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 12 Thursday, March 12, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on March 12 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
2014
Disaster 12 years ago
A gas explosion in the New York City neighborhood of East Harlem kills eight and injures 70 others.
A gas explosion in East Harlem kills eight people and injures more than 70 others.
History
What happened on March 12
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 538European history
Vitiges, king of the Ostrogoths, ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving the city to the victorious Byzantine general, Belisarius.
Vitiges lifts his siege of Rome and withdraws to Ravenna, ceding control of the city to Byzantine general Belisarius.
- 1088Religion
Election of Urban II as the 159th Pope of the Catholic Church. He is best known for initiating the Crusades.
Urban II is elected as the 159th pope and later calls for the First Crusade.
- 1158European history
German city Munich (München) is first mentioned as forum apud Munichen in the Augsburg arbitration by Holy Roman Emperor Friedrich I.
Munich is first referenced as "forum apud Munichen" in an arbitration document from the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I.
- 1391European history
Konrad von Wallenrode is elected the 24th Grand Master of the Teutonic Order (date is O.S.).
Konrad von Wallenrode is elected the 24th Grand Master of the Teutonic Order.
- 1579War
Start of the Siege of Maastricht, part of the Eighty Years' War.
Spanish forces under the Duke of Parma begin their siege of Maastricht, a pivotal confrontation in the Dutch struggle for independence from Habsburg rule.
- 1622Religion
Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier, founders of the Society of Jesus, are canonized by the Roman Catholic Church.
Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier are canonized by the Roman Catholic Church, founding the Society of Jesus.
- 1689UK history
James II of England lands at Kinsale, starting the Williamite War in Ireland.
James II lands in Kinsale, marking the beginning of the Williamite War in Ireland.
- 1811War
Peninsular War: A day after a successful rearguard action, French Marshal Michel Ney once again successfully delays the pursuing Anglo-Portuguese force at the Battle of Redinha.
Marshal Michel Ney successfully repels the Anglo-Portuguese forces in another rearguard action at the Battle of Redinha.
- 1862Canadian history
Paddle steamer Brother Jonathan docks in Fort Victoria (now Victoria, British Columbia), carrying smallpox-infected passengers from San Francisco. The ensuing epidemic killed an estimated two-thirds of First Nations in the province of British Columbia.
The paddle steamer Brother Jonathan arrives in Fort Victoria carrying smallpox-infected passengers from San Francisco, sparking an epidemic that kills an estimated two-thirds of British Columbia's First Nations population.
- 1918World history
Moscow becomes the capital of Russia again after Saint Petersburg held this status for most of the period since 1713.
Moscow resumes its role as Russia's capital, ending Saint Petersburg's long-standing position since 1713.
- 1947War
Cold War: The Truman Doctrine is proclaimed to help stem the spread of Communism.
President Truman announces a policy to aid Greece and Turkey, aiming to contain the spread of communism.
- 2014Disaster
A gas explosion in the New York City neighborhood of East Harlem kills eight and injures 70 others.
A gas explosion in East Harlem kills eight people and injures more than 70 others.
Born today
Famous birthdays on March 12
7 this date All birthdays
Mary Karadja
Swedish writer, spiritualist and princess
Mary Karadja, the Swedish writer and spiritual medium who became a central figure in Western esotericism during the Belle Époque, was born today in 1868.
Born
1868
Died
1943
John Aubrey
English historian and philosopher
1626 – 1697
Jane Pierce
American wife of Franklin Pierce, 15th First Lady of the United States
1806 – 1863
Vern Law
American baseball player and manager
b. 1930 · 96
Andrew Young
American pastor, civil rights movement activist, politician, and 14th United States Ambassador to the United Nations
b. 1932 · 94
Zhao Wei
Chinese actress, film director, producer and pop singer
b. 1976 · 50
Jamie Dwyer
Australian field hockey player and coach
b. 1979 · 47
Music
The number one songs on March 12
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on March 12, 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 12, 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 March 12, 1989
Tim Berners-Lee submits his proposal to CERN for an information management system, which subsequently develops into the World Wide Web.
Tim Berners-Lee submits a proposal to CERN for an information management system that evolves into the World Wide Web.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
6 celebrated today
Arbor Day (China)
International
Arbor Day is a secular day of observance in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees
Arbor Day (Taiwan)
International
Arbor Day is a secular day of observance in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees
Aztec New Year
International
The Mexica New Year is the celebration of the new year according to the Aztec calendar
National Day (Mauritius)
International
Mauritius is a multi-ethnic, multilingual and plural society with a population composed mainly of four major ethnic and religious groups
World Day Against Cyber Censorship
International
World Day Against Cyber Censorship is an online event held each year on March 12 to draw attention to the ways that governments around the world are deterring and censoring free speech online
Youth Day (Zambia)
International
There are approximately thirteen nationally recognized public holidays celebrated in the Republic of Zambia, a country in Southern Africa