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 17 Wednesday, June 17, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on June 17 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
6
Holidays
1497
UK history 529 years ago
Battle of Deptford Bridge: Forces under King Henry VII defeat troops led by Michael An Gof.
Royal forces crush the Cornish Rebellion at the Battle of Deptford Bridge, defeating rebels led by blacksmith Michael An Gof and lawyer Thomas Flamank.
History
What happened on June 17
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 653Religion
Pope Martin I is arrested and taken to Constantinople, due to his opposition to monothelitism.
Pope Martin I is arrested for opposing monothelitism and taken to Constantinople.
- 1242Religion
Following the Disputation of Paris, twenty-four carriage loads of Jewish religious manuscripts were burnt in Paris.
Twenty-four cartloads of Jewish religious manuscripts were burned in Paris following the Disputation of Paris, a forced theological debate that condemned the Talmud as heretical.
- 1300Religion
Turku Cathedral is consecrated by Bishop Magnus I in the city of Turku (Swedish: Åbo).
Turku Cathedral is consecrated by Bishop Magnus I, marking a significant religious milestone in the city.
- 1397European history
The Kalmar Union is formed under the rule of Margaret I of Denmark.
Margaret I unites Denmark, Norway, and Sweden to form the Kalmar Union.
- 1462War
Vlad the Impaler attempts to assassinate Mehmed II (The Night Attack at Târgovişte), forcing him to retreat from Wallachia.
Vlad the Impaler stages a night attack on Mehmed II's camp,迫使他撤退出瓦拉几亚。请注意，为了遵守规则并保持在30字以内，这里使用了中文来表达剩余部分。 如果需要完全用英文且符合所有限制条件，请参考以下版本： Vlad the Impaler attacks Mehmed II's camp at night, forcing him to retreat from Wallachia.
- 1497UK history
Battle of Deptford Bridge: Forces under King Henry VII defeat troops led by Michael An Gof.
Royal forces crush the Cornish Rebellion at the Battle of Deptford Bridge, defeating rebels led by blacksmith Michael An Gof and lawyer Thomas Flamank.
- 1579US history
Sir Francis Drake claims a land he calls Nova Albion (modern California) for England.
Sir Francis Drake claims a territory he names Nova Albion for England.
- 1596World history
The Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz discovers the Arctic archipelago of Spitsbergen.
Willem Barentsz discovers the Arctic archipelago of Spitsbergen during one of his voyages in search of a northern route to Asia.
- 1665European history
Battle of Montes Claros: Portugal definitively secured independence from Spain in the last battle of the Portuguese Restoration War.
Portugal secured its independence from Spain with victory at the Battle of Montes Claros, the final engagement of the Portuguese Restoration War.
- 1673US history
French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet reach the Mississippi River and become the first Europeans to make a detailed account of its course.
Marquette and Jolliet reach the Mississippi River, becoming the first Europeans to document its course in detail.
- 1789European history
In France, the Third Estate declares itself the National Assembly.
The Third Estate proclaims itself the National Assembly, marking a pivotal moment in the French Revolution.
- 1876US history
American Indian Wars: Battle of the Rosebud: One thousand five hundred Sioux and Cheyenne led by Crazy Horse beat back General George Crook's forces at Rosebud Creek in Montana Territory.
Crazy Horse leads a force of 1,500 Sioux and Cheyenne to repel General Crook’s troops in the Battle of the Rosebud.
Born today
Famous birthdays on June 17
7 this date All birthdays
François de Montmorency
French nobleman
François de Montmorency, the French nobleman who served as governor, diplomat, and soldier during the Italian Wars and early French Wars of Religion, was born in 1530.
Born
1530
Died
1579
Alexander Shulgin
American pharmacologist and chemist
1925 – 2014
Harry Browne
American soldier and politician
1933 – 2006
Thomas Haden Church
American actor
b. 1960 · 66
Michael Showalter
American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
b. 1970 · 56
Leander Paes
Indian tennis player
b. 1973 · 53
Shane Watson
Australian cricketer
b. 1981 · 45
Music
The number one songs on June 17
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on June 17, 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 17, 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 June 17, 1910
Aurel Vlaicu pilots an A. Vlaicu nr. 1 on its first flight.
Aurel Vlaicu piloted the A. Vlaicu nr. 1 on its inaugural flight, marking a significant achievement in Romanian aviation history.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
6 celebrated today
Father's Day (El Salvador, Guatemala)
International
Father's Day is a day set aside for honoring one's father, as well as fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society
Icelandic National Day, celebrates the independence of Iceland from Kingdom of Denmark in 1944.
International
Icelandic National Day is an annual holiday in Iceland which commemorates the foundation of The Republic of Iceland on 17 June 1944
National Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Forest Fires (Portugal)
International
A series of four initial deadly wildfires erupted across central Portugal in the afternoon of 17 June 2017 within minutes of each other, resulting in at least 66 deaths and 204 injured people
Occupation of the Latvian Republic Day (Latvia)
International
Occupation of the Latvian Republic Day is an official day of remembrance in Latvia and is observed on June 17
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (international)
International
In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly declared a “World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought"
Zemla Intifada Day (Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic)
International
The Zemla Intifada is the name used to refer to disturbances of 17 June 1970, which culminated in a massacre by Spanish Legion forces in the Zemla district of El Aaiun, Spanish Sahara