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
December 10 Thursday, December 10, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on December 10 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
3
Holidays
1508
European history 518 years ago
The League of Cambrai is formed by Pope Julius II, Louis XII of France, Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor and Ferdinand II of Aragon as an alliance against Venice.
Pope Julius II forms the League of Cambrai with France, the Holy Roman Empire, and Aragon to counter Venetian expansion.
History
What happened on December 10
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1317European history
The Nyköping Banquet: Birger, King of Sweden treacherously seizes his two brothers, dukes Valdemar and Erik, who are subsequently starved to death in the dungeon of Nyköping Castle.
King Birger of Sweden imprisons and starves his brothers, Dukes Valdemar and Erik, after a treacherous banquet at Nyköping Castle.
- 1508European history
The League of Cambrai is formed by Pope Julius II, Louis XII of France, Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor and Ferdinand II of Aragon as an alliance against Venice.
Pope Julius II forms the League of Cambrai with France, the Holy Roman Empire, and Aragon to counter Venetian expansion.
- 1541UK history
Thomas Culpeper and Francis Dereham are executed for having affairs with Catherine Howard, Queen of England and wife of Henry VIII.
Thomas Culpeper and Francis Dereham are executed for their affairs with Catherine Howard, the queen of England.
- 1665Royalty
The Royal Netherlands Marine Corps is founded by Michiel de Ruyter.
Michiel de Ruyter founds the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps.
- 1684Science
Isaac Newton's derivation of Kepler's laws from his theory of gravity, contained in the paper De motu corporum in gyrum, is read to the Royal Society by Edmond Halley.
Edmond Halley presents Isaac Newton's work deriving Kepler's laws from his theory of gravity to the Royal Society.
- 1768Science
The first edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica is published.
The first edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, a three-volume work compiled in Edinburgh, begins publication in Scotland.
- 1799Science
France adopts the metre as its official unit of length.
France adopts the metre as its official unit of length, defining it as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole.
- 1817US history
Mississippi becomes the 20th U.S. state.
Mississippi is admitted as the 20th U.S. state, expanding the Union's territory westward.
- 1898War
Spanish-American War: The Treaty of Paris is signed, officially ending the conflict. Spain cedes administration of Cuba to the United States, and the United States agrees to pay Spain $20 million for the Philippines.
The Treaty of Paris ends the Spanish-American War, with Spain ceding Cuba to U.S. administration and selling the Philippines to America for $20 million.
- 1902World history
The opening of the reservoir of the Aswan Dam in Egypt.
The Aswan High Dam's reservoir begins to fill, reshaping Egypt's water management and electricity generation.
- 1953UK history
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill receives the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Winston Churchill is awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his mastery of historical and biographical writing.
- 2017War
ISIL is defeated in Iraq.
ISIL loses its last major stronghold in Syria, marking a significant defeat in its territorial control.
Born today
Famous birthdays on December 10
7 this date All birthdays
Michael Clarke Duncan
American actor
Michael Clarke Duncan, the American actor who earned an Academy Award nomination for his breakout role as John Coffey in The Green Mile, was born today in 1957.
Born
1957
Died
2012
Anne de Mowbray
8th Countess of Norfolk
1472 – 1481
Gaston of Foix
Duke of Nemours
1489 – 1512
C. Rajagopalachari
Indian lawyer and politician, 45th Governor-General of India
1878 – 1972
Nicky Barr
Australian rugby player, soldier, and pilot
1915 – 2006
Rob Blake
Canadian ice hockey player and executive
b. 1969 · 57
Kevin Sharp
American singer-songwriter
1970 – 2014
Music
The number one songs on December 10
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on December 10, 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 December 10, 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 December 10, 1995
Java 1.0 is unveiled
Sun Microsystems releases a programming language that will become the backbone of enterprise computing and Android.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
3 celebrated today
Alfred Nobel Day or Nobeldagen (Sweden)
International
By an ordinance issued by the government of Sweden, a number of days of the calendar year are designated as official flag flying days when the Swedish flag is flown on all public flagpoles and build
Constitution Day (Thailand)
International
Public holidays in Thailand are regulated by the government, and most are observed by both the public and private sectors
Human Rights Day (International)
International
Human Rights Day (HRD) is celebrated annually around the world on 10 December