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Explore the historical events that shaped our world on May 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 Monte Porzio is fought on May 29, 1167, resulting in a significant victory for Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa against the Commune of Rome, who supported Pope Alexander III.
Pope Alexander III was forced to flee to Benevento. Frederick Barbarossa went and entered Rome, where he installed an antipope, Paschal III. Barbarossa's success short lived when a sudden outbreak of plague devastated his army, forcing him to retreat to Germany.
The Battle of Legnano is fought in Lombardy, Italy, on May 29, 1176, resulting in the Lombard League defeating the forces of Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, in a significant setback for imperial power stopping Frederick's effort to reassert control over the region shifting the region towards Italian independence and forcing the Empire to negotiate.
Constantinople falls to the Ottoman Empire forces led by Sultan Mehmed II after a being under siege for 55 days. The fall of Constantinople marked the end of the Byzantine Empire which had lasted for over 1000 years. Constantine XI Palaiologos, the last Byzantine emperor, was killed fighting against the Ottoman Empire.
The Ottomans capture Constantinople's strategically important region of Morea on May 29, 1460, exactly seven years after the fall of Constantinople on May 29, 1453, completing their conquest of the Byzantine Empire.
The Spanish Armada sets sail from Lisbon, Portugal, with the aim of invading England during the Anglo-Spanish War.
The city of Montreal is founded by French colonists under the direction of Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve.
The Battle of Dover (also known as the Battle of Goodwin Sands) takes place during the First Anglo-Dutch War between the navies of the Commonwealth of England and the United Provinces of the Netherlands. It proved to be an indecisive battle although opinions about the outcome of that battle vary among historians of that period. The flagships were commanded by Admirals Robert Blake and Maarten Tromp.
Note: The battle is sometimes listed as May 19, 1652 based in the Julian calendar which was still in use in England at the time. The Gregorian calendar, introduced in 1582, corrected the Julian calendar which had accumulated a 10-day error over time.
King Charles II of England is restored to the throne after the period of Commonwealth following the English Civil War. More
The Treaty of Middle Plantation, guaranteeing peace between the Virginia colonists and Native American tribes. is signed on May 29, 1677, and ratified by King Charles II.
Wisconsin was admitted to the Union of States and becomes the 30th State.
Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay completed the first confirmed ascent of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953. More
Jamling Tenzing Norgay, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was founded by the Arab League. The PLO was created as an umbrella organization representing various Palestinian organizations and movements, with the stated goal of liberation of Palestine. The founding convention was held in Jerusalem on May 28, 1964, and the PLO was formally established on June 2, 1964. Since 1974, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has a presence within the United Nations, not as a full member state but as observer status and is invited to participate in UN activities. Since 2012, the PLO operates under the name "Palestine" as a non-member observer state, allowing it to participate in UN sessions and conferences, maintain a permanent observer mission, and sign UN treaties More
1999, May 29 - Discovery Becomes the first Space Shuttle to Dock with the International Space Station. More
