diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index 3f048ba881..9b39998967 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,3 +1,81 @@
+Synapse 1.45.0rc1 (2021-10-12)
+==============================
+
+Features
+--------
+
+- Add [MSC3069](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/pull/3069) support to `/account/whoami`. ([\#9655](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/9655))
+- Support autodiscovery of oEmbed previews. ([\#10822](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10822))
+- Ensure `(room_id, next_batch_id)` is unique across [MSC2716](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/pull/2716) insertion events in rooms to avoid cross-talk/conflicts between batches. ([\#10877](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10877))
+- Add a `user_may_send_3pid_invite` spam checker callback for modules to allow or deny 3PID invites. ([\#10894](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10894))
+- Add a spam checker callback to allow or deny room joins. ([\#10910](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10910))
+- Include an `update_synapse_database` script in the distribution. Contributed by @Fizzadar at Beeper. ([\#10954](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10954))
+- Include exception information in JSON logging output. Contributed by @Fizzadar at Beeper. ([\#11028](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/11028))
+
+
+Bugfixes
+--------
+
+- Fix a minor bug in the response to `/_matrix/client/r0/voip/turnServer`. Contributed by @lukaslihotzki. ([\#10922](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10922))
+- Fix a bug where empty `yyyy-mm-dd/` directories would be left behind in the media store's `url_cache_thumbnails/` directory. ([\#10924](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10924))
+- Fix a bug introduced in Synapse v1.40.0 where the signature checks for room version 8/9 could be applied to earlier room versions in some situations. ([\#10927](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10927))
+- Fixes a long-standing bug wherin deactivated users still count towards the mau limit. ([\#10947](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10947))
+- Fix a long-standing bug which meant that events received over federation were sometimes incorrectly accepted into the room state. ([\#10956](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10956))
+- Fix a long-standing bug where rebuilding the user directory wouldn't exclude support and disabled users. ([\#10960](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10960))
+- Fix [MSC2716](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/pull/2716) `/batch_send` endpoint rejecting subsequent batches with unknown batch ID error in existing room versions from the room creator. ([\#10962](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10962))
+- Fix a bug that could leak local users' per-room nicknames and avatars when the user directory is rebuilt. ([\#10981](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10981))
+- Fix a long-standing bug where the remainder of a batch of user directory changes would be silently dropped if the server left a room early in the batch. ([\#10982](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10982))
+- Correct a bugfix introduced in Synapse v1.44.0 that wouldn't catch every error of the connection breaks before a response could be written to it. ([\#10995](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10995))
+- Fix a long-standing bug where local users' per-room nicknames/avatars were visible to anyone who could see you in the user_directory. ([\#11002](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/11002))
+- Fix a long-standing bug where a user's per-room nickname/avatar would overwrite their profile in the user directory when a room was made public. ([\#11003](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/11003))
+- Work around a regression, introduced in Synapse 1.39.0, that caused `SynapseError`s raised by the experimental third-party rules module callback `check_event_allowed` to be ignored. ([\#11042](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/11042))
+
+
+Improved Documentation
+----------------------
+
+- Change wording ("reference homeserver") in Synapse repository documentation. Contributed by @maxkratz. ([\#10971](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10971))
+- Fix a dead URL in development documentation (SAML) and change wording from "Riot" to "Element". Contributed by @maxkratz. ([\#10973](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10973))
+- Add additional content to the Welcome and Overview page of the documentation. ([\#10990](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10990))
+- Update links to MSCs in documentation. Contributed by @dklimpel. ([\#10991](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10991))
+
+
+Internal Changes
+----------------
+
+- Improve type hinting in `synapse.util`. ([\#10888](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10888))
+- Add further type hints to `synapse.storage.util`. ([\#10892](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10892))
+- Fix type hints to be compatible with an upcoming change to Twisted. ([\#10895](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10895))
+- Update utility code to handle C implementations of frozendict. ([\#10902](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10902))
+- Drop old functionality which maintained database compatibility with Synapse versions before 1.31. ([\#10903](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10903))
+- Clean-up configuration helper classes for the `ServerConfig` class. ([\#10915](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10915))
+- Use direct references to config flags. ([\#10916](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10916), [\#10959](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10959), [\#10985](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10985))
+- Clean up some of the federation event authentication code for clarity. ([\#10926](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10926), [\#10940](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10940), [\#10986](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10986), [\#10987](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10987), [\#10988](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10988), [\#11010](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/11010), [\#11011](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/11011))
