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 21 Saturday, March 21, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on March 21 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
537
War 1489 years ago
Siege of Rome: King Vitiges attempts to assault the northern and eastern city walls, but is repulsed at the Praenestine Gate, known as the Vivarium, by the defenders under the Byzantine generals Bessas and Peranius.
King Vitiges's Ostrogothic forces fail to breach Rome's walls as Byzantine generals Bessas and Peranius repulse his assault at the Praenestine Gate.
History
What happened on March 21
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 537War
Siege of Rome: King Vitiges attempts to assault the northern and eastern city walls, but is repulsed at the Praenestine Gate, known as the Vivarium, by the defenders under the Byzantine generals Bessas and Peranius.
King Vitiges's Ostrogothic forces fail to breach Rome's walls as Byzantine generals Bessas and Peranius repulse his assault at the Praenestine Gate.
- 630Religion
Emperor Heraclius returns the True Cross, one of the holiest Christian relics, to Jerusalem.
Emperor Heraclius returns the True Cross to Jerusalem, restoring one of Christianity's most revered relics.
- 717European history
Battle of Vincy between Charles Martel and Ragenfrid.
Charles Martel defeats Ragenfrid in the Battle of Vincy, consolidating his power over Francia.
- 867UK history
An army of the Kingdom of Northumbria attempts to recapture York from the Great Heathen Army but is defeated in the battle of York.
An army from the Kingdom of Northumbria fails to reclaim York from the Great Heathen Army, suffering defeat in a significant battle.
- 1152Royalty
Annulment of the marriage of King Louis VII of France and Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine.
Eleanor of Aquitaine's marriage to King Louis VII of France is annulled, paving the way for her subsequent marriage to Henry II of England.
- 1180World history
Emperor Antoku accedes to the throne of Japan.
Emperor Antoku ascends to the Japanese throne at age three.
- 1349World history
Erfurt massacre: Outbreak of an antisemitic pogrom in Erfurt, Germany, during which between 100 and up to 3000 Jews were killed by Christians after being accused of causing the Black Death.
An antisemitic pogrom in Erfurt results in the deaths of between 100 and 3,000 Jews, accused of spreading the Black Death.
- 1556UK history
On the day of his execution in Oxford, former archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer deviates from the scripted sermon by renouncing the recantations he has made and adds, "And as for the pope, I refuse him, as Christ's enemy, and Antichrist with all his false doctrine."
Thomas Cranmer renounces his recantations and denounces the pope as he faces execution in Oxford.
- 1788Disaster
A fire in New Orleans leaves most of the town in ruins.
A devastating fire sweeps through New Orleans, destroying more than 850 buildings and leaving most of the French colonial city in ruins.
- 1801War
The Battle of Alexandria is fought between British and French forces near the ruins of Nicopolis near Alexandria in Egypt.
British forces defeat the French near the ruins of Nicopolis outside Alexandria, a decisive engagement in Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign.
- 1814War
Napoleonic Wars: Austrian forces repel French troops in the Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube.
Austrian forces defeat French troops in the Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube, halting Napoleon's advance.
- 1919European history
The Hungarian Soviet Republic is established becoming the first Communist government to be formed in Europe after the October Revolution in Russia.
Béla Kun proclaims the establishment of the Hungarian Soviet Republic, making it the first communist government in Europe following the Russian Revolution.
Born today
Famous birthdays on March 21
7 this date All birthdays
Hans Hofmann
German-American painter and academic
Hans Hofmann, the German-born American painter and teacher whose career spanned two continents and is considered to have both preceded and influenced Abstract Expressionism, was born today in 1880.
Born
1880
Died
1966
Salvador Lutteroth
Mexican wrestling promoter, founded Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
1897 – 1987
Kathleen Widdoes
American actress
b. 1939 · 87
Mike Jackson
English general
1944 – 2024
Matthew Broderick
American actor
b. 1962 · 64
Ananda Lewis
American television host
1973 – 2025
Chiney Ogwumike
American basketball player
b. 1992 · 34
Music
The number one songs on March 21
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on March 21, 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 21, 1986
Debi Thomas becomes the first African American to win the World Figure Skating Championships.
Debi Thomas wins the World Figure Skating Championships, becoming the first African American to achieve this title.
Read the story
🔬 Science March 21, 1965
Ranger program: NASA launches Ranger 9, the last in a series of uncrewed lunar space probes.
Ranger 9, the final mission in NASA's Ranger program, is launched to explore the Moon's surface.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Arbor Day (Lesotho)
International
Arbor Day is a secular day of observance in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees
Arbor Day (Portugal)
International
Arbor Day is a secular day of observance in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees
Early music
International
Early music generally comprises Medieval music (500-1400) and Renaissance music (1400-1600), but can also include Baroque music (1600-1750) or ancient music
Education Freedom Day
International
Education Freedom Day (EFD) is an international event launched by the Digital Freedom Foundation in 2013
Harmony Day (Australia)
International
Harmony Day, an event officially expanded and renamed as Harmony Week for its 20th anniversary in 2019, is a government-declared observance celebrated annually on or around 21 March in Australia
Human Rights Day (South Africa)
International
Human Rights Day (HRD) is celebrated annually around the world on 10 December
❝
The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.
— Hans Hofmann · born March 21, 1880