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 31 Tuesday, March 31, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on March 31 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
1174
War 852 years ago
A conspiracy against Saladin, aiming to restore the Fatimid Caliphate, is revealed in Cairo, involving senior figures of the former Fatimid regime and the poet Umara al-Yamani. Modern historians doubt the extent and danger of the conspiracy reported in official sources, but its ringleaders will be publicly executed over the following weeks.
A conspiracy to restore the Fatimid Caliphate is uncovered in Cairo, implicating senior figures from the former regime and the poet Umara al-Yamani.
History
What happened on March 31
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 307World history
After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, daughter of the retired Roman emperor Maximian.
Constantine marries Fausta, daughter of retired Emperor Maximian, after divorcing his first wife Minervina.
- 1146Religion
Bernard of Clairvaux preaches his famous sermon in a field at Vézelay, urging the necessity of a Second Crusade. Louis VII is present, and joins the Crusade.
Bernard of Clairvaux urges a Second Crusade from a field at Vézelay, with King Louis VII among those joining.
- 1174War
A conspiracy against Saladin, aiming to restore the Fatimid Caliphate, is revealed in Cairo, involving senior figures of the former Fatimid regime and the poet Umara al-Yamani. Modern historians doubt the extent and danger of the conspiracy reported in official sources, but its ringleaders will be publicly executed over the following weeks.
A conspiracy to restore the Fatimid Caliphate is uncovered in Cairo, implicating senior figures from the former regime and the poet Umara al-Yamani.
- 1272Religion
Pope Gregory X calls for a General Church Council to discuss reunion of Churches, Crusade to the Holy Land and Church reform.
Pope Gregory X convenes a General Church Council to address reunification of Christian churches, launch a crusade, and implement church reforms.
- 1492European history
Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile sign the Edict of Expulsion of the Jews from Spain, ordering all Jews in their kingdoms to either convert to Christianity or leave the country.
Ferdinand II and Isabella I issue an edict forcing Spain's Jews to convert to Christianity or face expulsion.
- 1521Science
Ferdinand Magellan and fifty of his men came ashore to present-day Limasawa to participate in the first Catholic mass in the Philippines.
Ferdinand Magellan and fifty of his men landed on Limasawa, participating in the first Catholic mass in the Philippines.
- 1657UK history
The Long Parliament presents the Humble Petition and Advice offering Oliver Cromwell the British throne, which he eventually declines.
The Long Parliament offers Oliver Cromwell the crown through the Humble Petition and Advice, which he ultimately refuses.
- 1761Disaster
The 1761 Lisbon earthquake strikes off the Iberian Peninsula with an estimated magnitude of 8.5, six years after another quake destroyed the city.
The Lisbon earthquake strikes off the Iberian Peninsula with a magnitude of 8.5, devastating the city six years after a previous destructive quake.
- 1774US history
American Revolution: The Kingdom of Great Britain orders the port of Boston, Massachusetts closed pursuant to the Boston Port Act.
The British Parliament closes the port of Boston in response to the Boston Tea Party.
- 1814War
The Sixth Coalition occupies Paris after Napoleon's Grande Armée capitulates.
Coalition forces enter Paris following the capitulation of Napoleon's Grande Armée, marking a decisive turning point in the Napoleonic Wars.
- 1899War
Philippine-American War: Malolos, capital of the First Philippine Republic, is captured by American forces.
American forces capture Malolos, the capital of the First Philippine Republic, marking a significant advance in the Philippine-American War.
- 1913Culture
The Vienna Concert Society rioted during a performance of modernist music by Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, Alexander von Zemlinsky, and Anton von Webern, causing a premature end to the concert due to violence; this concert became known as the Skandalkonzert.
A riot breaks out during a modernist music performance by Schoenberg, Berg, Zemlinsky, and Webern, leading to an early end of what becomes known as the Skandalkonzert.
Born today
Famous birthdays on March 31
7 this date All birthdays
Richard Kiley
American actor and singer
Richard Kiley, the American actor and singer who won two Tony Awards and originated the role of Don Quixote in the 1965 Broadway production of Man of La Mancha, was born today in 1922.
Born
1922
Died
1999
Johann Sebastian Bach
German composer
1685 – 1750
Vardis Fisher
American author and academic
1895 – 1968
Gordie Howe
Canadian ice hockey player
1928 – 2016
Michael Savage
American far-right radio host and author
b. 1942 · 84
Tom Barrasso
American ice hockey player and coach
b. 1965 · 61
Maaya Sakamoto
Japanese actress, voice actress and singer
b. 1980 · 46
Music
The number one songs on March 31
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on March 31, 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 31, 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 31, 2016
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Roscosmos cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko return to Earth after a yearlong mission at the International Space Station.
Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko return to Earth after completing a record-breaking year-long mission on the International Space Station.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
7 celebrated today
Cesar Chavez Day (California, Washington (state))
International
Cesar Chavez Day is a U
Freedom Day (Malta)
International
Freedom Day is a Maltese national holiday celebrated annually on 31 March
International Transgender Day of Visibility
International
International Transgender Day of Visibility, often simply Trans Day of Visibility or TDOV, is an annual event dedicated to celebrating transgender people, raising awareness of discrimination faced by
King Nangklao Memorial Day (Thailand)
International
Public holidays in Thailand are regulated by the government, and most are observed by both the public and private sectors
Thomas Mundy Peterson Day (New Jersey, United States)
International
Thomas Mundy Peterson of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, has been claimed to be the first African American to vote in an election under the just-enacted provisions of the 15th Amendment to the United States
Transfer Day (US Virgin Islands)
International
Transfer Day is a holiday celebrated in the U