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 31 Monday, August 31, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on August 31 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
1056
World history 970 years ago
After a sudden gastric illness, Byzantine Empress Theodora dies childless, thus ending the Macedonian dynasty.
Theodora, Byzantine empress and last ruler of the Macedonian dynasty, dies childless after a sudden gastric illness.
History
What happened on August 31
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1056World history
After a sudden gastric illness, Byzantine Empress Theodora dies childless, thus ending the Macedonian dynasty.
Theodora, Byzantine empress and last ruler of the Macedonian dynasty, dies childless after a sudden gastric illness.
- 1218World history
Al-Kamil becomes sultan of the Ayyubid dynasty.
Al-Kamil succeeds his brother as the new sultan of the Ayyubid dynasty.
- 1314Royalty
King Haakon V moves the capital of Norway from Bergen to Oslo.
King Haakon V relocates the Norwegian capital from Bergen to Oslo.
- 1420Disaster
The 8.8-9.4 Caldera earthquake shakes Chile's Atacama Region causing tsunami in Chile, Hawaii, and Japan.
A powerful 8.8-9.4 magnitude earthquake strikes Chile's Atacama Region, triggering tsunamis that affect Chile, Hawaii, and Japan.
- 1422UK history
King Henry V of England dies of dysentery while in France and his son, Henry VI, becomes king at the age of nine months.
Henry V of England dies of dysentery in France, and his nine-month-old son, Henry VI, succeeds him as king.
- 1776US history
William Livingston, the first Governor of New Jersey, begins serving his first term.
William Livingston begins his first term as the Governor of New Jersey.
- 1798War
Irish Rebellion: Irish rebels, with French assistance, establish the short-lived Republic of Connacht.
Irish rebels, aided by the French, declare the Republic of Connacht, a brief independent state.
- 1864US history
American Civil War: The Battle of Jonesborough, the culmination of the Atlanta campaign, begins as Union forces under General William T. Sherman clash with Confederate troops under General William J. Hardee south of Atlanta.
Union forces led by General Sherman begin the Battle of Jonesborough against Confederates commanded by General Hardee, marking the end of the Atlanta campaign.
- 1876European history
Ottoman Sultan Murad V is deposed and succeeded by his brother, Abdul Hamid II.
Murad V is deposed as Ottoman sultan after a reign of just 93 days and succeeded by his brother, Abdul Hamid II.
- 1940Disaster
Pennsylvania Central Airlines Trip 19 crashes near Lovettsville, Virginia. The CAB investigation of the accident is the first investigation to be conducted under the Bureau of Air Commerce act of 1938.
The crash of Pennsylvania Central Airlines Trip 19 near Lovettsville leads to the first CAB investigation under the Bureau of Air Commerce Act.
- 1988Disaster
Delta Air Lines Flight 1141 crashes during takeoff from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, killing 14.
Delta Air Lines Flight 1141 crashes during takeoff from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, killing 14 of the 108 people aboard.
- 2025Disaster
An earthquake in eastern Afghanistan kills over 1400 people. 25
An earthquake strikes eastern Afghanistan, resulting in more than 1,400 fatalities.
Born today
Famous birthdays on August 31
7 this date All birthdays
Ramon Magsaysay
Filipino captain, engineer, and politician, 7th President of the Philippines
Ramon Magsaysay, the Filipino guerrilla leader and automobile mechanic who became the seventh president of the Philippines, was born today in 1907.
Born
1907
Died
1957
Robert Bacher
American physicist and academic
1905 – 2004
Clive Lloyd
Guyanese cricketer
b. 1944 · 82
Ken McMullen
English director, producer, and screenwriter
b. 1948 · 78
Richard Gere
American actor and producer
b. 1949 · 77
Jolene Watanabe
American tennis player
1968 – 2019
Mark Johnston
Canadian swimmer
b. 1979 · 47
Music
The number one songs on August 31
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on August 31, 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 31, 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 31, 1888
Mary Ann Nichols, the first of Jack the Ripper's confirmed victims, is murdered.
Mary Ann Nichols, the first confirmed victim of Jack the Ripper, is found murdered in London.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Baloch-Pakhtun Unity Day (Balochs and Pashtuns, International observance)
International
Baloch-Pashtun Unity Day is an international day celebrated by Balochis and Pashtuns to express unity and brotherhood to one-another
Day of Solidarity and Freedom (Poland)
International
Holidays in Poland are regulated by the Non-working Days Act of 18 January 1951
Departure Day, celebrates the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan
International
Departure Day is a national holiday in Afghanistan that celebrates the 2021 withdrawal of United States troops from the country
Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Kyrgyzstan from the Soviet Union in 1991.
International
The Independence Day of Kyrgyzstan is the main state holiday in Kyrgyzstan
Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Malaya from the United Kingdom in 1957.
International
Independence Day, also known as National Day, is the independence day of the Federation of Malaya from the United Kingdom
Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Trinidad and Tobago from the United Kingdom in 1962.
International
The government of Trinidad and Tobago officially recognises a number of holidays and celebrations from most represented groups