+- Refactor various parts of the codebase to use `RoomVersion` objects instead of room version identifier strings. ([\#10934](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10934))
+- Refactor user directory tests in preparation for upcoming changes. ([\#10935](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10935))
+- Include the event id in the logcontext when handling PDUs received over federation. ([\#10936](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10936))
+- Fix logged errors in unit tests. ([\#10939](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10939))
+- Fix a broken test to ensure that consent configuration works during registration. ([\#10945](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10945))
+- Add type hints to filtering classes. ([\#10958](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10958))
+- Add type-hint to `HomeserverTestcase.setup_test_homeserver`. ([\#10961](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10961))
+- Fix the test utility function `create_room_as` so that `is_public=True` will explicitly set the `visibility` parameter of room creation requests to `public`. Contributed by @AndrewFerr. ([\#10963](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10963))
+- Make the release script more robust and transparent. ([\#10966](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10966))
+- Refactor [MSC2716](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/pull/2716) `/batch_send` mega function into smaller handler functions. ([\#10974](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10974))
+- Log stack traces when a missing opentracing span is detected. ([\#10983](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10983))
+- Update GHA config to run tests against Python 3.10 and PostgreSQL 14. ([\#10992](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10992))
+- Fix a long-standing bug where `ReadWriteLock`s could drop logging contexts on exit. ([\#10993](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10993))
+- Add a `CODEOWNERS` file to automatically request reviews from the `@matrix-org/synapse-core` team on new pull requests. ([\#10994](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/10994))
+- Add further type hints to `synapse.state`. ([\#11004](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/11004))
+- Remove the deprecated `BaseHandler` object. ([\#11005](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/11005))
+- Bump mypy version for CI to 0.910, and pull in new type stubs for dependencies. ([\#11006](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/11006))
+- Fix CI to run the unit tests without optional deps. ([\#11017](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/11017))
+- Ensure that cache config tests do not share state. ([\#11019](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/11019))
+- Add additional type hints to `synapse.server_notices`. ([\#11021](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/11021))
+- Add additional type hints for `synapse.push`. ([\#11023](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/11023))
+- When installing the optional developer dependencies, also include the dependencies needed for type-checking and unit testing. ([\#11034](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/11034))
+- Remove unnecessary list comprehension from `synapse_port_db` to satisfy code style requirements. ([\#11043](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/11043))
+
+
 Synapse 1.44.0 (2021-10-05)
 ===========================
 
diff --git a/changelog.d/10822.feature b/changelog.d/10822.feature
deleted file mode 100644
index 72566e31ec..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10822.feature
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Support autodiscovery of oEmbed previews.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10877.feature b/changelog.d/10877.feature
deleted file mode 100644
index 06a246c108..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10877.feature
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Ensure `(room_id, next_batch_id)` is unique across [MSC2716](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/pull/2716) insertion events in rooms to avoid cross-talk/conflicts between batches.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10888.misc b/changelog.d/10888.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index d9c9917881..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10888.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Improve type hinting in `synapse.util`.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/changelog.d/10892.misc b/changelog.d/10892.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index c8c471159b..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10892.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Add further type hints to `synapse.storage.util`.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10894.feature b/changelog.d/10894.feature
deleted file mode 100644
index a4f968bed1..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10894.feature
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Add a `user_may_send_3pid_invite` spam checker callback for modules to allow or deny 3PID invites.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10895.misc b/changelog.d/10895.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index d1c8224980..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10895.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Fix type hints to be compatible with an upcoming change to Twisted.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/changelog.d/10902.misc b/changelog.d/10902.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 2cd79887f6..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10902.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Update utility code to handle C implementations of frozendict.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/changelog.d/10903.misc b/changelog.d/10903.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 2716ccb08c..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10903.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Drop old functionality which maintained database compatibility with Synapse versions before 1.31.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10910.feature b/changelog.d/10910.feature
deleted file mode 100644
index aee139f8b6..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10910.feature
