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 8 Sunday, March 8, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on March 8 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
1
Holidays
1126
Royalty 900 years ago
Following the death of his mother, queen Urraca of León, Alfonso VII is proclaimed king of León.
Alfonso VII is proclaimed king of León following the death of his mother, Queen Urraca.
History
What happened on March 8
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1010Culture
Ferdowsi completes his epic poem Shahnameh.
Ferdowsi finishes the epic poem Shahnameh, a national Iranian masterpiece recounting Persian mythology and history.
- 1126Royalty
Following the death of his mother, queen Urraca of León, Alfonso VII is proclaimed king of León.
Alfonso VII is proclaimed king of León following the death of his mother, Queen Urraca.
- 1262European history
Battle of Hausbergen between bourgeois militias and the army of the bishop of Strasbourg.
Bourgeois militias defeat the army of the bishop of Strasbourg in the Battle of Hausbergen.
- 1558European history
The city of Pori (Swedish: Björneborg) is founded by Duke John on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia.
Duke John founds the city of Pori (Björneborg in Swedish) on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia.
- 1658European history
Treaty of Roskilde: After a devastating defeat in the Northern Wars (1655-1661), Frederick III, the King of Denmark-Norway is forced to give up nearly half his territory to Sweden.
Frederick III cedes extensive Danish and Norwegian territories to Sweden following a crushing defeat in the Northern Wars.
- 1736World history
Nader Shah, founder of the Afsharid dynasty, is crowned Shah of Iran.
Nader Shah is crowned as the first ruler of the Afsharid dynasty in Iran.
- 1775US history
An anonymous writer, thought by some to be Thomas Paine, publishes "African Slavery in America", the first article in the American colonies calling for the emancipation of slaves and the abolition of slavery.
An anonymous writer, possibly Thomas Paine, publishes "African Slavery in America," advocating for slave emancipation and abolition.
- 1801War
War of the Second Coalition: At the Battle of Abukir, a British force under Sir Ralph Abercromby lands in Egypt with the aim of ending the French campaign in Egypt and Syria.
A British force under Sir Ralph Abercromby lands at Abukir Bay in Egypt, beginning the campaign to expel French forces from the region.
- 1868War
Sakai incident: Japanese samurai kill 11 French sailors in the port of Sakai, Osaka.
Japanese samurai kill eleven French sailors in the port of Sakai, sparking tensions between Japan and France.
- 1937War
Spanish Civil War: The Battle of Guadalajara begins.
Italian volunteer troops are defeated by Republican forces near Madrid in the Battle of Guadalajara.
- 1965War
Vietnam War: US Marines arrive at Da Nang.
US Marines land in Da Nang, marking the beginning of large-scale American military involvement in the Vietnam War.
- 2001Science
Space Shuttle Discovery launches on STS-102, carrying the Expedition 2 crew to the International Space Station.
Space Shuttle Discovery launches on mission STS-102, delivering the Expedition 2 crew to the International Space Station and returning Expedition 1 to Earth.
Born today
Famous birthdays on March 8
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 65
Larry Murphy
Canadian ice hockey player
Larry Murphy, a durable NHL defenceman who played over 20 years for six teams including the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings, turns 64 today.
Born
1961
Turns 65
today
Wilhelm Bleek
German linguist and anthropologist
1827 – 1875
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.
American lawyer and jurist
1841 – 1935
Jonathan Sacks
English rabbi, philosopher, and scholar
1948 – 2020
Gary Numan
English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
b. 1958 · 68
Irek Mukhamedov
Russian ballet dancer
b. 1960 · 66
Freddie Prinze Jr.
American actor, producer, and screenwriter
b. 1976 · 50
Music
The number one songs on March 8
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on March 8, 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 8, 1936
Daytona Beach and Road Course holds its first oval stock car race.
The Daytona International Speedway hosts its inaugural oval stock car race.
Read the story
🔬 Science March 8, 1979
Images taken by Voyager 1 prove the existence of volcanoes on Io, a moon of Jupiter.
Voyager 1 discovers active volcanoes on Io, one of Jupiter's moons.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
1 celebrated today
International Women's Day, and its related observances: International Women's Collaboration Brew Day
International
International Women's Collaboration Brew Day (IWCBD) is an annual event that takes place each year on International Women's Day