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
June 11 Thursday, June 11, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on June 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
4
Holidays
1011
European history 1015 years ago
Lombard Revolt: Greek citizens of Bari rise up against the Lombard rebels led by Melus and deliver the city to Basil Mesardonites, Byzantine governor (catepan) of the Catepanate of Italy.
Greek citizens of Bari overthrow Lombard rebels led by Melus and restore the city to Byzantine control under catepan Basil Mesardonites.
History
What happened on June 11
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 173War
Marcomannic Wars: The Roman army in Moravia is encircled by the Quadi, who have broken the peace treaty (171). In a violent thunderstorm emperor Marcus Aurelius defeats and subdues them in the so-called "miracle of the rain".
Marcus Aurelius defeats the Quadi in a thunderstorm, breaking their peace treaty violation.
- 631World history
Emperor Taizong of Tang sends envoys to the Xueyantuo bearing gold and silk in order to seek the release of Chinese prisoners captured during the transition from Sui to Tang.
Emperor Taizong of Tang dispatches envoys bearing gold and silk to the Xueyantuo, seeking the release of Chinese prisoners captured during the Sui-Tang transition.
- 786War
A Hasanid Alid uprising in Mecca is crushed by the Abbasids at the Battle of Fakhkh.
The Abbasids defeat a Hasanid Alid rebellion in Mecca at the Battle of Fakhkh.
- 980European history
Vladimir the Great consolidates the Kievan realm from Ukraine to the Baltic Sea. He is proclaimed ruler (knyaz) of all Kievan Rus'.
Vladimir the Great consolidates his rule over Kievan Rus', expanding his domain from Ukraine to the Baltic Sea and proclaiming himself its ruler.
- 1011European history
Lombard Revolt: Greek citizens of Bari rise up against the Lombard rebels led by Melus and deliver the city to Basil Mesardonites, Byzantine governor (catepan) of the Catepanate of Italy.
Greek citizens of Bari overthrow Lombard rebels led by Melus and restore the city to Byzantine control under catepan Basil Mesardonites.
- 1118War
Roger of Salerno, Prince of Antioch, captures Azaz from the Seljuk Turks.
Roger of Salerno captures Azaz from the Seljuk Turks, expanding his control in the region.
- 1157Royalty
Albert I of Brandenburg, also called The Bear (Ger: Albrecht der Bär), becomes the founder of the Margraviate of Brandenburg, Germany and the first margrave.
Albert I of Brandenburg becomes the first margrave, founding the Margraviate of Brandenburg in Germany.
- 1345World history
The megas doux Alexios Apokaukos, chief minister of the Byzantine Empire, is lynched by political prisoners.
Alexios Apokaukos, the chief minister of the Byzantine Empire, is killed by political prisoners.
- 1429War
Hundred Years' War: Start of the Battle of Jargeau.
French forces led by Joan of Arc capture Jargeau from the English.
- 1488UK history
The Battle of Sauchieburn is fought between rebel Lords and James III of Scotland, resulting in the death of the king.
James III of Scotland dies in the Battle of Sauchieburn after being defeated by rebellious lords.
- 1594UK history
Philip II recognizes the rights and privileges of the local nobles and chieftains in the Philippines, which paved way to the stabilization of the rule of the Principalía (an elite ruling class of native nobility in Spanish Philippines).
Philip II grants rights and privileges to local Filipino nobles and chieftains, establishing the influential Principalía class.
- 1775War
The American Revolutionary War's first naval engagement, the Battle of Machias, results in the capture of a small British naval vessel.
The Battle of Machias sees American colonists capture the British armed schooner HMS Margaretta in the Revolutionary War's first naval engagement.
Born today
Famous birthdays on June 11
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 70
Joe Montana
American football player and sportscaster
Joe Montana, the "Comeback Kid" quarterback who won four Super Bowl titles with the San Francisco 49ers and earned three Super Bowl MVP awards, turns 69 today.
Born
1956
Turns 70
today
Renée Vivien
English-French poet and author
1877 – 1909
Hugo Wieslander
Swedish decathlete
1889 – 1976
Richard Todd
Irish-English actor
1919 – 2009
Carlisle Floyd
American composer and educator
1926 – 2021
Sandra Schmirler
Canadian curler and sportscaster
1963 – 2000
João Garcia
Portuguese mountaineer
b. 1967 · 59
Music
The number one songs on June 11
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on June 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 June 11, 1955
Eighty-three spectators are killed and at least one hundred are injured after an Austin-Healey and a Mercedes-Benz collide at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the deadliest ever accident in motorsports.
A collision between an Austin-Healey and a Mercedes-Benz kills eighty-three spectators and injures over one hundred at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Read the story
🔬 Science June 11, 2008
The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is launched into orbit.
NASA launches the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope to study gamma-ray sources in the universe.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
4 celebrated today
Brazilian Navy Day (Brazil)
International
An Armed Forces Day, alongside its branch-specific variants often referred to as Army or Soldier's Day, Navy or Sailor's Day, and Air Force or Aviator's Day, is a holiday dedicated to honoring the arm
Davis Day (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada)
International
Davis Day, also known as Miners' Memorial Day is an annual day of remembrance observed on June 11 in coal mining communities in Nova Scotia, Canada to recognize all miners killed in the province's coa
King Kamehameha I Day (Hawaii, United States)
International
King Kamehameha Day on June 11 is a public holiday in the U
Student Day (Honduras)
International
Public holidays in Honduras are primarily centered on Christianity and the commemoration of significant events in Honduran history