Simon Bolivar defeats Spanish at Boyaca. Republic of Gran Colombia formed with Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela.
Gran Colombia dissolved when Venezuela and Ecuador split off, leaving present-day Colombia and Panama a separate state known as Nueva Granada.
Conservative and Liberal parties founded.
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc, the current largest guerrilla grouping) set up.
Campaign against drug traffickers stepped up following assassination of justice minister.
Eleven judges and 90 other people killed after M-19 guerrillas force their way into the Palace of Justice; Patriotic Union Party (UP) founded. Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupts. An estimated 23,000 people are killed in four Andean towns.
Pablo Escobar shot dead while trying to evade arrest.
Andres Pastrana Arango - a Conservative - elected president, begins peace talks with guerrillas.
Colombian army rescues the country's highest-profile hostage, Ingrid Betancourt freed
Congress approves a law setting up guidelines for peace talks with left-wing rebels. Previous governments have refused to negotiate with FARC.
