Latvia Historical Review
| 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. |