Historical Timeline

Timeline of El Salvador

26 dated events spanning the recorded history of El Salvador.

Chronology

26 events spanning the history of El Salvador. BCE/CE dating.

1524
Spanish adventurer Pedro de Alvarado conquers El Salvador.
Spanish adventurer Pedro de Alvarado conquers El Salvador.
1540
Indigenous resistance is crushed and El Salvador becomes a Spanish colony.
Indigenous resistance is crushed and El Salvador becomes a Spanish colony.
1823
El Salvador becomes part of the United Provinces of Central America.
El Salvador becomes part of the United Provinces of Central America, which also includes Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
1840
El Salvador becomes fully independent.
El Salvador becomes fully independent following the dissolution of the United Provinces of Central America.
1969
El Salvador attacks and fights a brief war with Honduras
El Salvador attacks and fights a brief war with Honduras following the eviction of thousands of Salvadoran illegal immigrants from Honduras.
1977
Jesuit priest Rutilio Grande, S.J. is assassinated by the death squad.
Jesuit priest Rutilio Grande, S.J. is assassinated by the death squad.
1977
Anti-government guerrilla activities intensif
Anti-government guerrilla activities intensify amid reports of increased human rights violations by government troops and death squads; General Carlos Romero elected president.
1980
FMLN is formed in opposition to the government.
Naming itself after the 1930’s revolutionary leader, the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) is formed in opposition to the government.
1980
Archbishop Romero writes a letter to President Carter
Archbishop Romero writes a letter to President Carter: “Please don’t send any military, economic or diplomatic aid to this government or there will be a blood bath in my country.” Carter ignores his plea.
1980
Romero calls soldiers to obey higher law of God and not kill their brothers and sisters.
Romero calls soldiers to obey higher law of God and not kill their brothers and sisters.

1980
Archbishop Oscar Romero assassinated
Archbishop Oscar Romero assassinated at the Chapel of the Divina Providencia while celebrating mass.
1980
Sumpul River Massacre
Six hundred campesinos die at the Sumpul River Massacre. US Ambassador Robert White denies that the killings occurred.
1981
France and Mexico recognize the FMLN
France and Mexico recognize the FMLN as a legitimate political force; US continues to assist Salvadoran government whose army continues to back right-wing death squads.
1984
Duarte wins presidential election.
Duarte wins presidential election.
1986
Duarte begins quest for negotiated settlement with FMLN.
Duarte begins quest for negotiated settlement with FMLN.
1989
FMLN attacks intensify
FMLN attacks intensify; another Arena candidate, Alfredo Cristiani, voted president in elections widely believed to have been rigged.

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Timeline of El Salvador

Chronology

Spanish adventurer Pedro de Alvarado conquers El Salvador.

Indigenous resistance is crushed and El Salvador becomes a Spanish colony.

El Salvador becomes part of the United Provinces of Central America.

El Salvador becomes fully independent.

El Salvador attacks and fights a brief war with Honduras

Jesuit priest Rutilio Grande, S.J. is assassinated by the death squad.

Anti-government guerrilla activities intensif

FMLN is formed in opposition to the government.

Archbishop Romero writes a letter to President Carter

Romero calls soldiers to obey higher law of God and not kill their brothers and sisters.