I491 Probable date of birth. The family was distinguished in the Basque country, possessed considerable land, and had contacts with the Castilian nobility. His baptismal names were I–igo L—pez, the first of these being the one most used until the name 'Ignatius' began to appear.
1506 Move to Arevalo (some miles north of Avila) to serve as page in the household of Juan Velazquez de Cuellar, Treasurer of King Ferdinand of Castile; formal courtly education.
I5I5 Summoned for involvement in a brawl near Loyola.
I5I7 Financial ruin and death of his patron; Inigo obtains post.in the retinue of Antonio Manrique, Duke of Najera and Viceroy of Navarre.
I52I Successful diplomatic mission in Guipœzcoa; then disastrous of Pamplona, where his right leg is shattered; operation and convalescence; conversion experience.
1522 Visits Montserrat; then moves temporarily to Manresa, where leads a life of prayer and penance.
1523 Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, via Rome and Venice.
1524 Settles in Barcelona, starts private studies: first text of Spiritual Exercises (?); Letter 1.
1526 Moves (with three followers) to Alcala for University studies; first ecclesiastical trial.
1527 Second and third trials; moves to Salamanca; interrogated by Dominicans, new trial.
1528 Moves alone to Paris, and re-starts studies.
1529-35 Arts course, with begging journeys to Flanders and England in search of funds; 'First Companions' contacted.
1532 Letters 2, 3.
1534 'Vows' at Montmartre.
1535 Travels to Spain (return visit to Loyola) and Italy. Private theology studies in Venice; Letters 4-7.
1537 First Companions regroup; ordination to priesthood, Letter 8; move to Rome, with vision at La Storta; well received by Pope Paul III.
1538 After one year's wait, proposed move to Jerusalem seen to be impossible; meets strong opposition in Rome, overcome by recourse to Pope; acquittal at trial; Letters 9-1O.
1539 Deliberations about founding of new order; project arouses strong criticism.
1540 Papal Bull founding the Society of Jesus; departure of Xavier for India.
1541 Preliminary draft of Constitutions; election as Superior General and first formal vows.
1542-43 Growth of correspondence; active philanthropic work in Rome (with prostitutes, Jews and children).
1544-45 Discernment process recorded - Spiritual Diary - and begins writing of Constitutions.
1546 Society takes active part in Council of Trent (Letter 14); Francis Borgia joins secretly (Letter 13); opposition to episcopal dignities (Letter 15).
1547-49 Arrival of Polanco as secretary (Letter 18); alarming developments in Portugal (Letters 16, 20) and Gand’a (Letters 17, 22-23); educational interests (Letter 24).
1550 Holy Year; finishes first draft of Constitutions; Francis Borgia in Rome announces his membership in the Society.
1551 Initial approval of Constitutions by all available First Companions; letter of resignation (Letter 26); founding of Roman College.
1552-54 Despite chronic ill-health (especially in 1553) active administration, with particular reflection on nature of obedience (Letters 28, 31), involvement in high political spheres (Letter 30) and education.
1555 Dictation of Reminiscences; continued administration (Letters 34-40) Constant ill-health, then sudden death in the morning of 19th of July.

View a pictorial biography of St Ignatius' life