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
March 1 Sunday, March 1, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on March 1 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
-509
World history 2535 years ago
Publius Valerius Publicola celebrates the first triumph of the Roman Republic after his victory over the deposed king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus at the Battle of Silva Arsia.
Publius Valerius Publicola celebrates the Roman Republic's first triumph after defeating the deposed king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus at the Battle of Silva Arsia.
History
What happened on March 1
12 verified entries Full timeline
- -509World history
Publius Valerius Publicola celebrates the first triumph of the Roman Republic after his victory over the deposed king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus at the Battle of Silva Arsia.
Publius Valerius Publicola celebrates the Roman Republic's first triumph after defeating the deposed king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus at the Battle of Silva Arsia.
- 293World history
Emperor Diocletian and Maximian appoint Constantius Chlorus and Galerius as Caesars. This is considered the beginning of the Tetrarchy, known as the Quattuor Principes Mundi ("Four Rulers of the World").
Constantius Chlorus and Galerius are appointed as Caesars, marking the start of the Tetrarchy, or "Four Rulers of the World."
- 350World history
Vetranio proclaims himself Caesar after being encouraged to do so by Constantina, sister of Constantius II.
Vetranio proclaims himself Caesar at the encouragement of Constantina, sister of Constantius II.
- 834European history
Emperor Louis the Pious is restored as sole ruler of the Frankish Empire.
Louis the Pious is reinstated as the sole ruler of the Frankish Empire after a brief period of division.
- 1290European history
University of Coimbra, in Portugal, is officially chartered by King Denis.
King Denis officially charters the University of Coimbra, marking a significant milestone in Portuguese higher education.
- 1476European history
Forces of the Catholic Monarchs engage the combined Portuguese-Castilian armies of Afonso V and Prince John at the Battle of Toro.
The Catholic Monarchs' forces clash with the Portuguese-Castilian army of Afonso V at the Battle of Toro, a pivotal engagement in the War of the Castilian Succession.
- 1562European history
Sixty-three Huguenots are massacred in Wassy, France, marking the start of the French Wars of Religion.
The massacre of sixty-three Huguenots in Wassy marks the beginning of the French Wars of Religion.
- 1633Canadian history
Samuel de Champlain reclaims his role as commander of New France on behalf of Cardinal Richelieu.
Samuel de Champlain resumes command of New France by order of Cardinal Richelieu.
- 1692US history
Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba are brought before local magistrates in Salem Village, Massachusetts, beginning what would become known as the Salem witch trials.
Three women, Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba, are brought before local magistrates in Salem Village, marking the start of the Salem witch trials.
- 1781US history
The Articles of Confederation goes into effect in the United States.
The Articles of Confederation take effect, creating America's first constitution and establishing a loose confederation among the thirteen states.
- 1796European history
The Dutch East India Company is nationalized by the Batavian Republic.
The Dutch East India Company is dissolved and its assets are transferred to the newly established Batavian Republic.
- 1845US history
United States President John Tyler signs a bill authorizing the United States to annex the Republic of Texas.
John Tyler signs a bill allowing the United States to annex the Republic of Texas.
Born today
Famous birthdays on March 1
7 this date All birthdays
Sergei Kourdakov
Russian-American KGB agent
Sergei Nikolayevich Kourdakov, a former Soviet Navy officer who claimed to have raided over 150 underground Christian communities before defecting to Canada, was born today in 1951.
Born
1951
Died
1973
Vladislaus II of Hungary
1456 – 1516
Augustus Saint-Gaudens
Irish-American sculptor and academic
1848 – 1907
Dinah Shore
American singer and actress
1917 – 1994
Richard Wilbur
American poet, translator, and essayist
1921 – 2017
George O. Abell
American astronomer, academic, and skeptic
1927 – 1983
Kesha
American singer-songwriter and actress
b. 1987 · 39
Music
The number one songs on March 1
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on March 1, 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 March 1, 2002
U.S. invasion of Afghanistan: Operation Anaconda begins in eastern Afghanistan.
U.S.-led forces launch Operation Anaconda to clear al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters from a mountainous region in eastern Afghanistan.
Read the story
🔬 Science March 1, 2002
The Envisat environmental satellite successfully launches aboard an Ariane 5 rocket to reach an orbit of 800 km (500 mi) above the Earth, which was the then-largest payload at 10.5 m long and with a diameter of 4.57 m.
Envisat launches aboard an Ariane 5 rocket, reaching an orbit 800 km above Earth as the largest payload at the time, measuring 10.5 meters long with a diameter of 4.57 meters.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Beer Day, marked the end of beer prohibition in 1989 (Iceland)
International
In Iceland, Beer Day is celebrated every year on March 1, honoring the elimination of the 74-year prohibition of beer
Chalandamarz, traditional Alpine spring festival (Switzerland)
International
Chalandamarz is a traditional spring festival in Romansh-speaking and Italian-speaking parts of the Swiss canton of Grisons
Commemoration of Mustafa Barzani's Death (Iraqi Kurdistan)
International
This is a list of public holidays in Iraq
Day of the Balearic Islands (Spain)
International
Day of the Balearic Islands is a celebration and public holiday in the Balearic Islands
Disability Day of Mourning
International
The Disability Day of Mourning is observed annually on 1 March to commemorate disabled people who were murdered by their caregivers, especially their parents
Heroes' Day (Paraguay)
International
Francisco Solano López Carrillo was a Paraguayan statesman, military officer and politician who served as President of Paraguay between 1862 and 1870, of which he served mostly during the Paraguayan W