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
April 1 Wednesday, April 1, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on April 1 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
8
Holidays
2011
World history 15 years ago
After protests against the burning of the Quran turn violent, a mob attacks a United Nations compound in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, resulting in the deaths of fourteen people, including seven UN workers.
A mob attacks a United Nations compound in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, after protests against Quran burning turn violent, killing fourteen people including seven UN workers.
History
What happened on April 1
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 285World history
Roman emperor Diocletian names Maximian his co-emperor ("Augustus").
Diocletian appoints Maximian as his co-emperor, establishing the Tetrarchy.
- 527European history
Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne.
Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and intended successor.
- 1081European history
Alexios I Komnenos overthrows the Byzantine emperor Nikephoros III Botaneiates, and, after his troops spend three days extensively looting Constantinople, is formally crowned on April 4.
Alexios I Komnenos overthrows Emperor Nikephoros III, spends three days looting Constantinople, and is crowned emperor.
- 1572European history
In the Eighty Years' War, the Watergeuzen capture Brielle from the Seventeen Provinces, gaining the first foothold on land for what would become the Dutch Republic.
The Watergeuzen capture Brielle, marking the Dutch Republic's first territorial gain in the Eighty Years' War.
- 1725Culture
J. S. Bach's later Easter Oratorio in its first version is performed at the Nikolaikirche in Leipzig on Easter Sunday.
Johann Sebastian Bach's Easter Oratorio receives its premiere performance at the Nikolaikirche in Leipzig.
- 1789US history
In New York City, the United States House of Representatives achieves its first quorum and elects Frederick Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania as its first Speaker.
The United States House of Representatives achieves its first quorum in New York City and elects Frederick Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania as its first Speaker.
- 1867UK history
Singapore becomes a British crown colony.
Singapore becomes a British crown colony, marking the start of formal British administration.
- 1873Disaster
The White Star steamer SS Atlantic sinks off Nova Scotia, killing 547 in one of the worst marine disasters of the 19th century.
The SS Atlantic sinks off Nova Scotia, claiming 547 lives in a devastating maritime tragedy.
- 1947Canadian history
The only mutiny in the history of the Royal New Zealand Navy begins.
Sailors aboard HMNZS Royalist stage the Royal New Zealand Navy's only mutiny, protesting poor living conditions and harsh treatment by officers.
- 1948European history
Faroe Islands gain autonomy from Denmark.
The Faroe Islands gain home rule within the Kingdom of Denmark.
- 2001World history
Same-sex marriage becomes legal in the Netherlands, the first contemporary country to allow it.
The Netherlands becomes the first country to legalize same-sex marriage.
- 2011World history
After protests against the burning of the Quran turn violent, a mob attacks a United Nations compound in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, resulting in the deaths of fourteen people, including seven UN workers.
A mob attacks a United Nations compound in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, after protests against Quran burning turn violent, killing fourteen people including seven UN workers.
Born today
Famous birthdays on April 1
7 this date All birthdays
Sophie Germain
French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher
Sophie Germain, the French mathematician and physicist who made pioneering contributions to elasticity theory and number theory despite facing opposition from her family and society, was born today in 1776.
Born
1776
Died
1831
Wallace Beery
American actor
1885 – 1949
Memos Makris
Greek sculptor
1913 – 1993
Ferenc Puskás
Hungarian footballer and manager
1927 – 2006
Paul Manafort
American lobbyist, political consultant, and convicted felon
b. 1949 · 77
Beth Tweddle
English gymnast
b. 1985 · 41
Logan Paul
American YouTuber, actor and wrestler
b. 1995 · 31
Music
The number one songs on April 1
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on April 1, 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 April 1, 1993
NASCAR champion Alan Kulwicki is killed in a plane crash near the Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Blountville, Tennessee.
Alan Kulwicki, a NASCAR champion, dies in a plane crash near the Tri-Cities Regional Airport.
Read the story
🔬 Science April 1, 1949
Chinese Civil War: The Chinese Communist Party holds unsuccessful peace talks with the Nationalist Party in Beijing, after three years of fighting.
The Chinese Communist Party and the Nationalist Party hold unsuccessful peace talks in Beijing following three years of civil war.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
April Fools' Day
International
April Fools' Day or April Fool's Day is an annual custom in many Western countries on the 1st of April consisting of practical jokes, hoaxes, and pranks
Odisha Day (Odisha, India)
International
Odisha Day, also Utkala Dibasa, is celebrated on 1 April in the Indian state of Odisha in memory of the formation of the state as a separate state out of Bihar and Orissa Province with addition of und
Arbor Day (Tanzania)
International
Arbor Day is a secular day of observance in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees
Civil Service Day (Thailand)
International
Public holidays in Thailand are regulated by the government, and most are observed by both the public and private sectors
Cyprus National Day (Cyprus)
International
Edible Book Day
International
The International Edible Book Festival is an annual event usually held on or around April 1, which is also known as Edible Book Day
❝
The taste for the abstract sciences in general and, above all, for the mysteries of numbers, is very rare.
— Sophie Germain · born April 1, 1776