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 5 Friday, June 5, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on June 5 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
830
European history 1196 years ago
Theodora is crowned Byzantine empress and marries then emperor Theophilos in the Hagia Sophia. She is credited with restoring Christian orthodoxy and icons.
Theodora is crowned Byzantine empress and marries Emperor Theophilos in the Hagia Sophia, later restoring the veneration of icons after his death.
History
What happened on June 5
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 830European history
Theodora is crowned Byzantine empress and marries then emperor Theophilos in the Hagia Sophia. She is credited with restoring Christian orthodoxy and icons.
Theodora is crowned Byzantine empress and marries Emperor Theophilos in the Hagia Sophia, later restoring the veneration of icons after his death.
- 1086World history
Tutush, brother of Seljuk sultan Malik Shah, defeats Suleiman ibn Qutalmish, the Turkish ruler of Anatolia in the battle of Ain Salm.
Tutush, brother of Seljuk Sultan Malik Shah, wins a decisive victory over Turkish ruler Suleiman ibn Qutalmish at the Battle of Ain Salm.
- 1257European history
Kraków, in Poland, receives city rights.
Kraków is granted city rights, marking a significant milestone in its development.
- 1288European history
The Battle of Worringen ends the War of the Limburg Succession, with John I, Duke of Brabant, being one of the more important victors.
John I, Duke of Brabant, emerges victorious in the Battle of Worringen, ending the War of the Limburg Succession.
- 1610UK history
The masque Tethys' Festival is performed at Whitehall Palace to celebrate the investiture of Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales.
A masque titled "Tethys' Festival" is performed at Whitehall Palace to mark the investiture of Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales.
- 1644World history
The Qing dynasty's Manchu forces led by the Shunzhi Emperor take Beijing during the collapse of the Ming dynasty.
The Shunzhi Emperor leads Manchu forces to capture Beijing as the Ming dynasty collapses.
- 1794World history
Haitian Revolution: Battle of Port-Républicain: British troops capture the capital of Saint-Domingue.
British troops seize Port-Républicain, the capital of Saint-Domingue, during the Haitian Revolution.
- 1798UK history
Battle of New Ross: The attempt to spread the United Irish Rebellion into Munster is defeated.
The United Irish Rebellion's attempt to expand into Munster is thwarted at the Battle of New Ross.
- 1829UK history
HMS Pickle captures the armed slave ship Voladora off the coast of Cuba.
HMS Pickle captures the slave ship Voladora, ending its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade.
- 1837US history
Houston is incorporated by the Republic of Texas.
Houston becomes the fourth city of the Republic of Texas, officially incorporating as a municipality.
- 1991Technology
Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-40, the fifth spacelab mission.
The Space Shuttle Columbia launches on STS-40, carrying the fifth dedicated Spacelab mission focused on life sciences research.
- 2003Disaster
A severe heat wave across Pakistan and India reaches its peak, as temperatures exceed 50 °C (122 °F) in the region.
Temperatures exceed 50 °C (122 °F) in parts of Pakistan and India during a severe heat wave.
Born today
Famous birthdays on June 5
7 this date All birthdays
Pancho Villa
Mexican general and politician, Governor of Chihuahua
Francisco "Pancho" Villa, the Mexican revolutionary and guerrilla leader who helped overthrow dictator Porfirio Díaz and bring Francisco I. Madero to power in 1911, was born in 1878.
Born
1878
Died
1923
Edmund of Langley
1st Duke of York, son of King Edward III of England and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports
1341 – 1402
Alifa Rifaat
Egyptian author
1930 – 1996
Jacques Demy
French actor, director, and screenwriter
1931 – 1990
Rick Riordan
American author
b. 1964 · 62
Marques Colston
American football player
b. 1983 · 43
Dave
British rapper
b. 1998 · 28
Music
The number one songs on June 5
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on June 5, 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 5, 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 5, 1995
The Bose-Einstein condensate is first created.
Scientists create the Bose-Einstein condensate, a new state of matter where atoms move as one coherent quantum entity.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Arbor Day (New Zealand)
International
Arbor Day is a secular day of observance in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees
Constitution Day (Denmark)
International
Constitution Day is observed in Denmark on 5 June
Father's Day (Denmark)
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
Indian Arrival Day (Suriname)
International
Indian Arrival Day is a public holiday that was first started in Trinidad and Tobago to celebrate the East Indian immigrants arrival to the nation during the indentureship period
Liberation Day (Seychelles)
International
This is a list of public holidays in Seychelles
President's Day (Equatorial Guinea)
International
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo ; born 5 June 1942 is an Equatoguinean politician, former military officer, and dictator who has served as the second president of Equatorial Guinea since 1979