c. 600-450BC Etruscan capital of the Po plains, called Felsina
c. 450-191BC Felsina falls to the Gauls
189BC Romans defeat the Gauls and found the colony of Bononia
AD500 Western Roman Empire breaks up; Bologna falls into the hands of the Byzantines, then the Lombards
774 Charlemagne hands city over to Bishop Petronius
1088 Bologna University is founded
c. 1200 Bologna is established as an independent comune
1338 The Black Death decimates the population
1506 Papal troops capture Bologna; city under papal control
1796 Napoleonic Army frees Bologna and establishes French rule
1860 Bologna joins newly formed Kingdom of Italy
1941 Italy enters World War II as an ally of Germany; mass deportation of Bolognese Jews
1943 Mussolini is deposed by coup; Italy signs armistice with the Allies
Oct 1944 As Resistance gains strength, 1830 are shot dead by SS troops at Marzabotto, south of Bologna
Nov 1944 Battle of Porta Lame takes place between Italian Resistance and Nazi troops
Apr 1945 Allies liberate Bologna
1946 Monarchy is abolished; Christian Democrats dominate the Government for the next 47 years
1957 Italy becomes a founding member of EEC; prompting a countrywide 'economic miracle'
1970 Bologna University is occupied by students in protest at government education reforms
1980 Bombing of Bologna station by right-wing terrorists – 84 die
1996 Bolognese University professor Romano Prodi, leader of the centre-left coalition The Olive Tree, is appointed Prime Minister
1998 Italy joins the EMU
1999 Prodi is elected Head of European Parliament