This day in history: 29 november

Europa

• 561 – Division of the Frankish Kingdom: After the death of King Chlothar I at Compiègne, his four sons divided the Frankish Kingdom, a pivotal moment in early medieval European history.
• 1732 – Irpinia Earthquake: A devastating magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the former Kingdom of Naples (now southern Italy), resulting in 1,940 deaths.
• 1943 – AVNOJ Conference in Yugoslavia: The Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia (AVNOJ) concluded its second session in Jajce (now Bosnia and Herzegovina), shaping the post-war order of Yugoslavia.
• 1944 – Liberation of Albania: Partisan forces liberated Albania from Axis occupation, marking a significant moment in the Balkans during World War II.
• 1945 – Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia Declared: Yugoslavia was officially declared a federal people’s republic, laying the foundation for its post-war socialist federation.
• 1939 – WWII Events:
  The German submarine U-35 surrendered near the Shetland Islands after being disabled by British destroyers.
  The Soviet Union granted all permanent residents of Soviet-occupied Poland full citizenship of the USSR, with the obligation to serve in the Red Army.
  Hitler issued Directive No. 9, focusing on economic warfare against Britain, including attacks on shipping and ports.
• 1530 – Death of Thomas Wolsey: The influential English Cardinal and Lord Chancellor died en route to imprisonment in the Tower of London.
• 1781 – Zong Massacre: The British slave ship Zong’s crew murdered 133 Africans, a case that became pivotal in the British abolitionist movement.

America

• The Sand Creek Massacre (1864)
  On November 29, 1864, one of the darkest chapters in American history unfolded when a Colorado militia led by Colonel John M. Chivington attacked a peaceful encampment of Cheyenne and Arapaho people at Sand Creek, Colorado. The assault, carried out under a flag of truce, resulted in the deaths of over 230 Native Americans, including many women and children. This event is widely recognized as a brutal example of the violence inflicted on Indigenous peoples during westward expansion.
• Founding of San Jose, California (1777)
  San Jose, originally known as Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe, was founded by Spanish soldier José Joaquín Moraga on November 29, 1777. It became the first civilian settlement in California and played a key role in the region’s agricultural development and eventual statehood.
• Battle of Fort Sanders (1863)
  During the American Civil War, Union forces under General Ambrose Burnside successfully defended Fort Sanders in Knoxville, Tennessee, against Confederate troops led by General James Longstreet. This battle was crucial in maintaining Union control over East Tennessee.
• First Airplane Flight Over the South Pole (1929)
  On November 29, 1929, American explorer Richard E. Byrd and his team became the first to fly over the South Pole, marking a milestone in polar exploration and scientific discovery.
• UN Partition Plan for Palestine (1947)
  The United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 181 on this day, calling for the partition of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. While this was a global event, the U.S. played a significant diplomatic role in its passage.
• Release of Pong (1972): The arcade game Pong, one of the first commercially successful video games, was released, marking a turning point in the entertainment industry.
• Mercury-Atlas 5 Mission (1961): The U.S. launched Enos the chimpanzee into orbit aboard Mercury-Atlas 5, a key step in the lead-up to human spaceflight.

Asia

• 1394 – Korea: King Yi Seong-gye, founder of the Joseon Dynasty, moved the Korean capital from Kaesong to Hanyang (modern-day Seoul). This strategic relocation marked the beginning of Seoul’s rise as the political and cultural heart of Korea, shaping the nation’s future development.
• 1890 – Japan: The Meiji Constitution went into effect, and Japan’s first Diet (parliament) convened. This was a landmark in Japan’s modernization and transition to constitutional government.
• 1893 – China: The Ziqiang Institute, now Wuhan University, was founded by Zhang Zhidong, governor of Hubei and Hunan, after approval by the Qing Government. This institution became a cornerstone of modern higher education in China.
• 1950 – Korean War: North Korean and Chinese troops forced United Nations forces to retreat from North Korea, marking a significant turning point in the conflict.
• 1947 – Vietnam: French forces carried out the Mỹ Trạch massacre during the First Indochina War, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Vietnamese civilians. This event remains a tragic symbol of colonial violence in the region.
• 528 – Antioch Earthquake (Middle East): The city of Antioch (in present-day Turkey/Syria) suffered a devastating earthquake, killing thousands and destroying much of the city.
• 1114 – Middle East Earthquake: A large earthquake damaged Crusader-held cities including Antioch, Mamistra, Marash, and Edessa.
• 903 – Battle of Hama (Syria): The Abbasid army defeated the Qarmatians, reinforcing Abbasid control in the region.

Africa

• Liberia: William Tubman’s Birthday
  November 29 is celebrated in Liberia as the birthday of William Tubman, the country’s longest-serving president. Tubman, who led Liberia from 1944 to 1971, is remembered for his policies of national unification and economic modernization. His birthday is a public holiday in Liberia, honoring his significant impact on the nation’s history.
• The Zong Massacre (1781)
  On November 29, 1781, the crew of the British slave ship Zong murdered more than 130 Africans by throwing them overboard to claim insurance money. While this atrocity occurred on a British ship, it is a pivotal event in African and diaspora history, highlighting the brutality of the transatlantic slave trade and fueling abolitionist movements in Britain and beyond.
• While November 29 itself is not widely marked by other continent-wide events, the broader month of November includes significant African milestones such as Algeria’s Revolution Anniversary (November 1), Morocco’s Green March (November 6), and the independence days of Angola (November 11) and Morocco (November 18).