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 4 Saturday, April 4, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on April 4 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
5
Holidays
1268
European history 758 years ago
A five-year Byzantine-Venetian peace treaty is concluded between Venetian envoys and Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos.
Venice and the Byzantine Empire conclude a five-year peace treaty, negotiated between Venetian envoys and Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos.
History
What happened on April 4
12 verified entries Full timeline
- -503World history
Roman consul Agrippa Menenius Lanatus celebrates a triumph for a military victory over the Sabines.
Agrippa Menenius Lanatus celebrates a triumph for his victory over the Sabines.
- 190World history
Dong Zhuo has his troops evacuate the capital Luoyang and burn it to the ground.
Dong Zhuo orders his troops to abandon and burn the capital city of Luoyang.
- 611World history
Maya king Uneh Chan of Calakmul sacks rival city-state Palenque in southern Mexico.
Uneh Chan conquers Palenque, marking a significant victory for the city of Calakmul in the ancient Maya world.
- 619World history
The Bijapur-Mumbai inscription is issued by Pulakeshin II, describing the Battle of Narmada.: 207
Pulakeshin II issues an inscription in Bijapur detailing his victory at the Battle of Narmada.
- 801European history
King Louis the Pious captures Barcelona from the Moors after a siege of several months.
King Louis the Pious captures Barcelona after a months-long siege, ending decades of Moorish rule in the strategic Catalan city.
- 1268European history
A five-year Byzantine-Venetian peace treaty is concluded between Venetian envoys and Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos.
Venice and the Byzantine Empire conclude a five-year peace treaty, negotiated between Venetian envoys and Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos.
- 1423European history
Death of the Venetian Doge Tommaso Mocenigo, under whose rule victories were achieved against the Kingdom of Hungary and against the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Gallipoli (1416).
Tommaso Mocenigo, Venetian Doge during victories over Hungary and the Ottomans at Gallipoli, dies.
- 1581UK history
Francis Drake is knighted by Queen Elizabeth I for completing a circumnavigation of the world.
Francis Drake is knighted by Queen Elizabeth I for his successful circumnavigation of the globe.
- 1609European history
Moriscos are expelled from the Kingdom of Valencia.
The Moriscos are forced to leave the Kingdom of Valencia, marking a significant displacement of a religious minority.
- 1660UK history
Declaration of Breda by King Charles II of Great Britain promises, among other things, a general pardon to all royalists and opponents of the monarchy for crimes committed during the English Civil War and the Interregnum.
King Charles II issues the Declaration of Breda, offering pardons to both royalists and opponents for actions during the English Civil War and Interregency.
- 1796Science
Georges Cuvier delivers the first paleontological lecture.
Georges Cuvier presents the inaugural paleontological lecture, marking a pivotal moment in scientific study.
- 1814European history
Napoleon abdicates (conditionally) for the first time and names his son Napoleon II as Emperor of the French, followed by unconditional abdication two days later.
Napoleon conditionally abdicates in favor of his son Napoleon II; he later abdicates unconditionally.
Born today
Famous birthdays on April 4
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 82
Bob McDill
American country music songwriter
Bob McDill, the retired American country music songwriter who wrote or co-wrote 31 number one hits recorded by artists including Anne Murray and Ray Charles, turns 82 today.
Born
1944
Turns 82
today
Orunamamu
American-Canadian author and educator
1921 – 2014
Chen Yi
Chinese violinist and composer
b. 1953 · 73
Pamela Ribon
American actress, screenwriter, and author
b. 1975 · 51
Natasha Lyonne
American actress
b. 1979 · 47
Roberto Luongo
Canadian ice hockey player
b. 1979 · 47
Austin Mahone
American singer-songwriter and actor
b. 1996 · 30
Music
The number one songs on April 4
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on April 4, 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 4, 1982
Aston Villa shock Bayern Munich for the European Cup
In Rotterdam, late substitute Peter Withe scores the winner as Villa lift the trophy on their first attempt.
Read the story
🔬 Science April 4, 1997
Space Shuttle program: Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-83. However, the mission is later cut short due to a fuel cell problem.
The Space Shuttle Columbia launches but its mission is aborted due to a fuel cell issue.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
5 celebrated today
Children's Day (Hong Kong, Taiwan)
International
Children's Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honour of children, whose date of observance varies by country
Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Senegal from France (1960).
International
This is a list of public holidays in Senegal
Peace Day (Angola)
International
Angola has twelve public holidays that can be increased by bridge holidays if a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday
One of the possible days for Qingming Festival.
International
The Qingming Festival or Ching Ming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day in English, is a traditional Chinese festival observed by ethnic Chinese in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Mala
NATO Day
International
The NATO Day is a day commemorating the founding of NATO by the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April 1949