Present-day Seychelles are discovered by Portugal in 1501.
At that time the islands remain are uninhabited.
In 1744 the islands are settled by French and in 1756 it becomes a French colony as the Seychelles.
In 1794 the islands are occupied by the United Kingdom and in 1810 it becomes part of Mauritius.
It becomes officially British under the 1814 Treaty of Paris.
In 1903 it becomes a separate crown colony.
In the sixties two dominant parties come into existence, the Seychelles Democratic Party (SDP) of Charles Mancham and the Seychelles People's United Party (SPUP) of France Albert René.
In the 1970 elections the SDP wins 10 seats and the SPUP wins 5 in the Legislative Assembly.
Under the new constitution, Mancham became the chief minister of the colony.
The position of the SDP is confirmed at the 1974 elections.
The SDP forms a coalition with the SPUP.
Mancham becomes prime minister.
The Seychelles become independent in 1976 as the Republic of Seychelles.
Mancham becomes president and René prime minister.
In 1977 René stages a coup and exiles president Mancham.
In 1977, during Mancham's absence, supporters of René overthrow Mancham in a coup and install René as president.
He suspends the constitution.
The country is ruled by decree until 1979, when a new constitution was adopted.
He renames his party into the Seychelles People's Progressive Front and the republic becomes a one-party state.
In 1991 René announces a return to the multiparty system.
Mancham returns and revives the Democratic Party (DP).
The first free and fair elections are held in 1993 and won by René.
This is confirmed in the 1998 elections.
In 2001 he wins the elections again.
The liberal Seychelles National Party emerges as the largest opposition party.