March 29

Events

1430day.year

The Ottoman Empire under Murad II captures Thessalonica from the Republic of Venice.

In 1430, Murad II leads the Ottoman Empire to seize the strategic port city of Thessalonica from the Republic of Venice.
Thessalonica was a vital commercial and military hub in the northeastern Mediterranean. Under Sultan Murad II, Ottoman forces launched a decisive campaign against Venetian defenses. The fall of the city marked a turning point in the Ottoman expansion into the Balkans. Venice’s loss of Thessalonica weakened its trade network and maritime dominance. Ottoman control of the city would last for nearly five centuries, reshaping the region’s culture and commerce.
1430 Ottoman Empire Murad II captures Thessalonica Republic of Venice
1461day.year

Battle of Towton: Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Edward IV of England, bringing a temporary stop to the Wars of the Roses.

At the Battle of Towton in 1461, Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret and secures the throne as Edward IV, temporarily ending the Wars of the Roses.
Fought during the Wars of the Roses, the Battle of Towton is considered one of the bloodiest in English history. Edward of York’s victory over Queen Margaret of Anjou cemented his claim to the English crown. Harsh winter conditions and swirling snow added to the battle’s chaos on the Yorkshire moors. Thousands of soldiers from both sides perished in the fiercest medieval engagement on English soil. Edward IV’s ascendancy brought a brief period of stability before renewed dynastic struggles. The battle’s outcome reshaped the future of the York and Lancaster houses for generations to come.
1461 Battle of Towton Edward of York Queen Margaret Edward IV of England Wars of the Roses
1549day.year

The city of Salvador, Bahia, the first capital of Brazil, is founded.

The city of Salvador, Bahia, is founded in 1549 as the first capital of colonial Brazil.
Established by Portuguese settlers in 1549, Salvador became Brazil’s first colonial capital. Located on the Bay of All Saints, the city served as a key port for sugar and slave trade. Its founding marked the beginning of European urban development in South America. Salvador’s colonial architecture and vibrant culture reflect centuries of African, Indigenous, and European influences. The city would remain capital until 1763, playing a central role in Brazil’s colonial economy. Today, its historic Pelourinho district is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
1549 Salvador, Bahia Brazil
1632day.year

Treaty of Saint-Germain is signed returning Quebec to French control after the English had seized it in 1629.

The 1632 Treaty of Saint-Germain returns Quebec to French control after English occupation.
Signed in 1632, the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye restored Quebec from English to French rule. England had seized Quebec in 1629 during conflicts over trade and colonial dominance. Under the treaty, France regained its North American foothold and fur trading posts. Samuel de Champlain soon returned to reestablish the settlement on the Saint Lawrence River. The agreement shaped the future of New France and its relations with Indigenous nations. Quebec would remain a crucial center of French colonial administration in the Americas.
1632 Treaty of Saint-Germain Quebec 1629
1792day.year

King Gustav III of Sweden dies after being shot in the back at a midnight masquerade ball at Stockholm's Royal Opera 13 days earlier.

King Gustav III of Sweden dies in 1792 after being shot at a royal masquerade ball.
At a midnight masquerade at the Stockholm Royal Opera, King Gustav III was mortally wounded by an assassin’s shot. The conspirators opposed his autocratic reforms and feared diminishing noble privileges. Gustav endured thirteen days of suffering before succumbing to his injuries on March 29, 1792. His death plunged Sweden into political uncertainty and power struggles among the elite. Gustav III’s reign had modernized the country’s legal system and fostered cultural growth. The dramatic assassination inspired ballets, operas, and artworks depicting the fateful court intrigue.
1792 Gustav III masquerade ball Stockholm Royal Opera
1806day.year

Construction is authorized of the Great National Pike, better known as the Cumberland Road, becoming the first United States federal highway.

In 1806, the U.S. authorizes construction of the Great National Pike, the first federal highway.
Congress approved the Great National Pike, also known as the Cumberland Road, in 1806 as America’s first federally funded highway. It would stretch from Cumberland, Maryland, toward the Ohio River, facilitating westward expansion. The road overcame challenging terrain through early American engineering feats like cuts and bridges. Funded jointly by federal and state governments, it set a precedent for national infrastructure projects. Pioneers and merchants relied on the route to transport goods and settlers to the frontier. The Cumberland Road later became a symbol of the nation’s commitment to connectivity and growth.
1806 Cumberland Road highway
1809day.year

King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden abdicates after a coup d'état.

