The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Mashhad, Iran. Prior to 20th century 330 BCE - Passage and residence of Alexander the Great during his Persian campaign. Probably the first settlement in the modern city area. 818 CE - Death of Ali al-Ridha (8th Imam of Twelver Shia Islam) at Sanābādh; Imam Reza shrine established. 970s-990s - Imam Reza Shrine demolished "in an act of fanaticism" by Ghaznavid Nāṣer-al-dawla Sübüktigin. 1009 - Imam Reza Shrine rebuilt. 1121 - Town wall built. 1161 - Mashhad sacked by Ghuzz Turks. 1389 - Nearby Tus besieged and "left a heap of ruins" by forces of Timurid Miran Shah; refugees flee to Mashhad. 1418 - Goharshad Mosque built. 1426 - Bala-yi sar madrasa built at the Imam Reza shrine. 1439 - Du-dar madrasa built by Shah Rukh at the Imam Reza shrine. 1457 - Central Library of Astan Quds Razavi established. 1501 - Twelver Shia Islam declared official state religion in Iran, a development beneficial to Mashhad as a holy city (approximate date). 1507 - Mashhad taken by forces of Uzbek Muhammad Shaybani. 1544 - Mashhad sacked by Uzbek forces. 1589 - Mashhad besieged by forces of Shaybanid Abd al-Mumin. 1598 - Mashhad taken by forces of Abbas I of Persia; Uzbeks defeated. 1722 - Afghan Abdalis in power. 1726 - Mashhad besieged by Persian forces. 1753 - Mashhad besieged by forces of Afghan Ahmad Shah Durrani. 1803 - Mashhad besieged by forces of Fath Ali Shah. 1849 - Mashhad taken by forces of Husam al-Saltana. 1876 - Palace of Abbas Mirza built. 1889 - British and Russian governments maintain consulates-general. 20th century 1912 - 29 March: Bombing of city by Russians. 1918 Mashhad municipality (administrative entity) formed. Mirza Abdol-Raheem Khan Zand Kashef ol-Molk (میرزا عبدالرحیم خان زند کاشف الملک) becomes the city's first mayor. 1920 - Population: 70,000-80,000 (approximate estimate). 1925 / 1304 SH - 31 March: Solar Hijri calendar legally adopted in Iran. 1949 - Razavi University established. 1959 - Nader Shah Mausoleum erected. 1963 - Population: 312,186 (estimate). 1964 - Astan Quds Razavi Central Museum inaugurated. 1966 - Mashhad railway station opens. 1968 - (cinema) established. 1970 - (cinema) established. 1971 - (cinema) established. 1980 - (zoo) established. 1982 - Population: 1,120,000 (estimate). 1983 - Samen Stadium opens. 1995 - Central Library of Astan Quds Razavi new building opens. 1996 - Population: 1,887,405. 21st century 2004