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Add a spam checker callback to allow or deny room joins.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10915.misc b/changelog.d/10915.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 1ce2910ffa..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10915.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Clean-up configuration helper classes for the `ServerConfig` class.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10916.misc b/changelog.d/10916.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 586a0b3a96..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10916.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Use direct references to config flags.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10922.bugfix b/changelog.d/10922.bugfix
deleted file mode 100644
index b7315514e0..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10922.bugfix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Fix a minor bug in the response to `/_matrix/client/r0/voip/turnServer`. Contributed by @lukaslihotzki.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10924.bugfix b/changelog.d/10924.bugfix
deleted file mode 100644
index c73a51e32f..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10924.bugfix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Fix a bug where empty `yyyy-mm-dd/` directories would be left behind in the media store's `url_cache_thumbnails/` directory.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10926.misc b/changelog.d/10926.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 9a765435db..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10926.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Clean up some of the federation event authentication code for clarity.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10927.bugfix b/changelog.d/10927.bugfix
deleted file mode 100644
index fd24288c54..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10927.bugfix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Fix a bug introduced in Synapse v1.40.0 where the signature checks for room version 8/9 could be applied to earlier room versions in some situations.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10934.misc b/changelog.d/10934.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 56c640ec9e..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10934.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Refactor various parts of the codebase to use `RoomVersion` objects instead of room version identifier strings.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10935.misc b/changelog.d/10935.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 80529c04ca..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10935.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Refactor user directory tests in preparation for upcoming changes.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10936.misc b/changelog.d/10936.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 9d1d6e5b02..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10936.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Include the event id in the logcontext when handling PDUs received over federation.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10939.misc b/changelog.d/10939.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index a7cecf8a5b..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10939.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Fix logged errors in unit tests.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10940.misc b/changelog.d/10940.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 9a765435db..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10940.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Clean up some of the federation event authentication code for clarity.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10945.misc b/changelog.d/10945.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 7cf1f02ad6..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10945.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Fix a broken test to ensure that consent configuration works during registration.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10947.bugfix b/changelog.d/10947.bugfix
deleted file mode 100644
index 40c70d3ece..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10947.bugfix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Fixes a long-standing bug wherin deactivated users still count towards the mau limit.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/changelog.d/10954.feature b/changelog.d/10954.feature
deleted file mode 100644
index 94dfa7175c..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10954.feature
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Include an `update_synapse_database` script in the distribution. Contributed by @Fizzadar at Beeper.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10956.bugfix b/changelog.d/10956.bugfix
deleted file mode 100644
index 13b8e5983b..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10956.bugfix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Fix a long-standing bug which meant that events received over federation were sometimes incorrectly accepted into the room state.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10958.misc b/changelog.d/10958.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 409ecc35cb..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10958.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Add type hints to filtering classes.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10959.misc b/changelog.d/10959.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 586a0b3a96..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10959.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Use direct references to config flags.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10960.bugfix b/changelog.d/10960.bugfix
deleted file mode 100644
index b4f1c228ea..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10960.bugfix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Fix a long-standing bug where rebuilding the user directory wouldn't exclude support and disabled users.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/changelog.d/10961.misc b/changelog.d/10961.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 0e35813488..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10961.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Add type-hint to `HomeserverTestcase.setup_test_homeserver`.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/changelog.d/10962.bugfix b/changelog.d/10962.bugfix
deleted file mode 100644
