July 18, 1918: Born Rolihlahla Mandela in a small village in the eastern Cape of South Africa.
1944: Joins the African National Congress (ANC).
1944: Marries first wife Evelyn Mase.
1948: South African government introduces the racial segregation policy of apartheid.
December 1952: Sentenced to nine months hard labour, suspended for two years, for civil disobedience campaign. Opens first black law firm with Oliver Tambo.
1956: Charged with high treason as part of a round-up of 156 activists.
1958: Divorces Evelyn Mase and marries social worker Winnie Madikizela.
1959: New racial segregation laws create homelands for South Africa’s blacks.
March 21, 1960: Sixty-nine black protesters killed during a demonstration at Sharpeville, in the Transvaal, provoking national uproar.
March 31, 1960: Government declares state of emergency.
April 8, 1960: Government bans the ANC.
March 29, 1961: Mr Mandela acquitted of treason at the culmination of four-year trial. He goes underground on the same day and is dubbed “The Black Pimpernel” by the media for his ability to evade the police.
April 1, 1961: Robben Island turns into a prison for political prisoners.
January 11, 1962: Using the name David Motsamayi, he leaves country and travels around Africa and to England to gain support for the “struggle”.
July, 1962: Returns to South Africa.
August 5, 1962: He is arrested for leaving the country without a passport and inciting workers to strike.
November 7, 1962: Mr Mandela is convicted and jailed for five years.
July, 1963: Police raid ANC secret hideout in Rivonia.
October, 1963: Joins 10 other activists on trial for sabotage in what becomes known as the Rivonia Trial.
April 20, 1964: Gives his famous Speech From The Dock during which he declares he is prepared to die for equality.
June 11, 1964: He is convicted, jailed for life with seven others and sent to Robben Island.
1968: Mr Mandela’s mother dies.
1969: His eldest son is killed in a car crash; he is not allowed to attend his funeral or that of his mother.
1969: Winnie Mandela is detained in solitary confinement at Pretoria Central Prison for 16 months under the Terrorism Act.
June 16, 1976: Soweto uprising protests – as many as 20,000 students demonstrate against the introduction of Afrikaans in the schoolroom. Up to 700 people are said to have died.
September 12, 1977: Anti-apartheid campaigner Steve Biko dies naked in Pretoria Central Prison after being tortured in police custody.
1980: Oliver Tambo, the president of the ANC, launches international campaign to release Mr Mandela.
May, 1980: British Lions tour to South Africa goes ahead despite British government opposition on grounds of apartheid.
March 14, 1982: Bomb explodes at ANC headquarters in London. Eight South African policemen admit the blast was in revenge for a 1981 attack on a Pretoria military base.
March, 31, 1982: Mr Mandela is transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town.
10 February, 1985: Refuses President PW Botha’s offer to release him if he renounces violence.
1985: Fellow Rivonia trialist Denis Goldberg is released from prison.
July 20, 1985: After protests against apartheid increase, President Botha declares a state of emergency in 36 districts.
October, 1985: British PM Margaret Thatcher agrees to impose limited Commonwealth trade sanctions on South Africa.
Nov 1985: Mr Mandela undergoes prostate surgery.
June 12, 1986: State of emergency is extended to the whole country.
November 1987: Fellow Rivonia trialist Govan Mbeki is released from prison.
August 12, 1988: Mr Mandela is treated for tuberculosis.
December 7, 1988: He is moved to a house at Victor Verster Prison, near Paarl.
September 20, 1989: FW de Klerk replaces Mr Botha as president and in his first speech vows to end racism in South Africa.
15 October, 1989: The remaining Rivonia trialists and Jeff Masemola, a Pan Africanist Congress prisoner, are released from prison.
December 13, 1989: Mr de Klerk meets Mr Mandela for the first time to discuss the future of South Africa.
February 2, 1990: Mr de Klerk lifts the ban on the ANC.
February 11, 1990: After 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela walks free from Victor Verster Prison.
1991: Mr Mandela becomes president of the ANC.
December 10, 1993: He and Mr de Klerk win the Nobel Peace Prize.
April 27, 1994: Mr Mandela votes for the first time in his life in a free and democratic election.
May 10, 1994: Mr Mandela is sworn in as South Africa’s first democratically elected president as the head of the Government of National Unity.
1996: Divorces Winnie Mandela.
1998: Marries Graca Machel – former first lady of Mozambique.
June 1999: Steps down as president and Thabo Mbeki takes over after ANC wins elections.
July, 2001: Mr Mandela is diagnosed with prostate cancer and undergoes treatment.
June 1, 2004: Announces retirement from public life.
January 6, 2005: Mr Mandela announces death of his son Makgatho from Aids.
June 27, 2008: Hyde Park concert in honour of Mr Mandela’s 90th birthday.
June 11, 2010: Great granddaughter Zenani is killed in a car crash.
January 26, 2011: Mr Mandela is admitted to hospital in Johannesburg where he is treated for a chest infection for two days.
June 21, 2011: Meets Michelle Obama at his home.
February 25, 2012: Is admitted to hospital for one night with abdominal pains.
December 8, 2012: Goes back to hospital – this time with a lung infection.
December 15, 2012: He has an operation to remove gallstones.
December 26, 2012: Mr Mandela is released from hospital but undergoes further treatment at home.
March 9, 2013: He is admitted for a scheduled overnight hospital check-up.
March 27, 2013: Returns to hospital with a recurrence of his lung infection. President Jacob Zuma asks the world to “pray”.
April 6, 2013: Is discharged from hospital.
June 8, 2013: Is admitted to hospital.
December 5, 2013 Mandela dies at age 95. South African President Jacob Zuma makes the announcement at a news conference, saying “we’ve lost our greatest son.”