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
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
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
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
1940day.year
In the Second Great Fire of London, the Luftwaffe fire-bombs London, England, killing almost 200 civilians during World War II.
On December 29, 1940, the Luftwaffe unleashed a massive incendiary raid on London, creating the Second Great Fire and killing nearly 200 civilians.
Part of the Blitz, this devastating attack involved hundreds of German bombers targeting East End neighborhoods with high-explosive and incendiary ordnance. The resulting conflagration outstripped the destruction of 1666 by overwhelming firefighters and civil defense volunteers. Residential streets and industrial sites were engulfed in flames, leaving thousands homeless in the dead of winter. Despite the ferocity of the raid, Londoners displayed remarkable resilience, continuing daily life amid blackouts and rubble. Prime Minister Winston Churchill praised their courage, using the crisis to bolster British morale. The Second Great Fire remains a powerful symbol of civilian endurance under relentless aerial assault.
1940
Second Great Fire of London
Luftwaffe
London
World War II
1996day.year
Guatemala and leaders of Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity sign a peace accord ending a 36-year civil war.
Guatemala and the URNG sign a historic peace accord, ending a 36-year civil war and paving the way for national reconciliation.
After decades of armed conflict between the Guatemalan government and the National Revolutionary Unity (URNG), a peace accord was signed on December 29, 1996.
The agreement addressed issues of human rights, indigenous rights, land reform, and military restructuring.
It officially ended a brutal 36-year civil war that claimed over 200,000 lives and displaced countless civilians.
International mediators and regional organizations supported the negotiations to ensure a comprehensive settlement.
The peace process included measures to integrate former guerrilla fighters into civilian life.
This accord marked a significant step towards stability and democratic development in Guatemala.
1996
Guatemala
Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity
civil war
2013day.year
A suicide bomb attack at the Volgograd-1 railway station in the southern Russian city of Volgograd kills at least 18 people and wounds 40 others.
A suicide bomber attacks Volgograd-1 railway station, killing at least 18 people and wounding dozens in a major terrorist incident.
On December 29, 2013, a suicide bombing targeted a crowded waiting area at Volgograd-1 railway station in southern Russia.
The explosion killed at least 18 individuals and left around 40 others injured, some critically.
Authorities identified the attacker as a young woman linked to extremist groups in the North Caucasus.
The bombing occurred just days before the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, raising security alarms.
Russian officials declared a nationwide counterterrorism operation and increased security measures.
The attack highlighted the ongoing threat of domestic terrorism and prompted international condemnation.
2013
suicide bomb attack
Volgograd-1 railway station
Volgograd