Steep rise and fall of a military powerhouse who turned to politics

Key dates in the life of Egypt's ousted leader Hosni Mubarak, now on trial in Cairo.

• 4 May, 1928: Born in the Nile Delta village of Kafr el-Moseilha.

• 2 February, 1949: Mubarak, having attended Military Academy, joins the Air Force Academy, gaining his commission as a pilot officer.

• October, 1966: Becomes commander of the Cairo West air base.

• November, 1967: Is made commander of the Air Force Academy.

• 1969: Appointed chief of staff for the Egyptian air force.

• 1972: Becomes commander of the air force and deputy minister of defence.

• April, 1975: Chosen by president Anwar Sadat, pictured right, to be vice-president.

• 14 October, 1981: Sworn in as president following Sadat's assassination.

• 26 June, 1995: Survives an assassination attempt while visiting Ethiopia.

• February, 2005: Orders constitutional amendments that pave the way for Egypt's first multi-candidate elections.

• 7 September, 2005: First multi-candidate presidential election is held. Mubarak wins easily over nine other candidates.

• 6 March, 2010: Undergoes gall bladder surgery in Germany, temporarily handing power to his prime minister.

• 28 November, 2010: Parliamentary elections are held that opposition parties say are marred by fraud.

• 25 January, 2011: Thousands of anti-government protesters in Cairo stage the biggest demonstrations in Egypt in years.

• 28 January, 2011: Mass protests rock Cairo and other cities. Mubarak orders the army to restore order.

• 1 February, 2011: Promises not to seek re-election, but says he will serve out his term and "die on Egyptian soil".

• 11 February, 2011: Resigns and hands power to the military after protesters flood the streets of Cairo and other cities.

• 13 April, 2011: Detained along with his two sons for ordering the use of lethal force against protesters and corruption. The elder Mubarak is held in custody at a hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh to monitor his health.

• 14 July, 2011: Denies responsibility for the killing of about 850 protesters by his security forces during the uprising, according to a published transcript of his interrogation.

• 26 July, 2011: Mubarak's chief doctors say he has refused to eat however the health minister pronounces him fit to stand trial.

• 3 August, 2011: Mubarak is wheeled into a Cairo courtroom lying on a hospital trolley as his trial starts.