 BC | Rome |
| 100 BC–2 BC | Roman Republic |
| 1 BC–299 | Roman Empire |
| 300–399 | Rome (Maximian) |
| 400–499 | Western Roman Empire |
| 500–599 | Ostrogoths |
| 600–799 | Lombard principalities |
| 800–999 | Carolingian Empire |
| 1000–1491 | Holy Roman Empire |
| 1492–1879 | Papal States |
| 1880–1913 | Italy |
| 1914–1919 | Kingdom of Italy |
| 1920–today | Italy |
Battles and sites near Bologna
Famous people of Bologna
| Lived | Person | |
|---|---|---|
| 1500 – 1558 | Charles V | Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain |
Nearby cities
Further reading
Questions about Bologna
What was Bologna called in the past?
Bologna has been known as Bononia (from 189 BC, Roman colony). Its present name dates from 1100.
Which states have ruled Bologna?
On the historical border maps from 500 BC to today, Bologna lies within 13 different states: Boii, Rome, Roman Republic, Roman Empire, Rome (Maximian), Western Roman Empire, Ostrogoths, Lombard principalities, Carolingian Empire, Holy Roman Empire and others.
What are the key dates in the history of Bologna?
189 BC: Rome founds the colony of Bononia. 1088: The University of Bologna is founded (traditional date). 1506: Pope Julius II brings Bologna into the Papal States. 1530: Pope Clement VII crowns Charles V emperor in Bologna. 1796: French troops occupy Bologna.
Which famous people are connected with Bologna?
Charles V (holy roman emperor and king of spain, 1500 – 1558).
Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.