1768 - Gurkha ruler Prithvi Narayan Shah conquers Kathmandu and lays foundations for unified kingdom.
1792 - Nepalese expansion halted by defeat at hands of Chinese in Tibet.
1816 - Nepal becomes quasi-British protectorate after Anglo-Nepali war.
1846 - Nepal falls under sway of hereditary chief ministers known as Ranas, who dominate the monarchy and cut off country from outside world.
1923 - Britain formally recognises Nepal's independence - though foreign relations remain under British control.
Absolute monarchy
1950 - Anti-Rana forces based in India form alliance with monarch.
1951 - Sovereignty of crown restored and anti-Rana rebels in Nepalese Congress Party form government.
1959 - Multi-party constitution adopted.
1960 - King Mahendra seizes control and suspends parliament and party politics after Nepali Congress Party (NCP) wins elections.
1962 - New constitution provides for non-party system of councils known as "panchayat" under which king exercises sole power.
1972 - King Mahendra dies, succeeded by Birendra.
Multi-party politics
1980 - Constitutional referendum follows agitation for reform. Small majority favours keeping existing panchayat system. King agrees to allow direct elections to national assembly - but on a non-party basis.
1985 - NCP begins civil disobedience campaign for restoration of multi-party system.
1986 - New elections boycotted by NCP.
1989 - Trade and transit dispute with India leads to border blockade by Delhi resulting in worsening economic situation.
1990 - Pro-democracy agitation co-ordinated by NCP and leftist groups. Street protests suppressed by security forces resulting in deaths and mass arrests. King Birendra eventually bows to pressure and agrees to new democratic constitution.
1991 - Nepali Congress Party wins first democratic elections. Girija Prasad Koirala becomes prime minister.
Political instability
1994 - Koirala's government defeated in no-confidence motion. New elections lead to formation of Communist government.
1995 - Communist government dissolved. Radical leftist group, the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) begins insurrection in rural areas aimed at abolishing monarch and establishing people's republic.
1997 - Continuing political instability as Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is defeated and replaced by Lokendra Bahadur Chand. Chand is then forced to resign because of party splits and is replaced by Surya Bahadur Thapa.
1998 - Thapa stands down because of party splits. GP Koirala returns as prime minister heading a coalition government.
1999 - Fresh elections give majority to Nepali Congress Party. Krishna Prasad Bhattarai becomes prime minister.
2000 - Prime Minister Bhattarai steps down after revolt in Nepali Congress Party. GP Koirala returns as prime minister, heading the ninth government in 10 years.
2001 April - Supreme Court appoints its first female judge; general strike called by Maoist rebels brings life in many parts of the country to a virtual standstill; police arrest more than 100 anti-government demonstrators, including a number of opposition leaders, in the capital, Kathmandu.
2001 1 June - King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya and other close relatives killed in shooting spree by drunken Crown Prince Dipendra, who then shoots himself.
2001 4 June - Prince Gyanendra crowned King of Nepal after the late King Birendra's son, Dipendra - who had been declared king on 2 June - died of injuries sustained during the palace shooting.
2001 July - Maoist rebels step up campaign of violence. Sher Bahadur Deuba becomes prime minister, heading the 11th government in 11 years, after Girija Prasad Koirala quits over the violence.
2001 July - Deuba announces peace with rebels, truce begins.
2001 November - Maoists say peace talks have failed, truce is no longer justified. Launch coordinated attacks on army and police posts, ending truce.
2001 November - State of emergency declared after more than 100 people are killed in 4 days of violence. King Gyanendra orders army to crush the Maoist rebels, which the government labels as terrorists. Rebel attacks continue.
2002 January - US Secretary of State Colin Powell visits to offer support for the battle against the Maoist insurgency.
2002 February - Multilateral aid agencies and donor countries, meeting in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, pledge $2.5bn to Nepal to help bail out its cash-strapped economy.
2002 February - Maoists kill 127 in weekend raids on several government installations.