- 1500 B.C. Polynesians arrive from the west.
- 500 B.C. Melanesians settle in Fiji, push Polynesians eastward.
- A.D. 1300-1600 Polynesians, especially Tongans, invade from the east.
- 1643 Abel Tasman sights Vanua Levu, other islands in Fiji.
- 1774 Capt. James Cook visits Vatoa.
- 1789 After the mutiny on the Bounty, Capt. William Bligh navigates his longboat through Fiji and is nearly captured by a war canoe.
- 1808 Swedish mercenary Charlie Savage arrives at Bau and supplies guns to Chief Tanoa in successful wars to conquer western Fiji.
- 1822 European settlement begins at Levuka.
- 1830 First Christian missionaries arrive at Lakeba in the Lau Group.
- 1840 A U.S. exploring expedition under Capt. John Wilkes visits the islands.
- 1848 Prince Enele Ma'afu exerts Tongan control over eastern Fiji from outpost in Lau Group.
- 1849 U.S. Consul John Brown Williams's home is burned and looted during July 4 celebrations; he blames Cakobau, high chief of eastern Viti Levu.
- 1851 U.S. warship arrives, demands that Cakobau pay $5,000 for Williams's losses.
- 1853 Cakobau is installed as high chief of Bau, highest post in Fiji.
- 1855 United States claims against Cakobau grow to $40,000; U.S. warship arrives, claims some islands as mortgage.
- 1858 Cakobau offers to cede Fiji to Britain for $40,000.
- 1862 Britain rejects Cakobau's offer.
- 1867 Unrest grows; Europeans crown Cakobau King of Bau; Rev. Thomas Baker is eaten.
- 1868 Polynesia Company buys Suva in exchange for paying Cakobau's debts.
- 1871 Europeans form central government at Levuka, make Cakobau king of Fiji.
- 1874 Cakobau's government collapses; he and other chiefs cede Fiji to Britain without price tag.
- 1875 Sir Arthur Gordon becomes first governor.
- 1879 First Indians arrive as indentured laborers.
- 1882 Capital moved from Levuka to Suva.
- 1916 Recruitment of indentured Indians ends.
- 1917 German Raider Count Felix von Luckner captured at Wakaya.
- 1917-18 Fijian soldiers support Allies in World War I.
- 1942-45 Fijians serve as scouts with Allied units in World War II; failure of Indians to volunteer angers Fijians.
- 1956 First Legislative Council established, with Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna as speaker.
- 1966 Fijian-dominated Alliance Party wins first elections.
- 1969 Key compromises pave way for constitution and independence. Provision guarantees Fijian land ownership.
- 1970 Fiji becomes independent; Alliance party leader Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara chosen as first prime minister.
- 1987 Fijian-Indian coalition wins majority, names Dr. Timoci Bavadra as prime minister with Indian-majority cabinet. Col. Sitiveni Rabuka leads two bloodless military coups, installs interim government.
- 1991 New constitution guaranteeing Fijian majority is promulgated.
- 1992 Rabuka's party wins election; he becomes prime minister.
- 1994 Second election cuts Rabuka's majority; he retains power in coalition with mixed-race general electors.
- 1995 Rabuka appoints constitutional review commission.
- 1998 Parliament adopts new constitution with 25 open seats holding balance of power.
- 1999 Labor union leader Mahendra Chaudhry is elected as Fiji's first Indian prime minister.
- 2000 Failed businessman George Speight leads insurrection, holds Chaudhry and other parliamentarians hostage. Military disbands constitution, appoints interim Fijian-led government under Laisenia Qarase, arrests Speight.
- 2001 Fiji's supreme court upholds 1998 constitution; Qarase's Fijian nationalist party wins parliamentary majority in new elections.
- 2002-04 Qarase releases some coup participants from prison, proposes "reconciliation" bill seen by others as amnesty.
- 2006 Citing corruption and racism, Commodore Frank Bainimarama overthrows Qarase, installs interim government with Chaudhry as finance minister.
- 2007 Bainimarama promises new elections by 2009.