King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden abdicates the throne in 1809 following a coup d'état.
Facing military defeat by Russia and widespread dissatisfaction, Gustav IV Adolf was deposed in March 1809. A group of Swedish nobles staged a coup, accusing the king of disastrous leadership. He formally abdicated the throne on March 29, ending the Gustavian dynasty’s rule. The Riksdag of the Estates convened to draft a new constitution and reorganize royal authority. Gustav’s exile paved the way for Charles XIII to assume the Swedish crown. The events initiated significant constitutional reforms and modernized Sweden’s governance.
1809 Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden abdicates coup d'état
1809day.year

At the Diet of Porvoo, Finland's four Estates pledge allegiance to Alexander I of Russia, commencing the secession of the Grand Duchy of Finland from Sweden.

At the 1809 Diet of Porvoo, Finland's Estates swear allegiance to Alexander I, marking Finland's secession from Sweden.
Invited by Tsar Alexander I, Finland’s four Estates swore loyalty to the Russian Emperor in Porvoo. This historic event marked the transition of Finland from Swedish to Russian rule. The Grand Duchy of Finland was granted autonomous status and its own legal system. Finland retained local laws and Lutheran faith under Russian sovereignty. The Diet of Porvoo laid the foundation for Finnish national identity and self-administration. It signaled a new era of stability and development under the Romanov dynasty.
Diet of Porvoo four Estates Alexander I of Russia Grand Duchy of Finland Sweden
1847day.year

Mexican–American War: United States forces led by General Winfield Scott take Veracruz after a siege.

U.S. forces under General Winfield Scott capture Veracruz in 1847 after a siege.
During the Mexican–American War, Major-General Winfield Scott launched an amphibious assault on Veracruz. After a 20-day siege, U.S. troops overcame fortified positions on the coastal city. The victory provided a vital supply base for the push toward Mexico City. It involved coordinated naval bombardment and troop landings on San Juan beaches. The fall of Veracruz demonstrated American military innovation and logistical prowess. This triumph was a turning point in the campaign that would decide the war’s outcome.
1847 Mexican–American War Winfield Scott Veracruz siege
1849day.year

The United Kingdom annexes the Punjab.

The United Kingdom formally annexes the Punjab in 1849 following the Second Anglo-Sikh War.
After defeating the Sikhs in the Second Anglo-Sikh War, the British annexed the Punjab on March 29, 1849. The Treaty of Lahore ceded the region to British control and reorganized its administration. Punjab’s fertile lands and strategic location boosted the Empire’s hold over the Indian subcontinent. Local governance was restructured under British political officers and martial law provisions. The annexation expanded the Empire’s frontier and secured vital trade routes. Punjab’s incorporation influenced local culture, law, and the future of British India.
1849 United Kingdom Punjab
1857day.year

Sepoy Mangal Pandey of the 34th Regiment, Bengal Native Infantry mutinies against the East India Company's rule in India and inspires the protracted Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny.

On March 29, 1857, Sepoy Mangal Pandey's revolt sparked the wider Indian Rebellion against the East India Company.
On March 29, 1857, Sepoy Mangal Pandey of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry openly defied the East India Company's authority at Barrackpore. His act of firing on British officers marked the first armed challenge to Company rule. News of the uprising spread rapidly, inspiring fellow sepoys and civilian supporters across northern India. The rebellion grew into a widespread and protracted conflict that drew in numerous princely states and local communities. Though ultimately suppressed, it fundamentally altered British colonial policy and reshaped India's path toward independence.
1857 Sepoy Mangal Pandey Regiment Bengal Native Infantry East India Company rule in India Indian Rebellion of 1857
1867day.year

Queen Victoria gives Royal Assent to the British North America Act which establishes Canada on July 1.

Queen Victoria granted Royal Assent to the British North America Act, paving the way for the creation of Canada.
On March 29, 1867, Queen Victoria signed the British North America Act into law, establishing the Dominion of Canada effective July 1. The Act united the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia under a federal system. It marked a significant step toward self-government within the British Empire. Canadian institutions and parliamentary structures were defined, balancing provincial and federal powers. This foundation would expand as other provinces joined Confederation. The event remains celebrated as the birth of modern Canada.
1867 Queen Victoria Royal Assent British North America Act July 1