6th Century AD

The Slavonic tribe Polanie appeared on the banks of the river Warta

966

Duke Mieszko I Poland's first recorded leader, converted to Christianity and founder of the Piast dynasty. This is formally recognized as the birth of the Polish nation.

1000

Gniezno becomes the seat of Poland's first church province

1025

Bolesław the Brave becomes the first King of a unified Poland.

1100s

After Bolesław the Wry-Mouthed dies the kingdom is divided among four of his sons.

1320

Władisław I (a.k.a. Władisław the Short) crowned King of Poland re-uniting and re-instating the country as an independent kingdom.

1364

King Kazimierz the Great founds the Jagiellonian University in Krakow.

1410

Poles defeat the Teutonic Knights at the Battle of Grunwald.

1517

First book published in Polish.

1552

An Imperial Council grant the right to religious freedom.

1569

Union of Lublin: Poland and Lithuania join under a single crown.

1572

King Zygmunt August, the last Jagiellonian king, dies without an heir; Poland adopts an elected monarchy.

1573

The first Polish election was held

1596

King Zygmunt III Waza (the first elected king) moves the capital from Krakow to Warsaw.

1655 - 1660

The Deluge (Potop) Swedish and Russian invasion and occupation. During the wars Poland lost an estimated 1/3 of its population.

1673

The Battle of Chocim, Jan Sobieski defeats the Ottoman Turks and is subsequently elected King of Poland.

1683

The Battle of Vienna, King Jan III Sobieski defeats the Turkish army besieging the city of Vienna

1791

Constitution of May 3, Europe's first modern codified national constitution as well as the second oldest national constitution in the world

1794

Kosciuszko leads the uprising against the Russian Empire.

1795-1918

Polish independence ended in a series of partitions (1772, 1793 and 1795) undertaken by Russia, Prussia and Austria.

1918

Polish independence was eventually proclaimed on November 3, 1918 and later confirmed by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

1939

Nazi Germany attacks Poland; World War II begins.

1939-1945

World War II: 6 million Poles lose their lives.

1944

The Warsaw Uprising, the Polish Home Army troops resisted the German-led forces for 62 days. Losses on the Polish side amounted to 18,000 soldiers killed, 25,000 wounded and over 250,000 civilians killed.

1945

Communists take control in Poland, backed by the Soviets.

1978

Karol Wojtyła elected Pope; assumes the name John Paul II.

1980

Workers' protests lead to the formation of Solidarność (Solidarity), a nationwide independent trade union, with Lech Walesa as president.

1981

Martial law declared; Solidarność (Solidarity) is outlawed.

1983

Martial law is lifted; Lech Walesa is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

1984

Father Jerzy Popiełuszko, a priest associated with Solidarność (Solidarity), is kidnapped and murdered by the Polish secret police.

1989

Free elections mark the end of the Communist regime and one of the important events marking the fall of communism.

December 1990

First democratic presidential elections; Lech Wałęsa elected President.

1999

Poland joins NATO.

2000

Krakow is listed as one of the nine European Cities of Culture.

2004

Poland joins the European Union.

2007

UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) declares 2007 the Year of Joseph Conrad-Korzeniowski (1857 -1924) (Polish noble and English writer and sailor)

2011

Blessed John Paul II is beatified