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 4 Wednesday, March 4, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on March 4 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
3
Holidays
1386
European history 640 years ago
Władysław II Jagiełło (Jogaila) is crowned King of Poland.
Władysław II Jagiełło is crowned King of Poland, founding the Jagiellonian dynasty that would rule for nearly two centuries.
History
What happened on March 4
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 51World history
Nero, later to become Roman emperor, is given the title princeps iuventutis (head of the youth).
Nero is granted the title princeps iuventutis, marking him as the head of the Roman youth.
- 306Religion
Martyrdom of Saint Adrian of Nicomedia.
Saint Adrian of Nicomedia is martyred for refusing to renounce his Christian faith.
- 581World history
Yang Jian declares himself Emperor Wen of Sui, ending the Northern Zhou and beginning the Sui dynasty.
Yang Jian proclaims himself Emperor Wen of Sui, marking the end of the Northern Zhou dynasty and the start of the Sui era.
- 852European history
Croatian Knez Trpimir I issues a statute, a document with the first known written mention of the Croats name in Croatian sources.
Trpimir I, the Knez of Croatia, issues a statute that includes the first known written reference to the Croats in Croatian documents.
- 938Religion
Translation of the relics of martyr Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia, Prince of the Czechs.
Relics of Saint Wenceslas, the Duke of Bohemia and patron saint of the Czech Republic, are translated to St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague.
- 1152European history
Frederick I Barbarossa is elected King of Germany.
Frederick I Barbarossa is elected king, marking the beginning of his long reign over the Holy Roman Empire.
- 1171European history
Alexios II Komnenos is crowned Byzantine co-emperor to his father Manuel I Komnenos.
Alexios II Komnenos is crowned co-emperor alongside his father Manuel I Komnenos.
- 1238War
The Battle of the Sit River begins two centuries of Mongol horde domination of Rus.
The Battle of the Sit River secures Mongol dominance over the Rus' principalities, ushering in two centuries of tributary rule.
- 1351World history
Ramathibodi becomes King of Siam.
Ramathibodi ascends to the throne as the first king of Siam, founding the Ayutthaya Kingdom.
- 1386European history
Władysław II Jagiełło (Jogaila) is crowned King of Poland.
Władysław II Jagiełło is crowned King of Poland, founding the Jagiellonian dynasty that would rule for nearly two centuries.
- 1461UK history
Wars of the Roses in England: Lancastrian King Henry VI is deposed by his House of York cousin, who then becomes King Edward IV.
Edward IV deposes his uncle Henry VI, seizing the English throne and beginning his reign as king.
- 1519World history
Hernán Cortés arrives in Mexico in search of the Aztec civilization and its wealth.
Hernán Cortés lands on the coast of present-day Veracruz, beginning his expedition that would lead to the fall of the Aztec Empire.
Born today
Famous birthdays on March 4
7 this date All birthdays
Bob Johnson
American ice hockey player and coach
Robert Norman "Badger Bob" Johnson, the American ice hockey coach who led the Wisconsin Badgers to three NCAA championships and coached at college, international, and professional levels, was born in 1931.
Born
1931
Died
1991
Edwards Pierrepont
American lawyer and politician, 34th United States Attorney General
1817 – 1892
Sam Langford
Canadian-American boxer
1883 – 1956
Jean-Joseph Rabearivelo
Malagasy-French author, poet, and playwright
1901 – 1937
Ryszard Kapuściński
Polish journalist, photographer, and poet
1932 – 2007
Sandra Reynolds
South African tennis player
b. 1934 · 92
Kenny Dalglish
Scottish footballer and manager
b. 1951 · 75
Music
The number one songs on March 4
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on March 4, 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 4, 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 4, 1986
The Soviet Vega 1 begins returning images of Halley's Comet and the first images of its nucleus.
Vega 1 sends back the first images of Halley's Comet's nucleus, providing unprecedented views of the comet.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
3 celebrated today
St Casimir's Day (Poland and Lithuania)
International
Kaziuko mugė or Saint Casimir's Fair is a large annual folk arts and crafts fair in Lithuania, dating to the beginning of the 17th century
World Obesity Day
International
World Obesity Day, an internationally recognized event, moved to March 4 in 2020 from its previous date on October 11
World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development
International
The World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development is one of the UNESCO international days and is celebrated every 4 March