| Year |
Event |
| 1561 |
Poland captures Southern Latvia |
| 1629 |
Part of Latvia, including the city of Riga, is captured by Sweden. Riga becomes the largest city in the Swedish kingdom. |
| 1710 |
Russia captures Latvia. |
| 1812 |
The suburbs of Riga are set on fire as a defense against the Napoleonic invasion. |
| 1905 |
Poverty-stricken farmers rebel against the landowners. The protestors kill 600 people. |
| 1917 |
Russia captures part of Latvia. |
| 1920 |
Latvia gains independence, lands are transferred from the German nobility to the poor. |
| 1940 |
Within the framework of the Molotov - Ribbentrop agreement, Latvia is annexed to the USSR together with the other two Baltic states. |
| 1941 |
Nazi Germany captures Latvia. |
| 1944 |
The USSR recaptures Latvia. |
| 1949 |
The USSR deports many Latvians from the country. |
| 1987 |
First protests against the Soviet regime. |
| 1991 |
Latvia declares independence, joins the UN. |
| 1993 |
Ulmanis is elected the first president after the Soviet era. |
| 1999 |
The first woman was elected president. Latvia becomes a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). |
| 2000 |
The first negotiations towards joining the EU. |
| 2001 |
Riga celebrates 800 years since it was founded. |
| 2004 |
Latvia is expected to join the EU as a member. |
