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 20 Friday, November 20, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on November 20 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
1845
War 181 years ago
Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata: Battle of Vuelta de Obligado.
British and French naval forces break through Argentine defenses at the Battle of Vuelta de Obligado, forcing passage up the Paraná River despite fierce resistance.
History
What happened on November 20
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 284Roman history
Diocletian is chosen as Roman emperor.
Diocletian is selected as Roman emperor, marking the beginning of the Dominate period in Rome.
- 762Chinese history
During the An Shi Rebellion, the Tang dynasty, with the help of Huihe tribe, recaptures Luoyang from the rebels.
The Tang dynasty, aided by the Huihe tribe, regains control of Luoyang during the An Shi Rebellion.
- 1194European history
Palermo is conquered by Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor.
Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor, conquers Palermo, solidifying his control over southern Italy.
- 1407European history
John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy, and Louis of Valois, Duke of Orléans, agree to a truce, but Burgundy would kill Orléans three days later.
John the Fearless agrees to a truce with Louis of Orléans but plans to murder him three days later.
- 1441War
The Peace of Cremona ends the war between the Republic of Venice and the Duchy of Milan, after the victorious Venetian enterprise of military engineering of the Galeas per montes.
The Peace of Cremona ends the war between Venice and Milan, following Venice's remarkable feat of hauling warships overland across mountains.
- 1695World history
Zumbi, the last of the leaders of Quilombo dos Palmares in early Brazil, is executed by the forces of Portuguese bandeirante Domingos Jorge Velho.
Zumbi, leader of Quilombo dos Palmares, is executed by Portuguese forces led by Domingos Jorge Velho.
- 1776War
American Revolutionary War: British forces land at the Palisades and then attack Fort Lee. The Continental Army starts to retreat across New Jersey.
British forces land at the Palisades and attack Fort Lee, forcing the Continental Army to begin its retreat across New Jersey.
- 1789US history
New Jersey becomes the first U.S. state to ratify the Bill of Rights.
New Jersey becomes the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights.
- 1815World history
The Second Treaty of Paris is signed, returning the French frontiers to their 1790 extent, imposing large indemnities, and prolonging the occupation by troops of Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia for several more years.
The Second Treaty of Paris returns French frontiers to their 1790 extent, imposes large indemnities, and extends the occupation by allied troops.
- 1845War
Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata: Battle of Vuelta de Obligado.
British and French naval forces break through Argentine defenses at the Battle of Vuelta de Obligado, forcing passage up the Paraná River despite fierce resistance.
- 1998War
A court in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan declares accused terrorist Osama bin Laden "a man without a sin" in regard to the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania.
A Taliban court in Afghanistan rules that Osama bin Laden is not guilty of involvement in the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in East Africa.
- 2016Sports
Jimmie Johnson wins his seventh NASCAR Cup Series championship to tie Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for the most all-time.
Jimmie Johnson ties Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt with his seventh NASCAR Cup Series championship.
Born today
Famous birthdays on November 20
7 this date All birthdays
Michael Riffaterre
French literary critic and theorist
Michael Riffaterre, influential French literary critic and theorist known for his structuralist approach and seminal work Semiotics of Poetry, was born today in 1924 (died 2006).
Born
1924
Died
2006
Augusto Weberbauer
German naturalist
1871 – 1948
Libertas Schulze-Boysen
German opponent of the Nazis
1913 – 1942
Suze Rotolo
American artist
1943 – 2011
Yoshiki
Japanese musician
b. 1965 · 61
Dierks Bentley
American singer-songwriter and guitarist
b. 1975 · 51
Lee Yun-yeol
South Korean gamer
b. 1984 · 42
Music
The number one songs on November 20
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on November 20, 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 20, 2016
Jimmie Johnson wins his seventh NASCAR Cup Series championship to tie Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for the most all-time.
Jimmie Johnson ties Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt with his seventh NASCAR Cup Series championship.
Read the story
🔬 Science November 20, 1998
The first space station module component, Zarya, for the International Space Station is launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Zarya, the first module of the International Space Station, is launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
20-N (Spain)
International
20-N is a symbolic abbreviation used to denote the date of death of two far-right figures in 20th-century Spanish history
Africa Industrialization Day (international)
International
Lists of holidays by various categorizations
Black Awareness Day (Brazil)
International
In Brazil, the National Day of Zumbi and Black Consciousness, also known simply as Black Consciousness Day is observed every year on 20 November
Children's Day (World Children's Day)
International
Children's Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honour of children, whose date of observance varies by country
National Sovereignty Day (Argentina)
International
The National Sovereignty Day is a national public holiday of Argentina, celebrated during November 20
Day of the Mexican Revolution (Mexico)
International
Mexican Revolution Day is an official government holiday, celebrated annually in Mexico on November 20, marking the start of what became the Mexican Revolution