400 BC-2nd C AD |
The Kingdom of Axum is born and it will become a regional rich trading power. |
300 AD |
Coptic Christianity is introduced from Egypt |
1150-1270 |
The Zagwe Dynasty rules over the northern highlands, introducing a sense of unity and stability |
1530-31 |
Conquer of much Ethiopia by the muslim leader Ahmad Gran |
1818-68 |
The regions of Amhara, Gojjam, Tijray & Shoa are conquered by Lij Kasa |
1855 |
Kasa becomes Emperor Tewodros II |
1868 |
Tewodros commits suicide to avoid capture after being defeated by a British expeditionary |
1889 |
The King of Shoa becomes Emperor Menelik II after the death of Yohannes IV while fighting Mahdist forces. Menelik signs a bilateral friendship treaty with Italy which is misunderstood as a protectorate. Addis Ababa becomes the capital of Ethiopia. |
1895-1896 |
Italians invade Ethiopia and finally are defeated during the Battle of Adwa in their attempt to conquer the country. |
1913 |
Menelik II dies and is succeeded by his grandson Lij Iyasu. |
1916 |
Lij Iyasu is deposed and succeeded by Zawditu, Menelik’s daughter, who rules through a regent, Ras Tafari Makonnen. |
1930 |
Ras Tafari Makonnen, Haile Selassie, is crowned Emperor of Ethiopia. |
1936-1941 |
Italian occupation. After an alliance with Britain by Emperor Haile Selassie I, Ethiopian and British forces drive Italian forces out of the country. |
1973-1974 |
More than 200,000 people die in Wallo province as a result of famine. |
1974-1991 |
The military led by General Teferi Benti push Haile Selassie out and the monarchy ends to establish a socialist state with Colonel Haile Mengistu as president after the death of Benti. During this period known as the “Red Terror” orchestrated by Mengistu, thousands of government opponents die. |
1991-1998 |
Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front forces Mengistu to flee the country. |
1993 |
Eritrea becomes independent after a referendum. |
1995 |
Meles Zenawi assumes the post of Prime Minister. |
1998-2000 |
A war between Ethiopia and Eritrea costs over 70,000 lives. |
2005 |
Ethiopian elections are celebrated in a tense environment with the final result being declared in favour of the ruling party. |
2007 |
Celebration of the new millennium according to the Coptic Orthodox Church Calendar. |
2012 |
After the death of Meles Zenawi, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hailemariam Desalegn takes over. |
2015 |
The ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) wins the general election. Barack Obama becomes the first sitting US president to visit Ethiopia. |
2016 |
A state of emergency is declared after months of riots and violent anti-government protests |
2018 |
Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn resigns in February and Dr Abiy Ahmed, an ethnic Oromo, becomes the new Prime Minister of Ethiopia. He soon starts to launch political reforms such as releasing political prisoners and declaring the end of the war between Ethiopian and Eritrea. He also appoints Sahle Wrok Zewde as first female Ethiopian President. |
2019 |
In March, an Ethiopian Airlines plane flying from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, Boeing 737, crashes southeast of Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people on board.
In June, a coup attempt against the federal government end up killing army chief Seare Mekonnen and Amhara State Governor Ambachew Mekonnen
|
2020 |
In April 8th 2020, the Ethiopian Government declared the State of Emergency (SOE) as a measure to prevent the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease.
In November, a social clash between the regional authorities in the Tigray region and the federal government led to an armed conflict |