index 9b0760d731..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10962.bugfix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Fix [MSC2716](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/pull/2716) `/batch_send` endpoint rejecting subsequent batches with unknown batch ID error in existing room versions from the room creator.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10963.misc b/changelog.d/10963.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index daf40155de..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10963.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Fix the test utility function `create_room_as` so that `is_public=True` will explicitly set the `visibility` parameter of room creation requests to `public`. Contributed by @AndrewFerr.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10966.misc b/changelog.d/10966.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 095b9d5689..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10966.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Make the release script more robust and transparent.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10971.doc b/changelog.d/10971.doc
deleted file mode 100644
index cc6cfe4164..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10971.doc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Change wording ("reference homeserver") in Synapse repository documentation. Contributed by @maxkratz.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10973.doc b/changelog.d/10973.doc
deleted file mode 100644
index d7429a9da6..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10973.doc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Fix a dead URL in development documentation (SAML) and change wording from "Riot" to "Element". Contributed by @maxkratz.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10974.misc b/changelog.d/10974.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 8695b378aa..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10974.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Refactor [MSC2716](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/pull/2716) `/batch_send` mega function into smaller handler functions.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10981.bugfix b/changelog.d/10981.bugfix
deleted file mode 100644
index d7bf660348..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10981.bugfix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Fix a bug that could leak local users' per-room nicknames and avatars when the user directory is rebuilt.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/changelog.d/10982.bugfix b/changelog.d/10982.bugfix
deleted file mode 100644
index 5c9e15eeaa..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10982.bugfix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Fix a long-standing bug where the remainder of a batch of user directory changes would be silently dropped if the server left a room early in the batch.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/changelog.d/10983.misc b/changelog.d/10983.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 235899d14f..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10983.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Log stack traces when a missing opentracing span is detected.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10985.misc b/changelog.d/10985.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 586a0b3a96..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10985.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Use direct references to config flags.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10986.misc b/changelog.d/10986.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 9a765435db..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10986.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Clean up some of the federation event authentication code for clarity.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10987.misc b/changelog.d/10987.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 9a765435db..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10987.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Clean up some of the federation event authentication code for clarity.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10988.misc b/changelog.d/10988.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 9a765435db..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10988.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Clean up some of the federation event authentication code for clarity.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10990.doc b/changelog.d/10990.doc
deleted file mode 100644
index 51290d6200..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10990.doc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Add additional content to the Welcome and Overview page of the documentation.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10991.doc b/changelog.d/10991.doc
deleted file mode 100644
index 2f9bb24ca7..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10991.doc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Update links to MSCs in documentation. Contributed by @dklimpel.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/changelog.d/10992.misc b/changelog.d/10992.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 60432a559c..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10992.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Update GHA config to run tests against Python 3.10 and PostgreSQL 14.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10993.misc b/changelog.d/10993.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 23c73dbac5..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10993.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Fix a long-standing bug where `ReadWriteLock`s could drop logging contexts on exit.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10994.misc b/changelog.d/10994.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 0a8538b01e..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10994.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Add a `CODEOWNERS` file to automatically request reviews from the `@matrix-org/synapse-core` team on new pull requests.
diff --git a/changelog.d/10995.bugfix b/changelog.d/10995.bugfix
deleted file mode 100644
index 3eef96f3db..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/10995.bugfix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Correct a bugfix introduced in Synapse v1.44.0 that wouldn't catch every error of the connection breaks before a response could be written to it.
diff --git a/changelog.d/11002.bugfix b/changelog.d/11002.bugfix
deleted file mode 100644
index cf894a6314..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/11002.bugfix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Fix a long-standing bug where local users' per-room nicknames/avatars were visible to anyone who could see you in the user_directory.
