Nelson Mandela has died aged 95 Photo: GETTY
Read the story of Mandela's tempestuous life, filled with hardship and struggle and crowned by a singular triumph, in The Telegraph's seven-part obituary.
Former President of South Africa, who guided the country from apartheid to democracy during a life filled with hardship and struggle
Son of a chief of the Thembu clan of the Xhosa people, young Rolihlahla Mandela attends a local Methodist mission school. Here a British teacher, finding his name difficult to pronounce, christens him 'Nelson' after the admiral
3. Domestic and political strife
After becoming secretary of the ANC Youth League, Mandela receives his first banning order, preventing him from attending political gatherings. Taking the group's struggle underground, he faces difficulty both in politics and at home
4. A marked man
Shortly after meeting and marrying a young social worker, Winnie Madikizela, Mandela is imprisoned briefly and the ANC banned. Aquitted three years later, Mandela organises a bombing campaign and leaves South Africa for the first time
5. Imprisoned on Robben Island
Sentenced to life inprisonment with hard labour, Mandela lands on Robben Island in 1962. The conditions are primitive and the regime brutal, but with the help of his natural leadership the prisoners begin to win concessions
6. Guiding South Africa from apartheid to democracy
Released from prison after 27 years, Mandela convinces the ANC to abandon its dream that armed revolution would overthrow apartheid and choose the path of negotiation instead
7. Truth and reconciliation
Eager to forgive but not forget, Mandela supports the findings of The Truth and Reconciliation Committee, set up to investigate crimes of the apartheid years. He hands the ANC reins to Thabo Mbeki and marries Graca Machel
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/nelson-mandela/10115323/Nelson-Mandela-obituary.html
3. Domestic and political strife
After becoming secretary of the ANC Youth League, Mandela receives his first banning order, preventing him from attending political gatherings. Taking the group's struggle underground, he faces difficulty both in politics and at home
4. A marked man
Shortly after meeting and marrying a young social worker, Winnie Madikizela, Mandela is imprisoned briefly and the ANC banned. Aquitted three years later, Mandela organises a bombing campaign and leaves South Africa for the first time
5. Imprisoned on Robben Island
Sentenced to life inprisonment with hard labour, Mandela lands on Robben Island in 1962. The conditions are primitive and the regime brutal, but with the help of his natural leadership the prisoners begin to win concessions
6. Guiding South Africa from apartheid to democracy
Released from prison after 27 years, Mandela convinces the ANC to abandon its dream that armed revolution would overthrow apartheid and choose the path of negotiation instead
7. Truth and reconciliation
Eager to forgive but not forget, Mandela supports the findings of The Truth and Reconciliation Committee, set up to investigate crimes of the apartheid years. He hands the ANC reins to Thabo Mbeki and marries Graca Machel
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/nelson-mandela/10115323/Nelson-Mandela-obituary.html
