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
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
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
1911day.year
Mongolia gains independence from the Qing dynasty, enthroning 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu as Khagan of Mongolia.
On December 29, 1911, Mongolia declared its independence from the Qing dynasty and installed the 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu as Khagan.
Amid the upheaval of the Xinhai Revolution in China, Mongolian nobles and lamas convened in Niislel Khuree (present-day Ulaanbaatar) to assert sovereignty. They proclaimed the Bogd Khan, the spiritual leader Jebtsundamba Khutughtu, as Khagan, or emperor, of a newly independent Mongolia. This act ended nearly three centuries of Qing rule and established a theocratic monarchy rooted in Tibetan Buddhism. Although later geopolitical struggles would challenge Mongolia’s autonomy, this declaration laid the foundation for the modern Mongolian state. It also attracted attention from Russia and other powers seeking influence in Central Asia. Mongolia's brief theocracy would evolve into a people's republic by 1924, but December 29 remains a milestone in the nation's history.
1911
Mongolia
Qing dynasty
8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu
Khagan of Mongolia
1930day.year
Sir Muhammad Iqbal's presidential address in Allahabad introduces the two-nation theory and outlines a vision for the creation of Pakistan.
On December 29, 1930, Sir Muhammad Iqbal presented his landmark presidential address in Allahabad, articulating the two-nation theory for a separate Muslim state.
Delivered at the All-India Muslim League session, Iqbal’s speech argued that Muslims and Hindus constituted two distinct nations with separate social, religious, and political identities. He proposed autonomous Muslim-majority provinces in northwestern India, planting the ideological seeds for Pakistan. The two-nation theory challenged the prevailing vision of a united, secular Indian nation and stirred intense debate. Iqbal’s eloquence and philosophical depth elevated him as a leading voice for Muslim self-determination. His vision later guided Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League in negotiations with the British and the Indian National Congress. The speech remains a foundational moment in South Asian history, shaping national boundaries and identities.
1930
Muhammad Iqbal
Allahabad
two-nation theory
Pakistan
1934day.year
Japan renounces the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 and the London Naval Treaty of 1930.
On December 29, 1934, Japan officially withdrew from the Washington and London Naval Treaties, signaling a shift toward naval expansion.
Frustrated by tonnage limits that constrained its growing empire, Japan declared the treaties incompatible with its national interests. The move allowed Japanese shipbuilders to plan larger battleships and cruisers beyond previously agreed disarmament caps. This decision heightened tensions with the United States and Great Britain, which viewed naval parity as essential to Pacific stability. The treaty renunciation marked a decisive step in Japan’s rearmament program and foreshadowed its assertive military actions in East Asia. It also underscored the limitations of interwar disarmament efforts plagued by competing imperial ambitions. Ultimately, Japan’s naval buildup contributed to the strategic environment that led to World War II in the Pacific.
1934
Washington Naval Treaty
London Naval Treaty
1937day.year
The Irish Free State is replaced by a new state called Ireland with the adoption of a new constitution.
On December 29, 1937, Ireland adopted a new constitution, replacing the Irish Free State and redefining the nation’s governance.
Drafted under the leadership of Éamon de Valera, Bunreacht na hÉireann established Ireland as a sovereign, independent state with its own president and legislature. The new constitution removed references to the British monarch and declared Irish as the national language alongside English. It guaranteed fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and religion, while affirming the country’s Catholic heritage. The adoption followed a national plebiscite in which the constitution was approved by Irish voters. This moment solidified Ireland’s departure from dominion status within the British Commonwealth. The 1937 constitution remains the bedrock of Irish law, shaping political and social life to this day.
1937
Irish Free State
Ireland
constitution
1989day.year
Czech writer, philosopher and dissident Václav Havel is elected the first post-communist President of Czechoslovakia.
Václav Havel becomes the first post-communist President of Czechoslovakia, marking a turning point in Eastern European politics.
After the collapse of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia, dissident leader Václav Havel is elected president.
He assumes office on December 29, 1989, leading the nation through democratic reforms.
Havel was a prominent playwright and symbol of the Velvet Revolution.
His presidency laid the groundwork for the eventual peaceful split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993.
This election signified the end of decades of one-party rule and the beginning of a new era in Central Europe.
Havel's leadership style emphasized human rights, civic engagement, and reconciliation.
1989
Václav Havel
Czechoslovakia
1992day.year
Fernando Collor de Mello, president of Brazil, tries to resign amidst corruption charges, but is then impeached.
Brazilian President Fernando Collor de Mello attempts to resign amid corruption allegations but is impeached and removed from office.
In December 1992, President Fernando Collor de Mello announced his resignation as a corruption scandal engulfed his administration.
Despite his attempt to step down, Congress proceeded with impeachment proceedings due to widespread public outcry.
Collor was accused of accepting illegal funds and influence peddling involving close associates.
The impeachment marked Brazil's first removal of a democratically elected president.
Vice President Itamar Franco assumed the presidency following Collor's ouster.
The event represented a critical moment in Brazil's modern democratic consolidation and anti-corruption efforts.
1992
Fernando Collor de Mello
1998day.year
Leaders of the Khmer Rouge apologize for the Cambodian genocide that claimed over one million lives.
Khmer Rouge leaders formally apologize for Cambodia's genocide, acknowledging the atrocities that claimed over one million lives.
On December 29, 1998, senior figures of the Khmer Rouge issued a public apology for the crimes committed during their regime from 1975 to 1979.
The apology was part of ongoing efforts to address the legacy of the Cambodian genocide, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people.
Although many senior leaders were still at large, this statement represented a rare admission of guilt.
The apology aimed to facilitate national healing and support the work of tribunals prosecuting Khmer Rouge leaders.
Survivors and victims' families viewed the gesture as a crucial step in acknowledging their suffering.
However, calls for deeper accountability and comprehensive justice measures continued in Cambodia's transitional justice process.
1998
Khmer Rouge
Cambodian genocide
2006day.year
The UK settles its Anglo-American loan, post-WWII loan debt.
The United Kingdom finalizes repayment of its post-WWII Anglo-American loan, concluding a cornerstone of postwar financial relations.
On December 29, 2006, the United Kingdom made the last payment on the Anglo-American loan it received during World War II.
The original loan, agreed in 1946, provided critical financial support for Britain's postwar reconstruction.
Repayment over six decades reflected stable economic growth and strong UK-US relations.
The final settlement closed a historic chapter in international financial cooperation.
British officials celebrated the occasion as a symbol of fiscal responsibility and bilateral partnership.
Economists noted the loan's low interest rate contrasted with contemporary borrowing costs, highlighting its long-term benefits.
2006
Anglo-American loan