In 1953, Hussein bin Talal was named king of Jordan, and would go on to become the world's longest ruling monarch

Born Hussein bin Talal in Amman to the Hashemite royal family that was the traditional guardian of the Islamic holy cities Mecca and Medina.

His grandfather, King Abdullah, had ascended the throne in 1920 when Britain carved the emirate of Transjordan out of lands taken from the Ottoman Empire in World War I.

Abdullah, now king of an independent Jordan, is assassinated. Hussein's mentally ill father, Crown Prince Talal, is installed as king in September.

Jordan's parliament forces Talal to abdicate, then names 17- year-old Crown Prince Hussein as king. A Regency Council is appointed to govern until the prince comes of age.

Hussein assumes full constitutional powers.

With Arab nationalism inspired by Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser on the rise, Hussein replaces senior British officers in the army with Jordanians after criticism that he is too influenced by the West.

Hussein defuses an uprising by Arab nationalist army officers by making a dramatic personal appeal to the troops. It is the first of many coup attempts he will face.

Hussein puts down another revolt by pro-Nasser elements, but must request the intervention of U.S. and British troops to maintain his rule.

Retaliatory strike by Israel against Palestinian guerrillas based in Jordan sparks Palestinian rioting that almost topples Hussein.

Joins Egypt and Syria to attack Israel in the disastrous Six Day War.

Jordan loses control of the West Bank and east Jerusalem and sees its military shattered, but Hussein shores up his support among the country's growing Palestinian population.

Helps draft U.N. Resolution 242, which calls on Israel to relinquish the newly occupied territories in exchange for Arab recognition of its right to exist.

Launches full-scale military attack to expel the Palestine Liberation Organization, which had increasingly flouted Hussein's authority and worked to undermine his rule.

Ten days of bloody street fighting force the guerrillas from Amman, but lower-level fighting continues until August 1971, when the final PLO elements flee the country. The assault again strains Jordan's relations with its Arab neighbors.

Arab leaders back the PLO over Jordan as "the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people."

Hussein marries a fourth time, to U.S.-born Elizabeth Halaby. The new queen of Jordan becomes known as Queen Noor.

Despite U.S. pressure, denounces the Camp David peace accords in front of the U.N. General Assembly as contrary to Arab interests. The gesture again moves Hussein into the Arab mainstream and opens the way for increased financial support.

Formally relinquishes Jordan's claims to the West Bank.

Begins process of moving Jordan toward democracy by holding first parliamentary elections since 1967.

Opts for neutrality in the Persian Gulf War between Iraq and the U.N. coalition, despite heavy pressure from the United States. The decision costs Jordan economically, but bolsters Hussein's popular support.

Overcomes renal cancer.

Signs peace accord with Israeli Premier Minister Yitzhak Rabin, ending 46 years of hostilities between the two neighbors.

Begins chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Helps stave off the collapse of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process by leaving the hospital to make a dramatic appearance at the Wye River peace talks in Maryland.

Last October, while battling cancer, Hussein helped President Clinton broker the Wye River interim peace agreement between Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Returns to a tumultuous welcome in Jordan after undergoing cancer treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Appoints his eldest son, Prince Abdullah, as heir. Hours later, he returns to the United States for further medical care at the clinic.

Hussein's private physician announces that the king's second bone marrow transplant has failed, and Hussein returns to Amman.

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