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
August 22 Saturday, August 22, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on August 22 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
4
Holidays
1153
War 873 years ago
Crusader-Fatimid wars: The fortress of Ascalon was surrendered by Fatimid Egypt to an army of crusaders, Templars, and Hospitallers led by King Baldwin III of Jerusalem.
King Baldwin III of Jerusalem leads a crusader army, including Templars and Hospitallers, in capturing the fortress of Ascalon from Fatimid Egypt.
History
What happened on August 22
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 392World history
Arbogast has Eugenius elected Western Roman Emperor.
Frankish general Arbogast orchestrates the elevation of rhetorician Eugenius to the Western Roman throne, establishing a puppet emperor under his control.
- 851European history
Battle of Jengland: Erispoe defeats Charles the Bald near the Breton town of Jengland, halting the expansion of West Francia.
Erispoe defeats Charles the Bald in the Battle of Jengland, stopping the advance of West Francia into Brittany.
- 1138UK history
Battle of the Standard between Scotland and England.
English and Scottish forces clash at the Battle of the Standard, resulting in a victory for the English near Northallerton.
- 1153War
Crusader-Fatimid wars: The fortress of Ascalon was surrendered by Fatimid Egypt to an army of crusaders, Templars, and Hospitallers led by King Baldwin III of Jerusalem.
King Baldwin III of Jerusalem leads a crusader army, including Templars and Hospitallers, in capturing the fortress of Ascalon from Fatimid Egypt.
- 1485UK history
The Battle of Bosworth Field occurs; King Richard III of England's death in battle marks the end of the reigning Plantagenet dynasty and the beginning of the Tudors under Henry VII.
Richard III dies in battle at Bosworth Field, ending the Plantagenet dynasty and ushering in the Tudor era with Henry VII's ascent.
- 1559Religion
Spanish archbishop Bartolomé Carranza is arrested for heresy.
Bartolomé Carranza, Spanish archbishop of Toledo, is arrested on charges of heresy.
- 1614European history
Fettmilch Uprising: Jews are expelled from Frankfurt, Holy Roman Empire, following the plundering of the Judengasse.
Jews are expelled from Frankfurt after the plundering of the Judengasse during the Fettmilch Uprising.
- 1639UK history
Madras (now Chennai), India, is founded by the British East India Company on a sliver of land bought from local Nayak rulers.
The British East India Company establishes Madras on a strip of land purchased from local Nayak rulers.
- 1717European history
Spanish troops land on Sardinia.
Spanish troops arrive in Sardinia, marking the beginning of their occupation of the island.
- 1777US history
British forces abandon the Siege of Fort Stanwix after hearing rumors of Continental Army reinforcements.
British forces withdraw from the Siege of Fort Stanwix upon receiving false reports of approaching Continental Army reinforcements.
- 1851Sports
The first America's Cup is won by the yacht America.
The yacht America wins the first America's Cup, naming it after its sponsor and setting a new standard for international sailing competition.
- 1991World history
Iceland is the first nation in the world to recognize the independence of the Baltic states.
Iceland becomes the first country to recognize the independence of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
Born today
Famous birthdays on August 22
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 71
Chiranjeevi
Indian film actor, producer and politician
Konidela Chiranjeevi, known as Mega Star and widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential actors in Telugu cinema history, turns 71 today.
Born
1955
Turns 71
today
Willis R. Whitney
American chemist
1868 – 1958
Henry Bachtold
Australian soldier and railway engineer
1891 – 1983
Jean Berkey
American businesswoman and politician
1938 – 2013
Steve Davis
English snooker player, sportscaster, and author
b. 1957 · 69
Collin Raye
American country music singer
b. 1960 · 66
Tokushōryū Makoto
Japanese sumo wrestler
b. 1986 · 40
Music
The number one songs on August 22
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on August 22, 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 August 22, 1989
Nolan Ryan strikes out Rickey Henderson to become the first Major League Baseball pitcher to record 5,000 strikeouts.
Nolan Ryan achieves 5,000 career strikeouts by striking out Rickey Henderson.
Read the story
🔬 Science August 22, 1963
X-15 Flight 91 reaches the highest altitude of the X-15 program (107.96 km (67.08 mi) (354,200 feet)).
NASA pilot Joe Walker flies the X-15 to an altitude of 107.96 kilometers, setting a new record for the program.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
4 celebrated today
International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief
International
International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief is a United Nations-sponsored annual awareness day that takes place on 22 August as part of the UN's efforts
Earliest day on which National Heroes' Day (Philippines) can fall, while August 28 is the latest; celebrated on the fourth Monday in August.
International
National Heroes Day is a public holiday in the Philippines celebrated annually on the last Monday of August as a tribute to Filipino Heroes
Flag Day (Russia)
International
The following is the list of official public holidays recognized by the Government of Russia
Madras Day (Chennai and Tamil Nadu, India)
International
Madras Day is a festival organised to commemorate the founding of the city of Madras in Tamil Nadu, India