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.
On this day
A curious almanac of what happened on October 16 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
French forces win the Battle of Wattignies, compelling Austria to lift the siege of Maubeuge and securing a crucial victory in the War of the First Coalition.
History
Ricimer defeats Avitus at Piacenza and establishes himself as the ruler of the Western Roman Empire.
Wu Zetian becomes the only female emperor in Chinese history, declaring herself ruler of the Tang dynasty.
Abd ar-Rahman III becomes the eighth Emir of Córdoba, beginning a reign that would transform the emirate into a caliphate and usher in a golden age of Islamic Spain.
King Otto I suppresses a Slavic revolt in the region that is now Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, consolidating Saxon control over the western Slavic territories.
Pope Clement V召集了来自欧洲各地的高级教会领袖,开始了旨在打击异端和改革教会的会议。
Jadwiga is crowned King of Poland, adopting the masculine title despite being female.
Prince Gesualdo murders his wife and her lover, an act that later influences his创作完成,但似乎最后的句子被中断了。根据要求和示例格式,可以这样写: Prince Gesualdo murders his wife and her lover, an act that later influences his musical works.
William Whiston's predicted comet, forecasted to collide with Earth, safely passes by without incident.
French forces win the Battle of Wattignies, compelling Austria to lift the siege of Maubeuge and securing a crucial victory in the War of the First Coalition.
The Sixth Coalition launches a four-day assault against Napoleon in the Battle of Leipzig.
Giovanni Belzoni discovers the tomb of Pharaoh Seti I in the Valley of the Kings.
Indonesian troops kill five Australian journalists in Portuguese Timor.
Born today
English physicist and academic
Timothy Leighton, British physicist and Executive General Director of Sloan Water Technology Ltd., turns 62 today.
English-American author and educator
1908 – 2006
Filipino actress
b. 1927 · 99
Japanese voice actress
1933 – 2024
American singer-songwriter and guitarist
1947 – 2026
American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
b. 1977 · 49
Romanian singer
b. 1986 · 40
Music
🇬🇧 #1 on October 16, 1981
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
Also #1 on this day
Film & TV
Box-office #1
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
October 16, 1996
A crowd surge at a stadium in Guatemala City results in eighty-four deaths and one hundred eighty injuries.
Read the storyOctober 16, 1975
Rahima Banu, a three-year-old from Bangladesh, becomes the last known case of naturally occurring smallpox.
Read the storyToday is also
International
The Bulgarian Air Force is one of the three branches of the Military of Bulgaria, the other two being the Bulgarian Navy and Bulgarian land forces
International
Boss's Day is generally observed on October 16 in the United States
International
Pope John Paul II Day is a Polish festival celebrated every year on October 16
International
Holidays in Pakistan are celebrated according to the Islamic or Gregorian calendars for religious and civil purposes, respectively
International
Teachers' Day is a special day for the appreciation of teachers
International
World Food Day is an international day celebrated every year worldwide on October 16 to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945