diff --git a/changelog.d/11003.bugfix b/changelog.d/11003.bugfix
deleted file mode 100644
index 0786f1b886..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/11003.bugfix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Fix a long-standing bug where a user's per-room nickname/avatar would overwrite their profile in the user directory when a room was made public.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/changelog.d/11004.misc b/changelog.d/11004.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 821033710a..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/11004.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Add further type hints to `synapse.state`.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/changelog.d/11005.misc b/changelog.d/11005.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index a893591971..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/11005.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Remove the deprecated `BaseHandler` object.
diff --git a/changelog.d/11006.misc b/changelog.d/11006.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 7b4abae76a..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/11006.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Bump mypy version for CI to 0.910, and pull in new type stubs for dependencies.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/changelog.d/11010.misc b/changelog.d/11010.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 9a765435db..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/11010.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Clean up some of the federation event authentication code for clarity.
diff --git a/changelog.d/11011.misc b/changelog.d/11011.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 9a765435db..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/11011.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Clean up some of the federation event authentication code for clarity.
diff --git a/changelog.d/11017.misc b/changelog.d/11017.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index f05530ac94..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/11017.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Fix CI to run the unit tests without optional deps.
diff --git a/changelog.d/11019.misc b/changelog.d/11019.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index aae5ee62b2..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/11019.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Ensure that cache config tests do not share state.
diff --git a/changelog.d/11021.misc b/changelog.d/11021.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index 8ac1bfcf22..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/11021.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Add additional type hints to `synapse.server_notices`.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/changelog.d/11023.misc b/changelog.d/11023.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index ecc0467529..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/11023.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Add additional type hints for `synapse.push`.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/changelog.d/11028.feature b/changelog.d/11028.feature
deleted file mode 100644
index 48798356b7..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/11028.feature
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Include exception information in JSON logging output. Contributed by @Fizzadar at Beeper.
diff --git a/changelog.d/11034.misc b/changelog.d/11034.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index b15fd66ac3..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/11034.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-When installing the optional developer dependencies, also include the dependencies needed for type-checking and unit testing.
diff --git a/changelog.d/11042.bugfix b/changelog.d/11042.bugfix
deleted file mode 100644
index 536c47417d..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/11042.bugfix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Work around a regression, introduced in Synapse 1.39.0, that caused `SynapseError`s raised by the experimental third-party rules module callback `check_event_allowed` to be ignored.
diff --git a/changelog.d/11043.misc b/changelog.d/11043.misc
deleted file mode 100644
index c5f127bb46..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/11043.misc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Remove unnecessary list comprehension from `synapse_port_db` to satisfy code style requirements.
diff --git a/changelog.d/9655.feature b/changelog.d/9655.feature
deleted file mode 100644
index 70cac230d8..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/9655.feature
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Add [MSC3069](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/pull/3069) support to `/account/whoami`.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 8e80c78ee7..0d5db739e7 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
-matrix-synapse-py3 (1.44.0~rc2+nmu1) UNRELEASED; urgency=medium
+matrix-synapse-py3 (1.45.0~rc1) stable; urgency=medium
 
   [ Nick @ Beeper ]
   * Include an `update_synapse_database` script in the distribution.
 
- -- root <root@f7b8a71098d3>  Mon, 04 Oct 2021 13:29:26 +0000
+  [ Synapse Packaging team ]
+  * New synapse release 1.45.0~rc1.
+
+ -- Synapse Packaging team <packages@matrix.org>  Tue, 12 Oct 2021 10:46:27 +0100
 
 matrix-synapse-py3 (1.44.0) stable; urgency=medium
 
diff --git a/synapse/__init__.py b/synapse/__init__.py
index b8979c365e..6b109ccffa 100644
--- a/synapse/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/__init__.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ try:
 except ImportError:
     pass
 
-__version__ = "1.44.0"
+__version__ = "1.45.0rc1"
 
 if bool(os.environ.get("SYNAPSE_TEST_PATCH_LOG_CONTEXTS", False)):
     # We import here so that we don't have to install a bunch of deps when