c 10,000 BC		Neolithic people settle around Switzerland's lakes.
c 1000 BC		Celtic tribes settle in the region - Helvetii to the west and Rhaetians to the east.
58 BC		The Romans under Julius Caesar conquer Switzerland.
401 D		Roman legions withdraw.
400-600 AD		A succession of Germanic tribes move into the region.
c 700 AD		Missionaries convert the population to christianity.
768 AD		Swiss territory incorporated into Charlemagne's empire.
1033		The area becomes a province of the Holy Roman Empire.
11th C.		Autonomy of Swiss cantons reduced by Hapsburg empire.
late 12th C.		Count of Hapsburg rules central and eastern Switzerland from Austria, while Count of Savoy rules the west from Italy.
1276		Rudolf of Hapsburg, Holy Roman Emperor, attempts to assert feudal rights in Switzerland.
1291		Perpetual League established by three cantons around Lake Lucerne to pursue Swiss independence.
14th C.		Five more cantons join the league.
15 Nov 1315		Austrian invasion repulsed by Swiss Confederation at Battle of Morgarten.
1386		Battle of Sempach - Swiss army routs Austrian Hapsburg invasion.
9 April 1388		Austrian invaders defeated at Battle of Nafels, central Switzerland.
1446		Peace of Constance - ends war between Zurich and neighbouring cantons.
22 June 1476		Battle of Morat - invasion by Burgundy defeated.
1499		Peace of Basel - German Emperor Maximilian I recognises Swiss independence.
1512		Swiss Guards - mercenary troops for foreign service first raised.
1513		Swiss confederation grows to 13 cantons.
13-14 Sept 1515		Battle of Marignano - French army forces Swiss retreat.
1516		Alliance with France formed. Policy of neutrality first adopted.
1519		Reformation of Swiss Catholic church launched in Zurich.
1529		First Kappel War between Swiss Protestants and Catholics.
1531		Second Kappel War between Swiss Protestants and Catholics.
1536		Theologian John Calvin arrives in Geneva but is later expelled.
1541		Calvin returns to Geneva and sets about reforming the church.
1618		Switzerland neutral in Thirty Years War.
1648		Peace of Westphalia recognises full Swiss independence.
1798-1803		Switzerland invaded by France - Helvetic Republic puppet government imposed.
1803		Act of Mediation - traditional Swiss Confederation partially restored.
1815		Congress of Vienna confirms Swiss independence. 9 cantons added.
1815		Treaty of Paris - Swiss neutrality formally recognised.
1845		Sonderbund established by Catholic cantons - defeated in 1847 after a short civil war.
1848		New federal constitution gives more power to central government.
1864		International Red Cross founded in Geneva.
1874		Revised constitution increases federal powers and introduces referendum to decide major issues.
August 1914		Switzerland neutral in the First World War.
1920		Switzerland joins the League of Nations.
September 1939		Switzerland neutral in Second World War.
1945		Switzerland declines to join the United Nations.
1959		Founder member of European Free Trade Area (EFTA).
1986		Referendum rejects full membership of the United Nations.
1992		Referendum rejects membership of the European Union.
March 2002		Second referendum narrowly approves membership of the United Nations.
Sept 2002		Switzerland joins the United Nations.