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Rolihlahla Dalibhunga Mandela is born into a tribal clan in a small village Qunu, near Umtata in South Africa's Eastern Cape. His father was chief of the Thembu Tribe. He is later given his English name, Nelson, by a teacher at his school.
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After the death of his father, he is placed in the care of the acting chief of the Thembu clan, Jongintaba Dalindyebo.
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Joins the African National Congress (ANC), initially as an activist.
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The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) was established by Anton Lambede (who became the League's first President), Nelson Mandela, Ashby Mda, Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo.
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Mandela and Oliver Tambo opened their own law firm, Mandela and Tambo, operating in downtown Johannesburg. The only African-run law firm in the country, popular with aggrieved blacks, often dealing with cases of police brutality.
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Freedom Charter was adopted in Kliptown, bringing the ANC together with Indian, Coloured and White organisations.
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Mr Mandela, along with 155 other political activists, is arrested for conspiring to overthrow the South African state by violent means, and is charged with high treason. But the charges are dropped after a four-year trial.
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Marries Winnie Madikizela. Divorced on 19 March, 1996.
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Police open fire on men, women and children in Sharpeville protesting at the new Pass Laws which limited the movement of blacks, killing 69 of them.
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ANC (African National Congress) is banned due to high sabotage acts and Mandela forms an underground military wing.
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In May of 1962, Mandela was convicted of conspiracy to try and overthrow the state, was punished with life imprisonment and sent secretly to Robben Island, the worst prison in Africa. The prisoners moved stones to the center of the yard and using hammers had to crush the stone into gravel everyday.
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His friend Oliver Tambo, who is in exile, and the ANC launch an international campaign for his release.
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After about 18 years in Robben Island prison, Mandela, Walter, and Kathy were moved to Pollsmoor Prison. This is where Mandela spent 9 more years in prison even though he was given an opportunity to get out if he didn’t continue violence. Pollsmoor was a 5 star hotel compared to Robben Island. It had 4 beds with sheets and towels, a great difference than sleeping on the floor for 18 years. There was a terrace about half the size of a soccer field, where they were allowed out during the day.
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World Conference on Sanctions against Racist South Africa, organised by the United Nations in cooperation with the OAU and the Movement of Non-aligned Countries. It is estimated that, between 1988 and 1990, the economic embargoes cost the country's treasury more than $4bn in revenue.
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He then was relocated to a different prison once again to Victor Verster prison where he spent 14 months in jail.
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Bowing to the pressure, President FW de Klerk lifts the ban on the ANC.
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After 27 years of imprisonment, Nelson Mandela is freed from prison by the new white president, F.W. De Klerk. The ANC and the white National Party soon begin talks on forming a multi-racial democracy for South Africa.
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“You are the new president for the organization (ANC). We elected you.” Oliver Tambo said. Negotiations, sanctions, boycotts, parades and violence continued in South Africa. On June 3, 1993 it was decided that elections will be held on April 27, 1994.
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The Nobel Peace Prize 1993 was awarded jointly to Nelson Mandela and Frederik Willem de Klerk "for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa"
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For the first time in South African history, the blacks went to polls to elect their own leaders. ANC won the elections by 62.6% and Mandela was chosen to serve as President of South Africa.
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In the first multi-racial democratic elections in South Africa's history, Mr Mandela is elected president. The ANC won 252 of the 400 seats in the national assembly.
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The inauguration would be the largest gathering ever of international leaders on South African soil. Mandela convinced his people to have two national anthems: the black’s anthem ‘Nkosi Sikele’ iAfrika’ and white’s anthem ‘Die Stem’.
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He launches his autobiography "Long Walk to Freedom" which he wrote during his 27 years of Prison.
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South Africa wins the Rugby Union World Cup, and Mr Mandela is publicly presented with a team jersey by the team captain, seen as a highly symbolic gesture of unity between blacks and whites. The match was played at Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg on 24 June 1995 between the host nation, South Africa, and New Zealand.
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Steps down as president to make way for Thabo Mbeki, who was nominated ANC president in 1997.
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Appointed as mediator in the civil war in Burundi.
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In honor of Mandela a big ceremony is held.
