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 28 Friday, August 28, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on August 28 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
1
Holidays
1565
US history 461 years ago
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés sights land near St. Augustine, Florida and founds the oldest continuously occupied European-established city in the continental United States.
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés establishes St. Augustine, founding the oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement in the continental United States.
History
What happened on August 28
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 475World history
The Roman general Orestes forces western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos to flee his capital city, Ravenna.
Orestes forces Emperor Julius Nepos to abandon Ravenna, marking a significant decline in the power of the Western Roman Empire.
- 489European history
Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths, defeats Odoacer at the Battle of Isonzo, forcing his way into Italy.
Theodoric defeats Odoacer at the Battle of Isonzo, advancing into Italy and establishing Ostrogoth rule.
- 632Religion
Fatimah, daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, dies, with her cause of death being a controversial topic among the Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims.
Fatimah, daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, dies; her cause of death remains a subject of debate between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
- 663War
Silla-Tang armies crush the Baekje restoration attempt and force Yamato Japan to withdraw from Korea in the Battle of Baekgang.
Silla-Tang forces defeat the Baekje restoration army and drive Japanese troops out of Korea at the Battle of Baekgang.
- 1189War
Third Crusade: The Crusaders begin the Siege of Acre under Guy of Lusignan.
The Crusaders start the siege of Acre, led by Guy of Lusignan.
- 1521European history
Ottoman wars in Europe: The Ottoman Turks occupy Belgrade.
The Ottoman Turks capture Belgrade, marking a significant expansion of their empire into Central Europe.
- 1565US history
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés sights land near St. Augustine, Florida and founds the oldest continuously occupied European-established city in the continental United States.
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés establishes St. Augustine, founding the oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement in the continental United States.
- 1619European history
Election of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor.
Ferdinand II is elected Holy Roman Emperor, a staunch Catholic whose policies will help ignite the Thirty Years' War.
- 1648UK history
Second English Civil War: The Siege of Colchester ends when Royalist Forces surrender to the Parliamentary Forces after eleven weeks.
Royalist forces surrender to Parliamentarians after an eleven-week siege of Colchester, marking a decisive moment in the Second English Civil War.
- 1709World history
Meidingnu Pamheiba is crowned King of Manipur.
Meidingnu Pamheiba is crowned King of Manipur.
- 1789Science
William Herschel discovers a new moon of Saturn: Enceladus.
William Herschel discovers Enceladus, a moon of Saturn.
- 1850Culture
Richard Wagner's Lohengrin premieres at the Staatskapelle Weimar.
Richard Wagner's opera "Lohengrin" debuts at the Staatskapelle Weimar.
Born today
Famous birthdays on August 28
7 this date All birthdays
Lindsay Hassett
Australian cricketer and sportscaster
Lindsay Hassett, the diminutive Australian cricketer whose elegant middle-order batting was marked by superb timing, nimble footwork, and strong wrists, was born today in 1913.
Born
1913
Died
1993
Robert Greenwald
American director and producer
b. 1943 · 83
Emlyn Hughes
English footballer
1947 – 2004
Rita Dove
American poet and essayist
b. 1952 · 74
Deepak Tijori
Indian actor and director
b. 1961 · 65
Ruth Riley
American basketball player
b. 1979 · 47
Kevin McNaughton
Scottish footballer
b. 1982 · 44
Music
The number one songs on August 28
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on August 28, 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 28, 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 August 28, 2016
The first experimental mission of ISRO's Scramjet Engine towards the realisation of an Air Breathing Propulsion System is successfully conducted from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota.
India conducts its first successful experimental mission of a scramjet engine from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
1 celebrated today
National Grandparents Day (Mexico)
International
Grandparents' Day or National Grandparents' Day is a secular holiday celebrated in various countries; it is celebrated to show the bond between grandparents and grandchildren