Defence Minister Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca becomes acting prime minister on the resignation of Ludovic Orban over poorer-than-expected election results.
Centrist Ludovic Orban becomes prime minister after Social Democrats lose vote of confidence.
Some 200,000 people protest over government attempts to water down corruption measures, in largest demonstrations since fall of Communist regime in 1989.
Social Democrats form government after winning December 2016 elections.
A Nato missile defence system is installed in the face of Russia opposition.
Victor Ponta resigns as prime minister after months of scandal, culminating in mass street protests over lax safety regulations at a nightclub where 32 people died in a fire.
Conservative Klaus Iohannis beats Victor Ponta in presidential run-off election.
Victor Ponta becomes prime minister when his left-wing Social Liberal Union alliance topples the interim government.
Clashes over austerity and corruption prompt resignation of Prime Minister Emil Boc.
The International Monetary Fund and other lenders agree to provide Romania a rescue package worth 20bn euros.
European Commission warns Romania over high-level corruption.
Romania and Bulgaria join the European Union.
Romania signs EU accession treaty.
Centrist alliance leader Traian Basescu elected president. Ally Calin Tariceanu becomes prime minister with agenda of speeding up EU-oriented reforms.
Romania admitted to Nato.
Ion Iliescu defeats far-right rival Corneliu Vadim Tudor to retake presidency. Leftist Adrian Nastase becomes prime minister in minority government.
Security forces prevent 10,000 miners striking over pay from entering Bucharest.
Economic reform programme announced. Securitate Communist-era secret police files opened.
Riots by miners on strike over soaring prices force Prime Minister Petre Roman's resignation. 1996 - Centre-right election victory sweeps aside former communists. Emil Constantinescu elected president, Victor Ciorbea becomes prime minister.
Student and opposition protests against ex-communist leadership crushed when 20,000 miners are brought in to stage a counter demonstration.
Government embarks on economic and political reform programme.
Demonstrations in city of Timisoara spread nationwide in a bloody national uprising that leads to the execution of Nicolae Ceasescu and his wife.
Former Ceausescu ally Ion Iliescu forms a government pledged to democracy.
Austerity programme aimed at reducing foreign debt leads to food shortages and widespread power cuts.
Bucharest earthquake kills around 1,500 people.
United States grants Romania most-favoured-nation status.
Nicolae Ceausescu becomes Communist leader and pursues a foreign policy that often runs counter to Moscow's lead, while increasing repressive rule and personality cult at home.
Romania regains Transylvania under peace treaty but loses some territory to Soviet Union. King Michael is forced to abdicate and Soviet-style people's republic is formed.
Romania switches sides as Soviet forces close in. A Soviet-backed government is installed the following year.
General Ion Antonescu seizes power, and allies Romania with Nazi Germany.
Rise of fascist "Iron Guard" mass movement.
As part of the peace settlement at the end of the war, Romania virtually doubles in size and population.
King Carol's death ends Romania's alliance with the Central Powers - Germany and Austria. His nephew Ferdinand takes Romania into World War I on the Allied side in 1916.
The oil industry takes off with the opening of the first refinery.
Romania becomes a kingdom.
Romania wins full independence from the Ottoman Empire by siding with Russia in the Russo-Turkish War. It also acquires a coastline on the Danube delta.
Landed interests and disgruntled liberal politicians force the increasingly authoritarian Prince Cuza's abdication. Parliament invites the German prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen to succeed him.
Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza is proclaimed prince of both Moldavia and Wallachia, which unite as Romania in 1862.
Russian control over Moldavia and Wallachia ends with Moscow's defeat in the Crimean War.
Moldavia and Wallachia adopt a unified basic constitution, the Reglamentul Organic, which provides for their eventual unification.
Russia oversees the administration of Moldavia and Wallachia. Phanariot rule ends, and native Romanian rulers steadily gain influence.
Phanariot Greek governors begin to rule Moldavia and Wallachia on behalf of the Ottoman Empire, and launch administrative reforms.
The Habsburgs recapture Transylvania from the Ottoman Empire.
The three historic principalities of Romania - Transylvania, Moldavia and Wallachia - are briefly united under one ruler, Michael the Brave. They had been under Habsburg and Ottoman domination.