The Battle of Levounion took place on April 29, 1091 between a combined Byzantine-Cuman army led by Emperor Alexios I Komnenos, and the nomadic Pechenegs, ending in a decisive victory for the Byzantine Empire and almost a complete annihilation of the Pecheneg people as a military force, signaling the start of the Komnenian Restoration.
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On This Day in History: April 29
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on April 29th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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The Battle of the Vikhra River takes place on April 29, 1386 where the Grand Duchy of Lithuania achieves a decisive victory over the Principality of Smolensk, paving the way for Lithuanian expansion as it shifted the balance of power in the region, weakening the traditional Ruthenian allies of the Golden Horde.
Joan of Arc, then 17, arrives in the city of Orléans on April 29, 1429, during the Hundred Years' War, entering unopposed through the eastern gate while a French sortie distracted the English forces. Her presence boosted French morale and ultimately contributed to lifting the siege.
English explorer Captain James Cook (then Lieutenant) anchors at Botany Bay in Australia on April 29, 1770, during his first voyage on the HMS Endeavour, marking the first recorded European landing on Australia's eastern coast.
They fished, explored, found water and botanized but they didn’t set up a land based camp and remained on board their ship. The Endeavour departed on May 6th seven days after her arrival. Cook's arrival led to his charting of the east coast and claiming it for Britain, but he found the bay unsuitable for settlement. The Endeavour departed on May 6th seven days after her arrival, moving to Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour). More
North Vietnamese troops begin to shell Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, on April 29, 1975, as they get ready to capture the city and the U.S. orders the evacuation of all personnel, but the only way out was by helicopter.
The attached photo by Dutch photographer Hubert Van Es, shows a UH-1 “Huey” helicopter landing on the roof of a CIA safe house in downtown Saigon at 22 Gia Long Street. The photo location is often incorrectly stated to be the roof of the US Embassy in Saigon. When the massive evacuation ended a day later, about 6,500 people had been airlifted including nearly 900 Americans. Hours later, on April 30, Saigon fell, and with it came the end of the Vietnam War. More
A deadly tropical cyclone hits Bangladesh, making landfall in the Chittagong district of southeastern Bangladesh, on April 29, 1991, with winds of around 155 mph (250 km/h). The tropical cyclone caused a 20 feet 6.1 m (20 ft) storm surge, which inundated the coastline, causing at about 140,000 deaths and US $1.7 billion in damage. More
The Los Angeles riots erupted on April 29, 1992, following the acquittal of police officers in the beating of Rodney King.
Prince William and Catherine Middleton marry at Westminster Abbey in London on April 29, 2011. The ceremony was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury and was attended by 1,900 guests and watched by over 2 billion viewers. Following their wedding, they were named the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.