October 29

Events

312day.year

Constantine the Great enters Rome after his victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, stages a grand adventus in the city, and is met with popular jubilation. Maxentius' body is fished out of the Tiber and beheaded.

Emperor Constantine enters Rome in triumph after defeating Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, greeted by popular jubilation.
On October 29, 312, Constantine the Great made his dramatic entry into Rome following his decisive victory at the Milvian Bridge. He organized a lavish adventus ceremony, an elaborate triumphal procession celebrating his newfound authority. Citizens thronged the streets to welcome the emperor, hailing him as the restorer of peace. The body of his rival Maxentius was dragged from the Tiber and publicly executed, symbolizing the end of a bitter power struggle. This event marked a turning point in Constantine’s path to sole rulership of the Roman Empire. It also foreshadowed his later embrace of Christianity and the eventual transformation of Rome’s religious landscape.
312 Constantine the Great Battle of the Milvian Bridge adventus Maxentius Tiber
437day.year

Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor, marries Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of his cousin Theodosius II, Eastern Roman Emperor in Constantinople unifying the two branches of the House of Theodosius.

Western Roman Emperor Valentinian III weds Licinia Eudoxia in Constantinople, unifying the Eastern and Western branches of the Theodosian dynasty.
In 437, Valentinian III married Licinia Eudoxia, granddaughter of Theodosius II, in a grand ceremony held in Constantinople. This union brought the Eastern and Western Roman Empires under the same dynastic umbrella of the House of Theodosius. The marriage was celebrated with lavish feasts and elaborate court rituals. It served to legitimize Valentinian’s rule in the West and reinforce the bond between the two imperial courts. Contemporary chroniclers viewed the event as a symbol of renewed unity and stability within the fracturing empire.
437 Valentinian III Western Roman Emperor Licinia Eudoxia Theodosius II Eastern Roman Emperor Constantinople House of Theodosius
1390day.year

First trial for witchcraft in Paris leading to the death of three people.

The first recorded witchcraft trial in Paris in 1390 leads to the execution of three accused individuals.
In medieval Paris, 1390 saw the city’s inaugural trial for witchcraft, reflecting growing fears of sorcery across Europe. Three defendants were accused of invoking dark powers to harm their neighbors and consort with evil spirits. Evidence was gathered through confessions, testimonies, and the feared ordeal by water. All three were found guilty and sentenced to death, a grim display of the Church and state’s authority over heresy. The trial set a precedent for later witch hunts in France and beyond. Historians view this case as an early example of the legal processes that would fuel the continent’s witch craze in the centuries to follow.
1390 witchcraft
1467day.year

Battle of Brustem: Charles the Bold defeats Prince-Bishopric of Liège.

Duke Charles the Bold defeats the Prince-Bishopric of Liège at the Battle of Brustem in 1467, expanding Burgundian influence.
The Battle of Brustem took place during the Liège Wars, as Charles the Bold of Burgundy sought to assert his authority over the rebellious Prince-Bishopric of Liège. On October 29, 1467, Burgundian forces crushed the local militia on the fields near Brustem. The victory allowed Charles to impose harsh terms and strengthen his grip on the Low Countries. It underscored the military prowess of Burgundy and the limits of ecclesiastical princes to resist ducal power. The battle contributed to the gradual consolidation of Burgundian territories, setting the stage for future conflicts in the region.
1467 Battle of Brustem Charles the Bold Prince-Bishopric of Liège
1611day.year

Russian homage to the King of Poland, Sigismund III Vasa.

Russian envoys pay homage to Polish King Sigismund III Vasa in 1611, highlighting shifting alliances amid the Time of Troubles.
In 1611, a delegation from Russia formally presented homage to Sigismund III Vasa, who had claims to the Muscovite throne during the Polish-Muscovite War. The event took place at the Polish royal court in Warsaw. It symbolized the complex diplomatic maneuvering of the Time of Troubles, as Russian factions sought foreign support to resolve dynastic crises. Although the homage was largely ceremonial, it underscored Poland’s temporary influence over Russian affairs. The gesture foreshadowed further interventions in Russian succession politics by neighboring powers.
1611 Russian homage Sigismund III Vasa
1621day.year

The London Pageant of 1621 celebrates the inauguration of Edward Barkham (Lord Mayor).

The London Pageant of 1621 celebrates Edward Barkham’s inauguration as Lord Mayor with a grand civic procession.
On October 29, 1621, the City of London staged a spectacular pageant to commemorate Edward Barkham’s assumption of office as Lord Mayor. The elaborate festivities featured ornate floats, allegorical scenes, and richly costumed participants drawn from the city’s livery companies. Barges adorned with colorful decorations sailed along the Thames, delighting onlookers on both banks. Musicians, actors, and acrobats performed in the streets, creating a carnival atmosphere. The event highlighted the city’s wealth, civic pride, and the enduring tradition of the Lord Mayor’s Show. It became an iconic example of early modern urban pageantry in England.
1621 The London Pageant of 1621 Edward Barkham (Lord Mayor)
1658day.year

Second Northern War: Naval forces of the Dutch Republic defeat the Swedes in the Battle of the Sound.

