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
November 11 Wednesday, November 11, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on November 11 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
1215
Religion 811 years ago
The Fourth Council of the Lateran meets, defining the doctrine of transubstantiation, the process by which bread and wine are, by that doctrine, said to transform into the body and blood of Christ.
The Fourth Council of the Lateran formally defines the doctrine of transubstantiation, the belief that bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ during Mass.
History
What happened on November 11
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 308Roman history
At Carnuntum, Emperor emeritus Diocletian confers with Galerius, Augustus of the East, and Maximianus, the recently returned former Augustus of the West, in an attempt to end the civil wars of the Tetrarchy.
Diocletian meets with Galerius and Maximian at Carnuntum to resolve the civil wars of the Tetrarchy.
- 1028European history
Constantine VIII dies, ending his uninterrupted reign as emperor or co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire of 66 years.
Constantine VIII dies, concluding a 66-year reign as sole or co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire.
- 1100UK history
Henry I of England marries Matilda of Scotland, the daughter of Malcolm III of Scotland and a direct descendant of the Saxon king Edmund Ironside; Matilda is crowned on the same day.
Henry I marries Matilda of Scotland, who is also crowned queen on the same day.
- 1215Religion
The Fourth Council of the Lateran meets, defining the doctrine of transubstantiation, the process by which bread and wine are, by that doctrine, said to transform into the body and blood of Christ.
The Fourth Council of the Lateran formally defines the doctrine of transubstantiation, the belief that bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ during Mass.
- 1500European history
Treaty of Granada: Louis XII of France and Ferdinand II of Aragon agree to divide the Kingdom of Naples between them.
Louis XII of France and Ferdinand II of Aragon sign the Treaty of Granada, agreeing to partition the Kingdom of Naples between their two realms.
- 1572Science
Tycho Brahe observes the supernova SN 1572.
Tycho Brahe observes a new star, later named SN 1572, challenging Aristotelian cosmology.
- 1620US history
The Mayflower Compact is signed in what is now Provincetown Harbor near Cape Cod.
Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower sign a document establishing a governing coalition for their new colony.
- 1675Science
Gottfried Leibniz demonstrates integral calculus for the first time to find the area under the graph of y = ƒ(x).
Gottfried Leibniz demonstrates integral calculus, showcasing its ability to calculate areas under curves.
- 1750World history
Riots break out in Lhasa after the murder of the Tibetan regent.
Riots erupt in Lhasa following the assassination of the Tibetan regent.
- 1778US history
Cherry Valley massacre: Loyalists and Seneca Indian forces attack a fort and village in eastern New York during the American Revolutionary War, killing more than forty civilians and soldiers.
Loyalists and Seneca Indians attack a fort and village in eastern New York, killing over forty civilians and soldiers.
- 1805War
Napoleonic Wars: Battle of Dürenstein: Eight thousand French troops attempt to slow the retreat of a vastly superior Russian and Austrian force.
French troops engage in a delaying action against a much larger combined Russian and Austrian force during the Napoleonic Wars.
- 1965Politics
Southern Rhodesia's Prime Minister Ian Smith unilaterally declares the colony independent as the unrecognised state of Rhodesia.
Ian Smith proclaims Rhodesia independent, rejecting British authority and establishing a unrecognized state.
Born today
Famous birthdays on November 11
7 this date All birthdays
Thomas C. Mann
American lawyer, politician, and diplomat, United States Ambassador to El Salvador
Thomas C. Mann, an American diplomat who specialized in Latin American affairs and served as U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador, would have turned 113 today.
Born
1912
Died
1999
René Clair
French actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
1898 – 1981
Carlos Fuentes
Mexican novelist and essayist
1928 – 2012
Robert John "Mutt" Lange
British-South African record producer and songwriter
b. 1948 · 78
Adam Beach
Canadian actor
b. 1972 · 54
Jason White
American singer-songwriter and guitarist
b. 1973 · 53
Wajahatullah Wasti
Pakistani cricketer
b. 1974 · 52
Music
The number one songs on November 11
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on November 11, 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 November 11, 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 November 11, 2002
Russian mathematician Grigori Perelman posts the first of three preprint texts with his proof of the Poincaré conjecture. It remains the only of the Millennium Prize Problems in mathematics to be solved. He later refused both the prize money from Clay Mathematics Institute as well as the Fields Medal for his work.
Grigori Perelman posts a proof of the Poincaré conjecture, declining both the Millennium Prize and Fields Medal.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Birthday of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck (Bhutan)
International
Public holidays in Bhutan consist of both national holidays and local festivals or tshechus
Children's Day (Croatia)
International
Children's Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honour of children, whose date of observance varies by country
End of World War I-related observances: Armistice Day (France, Belgium and Serbia)
International
Armistice Day, later known as Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth and Veterans Day in the United States, is commemorated every year on 11 November to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of Wo
End of World War I-related observances: National Independence Day (Poland), commemorates the anniversary of Poland's assumption of independent statehood in 1918
International
The National Independence Day is a national day in Poland celebrated on 11 November to commemorate the anniversary of the restoration of Poland's sovereignty as the Second Polish Republic in 1918 from
End of World War I-related observances: Remembrance Day (United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations, including Australia and Canada)
International
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in former countries of the British Empire, and current Commonwealth member states since the end of the First World War to honour armed forces members who hav
End of World War I-related observances: Veterans Day, called Armistice Day until 1954, when it was rededicated to honor American military (Army, Navy, Marine, and Air Force) veterans. (United States)
International
Veterans Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, for honoring military veterans of the United States Armed Forces