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 4 Thursday, June 4, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on June 4 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
1796
War 230 years ago
The siege of Mantua begins when Napoleon Bonaparte lays siege to the fortress of Mantua the last Austrian stronghold in Northern Italy. It will become the main focus of Napoleon's army for eight months during the Italian campaign of 1796-1797.
Napoleon Bonaparte begins the siege of Mantua, the last Austrian stronghold in northern Italy, which will occupy his army for eight months.
History
What happened on June 4
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 713UK history
The imperial official Artemius is chosen as Byzantine emperor the day after the blinding of previous emperor Philippicus. Artemisius choses the name of Anastasius II and announces his adherance to the Chalcedonian Christianity.
Artemius becomes Byzantine emperor as Anastasius II following the blinding of Philippicus, declaring adherence to Chalcedonian Christianity.
- 1411European history
King Charles VI grants a monopoly for the ripening of Roquefort cheese to the people of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, as they had been doing for centuries.
King Charles VI grants the people of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon a monopoly for ripening Roquefort cheese.
- 1525UK history
1525 Bayham Abbey riot; Villagers from Kent and Sussex, England riot and occupy Bayham Old Abbey for a week in protest against Cardinal Thomas Wolsey's order to suppress the monastery in order to fund two colleges founded by him.
Villagers from Kent and Sussex riot, occupying Bayham Old Abbey for a week to protest Cardinal Wolsey’s order to suppress the monastery.
- 1561UK history
The steeple of St Paul's, the medieval cathedral of London, is destroyed in a fire caused by lightning, and is never rebuilt.
A lightning-caused fire destroys the steeple of St. Paul's Cathedral, which remains unbuilt to this day.
- 1615War
Siege of Osaka: Forces under Tokugawa Ieyasu take Osaka Castle in Japan.
Tokugawa Ieyasu's forces capture Osaka Castle, marking a significant victory that solidifies his control over Japan.
- 1760Canadian history
Great Upheaval: New England planters arrive to claim land in Nova Scotia, Canada, taken from the Acadians.
New England settlers arrive in Nova Scotia to claim land previously occupied by deported Acadians.
- 1796War
The siege of Mantua begins when Napoleon Bonaparte lays siege to the fortress of Mantua the last Austrian stronghold in Northern Italy. It will become the main focus of Napoleon's army for eight months during the Italian campaign of 1796-1797.
Napoleon Bonaparte begins the siege of Mantua, the last Austrian stronghold in northern Italy, which will occupy his army for eight months.
- 1812US history
Following Louisiana's admittance as a U.S. state, the Louisiana Territory is renamed the Missouri Territory.
The Louisiana Territory is renamed the Missouri Territory after Louisiana joins the United States.
- 1876Technology
An express train called the Transcontinental Express arrives in San Francisco via the first transcontinental railroad, 83 hours and 39 minutes after leaving New York City.
The Transcontinental Express arrives in San Francisco, completing its journey from New York City in 83 hours and 39 minutes.
- 1943Politics
A military coup in Argentina ousts Ramón Castillo.
A military coup removes Ramón Castillo as governor of Salta, marking a period of political instability in Argentina.
- 1961War
Cold War: In the Vienna summit, the Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev sparks the Berlin Crisis by threatening to sign a separate peace treaty with East Germany and ending American, British and French access to East Berlin.
Nikita Khrushchev threatens to sign a separate peace treaty with East Germany, sparking the Berlin Crisis.
- 2025Sports
Eleven people are killed and 56 people are injured during a crowd crush incident outside M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India for the celebration of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Indian Premier League victory.
Eleven people die and 56 are injured in a crowd crush outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during celebrations for Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL victory.
Born today
Famous birthdays on June 4
7 this date All birthdays
Bobby Wanzer
American basketball player and coach
Robert Francis Wanzer, the American basketball player who won an NBA championship with the Rochester Royals in 1951 and was named an All-Star five times, was born today in 1921.
Born
1921
Died
2016
Zacharie Robutel de La Noue
Canadian captain
1665 – 1733
Rosalind Russell
American actress
1907 – 1976
Joseph Kabila
Congolese soldier and politician, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
b. 1971 · 55
Kasey Chambers
Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist
b. 1976 · 50
Daniel Vickerman
South African-Australian rugby player
1979 – 2017
Ian White
Canadian ice hockey player
b. 1984 · 42
Music
The number one songs on June 4
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on June 4, 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 4, 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 4, 2010
Falcon 9 Flight 1 is the maiden flight of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket completes its first successful test flight from Cape Canaveral.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
6 celebrated today
The Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces, also known as the birthday of C. G. E. Mannerheim, Marshal of Finland (Finland)
International
The Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces is celebrated annually on June 4th in Finland, also known as the birthday of Marshal C
Emancipation Day or Independence Day, commemorates the abolition of serfdom in Tonga by King George Tupou in 1862, and the independence of Tonga from the British protectorate in 1970. (Tonga)
International
Emancipation Day is observed in many former European colonies in the West Indies and parts of the United States on various dates to commemorate the emancipation of slaves of African descent
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression (International)
International
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is a United Nations observance held on June 4 every year
National Unity Day (Hungary)
International
A number of public holidays and special events take place each year in Hungary
Trianon Treaty Day (Romania)
International
The Trianon Treaty Day is a holiday in Romania celebrated every 4 June to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Trianon in 1920
Memorials for the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre (International)
International
In the days following the end of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, several memorials and vigils were held around the world for those who were killed in the demonstrations