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 16 Thursday, July 16, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on July 16 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
2
Holidays
1212
European history 814 years ago
Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa: After Pope Innocent III calls European knights to a crusade, the forces of kings Alfonso VIII of Castile, Sancho VII of Navarre, Peter II of Aragon and Afonso II of Portugal defeat those of the Berber Muslim leader Almohad, thus marking a significant turning point in the Reconquista and in the medieval history of Spain.
European Christian forces led by kings of Castile, Navarre, Aragon, and Portugal defeat the Almohad caliphate at Las Navas de Tolosa, marking a pivotal moment in the Reconquista.
History
What happened on July 16
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 622Religion
The Hijrah of Muhammad begins, marking the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
Muhammad and his followers begin their journey from Mecca to Medina, initiating the Islamic calendar.
- 997War
Battle of Spercheios: Bulgarian forces of Tsar Samuel are defeated by a Byzantine army under general Nikephoros Ouranos at the Spercheios River in Greece.
Byzantine general Nikephoros Ouranos defeats Bulgarian forces of Tsar Samuel near the Spercheios River.
- 1054Religion
Three Roman legates break relations between Western and Eastern Christian churches through the act of placing a papal bull of excommunication on the altar of Hagia Sophia during Saturday afternoon divine liturgy. Historians frequently describe the event as the formal start of the East-West Schism.
Papal legates place a bull of excommunication at Hagia Sophia, marking the beginning of the East-West Schism.
- 1212European history
Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa: After Pope Innocent III calls European knights to a crusade, the forces of kings Alfonso VIII of Castile, Sancho VII of Navarre, Peter II of Aragon and Afonso II of Portugal defeat those of the Berber Muslim leader Almohad, thus marking a significant turning point in the Reconquista and in the medieval history of Spain.
European Christian forces led by kings of Castile, Navarre, Aragon, and Portugal defeat the Almohad caliphate at Las Navas de Tolosa, marking a pivotal moment in the Reconquista.
- 1232European history
The Spanish town of Arjona declares independence and names its native Muhammad ibn Yusuf as ruler. This marks the Muhammad's first rise to prominence; he later established the Nasrid Emirate of Granada, the last independent Muslim state in Spain.
Muhammad ibn Yusuf is named ruler of Arjona after its declaration of independence, marking his first rise to prominence before founding the Nasrid Emirate of Granada.
- 1377UK history
King Richard II of England is crowned.
Richard II is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey at age ten, beginning a turbulent reign that would last 22 years.
- 1536Canadian history
Jacques Cartier, navigator and explorer, returns home to St. Malo after claiming Stadacona (Quebec), Hochelaga (Montreal) and the River of Canada (St. Lawrence River) region for France.
Jacques Cartier returns to St. Malo after claiming Quebec, Montreal, and the St. Lawrence River region for France.
- 1661World history
The first banknotes in Europe are issued by the Swedish bank Stockholms Banco.
Stockholms Banco issues the first banknotes in Europe.
- 1683World history
Manchu Qing dynasty naval forces under commander Shi Lang defeat the Kingdom of Tungning in the Battle of Penghu near the Pescadores Islands.
Shi Lang leads Qing dynasty forces to victory over the Kingdom of Tungning in the Battle of Penghu.
- 1779War
American Revolutionary War: Light infantry of the Continental Army seize a fortified British Army position in a midnight bayonet attack at the Battle of Stony Point.
Light infantry from the Continental Army captured a fortified British position in a daring midnight bayonet assault at Stony Point, New York.
- 1790US history
The District of Columbia is established as the capital of the United States after signature of the Residence Act.
The Residence Act establishes the District of Columbia as the permanent seat of government for the United States.
- 1809US history
The city of La Paz, in what is today Bolivia, declares its independence from the Spanish Crown during the La Paz revolution and forms the Junta Tuitiva, the first independent government in Spanish America, led by Pedro Domingo Murillo.
La Paz declares independence from Spain, forming the Junta Tuitiva led by Pedro Domingo Murillo.
Born today
Famous birthdays on July 16
7 this date All birthdays
Shoeless Joe Jackson
American baseball player and manager
Shoeless Joe Jackson, the American outfielder whose .356 career batting average remains one of the highest in major-league history, was born today in 1887.
Born
1887
Died
1951
Gordon Prange
American historian, author, and academic
1910 – 1980
Denis Edward Arnold
English soldier
1918 – 2015
Sheri S. Tepper
American author and poet
1929 – 2016
Jyrki Lumme
Finnish ice hockey player
b. 1966 · 60
Larry Sanger
American philosopher and businessman, co-founded Wikipedia and Citizendium
b. 1968 · 58
Kim Rhode
American sport shooter
b. 1979 · 47
Music
The number one songs on July 16
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on July 16, 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 16, 1950
Uruguay beats hosts Brazil 2-1 to win the World Cup in a match dubbed as the Maracanazo.
Uruguay defeats Brazil 2-1 at the Maracanazo, winning the World Cup.
Read the story
🔬 Science July 16, 1969
The Apollo 11 lunar landing mission is launched from Cape Kennedy in Florida, USA.
The Apollo 11 mission lifts off from Cape Kennedy, beginning its journey to the Moon.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
2 celebrated today
Engineer's Day (Honduras)
International
Engineer's Day is observed in several countries on various dates of the year
Holocaust Memorial Day (France)
International
A Holocaust memorial day or Holocaust remembrance day is an annual observance to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust, the genocide of six million Jews and of millions of other Holocaust victims
❝
I ain't afraid to tell the world that it don't take school stuff to help a fella play ball.
— Shoeless Joe Jackson · born July 16, 1887