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 14 Tuesday, April 14, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on April 14 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
1561
World history 465 years ago
A celestial phenomenon is reported over Nuremberg, described as an aerial battle.
Residents of Nuremberg report witnessing a celestial phenomenon described as an aerial battle involving crosses, spheres, and cylindrical objects in the sky.
History
What happened on April 14
12 verified entries Full timeline
- -43World history
Legions loyal to the Roman Senate, commanded by Gaius Pansa, defeat the forces of Mark Antony in the Battle of Forum Gallorum.
Gaius Pansa's legions defeat Mark Antony's forces at the Battle of Forum Gallorum.
- 69World history
Vitellius, commanding Rhine-based armies, defeats Roman emperor Otho in the First Battle of Bedriacum to take power over Rome.
Vitellius defeats Otho in the First Battle of Bedriacum and becomes the new Roman emperor.
- 966European history
Following his marriage to the Christian Doubravka of Bohemia, the pagan ruler of the Polans, Mieszko I, converts to Christianity, an event considered to be the founding of the Polish state.
Mieszko I, the pagan ruler of the Polans, converts to Christianity upon marrying Doubravka of Bohemia, marking the founding of the Polish state.
- 972Royalty
Otto II, Co-Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, marries Byzantine princess Theophanu. She is crowned empress by Pope John XIII in Rome the same day.
Otto II marries Byzantine princess Theophanu and she is crowned empress by Pope John XIII on the same day.
- 1205War
Combined Bulgarian and Cuman army under Kalojan ambushes and defeats forces of the Latin Empire of Constantinople in the Battle of Adrianople.
Kalojan leads a combined Bulgarian and Cuman force to victory over the Latin Empire's troops in the Battle of Adrianople.
- 1395War
Tokhtamysh-Timur war: At the Battle of the Terek River, Timur defeats the army of the Golden Horde, beginning the khanate's permanent military decline.
Timur defeats Tokhtamysh’s army at the Battle of the Terek River, marking the start of the Golden Horde's lasting military decline.
- 1471UK history
In England, the Yorkists under Edward IV defeat the Lancastrians under the Earl of Warwick at the Battle of Barnet; the Earl is killed and Edward resumes the throne.
Edward IV defeats the Lancastrians at the Battle of Barnet, killing the Earl of Warwick and reclaiming the throne.
- 1561World history
A celestial phenomenon is reported over Nuremberg, described as an aerial battle.
Residents of Nuremberg report witnessing a celestial phenomenon described as an aerial battle involving crosses, spheres, and cylindrical objects in the sky.
- 1639War
Thirty Years' War: Forces of the Holy Roman Empire and Electorate of Saxony are defeated by the Swedes at the Battle of Chemnitz, ending the military effectiveness of the Saxon army for the rest of the war and allowing the Swedes to advance into Bohemia.
Swedish forces defeat the Holy Roman Empire and Electorate of Saxony at Chemnitz, rendering the Saxon army ineffective and clearing the way for Swedish advances into Bohemia.
- 1775US history
The Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage, the first abolition society in North America, is organized in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush.
Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush organize the Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage in Philadelphia, the first abolition society in North America.
- 1793War
The French troops led by Léger-Félicité Sonthonax defeat the slaves settlers in the Siege of Port-au-Prince.
French troops led by Léger-Félicité Sonthonax defeat royalist forces and white colonists in the Siege of Port-au-Prince during the Haitian Revolution.
- 1816US history
Bussa, a slave in British-ruled Barbados, leads a slave rebellion, for which he is remembered as the country's first national hero.
Bussa leads a slave rebellion in Barbados and is later recognized as the country's first national hero.
Born today
Famous birthdays on April 14
7 this date All birthdays
Peter Behrens
German architect, designed the AEG turbine factory
Peter Behrens, the German architect and designer who pioneered modern industrial architecture with his AEG Turbine Hall in Berlin, was born today in 1868.
Born
1868
Died
1940
Abraham Ortelius
Flemish cartographer and geographer
1527 – 1598
Christiaan Huygens
Dutch mathematician, astronomer, and physicist
1629 – 1695
Harriett Ellen Grannis Arey
American educator, author, editor, and publisher
1819 – 1901
Shamshad Begum
Pakistani-Indian singer
1919 – 2013
Arnold Burns
American lawyer and politician, 21st United States Deputy Attorney General
1930 – 2013
Abigail Breslin
American actress
b. 1996 · 30
Music
The number one songs on April 14
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on April 14, 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 14, 1929
The inaugural Monaco Grand Prix takes place in the Principality of Monaco. William Grover-Williams wins driving a Bugatti Type 35.
William Grover-Williams wins the first Monaco Grand Prix, driving a Bugatti Type 35.
Read the story
🔬 Science April 14, 2003
The Human Genome Project is completed with 99% of the human genome sequenced to an accuracy of 99.99%.
The Human Genome Project completes sequencing 99% of the human genome with 99.99% accuracy.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Ambedkar Jayanti (India)
International
Ambedkar Jayanti, also known as Bhim Jayanti, is observed on 14 April to commemorate the memory of B
Bengali New Year (Bangladesh)
International
Pohela Boishakh is the Bengali New Year celebrated by the Bengali people worldwide and as a holiday on 14 April in Bangladesh and 15 April or 14 April in the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, Jha
Black Day (South Korea)
International
Black Day (Korean: 블랙데이) is an unofficial holiday observed on April 14 each year
Cake and Cunnilingus Day
International
Cake and Cunnilingus Day is a satirical holiday celebrated on 14 April as a female response to Steak and Blowjob Day, which is celebrated on 14 March
Commemoration of Anfal Genocide Against the Kurds (Iraqi Kurdistan)
International
This is a list of public holidays in Iraq
Day of Mologa (Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia)
International
Mologa was a town in Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, formerly situated at the confluence of the rivers Mologa and Volga, but now submerged under the waters of the Rybinsk Reservoir