1261day.year
Pope Urban IV succeeds Pope Alexander IV, becoming the 182nd pope.
Pope Urban IV is elected as the 182nd pope, succeeding Alexander IV in the papal lineage.
In the aftermath of Pope Alexander IV's death, Jacques Pantaléon was elected on August 29, 1261.
Taking the name Urban IV, he became the 182nd pope of the Roman Catholic Church.
Born in Troyes, France, Urban IV had served as a cardinal and papal legate prior to his elevation.
His pontificate was marked by efforts to assert papal authority amidst rising conflicts between monarchy and church.
Urban IV also initiated patronage of religious art and the establishment of the feast of Corpus Christi.
1261
Pope Urban IV
Pope Alexander IV
1475day.year
The Treaty of Picquigny ends a brief war between the kingdoms of France and England.
France and England sign the Treaty of Picquigny, concluding a short conflict and establishing a peace.
Signed on August 29, 1475, the Treaty of Picquigny formally ended hostilities between King Louis XI of France and King Edward IV of England.
Under its terms, Edward IV agreed to withdraw his forces from French soil in exchange for a yearly pension.
The accord included marriage negotiations and a seven-year truce to prevent further invasions.
The treaty reflected Louis XI's diplomatic skill and his preference for financial settlements over prolonged warfare.
Picquigny marked a rare moment of peace during the tumultuous Wars of the Roses and strengthened French royal authority.
1475
Treaty of Picquigny
France
1484day.year
Pope Innocent VIII succeeds Pope Sixtus IV.
Jacopo Piccolomini-Cancellieri is elected Pope Innocent VIII, becoming the head of the Catholic Church.
On August 29, 1484, the College of Cardinals elected Jacopo Piccolomini-Cancellieri as Pope Innocent VIII.
He succeeded Pope Sixtus IV amid the complex politics of Renaissance Italy.
Innocent VIII's pontificate contended with tensions between powerful Italian families and monarchs.
He notably dealt with issues such as the fallout from the Pazzi Conspiracy and the Turkish threat in the Mediterranean.
His reign also saw the first papal bull authorizing the persecution of witches, shaping later European witch hunts.
1484
Pope Innocent VIII
Pope Sixtus IV
1588day.year
Toyotomi Hideyoshi issues a nationwide sword hunting ordinance, disarming the peasantry so as to firmly separate the samurai and commoner classes, prevent peasant uprisings, and further centralise his own power.
In 1588, Japanese ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi issued the Sword Hunt Ordinance, disarming peasants to cement class divisions and strengthen central authority.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Japan's de facto ruler, proclaimed the Sword Hunt (Katanagari) on August 29, 1588, mandating the confiscation of weapons from all non-samurai classes.
This policy aimed to prevent armed rebellions and enforce clear social boundaries between the warrior elite and commoners.
Over one million swords, spears, and firearms were surrendered, dramatically reducing the rural populace's capacity for revolt.
The ordinance not only fortified Hideyoshi's grip on power but also laid a foundation for the Tokugawa shogunate's rigid class system.
By monopolizing martial resources, the samurai class became the exclusive military force, reinforcing centralized governance across Japan.
Historians view this edict as a pivotal moment in Japan’s transition toward a stable, centralized feudal order.
1588
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
sword hunting ordinance
samurai
1728day.year
The city of Nuuk in Greenland is founded as the fort of Godt-Haab by the royal governor Claus Paarss.
On August 29, 1728, the Danish governor Claus Paarss founded Nuuk in Greenland as the fort of Godt-Haab, marking the beginning of a permanent European settlement.
Claus Paarss, representing the Danish crown, established the fort of Godt-Haab (Good Hope) on the shores of Nuuk Fjord on August 29, 1728.
The site was chosen for its strategic harbor and proximity to Inuit hunting grounds, facilitating trade and supply routes.
Originally conceived as a trading post and missionary station, the settlement aimed to assert Danish sovereignty in Greenland.
Over the decades, Godt-Haab attracted missionaries, merchants, and settlers, slowly evolving into a civilian town.
Renamed Nuuk in 1845, the settlement grew into Greenland’s capital and largest city, blending Inuit culture with Danish colonial heritage.
Today, Nuuk stands as a vibrant cultural and administrative center, reflecting its origins as a modest trading fort.
1728
Nuuk
Greenland
royal governor
Claus Paarss
1758day.year
The Treaty of Easton establishes the first American Indian reservation, at Indian Mills, New Jersey, for the Lenape.
In 1758, the Treaty of Easton created the first American Indian reservation at Indian Mills, New Jersey, recognizing Lenape territorial rights.
During the French and Indian War, British colonial authorities sought alliances with Native American tribes to secure frontier peace.
On August 29, 1758, the Treaty of Easton was signed, granting the Lenape a reservation at Indian Mills in West Jersey.
This agreement marked the first formal establishment of an Indian reservation in North America.
The treaty restricted colonial settlement west of the Delaware River, acknowledging Lenape claims to ancestral lands.
Although short-lived, the reservation set a precedent for British and later American policies toward Native American territories.
