1519 Hernan Cortes arrives in Mexico in search of the Aztec civilization and their wealth.
1576 The Mexican city of León is founded by order of the viceroy Don Martín Enríquez de Almanza.
1693 Ignacio de Maya founds the Real Santiago de las Sabinas, now known as Sabinas Hidalgo, Nuevo León, México.
1811 Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, leader of the Mexican insurgency, is executed by the Spanish in Chihuahua, Mexico.
1821 The Treaty of Córdoba is signed in Córdoba, now in Veracruz, Mexico, concluding the Mexican War of Independence from Spain.
1821 Mexico gains its independence from Spain.
1823 Stephen F. Austin receives a grant of land in Texas from the government of Mexico.
1824 Mexico adopts a new constitution and becomes a federal republic.
1829 Surrender of the expedition led by Isidro Barradas at Tampico, sent by the Spanish crown in order to retake Mexico, This was the final consummation of Mexican independence.
1835 The Texas Revolution begins with the Battle of Gonzales: Mexican soldiers attempt to disarm the people of Gonzales, Texas, but encounter stiff resistance from a hastily assembled militia.
1836 A convention of delegates from 57 Texas communities convenes in Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas, to deliberate independence from Mexico.
1836 Texas Revolution: A day after the Battle of San Jacinto, forces under Texas General Sam Houston capture Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna.
1836 Spain recognizes the independence of Mexico.
1845 According with International Boundary delimitation, U.S.A annexes the Mexican state of Texas, following the Manifest Destiny doctrine. For others, the Republic of Texas is admitted as the 28th U.S. state.
1846 Mexican-American War: The United States declares war on Mexico.
1846 Mexican-American War: President Mariano Paredes of Mexico unofficially declares war on the United States.
1846 Bear Flag Revolt begins – Anglo settlers in Sonoma, California, start a rebellion against Mexico and proclaim the California Republic.
1846 U.S. forces led by Zachary Taylor capture the Mexican city of Monterrey.
1848 American victory at the battle of Cerro Gordo opens the way for invasion of Mexico.
1848 Mexican-American War: Mexico ratifies the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo thus ending the war and ceding California, Nevada, Utah and parts of four other modern-day U.S. states to the United States for $15 million USD.
1853 Gadsden Purchase: The United States buys land from Mexico to facilitate railroad building in the Southwest.
1854 In the Battle of Guaymas, Mexico, General Jose Maria Yanez stops the French invasion led by Count Gaston de Raousset-Boulbon.
1863 Mexican forces attacked the French Foreign Legion in Hacienda Camarón, Mexico.
1864 Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg is elected emperor of Mexico.
1864 Emperor Maximilian of Mexico arrives in Mexico for the first time.
1880 Mexican soldiers kill Victorio, one of the greatest Apache military strategists.
1889 Tijuana, Mexico, is founded.
1909 The Flores Theater fire in Acapulco, Mexico kills 250.
1916 Pancho Villa leads nearly 500 Mexican raiders in an attack against Columbus, New Mexico.
1917 German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmermann sends the Zimmermann Telegram to Mexico, proposing a German-Mexican alliance against the United States.
1917 The current constitution of Mexico is adopted, establishing a federal republic with powers separated into independent executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
1917 World War I: The U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom is given the Zimmermann Telegram, in which Germany pledges to ensure the return of New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona to Mexico if Mexico declares war on the United States.
1924 Diplomatic relations between Mexico and the Soviet Union are established.
1938 Mexico nationalizes all foreign-owned oil properties within its borders.
1942 Mexico enters World War II on the side of the Allies.
1943 The Parícutin volcano begins to form in Parícutin, Mexico.
1943 The Monterrey Institute of Technology, one of the largest and most influential private universities in Latin America, is founded in Monterrey, Mexico.
1969 Allende meteorite falls near Pueblito de Allende, Chihuahua, Mexico.
1982 Mexico announces it is unable to pay its enormous external debt, marking the beginning of a debt crisis that spreads to all of Latin America and the Third World.
1994 The Zapatista Army of National Liberation initiates twelve days of armed conflict in the Mexican State of Chiapas.
1994 At an election rally in Tijuana, Mexican presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colosio is assassinated by Mario Aburto Martínez.
1995 President Bill Clinton authorizes a $20 billion loan to Mexico to stabilize its economy.
1997 Acteal massacre: Attendees at a prayer meeting of Roman Catholic activists for indigenous causes in the small village of Acteal in the Mexican state of Chiapas are massacred by paramilitary forces.
2003 In Mexico, the last 'old style' Volkswagen Beetle rolls off the assembly line.