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 27 Friday, November 27, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on November 27 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
4
Holidays
1542
Chinese history 484 years ago
Palace plot of Renyin year: A group of Ming dynasty palace women fail to murder the Jiajing Emperor, and are executed by slow-slicing.
A group of Ming dynasty palace women attempt to strangle the Jiajing Emperor in his sleep but fail, and are executed by slow slicing.
History
What happened on November 27
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 25World history
Luoyang is declared capital of the Eastern Han dynasty by Emperor Guangwu of Han.
Emperor Guangwu declares Luoyang as the new capital of the Eastern Han dynasty.
- 176Roman history
Emperor Marcus Aurelius grants his son Commodus the rank of "Imperator" and makes him Supreme Commander of the Roman legions.
Marcus Aurelius appoints his son Commodus as Imperator and Supreme Commander of the Roman legions.
- 395European history
Rufinus, praetorian prefect of the East, is murdered by Gothic mercenaries under Gainas.
Rufinus, the praetorian prefect of the East, is killed by Gothic mercenaries led by Gainas.
- 511Royalty
King Clovis I dies at Lutetia and is buried in the Abbey of St Genevieve.
King Clovis I dies and is buried in the Abbey of Sainte-Geneviève.
- 602European history
Byzantine Emperor Maurice is forced to watch as the usurper Phocas executes his five sons before Maurice is beheaded himself.
Byzantine Emperor Maurice witnesses the execution of his five sons by usurper Phocas before being beheaded himself.
- 1095Religion
Pope Urban II declares the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont.
Pope Urban II calls for a crusade to reclaim Jerusalem from Muslim control.
- 1382World history
Al-Salih Hajji, the last Qalawunid sultan, is deposed by Barquq, ending the long Turkic Bahri Mamluk period in general and particularly the Qalawunid dynasty, and beginning the reign of the Circassian Burji Mamluk.
Barquq deposes Al-Salih Hajji, ending the Turkic Bahri Mamluk period and the Qalawunid dynasty, marking the start of the Circassian Burji Mamluk era.
- 1542Chinese history
Palace plot of Renyin year: A group of Ming dynasty palace women fail to murder the Jiajing Emperor, and are executed by slow-slicing.
A group of Ming dynasty palace women attempt to strangle the Jiajing Emperor in his sleep but fail, and are executed by slow slicing.
- 1727Religion
The foundation stone to the Jerusalem Church in Berlin is laid.
The foundation stone for the Jerusalem Church in Berlin is laid, beginning construction of what would become one of the city's notable Baroque churches.
- 1755Disaster
An earthquake in northern Morocco devastates the cities of Fes and Meknes.
An earthquake devastates the cities of Fes and Meknes in northern Morocco, killing thousands and destroying mosques, palaces, and homes.
- 1868US history
American Indian Wars: Battle of Washita River: United States Army Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer leads an attack on Cheyenne living on reservation land.
George Armstrong Custer leads an attack on Cheyenne living on reservation land in the American Indian Wars.
- 1912European history
Spain declares a protectorate over the north shore of Morocco.
Spain establishes a protectorate over northern Morocco, marking its expansion in North Africa.
Born today
Famous birthdays on November 27
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 68
Mike Scioscia
American baseball player and manager
Mike Scioscia, former MLB catcher who managed the Los Angeles Angels from 2000 to 2018 as the franchise's longest-tenured skipper, turns 68 today.
Born
1958
Turns 68
today
Charles A. Beard
American historian, author, and educator, co-founded The New School
1874 – 1948
Charles Dvorak
American pole vaulter and coach
1878 – 1969
Chick Hearn
American sportscaster and actor
1916 – 2002
Radek Štěpánek
Czech tennis player
b. 1978 · 48
Michael Yardy
English cricketer
b. 1980 · 46
Zoe Colletti
American actress
b. 2001 · 25
Music
The number one songs on November 27
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on November 27, 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 27, 1968
Penny Ann Early becomes the first woman to play in a major professional men's basketball league, for the Kentucky Colonels in an ABA game against the Los Angeles Stars.
Penny Ann Early makes history as the first woman to play in a major professional men's basketball league, joining the Kentucky Colonels.
Read the story
🔬 Science November 27, 1971
The Soviet space program's Mars 2 orbiter releases a descent module. It malfunctions and crashes, but it is the first man-made object to reach the surface of Mars.
The Soviet Mars 2 orbiter releases a descent module that malfunctions and crashes on Mars, becoming the first human-made object to reach the planet's surface.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
4 celebrated today
Lancashire Day (United Kingdom)
International
Lancashire Day is the county day of historic Lancashire in England
Maaveerar Day (Tamil Eelam, Sri Lanka)
International
Maaveerar Naal is a remembrance day observed by Sri Lankan Tamils to remember the deaths of militants who fought with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to achieve an independent Tamil homela
Naval Infantry Day (Russia)
International
The following is the list of official public holidays recognized by the Government of Russia
Teacher's Day (Spain)
International
Teachers' Day is a special day for the appreciation of teachers
❝
There are no guarantees in life, but I guarantee you this: If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it.
— Mike Scioscia · born November 27, 1958