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
October 29 Thursday, October 29, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on October 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
3
Holidays
1658
European history 368 years ago
Second Northern War: Naval forces of the Dutch Republic defeat the Swedes in the Battle of the Sound.
Dutch naval forces defeat Swedish ships in the Battle of the Sound, securing control of the crucial strait between Denmark and Sweden.
History
What happened on October 29
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 312Royalty
Constantine the Great enters Rome after his victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, stages a grand adventus in the city, and is met with popular jubilation. Maxentius' body is fished out of the Tiber and beheaded.
Constantine enters Rome in triumph after his victory at the Milvian Bridge, greeted by jubilant crowds; Maxentius's beheaded body floats in the Tiber.
- 437World history
Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor, marries Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of his cousin Theodosius II, Eastern Roman Emperor in Constantinople unifying the two branches of the House of Theodosius.
Valentinian III marries Licinia Eudoxia in Constantinople, uniting the Western and Eastern branches of the House of Theodosius.
- 1390Crime
First trial for witchcraft in Paris leading to the death of three people.
Three individuals were executed after France's first trial for witchcraft in Paris.
- 1467War
Battle of Brustem: Charles the Bold defeats Prince-Bishopric of Liège.
Charles the Bold defeats the Prince-Bishopric of Liège in the Battle of Brustem.
- 1658European history
Second Northern War: Naval forces of the Dutch Republic defeat the Swedes in the Battle of the Sound.
Dutch naval forces defeat Swedish ships in the Battle of the Sound, securing control of the crucial strait between Denmark and Sweden.
- 1675Science
Leibniz makes the first use of the long s (∫) as a symbol of the integral in calculus.
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz introduces the integral sign (∫) as the symbol for integration in calculus.
- 1792US history
Mount Hood (Oregon) is named after Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood by Lt. William E. Broughton who sighted the mountain near the mouth of the Willamette River.
Lt. William E. Broughton names Mount Hood after Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood, while sighting the mountain near the Willamette River mouth.
- 1863War
American Civil War: Battle of Wauhatchie: Forces under Union General Ulysses S. Grant repel a Confederate attack led by General James Longstreet in one of the few night battles of the war, protecting the Union's recently opened supply line into Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant repel a Confederate attack at Wauhatchie, safeguarding the Union’s supply line to Chattanooga.
- 1888World history
The Convention of Constantinople is signed, guaranteeing free maritime passage through the Suez Canal during war and peace.
The Convention of Constantinople guarantees free maritime passage through the Suez Canal for all nations during both war and peace.
- 1941World history
The Holocaust: In the Kaunas Ghetto, over 10,000 Jews are shot by German occupiers at the Ninth Fort, a massacre known as the "Great Action".
Over 10,000 Jews are shot by German occupiers in Kaunas Ghetto's Ninth Fort during the "Great Action."
- 1999Disaster
A large cyclone devastates Odisha, India.
A devastating cyclone hits Odisha, India, causing widespread destruction and loss of life.
- 2008Disaster
A pair of deadly earthquakes hits Baluchistan, Pakistan, killing 215.
Deadly earthquakes strike Baluchistan, Pakistan, resulting in 215 fatalities.
Born today
Famous birthdays on October 29
7 this date All birthdays
Émilienne Morin
French activist
Émilienne Morin, French anarchist activist and journalist who wrote for anarchist newspapers and contributed to legal defence campaigns, was born in 1901.
Born
1901
Died
1991
Robert Hardy
English actor
1925 – 2017
Frank Sedgman
Australian tennis player
b. 1927 · 99
Omara Portuondo
Cuban singer and dancer
b. 1930 · 96
Don Simpson
American actor, producer, and screenwriter
1943 – 1996
Matthew Hayden
Australian cricketer
b. 1971 · 55
Kelly Smith
English footballer
b. 1978 · 48
Music
The number one songs on October 29
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on October 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 October 29, 1982
Aston Villa shock Bayern Munich for the European Cup
In Rotterdam, late substitute Peter Withe scores the winner as Villa lift the trophy on their first attempt.
Read the story
🔬 Science October 29, 1991
The American Galileo spacecraft makes its closest approach to 951 Gaspra, becoming the first probe to visit an asteroid.
The Galileo spacecraft makes its closest approach to asteroid 951 Gaspra, marking the first time a probe has visited an asteroid.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
3 celebrated today
Coronation Day (Cambodia)
International
Cambodia has numerous public holidays, including memorial holidays and religious holidays of Buddhist origin
National Cat Day (United States)
International
National Cat Day is celebrated in various countries
Republic Day (Turkey) or Cumhuriyet Bayramı
International
Republic Day is a public holiday in Turkey commemorating the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey, on 29 October 1923