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
July 11 Saturday, July 11, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on July 11 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
1346
European history 680 years ago
Charles IV, Count of Luxembourg and King of Bohemia, is elected King of the Romans.
Charles IV, Count of Luxembourg and King of Bohemia, is elected King of the Romans, beginning his path to becoming Holy Roman Emperor.
History
What happened on July 11
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 813European history
Byzantine emperor Michael I, under threat by conspiracies, abdicates in favor of his general Leo the Armenian, and becomes a monk (under the name Athanasius).
Michael I abdicates as Byzantine emperor, naming General Leo the Armenian his successor and retiring to monastic life as Athanasius.
- 911European history
Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy.
Charles the Simple signs a treaty with Rollo of Normandy, granting him land in northern France and recognizing him as Duke of Normandy.
- 1174Royalty
Baldwin IV, 13, becomes King of Jerusalem, with Raymond III, Count of Tripoli as regent and William of Tyre as chancellor.
Baldwin IV ascends to the throne at age 13, with Raymond III as regent and William of Tyre as chancellor.
- 1302War
Battle of the Golden Spurs (Guldensporenslag in Dutch): A coalition around the Flemish cities defeats the king of France's royal army.
Flemish militias defeat the French royal army at Kortrijk in the Battle of the Golden Spurs, a pivotal victory for the County of Flanders.
- 1346European history
Charles IV, Count of Luxembourg and King of Bohemia, is elected King of the Romans.
Charles IV, Count of Luxembourg and King of Bohemia, is elected King of the Romans, beginning his path to becoming Holy Roman Emperor.
- 1405World history
Ming admiral Zheng He sets sail to explore the world for the first time.
Zheng He leads a massive fleet on a pioneering voyage of exploration.
- 1410European history
Ottoman Interregnum: Süleyman Çelebi defeats his brother Musa Çelebi outside the Ottoman capital, Edirne.
Süleyman Çelebi defeats his brother Musa Çelebi in battle outside Edirne, securing control of the Ottoman Empire.
- 1576European history
While exploring the North Atlantic Ocean in an attempt to find the Northwest Passage, Martin Frobisher sights Greenland, mistaking it for the hypothesized (but non-existent) island of "Frisland".
Martin Frobisher mistakes Greenland for the mythical island of Frisland while searching for the Northwest Passage in the North Atlantic.
- 1616Canadian history
Samuel de Champlain returns to Quebec.
Samuel de Champlain arrives back in Quebec after a winter spent among the Huron nation.
- 1796US history
The United States takes possession of Detroit from Great Britain under terms of the Jay Treaty.
The United States formally takes control of Detroit from Great Britain as stipulated by the Jay Treaty.
- 1798US history
The United States Marine Corps is re-established; they had been disbanded after the American Revolutionary War.
The United States Marine Corps is re-established by an Act of Congress, returning to service after its disbandment following the Revolutionary War.
- 1848UK history
Waterloo railway station in London opens.
Waterloo railway station in London opens, becoming one of the city's busiest transportation hubs.
Born today
Famous birthdays on July 11
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 73
Piyasvasti Amranand
Thai businessman and politician, Thai Minister of Energy
Piyasvasti Amranand, former Thai Minister of Energy and former Secretary-General of the Thai National Energy Policy Office, turns 72 today.
Born
1953
Turns 73
today
Thomas Bowdler
English physician and philanthropist
1754 – 1825
Mortimer Caplin
American tax attorney, educator, and IRS Commissioner
1916 – 2019
Pai Hsien-yung
Chinese-Taiwanese author
b. 1937 · 89
Rod Strickland
American basketball player and coach
b. 1966 · 60
Konstantinos Kenteris
Greek runner
b. 1973 · 53
Kathleen Edwards
Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist
b. 1978 · 48
Music
The number one songs on July 11
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on July 11, 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 July 11, 2010
In Johannesburg, Spain defeat the Netherlands 1-0 after extra time to win their first FIFA World Cup title.
Spain wins their first FIFA World Cup title by defeating the Netherlands 1-0 in extra time.
Read the story
🔬 Science July 11, 2021
Virgin Galactic launches its founder, Richard Branson, into space, the first company ever to do so.
Richard Branson becomes the first civilian astronaut launched to space by a commercial company.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
China National Maritime Day (China)
International
China National Maritime Day, officially referred to as Maritime Day of China, also known as China Maritime Day, Maritime Day in China, Chinese: 中国航海日; pinyin: hanghairi, is celebrated July 11, 2005, c
Day of the Bandoneón (Argentina)
International
Bandoneón Day is celebrated on 11 July each year in Argentina
Day of the Flemish Community (Flemish Community of Belgium)
International
The Flemish Community Day is an annual holiday held in the Flemish Community of Belgium on 11 July
Eleventh Night (Northern Ireland)
International
In Northern Ireland, the Eleventh Night or 11th Night, also known as "bonfire night", is the night before the Twelfth of July, an Ulster Protestant celebration
National Day of Remembrance of the victims of the Genocide of the Citizens of the Polish Republic committed by Ukrainian Nationalists (Poland, established by the 22 July 2016 resolution of Sejm in reference to the July 11, 1943 Volhynian Bloody Sunday)
International
The National Day of Remembrance of the victims of the Genocide of Citizens of the Polish Republic committed by Ukrainian Nationalists is an official commemorative date in Poland, marked on 11 July
Gospel Day (Kiribati)
International
The following are public holidays in Kiribati