The Treaty of Easton remains a significant milestone in the history of Indigenous-colonial relations in the United States.
1758
Treaty of Easton
Indian reservation
Indian Mills, New Jersey
Lenape
1786day.year
Shays' Rebellion, an armed uprising of Massachusetts farmers, begins in response to high debt and tax burdens.
In 1786, discontented Massachusetts farmers led by Daniel Shays began an armed uprising against high taxes and debts in Shays' Rebellion.
Shays' Rebellion began on August 29, 1786, as impoverished farmers in western Massachusetts, burdened by post-war taxes and debts, took up arms under the leadership of Daniel Shays.
The insurgents sought relief by closing courts to prevent the seizure of their properties due to unpaid debts.
This uprising highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, as the federal government could not assist Massachusetts in suppressing the revolt.
Militia forces were eventually mobilized to disperse the rebels, and leaders like Daniel Shays faced arrest.
Although the rebellion was quelled, it fueled calls for a stronger national government.
The unrest directly influenced the drafting and ratification of the United States Constitution.
1786
Shays' Rebellion
Massachusetts
1825day.year
Portuguese and Brazilian diplomats sign the Treaty of Rio de Janeiro, which has Portugal recognise Brazilian independence, formally ending the Brazilian war of independence. The treaty will be ratified by the King of Portugal three months later.
In 1825, Portugal and Brazil signed the Treaty of Rio de Janeiro, with Portugal recognizing Brazil's independence.
On August 29, 1825, envoys from Portugal and the Empire of Brazil signed the Treaty of Rio de Janeiro.
Under the agreement, Portugal formally recognized Brazil's independence, ending the Brazilian War of Independence.
The treaty was ratified by the King of Portugal three months later, solidifying Brazil's status as a sovereign nation.
It included provisions for compensation to Portuguese loyalists and laid the foundation for diplomatic relations.
This peaceful resolution marked a significant moment in Latin American independence movements.
The treaty bolstered Brazil's legitimacy on the international stage.
1825
Portuguese
Brazilian
Treaty of Rio de Janeiro
Brazilian war of independence
King of Portugal
1842day.year
Treaty of Nanking signing ends the First Opium War.
In 1842, the Treaty of Nanking was signed, ending the First Opium War and shaping modern Sino-British relations.
On August 29, 1842, representatives of Britain and Qing Dynasty China signed the Treaty of Nanking aboard the HMS Cornwallis in Nanking (now Nanjing).
The treaty ceded Hong Kong to Britain and opened five Chinese ports to British trade.
It imposed a fixed tariff system, granted British citizens extraterritorial rights, and required a large indemnity from China.
This agreement marked the beginning of the 'unequal treaties' era and expanded Western influence in East Asia.
The treaty reshaped global trade patterns and had profound social and political consequences within China.
It remains a pivotal event in the history of imperialism and modern Chinese state formation.
1842
Treaty of Nanking
First Opium War
1871day.year
Emperor Meiji orders the abolition of the han system and the establishment of prefectures as local centers of administration. (Traditional Japanese date: July 14, 1871).
In 1871, Emperor Meiji ordered the abolition of the han system, replacing feudal domains with centralized prefectures in Japan.
On August 29, 1871 (traditional Japanese date: July 14, 1871), Emperor Meiji decreed the abolition of the han system, ending centuries of feudal domain rule.
All land and tax revenues were transferred from the daimyō to the central government, strengthening imperial authority.
The reform established prefectures as new administrative divisions led by centrally appointed governors.
This centralization streamlined governance and enabled nationwide fiscal and legal standardization.
The abolition of the han system was a pivotal step in Japan's rapid modernization during the Meiji Restoration.
It laid the administrative groundwork for the emerging modern Japanese state.
1871
Emperor Meiji
abolition of the han system
prefectures
Japanese date
1910day.year
The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910, also known as the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty, becomes effective, officially starting the period of Japanese rule in Korea.
The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910 took effect, formally annexing Korea into the Japanese Empire.
On August 29, 1910, the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910 became effective, legally incorporating Korea as a Japanese colony.
Also known as the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty, it dissolved the Korean Empire's sovereignty and installed Japanese governance.
The treaty followed years of increasing Japanese influence after victories in the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars.
Under Japanese rule, Korea underwent industrialization and modernization but also suffered cultural suppression and exploitation.
This annexation period lasted until Japan's defeat in World War II, deeply impacting Korea's history and identity.
1910
Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910
period of Japanese rule
1911day.year
The Canadian Naval Service becomes the Royal Canadian Navy.
The Canadian Naval Service was designated the Royal Canadian Navy, reflecting Canada's growing naval autonomy.
On August 29, 1911, King George V granted the prefix "Royal" to the Canadian Naval Service, creating the Royal Canadian Navy.
Originally established in 1910 to provide coastal defense and support the British Royal Navy, the service gained national status.
The new title recognized Canada's commitment to maritime security and its emerging identity within the British Empire.
During World War I, the Royal Canadian Navy expanded rapidly, escorting convoys and participating in anti-submarine warfare.
This designation laid the foundation for Canada's modern naval forces and international naval engagements.
Royal Canadian Navy