1429 The Kingdom of Mrauk-U, the historical kingdom of Arakan, rules over what is now known as Rakhine State and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh.
1785–1826 Burmese forces occupy the Arakanese kingdom. The Muslim community in Rakhine expands rapidly during this time. Arakan is ceded to the British after the first Anglo-Burmese War.
1886 After three Anglo-Burmese wars, the predominantly Buddhist Burma becomes the Province of Burma of British India. Arakan is part of this province.
1937 Britain separates Burma Province from British India, making it a crown colony.
Dr Ba Maw is the first prime minister of Burma until U Saw takes over in 1940.
1942 Japan invades and occupies Burma.
1945 Britain liberates Burma with the help of the Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League led by Aung San.
1947 Aung San and six members of his interim government are assassinated. Local mujaheddin in Arakan unite against the government, seeking annexation with Pakistan.
1948 Burma becomes an independent republic with Sao Shwe Thaik as its first president and U Nu as prime minister. Rakhine is part of the independent state of Burma.
1950s Muslim leaders and students in North Arakan use the term ‘Rohingya’ for the region’s minority Muslim community.
1960 U Nu’s party wins elections, declaring Buddhism the state religion.
1962 A military coup ousts U Nu, establishing a single-party socialist government under General Ne Win. Rohingya rights are further eroded.
1964 Foreigners are expelled from Burma and independent newspapers banned.
1973 Arakan becomes a state of the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma, designated as the homeland of the Rakhine people.
1978–91 Government campaigns against the Rohingya push more than 200 000 Muslims into Bangladesh.
1982 The Burmese government’s new citizenship law identifies 135 national ethnic groups, excluding the Rohingya, rendering them stateless.
1988 Thousands of Buddhists and Muslims are killed in anti-government riots. The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) is formed.
Aung San Suu Kyi co-founds and leads the National League for Democracy (NLD).
General Saw Maung seizes power in a military coup. SLORC declares martial law. Burma is renamed Myanmar with Yangon as the new capital. North Arakan is officially known as Rakhine State.
1989 Aung San Suu Kyi is put under house arrest.
1990 The NLD wins the general elections but SLORC refuses to hand over power.
1991 Aung San Suu Kyi is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
1992 General Than Shwe is now head of state.
1995 Aung San Suu Kyi is released from house arrest.
2000 Aung San Suu Kyi is again placed under house arrest.
2007 Monks lead almost 100 000 Buddhists in anti-government demonstrations.
2008 Cyclone Nargis strikes. 138 000 people are killed and almost one million are left homeless.
2009 The Arakan Army (AA) is formed to safeguard the Arakanese.
2010 Aung San Suu Kyi is released. The first elections in 20 years are held. The Union Solidarity and Development Party claims victory.
2011 The first parliament in decades is convened in the capital Naypyidaw. Prime Minister Thein Sein is elected president.
2012 Aung San Suu Kyi wins a seat in parliament in Myanmar’s first multi-party elections since 1990.
Unrest breaks out in western Rakhine following the alleged rape and murder of a Rakhine Buddhist woman by three Muslims. Escalating communal violence leaves more than 200 dead and close to 150 000 homeless, predominantly Rohingya Muslims.
2013 March Aung San Suu Kyi wins re-election as leader of the NLD.
Deadly clashes between Muslims and Buddhists result in almost 100 000 people being internally displaced, the majority fleeing to Bangladesh by boat.
2014 April The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Myanmar urges action against possible ‘crimes against humanity’.
2015 The NLD party wins a historic majority. Aung San Suu Kyi becomes state counsellor and Htin Kyaw, president.
Approximately 21 000 Rohingya flee to Bangladesh. 8000 Rohingya are stranded at sea.
2016 About 125 000 people, mainly Rohingya, have been displaced since 2012.
A border post attack in Rakhine State believed to be by Muslim insurgents kills nine police officers. The Myanmar military forcibly removes thousands of villagers from their homes. The situation in Rakhine reaches its lowest point.
The UN and foreign media are blocked from entering northern Rakhine.
2017 February A UN report alleges Myanmar’s security forces are waging a brutal campaign of murder, rape and torture in Rakhine State.
August Myanmar’s state media reports the killing of 12 security officers in Rakhine State. The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) claims responsibility.
September The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, describes the Myanmar military operation as an example of ethnic cleansing.
Aung San Suu Kyi doesn’t denounce the alleged atrocities against the Rohingya community.
October According to the International Organization for Migration, 607 000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh, 140 000 Rohingya are internally displaced and 200 villages left abandoned.
December Médecins Sans Frontières releases a report detailing the death of about 6700 Rohingya due to the violence in Rakhine State in August and September of 2017.
2018 Aung San Suu Kyi has several international awards and accolades revoked.
Amnesty International reports ARSA allegedly massacred dozens of men, women and children in Hindu villages in Rakhine State during August 2017.
Violence between AA and security forces escalates in Rakhine State. AA continues to fight for greater independence for ethnic Rakhine Buddhists. Intercommunal violence mounts in northern Shan, Kachin and other conflict-affected areas in Myanmar.
The UN Security Council envoy visits Myanmar urging a proper investigation into alleged atrocities against the Rohingya in Rakhine State.