Dutch naval forces defeat the Swedish fleet in the Battle of the Sound during the Second Northern War in 1658.
The Battle of the Sound occurred on October 29, 1658, as part of the Second Northern War between Sweden and a coalition including Denmark-Norway and the Dutch Republic. The Dutch fleet intervened to break the Swedish blockade of Copenhagen and secure vital grain shipments through the Øresund strait. Superior tactics and firepower allowed the Dutch to rout the Swedish ships and force them to withdraw. The victory ensured relief for the besieged Danish capital and safeguarded Dutch commercial interests in the Baltic. It demonstrated the Republic’s naval prowess and commitment to maintaining the balance of power in Northern Europe.
1658 Second Northern War Dutch Republic Battle of the Sound
1665day.year

Portuguese forces defeat the Kingdom of Kongo and decapitate King António I of Kongo, also known as Nvita a Nkanga.

Portuguese forces rout the Kingdom of Kongo at the Battle of Mbwila in 1665, leading to the death of King António I.
In 1665, Portuguese colonial troops clashed with the Kingdom of Kongo’s army at Mbwila, resulting in a decisive Portuguese victory. The conflict arose from competition over trade routes and regional influence in Central Africa. King António I of Kongo personally led his forces into battle but was killed and decapitated, dealing a severe blow to Kongolese sovereignty. The defeat fractured the kingdom and ushered in a period of internal strife and Portuguese dominance. This battle marked a turning point in the Atlantic slave trade, as Portugal tightened its control over local polities and trade networks.
1665 defeat Kingdom of Kongo António I of Kongo
1675day.year

Leibniz makes the first use of the long s (∫) as a symbol of the integral in calculus.

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz introduces the integral symbol ∫ in 1675, pioneering modern calculus notation.
In 1675, the polymath Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz first used the long s (∫) to denote the integral in his correspondence on mathematical analysis. Borrowed from the Latin word “summa,” the symbol elegantly represented the summation of infinitesimal quantities. Leibniz’s notation was part of his broader development of differential and integral calculus, conducted independently of Newton. His clear symbolic approach facilitated the rapid spread and teaching of calculus across Europe. Today, the integral sign ∫ remains a fundamental element of mathematical notation, reflecting Leibniz’s enduring influence on the discipline.
1675 Leibniz long s integral calculus
1792day.year

Mount Hood (Oregon) is named after Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood by Lt. William E. Broughton who sighted the mountain near the mouth of the Willamette River.

Lt. William E. Broughton names Oregon’s landmark peak Mount Hood in 1792 after Admiral Samuel Hood.
During a 1792 expedition under Captain George Vancouver, Lieutenant William E. Broughton sighted a prominent volcanic summit near the mouth of the Willamette River. He chose to name the mountain Mount Hood in honor of his superior, Admiral Samuel Hood. This naming reflected the era’s tradition of explorers commemorating naval figures on newly charted lands. The peak would later become known simply as Mount Hood, an iconic symbol of the Pacific Northwest. Its imposing presence and volcanic origins have made it a focal point for geologists, Native American legends, and adventurers alike.
1792 Mount Hood Oregon Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood Willamette River
1863day.year

Eighteen countries meet in Geneva and agree to form the International Red Cross.

Eighteen nations met in Geneva in 1863 to found the International Red Cross, marking the start of modern humanitarian aid.
In October 1863, representatives from eighteen European and American states gathered in Geneva. They signed the Geneva Convention, creating the International Committee for the Relief of the Wounded, later known as the International Red Cross. This organization was born from Henry Dunant's vision to aid the war-wounded impartially. It established principles of neutrality and voluntary service that endure today. The Red Cross would evolve into a global network providing humanitarian relief in conflicts and disasters worldwide.
1863 Geneva International Red Cross
1863day.year

American Civil War: Battle of Wauhatchie: Forces under Union General Ulysses S. Grant repel a Confederate attack led by General James Longstreet in one of the few night battles of the war, protecting the Union's recently opened supply line into Chattanooga, Tennessee.

During the American Civil War, Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant repelled a Confederate night assault at Wauhatchie, securing a vital supply line into Chattanooga.
The Battle of Wauhatchie was fought on October 29-30, 1863, near Knoxville, Tennessee. Union troops under Ulysses S. Grant faced a Confederate night attack led by General James Longstreet. This rare night engagement tested soldiers' discipline amid confusion and limited visibility. Grant's forces held firm, protecting the Cracker Line, a newly opened supply route into Chattanooga. Securing this lifeline ensured the Union army's survival and set the stage for the Chattanooga campaign.
American Civil War Battle of Wauhatchie Union Ulysses S. Grant Confederate James Longstreet supply line Chattanooga, Tennessee