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
January 29 Thursday, January 29, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on January 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
2
Holidays
Sports 90 years ago
The first inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame are announced.
Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson become the inaugural inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
History
What happened on January 29
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 904Religion
Sergius III is elected pope, after coming out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed antipope Christopher.
Sergius III emerges from retirement to be elected pope, succeeding the deposed antipope Christopher.
- 946Religion
Caliph al-Mustakfi is blinded and deposed by Mu'izz al-Dawla, ruler of the Buyid Empire. He is succeeded by al-Muti as caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate.
Mu'izz al-Dawla blinds and deposes Caliph al-Mustakfi, replacing him with al-Muti as the new caliph.
- 1850US history
Henry Clay introduces the Compromise of 1850 to the U.S. Congress.
Henry Clay proposes a series of measures aimed at resolving conflicts over slavery between Northern and Southern states in Congress.
- 1863US history
The Bear River Massacre: A detachment of California Volunteers led by Colonel Patrick Edward Connor engage the Shoshone at Bear River, Washington Territory, killing hundreds of men, women and children.
Colonel Patrick Edward Connor's forces attack a Shoshone village in Washington Territory, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Shoshone men, women, and children.
- 1911World history
Mexican Revolution: Mexicali is captured by the Mexican Liberal Party, igniting the Magonista rebellion of 1911.
Mexicali falls to the Mexican Liberal Party, sparking the Magonista rebellion.
- 1936Sports
The first inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame are announced.
Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson become the inaugural inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- 2008Religion
An Egyptian court rules that people who do not adhere to one of the three government-recognised religions, while not allowed to list any belief outside of those three, are still eligible to receive government identity documents.
Egyptian authorities rule that individuals not adhering to recognised religions can still obtain government identity documents.
- 2014War
Rojava conflict: The Afrin Canton declares its autonomy from the Syrian Arab Republic.
The Afrin Canton proclaims its independence from the Syrian Arab Republic.
- 2017Crime
A gunman opens fire at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City, killing six people and wounding 19 others in a spree shooting.
A gunman kills six worshippers and injures 19 others at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City in a targeted attack during evening prayers.
- 2022Canadian history
Canadian truck drivers and pedestrians gathered to rally and protest on Parliament Hill against Canadian COVID-19 restrictions, which caused traffic and closures around the city.
Canadian truck drivers and pedestrians rallied on Parliament Hill against COVID-19 restrictions, causing disruptions in the city.
- 2025Disaster
American Eagle Flight 5342 collided mid-air with a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk operated by the United States Army and crashed into the Potomac River, killing all 67 people on board both aircraft.
American Eagle Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided mid-air over the Potomac River, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft.
- 2025Disaster
A chartered Beechcraft 1900 crashes near the Unity oilfield in South Sudan, killing 20 people.
A chartered Beechcraft 1900 crashes near the Unity oilfield in South Sudan, killing all 20 on board.
Born today
Famous birthdays on January 29
7 this date All birthdays
Gamini Jayawickrama Perera
Sri Lankan politician
Mallawa Arachchige Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, a Sri Lankan politician who served in Parliament for the United National Party representing Kurunegala District and previously Katugampola, was born today in 1941.
Born
1941
Died
2024
Countess Amalie Elisabeth of Hanau-Münzenberg
1602 – 1651
Christian VII of Denmark
1749 – 1808
John D. Rockefeller Jr.
American businessman and philanthropist
1874 – 1960
Allen B. DuMont
American engineer and broadcaster, founded the DuMont Television Network
1901 – 1965
Dominik Hašek
Czech ice hockey player
b. 1965 · 61
Brian Wood
American writer, illustrator and graphic designer
b. 1972 · 54
Music
The number one songs on January 29
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2026"Raindance"— Dave and Tems
- 2025"That's So True"— Gracie Abrams
- 2024"Stick Season"— Noah Kahan
- 2023"Flowers"— Miley Cyrus
- 2022"We Don't Talk About Bruno"— Carolina Gaitán , Mauro Castillo , Adassa , Rhenzy Feliz , Diane Guerrero and Stephanie Beatriz
- 2021"Drivers License"— Olivia Rodrigo
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport January 29, 1918
Ukrainian-Soviet War: The Bolshevik Red Army, on its way to besiege Kyiv, is met by a small group of military students at the Battle of Kruty.
A small group of Ukrainian military students faces off against the advancing Bolshevik Red Army at the Battle of Kruty.
Read the story
🔬 Science January 29, 1886
Karl Benz patents the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the first automobile designed for a gasoline engine.
German engineer Karl Benz received patent number 37435 from the Imperial Patent Office for his three-wheeled Motorwagen. The vehicle featured a single-cylinder four-stroke engine and is widely regarded as the first true automobile.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
2 celebrated today
Earliest day on which Fat Thursday can fall, while March 4 is the latest; celebrated on Thursday before Ash Wednesday. (Christianity)
International
Fat Thursday is a Christian tradition in some countries marking the last Thursday before Lent and is associated with the celebration of Carnival
Kansas Day (Kansas, United States)
International
Kansas Day is a holiday in the state of Kansas in the United States
❝
Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.
— Babe Ruth · born January 29, 1895