When was Berlin first recorded in history?

Berlin was first mentioned in recorded history in 1244. While the city celebrated its 750th anniversary in 1987, the name Berlin itself appears in documents seven years after its sister town, Kölln, which was also founded near the beginning of the 13th century.1

These settlements were established to control a vital trade route over the Spree River following a Germanic resurgence in the region. Although Berlin-Kölln emerged later, the area was previously home to older fortified settlements, such as Spandau, which date back to the 8th century.1