TIMELINE: Milestones in political history of Nepal

(Reuters) - Nepal's King Gyanendra was dethroned on Wednesday after a special assembly abolished the country's centuries-old monarchy.

Here is a chronology of the history of Nepal and its monarchy.

Medieval period - Nepal is divided into many small kingdoms.

1768-90 - The present Shah dynasty begins after King Prithvi Narayan Shah conquers Kathmandu, Patan and Bhadgaon in Kathmandu valley and unites Nepal's eastern and western kingdoms.

1846 - Jang Bahadur Rana takes over as prime minister and establishes the hereditary rule of the Ranas as prime ministers which lasts for another 104 years. The Shah kings are reduced to figureheads with no authority.

1946 - The Nepali Congress party is formed.

1948 - The country's first constitution is promulgated.

1950 - King Tribhuvan seeks asylum in India after falling out with the Ranas, who implicate him in a conspiracy against them. The Ranas install Gyanendra, then a toddler, as king.

1951 - King Tribhuvan is restored to the throne and the monarchy once again becomes an important centre of power.

1955 - King Tribhuvan dies and is succeeded by King Mahendra.

1959 - New constitution is promulgated, first general elections are held. Nepali Congress party wins absolute majority.

1960 - King Mahendra bans all political parties.

1972 - Mahendra dies. He is succeeded by his son King Birendra.

1990, April - King Birendra, under pressure from the pro-democracy movement, lifts 1960 ban on political parties.

Nov - King proclaims a new constitution establishing a multi-party democracy under a constitutional monarchy.

1996 - Maoists launch an armed rebellion from remote Himalayan foothills to try to topple the monarchy.