August 29

Born into the prestigious Minamoto clan, Yorimitsu served the Heian court as a military commander protecting the capital from bandits and rebels. He is celebrated in Japanese folklore for slaying monstrous creatures such as Shuten-dōji and Tsuchigumo. His leadership helped maintain order in the provinces and enhanced the court’s authority during a period of aristocratic rivalry. Known also for his patronage of Buddhist temples, he combined warrior skills with cultural refinement. Yorimitsu’s exploits have been immortalized in art, literature, and theater, cementing his status as one of Japan’s great legendary heroes.

Pál Tomori (c.1475–1526) was appointed Archbishop of Kalocsa and later took on military duties during the Ottoman–Hungarian wars. He organized and led troops to defend Hungary against Ottoman advances. At the Battle of Mohács in 1526, Tomori commanded the Hungarian army and was mortally wounded in combat. Despite the defeat, his leadership exemplified the union of religious authority and martial skill. His death contributed to a national crisis but cemented his legacy as a defender of Hungarian sovereignty. Today, he is celebrated as a symbol of resistance against Ottoman rule.

Cristóvão da Gama (1516–1542) was the eldest son of famed explorer Vasco da Gama. In 1541 he led a small Portuguese expedition to Ethiopia to aid Emperor Gelawdewos against Ottoman-backed forces. Despite early victories at Baçente and Jarte, his army was ultimately defeated at Wofla. He was captured after being wounded and executed by hanging in 1542. His mission represents one of the earliest Portuguese Christian military alliances in East Africa and exemplifies the global nature of 16th-century conflicts. His bravery and tragic end have been remembered in both Portuguese and Ethiopian histories.

Ascending to power at age 14, Tokugawa Iemochi ruled from 1858 amid the Bakumatsu era's upheavals.\nHe navigated complex relations with Western powers following Japan’s forced opening to trade.\nIemochi worked alongside senior statesmen to balance reform and tradition in the dying years of feudal Japan.\nDespite his efforts, his shogunate faced mounting challenges from imperial loyalists advocating restoration of direct imperial rule.\nIemochi's untimely death in 1866 preceded the Meiji Restoration, which ended over two centuries of Tokugawa rule.

Stefan Dunjov was born in the Banat region and joined revolutionary forces seeking national liberation.\nHe rose to the rank of colonel in the Hungarian revolutionary army, demonstrating leadership in key battles.\nDunjov's commitment to freedom led him to fight alongside diverse groups against Habsburg rule.\nAfter the revolution's defeat, he lived in exile but remained a symbol of cross-cultural solidarity in Europe.\nHis legacy is celebrated in both Bulgarian and Hungarian histories as a hero of 19th-century liberation movements.

Ulysses S. Grant III was born in 1881 into a family legacy of public service as the grandson of President Ulysses S. Grant. He graduated from West Point in 1903 and served with the U.S. Army cavalry in Mexico and during World War I. After the war, he commanded several military units and rose to the rank of brigadier general. He was appointed the first Commissioner of the National Capital Parks, where he championed the preservation of Washington, D.C.'s monuments and green spaces. His leadership helped shape the capital's landscape and protect its historic treasures. Grant passed away in 1968, leaving a legacy of military valor and civic conservation.