October 26

Events - Society & Lifestyle

1689day.year

General Enea Silvio Piccolomini of Austria burns down Skopje to prevent the spread of cholera; he dies of the disease soon afterwards.

To curb a deadly cholera outbreak, Austrian General Enea Silvio Piccolomini orders Skopje burned, but succumbs to the disease himself.
In 1689, amid the Great Turkish War, General Enea Silvio Piccolomini seized Skopje and faced a raging cholera epidemic. Believing fire would halt the disease's spread, he ordered the city burned to the ground. The destruction displaced thousands and left Skopje in ruins, disrupting local life and trade. Unfortunately, Piccolomini contracted cholera during the campaign and died shortly afterward. His drastic measure highlighted early modern efforts to combat epidemics. The incident remains a stark example of military decisions intersecting with public health crises.
1689 Enea Silvio Piccolomini burns down Skopje cholera
1985day.year

The Australian government returns ownership of Uluru to the local Pitjantjatjara Aboriginals.

On October 26, 1985, the Australian government officially returned ownership of Uluru to the Pitjantjatjara Aboriginal people.
Uluru, a sacred sandstone monolith, was handed back to its traditional custodians after decades of legal and political advocacy. The transfer acknowledged Aboriginal land rights and cultural heritage under the 1976 Land Rights Act. The Pitjantjatjara regained stewardship of their ancestral lands, ensuring protection of sacred sites. Joint management between the government and Aboriginal representatives was established to preserve Uluru’s environment. This milestone marked a significant step toward reconciliation and Indigenous empowerment. It remains a landmark in Australia’s recognition of its First Peoples.
1985 Uluru