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Fidel Castro Ruz born in Biran, Eastern Cuba.
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Starts uprising against Fulgencio Batista
Castro launches armed struggle against Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. But attack on Moncada barracks fails. -
Castro leaves prison and goes to Mexico
Castro, who stated “History will absolve me” at his trial, is given amnesty and leaves prison for Mexico. -
Castro and Che guevara regroup
Castro and 82 other rebels land at Playa Las Coloradas in Granma yacht. Cuban army easily outnumbers and rout rebels, but survivors take refuge in Sierra Maestra mountains where Castro, his brother Raul Castro and Argentine Ernesto “Che” Guevara -- regroup and launch a guerrilla war. -
Attacks cause an end to Batista's troops
Fall of Santa Clara, after rebel attack led by Che Guevara. Batista troops end military resistance. -
Begins the transformation of Cuba
Castro enters Havana after triumphal journey across Cuba. As supreme “Comandante” of the armed forces, he begins the political, economic and social transformation of Cuba, launching agrarian reform and nationalizing most foreign and local businesses. -
Castro as prime minister
Castro named prime minister. -
End of diplomatic relations
U.S. breaks diplomatic ties with Havana (Cuba) -
Cuba as a socialist state
Castro declares his revolution socialist. -
Bay of Pigs invasion begins
Castro directs troops in defeat of invasion attempt by U.S.-backed Cuban exiles at Bay of Pigs. -
Missile Crisis
Missile Crisis. Presence of Soviet warheads in Cuba provokes standoff between Moscow and Washington. Many fear nuclear war, but Soviet Union decides to withdraw missiles after President John F. Kennedy imposes naval blockade. -
Full embargo on Cuba
United States imposes full economic embargo. -
Castro joins a new Communist Party
Castro founds new Cuban Communist Party and is named First Secretary. -
Castro supports left-wing government in Angola
Castro sends troops to Angola to help left-wing government fight South-African backed rebels. -
Castro as president of Cuba
Castro becomes president, ratified by newly-created National Assembly. -
Ban of US dollars in Cuba
Castro government ends ban on use of U.S. dollars, one of a series of limited economic openings that government says are aimed at saving revolution. -
Riot against Castro
Hundreds of Havana residents riot in biggest anti-Castro disturbance since revolution. -
Thousands of people leave Cuba
More than 35,000 people leave Cuba in flimsy rafts and boats during summer crisis, prompting a migration agreement with the United States to allow a minimum of 20,000 legal entry visas to Cubans annually. -
Campaing in defense of the socialist system
Castro leads march by one million Cubans along Havana waterfront in campaign to defend socialist system in face of growing dissent and U.S. pressures. -
Castro forced to give up his power
Castro forced to hand over the reins of power to his brother Raul after undergoing emergency surgery to stop intestinal bleeding caused by undisclosed illness. -
Castro hints possible withdrawal from power
Castro hints he will not cling to power or block rise of younger leaders in message read on television. -
Castro confirms his political retreat
Almost 19 months since he last appeared in public, Castro said he would not return as head of state and government. -
US and Cuba announce an intention to normalize relationhips.
The government of the US-led by Barack Obama and Cuba claims the intention to normalize relationships. -
Obama and Rául Castro meet
President Obama of the USA and president Rául Castro of Cuba meet for the first time. -
Fidel Castro's death
Fidel Castro dies at 90 years old.