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 5 Saturday, December 5, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on December 5 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
1082
European history 944 years ago
Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona is assassinated, most likely by his brother, Berenguer Ramon II.
Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona, is assassinated, most likely by his brother Berenguer Ramon II.
History
What happened on December 5
12 verified entries Full timeline
- -63Politics
Cicero gives the fourth and final of the Catiline Orations.
Cicero delivers his fourth and final Catiline Oration, accusing Roman senator Catiline of conspiracy and treason.
- 633Religion
Fourth Council of Toledo opens, presided over by Isidore of Seville.
The Fourth Council of Toledo convenes, led by Isidore of Seville.
- 1033Disaster
The Jordan Rift Valley earthquake destroys multiple cities across the Levant, triggers a tsunami and kills many.
A powerful earthquake in the Jordan Rift Valley devastates cities across the Levant, triggers a tsunami, and claims thousands of lives.
- 1082European history
Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona is assassinated, most likely by his brother, Berenguer Ramon II.
Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona, is assassinated, most likely by his brother Berenguer Ramon II.
- 1456Disaster
The first of two earthquakes measuring Mw 7.2 strikes Italy, causing extreme destruction and killing upwards of 70,000 people.
An earthquake measuring Mw 7.2 devastates parts of Italy, the first of two major tremors that together claim over 70,000 lives.
- 1496European history
King Manuel I of Portugal issues a decree ordering the expulsion of Jews from the country.
King Manuel I decrees the expulsion of Jews from Portugal.
- 1560European history
Ten-year-old Charles IX becomes king of France, with Queen Mother Catherine de' Medici as regent.
Charles IX becomes king of France at age ten, with his mother Catherine de' Medici serving as regent.
- 1578World history
Sir Francis Drake, after sailing through Strait of Magellan, raids Valparaiso.
Sir Francis Drake raids Valparaiso following his passage through the Strait of Magellan.
- 1649European history
The town of Raahe (Swedish: Brahestad) is founded by Count Per Brahe the Younger.
Count Per Brahe the Younger founds the town of Raahe, known in Swedish as Brahestad.
- 1757War
Seven Years' War: Battle of Leuthen: Frederick II of Prussia leads Prussian forces to a decisive victory over Austrian forces under Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine.
Frederick II of Prussia defeats Austrian forces at the Battle of Leuthen, securing a crucial victory in the Seven Years' War.
- 1775US history
At Fort Ticonderoga, Henry Knox begins his historic transport of artillery to Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Henry Knox begins transporting cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- 1848US history
California Gold Rush: In a message to the United States Congress, U.S. President James K. Polk confirms that large amounts of gold had been discovered in California.
President James K. Polk informs Congress of substantial gold discoveries in California, sparking the Gold Rush.
Born today
Famous birthdays on December 5
7 this date All birthdays
Nunnally Johnson
American director, producer, and screenwriter
Nunnally Johnson, the American screenwriter, director, and producer who wrote scripts for more than fifty films during his career from 1927 to 1967, was born today in 1897.
Born
1897
Died
1977
John Jellicoe
1st Earl Jellicoe, English admiral and politician, 2nd Governor-General of New Zealand
1859 – 1935
Francisco Javier Arana
Guatemalan Army colonel and briefly Guatemalan head of state
1905 – 1949
Little Richard
American singer-songwriter, pianist, and actor
1932 – 2020
Matthew Taylor
English businessman and politician
b. 1960 · 66
Martin Vinnicombe
Australian cyclist
b. 1964 · 62
Kwon Yu-ri
South Korean singer-songwriter and actress
b. 1989 · 37
Music
The number one songs on December 5
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on December 5, 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 5, 2017
The International Olympic Committee bans Russia from competing at the 2018 Winter Olympics for doping at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee bans Russian athletes from competing at the 2018 Winter Olympics due to state-sponsored doping.
Read the story
🔬 Science December 5, 1964
Lloyd J. Old discovers the first linkage between the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and disease, mouse leukemia, opening the way for the recognition of the importance of the MHC in the immune response.
Lloyd J. Old discovers a link between the major histocompatibility complex and mouse leukemia, paving the way for understanding its role in immune responses.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Children's Day (Suriname)
International
Children's Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honour of children, whose date of observance varies by country
Day of Military Honour - Battle of Moscow (Russia)
International
The Days of Military Honour are special memorable dates in the Russian Armed Forces dedicated to the most outstanding victories won by Russia
Discovery Day (Haiti and Dominican Republic)
International
Discovery Day is the name of several holidays commemorating the discovery of land, gold, and other significant national discoveries
International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development
International
The International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development, more commonly referred to as International Volunteer Day (IVD), is an international observance mandated by the UN General Assembly
Klozum (Schiermonnikoog, Netherlands)
International
Klozum is a holiday feast celebrated every 5 December on the Dutch island of Schiermonnikoog
Saint Nicholas' Eve (Belgium, Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Hungary, Romania, Germany, Poland and the UK) Krampusnacht (Austria)
International
The Krampus is a horned anthropomorphic figure who, in the Central and Eastern Alpine folkloric tradition, is said to accompany Saint Nicholas on visits to children during the night of 5 December, imm
❝
A good script should be able to be read aloud without embarrassment.
— Nunnally Johnson · born December 5, 1897