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
March 29 Sunday, March 29, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on March 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
5
Holidays
1936
Politics 90 years ago
The 1936 German parliamentary election and referendum seeks approval for the recent remilitarization of the Rhineland.
German voters overwhelmingly approve Hitler's remilitarization of the Rhineland in a referendum held alongside single-party parliamentary elections.
History
What happened on March 29
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1139Religion
Pope Innocent II issues the bull Omne datum optimum in which he endorses the Knights Templar and approves the Templar Rule.
Pope Innocent II issues the bull Omne datum optimum, endorsing the Knights Templar and approving their rule.
- 1430European history
The Ottoman Empire under Murad II captures Thessalonica from the Republic of Venice.
Murad II conquers Thessalonica from the Venetians, expanding Ottoman control in the Balkans.
- 1461UK history
Battle of Towton: Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Edward IV of England, bringing a temporary stop to the Wars of the Roses.
Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret at the Battle of Towton, becoming King Edward IV and temporarily halting the Wars of the Roses.
- 1549US history
The city of Salvador, Bahia, the first capital of Brazil, is founded.
Pau Brasil founding marks the establishment of Salvador, the initial capital of Brazil.
- 1632European history
Treaty of Saint-Germain is signed returning Quebec to French control after the English had seized it in 1629.
France regains control of Quebec through the Treaty of Saint-Germain, reclaiming territory lost to England in 1629.
- 1792Royalty
King Gustav III of Sweden dies after being shot in the back at a midnight masquerade ball at Stockholm's Royal Opera 13 days earlier.
King Gustav III of Sweden dies after being shot during a midnight masquerade ball at Stockholm's Royal Opera.
- 1847War
Mexican-American War: United States forces led by General Winfield Scott take Veracruz after a siege.
General Winfield Scott's U.S. forces capture Veracruz following a siege.
- 1857World history
Sepoy Mangal Pandey of the 34th Regiment, Bengal Native Infantry mutinies against the East India Company's rule in India and inspires the protracted Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny.
Mangal Pandey mutinies against the East India Company, sparking the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
- 1936Politics
The 1936 German parliamentary election and referendum seeks approval for the recent remilitarization of the Rhineland.
German voters overwhelmingly approve Hitler's remilitarization of the Rhineland in a referendum held alongside single-party parliamentary elections.
- 1974Science
NASA's Mariner 10 becomes the first space probe to fly by Mercury.
Mariner 10 becomes the first spacecraft to encounter Mercury, capturing detailed images of the planet's surface.
- 2004Politics
Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia join NATO as full members.
Seven countries join NATO as full members: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
- 2014UK history
The first same-sex marriages in England and Wales are performed.
Same-sex couples marry legally in England and Wales for the first time following the passage of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act.
Born today
Famous birthdays on March 29
7 this date All birthdays
Hal Colebatch
English-Australian politician, 12th Premier of Western Australia
Sir Harry Pateshall Colebatch, the English-Australian politician who served as the twelfth Premier of Western Australia and later as agent-general in London and senator, was born today in 1872.
Born
1872
Died
1953
Jørgen Jørgensen
Danish adventurer
1780 – 1841
John Tyler
American lawyer and politician, 10th President of the United States
1790 – 1862
Sam Loxton
Australian cricketer, footballer, and politician
1921 – 2011
Utpal Dutt
Indian actor, director and playwright
1929 – 1993
Israel Finkelstein
Israeli archaeologist and professor
b. 1949 · 77
Nick Ut
Vietnamese-American photographer
b. 1951 · 75
Music
The number one songs on March 29
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on March 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 March 29, 1927
Sunbeam 1000hp breaks the land speed record at Daytona Beach, Florida.
The Sunbeam 1000hp sets a new land speed record at Daytona Beach, reaching over 207 miles per hour.
Read the story
🔬 Science March 29, 1974
NASA's Mariner 10 becomes the first space probe to fly by Mercury.
Mariner 10 becomes the first spacecraft to encounter Mercury, capturing detailed images of the planet's surface.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
5 celebrated today
Boganda Day (Central African Republic)
International
This is a list of public holidays in the Central African Republic
Commemoration of the 1947 Rebellion (Madagascar)
International
The public holidays in Madagascar are:
National Vietnam War Veterans Day (United States)
International
National Vietnam War Veterans Day is observed annually on March 29 in the United States
Day of the Young Combatant (Chile)
International
The Day of the Young Combatant is an unofficial remembrance day in Chile, primarily in Santiago
Youth Day (Taiwan)
International
Youth Day or National Youth Day is a commemorative holiday in honour of young people, celebrated in different parts of the world on various dates throughout the year