1170day.year
Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II; he subsequently becomes a saint and martyr in the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church.
On 29 December 1170, Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered by followers of King Henry II inside Canterbury Cathedral, later becoming a revered martyr and saint.
On 29 December 1170, tensions between King Henry II and Archbishop Thomas Becket culminated in his assassination inside Canterbury Cathedral.
Four knights, believing they were acting on the king’s orders, brutally murdered Becket as he prayed at the altar.
The shocking event sparked outrage across Europe and strengthened the church’s position against royal interference.
In 1173, Pope Alexander III canonized Becket, and his tomb at Canterbury became one of medieval Christendom’s most important pilgrimage sites.
His martyrdom remains a powerful symbol of the struggle for ecclesiastical independence and devotion.
1170
Thomas Becket
Archbishop of Canterbury
Canterbury Cathedral
King Henry II
Anglican Communion
Catholic Church
1503day.year
The Battle of Garigliano was fought between a Spanish army under Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba and a French army commanded by Ludovico II, Marquess of Saluzzo.
On December 29, 1503, Spanish forces under Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba defeated the French in the Battle of Garigliano, securing a key victory in the Italian Wars.
On 29 December 1503, during the Italian Wars, Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba led Spanish troops against a French army at the Garigliano River.
Utilizing disciplined infantry and strategic positioning, the Spanish forces overwhelmed their opponents in southern Italy.
The victory halted French ambitions in the region and bolstered Spain’s influence across the Italian peninsula.
Known as the “Great Captain,” Córdoba’s tactics became a model for modern military organization and combined arms warfare.
The battle’s outcome marked a turning point in the protracted conflict between France and Spain for dominance in Renaissance Italy.
1503
Battle of Garigliano
Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba
Ludovico II, Marquess of Saluzzo
1607day.year
According to John Smith, Pocahontas, daughter of Powhatan leader Wahunsenacawh, successfully pleads for his life after tribal leaders attempt to execute him.
In 1607, Pocahontas famously intervened to save English colonist John Smith from execution by her father’s Powhatan tribal council.
In December 1607, captured English explorer John Smith was brought before Powhatan leaders, who debated his fate.
According to Smith’s own account, Pocahontas, the daughter of Chief Wahunsenacawh, bravely intervened and pleaded for his life.
Her actions averted an execution, showcasing early moments of diplomacy between the Jamestown settlers and the Powhatan Confederacy.
This event became legendary, symbolizing cross-cultural encounters and misunderstandings in colonial America.
While the historical accuracy is debated, Pocahontas’s role has endured as an iconic story of mercy and survival.
1607
John Smith
Pocahontas
Powhatan
Wahunsenacawh
1778day.year
American Revolutionary War: British forces under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell defeat American forces under Major General Robert Howe and capture the port city of Savannah, Georgia.
British forces under Lt. Col. Archibald Campbell captured Savannah, Georgia, from American troops on December 29, 1778, during the Revolutionary War.
On 29 December 1778, British troops commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell launched a campaign to seize Savannah.
American defenders under Major General Robert Howe were outmatched in preparation and numbers.
After skirmishes outside the city, British forces overwhelmed the American positions and entered Savannah.
The fall of this strategic port bolstered British control in the southern colonies and disrupted Patriot supply lines.
Savannah remained under British occupation until its recapture by American and French forces in 1782.
1778
American Revolutionary War
Lieutenant Colonel
Archibald Campbell
Major General
Robert Howe
capture
Savannah, Georgia
1812day.year
USS Constitution, under the command of Captain William Bainbridge, captures HMS Java off the coast of Brazil after a three-hour battle.
The USS Constitution, known as 'Old Ironsides,' defeated HMS Java in a three-hour naval battle off Brazil on December 29, 1812.
On 29 December 1812, during the War of 1812, USS Constitution, commanded by Captain William Bainbridge, encountered HMS Java off the coast of Brazil.
In a fierce three-hour engagement, Constitution’s heavy broadsides disabled Java’s masts and rigging.
After suffering severe damage, Java was forced to surrender, cementing the Constitution’s reputation for resilience.
Dubbed 'Old Ironsides' for her sturdy construction, the American frigate’s victory boosted national morale.
The battle demonstrated the growing effectiveness of the young United States Navy on the world stage.
1812
USS Constitution
Captain
William Bainbridge
HMS Java
1835day.year
The Treaty of New Echota is signed, ceding all the lands of the Cherokee east of the Mississippi River to the United States.
The Treaty of New Echota was signed on December 29, 1835, ceding all Cherokee lands east of the Mississippi River to the United States.
On 29 December 1835, representatives of the U.S. government and a minority faction of the Cherokee Nation signed the Treaty of New Echota.
The agreement ceded Cherokee lands east of the Mississippi River in exchange for territory in present-day Oklahoma and financial compensation.
Most Cherokees rejected the treaty, viewing it as illegitimate and coerced by rising pressures for Indian removal.
This treaty became the legal basis for the forced relocation known as the Trail of Tears, resulting in immense suffering and thousands of Cherokee deaths.
The event remains a tragic episode in U.S. history, highlighting the struggles of Native American peoples against federal expansion policies.
