Rulers of Nepal: Chronology

     Following is the chronology of important developments in the history of Nepal.

     1768 - Shah dynasty begins after Gurkha ruler Prithvi Narayan Shah conquers Kathmandu and lays foundations for a unified kingdom.

     1792 - Nepalese aggression halted by defeat at hands of Chinese in Tibet.

     1814-16 - Anglo-Nepalese war; culminates in treaty which establishes Nepal's current boundaries.

     1846 - Jang Bahadur Rana becomes Prime Minister. Establishes the hereditary rule of Ranas.

     1923 - Treaty with Britain affirms Nepal's sovereignty.

     1946 - Nepali Congress Party established.

     1948 - First Constitution of Nepal promulgated.

     1950 - King Tribhuvan, present King Gyanendra's grandfather, flees to India after falling out with the Ranas. Ranas implicate him in a conspiracy against them. Anti-Rana forces based in India form alliance with monarch.

     1951 - End of Rana rule. King Tribhuvan restored.

     1955 - King Tribhuwan dies, King Mahendra ascends throne.

     1959 - Multi-party Constitution adopted.

     1960 - King Mahendra seizes control and suspends Parliament, Constitution and party politics after Nepali Congress wins elections with B P Koirala as premier.

     1972 - King Mahendra dies, succeeded by Birendra.

     1980 - Constitutional referendum follows agitation for reform. King agrees to allow direct elections to national assembly - but on a non-party basis.

     1985 - Nepali Congress begins civil disobedience campaign for restoration of multi-party system.

     1989 - Trade and transit dispute with India leads to border blockade by New Delhi.

     1990 - Pro-democracy agitation co-ordinated by Nepali Congress and Leftist groups. King Birendra bows to pressure and proclaims a new Constitution establishing multy-party democracy under Constitutional monarchy.

     1991 - Nepali Congress wins first democratic elections. Girija Prasad Koirala becomes Prime Minister.

     1994 - Koirala's government defeated in no-confidence motion. New elections lead to formation of leftist government.

     1995 - Communist government dissolved.

     1995 - Maoists launch armed agitation to abolish monarch and establishing people's republic.

     1997 - Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba loses no-confidence vote.

     2000 - GP Koirala returns as Prime Minister.

     2001 1 June - King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya and other close relatives killed in shooting spree by drunken crown Prince Dipendra, who then shoots himself. Prince Gyanendra becomes King.

     2001 July - Maoist rebels step up violence. Premier Koirala quits over the violence; Sher Bahadur Deuba becomes Prime Minister.

     2001 November - State of emergency declared after more than 100 people are killed in four days of violence. King Gyanendra orders Army to crush the Maoist rebels.

     2002 May - Parliament dissolved, fresh elections called amid political confrontation over extending the state of emergency. Sher Bahadur Deuba heads interim government.

     2002 October - King Gyanendra dismisses Deuba and indefinitely puts off elections set for November. Lokendra Bahadur Chand appointed as Prime Minister.

     2003 January - Rebels, government declare ceasefire.

     2003 May-June - Lokendra Bahadur Chand resigns; King appoints Surya Bahadur Thapa as new premier.

     2003 August - Rebels pull out of peace talks.

     2004 May - Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa resigns following weeks of street protests by opposition groups.

     2004 June - King Gyanendra reappoints Sher Bahadur Deuba as Prime Minister with the task of holding elections.

     2005 February 1 - King Gyanendra dismisses Prime Minister Deuba and his government, declares a state of emergency.

     2005 April 30 - King lifts the state of emergency.

     2005 November - Maoist rebels and main opposition parties agree on a programme intended to restore democracy.

     2006 April - King Gyanendra agrees to reinstate parliament following weeks of violent strikes and protests against direct royal rule. GP koirala is appointed as Prime Minister. Maoist rebels call a three-month ceasefire.

     2006 May - Parliament votes unanimously to curtail the King's powers.

     2006 16 June - Prachanda and premier Koirala hold talks.

     2006 November - The government and maoists sign a historic peace accord.

     2007 January - Maoist leaders enter Parliament under the terms of Interim Constitution.

     2007 April - Maoists rebels join interim government.

     2007 May - Elections postponed to November.

     2007 September - Maoists quit interim government to press demand for monarchy to be scrapped.

     2007 October - Elections are again postponed.

     2007 December - Parliament approves abolition of monarchy as part of peace deal with Maoists, who agree to re-join government. Mainstream parties and the Maoists agree to hold elections by mid-April 2008.

     2008 April 10 - Nepal votes in elections for a Constituent Assembly to rewrite the country's constitution. The Maoists win 220 of 601 seats in the elections.

     2008 May 28 - The new Constituent Assembly is sworn in. CA abolishes 240-year-old monarchy. Declares Nepal a republic and asks Gyanendra to vacate Narayanhti Palace within 15 days.

     2008 June 11 - Gyanendra vacates royal palace.

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