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 4 Wednesday, November 4, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on November 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
6
Holidays
1429
European history 597 years ago
Armagnac-Burgundian Civil War: Joan of Arc liberates Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier.
Joan of Arc leads French forces in capturing the fortified town of Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier from Burgundian defenders during her Loire campaign.
History
What happened on November 4
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 512Religion
Following Byzantine emperor Anastasius' deposition of Chalcedonian patriarchs and attempts to make Monophysite changes to liturgy, riots break out in Constantinople with a mob trying to proclaim Areobindus as emperor.
Riots erupt in Constantinople after Emperor Anastasius deposes Chalcedonian patriarchs and attempts Monophysite liturgical changes; a mob tries to proclaim Areobindus as emperor.
- 1354War
War of the Straits: The Genoese fleet under Paganino Doria defeats and captures the entire Venetian fleet under Niccolò Pisani at the Battle of Sapienza.
The Genoese fleet under Paganino Doria defeats and captures the entire Venetian fleet commanded by Niccolò Pisani in the War of the Straits.
- 1429European history
Armagnac-Burgundian Civil War: Joan of Arc liberates Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier.
Joan of Arc leads French forces in capturing the fortified town of Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier from Burgundian defenders during her Loire campaign.
- 1493World history
Christopher Columbus reaches the Leeward Islands.
Christopher Columbus lands in the Leeward Islands, marking one of his early discoveries during his first voyage to the Americas.
- 1501Royalty
Catherine of Aragon (later Henry VIII's first wife) meets Arthur Tudor, Henry VIII's older brother, they would later marry.
Catherine of Aragon meets Arthur Tudor, the future husband who would become her first spouse.
- 1576European history
Eighty Years' War: In Flanders, Spain captures Antwerp (which is nearly destroyed after three days).
Spain captures Antwerp in Flanders, devastating the city over three days.
- 1677UK history
The future Mary II of England marries William, Prince of Orange; they later jointly reign as William and Mary.
Mary Stuart marries William of Orange, who together become co-rulers of England.
- 1737Culture
The Teatro di San Carlo, the oldest working opera house in Europe, is inaugurated in Naples, Italy.
The Teatro di San Carlo in Naples becomes the first permanent opera house in Europe.
- 1780World history
The Rebellion of Túpac Amaru II against Spanish rule in the Viceroyalty of Peru begins.
Túpac Amaru II, a descendant of Inca royalty, launches a major indigenous uprising against Spanish colonial rule in Peru, marking the largest rebellion in colonial Spanish American history.
- 1852European history
Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, becomes the prime minister of Piedmont-Sardinia, which soon expands to become Italy.
Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, becomes prime minister of Piedmont-Sardinia, setting in motion the unification of Italy.
- 1864War
American Civil War: Confederate troops bombard a Union supply base and destroy millions of dollars in materiel at the Battle of Johnsonville.
Confederate troops attack a Union supply base at Johnsonville, destroying millions of dollars worth of supplies.
- 1921Politics
The Saalschutz Abteilung (hall defense detachment) of the Nazi Party is renamed the Sturmabteilung (storm detachment) after a large riot in Munich.
The Nazi Party renames its hall defense detachment to the storm detachment following a violent riot in Munich.
Born today
Famous birthdays on November 4
7 this date All birthdays
Nikolaos Plastiras
Greek general and politician 135th Prime Minister of Greece
Nikolaos Plastiras, Greek general and three-time Prime Minister known as "The Black Rider" for his bravery commanding the 5/42 Evzone Regiment in the Greco-Turkish War, was born today in 1883.
Born
1883
Died
1953
Lucrețiu Pătrășcanu
Romanian sociologist and activist
1900 – 1954
Bernard Francis Law
Mexican-American cardinal
1931 – 2017
Ralph Macchio
American actor
b. 1961 · 65
Yūko Mizutani
Japanese voice actress and singer
1964 – 2016
Orlando Pace
American football player
b. 1975 · 51
Elisabeth Seitz
German gymnast
b. 1993 · 33
Music
The number one songs on November 4
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on November 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 November 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 November 4, 1960
At the Kasakela Chimpanzee Community in Tanzania, Jane Goodall observes chimpanzees creating tools, the first-ever observation in non-human animals.
Jane Goodall observes chimpanzees using grass stems as tools to fish for termites, marking a groundbreaking moment in animal behavior studies.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
6 celebrated today
Community Service Day (Dominica)
International
This is a list of public holidays in Dominica
Flag Day (Panama)
International
Public holidays in Panama include:
National Tonga Day (Tonga)
International
The Tongan archipelago has been inhabited for perhaps 3,000 years, since settlement in late Lapita times
National Unity and Armed Forces Day or Giorno dell'Unità Nazionale e Festa delle Forze Armate (Italy)
International
National Unity and Armed Forces Day is an Italian national day since 1919 which commemorates the victory in World War I, a war event considered the completion of the process of unification of Italy
Unity Day (Russia)
International
Unity Day, also called the National Unity Day and the Day of People's Unity, is a national holiday in Russia held on 4 November [O
Yitzhak Rabin Memorial (unofficial, but widely commemorated)
International
Yitzhak Rabin was an Israeli statesman and general who was the prime minister of Israel, having served two terms in office, 1974-1977, and from 1992 until his assassination in 1995