Frankfurt am Main history

Foundation and First Mentions

The history of Frankfurt am Main is rooted in deep antiquity, when Roman and subsequently Alemannic settlements existed on the site of the modern cathedral (Domhügel). The name of the city, Franconofurd, literally translates as "Ford of the Franks" and is connected to a convenient crossing point over the River Main used by Frankish tribes. The first official written mention of the city dates back to 22 February 794. It appears in a document by Charlemagne, in which he convened a major church synod in Frankfurt.

Key Factors of Development

Frankfurt owes its rapid growth and rise to a combination of several favourable factors:

• Geographical Location: Its position on the navigable River Main and at the intersection of important European trade routes made the city a natural commercial centre.
• Trade and Fairs: Starting from the 12th century, trade fairs began to be held in Frankfurt. In 1240, Emperor Frederick II granted the city a trade fair privilege, officially securing its status as a vital trading hub. The Frankfurt Book Fair gained particular fame, becoming a centre for book printing following Gutenberg's inventions.
• Political Significance: In 1356, the "Golden Bull" of Emperor Charles IV established Frankfurt as the designated city for the election of kings and emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. From 1562, coronation ceremonies also began to take place here, significantly boosting the city's prestige and influence. In 1372, Frankfurt received the status of a Free Imperial City, answering directly only to the Emperor.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

From the very beginning of its development, Frankfurt am Main was a city where trade and finance flourished. The hosting of regular fairs facilitated an influx of merchants and goods from all over Europe, which laid the foundation for the city's emergence as a financial capital. Banking operations began to develop here early on, and the famous Frankfurt Stock Exchange was opened in 1585. Cultural life developed simultaneously with economic growth. The status of the city as a place for elections and coronations attracted nobility, artists, and scholars. The Book Fair transformed Frankfurt into one of the main centres of European enlightenment and publishing.

Timeline of the History of Frankfurt am Main

From an ancient Frankish ford to a modern financial metropolis, the history of Frankfurt am Main is filled with events that shaped not only the city itself but all of Germany. Below are the key dates reflecting its centuries-old journey.

• 794 — First written mention of the city in a document by Charlemagne, who convened a major church synod here.
• 1240 — Emperor Frederick II granted Frankfurt the trade fair privilege, officially cementing its status as an important European trade centre.
• 1356 — The "Golden Bull" of Emperor Charles IV legally established Frankfurt as the city for electing kings and emperors of the Holy Roman Empire.
• 1372 — Frankfurt received the status of a Free Imperial City, meaning direct subordination to the Emperor and significant autonomy.
• 1478 — The first Frankfurt Book Fair took place, which over time became the most important in the world.
• 1562 — The first imperial coronation ceremony was held in Frankfurt; Maximilian II was the emperor crowned.
• 1585 — Merchants adopted unified currency exchange rates, which is considered the founding date of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
• 1816 — After the Napoleonic Wars, the city was recognised as a Free City and became the seat of the Bundestag (Federal Convention) of the German Confederation.
• 1848 — The first all-German National Assembly (Frankfurt Parliament) opened in St. Paul's Church, laying the foundations for German democracy.
• 1866 — During the Austro-Prussian War, Frankfurt was annexed by Prussia, losing its centuries-old status as a free city.
• 1888 — Frankfurt Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) opened, becoming one of the largest and most important transport hubs in Europe.
• 1944 — As a result of massive Allied bombing raids during the Second World War, the historic city centre was almost completely destroyed.
• 1949 — Frankfurt conceded the right to become the capital of West Germany to Bonn but strengthened its role as the country's financial and economic centre.
• 1998 — The headquarters of the European Central Bank were located in the city, definitively securing Frankfurt's status as the leading financial centre of continental Europe.

Key Milestones in the History of Frankfurt am Main

The history of Frankfurt am Main is a journey from a medieval trade crossroads to one of the world's leading financial centres. Each era left its mark on its economic, cultural, and architectural landscape. Below are the main stages that defined the modern character of the city.

• Centre of Trade and Finance

  Having received the imperial privilege to hold fairs in 1240, Frankfurt quickly became a European commercial hub. A key moment was the founding of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in 1585, when merchants agreed on unified exchange rates. This event laid the foundation for the city's financial power, which it retains to this day as the home of leading banks.

• Place of Elections and Coronations

  The "Golden Bull" of 1356 officially secured Frankfurt's status as the city for electing emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. From 1562, coronation ceremonies also began to be held here. This high political status attracted aristocracy, intellectuals, and artists to the city, contributing to its cultural enrichment and growing prestige.

• Cradle of German Democracy

  In 1848, the session of the first all-German National Assembly took place in St. Paul's Church (Paulskirche). Although the attempt to create a unified and democratic Germany did not succeed at that time, the Frankfurt Parliament became a vital symbol of the nation's democratic aspirations and laid the foundations for the modern German constitution.

• Industrialisation and Urbanisation

  After annexation by Prussia in 1866, Frankfurt lost its status as a free city but entered a new era of rapid industrial growth. The construction of the Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) in 1888 turned it into one of Europe's most important transport hubs. During this period, the foundations of modern urban infrastructure were laid, and new residential quarters and industrial enterprises appeared.

