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 15 Sunday, March 15, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on March 15 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
7
Holidays
-44
World history 2070 years ago
The assassination of Julius Caesar, the dictator of the Roman Republic, by a group of senators takes place on the Ides of March.
Julius Caesar, dictator of the Roman Republic, is assassinated by a group of senators led by Brutus and Cassius in the Theatre of Pompey.
History
What happened on March 15
12 verified entries Full timeline
- -474World history
Roman consul Aulus Manlius Vulso celebrates an ovation for concluding the war against Veii and securing a forty years' truce.
Aulus Manlius Vulso celebrates an ovation for ending the war against Veii and securing a forty-year truce.
- -200War
The Roman Republic under its new consuls Publius Sulpicius Galba and Gaius Aurelius Cotta declares war on Philip V of Macedon, starting the Second Macedonian War.
The Roman Republic, led by consuls Publius Sulpicius Galba and Gaius Aurelius Cotta, declares war on Macedon's King Philip V, initiating the Second Macedonian War.
- -44World history
The assassination of Julius Caesar, the dictator of the Roman Republic, by a group of senators takes place on the Ides of March.
Julius Caesar, dictator of the Roman Republic, is assassinated by a group of senators led by Brutus and Cassius in the Theatre of Pompey.
- 351World history
Constantius Gallus is elevated as Caesar and then sent to Antioch to govern the Roman East.
Constantius Gallus is appointed Caesar and dispatched to Antioch to rule the eastern provinces of Rome.
- 493European history
Odoacer, the first barbarian King of Italy after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, is slain by Theoderic the Great, king of the Ostrogoths, while the two kings were feasting together.
Odoacer, the first barbarian King of Italy, is killed by Theoderic the Great during a feast.
- 856Royalty
Michael III, emperor of the Byzantine Empire, overthrows the regency of his mother, empress Theodora (wife of Theophilos) with support of the Byzantine nobility.
Michael III ousts his mother, Empress Theodora, with the help of Byzantine nobles.
- 897World history
Al-Hadi ila'l-Haqq Yahya enters Sa'dah and founds the Zaydi Imamate of Yemen.
Al-Hadi ila'l-Haqq Yahya enters Sa'dah and establishes the Zaydi Imamate, founding a religious and political dynasty that will shape Yemen for over a millennium.
- 933European history
After a ten-year truce, German King Henry the Fowler defeats a Hungarian army at the Battle of Riade near the Unstrut river.
Henry the Fowler defeats a Hungarian army at the Battle of Riade, ending a decade-long truce.
- 1147Royalty
Afonso I of Portugal captures in a surprise attack the city of Santarem from the Almoravids.
Afonso I of Portugal seizes the city of Santarém from the Almoravids in a daring nighttime assault, a pivotal victory in the Christian Reconquista.
- 1311European history
Battle of Halmyros: The Catalan Company defeats Walter V, Count of Brienne to take control of the Duchy of Athens, a Crusader state in Greece.
The Catalan Company defeats Walter V, Count of Brienne, securing control of the Duchy of Athens.
- 1412European history
Treaty of Lublowa: After the Peace of Thorn, Grand Master Heinrich von Plauen asks Sigismund of Hungary for economic aid. Sigismund agrees to mediate reduction to the third installment, demarcation of the Samogitian border, and other matters with a grand tournament. Hunts and lavish feasts were also organized. Sigismund invited, among others, polish king Wladyslaw Jagiello, Heinrich von Plauen and bosnian king Tvrtko II. There were people from 17 countries and languages - 40.000 nobles and 2000 knights were present from all over Europe, even England.
Sigismund of Hungary mediates economic aid for Heinrich von Plauen with a grand tournament attracting nobles and knights from across Europe.
- 1564World history
Mughal Emperor Akbar abolishes the jizya tax on non-Muslim subjects.
Akbar abolishes the jizya tax, easing religious tensions and promoting tolerance in his empire.
Born today
Famous birthdays on March 15
7 this date All birthdays
Anne de Montmorency
French captain and diplomat
Anne de Montmorency, the French noble who served as Constable of France under five kings during the Italian Wars and early French Wars of Religion, was born today in 1493.
Born
1493
Died
1567
Paul Heyse
German author, poet, and playwright, Nobel Prize laureate
1830 – 1914
Benjamin R. Jacobs
American biochemist
1879 – 1963
Frances Conroy
American actress
b. 1953 · 73
Harold Baines
American baseball player
b. 1959 · 67
Eva Longoria
American actress
b. 1975 · 51
Jannik Hansen
Danish ice hockey player
b. 1986 · 40
Music
The number one songs on March 15
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on March 15, 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 15, 1877
First ever official cricket test match is played: Australia vs England at the MCG Stadium, in Melbourne, Australia.
Australia and England play the first official Test cricket match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Read the story
🔬 Science March 15, 1995
Java 1.0 is unveiled
Sun Microsystems releases a programming language that will become the backbone of enterprise computing and Android.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
7 celebrated today
Ancient Roman religious observance: Ides of March
International
The Ides of March is the day on the Roman calendar marked as the Idus, roughly the midpoint of a month, of Martius, corresponding to 15 March on the Gregorian calendar
Constitution Day (Belarus)
International
National holidays in Belarus are classified into state holidays and other holidays and commemorative days, including religious holidays
International Day To Combat Islamophobia
International
The International Day to Combat Islamophobia is an international observance designated by United Nations in 2022, taking place on 15 March every year worldwide to counter Islamophobia
Joseph Jenkins Roberts' Birthday (Liberia)
International
The following are public holidays in Liberia
National Day, celebrating the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 (Hungary)
International
A number of public holidays and special events take place each year in Hungary
World Consumer Rights Day (International)
International
Consumers International is the membership organization for consumer groups around the world