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
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
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
1879day.year
Anglo-Zulu War: Battle of Kambula: British forces defeat 20,000 Zulus.
In the Battle of Kambula during the Anglo-Zulu War, British forces repelled a 20,000-strong Zulu army with superior tactics and firepower.
On March 29, 1879, the Battle of Kambula saw British troops under Colonel Evelyn Wood engage a large Zulu force near the Kambula River in present-day South Africa. Anticipating the Zulu attack, the British formed a fortified laager and established rifle and Gatling gun positions. When approximately 20,000 Zulu warriors charged, disciplined volleys and artillery fire inflicted heavy casualties. The decisive defense shattered the morale of the Zulu army and halted their advance into Natal. This victory marked a turning point in the Anglo-Zulu War, leading to further British offensives that eventually subdued the Zulu Kingdom. The battle demonstrated the impact of modern military technology against traditional forces.
1879
Anglo-Zulu War
Battle of Kambula
Zulus
1941day.year
World War II: British Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy forces defeat those of the Italian Regia Marina off the Peloponnesian coast of Greece in the Battle of Cape Matapan.
British and Australian naval forces defeated the Italian fleet at the Battle of Cape Matapan, marking a turning point in the Mediterranean theater.
On March 28–29, 1941, Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy units engaged the Italian Regia Marina off the coast of the Peloponnese in Greece. Leveraging superior radar and intelligence, the Allied fleet under Admiral Andrew Cunningham ambushed Italian cruisers and destroyers at night. The battle resulted in the sinking of three Italian heavy cruisers and two destroyers with minimal Allied losses. Cape Matapan curtailed Italian naval operations and secured Allied control of sea lanes in the eastern Mediterranean. The victory boosted Allied morale and impaired Axis supply routes to North Africa and Greece. It showcased the effectiveness of technological advantage and inter-Allied coordination in naval warfare.
World War II
Royal Navy
Royal Australian Navy
Regia Marina
Peloponnesian
Battle of Cape Matapan
1942day.year
The Bombing of Lübeck in World War II is the first major success for the RAF Bomber Command against Germany and a German city.
RAF Bomber Command launched its first successful major raid on the German city of Lübeck during World War II.
On the night of March 28–29, 1942, the Royal Air Force Bomber Command targeted the historic Hanseatic city of Lübeck in northern Germany. Using new pathfinder techniques, crews marked the city with flares, allowing following bombers to strike with improved accuracy. The raid created a firestorm that destroyed large sections of the medieval city center, causing over 300 civilian casualties. As the first significant raid on a German urban area, it demonstrated the potency of area bombing tactics. The operation boosted Allied confidence in strategic bombing but also raised ethical debates over civilian impact. German authorities accelerated air defense and firefighting improvements in response to this unprecedented assault.
1942
Bombing of Lübeck in World War II
RAF Bomber Command
1947day.year
The Malagasy Uprising against French colonial rule begins in Madagascar.
An armed revolt breaks out in Madagascar as locals challenge French colonial rule, sparking the Malagasy Uprising.
On March 29, 1947, Malagasy nationalists launched an armed uprising against French colonial authorities in Madagascar.
The revolt began with coordinated attacks on administrative centers and railway lines.
Discontent had been growing due to economic exploitation and political repression under French rule.
Led by members of the Mouvement Démocratique de la République Malgache, insurgents aimed to secure independence.
The uprising quickly spread across the highlands but was met with brutal suppression by French forces.
Thousands of Malagasy civilians and insurgents were killed in intense reprisals.
Although ultimately crushed, the revolt galvanized international support for decolonization in Africa.
1947
Malagasy Uprising
Madagascar
1973day.year
Vietnam War: The last United States combat soldiers leave South Vietnam.
The final U.S. combat troops depart South Vietnam, marking a pivotal moment in the Vietnam War.
On March 29, 1973, the last American combat soldiers officially withdrew from South Vietnam.
This departure followed the Paris Peace Accords signed earlier that month.
It symbolized the end of direct U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War.
Remaining advisory personnel and support units stayed behind under diplomatic terms.
The withdrawal was met with both relief and apprehension among Americans and Vietnamese alike.
North Vietnamese forces continued their campaign, leading to the fall of Saigon in 1975.
The event marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy and military strategy.
1973
Vietnam War
South Vietnam
1973day.year
Operation Barrel Roll, a covert American bombing campaign in Laos to stop communist infiltration of South Vietnam, ends.
Operation Barrel Roll, a covert U.S. bombing campaign in Laos, comes to a conclusion.
On March 29, 1973, the covert Operation Barrel Roll in Laos officially ended.
Launched in 1964, the campaign aimed to disrupt communist supply routes into South Vietnam.
American aircraft carried out thousands of strikes against Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese targets.
The operation was conducted under secrecy due to Laos's official neutrality in the conflict.
Its conclusion reflected shifting U.S. military priorities following the Paris Peace Accords.
Barrel Roll had significant humanitarian impact, causing civilian casualties and widespread destruction.
The operation's secrecy and legal ambiguities spurred post-war analysis of covert warfare ethics.
Operation Barrel Roll
Laos
communist infiltration
South Vietnam
2002day.year
In reaction to the Passover massacre two days prior, Israel launches Operation Defensive Shield against Palestinian militants, its largest military operation in the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War.
On March 29, 2002, Israel launched Operation Defensive Shield, its largest military offensive in the West Bank since the 1967 war.
In response to the March 27 Passover massacre, the Israel Defense Forces initiated Operation Defensive Shield in the West Bank. The operation involved thousands of troops entering cities like Jenin, Nablus, and Ramallah to dismantle militant infrastructure. Intense urban combat unfolded over several weeks, resulting in significant casualties on both sides. Israel aimed to arrest suspects, destroy weapons caches, and restore security checkpoints. The campaign was criticized internationally for its scale and impact on civilians. Operation Defensive Shield marked a major escalation in the Second Intifada and reshaped Israeli-Palestinian dynamics in the region.
2002
Passover massacre
Israel
Operation Defensive Shield
Palestinian militants
West Bank
Six-Day War
2010day.year
Two suicide bombers hit the Moscow Metro system at the peak of the morning rush hour, killing 40.
On March 29, 2010, two suicide bombings struck the Moscow Metro during the morning rush hour, resulting in the deaths of around 40 people.
Attackers detonated explosives on trains traveling between stations during one of the busiest periods of the day, causing widespread panic and destruction.
The blasts occurred near Lubyanka and Park Kultury stations, key transit points in the heart of Moscow.
Victims were quickly transported to nearby hospitals while emergency services secured the sites and began investigations.
Authorities identified the bombers and pursued links to Islamist extremist networks operating in the region.
The tragedy prompted Russia to enhance metro security measures, including increased surveillance and passenger screening to prevent future attacks.
2010
hit the Moscow Metro system