Europa
- Battle of Mohács (1526)
On August 29, 1526, the Battle of Mohács took place, where the Ottoman Turks led by Suleiman the Magnificent decisively defeated the forces of the Kingdom of Hungary. This battle resulted in the death of the last Jagiellonian king of Hungary and Bohemia, Louis II, and marked the effective end of independent Hungary, opening much of Central Europe to Ottoman domination. - Treaty of Picquigny (1475)
On August 29, 1475, the Treaty of Picquigny was signed, ending a brief war between France and England. This treaty marked the conclusion of the Hundred Years’ War hostilities between the two countries, with King Edward IV of England agreeing to withdraw his forces from France in exchange for a pension from King Louis XI of France. - Frederick the Great Attacks Saxony (1756)
On August 29, 1756, Frederick II of Prussia (Frederick the Great) launched an attack on Saxony, marking the beginning of the Seven Years’ War. This conflict would become a global war involving most of the great powers of the time and had significant consequences for the balance of power in Europe. - Warsaw Falls to Sweden (1655)
On August 29, 1655, during the period known as The Deluge, Warsaw fell without resistance to a small force under the command of Charles X Gustav of Sweden. This was part of a broader Swedish invasion of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. - In 1833, the United Kingdom legislated the abolition of slavery throughout its empire, a landmark moment in European and world history.
- On August 29, 1831, Michael Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction, a foundational principle in the development of electricity and modern technology.
America
- Hurricane Katrina Strikes the Gulf Coast (2005)
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast near Buras, Louisiana. The storm caused catastrophic flooding, particularly in New Orleans, and resulted in the deaths of up to 1,836 people. Katrina remains one of the deadliest and most destructive hurricanes in U.S. history, with damages estimated at $125 billion. - Treaty of Easton and the First American Indian Reservation (1758)
The Treaty of Easton was signed on August 29, 1758, establishing the first American Indian reservation at Indian Mills, New Jersey, for the Lenape people. - Shays’ Rebellion Begins (1786)
On this day in 1786, Shays’ Rebellion began in Massachusetts. This armed uprising of farmers was a response to high debt and tax burdens, highlighting the economic struggles facing post-Revolutionary America. - US Navy Salvages First Sunken Submarine (1915)
U.S. Navy salvage divers raised the F-4, the first U.S. submarine lost in an accident, on August 29, 1915. - Philippine Autonomy Act Passed (1916)
The United States passed the Philippine Autonomy Act on August 29, 1916, which provided greater self-government for the Philippines, then an American territory. - US Air Force Academy Opens (1958)
The United States Air Force Academy officially opened in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on this date in 1958, marking a significant development in American military education.
Asia
- 1741 – Oshima–Ōshima Eruption and Kampo Tsunami (Japan)
On August 29, 1741, the eruption of the Oshima–Ōshima volcano off the coast of Japan triggered the Kampo tsunami, resulting in the deaths of at least 2,000 people along the Japanese coast. - 1588 – Sword Hunt Edict (Japan)
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the powerful Japanese daimyo, issued a nationwide sword hunting ordinance on August 29, 1588. This edict disarmed the peasantry to strengthen the separation between samurai and commoners, prevent uprisings, and further centralize power. - 1604 – Completion of the Guru Granth Sahib (India)
The Guru Granth Sahib, the central religious scripture of Sikhism, was fully compiled and completed by Guru Arjan on August 29, 1604. - 1949 – Soviet Union Tests Its First Atomic Bomb (Kazakhstan)
On August 29, 1949, the Soviet Union detonated its first atomic bomb, codenamed “First Lightning” (Joe-1), at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan. This event marked the beginning of the nuclear arms race in the Cold War era. - 1988 – Abdul Mohmand Becomes First Afghan in Space
On August 29, 1988, Abdul Ahad Mohmand became the first person from Afghanistan to travel to space. He flew aboard the Soviet Soyuz TM-6 mission and spent nine days on the Mir space station. - 708 – First Copper Coins Minted in Japan
The first copper coins were minted in Japan on August 29, 708, marking a significant development in Japanese economic history.
Africa
- 1985 – Anti-Apartheid Protests and Violence in South Africa
On August 29, 1985, massive protests against South Africa’s apartheid regime intensified. In Cape Town, police used shotguns, rubber bullets, and tear gas against demonstrators—resulting in the deaths of sixteen people, all Black or mixed-race. The protests, sparked by the government’s crackdown on student organizations and the continued imprisonment of Nelson Mandela, were part of a broader wave of unrest that saw nearly 150 killed and thousands arrested during that month alone. These events contributed to mounting international pressure on the apartheid government and economic instability in South Africa. - 1997 – Rais Massacre in Algeria
On August 29, 1997, at least 98 villagers were killed by the Armed Islamic Group of Algeria (GIA) in the Rais massacre. This tragic event was part of the Algerian Civil War, which saw widespread violence and civilian casualties throughout the 1990s. - 1900 – Cape Town City Hall Cornerstone Laid
On this day in 1900, Cape Town mayor Thomas Ball laid the cornerstone of the Cape Town City Hall, a significant architectural and civic milestone in South African history. - International Day Against Nuclear Tests
August 29 is recognized globally as the International Day against Nuclear Tests, which is relevant to Africa due to the continent’s historical opposition to nuclear weapons and its role in promoting nuclear disarmament.
This day in history: 29 august