Europa
- Battle of the Milvian Bridge Aftermath (312)
Roman Emperor Constantine the Great entered Rome after his victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, marking a significant turning point in Roman and Christian history. - First Witchcraft Trial in Paris (1390)
The first recorded witchcraft trial in Paris took place, resulting in the execution of three people. - Battle of Brustem (1467)
Charles the Bold defeated the forces of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège in the Battle of Brustem, influencing the power dynamics in the Low Countries. - Dutch Defeat Swedes in Battle of the Sound (1658)
During the Second Northern War, Dutch naval forces defeated the Swedes at the Battle of the Sound, impacting the balance of power in Northern Europe. - Mozart’s Don Giovanni Premieres (1787)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni had its world premiere in Prague, a landmark event in European cultural history. - Collapse of the U.S. Stock Market – Black Tuesday (1929)
The Wall Street Crash of 1929, known as “Black Tuesday,” triggered the Great Depression. While this event occurred in the United States, its effects were felt globally, severely impacting European economies and societies. - Liberation of Breda (1944)
The Dutch city of Breda was liberated from German occupation by the 1st Polish Armoured Division during World War II, a key moment in the liberation of the Netherlands. - Ottoman Entry into World War I (1914): The Ottoman Empire formally entered World War I, a move that had major consequences for the European balance of power.
- Execution of Sir Walter Raleigh (1618): The English explorer and courtier was executed in London, reflecting the turbulent political climate of early 17th-century England.
- Holocaust Atrocities (1941): Over 10,000 Jews were massacred by German occupiers in the Kaunas Ghetto, Lithuania, during the Holocaust.
America
- Black Tuesday and the Great Depression (1929)
On October 29, 1929, known as “Black Tuesday,” the U.S. stock market crashed. Panic selling led to the collapse of prices on the New York Stock Exchange, wiping out thousands of investors and signaling the beginning of the Great Depression, a defining event in American and global economic history. - 1901: Leon Czolgosz, the assassin of President William McKinley, was executed.
- 1940: The United States held its first peacetime military draft. Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson drew the first number—158—from a glass bowl, initiating conscription as the U.S. prepared for possible involvement in World War II.
- 1960: A chartered plane carrying the California Polytechnic State University football team crashed in Toledo, Ohio, killing 22 of the 48 people on board.
- 1964: Thieves stole the Star of India and other gems from the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Most gems were later recovered, and three men were convicted.
- 1998: Senator John Glenn, at age 77, returned to space aboard the shuttle Discovery, becoming the oldest person to fly in space and retracing his historic trail as the first American to orbit Earth.
- 2012: Superstorm Sandy struck the eastern U.S., devastating coastal communities, causing widespread power outages, and resulting in at least 182 deaths in the U.S..
Asia
- Ottoman Empire Enters World War I (1914)
On October 29, 1914, the Ottoman Empire launched attacks on Russian ports, marking its official entry into World War I. This action opened the Middle Eastern theatre of the war, which had a profound impact on the region’s subsequent history, including campaigns in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), Palestine, and the Arabian Peninsula. - Assam Bombings in India (2008)
On October 29, 2008, a series of bombings in Assam, India, resulted in the deaths of 69 people and injured 350. These coordinated attacks targeted crowded areas in Guwahati and other towns, highlighting ongoing security and insurgency challenges in northeastern India. - Delhi Bombings (2005)
On October 29, 2005, three separate bombings struck Delhi, India, just days before the Diwali festival. The attacks killed about 60 people and injured more than 200, underscoring the persistent threat of terrorism in the region. - In 539 BC, Cyrus the Great of Persia entered Babylon, liberating Jewish captives and allowing them to return to their homeland, an event with lasting religious and historical significance in the region.
- On October 29, 1923, the Republic of Turkey was officially proclaimed, marking the end of the Ottoman Empire and the beginning of modern Turkey. While Turkey straddles both Europe and Asia, this transformation had a major impact on the Asian side of the country and the wider region.
Africa
- Battle of Mbwila and the Fall of the Kongo Kingdom (1665)
On October 29, 1665, the Battle of Mbwila took place on the plains of Mbwila in present-day Angola. This decisive clash saw the Kingdom of Kongo, led by King Antonio I, face Portuguese colonial forces. The defeat of Kongo in this battle marked a turning point, leading to the decline of one of Central Africa’s most prosperous kingdoms after centuries of complex diplomatic and trade relations with Portugal. - Goma at the Heart of Crisis (2008)
On October 29, 2008, the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo was at the center of ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis. The region has long been plagued by violence, displacement, and instability, making this date emblematic of the broader challenges facing the Great Lakes region of Africa. - Benjamin Mkapa Re-elected President of Tanzania (2000)
On October 29, 2000, Benjamin Mkapa was re-elected as President of Tanzania, securing 72 percent of the vote. Mkapa’s presidency is noted for economic reforms and efforts to combat corruption, as well as strengthening Tanzania’s role in regional diplomacy.
This day in history: 29 october