1918 Germany, Austria and Russia sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ending Russia's involvement in World War I, and leading to the independence of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
1918 Latvia declares its independence from Russia.
1919 Lāčplēša day – Latvian forces defeat the Freikorps at Riga in the Latvian War of Independence.
1920 The Latvia-Bolshevist Russia peace treaty, which relinquished Russia's authority and pretenses to Latvia, is signed.
1934 Kārlis Ulmanis establishes an authoritarian government in Latvia.
1940 The three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania fall under the occupation of the Soviet Union.
1940 The United States' Under Secretary of State Sumner Welles issues a declaration on the U.S. non-recognition policy of the Soviet annexation and incorporation of three Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
1940 World War II: the Soviet Union formally annexes Latvia.
1941 June deportation, the first major wave of Soviet mass deportations and murder of Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians, begins.
1944 World War II: Riga, the capital of Latvia is liberated by the Red Army.
1949 The extensive deportation campaign known as March deportation is conducted in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to force collectivisation by way of terror. The Soviet authorities deport more than 92,000 people from the Baltics to remote areas of the Soviet Union.
1989 Singing Revolution: two million people from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania stand on the Vilnius-Tallinn road, holding hands (Baltic Way).
1990 Latvia proclaims the renewal of its independence after the Soviet occupation.
1991 In two concurring referendums: 74% of the population of Latvia votes for independence from the Soviet Union, in stonia
1991 Latvia declares renewal of its full independence after the occupation of Soviet Union.
1991 The European Community recognizes the independence of the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
1991 The United States recognize the independence of the Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
1991 The Soviet Union recognizes the independence of the Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
1991 Estonia, North Korea, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, the Marshall Islands and Micronesia join the United Nations.
1992 The first post-Soviet monetary reform in Latvia ended, as the Soviet rouble lost its status as legal tender.
1995 Latvia applies for membership in the European Union.
2001 Bulgaria, Cyprus, Latvia, Malta, Slovenia and Slovakia join the European Environment Agency.
2002 NATO invites Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to become members.
2002 Enlargement of the European Union: The European Union announces that Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia will become members from May 1, 2004.
2004 Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia join NATO as full members.
2004 Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia join the European Union, celebrated at the residence of the Irish President in Dublin.
2005 Latvia amends its constitution to eliminate possibility of same-sex couples being entitled to marry.