Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
August 29 Saturday, August 29, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on August 29 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
4
Holidays
1219
War 807 years ago
The Battle of Fariskur occurs during the Fifth Crusade.
King Andrew II of Hungary suffers defeat at the hands of Ayyubid forces led by Sultan Al-Kamil, marking a significant Muslim victory during the Fifth Crusade.
History
What happened on August 29
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 708US history
Copper coins are minted in Japan for the first time (Traditional Japanese date: August 10, 708).
Copper coins are minted in Japan for the first time.
- 870World history
The city of Melite surrenders to an Aghlabid army following a siege, putting an end to Byzantine Malta.
Melite surrenders to an Aghlabid army after a siege, ending Byzantine rule over Malta.
- 1009Disaster
Mainz Cathedral suffers extensive damage from a fire, which destroys the building on the day of its inauguration.
A fire devastates Mainz Cathedral on its inauguration day, reducing the structure to ruins.
- 1219War
The Battle of Fariskur occurs during the Fifth Crusade.
King Andrew II of Hungary suffers defeat at the hands of Ayyubid forces led by Sultan Al-Kamil, marking a significant Muslim victory during the Fifth Crusade.
- 1261Religion
Pope Urban IV succeeds Pope Alexander IV, becoming the 182nd pope.
Pope Urban IV becomes the 182nd pope, succeeding Pope Alexander IV.
- 1315European history
Battle of Montecatini: The army of the Republic of Pisa, commanded by Uguccione della Faggiuola, wins a decisive victory against the joint forces of the Kingdom of Naples and the Republic of Florence despite being outnumbered.
Uguccione della Faggiuola leads Pisa's outnumbered army to a decisive victory over the combined forces of Naples and Florence at the Battle of Montecatini.
- 1350UK history
Battle of Winchelsea (or Les Espagnols sur Mer): The English naval fleet under King Edward III defeats a Castilian fleet of 40 ships.
King Edward III's naval fleet defeats a Castilian fleet of 40 ships in the Battle of Winchelsea.
- 1475European history
Hundred Years' War: The Treaty of Picquigny formally ends the war between the kingdoms of France and England.
The Treaty of Picquigny formally ends hostilities between France and England, marking a temporary peace in the Hundred Years' War.
- 1484Religion
Pope Innocent VIII succeeds Pope Sixtus IV.
Pope Innocent VIII is elected pope, succeeding Pope Sixtus IV.
- 1541European history
The Ottoman Turks capture Buda, the capital of the Hungarian Kingdom.
Suleiman the Magnificent's forces conquer Buda, marking a significant expansion of Ottoman territory in Central Europe.
- 1588World history
Toyotomi Hideyoshi issues a nationwide sword hunting ordinance, disarming the peasantry so as to firmly separate the samurai and commoner classes, prevent peasant uprisings, and further centralise his own power.
Hideyoshi issues an ordinance to disarm peasants, consolidating samurai dominance and centralizing his authority.
- 1604Religion
The Guru Granth Sahib is fully compiled and completed by Guru Arjan.
Guru Arjan completes the compilation of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism.
Born today
Famous birthdays on August 29
7 this date All birthdays
Charles F. Kettering
American engineer and businessman, founded Delco Electronics
Charles Franklin Kettering, the American inventor and engineer who founded Delco and led research at General Motors for nearly three decades, was born today in 1876.
Born
1876
Died
1958
John Hastings
2nd Earl of Pembroke, English nobleman and soldier
1347 – 1375
John Locke
English physician and philosopher
1632 – 1704
Maurice Maeterlinck
Belgian poet and playwright, Nobel Prize laureate
1862 – 1949
Vivien Thomas
American surgeon and academic
1910 – 1985
Nagarjuna
Indian film actor, Producer and Businessman
b. 1959 · 67
Elizabeth Fraser
Scottish singer-songwriter
b. 1963 · 63
Music
The number one songs on August 29
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on August 29, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport August 29, 2020
2020 Women's FA Community Shield.
Arsenal wins the 2020 Women's FA Community Shield, defeating Manchester City in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.
Read the story
🔬 Science August 29, 1982
Meitnerium, a synthetic chemical element with the atomic number 109, is first synthesized at the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung in Darmstadt, Germany.
Meitnerium, the synthetic chemical element with atomic number 109, is first created at the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung in Darmstadt.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
4 celebrated today
International Day against Nuclear Tests
International
The International Day against Nuclear Tests is observed on August 29
Day of Remembrance of the Defenders of Ukraine (Ukraine)
International
Defenders Day is a public holiday in Ukraine celebrated annually on 1 October
National Sports Day (India)
International
National Sports Day is a public holiday celebrated in various countries to honour the national sports teams and sports traditions of those countries
Slovak National Uprising Anniversary (Slovakia)
International
Slovak National Uprising Anniversary is a public holiday celebrated annually in Slovakia on 29 August to commemorates the anniversary of the allied victory in the Slovak National Uprising during World