1948 - Nepal's first constitution promulgated, then suspended in face of opposition; Prime Minister Padma Shamsher Rana resigns

1955 - King Tribhuvan dies, succeeded by King Mahendra

1959 - New constitution promulgated, leading to first general election. Centrist Nepali Congress party wins absolute majority

1960 - Nepali Congress leader B.P. Koirala heads country's first popular government. His policies are opposed by King Mahendra, who dismisses prime minister, bans political parties and takes direct control of government

1972 - Mahendra dies and is succeeded by son, King Birendra

1990 - Birendra lifts 30-year-old ban on political parties and ushers in constitutional monarchy

1991 - Girija Prasad Koirala of Nepali Congress party takes office as first popularly elected prime minister in 30 years

1994 - Koirala quits after being defeated in parliamentary vote, kicking off long phase of instability

1996 - Maoist rebels launch insurgency aimed at replacing constitutional monarchy with one-party communist republic

1999 - Birendra dissolves parliament

2001 - Birendra, Queen Aishwarya and other royal family members killed in shooting rampage by Crown Prince Dipendra, who then turns the gun on himself; Gyanendra is crowned king

Maoist rebels step up violence. Girija Prasad Koirala and Sher Bahadur Deuba becomes prime minister, heading country's 11th government in 11 years

Deuba announces peace with rebels and truce begins. But Maoists later say talks have failed, and truce is no longer justified

Gyanendra declares state of emergency; government designates Maoists as "terrorist organisation"

2002 - Gyanendra sacks Prime Minister Deuba and assumes executive power. Staunch royalist Lokendra Bahadur Chand is later named prime minister

2003 - Chand resigns after months of protests led by political parties demanding king appoint government with their nominees or revive parliament

Gyanendra appoints royalist Surya Bahadur Thapa as prime minister

2004 - Surya Bahadur Thapa quits as prime minister after weeks of protests. Gyanendra reappoints Deuba as prime minister

2005- Gyanendra sacks Deuba's government, declares state of emergency and takes power himself

India and Britain announce they have stopped military aid to Nepal but India later resumes non-lethal military supplies

Gyanendra ends state of emergency but retains extraordinary powers

Deuba found guilty of embezzlement and jailed for two years. He denies any wrongdoing

Largest political party, the Nepali Congress, drops 60-year-old written pledge to uphold constitutional monarchy

Maoist rebels announce unilateral three-month ceasefire but royalist government rejects it, saying the rebels cannot be trusted

Seven main political parties and Maoist rebels announce a deal to co-operate to end the absolute powers of the king

Rebels extend truce by one month but government rules out a matching gesture

2006

Jan - Rebels end ceasefire, raising fears of renewed violence. Sixteen Maoist rebels and a soldier killed in biggest battle since ceasefire ended. Up to 12 police officers killed in rebel bomb attacks around capital

Feb - King holds municipal elections, boycotted by opposition. Only around one-fifth of voters turn out amid rebel-organised strike and crackdown by security forces on opposition officials

Mar - Maoists impose six-day blockade of major cities in bid to cut off supplies and put pressure on king. Dozens of police and rebels killed in clashes across country

Apr - Maoists suspend armed action in Kathmandu and surrounding valley ahead of planned anti-monarchy rally and general strike by opposition alliance. Royalist government indefinitely bans protests in Kathmandu. Violent protests spread. Police open fire on tens of thousands of demonstrators trying to enter Kathmandu. At least three people are killed and up to 100 injured.

Gyanendra says he is handing over political power to the people and asks seven-party alliance to choose new prime minister, but parties say it is not enough

Gyanendra announces he will reinstate Nepal's dissolved parliament, prompting political parties to call off mass protests. Veteran politician Girija Prasad Koirala is named to head new government

Maoists declare three-month ceasefire and political parties promise to work with them

Parliament reopens for the first time in four years. Koirala is sworn in as prime minister and invites Maoists to talks. Parliament approves proposal to hold elections to special assembly to draw up constitution that will decide on future of monarchy

May - New government announces indefinite truce to match Maoist ceasefire and says it will seek withdrawal of Interpol arrest warrants against rebel leaders and remove "terrorist" tag on rebels. Maoists agree to talks with the government aimed at ending the insurgency

MPs vote unanimously in favour of radical curbs on the king's powers, including removal of his control of army

Jun - Government and rebels agree to set up an interim administration that will oversee elections for a special assembly scheduled for March or April 2007

Aug - The two sides agree rebels and their arms to be confined to one set of camps while government troops stationed in their barracks. U.N. is requested to monitor both

Oct - Gyanendra endorses peace process in his first public comments since being forced to cede power. Two sides resume stalled talks, focusing on assembly elections, arms management and future of the monarchy. Rebels extend ceasefire in bid to boost peace talks

Nov - Prime Minister Koirala and Maoist chief Prachanda agree to put rebel arms under U.N. supervision. The army, in return, agrees to remain in barracks in run-up to assembly elections, due to be held by June 2007

Local newspapers report that the Maoists embark on a forced recruitment drive ahead of signing the peace deal

Two sides sign comprehensive peace accord, formally ending decade-long conflict. Prachanda says peace will come after elections and once his 35,000 fighters are merged with state army

2007

Jan - The Maoists take their seats in a newly created interim parliament, marking their formal entry into the political process. Unrest flares in the south as ethnic Madhesis begin protests, demanding greater representation in government and the peace process

Apr - Former Maoist guerrillas join interim government

Jul - Maoists formally register as a political party, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), to contest November elections

Sept - Maoists quit the interim government, vowing to disrupt preparations for the elections unless the monarchy is abolished before the polls

Dec - Government votes to abolish monarchy

2008

Feb - Three ethnic groups from southern plains threaten to boycott national polls for constituent assembly if demand for regional autonomy not met. Mass strikes in south choke Kathmandu. Government finally agrees to give autonomy to southern plains after national election set for April

Apr - Maoists win the most seats in national elections for a new assembly

May - The newly-elected assembly meets for the first time and abolishes the monarchy

Aug - Prachanda sworn in as republic's first prime minister.

Heavy flooding in Tarai plains displaces over 35,000 people

Oct - Government announces formation of multiparty committee to oversee integration of Maoist fighters

Nov - Constituent Assembly agrees May 2010 deadline for completing new constitution

Dec - U.N. calls on government to investigate enforced disappearances during conflict. Prachanda promises to free the nearly 3,000 child soldiers currently in Maoist guerilla camps