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
October 16 Friday, October 16, 2026
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.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
7
Holidays
1793
War 233 years ago
War of the First Coalition: French victory at the Battle of Wattignies forces Austria to raise the siege of Maubeuge.
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
What happened on October 16
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 456European history
Ricimer defeats Avitus at Piacenza and becomes master of the Western Roman Empire.
Ricimer defeats Avitus at Piacenza and establishes himself as the ruler of the Western Roman Empire.
- 690World history
Empress Wu Zetian ascends to the throne of the Tang dynasty and proclaims herself ruler of the Chinese Empire.
Wu Zetian becomes the only female emperor in Chinese history, declaring herself ruler of the Tang dynasty.
- 912World history
Abd ar-Rahman III becomes the eighth Emir of Córdoba.
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.
- 955European history
King Otto I defeats a Slavic revolt in what is now Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
King Otto I suppresses a Slavic revolt in the region that is now Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, consolidating Saxon control over the western Slavic territories.
- 1311European history
The Council of Vienne convenes for the first time.
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。
- 1384European history
Jadwiga is crowned King of Poland, although she is a woman.
Jadwiga is crowned King of Poland, adopting the masculine title despite being female.
- 1590Royalty
Prince Gesualdo of Venosa murders his wife and her lover.
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.
- 1736Science
Mathematician William Whiston's predicted comet fails to strike the Earth.
William Whiston's predicted comet, forecasted to collide with Earth, safely passes by without incident.
- 1793War
War of the First Coalition: French victory at the Battle of Wattignies forces Austria to raise the siege of Maubeuge.
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.
- 1813War
The Sixth Coalition attacks Napoleon in the four-day Battle of Leipzig.
The Sixth Coalition launches a four-day assault against Napoleon in the Battle of Leipzig.
- 1817World history
Italian explorer and archaeologist Giovanni Belzoni, uncovered the Tomb of Seti I in the Valley of the Kings.
Giovanni Belzoni discovers the tomb of Pharaoh Seti I in the Valley of the Kings.
- 1975War
Indonesian troops kill the Balibo Five, a group of Australian journalists, in Portuguese Timor.
Indonesian troops kill five Australian journalists in Portuguese Timor.
Born today
Famous birthdays on October 16
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 63
Timothy Leighton
English physicist and academic
Timothy Leighton, British physicist and Executive General Director of Sloan Water Technology Ltd., turns 62 today.
Born
1963
Turns 63
today
Olivia Coolidge
English-American author and educator
1908 – 2006
Rosa Rosal
Filipino actress
b. 1927 · 99
Nobuyo Ōyama
Japanese voice actress
1933 – 2024
Bob Weir
American singer-songwriter and guitarist
1947 – 2026
John Mayer
American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
b. 1977 · 49
Inna
Romanian singer
b. 1986 · 40
Music
The number one songs on October 16
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on October 16, 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 October 16, 1996
Eighty-four football fans die and 180 are injured in a massive crush at a match in Guatemala City.
A crowd surge at a stadium in Guatemala City results in eighty-four deaths and one hundred eighty injuries.
Read the story
🔬 Science October 16, 1975
Three-year-old Rahima Banu, from Bangladesh, is the last known case of naturally occurring smallpox.
Rahima Banu, a three-year-old from Bangladesh, becomes the last known case of naturally occurring smallpox.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
7 celebrated today
Air Force Day (Bulgaria)
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
Boss's Day (United States)
International
Boss's Day is generally observed on October 16 in the United States
Pope John Paul II Day (Poland)
International
Pope John Paul II Day is a Polish festival celebrated every year on October 16
Death anniversary of Liaquat Ali Khan (Pakistan)
International
Holidays in Pakistan are celebrated according to the Islamic or Gregorian calendars for religious and civil purposes, respectively
Teachers' Day (Chile)
International
Teachers' Day is a special day for the appreciation of teachers
World Food Day (International)
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