• Destruction and the "Economic Miracle"

  The Second World War brought colossal destruction to the city — the historic centre was practically wiped off the face of the earth by bombings. However, in the post-war period, Frankfurt experienced a rapid revival. Having declined the status of the political capital of West Germany in favour of Bonn, the city firmly established itself as the financial heart of the country, becoming the central platform for the German "economic miracle".

• The Birth of "Mainhattan"

  Starting in the 1970s, the urban landscape began to change radically with the appearance of the first skyscrapers. This process culminated with the placement of the European Central Bank headquarters in Frankfurt in 1998. The skyline with high-rise buildings, unique for Germany, earned the city the nickname "Mainhattan" and visually cemented its status as a global financial centre.

Architectural Appearance and Urban Planning

The architecture of Frankfurt am Main represents a unique fusion of history and modernity for Germany. The city, which suffered heavily during the Second World War, chose a path not only of restoring lost heritage but also of boldly striving towards the future, leading to the formation of one of the most recognisable skylines in Europe.

Middle Ages: Gothic and Half-Timbered Style

The historic core of the city bears the imprint of medieval urban planning with its narrow streets and market squares. The key landmarks of this era are:

• Imperial Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew (Kaiserdom): A striking example of the Gothic style. Its red stone tower was the tallest structure in the city for centuries, symbolising imperial power and religious significance.
• Römerberg: The central square, surrounded by restored half-timbered houses. The famous Römer city hall with its stepped gables demonstrates characteristic features of late Gothic and early Renaissance architecture.

From Baroque to Classicism

In the 17th–19th centuries, the city was enriched with buildings reflecting the ideals of the Enlightenment and civic order. These styles manifest in stricter and more symmetrical forms:

• Hauptwache: The former guardhouse building, constructed in the Baroque style in 1730, is today the centre of the pedestrian zone and an example of the elegant architecture of that time.
• St. Paul's Church (Paulskirche): Built in the Classicism style, it is distinguished by a strict circular hall. This building became a symbol of German democracy and the conciseness of architectural thought in the early 19th century.

Gründerzeit and Historicism

The period of rapid industrial growth in the late 19th century (the Gründerzeit era) gifted Frankfurt with monumental public buildings executed in the style of Historicism (Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Baroque):

• Old Opera (Alte Oper): A majestic building in the Neo-Renaissance style, opened in 1880, highlighting the cultural ambitions of the bourgeoisie.
• Central Station (Hauptbahnhof): One of the largest in Europe, combining elements of Neo-Renaissance with engineering solutions of steel and glass that were advanced for that time.

Modernism and Postmodernism: The Birth of "Mainhattan"

Post-war reconstruction and the economic boom of the second half of the 20th century radically changed the city's panorama. Frankfurt became the only German city to permit the construction of high-rise buildings in the centre, leading to the dominance of Modernism and Postmodernism:

• Main Tower: An example of modern high-rise architecture with a glass facade, open to tourists for visits.
• Messeturm: A skyscraper in the Postmodern style, reminiscent of classic American high-rises of the 1920s, designed by architect Helmut Jahn.
• Commerzbank Tower: A creation of Norman Foster, becoming the world's first ecological skyscraper and an icon of the High-tech style.

Urban Planning Features

An important element of the city structure is the "Green Belt" (Wallanlagen). This is a park zone laid out on the site of the old fortress ramparts, which encircles the inner city. Another successful urban planning solution was the creation of the Museum Embankment (Museumsufer), where historic villas on the banks of the Main were converted into museums, harmoniously combining cultural space with the natural landscape of the river.

Notable Personalities of Frankfurt am Main

Frankfurt am Main has given the world many talented and influential people whose names are forever inscribed in history. Natives and residents of the city have left a deep mark on literature, science, art, and finance. Here are just a few of them:

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832)

Poet, playwright, scientist, and statesman. Born in Frankfurt, where his house-museum is located today. Goethe is a key figure in German literature and the author of the immortal "Faust". He was one of the leaders of the "Sturm und Drang" (Storm and Stress) literary movement, which asserted the rights and feelings of the individual.

Anne Frank (1929–1945)

A Jewish girl born in Frankfurt who became world-famous thanks to her diary. Her records, made in a hideout in Amsterdam during the Nazi occupation, became one of the most poignant testimonies of the Holocaust and a symbol of the struggle of the human spirit.

Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1744–1812)

Founder of the international Rothschild banking dynasty. He began his activities in the Jewish quarter of Frankfurt, laying the foundations of a financial empire that exerted immense influence on the global economy and politics.

Theodor Adorno (1903–1969)

Distinguished philosopher, sociologist, and musicologist, one of the main representatives of the Frankfurt School of critical theory. Born in Frankfurt, Adorno had a huge influence on 20th-century humanitarian thought with his works dedicated to the critique of society and culture.

Otto Hahn (1879–1968)

Chemist and laureate of the 1944 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of the fission of heavy atomic nuclei. Born in Frankfurt am Main. He is called the "father of nuclear chemistry", and his discovery marked the beginning of the atomic age.

Maria Sibylla Merian (1647–1717)

Artist, engraver, and one of the first female entomologists. Born and began her work in Frankfurt. She became famous for her detailed illustrations of insect metamorphoses, undertaking a scientific expedition to Suriname to study the local flora and fauna.

Paul Ehrlich (1854–1915)

Physician, immunologist, and bacteriologist, laureate of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1908. He founded an institute in Frankfurt that bears his name today. Considered the founder of chemotherapy and one of the pioneers in the field of immunology.