1835
Treaty of New Echota
Cherokee
Mississippi River
1845day.year
The United States annexes the Republic of Texas and admits it as the 28th state.
The Republic of Texas was annexed by the United States and admitted as the 28th state on December 29, 1845.
On 29 December 1845, the United States Congress approved the joint resolution to annex Texas, and President James K. Polk signed it into law.
Formerly an independent republic since 1836, Texas officially became the 28th state of the Union.
Annexation inflamed sectional tensions over the expansion of slavery and contributed to the outbreak of the Mexican–American War in 1846.
The event marked a significant moment in America’s westward expansion and Manifest Destiny ideology.
Texas’s admission reshaped the political balance in Congress and set the stage for further territorial growth.
1845
annexes
Republic of Texas
1860day.year
The launch of HMS Warrior, with her combination of screw propeller, iron hull and iron armour, renders all previous warships obsolete.
HMS Warrior, the Royal Navy’s first iron-hulled, screw-propelled, iron-armoured warship, was launched on December 29, 1860.
On 29 December 1860, HMS Warrior was launched at Portsmouth Dockyard, introducing revolutionary naval technology.
Her iron hull and wrought-iron armor made previous wooden warships obsolete and heralded the age of ironclads.
Powered by both sail and a 5,772-horsepower steam engine driving a screw propeller, Warrior could reach 14 knots.
The ship’s combination of speed, armor, and firepower set new standards in naval architecture and deterrence.
HMS Warrior influenced ship design worldwide and remained in service until 1902, preserving her legacy as a pioneering warship.
1860
HMS Warrior
propeller
iron armour
1862day.year
American Civil War: The Battle of Chickasaw Bayou ends in a Union defeat as forces under General William T. Sherman are repulsed with heavy losses by Confederate troops under General John C. Pemberton.
Union forces under General William T. Sherman were repulsed at Chickasaw Bayou on December 29, 1862, suffering heavy losses.
On 29 December 1862, as part of the Vicksburg Campaign, Union troops led by General William T. Sherman attempted a frontal assault on Confederate defenses.
The battle took place along the Chickasaw Bayou north of Vicksburg, Mississippi, in difficult swampy terrain.
Confederate forces under General John C. Pemberton repelled repeated Union attacks, inflicting significant casualties.
The defeat exposed the complexities of riverine operations and fortified positions.
Despite this setback, Union commanders learned valuable lessons that eventually contributed to the siege and capture of Vicksburg in 1863.
1862
American Civil War
Battle of Chickasaw Bayou
Union
William T. Sherman
Confederate
John C. Pemberton
1874day.year
The military coup of Gen. Martinez Campos in Sagunto ends the failed First Spanish Republic and the monarchy is restored as Prince Alfonso is proclaimed King of Spain.
General Martínez Campos staged a coup in Sagunto on December 29, 1874, ending Spain’s First Republic and restoring the monarchy.
On 29 December 1874, General Arsenio Martínez Campos led a pronunciamiento in Sagunto against the unstable First Spanish Republic.
The movement quickly gained support from military officers and conservative factions favoring Bourbon restoration.
Prince Alfonso de Borbón was proclaimed King Alfonso XII, marking the beginning of the Bourbon Restoration era.
This event ended Spain’s brief experiment with republicanism and reestablished a constitutional monarchy.
The restored monarchy brought relative political stability and shaped Spanish governance for the next four decades.
1874
Gen. Martinez Campos
Sagunto
First Spanish Republic
monarchy is restored
Prince Alfonso
Spain
1876day.year
The Ashtabula River railroad disaster occurs, leaving 64 injured and 92 dead at Ashtabula, Ohio.
On December 29, 1876, the Ashtabula River railroad bridge collapsed under a passenger train, injuring 64 and killing 92 near Ashtabula, Ohio.
On a frigid winter morning, a mixed passenger and freight train traversing the newly constructed Ashtabula River bridge fell into the icy waters below when a critical iron strut failed. The disaster resulted in 92 fatalities and 64 injuries as wreckage was scattered across the riverbank and charred by escaping steam. Investigations revealed design flaws and inadequate maintenance, leading to one of the first major engineering inquiries in American railroad history. Public outcry over the tragic loss prompted stricter bridge inspection regulations nationwide. The event underscored the risks of rapid railroad expansion and the importance of safety oversight, forever changing industry standards.
1876
Ashtabula River railroad disaster
Ashtabula, Ohio
1890day.year
Wounded Knee Massacre: On Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, 300 Lakota are killed by the United States 7th Cavalry Regiment.
On December 29, 1890, the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment killed around 300 Lakota men, women, and children at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota.
Tensions over the Ghost Dance movement and the arrest of Sitting Bull set the stage for the tragic confrontation at Wounded Knee Creek. A heated exchange of fire erupted when soldiers attempted to disarm a Lakota group, triggering indiscriminate killing. Most of the victims were unarmed, including many women and children, as they sought refuge in the frozen prairie. The massacre marked the last major clash of the American Indian Wars and symbolized the brutal suppression of Native American culture. Official reports varied widely on casualties, but historians agree on the devastating loss and its profound impact on Lakota communities. Wounded Knee remains a somber reminder of the consequences of cultural conflict and military overreach.
1890
Wounded Knee Massacre
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Lakota
7th Cavalry Regiment