Dresden

Early and pre-war history

An ancient Slavic settlement on the northern bank of the river was joined in 1206 by a German town on the southern bank, the heart of today?s Altstadt (?old town?). It was the seat from 1270 of the Wettin Landgrafs (Counts) of Meißen. From 1485 it was the seat of the dukes of Saxony, and from 1547 the electors as well. Between 1806 and 1918 it was the capital of the kingdom of Saxony (which was from 1871 a part of the German Empire). The city has suffered repeated destruction: by fire in 1491, from bombardment by the Prussians in 1760, and during the suppression of a constitutionalist uprising (The May Uprising) in 1849 and the destructive Allied bombing raid of February 1945.

Related Topics:
Slavic - 1206 - 1270 - Wettin - Landgraf - Count - Meißen - 1485 - 1547 - 1806 - 1918 - 1871 - German Empire - 1491 - Prussia - 1760 - Constitutionalist - May Uprising - 1849 - 1945

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August the Strong (1694-1733), who planned to make Dresden the most important royal residence, set out to discover the Chinese secret of porcelain (?white gold?). Under his rule, European porcelain was invented in Dresden and Meißen. He also gathered many of the best architects and painters from all over Europe to Dresden. His reign was the beginning of Dresden?s emergence as a leading European city for technology and art.

Related Topics:
August the Strong - 1694 - 1733 - Porcelain - Meißen - Architect - Painter

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During the 19th century, the city became a major center of industry, including automobile production, food processing, and the production of medical equipment. The city also developed into an important center for the international sale of art works and antiques. The city?s population quadrupled from 95,000 in 1849 to 396,000 in 1900 as a result of industrialization.

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1849 - 1900

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In the early 20th century Dresden was particularly well-known for its camera works, such as Ihagee and Pentacon, which produced the Praktica , and the cigarette factories, one of which was in the impressive Yenidze, a building with a multicoloured glass roof shaped like a mosque which still stands today.

Related Topics:
20th century - Ihagee - Praktica

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