-
Italy becomes a nation-state under King Victor Emmanuel II
-
Italy enters the First World War on side of Allies.
-
Benito Mussolini forms an alliance with Nazi Germany.
-
Italy enters Second World War on German side. Italian forces occupy British Somaliland in East Africa.
-
Sicily invaded by Allies. Benito Mussolini overthrown, armistice signed with Allies. Italy declares war on Germany.
-
Benito Mussolini, who had been rescued from prison by Germans, is captured and executed by Italian partisans.
-
Giulio Andreotti becomes prime minister - a post he will hold seven times in 20 years.
-
Roman Catholicism loses status as state religion.
-
Bribery scandal leads to Mr Craxi's resignation as leader of Socialist Party. He later flees the country, is tried and sentenced in absentia to imprisonment but dies in Tunisia in 2000.
-
First constitutional referendum since 1946 sees vote in favour of major change giving greater autonomy to the country's 20 regions in tax, education and environment policies.
-
Parliament ratifies EU constitution.
-
Hundreds of Italian peacekeepers leave for Lebanon. Italy is set to become the biggest contributor to the UN-mandated force.
-
After posting two consecutive quarters of negative growth, Italy is declared to be officially in recession.
-
Enrico Letta of the Democratic Party (PD) becomes prime minister at the head of a grand coalition that also includes Silvio Berlusconi's PdL, after Pier Luigi Bersani steps down as PD leader.
-
Enrico Letta of the Democratic Party (PD) becomes prime minister at the head of a grand coalition that also includes Silvio Berlusconi's PdL, after Pier Luigi Bersani steps down as PD leader.
-
France recalls ambassador from Rome after Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio meets French "yellow-vest" protesters.